Laid out below is a copy of the Statistical Account of Scotland entry for Alloa parish, published in 1793.
The Statistical Account of Scotland, Vol 8 (1793)
NUMBER XL.
PARISH of ALLOA.
(County of Clackmannan, Presbytery of Stirling, Synod of Perth and Stirling)
Drawn up from the communications of the Rev. Mr. James Frame, and of John Francis Erskine, esq. of Alloa, representative of the Marr Family.
Origin of the Name.
THE name, like most other places, has been variously spelt. In the charter granted by King Robert, in the 9th year of his reign, (anno 1315), to Thomas de Erskyne, it is spelt Alway; and, in some subsequent ones, Aulway, Auleway, and sometimes Alloway. Camden, in his Britannia, Seems to think it the Alaunaimnu of the Romans *. He says, "Ptolemy places Alauna somewhere about Sterling; and it was either upon Alon, a little river, that runs here into the Forth, or at Alway, a seat of the Erskines #".
* When the Romans crossed the Forth, it seems probable, that it was either by the ford of Manor, a small creek, about 6 miles higher up the water than Alloa, or at the ford of the Frosk, which is only a mile and a half from it. There are vestiges of a Roman causeway, running into the river at Manor; and it is only within these 13 or 14 years, than the remains of a small castellum, for protecting the passage, have been totally defaced. In 1774, a sword, or dagger, of a composition resembling brass, was taken up in a salmon net, between the ford of Frosk and Manor. It had on it's point a piece of human skull. It appeared to be of Roman workmanship; and seems to confirm the opinion, that this part of the river had been frequented by the Romans, as a passage from the south to the north. This dagger was presented by Mr. Alexander Coldstream, schoolmaster at Crieff (into whose hands it fell, when schoolmaster at Alloa), to the society of Antiquarians in Perth.
# It might seem whimsical to derive the name of Alloa from the Greek, and yet there are several circumstances, which might tend to justify that conjecture. Alua was a rural feast of the Athenians, which was adopted by the Romans, and answered to our harvest hame. It was also used to signify a grove, or fruited plain, well adapted to the celebration of such a feast. If we suppose, that the Romans made good their passage across the Forth, about the time of the harvest, we may easily conjecture that they should conceive the idea of celebrating their harvest feast, at a time which they thought propitious to their wishes, especially in a situation peculiarly fitted for that purpose; and hence they might very naturally affix to that place the name of Alua.
Situation.
Alloa is a part in the county of Clackmannan, situated on the north side of the river Forth, west Long. 3° 45' lat. 38° 10'. It is about 27 1/4 miles higher up the frith than Leith, and 17 lower down the river than Stirling. The windings of the Forth, between Stirling and Alloa are very remarkable; the distance, from the quay of Alloa, to the quay of Stirling, measured in the centre of the river, is 17 miles, and to the bridge of Stirling it is 19 1/2 miles; Whereas the distance, by land, from Alloa to the bridge of Stirling, does not exceed 7 miles, though the turnings in the road are numerous. It is the most considerable port in the river; for the upper part of the Frith of Forth begins at Kennet Pans and Higgins Neuk. - There are 3 1/2 feet greater depth of water, in the harbour of Alloa, than on the bar of Leith.
Extent, and soil.
The parish is, on an average, about 4 miles from E. to W. and about 2 miles from N. to S. It consists of about 3,900 acres. It is bounded on the south by the Forth; and the bend of the river is so great, that the banks measure about 5 1/2 miles. The grounds, on the banks of the Forth, are flat, and of a very rich carse, or kerse soil. Those on the banks of the Devon, are a good carse or clay, though not quite so fertile. The grounds rise pretty suddenly from the carses, and are of a light kind, but fertile. Towards the centre of the parish, the grounds are pretty high. They are most agreeably diversified; but the land is much inferior in quality.
Town and Tower, etc.
