As far as I can ascertain the granite yard on this
site disappeared in the mid-1950's. The memorial sits precariously on a
single section of wall, behind which is a car park for a clothing store.
It is largely missed by the few pedestrians who pass by. Let us hope its
long term future is secure. Lest we forget.
A Resourceful Sea Captain - Appreciation
of Johnshaven Man's Services
At Lloyd's on the 25th March, Sir John Luscombe,
the chairman, presented Captain Allan Hunter, commander of the steamship
Australina, of London, on behalf of the underwriters, with a gold watch,
bearing a suitable inscription, and a cheque for £100 as a mark of the
underwriter's appreciation of the energy and resource displayed by him
when the rudder of the s.s. Australina broke on August 19, 1910, in the
Atlantic Ocean, 1750 miles from Cape Town.
In making the presentation, Sir John Luscombe said
that the rudder shank of the s.s. Australina broke inside the lower
gland in such a position as to make it impossible to effect any repairs.
Captain Hunter decided to make for Cape Town under jerry rudder, and,
after almost continuous work, and amidst boisterous weather, the vessel
was able to proceed on August 22. She could only make three knots, and,
after assistance had been refused, the permanent rudder was secured with
chains under great difficulties. Several steamers were sighted, but the
Australina eventually arrived at Cape Town without assistance on
September 8. This, Sir John pointed out, was a fine piece of seamanship,
and the underwriters were glad of an opportunity of recognising Captain
Allan Hunter's services. Captain Hunter made a suitable reply. Captain
Hunter is a native of Johnshaven, Kincardineshire, and is the youngest
son of the late Captain Hunter, Adelaide Cottage, and brother of Captain
John L B Hunter, of the s.s. Somerset, of London.
Stonehaven Journal, April 4, 1912
Death of a Kincardineshire Link with Burns
Mr Alexander Burnes, cattledealer, died at his
residence, 12 Belmont Road, Aberdeen, last week at the ripe age of 81
years, and by his death another of the family links with the national
poet has gone. Mr Burnes retained comparatively good health, but failing
strength was against his combating successfully with his last illness.
Mr Burnes - who, it will be observed, retained the original spelling of
the name, which is sometimes found in such forms of Burnes, Burnace,
Burns, etc. - was born at the farm of Waterlair, in the Kincardineshire
parish of Garvock. He was a son of Mr David Burnes, one of the Bogjordan
branch of the family, who, however, died ere his son was born. His
mother died a few years afterwards. The boy was then taken to live with
Mr John Thomson, an uncle in the Glenbervie district, and there received
his elementary education. A soldier's life had had an attraction for
him, and, as a young man, he enlisted in the 74th Regiment, and sometime
afterwards was despatched to South Africa, where he saw active service
and won his first medal, that medal bearing the date 1853, and showing
that the deceased had by that time attained the rank of sergeant. On the
medal his name is spelt Burns. From South Africa he was despatched to
India, where he passed through many of the stirring scenes of the Indian
Mutiny, there also securing a medal. After receiving his discharge from
the army in 1869, Mr Burnes came to Aberdeen, where he engaged in
business as a cattle-dealer. He was well-known and highly respected by
farmers and cattle breeders over a wide district of Aberdeenshire and at
the city's live stock auction marts. In politics he was an ardent
Conservative, and for many years was a member of the West Parish Church.
Quiet in his disposition, and taking little part in public affairs,
though always interested in them, Mr Burnes was nevertheless proud to be
a relative of the national poet, and to have been brought up in the
district which Mr Edward, Pinnington, Montrose, in his "Burns of
the North" has designated "the nursery of the race of Burnes or Burns,"
and Mr George H Kinnear, in his "Glenbervie, the Fatherland of Burns,"
has so interestingly extolled. Mr Burnes is survived by a son and two
daughters.
Stonehaven Journal, Feb 13, 1908
A Foe to the Evil One
One day, during a snowstorm, the Revd George More was
riding from Aberdeen to a village in the vicinity of that town. He was
enveloped in a Spanish cloak, and had a shawl tied round his neck and
shoulders. These loose garments, covered with snow, and waving in the
blast, startled the horse of a "bagman," who chanced to ride past. The
alarmed steed plunged, and very nearly threw its rider, who exclaimed -
"Why sir, you would frighten the very devil!"
"I'm glad to hear that," said Mr More, "for it's just my trade."
