OLIPHANT papers – Agreement between the tutors of John Aitken, and Christian Barker

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Christian Barker [b.1741] (daughter of George Barker [b.1705]) was married 1st to Thomas Aitken [m.1763], then to Henry Oliphant [m.1766]. Her 1st son, John Aitken [b.1764] appears to have died prior to this document. Christian and Henry had 2 sons (who both died in childhood) and 2 daughters. After Christian Barker’s death in 1777, Henry Oliphant remarried and had another 8 children.

OLIPHANT papers; envelope 2; document 9;

Cover; Transcription of cover;

Agreement
betwixt
the tutors of John Aitken
and
Christian Barker
and her Husband
Dated – 1768
Reg’ – 17th Dec 1769

Page 1;

Transcription of page 1;

(True copy) (first Page)
At Kirkcaldy the Seventh day of December One thousand #
Seven hundred and Sixty nine years In presence of Thomas #
Dougall and David Robertson present Baillies of Kirkcaldy #
sitting in Judgment in an [fin..] court [Compeared] #
George Douglass and George Robb Writers their as #
Procurators for the parties after named and given in #
the agreement under written. Desiring the same #
might be [insert] and [registrat] in the [Burrow] Court Books #
of the said burgh therein to remain for preservation #
conform to the clause of registration therein contained #
Which Desire the said Baillies found reasonable and #
ordained the same to be done accordingly and whereof #
the [tenor] follows. The Parties underwritten […] #
Andrew Inglis of Easter Bouhill Merchant in #
Kirkcaldy, George Barker shipmaster there, James #
Beveridge weaver in Links, John Sleans junior weaver #
in Kirkcaldy, Andrew Alexander sometime Merchant in #
Falkland now in Kirkcaldy and William Aitken #
merchant there Tutors Nominated by the now deceased #
Thomas Aitken merchant in Kirkcaldy to John Aitken #
his only child also now deceased (any three of these tutors #
being a quorum) On the one part and Christian #
Barker sometime spouse to the said Thomas Aitken #
and mothor to the said John Aitken, now spouse to Henry #
Oliphant shipmaster in Kirkcaldy with consent of her #
sad Husband and the said Henry Oliphant for himself #
and as taking burden on him for his said spouse On the #
other part Have agreed in manner following that is #
to say Whereas the said Thomas Aitken by his Disposition #
dated the twelth day of July Seventeen hundred #
and Sixty five and [registrate] in the [Burrow] Court Books #
of Kirkcaldy the Sixteenth day of September year forsaid #
granted and Disponed to the said John Aitken his only Son #
and child his whole heritable ##### and moveable #
subjects with the burden of paying to the said #
Christian Barker his spouse One hundred pounds #
Sterling
(signed) Will: Drysdale, clerk

Page 2;

Transcription of page 2;

(second page)
Sterling money out of the first and readiest of his moveable #
means and effects at the first term of Martinmass or Whitsunday #
after the death ot the said Thomas Aitken and also paying to #
her during all the days of her lifetime the legal interest of #
One third part of his whole moveable goods and [year] #
Debts and sums of money that should belong and be #
resting unto me at the time of his death, the above #
One hundred pounds Sterling being understood to make #
part thereof and the interest of that sum a part of #
her third and he hereby appointed the said persons #
Tutors and Curators for the said Child as the said #
Disposition more fully bears That the said Thomas #
Aitken having died in the month of September, Seventeen #
hundred and Sixty five several disputes arose betwext #
the said Tutors for behalf of their pupil and the said #
Christian Barker with [respect] to the extent of the #
said Thomas Aitken’s moveable effects and debts an #
to the [Commencement] of her life rent of the […] #
thereof and the [Baurd] wages to be paid her for [their] #
said pupil and the said Tutors having frequently #
met with the said Christian Barker and the said #
Henry Oliphant now her husband concerning #
these and other disputes did settle the [sum.] as #
underwritten In the first place it is hereby agreed #
that the sum of Six hundred pounds Sterling #
money inclusive of the said One hundred pounds #
Sterling payable to the said Christian Barker is #
the capital stock out of which her life rent is to #
be paid and of course that the sum of Two hundred #
pounds Sterling is the [ground] from which her #
life rent arises and that the legal interest of One #
hundred pounds is the sum to be paid her during #
her life. The One hundred pounds being her #
own property in terms of the said Thomas Aitken’s #
Disposition and already paid to her and discharged #
and it is hereby agreed that the said Christian #
Barker’s life rent of the said One hundred #
pounds Sterling should commence at the term of #
Whitsunday
Will: Drysdale, clerk