The situation of the town is pleasant. There are strata of rock, that run a considerable way between the kerse and the high grounds, and break off about the Ferry, a little above the harbour. On part of this rock is built the Tower, and the ancient part of the town of Alloa. The Tower is the residence of the representatives of the family of Marr, and is now possessed by a grandson of the late Earl; who has repaired the house, and made great improvements on the land. It was built prior to the year 1300. The highest Turret is 89 feet from the ground, and the thickness of the walls is 11 feet. Notwithstanding its being situated on a flat, there is a most uncommonly fine rich prospect from the top of the tower ; and 9 counties can be discerned from it. The gardens, which were laid out by the late Earl, in the old taste, of long avenues and clipped hedges, are considerably modernised; and the large lawn is now dressing up; so that the many fine trees in it will be shewn to advantage. There was originally a natural wood to the eastward, and the greatest part of it still remains. All kinds of trees, thrive remarkably well; and there are oaks, beeches, elms, planes or sycamores, limes, and ashes of considerable circumference. There is an uncommon fine black poplar, that measures 13 1/3 feet round, at the height of 3 or 4 feet from the ground. The town formerly almost surrounded the tower, as in the rude ages they afforded mutual benefits to each other. Within these 30 years, many houses, situated near the tower, have been purchased by the family. Most of the streets are narrow and irregular *.
* The Earl seems to have been particularly attentive to the healthiness of the town, and to have endeavoured to make the streets broader, and as straight as the irregularity of the former ones would admit of, so as to unite them. He built one street on a regular plan. It runs in a line parallel to the gardens. It is called John's street, and leads to the harbour. It is between 76 and 80 feet broad, and terminates in a beautiful gravel walk. A row of lime trees, on every side affords an agreeable shade in summer, and a comfortable shelter in winter.
Harbour, Dock and Ferry.
At the end of this walk, is the harbour of Alloa, where, at neap tides, the water rises from 12 to 15 feet, and at spring tides from 17 to 22. The quay is built of rough hewn stone, in a substantial manner; and runs within the land, and forms a Pow, or small creek, where the rivulet, that runs through the N.E. end of the town, falls into the river. There is an act of parliament, that lays a small duty on the anchorage, for support and improvements to the harbour; and this last year, the trustees of this fund have widened the pow. A little above the harbour, there is an excellent dry dock, capable of receiving vessels of great burthen; both from the depth of the water, which is 16 feet at spring tides, and the width of the gates, which is 34 1/2 feet, free of all obstructions. Opposite the dock, there is a great depth of water, with excellent anchorage, and full room to swing the largest vessel. As the dock has no connection with the harbour, nor is situated near any buildings, the crews of the vessels that are repairing can cook on board. Above the dry dock there is a ferry, which is sometimes called the Craig Ward, and sometimes the King's Ferry, where two very complete piers have been built, one on each side of the river ; which renders it an easy, safe and commodious passage, at all times of the tide. The breadth of water here, at high tide, is above half a mile *.
* If the scheme of making turnpike roads, on both sides, takes place, this will be one of the shortest, and most agreeable communications, opened between the north and the south, with scarcely any interruption from wind or tide. Mr. Erskine has lately begun to feu out ground for a new town, between John Street and the ferry, on a beautiful field, and regular plan. It promises to be an airy healthy place, and excellently calculated for those who are carrying on business at the harbour.
Glass-House, Tile and Tan-work.
To the west of the ferry stands a glass-house, for making bottles, which in thought to be the most conveniently situated of any in Britain. It can have whatever quantity of coals it requires; at a very easy rate, as they are conveyed from the pits, to the very door of the glass-house, by a waggon way. There is a pier adjoining to the house, by which all materials wanted are loaded and unloaded. It is said, that there are proposals making for building another house. The extent to which the manufactory of glass has been carried, is amazing. It is not half a century, since one glass house at Leith, and one at Glasgow, supplied all Scotland, while the company wrought the one half year at the one place, and the next at the other. Similar observations might be made on other manufactures and lead to very enlarged speculations. A little to the N. W. of the glass-house, there is a tile and brick work, upon a pretty large scale, and well employed. Above that, there is a good tan-work.
Fishing, Islands, Water Fowls, etc.