The Book of Scottish Anecdote, 1883
A Scottish Laird
Lord Gardenstone (Francis Garden) was a man of energy,
and promoted improvements with skill and practical sagacity. His
favourite scheme was to establish a flourishing town town upon his
property, and he spared no pains or expense in promoting the importance
of his village of Laurencekirk. He built an excellent inn, to render it
a stage for posting, and encouraged manufacturers of all kinds to settle
in the place. For the inn he provided a large volume to receive the
contributions of travellers who frequented it. He required the
landlady to present this volume to the guests, and ask them to write in
it during the evening whatever occurred to their memory or their
imagination. In the mornings it was a favourite amusement of Lord
Gardenstone to look it over. Professor Stuart of Aberdeen wrote lines as
follows:-
"Frae sma' beginnings Rome of auld
Became a great imperial city,
'Twas peopled first, as we are tauld,
By bankrupts, vagabonds, banditti
Quoth Thomas: then the day may come,
When Laurencekirk shall equal Rome!"
Gardenstone was annoyed, the volume disappeared, and was
never seen afterwards. His lordship had two favourite tastes: he
indulged in the love of pigs and snuff. He took a young pig as a pet,
and it became quite tame, and followed him about like a dog. At first
the animal shared his bed; but when it became unfit for such
companionship, he still allowed it to sleep in his room, on a
comfortable couch formed formed of his own clothes. He died in 1793.
The Book of Scottish Anecdote, 1883
Aberdeen Butter
An English gentleman supping in a Glasgow coffee-room,
ordered the waiter to remove the butter on the table and bring him
better. The servant replied that his master had no better, for that was
Aberdeen butter; and the Englisman was proceeding to growl in very
audible terms at Scottish butter in general, and Aberdeen butter in
particular, when a gentleman at a neighbouring table, who later turned
out to be the Laird of Culrossie, in Aberdeenshire, addressed him,
saying - "That's nae true; Aberdeen butter is as gude as e'er gaed
down your ha'se!"
The consequence may be imagined; a challenge was promptly given and as
readily accepted, and the parties met. In the combat, which was with the
small sword, Culrossie was worsted; but, after thanking his adversary
for his life, he added, "I'll say yet, that better butter ne'er gaed
down a Southron's thrapple."
The Book of Scottish Anecdote, 1883
Dogs in Aberdeen
The haill house dogs, messens, and whelps within
Aberdeen were killed upon the streets, so that neither hound, messen, or
other dog was left alive that they could see. The reason was this: when
the first army came here, ilk captain and soldier had a blue ribbon band
about his craig, in despite and derision thereof; when they removed from
Aberdeen, some women of Aberdeen, as was alleged, knit blue ribbands
about their messens' craigs, whereat their soldiers too offence, and
killed all their dogs for this very cause.
The Book of Scottish Anecdote, 1883
Sandy Hay, The Warlock
Sandy Hay, of Peterhead, a most ingenious tradesman, was
convicted of the heinous crime of witchcraft. Hay appears to have been a
fellow of considerable humour, in which he could not help indulging,
even when led to the stake. Being asked by a clergyman who attended him,
what made him laugh one day so much in church, he made answer - "That he
saw Old Nick sitting on the corner of the highest gallery, and noting
down on parchment the names of all present who were sleeping during
divine service; but that the drowsy part of the audience increased so
fast upon him, that he found his parchment too small to contain all
their names; on which he endeavoured to stretch it with his teeth; but,
losing his hold, he knocked his head with an awful thump against the
wall behind him."
This ludicrous story, so far from exciting the risibility of the ghostly
confessor, only confirmed the guilt, and accelerated the fate, of the
unfortunate Hay.
The Book of Scottish Anecdote, 1883
A Conjugal Rebuke
Doctor Kidd of Aberdeen once gave his wife money to
purchase a chest of drawers, but the lady being "glamoured" with the
sight of a new bonnet, invested part of the cash for it, returning home
minus the drawers. On the following Sabbath she came to church late,
with her new bonnet on, whereupon, on her approaching her seat, the
minister audibly remarked from the pulpit: "Here comes Mrs Kidd with a
chest of drawers on her head!"
The Book of Scottish Anecdote, 1883
A Premature Good Wish
On one occasion an old beggar wife, on receiving a
gratuity form the Rev. John Skinner, the author of "Tullochgorum," and
other well-known Scottish songs, said to him, by way of thanks: "Oh,
sir, I houp that you and a' your family will be in heaven the nicht."
