An occasional series of articles gleaned from research into my NE
Scotland ancestors. Lots of stories and odd snippets. I hope you find
them as interesting as I do...
Scottish Notes & Queries, March 1889
Coast Defence - The Government having recently resolved to strengthen
the naval defences of Aberdeen and other coast towns, the following
extract minutes of the preparations made by the inhabitants of Nigg to
repel the threatened invasion by the Spaniards, in end of the last
century, may not prove uninteresting:-
"June 18th 1797 - Early this Spring, on fear of invasion, an
offer was made to Government, in a letter and engagement to Lord Kintore
(that Earl being Lord Lieutenant of this county), from the farmers and
others in the parish of Nigg, of all their carts, horses, and servants,
to carry soldiers or military stores, in case of invasion, without
expense. These were, in whole, 27 carts with two horses in each cart,
and 27 carts with one horse in each, with servants to drive them."
"Upon Application from Government, in the same view, for an
account of the live and dead stock of individuals residing near the
sea-coast, that it might be removed, or destroyed, in case the enemy
should attempt to land, and account was made out from the declaration of
the farmers and others, and sent to the Lord-Lieutenant of the County of
Kincardine. The amount was 52 carts, 85 horses, 321 cows &c., 447
bolls of bear, 642 bolls of oats and meal, 19 bolls of pease, 293 bolls
of potatoes, and 10,580 stones of hay. Servants of whom the number was
wished, were 67."
"There had also been a call from the Lord-Lieutenant, the
heritors and landholders of the County of Kincardine, to the inhabitants
from sixteen to sixty, to enrol themselves under the Deputy-Lieutenants,
with certain regulations, for to learn and practise military service for
defence of the country, in case of invasion. Under the patronage of a
deputation of the Honourable the Magistrates of Aberdeen, and with the
presence and influence of John Menzies, Esq., of Pitfoddels, and the
Heritors of this parish, there enrolled themselves at the Cove, to learn
the use of Small arms, or to manage great guns, - land people and
fishermen, 49 at Torry, and the Bridge of Dee 27; and also all the
fishermen at Cove, 31, and 10 fishermen at Torry, made offer of
assisting with their boats to transport soldiers, with military stores,
if necessary, along the coast from Bervie to the mouth of the Ythan,
without expense to Government."