Before we leave the river, upon whose banks all these different works are situated, we must take notice of the fishing. It is certain, that, for many years, numbers of people took to the fishing of salmon, during the summer months, but in a bad stile, with what is called pock nets. They were not very successful, as might have been foreseen; however, they continued, though with small advantage, till a law-suit was carried on against them by the town of Stirling; and the mode of pock nets being condemned, on an old act of parliament, they were restrained within certain limits, from fishing in that manner; and the fishing, since that time, has been mostly abandoned *. After passing the ferry of Craig Ward, the river becomes narrower; and there are some beautiful islands, which are called Inches; These furnish excellent pasture for cattle during the summer, and are esteemed medicinal for such as are weakly or sick. They are a gentle kind of salt marsh, as they me entirely covered with water in spring tides. These Inches are frequented by great quantities of water fowl, viz. wild ducks, teals, widgeons, gulls, etc. Here they find shelter, and a variety of food suited to their nature.
Sometimes scarts, or cormorants, gooseanders, etc. appear here. The stormy peterels, or what the sailors call Mother Cary's Chickens, were seen about the Ferry last winter; and one of them was killed by Mr. Erskine, junior. It was thought singular to see these birds, who seldom appear near the land, so far up the country. Upon the point of these inches, they erect what are called yares, a sort of scaffold projecting into the water; upon which they build little huts to protect them from the weather; from these scaffolds they let down, at certain times of the tide, their nets, and are often very successful in taking the smaller fish, such as herrings, garvies, or sprats, sparlings, or smelts, small whitings, haddocks, sea trouts, and eels. In this manner salmon are sometimes caught; as well as congo eels, sturgeon, soals, turbots, cod, gurnet, or piper, and skate**. Sometimes, about the end of September, there comes a vast shoal of fish, called gandanooks, or Egyptian Herrings. They have a faint resemblance of the mackarel, but with a long sharp bill, like a snipe. This becomes fatal to them on our muddy banks, as the bill is fixed in the mud; and in this way they are entangled and caught in great quantities, on the ebbing of the tide. They are not an unpleasant fish, but rather dry; they are however a great relief to many poor people. Porpoises now and then appear here, and sometimes small whales have been seen and taken ***.
* Had this restraint operated as it ought to have done, and obliged them to have exchanged their method, and employed the long nets, the best effects would probably have followed. The excuse generally given for not trying it, is the depth of water, and the foulness of the bottom. The last, it is thought might be partly remedied; and the success which attends this method, a little farther west, and in the same parish, gives great encouragement to make the experiment.
** In September 1777, a skate, of the species of the sharp nosed ray, was caught here, which was of a very large size. The length, from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail, was 7 feet 3 inches; the breadth, from the extremity of one fin to that of the other, 5 feet 3 inches; and it weighed 13 1/2 stones Dutch weight, which is about 2 1/2 cwt. avoirdupoise.
*** About 2 years ago, an angler, or fishing frog, was thrown ashore at the Ferry. It is a fish of very uncommon appearance, resembling a frog in it's tadpole state. They sometimes grow to a large size, and are thought to be a great enemy of the dogfish.
Tullibody.
In proceeding up the river, we come to the barony of Tullibody. The house is set down in the Carse, almost close to the water side. Behind it, on the north, there is a beautiful bank, well furnished with a variety of fine trees ; and on each hand of this hank, almost at equal distances from the house, there are two prominences, jutting out into the Carse, which seem to protect and shelter the lower grounds. The one on the east is covered with trees, and the one on the west with some farm houses.
Rivers, Fish, etc.