Page 3; Transcription of page 3;

(third page)
Whitsunday Seventeen hundred and Sixty seven and shall #
be paid to her or her Assignees at the term of Whitsunday #
yearly during her lifetime out of the moveable effects #
and debts which belonged to the said Thomas Aitken #
and it is hereby further agreed that their shall #
be paid out of the said Thomas Aitken’s effects to the #
said Christian Barker and her said Husband #
the sum of Sixteen pounds Sterling money in full of #
the pupil’s board [wages] during the space he lived with #
the said Christian Barker and the said parties having #
nothing further to claim of one another with respect #
to the affairs of the said Thomas Aitken. They therefore #
mutually discharge each other their heirs [.] of all #
intromissions which they or either of them had with #
the effects of the said Thomas Aitken or which the one #
can lay to the charge of the other bygone preceeding #
the […] hereof and the said parties consent to #
the registration hereof in the Books of Council #
and Session [Burrow] court Books of Kirkcaldy #
or others competent for preservation and if necessary #
to receive execution thereon in form as effects and #
thereto they constitute George Douglass and George #
Robb writers in Kirkcaldy their [Brors] [..] In #
witness whereof these presents wrote by George #
Douglass, apprentice to William Drysdale, town #
clerk of Kirkcaldy upon Stamped paper are #
Inscribed by the said parties at Kirkliston the Thirteenth #
day of June One Thousand seven hundred and #
Sixty eight years before these witnesses the #
said William Drysdale and George Douglass #
both before design[ed] (signed) A.Inglis, George #
Barker, Will.Aitken, And.Alexander, Henry #
Oliphant, James Beveridge, John [Sleans], #
Christian Barker, Will: Drysdale, witness #
George Dougall, witness, Extracted upon #
this and the two preceeding pages By #
Will Drysdale
Clerk

OLIPHANT papers – copy of Discharge, granted by Christian Oliphant, George Beveridge, Janet Oliphant, & Robert Oliphant; 28th Feb 1821

For some context, and an index to these documents, please SEE HERE.

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Christian and Janet Oliphant were the daughters of Henry Oliphant (by his first marriage, to Christian Barker). George Beveridge and Robert Oliphant were their respective husbands. Robert was also Henry’s nephew. HERE is a .PDF showing Henry Oliphant’s descendants.

See the “Henry Oliphant estate” tag for all the documents relating to his estate.

OLIPHANT papers; envelope 2; document 8;

Cover; Transcription of cover;

Copy of Discharge
granted by –
Christian Oliphant
Janet Oliphant
Rob’t Oliphant
Geo Beveridge
28th [Feb] [1821]

Page 1; Transcription of page 1;

Be it known to all men by these presents that me Mrs #
Christian Oliphant otherwise Beveridge [spouse] of George #
Beveridge […] [Merchant] in Kirkcaldy and Mrs Janet Oliphant #
spouse of Rob’t Oliphant shipowner [there] Children [procreated] #
of the marriage betwext the deceased Henry Oliphant shipowner #
in Kirkcaldy and Mrs Christian Barker his first wife with #
the special advice and consent of our said husbands #
and we the said George Beveridge and Rob’t Oliphant for #
ourselves and as taking burden upon us for our said #
respective spouses in manner after mentioned #
Considering that the said deceased Henry Oliphant #
by his Trust Disposition and Settlement – dated the fifth #
day of December 1820 did for the causes therein mention- #
-ed and with and under the provisions and declarations #
therein expressed Give Grant Dispone ^ assign and Convey #
to and in favour of Geo: Dougall shipowner in Kirkcaldy, #
Rob’t Oliphant – his eldest son and to such other person #
or persons as they should assume into the said trust in #
virtue of the powers therein committed to them and to the #
survivor or survivors of them accepting the [major] part #
of them alive and accepting being always a quorum But #
Declaring that the said Trustees should act jointly so #
long as no other person is assumed into the said Trust #
us trustees for the ends [uses] and purposes therein and herein #
after mentioned All and sundry the whole heritable and #
moveable real and —- personal estate then #
belonging or which should thereafter belong or be add[able] #
and […ing] to the said Henry Oliphant at the time of his #
decease with the whole [writs] [litter] — [mucher] and #
instructions of his said heritable and moveable #
estate all us therein generally and [particularly] [described] #
But always with and under the burdens and [declarations] #
therein expressed and particularly with and under #
the burden of the liferent – right use and possession #
to Mrs Jannet Hutchison spouse of the said Henry #
Oliphant of that part of the heritable subjects