"Well, well, my woman," said he, "I am very much obliged to you; only
you need not have been just so particular as to the time; there's no
need of being in such a great hurry."
The Book of Scottish Anecdote, 1883
A Useful Minister
The Rev. John Anderson, minister of Fochabers, had a
turn for business, and was accordingly appointed by the Duke of Gordon
his local factor and a county magistrate. His pluralities were thus
rhymed upon:
The Rev. John Anderson,
Factor to his grace,
Minister of Fochabers,
And Justice o' the peace
The Book of Scottish Anecdote, 1883
Public Clocks in Aberdeen
In the middle of the fifteenth century, the town of
Aberdeen had a public clock or horologe upon the tollbooth, and in the
beginning of the sixteenth century a similar clock was placed upon the
church. In 1647, a person was appointed by the town council manager of
the horologe, with an annual salary of £2 for his services. In the
beginning of the sixteenth century there was not a mechanic in the town
able to repair the clock upon the tollbooth, so it was sent to Flanders
for repair, and brought back at the end of about a year; but not much
improved, for Friar Alexander Lindsay was employed to make certain
improvements upon it, for which he was to be allowed five marks,
provided the clock was made to strike correctly.
The Book of Scottish Anecdote, 1883
Aberdonian Prudence
A periodical writer, about 1812, makes the following
remarks on the prudence of the Aberdonians:- "Formerly much connected
with Dutchmen, as the purchasers of their staple commodity, the
Aberdonians gradually acquired a little of the Dutchmen's neutrality;
like them, too, looking with rather suspicious eyes on modes of life, or
of business differing from those of their forefathers. This aversion to
anything new has, no doubt, retarded many improvements; but it has, at
the same time, been productive of some good effects. In carrying on
their different branches of trade, moving slowly step by step, and
seldom or never speculating beyond their capital, they have been
attending any sudden change or obstruction to commerce occasioned by a
declaration of war or commencement of peace. A late instance of this may
be mentioned. Previous to the breaking out of the present war, the
manufacture of stockings was that which was carried to the greatest
extent here. These were nearly all exported to Holland; but, on the
seizure of that country by the French, the trade was almost annihilated;
yet there was not among the manufacturers a single failure in
consequence. A better proof of sober industry cannot well be given; were
it required, it might be added that the travelling agents of the English
commercial houses acknowledge that in no place in the course of their
ride do they meet with such ready and punctual payment as in Aberdeen.
So much for keeping close to the main chance, and leaving it to the more
active and turbulent spirits of the south and west to speculate in trade
or in politics, to invite improvements or innovations."
The Book of Scottish Anecdote, 1883
Aberdeenshire Long Ago
The houses of the common people in these parts (Aberdeenshire)
are shocking to humanity, formed of loose stones, and covered with
clods, which they call divots, or with heath, broom, or branches
of fir: they look, at a distance, like so many black mole-hills. The
inhabitants live very poorly, on oatmeal, barley-cakes, and potatoes;
their drink whisky, sweetened with honey. The men are thin, but strong;
idle and lazy, except employed in the chase, or anything that looks like
amusement; are content with their hard fare, and will not exert
themselves farther than to get what they deem necessaries. The women are
more industrious, spin their own husband's clothes, and get money by
knitting stockings, the great trade of the country. The common women are
in general most remarkably plain, and soon acquire an old look, and, by
being much exposed to the weather without hats, such a grin and
contraction of the muscles as heightens greatly their natural hardness
of features. I never saw so much plainness among the lower rank of
females; but the ne plus ultra of hard features is not found till
you arrive among the fish-women of Aberdeen.
The Book of Scottish Anecdote, 1883
An Absent-Minded Professor
Professor Hamilton of Aberdeen was notorious for his
absence of mind. Emerging hastily one day from the gateway of King's
College, he stumbled against a cow, which was being driven past. In the
confusion of the moment the professor politely raised his hat,
exclaiming," I beg your pardon, madam!"
Walking, a few days afterwards, in Union Street, he happened to stumble
against a lady who was walking in the opposite direction. In sudden
recollection of his former adventure, he called out, in a voice by no
means fraught with the former politeness, "Is that you again, you
brute!"
The Book of Scottish Anecdote, 1883
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