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

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.

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 – letter from Mr DOUGALL, to Betty BAXTER

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.

See 2 other documents (with notes) relating to George Dougall and Betty Baxter HERE and HERE.

OLIPHANT papers; envelope 2; document 4;

Cover; Transcription of cover;

Miss Betty Baxter

Letter
Mr Dougall
to
Betty Baxter

Letter; Transcription of letter;

Kirkaldy, 27 Sept 1821
Betty
The [inclosed] is a copy of Deed of Settlement
in favor of my dear Eliza & in which I have also
made [provision] for you – the [original] [paper] is
inclosed in a tin box which is [left] [in] [possess-]
[-ion] of Mr Robert Oliphant and this copy was
with myself.
As this paper will only come to you
in the [event] of my death my request to you
is that you pay all the [care] & [attention] in
your [power] to my dear little darling Eliza
and let her want nothing that can tend to her
comfort while she is along with you
George Dougall

OLIPHANT papers – Settlement of George BARKER – in favour of 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 Disposition (of the same date) is HERE.

OLIPHANT papers; envelope 2; document 2;

Cover;

Transcription of cover;

Copy
Settlement
George Barker
In favour of
His Grandchildren
1784
8th October 1789 [prod… &]
registered […] John
Philp & John Malcom
Baillies. David Anderson
[…]
Booked

Inside (top of page);Transcription of inside (top of page);

Know all men by these present, 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 moveables Do therefore give Grant assign and dispone one #
third part of my whole moveable and [per]sonal estate [G]oods and […] [Debts] and sums of #
money ([…] moveables and […] cloths included) that shall belong and be [resting] to me #
at my death to and in favour of the children equally of my daughter Mary with William #
Oliphant shipmaster in Kirkcaldy both now deceased the names of said children being #
Christian, Robert, George, and Mary Oliphant, and another third part of my said #
moveable and personal estate to and in favour of George, Thomas, and David Dougall #
equally being the children of my other daughter Agnes with George Dougall #
Shipmaster in Kirkcaldy both also now deceased, and the remaining third part of #
my said moveable and personal estate to and in favour of Christian and Janet #
Oliphant equally being the children of my other and youngest daughter now #
deceased with Henry Oliphant, Shipmaster in Kirkcaldy. [In…agating] and […] #
my said [several] Grandchildren above named in my [full] [sight] title and [place] of the #
[premesses] and [nominate] and [appoint] them to be my Executors according to the above #
dicision Dispensing with the [generality] of these presents and [admitting] the […] to #
be as [solid] and [effectual] as if my whole moveable subjects household furniture and #
debts had been specially moved herein and [I de..] and appoint [that] before any [division] #
of the funds hereby assigned take place by [virtue] hereof my death bed and funeral #
expences and all my debts shall be satisfied and paid as [well] as the sum of thirty #
pounds sterling to Agnes Bett […] in Kirkcaldy which I bequeath to her #

Inside (bottom of page);

Transcription of inside (bottom of page);

for good […] [payable] within six months after my decease and also a debt of forty #
pounds Sterling and interest thereof from the [fifteenth] of […] Seventeen hundred and #
Twenty six [till] payment being money borrowed by me from my daughter Mrs Dougall #
and I gave […] [or] thoer [Voucher] And the remainder of my said moveable funds to be #
divided by a three part division in terms hereof. And in regard [that] during the #
lifetime of my said daughter Mary I advanced her and her husband William #
Oliphant to the extent of One Hundred and eleven pounds Sterling therefore and #
in order to make the Children of my daughter Agnes equal I give up and discharge #
in favour of the said three Children of my daughter Agnes a [debt] of [two thousand] #
[Merks] which I paid for them to the heirs of Robert [White] [Mariner] in Kirkcaldy [conform] #
to an [assignation] in my favour dated the [third] and sixth days of February [Seventeen] #
hundred and [Twenty] two Years which I order to be delivered up to my said three Grand- #
-children and I having claims upon my other daughter and Henry Oliphant to the [extent] #
of One hundred and Sixty four pounds Sterling which I [compute] to be [fifty] five #
pounds more than I have given my other two daughters or their families therefore and #
to make an equality I […] the share of my moveables falling to the share of #
the Children of the said Henry Oliphant [&] with the payment of the said [fifty] #
five pounds Sterling One half thereof to be paid to the Children of George Dougall #
and the other half to the Children of William Oliphant and I appoint that #
the said debt […] by me from Mrs Dougall and interest thereof shall #
be paid out of my funds [without] any [conformation] to her Children equally #
declaring that I have no other claims upon my said daughters their husbands #
or families then what is above specified and settled by these [presents] [Res…ing] #