Page 2; Transcription of page 2;

thereby disponed in which she stands infeft* – conform to the #
instrument of sasine* in her favour therein mentioned #
as also with and under this provision and declaration #
that the said Trustees should within twelve months #
after the decease of the said Henry Oliphant out of the #
first and readiest of his moveable means and effects #
lay out upon good heritable [on] personal security the #
sum of Eight hundred Pounds Sterling for [behalf] of #
each of us the said Christian Oliphant or Beveridge #
and Janet Oliphant taking bonds for the said sums #
payable to each of us in liferent and to the children #
procreated or to the procreated of our bodies equally #
amongst them share and share alike in fee But #
expressly excluding the jus mariti* of our respective #
husbands and declaring that the said sums should #
not be subject to their debts or deeds And also that #
the said sums should be [in full] to us the said #
Christian Beveridge and Janet Oliphant of all #
that we could ask claim or demand in and #
through the decease of our said father or in and #
through the decease of our said mother or of our #
Grandfather by the mother side in any manner #
of way And it is therby also declared that the said #
Trustees should be bound and obliged to divide #
the whole remaining part of the property heritable #
and moveable therby disponed amongst the other #
children procreated of the marriage betwext #
the said Henry Oliphant and the said Mrs Janet #
Hutchison his second spouse [..] Cecilia wife #
Alex’r Anderson Tenant in Chapel, Mary wife #
of Wm Thomson Blockmaker in Leith the said #
Rob’t Oliphant his eldest son and Alex’r, Henry, #
Wm & James Oliphant his other sons equally #
amongst them share and share alike, As the said #
[Trust] Disoposition and settlement containing

Page 3; Transcription of page 3;

Procuratory of Resignation* and sundry other clauses #
and obligating in itself more fully hear and now #
seeing that the said Cecilia Anderson, Mary Thomson #
and Alex’r, Henry, Wm, & James Oliphant have made #
payment to each of us the said Christian Beveridge #
and Janet Oliphant of the sum of Two hundred #
and Twenty five Pounds Sterling making together #
the sum of Four hundred and Fifty Pounds Sterling #
in consideration of our granting these presents #
in manner underwritten of which sums we #
the said Christian Beveridge, George Beveridge #
Janet Oliphant & Oliphant for our respective #
rights and interests do hereby acknowledge the #
receipt renouncing all objections to the contrary #
Therefore we the said Christian Beveridge & #
Janet Oliphant with the special advice #
and consent of our said husbands and we #
the said George Beveridge and Rob’t Oliphant #
for ourselves and our own rights and interests #
and as taking upon us for our said respective #
spouses and all of us with one consent and #
assent do hereby not only Ratify and #
[approve] of the disposition and settlement #
before narrated [executed] by the said Henry #
Oliphant in the whole heads articles clauses #
tenor and contents of the same in so far as #
we are interested therein in any mannor of #
way but also we have Exonered & discharged #
as we do hereby for our several rights and #
interest foresaid exoner acquit and #
simpliciter* discharge the said Trustees #
and all others the heirs and representatives

Page 4; Transcription of page 4;

of the said deceased Henry Oliphant of all claims #
and demands of every kind and description #
which we or any of us have or can pretend to #
have against the said deceased Henry Oliphant #
or against his estate heritable & moveable or #
the said Trustees or the Children above named #
of the said deceased Henry Oliphant or any others #
his heirs & representatives in any manner of #
way preceding the date hereof and particularly #
of all […] part of [year] legitim portion #
natural and share of [Executry] which we the #
said Christian Beveridge and Janet Oliphant #
or either of us can claim from them through #
the death of our said father, mother, or Grand- #
-father by the mother’s side respectively and of #
all action and execution competent or that #
may be competent – to us for the same saving #
always and excepting from these presents the #
foresaid provisions of Eight hundred Pounds #
Sterling settled upon us the Christian #
Beveridge and Janet Oliphant and our respective #
children by the Disposition and Deed of Settlement #
before narrated. And declaring that nothing #
herein contained shall be so [construed] as #
to extend to the said provisions in any manner #
of way. With and under which exception and #
declaration these presents are granted by us and #
shall be accepted by us & no otherwise which #
discharge above written we the said Christian #
Beveridge & Janet Oliphant with advice