In the front of the house is the river, with two of the Inches formerly mentioned. From this, up to the Cambus, they continue to fish with tolerable success. General Abercromby now lets the fishing for 40L. per annum, which formerly only gave 5L. Upon the west, and not a mile from the house of Tullibody, the river Devon discharges itself into the Forth; and vessels of tolerable burden can load and unload, at a pier, built at the mouth of the Devon. Sloops and large boats, loaded with grain, come up near to the village of Cambus, to supply the mills, and a brewery, and to carry off the manufactures of both. A high dam-head, erected for driving the corn and barley mills on each side of the river, forms a great obstruction to the salmon getting up the Devon. They are seen often attempting this, but they seldom succeed, except in high tide. An oil mill has lately been erected on this river, which is said to perform a great deal of work. On the other side of the Devon, there is a rich flat piece of ground, called West Cambus, belonging to Lord. Alva. It consists of 160 acres of ground, which is let in two farms, one of which has the corn mill. The tenants pay kain, cess, and school master's salary, over and above their rent. The lands of Bandeath, Kersie, and Frosk, which all lie on the other side of the Forth, are bound and thirled to the mill of West Cambus *. West Cambus is bounded by the parish of Logie, both the north and west. The lands of East Cambus run along the banks of the Devon, until they meet with the upper barony of Tullibody **. The Upper and Lower baronies of Tullibody ***, or what are called the Carse and Dryfield, contain about 1100 acres. The tenants pay kains and cess, and are obliged to carry their farm barley 6 miles, if required; but this seldom or never happens. They are subject also to a darg (or day's work), for every acre, or 10d per annum. All multures are abolished.
Since this account was wrote, it has been found to be a mistake, that this collar was taken up near Cambus ; for it was dragged by a net out of the Forth, opposite to Chamberlain Lands, in the parish of Logie, whereof Sir John Arskin is superior. But as the history of this collar was probably unknown to Mr. Wright, when he wrote the account of the parish of Logie, it is inserted here as a curious fact, well worthy of being generally known.
* Some years ago, between the Cambus and the Frosk ford, there was dragged up a brass collar, with the inscription on it: "Alexander Steuart, found guilty of death for theft, at Perth, 5th December 1701, and gifted by the Justiciers, as a perpetual servant to Sir John Aresken of Alva." This collar is now in the possession of the Antiquarian Society of Scotland, with the following copy of the Justiciar's gift, which is taken from the original in the Duke of Atholl's charter house:
"At Perth, this 5th day of December 1701. The commissioners of Justiciary of the fourth district, for securing the peace in the highlands, considering that Donald Robertson, Alexander Stewart, John Robertson, and Donald McDonald, parishioners within the tolbooth, and indicted and tried at this court, and by virtue of inquest, returned guilty of death; and the commissioners have changed their punishment of death to perpetual servitude, and that the said pannels are at the court's disposal: Therefore, the said commissioners have given and gifted, and hereby give and gift the said Donald McDonald, one of the said parishioners, as a perpetual servant to the right honourable John Earl of Tullibardine ; recommending to his lordship to cause provide an collar of brass, iron or copper, which, by his sentence or doom, whereof an extract is delivered to the magistrates of the said burgh of Perth, is to be upon his neck, with the inscription 'Donald McDonald, found guilty of death for theft, at Perth, December 5, 1701, and gifted as a perpetual servant to the John Earl of Tullibardine' And recommending also to his Lordship, to transport him from the said prison once the next week. And the said commissioners have ordained, and hereby ordain the magistrates of Perth, and keeper of their tolbooth, to deliver the said Donald McDonald to the said Earl of Tullibardine, having the said collar and inscription, conform to the sentence and doom aforesaid. Extracted from the books of adjournal of the said district by me James Taylor, writer to his Majesty's signet, clerk of court.
sic Subscribitur James Taylor, clerk"
** Here there are some fine crofts, which are supposed to have been given the name Tullibothy or Tullibody, (i.e. The croft of the oath), to the barony and village, which stands on the head of it. Many new houses have been built of late. There are the remains of an old church in Tullibody; the lands of which, with the inches and fishing, are narrated in a charter by David I, who founded the Abbey of Cambuskenneth, in the year 1147; and are made over to that abbacy, together with the church of Tullibody, and it's chapel of Alloa. There are no records of the union of these two churches of Alloa and Tullibody. It seems probable, that it was about the beginning of the Reformation. It appears from John Knox, that, in the year 1559, when Monsieur d'Oysel commanded the French troops on the coast of Fife, they were alarmed with the arrival of the English fleet, and thought of nothing but a hasty retreat. It was in the month of January, and at the breaking up of a great storm. William Kirkcaldy of Grange, attentive to the circumstances in which the French were caught, took advantage of this situation, and marched with great expedition towards Stirling, and cut the bridge of Tullibody, which is over the Devon, to prevent their retreat. The French, finding no other means of escape, took the roof off the church, and laid it along the bridge where it was cut, and got safe to Stirling. It is generally believed, that this church remained in the same dismantled state till some years ago, that George Abercromby, esq. of Tullibody, covered it with a new roof, and erected within it a tomb for his family. There is still a large burying ground around this church; and on the north side of it, where there had formerly been an entry, there is a stone coffin, with a niche for the head, and two for the arms, covered with a thick hollowed lid, like a tureen. The lid is a good deal broken; but a curious tradition is preserved of the coffin, viz.