Will Drysdale, witness
Will Michie, witness
John Barker, witness

(signed) George Barker

Back page; Transcription of back page;

always to me not only my life rent of the subjects hereby conveyed but also full and absolute #
power over the same and to use and dispose thereupon as effectually as if these [presents] #
had not been granted and I [dispensed] with the not delivery hereof in my own #
lifetime and declare the same to be as [valid] and effectuall as if delivered and a #
good deed [altho] found lying by me or in the custody of a [neutral] person at my death #
any laws or practice to the contrary [nor] with standing and I hereby appoint the said #
Henry Oliphant to be Tutor and Curator not only to his own two Daughters but #
also to the Children of his said Brother William Oliphant for managing the #
subjects hereby assigned to them declaring he shall not be liable for [Amissions] but #
also (for) his (actual) [Intebmissions]. Consenting to the registration hereof in the [Banks] #
of Council and Session [burrous] [court] Books of Kirkcaldy or others competent #
for [preservation] and therets I constitute. #

My [Procurators] in witness whereof these presents (written #
on stamped paper by William Drysdale town clerk of Kirkcaldy) are subscribed #
by me at Kirkcaldy the eight day of May One Thousand Seven hundred and #
eighty four years before these witnesses; William Michie, taylor in Kirkcaldy #
John Barker, apprentice to the said William Drysdale, and the said William #
Drysdale.

signed

William Drysdale, witness
William Michie, witness
John Barker, witness

(signed) George Barker

.

OLIPHANT papers – Betty or Elizabeth BAXTER

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.

See 2 more, closely connected documents (with additional notes) HERE and HERE.

OLIPHANT papers; envelope 1; document 10;

Cover;

Transcription of cover;

Betty [or] Elizabeth BAXER

Inside – attached certificate;

Transcription of attached certificate;

I X Robert Jameson {x Allan Grant}, Messenger at Arms, by virtue of letters in supplement of the # Sheriff Depute of the Shire of Fife his Precept # [interponed] to the [summonds] therein mentioned # [where]of the foregoing is a full double to the will /- # which […] [there] are … # dated and signeted the twenty second day of December [barrent**] # at the instance of Robert Oliphant shipowner in Kirkaldy, Mrs # Janet Oliphant his wife, John Spittall merchant # in Kirkaldy and Alexander Forsyth writer in Edinburgh # tutors & curators nominated & appointed by the lately # deceased George Dougall Esq of Kirkcaldy to his infant # daughter Elizabeth Dougall during her minority [complainers] # in his Majesty’s name and authority, summon, warn, and charge you Betty or Elizabeth # Baxter mother of the said pupil #

to compear before the said Sheriff Depute or his substitutes at # Cupar #

within the ordinary court-place where they are in use to sit for the administration of justice, the # […] day of […] in the hour of cause, with continuation of # days, to answer at the instance of the said complainers in the matter and to the effect mentioned # in the said letters, with certification as effeirs. This I do, upon the twenty third day of # December One thousand eight hundred and twenty three years, before these witnesses, # Peter M’Niven, William Butter, George Dippie, James Thain, Charles Wilson, [William Forrest], # [Kenneth Morison], – indwellers in Edinburgh. # Rob Jameson

Inside – side 1;