Page 5 (inside cover); Transcription of page 5;

and consent foresaid and we the said Geo Beveridge #
and Rob’t Oliphant for ourselves and our several #
rights and interests bind and oblige ourselves #
respectively our heirs executors and successors to #
warrant at all hands and against all [deadly] #
as law will. And all of us consent to the registra- #
-tion hereof in the books of Council & Session or #
any others competent therein to remain for #
preservation and that all necessary execution #
may [pass] upon in decree to be interponed #
hereto in common form for which purpose #
we constitue
Our [Prors]
In witness whereof these presents #
written upon this and the two preceding pages #
of paper legally stamped by John Lun, clerk #
to Henry Gordon Dickson writer to the signet #
are subscribed by all of us at Kirkcaldy the Twenty #
eighth day of February Eighteen hundred #
and Twenty one years before these witnesses #
Simon Dempter, merchant in Kirkcaldy and #
Alex’r Thomson, clerk to me the said Geo #
Beveridge

Simon Dempter, witness
Alex’r Thomson, witness

Christian Beveridge
George Beveridge
Janet Oliphant
Rob’t Oliphant

Notes on terms used in the text;

• “infeft” (top of p.2); Collinsdictionary.com/infeft
• “sasine” (top of p.2); Wikipedia.org/Seisin
• “jus mariti” (p.2); Legal-Dictionary/Jus-mariti
• “Procuratory of Resignation” (top of p.3); TheLawDictionary.org/procuratory-of-resignation
• “simpliciter” (bottom of p.3); Dictionary of the Scots Language / simpliciter

OLIPHANT papers – Disposition of George BARKER; to his grandchildren; 1784

For some context, and an index to these documents, please SEE HERE.

If you can help with the transcription of these documents please get in touch.

Please click on the images to see the scans at full resolution.

Here is a family tree of George BARKER, his daughters, and grandchildren;
George BARKER descendants tree Jan2016version
There is also an Outline and a Report of George BARKER’s descendants (up to 4 generations).

George BARKER’s Settlement (of the same date) is HERE.

OLIPHANT papers; envelope 1; document 2;

Cover; 

Transcription of cover;

Disposition – George Barker – to His Children, 1784.

8th Oct 1789 [pro’] [registrate] – […] Robert Philp & – John Malcolm Baillies – David Anderson procurator

Booked

Page 1; 

Transcription of page 1;

Know all men by these presents Me George Barker shipmaster in Kirkcaldy In order to prevent all disputes at my death am resolved to settle my affairs and make the following destination of my heritable subjects I hereby give grant & dispone to and in favours of George Thomas & David Dougall law- ful children procreate betw[.] the deceast George Dougall Shipmaster in Kirkcaldy and Agnes Barker his spouse my daughter also deceast equally among them and their heirs and assignees heritably & irredeemably all and [H]aill that tenement of land and yard there to belonging lately purchased by me from William Oliphant lying within the burgh of Kirkcaldy at the head of the new harbour and on the south side of the high street bounded betw[..] the lands of the heirs of Walter McRay on the east, the lands of the heirs of William Gray on the west, the sea flood on the south and the said high street on the north parts as also all and [H]aill that tenement of land purchased by me from Francis Beveridge laying in the said town of Kirkcaldy in the pans there of on the south side of the street bounded with the high street and void ground on the east and west, the sea flood on the south and the high street on the north parts thereof, as also my just and equal half of all an[d] [H]aill that tenement of land yard and pertinents acquired by my decease[ed brother and me from Elizabeth Barker lying in the town of Kirkcaldy in the [hans] thereof and north side of the street bounded with the tenement of Thomas Brown’s heirs on the west, the tenement of David La[ui]gs heirs on the east, the [Imutow] lands on the north and high street on the south parts and also all and [H]aill that peice of void ground purchased by me from Margaret Beuters spouse to Theodore Lyall weaver in Kirkcaldy upon which I have since built houses lying in the said town of Kirkcaldy on the south side of the street bounded with void ground on the east, the sea flood on the south, a [vennal] on the west, and high street on the north parts. And I give grant and disponer to and in favours of Christian, Robert, George & Mary Oliphant lawful children procreate bet[..] William Oliphant shipmaster in Kirkcaldy & Mary Barker my daughter his spouse both now deceast equally among them and their heirs and assignees heritably and irredeemably the just and equal [E]aster half of all and [H]aill that larger tenement of land high and laigh back and fore lying in the said town of Kirkcaldy on the south side of the street purchased by me from Mr Patrick Ross bounded by the house of James Meldroms heirs on the west, an common vennal on the east, the sea flood on …