"that a certain young lady of the neighbourhood had declared her affection for the minister, who, either from his station, or want of inclination, made no returns; that the lady sickened and died; but gave orders not to bury her in the ground, but to put her body in the stone coffin, an place it at the entry to the church." Thus was the poor vicar punished; and the stone retains the name of the maiden stone.
***On the east end of the village and crofts, there was a rugged piece of ground, upwards of 140 acres, formerly let at 40L Scotch, or 31L 6s 8d. Sterling. Between 60 and 70 years ago, it was inclosed, and planted with firs. When they were between 40 and 50 years of age, they were cut, and sold at from 50L to 60L per acre; and the ground is now planted with oaks, which are in a very thriving condition. Immediately on the east of this wood, there is a rising ground, in the upper barony of Alloa, called Lorn's Hill, probably from its being the spot where the Marquis of Lorn encamped, when in pursuit of the marquis of Montrose in the civil wars. Mr Erskine has humoured the lying of the ground, in forming his inclosures and clumps, and belts or strips of planting; so that it is at present a pleasant spot, and will, in a few years, become a very agreeable ferme ornee.
Shaw Park.
On the N. E. extremity of the parish, stands Shaw Park, the seat of Lord Cathcart. The house and offices take up a pretty large space. The grounds about it are delightfully varied, and set off the large plantations to great advantage. The late Lord bestowed a very large sum of money, on it and the house; which stands high, as the ground rises to it gradually from the Forth, which is about 3 miles distant. It commands an extensive prospect. From the drawing room windows, you have in view a fine reach of the river, with the towers of Alloa and Clackmannan, and the castle of Stirling; and even the hills of Tinto, in Clydesdale, and Ben Lomond, are distinctly seen.
Artificial Lake, Mills, etc.
Upon the eastern extremity of the parish, there is a large artificial piece of water, that looks like a lake. It was made about the beginning of the century, at a very considerable expence, for the use of the Alloa coal works. It is called Gartmorn Dam. The head, which was heightened and repaired a few years ago, is faced with rough hewn stone, and measures upwards of 320 yards. When the dam is full, it covers 128 Scotch acres of ground, nearly equal to 162 English statute acres. There is a sluice, which regulates the quantity of water to he conveyed into a lade, which first drives a mill, originally erected for grinding snuff, but now better employed in chipping and grinding wood and dye stuffs. A lint mill has, within these few years, been built, just before the water is conveyed into pipes for forcing it up to the engine, for raising the water out of the coal pits, and to another for drawing up the coals. Having performed these important purposes, for which the large reservoir was originally made, the same water is again collected into a smaller dam, and from thence conveyed in a lade, to a fine set of mills in the town of Alloa, for grinding wheat, oats, and malt, and making pearl barley. There are two large wheels, of 19 feet diameter, in the centre of the house, which drive the whole machinery in both ends of the mills. Though all the mills are seldom employed at the fame time, they can be wrought, on a great exertion, and are capable of grinding 400 bolls, about equal to 250 quarters in a day *. From these mills the water falls into a rivulet, that runs through the town, and drives a snuff and fulling mill; it then passes through Mr Erskine's pleasure grounds, till it comes near the harbour; where it is again confined by a strong dam of earth; and a large sluice is built in it, of hewn stone, with a long trough of stone, which gives the water a prodigious velocity, for clearing the harbour of the mud: so that this little water, originally a small branch of the Black Devon, (fed only by a few springs, and the surface water), is made to serve the most important purposes, by driving 7 mills, within this parish, besides cleaning the harbour.