Transcription of side 1;

Andrew Clephane Esq advocate Sheriff #
Depute of the Shire of Fife to #
[Maids] of officers of the said Shire #
[conly] and [seally] specially constituted #
Greeting Whereas it is humbly meant #
& [shewn] to me and my substitute #
by Robert Oliphant shipowner in #
Kirkaldy, Mrs Janet Oliphant #
his wife, John Spittal merchant #
in Kirkaldy and Alex Forsyth writer #
in Edinburgh  Tutors & curators nominated #
and appointed by the lately deceased #
George Dougall Esq of Kirkaldy to his #
infant Daughter, Elizabeth Dougall #
[conform] to Deed of conveyance #
executed by him [upon] the #
12th Oct 1820 & recorded in the Books of #
Council & session, as a probative writ, the #
5th of September 1823 whereby for the #
causes therein mentioned he the said #
George Dougall gave granted assigned #
and conveyed to & in favor of John #
Pratt manufacturer in Linktown #
of Kirkaldy (who declined to accept) – #
Alex Forsyth writer in Edinburgh, John #
Spittal, merch[ant] in Kirkaldy & #
Robert Oliphant shipowner there #
and the [acceptors] & [acceptors] of #
them & the [survivors] or survivor #
of those who might accept all #
& sundry his whole moveable #
Estate and Effects [Debts] & sums #
of money as therein mentioned #
to be held by his [said] trustees #
for the behoof* of the said Elizabeth #
Dougall his daughter during her #
minority, as in manner therein #
mentioned

Inside – side 2;

Transcription of side 2;

mentioned, and also [he] [herely] con-#
-stituted & appointed the said #
John Pratt who declines accepting #
and the said Alex Forsyth, John #
Spittal and Robert Oliphant; #
and also the said Mrs Janet #
Oliphant and such of [these] #
as should accept & the survivors #
& successor of them, to be the tutors #
& [educators] to his said Daughter; #
as the said deed of conveyance #
here [with] [produced] more #
fully leaves; And it being #
incumbent upon the [com-#
-planers] to give up [inventorie] #
of the said Elizabeth Dougall’s #
means and Estate as prescribed #
by act of Parliament anno 1672 #
Entitled “Act Anent Pupils #
“and Minors and their Tutors #
“and Curators” It is necessary #
thereto that the persons #
after named & designed #
nearest in kin to the said #
pupil on the father’s side #
and mother’s side [be] #
lawfully summoned #
to [con…] with the #
complaniers as tutors #
and curators forsaid #
in making up the said #
[Inventories] [Heerefore] it is #
my Will [x.. x..]

Notes on terms used in the text;

• “Messenger at Arms” (Wikipedia). [Although I could not decipher the surname of “Robert Jameson” from this document, a bit of web-searching for “”Messenger at Arms” “Edinburgh”” revealed records for Robert Jameson, HERE, and for the death of Allan Grant (who’s name is crossed out) on 1st January 1824. HERE ]
• “Sheriff Depute” (Wikipedia)
• “barrent” (Wikipedia); third-person plural.
• “behoof” (Wikipedia); meaning ‘benefit’ / ‘advantage’.

I’ll try to add a brief family tree to explain some of the people and relationships contained in this document.

George BARKER, b. 1704, married Christian BELL (or BETT) in 1732, and they had 3 daughters;

• Mary BARKER, b. 1733, m. 1763 to William OLIPHANT (b. 1728).
• Agnes BARKER, b. 1736, m. 1762 to George DOUGALL [1].
• Christian BARKER, b. 1741, m. 1766 to Henry OLIPHANT (b. 1741).

Mary BARKER and William OLIPHANT had 5 children, including Robert OLIPHANT, b. 1765 (who is named in the document above)

Christian BARKER and Henry OLIPHANT had 4 children, including Janet OLIPHANT, b. 1777 (named in the document above, and who was married to her cousin Robert).