Page 2; 

Transcription of page 2;

… on the south & high street on the north parts as also the just and equal half of my just and equal half of all and [H]aill these two tenements of land of a long time ruinous with inner and outer yards all now turned into one entire yard inclosed on all sides and having a south dyke in place of the fare wall of the ruinous tenements being purchased from John Paterson of Kirkcaldy by my brother John and me lying in the said town of Kirkcaldy on the north side of the street bounded with the tenement & yard of Provost Kays heirs on the east, the lands of the Prime Gilt box on the west, [Initow] lands on the north and the high street on the south parts. And I give grant and dispone to and in favours of Christian & Janet Oliphant lawful children procreate bet[..] Henry Oliphant shipmaster in Kirkcaldy and the now deceast Christian Barker his spouse my third and youngest daughter and their heirs and assignees heritably and irredeemably the just and equal wester half of all and [H]aill the said larger tenement of land high and laigh back and fore lying and bounded as said is as also the other just and equal half of my just and equal half of all & [H]aill the sail two tenements of land now ruinous & inner and outer yards all now turned into one yard lying & bounded as said is. In the which several subjects above dispoued I bind and oblige me my heirs and successors to infeft and [s]eige my said grandchildren [m]ore saids for their differ- ent interests upon their own expences and that by resignation as after mentioned to be holden in free burgage Royal for payment of the burrow maills & service of burgh used and wout and for accomplishing of the said infeftment I hereby make & constitute

and each

of them jointly and severally my procurators for me and in my name purely and simply by staff & bastone to resign like as I hereby resign surrender and deliver the whole of the foregoing different & respective subjects all lying and bounded in manners above written which are here held as repeated in the hands of the Provost or any one of the Baillies of Kirkcaldy as in the hands of his majesty immediate lawful superior thereof in favors and for new infeftment of the same to be made given & granted to my said several grandchildren above named & their forsaids according to their several interests & proportions above specified which are also here held as repeated and that in such due and competent form as [effeirs] acts instruments and documents one or more in the pre[..]ifses to ask lift and raise & generally every other thing …

Page 3; 

Transcription of page 3;

… thing thereanent to do that I could do myself being personally present on which to the office of procuratory in such cases is known by law to appertain from ittew derate In like manner I hereby assign and make over to & in favors of my several grandchildren above named and their foresaids not only the whole rents mails and dutys that shall be due & resting at my death of the several subjects hereby disponed to them in manner above specified But also the respective writes & evident of & concerning the said subjects disponed and whole clauses therein contained with all that has followed or may follow on these writes surrogating & substituting my said several grandchildren & their foresaids in my full right title & place of the [premises] with power on my death to intro[milt] with uplift & discharge their rents & duties of the said several subjects above disponed & assigned [pursue] therefore as well as for implement & recovery of the said writes as accor[.] and in general to do every other thing there [a neut] as effectually as I could have done before granting these presents Reserving always to me not only my liferent of the whole subjects hereby disponed But also full power over the same and to do therewith as fully & effectually as if these presents had never been granted Dispensing with the not delivery of these presents in my own lifetime and declare the same a sufficient evident altho’ found lying by me or in the custody of any neutral person at my death any law or practice to the contrary notwithstanding and I hereby appoint the said Henry Oliphant to be tutor & [beurator] not only to his own children but also to the said children of his brother William for managing the subjects hereby disponed to them Declaring that he shall not be liable for omifsions but only for his actual intromission… Consenting to the Registration hereof in the Books of Councill & …. Burrow Court Books of Kirkcaldy or others competent for preservation and thereto constitutes

My Procurators In witness whereof these presents… consisting of this & the three preceeding pages of stamped paper (writte… by John Barker apprentice to William Drysdale Clerk of Kirkcaldy) are subscribed by me at Kirkcaldy the Eight day of # May One thousand seven hundred & Eighty four years Before # these witnesses; William Michie, taylor in Kirkcaldy, and the # said William Drysdale and John Barker ~

(signed) Wille: Drysdale, witness
(signed) William Michie, witness
(signed) John Barker, witness

(signed) George Barker