* These mills have been erected within these 10 years. The building is 93 feet long, over walls, 31 feet broad, and 32 feet high. The machinery alone cost 500L. and is uncommonly well executed. From the time the foundation stone was laid, it was not quite 12 months before the mills began to work; and, notwithstanding the great stress upon such new walls, they were so well built, that there is not the smallest crack to be observed.
Agriculture
About 20 years ago, the husbandry of this parish was uncommonly bad, particularly in the barony of Alloa *. On the expiration of the tacks (leases), a great change took place. The sizes of the farms were enlarged; the tenants were no longer obliged to drive coals; all services and thirlages were abolished; inclosing went briskly on, and the fences are now remarkable, both for strength and beauty. A wall of 2 1/2 feet high, built with stone and lime, is placed within a foot of the thorns, according to Sir George Suttie's method, thus mixing the security of the fence with the beauty and warmth of the hedge. There are many clumps and strips of planting interspersed through the farms, so that, in a few years, what was a most uncomfortable dreary waste, will become some of the best cultivated, and most beautiful spots in Scotland. The improvement of agriculture has, indeed, been most uncommonly rapid in this little corner, perhaps more so than any other **. There are six threshing machines in this parish. The last erected was by a firmer, who has only 60 Scotch, or 76 English acres of ground; and as improvements are daily making in them, and the price is reduced, it is probable that, in a very short time, they will be held to be as indispensably necessary to a farm as the fanners ***.
There is no particular rotation or course of crops universally followed here. The turnip husbandry cannot be well adopted, as the low grounds are carse, or rich clay, and most of the higher grounds have a subsoil, of a cold stiff til1 (or barren clay); so that the damage done, by poaching the ground, in taking off the crop, overbalances any advantage, that could possibly accrue from the cultivation of that useful root, so beneficial to farmers, in a more favourable soil****. The following rotation is practiced by some of the farmers, on carse lands: The 1st year, fallow; the 2nd, wheat; the 3d, beans; the 4th, barley and grass seeds; the 5th, hay; the second crop cut for soiling horses and cattle in the house; then broken up in the 6th year for oats- Sometimes a crop of hay is taken in the 6th, soiling, etc. and then it is broke up in the 7th year for oats. Some farmers sow clover alone; others mix a little rye-grass with it.
In the higher grounds, or, as they are sometimes improperly called, Dryfield, some farmers have, the 1st year fallow, or potatoes; the 2nd, wheat; the 3rd, beans and pease; the 4th, barley and grass seeds; the 5th hay, the second crop being cut for soiling, or sometimes pastured. Some take, in the 6th year, hay, and then it is pastured for 1, 2, 3 or 4 years, and afterwards broke up for oats. When the ground is designed to be pastured, white clover, (and sometimes a little yellow), with a small quantity of narrow-leaved plantain, or rib grass is mixed with the red clover and rye grass. The produce varies considerably.
* The farms were small and the miserable steadings (the old phrase for a farm house and offices), denoted the poverty of the tenants, who relied solely on the driving of the coals for the payment of their pittance of rent; and contented themselves with scratching a small part of their grounds, the produce of which was scarcely sufficient to maintain themselves and their cattle. There were no inclosures, and the ground was over-run with whins (furze), broom, and all kinds of weeds, which but too plainly marked the poverty, sloth and ignorance of the possessors.
** Just as the spirit of improvement was beginning to shew itself; an intelligent East Lothian farmer took a farm in this parish, (consisting of upwards of 200 Scotch acres, or 254 English Statute Acres, who was remarkable for his good ploughing, draining and dressing of his grounds. His example quickened the diligence of his neighbours. A few years after he was settled here, he proposed to his landlord and brother farmers, to have trials of skill among the ploughmen; which scheme was eagerly adopted, and ploughing matches were first established in 1784. Last Spring (1791), 40 ploughs appeared, in an oblong field of 10 Scotch, or 15 English acres, all with two horses, and no drivers. The improved chain plough, on Small's construction, was the only one used; and it was computed that 1,600L never placed the horses and ploughs on the field. The situation, being short ridges on a gentle declivity, set off the shew to the greatest advantage; so that, to any one fond of husbandry, the fight was most uncommonly delightful and pleasing. In short, the good effects of this institution have surpassed the warmest expectations of its promoters. From this period may be dated the excellent ploughing that appears in this small county; and as many places, in distant parts of the country, have followed the example, it is to be hoped, that they have reaped equal benefit from it. The name, therefore, of Hugh Reoch, of the Hilltown of Alloa, deserves to be gratefully remembered by every lover of Agriculture.