Agnes BARKER and George DOUGALL [1] had 3 sons, including George DOUGALL [2], b. 1763, who is the “father” named in this document.

A search of the IGI suggests that Elizabeth DOUGALL (the “daughter” named in this document), was christened. 30/7/1819, at St Cuthberts, Edinburgh, to George DOUGALL and an Elizabeth BAXTERS. [IGI batch no; C11987-7, Microfilm; 1066756  103059]

OLIPHANT papers – Mr BAXTER, Gray Street, Newington, 1825

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.

To give a little background context to this document, the information that I have is that a George DOUGAL (or DUGAL) married Agnes BARKER in 1762, and I have note of them having 3 sons. Agnes BARKER had 2 sisters (Mary and Christian), who married brothers from the OLIPHANT family – both of whom are my direct ancestors.

EDIT; At first glance I took the surname to which this letter is addressed, to be “BARKER”! But having transcribed it, then looked closer at what it says, and done a little digging into other records, I’ve found that George DOUGAL and Agnes BARKER’s oldest son (also ‘George’), had a daughter (Elizabeth, chr.30/7/1819 at St Cuthberts, Edinburgh) outside of marrage, with an Elizabeth BAXTER. So this letter (and 2 other documents HERE and HERE) appear to relate to the custody of that child.

OLIPHANT papers; envelope 1; document 9;

Cover – address;

Transcription of cover – address;

Mr Baxter # Gray Street # Newington

inside – left page;

Transcription of inside – left page;

Edin. 17 Dec 1824. The Lords having corse #
[dered] [the] [mutual] memorials & whole [cause] #
before answer appoint the [trustees] of the #
said George DOUGALL to lodge a [con…] [.] #
[stating] [what] [sum] they propose to pay to the #
[pursuer] Elizabeth BAXTER in name of [Alim.] #
for Elizabeth DOUGALL in case she shall #
[persist] in [claiming] the custody of her the #
[con…] to be [prented] & […] on or #
before the […] day in the [needs] under an #
[amend] of Ten pounds sterling –

inside – right page;

Transcription of inside – right page;

Edin. 5 July 1825.
The Lords having resumed consideration of this #
cause and advised the [mutual] memorials for the #
parties with the [condescendance] for Mr DOUGALLs Trustees #
Defenders and the answers thereto for Mrs Elizabeth #
BAXTER [pursuer] they find the said Trustees Defenders #
liable to [furnish] to the pursuer as aliment for his [daughter] #
the yearly sum of One hundred & Fifty pounds stirling [&] #
that from George DOUGALLs death 26th August 1823 to #
be paid to her in advance and by half yearly payments #
as also in the yearly sum of Forty pounds sterling for the #
[rents] of a house and that by half yearly payments #
as also in the yearly sum of £40 sterling for the [rents] #
~~~ house and that by half yearly payments & [de~~~] #
~~~. Find the Trustees liable to the [pur…] #
in expences appoints an account to be given [in] #
and [comit] it when lodged to the auditor to [take] #
and report and [find] that all the expences [incurred] #
in the [discussion] are to be paid out of and charged #
by the Trustees against the Trust funds and also [find] #
the said [defenders] liable in such reasonable [forms] #
of expence as may be necessarily laid out or incurred #
in the education of the said Elizabeth BAXTER such sums #
to be paid on a regular account with sufficient vouchers #
being [exhibited] and that half yearly and […]. #
two words delete #
signed 8[th] July – [C] Hope [J.P.D.]

Back page;

Transcription of back page;

Mr A Scott with Comp~ to MRS BAXTER begs to #
enclose copies of the Interlocutors [pronounced] by the #
court & signed ^ today in the [process] between her and Mr Dougall’s #
Trustees, – and to congratulate her upon the success- #
-ful termination of this cause. – [Mr.] will call upon #
[Mrs] B. some day soon.

17 George Street #
8 July 1825

Notes on terms used in the text;

• Aliment (Wikipedia)
• Interlocutor (Wikipedia); an order of any Scottish Court.

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