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Miscellaneous

No collection of quotes from the Old Parochial Registers can be complete without some references to the "miscellaneous, heterogeneous and (to others) trivial things" , as the Minister of Kirkmahoe described them before launching into a long description of the weather and crops in the parish, which are to be found intermingled with the records of baptisms and proclamations and burials including:

'Cure for the bite of a Mad Dog either in Man or Beast'
'Take rue small shorn, garlick stamped, mithridate or Venice Tryacle, syrup of tin or pewter. Boil all these in 2 quarts of stale ale in a pot close covered for an hour. Then strain it and give this liquor in the morning fasting and warm to a man or woman nine spoonfuls, to a beast cold, to an horse or cow eleven spoonfuls, to a sheep eight spoonfuls, to a dog four spoonfuls.'
(Dunning, Perthshire)

25th November 1779

'Being a day appointed by the synod for publick Thanksgiving in Commemoration of 1st - the goodness of divine providence in granting us a favourable season and a plentiful harvest: 2nd the Internal peace and tranquility which we in this part of the country enjoy in time of publick danger while war wages abroad and the sea coasts of this island have been threatened with Invasion: 3rdly the removal of our late fears for the repeal of the laws in being against property.'
(Dunning, 1779, OPR 350/4, Fr 368)

To find the age of the moon

'Add the Epact for March 1st for April 2nd, for May 3rd, for June 4th and July 5th for August 6th, for September 8th, for October 8th, for November 10th, for January 10th and February 2nd. Having added to the Epact the number for the month according to the rule foregoing, add thereto the day of the month for which the moon's age is required, these three sumes add thereto if less than 30 is the moon's age, if more than 30 then: divide it by 30, the Re.....
(this dessertation was never finished ...)
(Eckford, 1790, OPR 787/1, Fr 105)

To ease the afflictions of Man

'Sold by George Reid, printer at bottom of Fisher's Land Close, Lawnmarket, first door of the stair, sells tincture of sagge and Canada balsam for curing in women one of the most afflicting disorders to which human nature is subject and in Men disorders from the passion of Diogenes.'
(Scoonie, July 27th 1775, OPR 456/2, Fr 204)

Even in the 18th century, fallout was a problem...

'20th October 1755 On a Monday a very dark sky and yet the sun was seen mostly all day and there fell a Black heavy Dust upon the earth
(Sandsting and Aithsting, 1755, OPR 9/1 Fr ?)

And global warming was affecting the weather

1811 Decr Sunday Dairy
I preached at home today. Psalm 43 - 5 v
1. - Why art thou cast down o my soul - 35 mins
2. Strive to enter in at the strait gate Luke 13 c 24 v 35 mins. do This was the day of the sact at Holyrood. For the scat is celebrated twice in the year in that parish. It was a raw and windy day threatening rain, few in church - collection 5s. 2d. Mr Ewin, schoolmaster at Dalswinton village dined with me. I lent Mr Lancaster's book on education - It now begins to rain heavily (6 o'clock p.m.) and is likely to rain much. We have had a week or two of very fierce winter weather after two months of the most rainy and floody weather I have ever witnessed. The comet seems to me to have been the cause of the uncommon warm weather in the month of August and beginning of September (about 6 weeks) and of the consequent very wet weather, and of the virial days immediately past, and the earth being so heated by the approach of this body little frost may be expected till the new year be arrived.'
(Kirkmahoe, 1811, OPR 835/1 Fr 132) Last thoughts

And having given you such seasonal thoughts on the weather, we will leave you with these two gems - in the words of a Frenchwoman who wrote saying
"I want to search for my family trunk."

Please search for B Henry Steward Wishart 7 July ? 1872 ( Statutory records)

(at Silas Low ? - client's info)
(Glasgow, Statutory Records, Year 1872, 644/7 entry 1282)
[NOTE : Silas Low = GLASGOW]