*** The threshing machines, or mills, were first introduced into common use in this small county, Mr George Meikle having erected one that went by water, at Kilbagie, in the neighbouring parish of Clackmannan, in 1787. It was Mr. Meikle, who erected the machinery of the mills of Alloa.
**** Those who attempted turnips have been obliged to give them up, as well as the sowing of wheat on a clover lay; for whether it got 1, 2, or 3 ploughings, a light brown grub worm destroyed the root of the wheat. This misfortune might possibly be overcome, if a large quantity of hot lime were lid on the clover just before it is ploughed up. This, however is only conjecture, as no sufficient trail has yet been made of it.
Produce on Carse Lands
| Per Scotch Acre Boll | Wheat |
Per English Acre Quar. |
Bush | Per Scotch Acre Boll | Oats | Per English Acre Quar. | Bush | ||
| 14 | great crop | equal to | 5 | 5 | 14 | great crop | equal to | 8 | 6 |
| 12 | great crop | equal to | 4 | 6 1/2 | 13 | great crop | equal to | 8 | 1 |
| 10 | good crop | equal to | 4 | 0 | 10 | good crop | equal to | 6 | 2 |
| 9 | medium | equal to | 3 | 5 | 9 | medium | equal to | 5 | 5 |
| 8 1/2 | medium | equal to | 3 | 3 | 8 1/2 | medium | equal to | 5 | 2 |
| Per Scotch Acre Boll | Barley | Per English Acre Quar. | Bush | Per Scotch Acre Boll | Beans | Per English Acre Quar. | Bush | ||
| 10 | good crop | equal to | 6 | 2 | 10 | good crop | equal to | 4 | 2 3/4 |
| 9 | good crop | equal to | 5 | 5 | 9 | good crop | equal to | 3 | 7 1/4 |
| 8 | medium | equal to | 5 | 0 | 5 | medium | equal to | 2 | 1 1/4 |
| 7 1/2 | medium | equal to | 4 | 5 1/2 |
Sown Grass Hay
| Stones | Tron Weight | Avoirdupoise weight | |
| 320 | great crop | equal to | 2 tons, 8 cwt. |
| 240 | medium | equal to | 1 ton, 17 cwt. |
The Bolls of wheat, per Scotch acre, are Linlithgow measure; and those of barley oats, beans, etc. Stirlingshire measure. The proportion, above stated, of the produce per English Acre, is Standard measure.
There is little or almost no hay made from old grass, or, what is called in Scotland, natural grass.
Produce on the Inferior Soils, commonly called Dryfield
| Per Scotch Acre Boll | Crop | Wheat |
Per English Acre Quar. |
Bush | Per Scotch Acre Boll | Crop | Pease | Per English Acre Quar. | Bush |
| 8 | medium | equal to | 3 | 1 3/4 | 5 | medium | equal to | 2 | 1 1/4 |
| Barley | Stones | Hay | Avoidupoise weight | ||||||
| 6 1/2 | medium | equal to | 4 | 2 | 20 | medium | equal to | 1 ton, 12 cwt | |
| Oats | |||||||||
| 6 3/4 | medium | equal to | 4 | 3 | |||||
The Quantity of Seed
| Per Scotch Acre | Per English Acre | Per Scotch Acre | Per English Acre | ||||||
| Firlets | Pecks | Wheat | Bush. | Pecks | Firlets | Pecks | Oats | Bush. | Pecks |
| 4 | 0 | about equal to | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | nearly equal to | 4 | 3 |
| 3 | 0 | about equal to | 2 | 0 1/2 | 3 | 2 | nearly equal to | 4 | 1 1/2 |
| Barley | |||||||||
| 3 | 0 | nearly equal to | 3 | 2 1/2 | |||||
| 2 | 3 | nearly equal to | 3 | 1 1/2 | |||||
Extent of Farms Formerly
| Scotch Acres | English Acres | |
| From 30 or 40 | equal to | 38 or 51 |
| To 60 or 70 | equal to | 76 or 89 |
Former Rent of Carse Lands
From 20s. to 24s. Equal To 15s. 8 3/4 d. to 18s. 10 1/2d.
Former Rent of Inferior Land, or Dryfield
From 10s. to 21s. Equal To 7s. 10 1/2 d. to 16s. 6 1/4d.
Extent of Farms at Present
| Scotch Acres | English Acres | |
| From 60 to 90 | equal to | From 76 to 114 |
| From 120 to 160 | equal to | From 152 to 203 |
| From 200 to 360 | equal to | From 254 to 457 |
Present Rent of Carse Lands
From 30s. to 40s. Equal To 23s. 7d. to 31s. 6d.
Present Rent of Inferior Land, or Dryfield
From 10s. to 21s. Equal To 7s. 10 1/2 d. to 16s. 6 1/4d.
Formerly the rents of the parish were partly paid in kind*. Those of the barony of Alloa are now wholly paid in money, except a few kain, which are paid over and above the stipulated rent. The tenants likewise pay half of the cess, or land tax. Although the rents throughout the parish are considerably raised, they are not thought to be over-rated ; and the prosperity of the industrious and intelligent tenants plainly demonstrate it **.
*When the tenants are poor, paying their rent in kind may be detrimental to them: for, in bad years, they find it difficult, if not impossible, to pay the stipulated quantity of grain; and as the price of it, in those years, must of course be high, the tenant incurs a heavy debt, which many abundant crops will not enable him to get the better of. There are, however, various opinions on this point; many insisting, that, in long leases, it in the only equitable method; and, in some parts of the country, the payment in kind is indispensable.
** On letting the new tacks (or leases), there was a small farm, in the upper barony of Alloa, possessed by a man, named Donaldson, of whose ancestors the following traditional tale is told : -
"That King James V., when out a hunting, being once benighted, and thrown out from his attendants, took shelter in this poor cottage, where he was hospitably received and entertained; the goodman (i.e. the farmer or landlord), calling to his wife to bring the hen that sat nearest the cock, (which is always reckoned the best one), and make a supper. The King, delighted with the frank, hospitable manner of his landlord, desired, that the next time he was at Stirling, he would call at the castle, for the Goodman of Ballinguiack *. Donaldson did as he was desired, and was astonished to find that the King had been his guest. He was on this dignified with the name of King of the Muirs and this title has descended from father to son ever since."
This tradition made the proprietor loth to turn out the tenant, especially as he was desirous of trying the experiment, whether those kind of tenants could be taught any thing of improved husbandry; but, to his great mortification, he has found that the man, though only about 40 years of age, could not conquer his bad habits, or profit in the least from the example of his diligent neighbours. There certainly must have been something peculiarly depressing in the bondage of services, so universally imposed on the old tenants of Scotland, as it seems to have rendered them almost incapable of becoming farmers. They seem to have been only fitted for servants; and, did not their pride prevent them, they would enjoy more comfort and happiness as day labourers. This observation is at least just with regard to this parish.
*BALLINGUIACK is a narrow path, leading down the north west side of the rock at Stirling, and the King is said to have taken this title, when in disguise.
Implements of Husbandry.
There is now scarce one of the old awkward carts to be met with *. The farmers, at present, use large carts, with iron axles, drawn by two horses ; and, in hay or harvest time, they have large open bodies to fit the fame wheels, in which they carry great loads, frequently from 90 to 100 stone tron weight, (which is nearly from 18 cwt. to a ton avoirdupoise), of well made hay. However, what was asserted by the late Lord Kames, in his "Gentleman Farmer", that "a well constructed one-horse cart, is the most profitable carriage," seems now to be almost generally acknowledged; and the farmers here will probably adopt them very soon. Since the two-horse ploughs have become general, the breed of horses used by the farmers is considerably improved. Formerly, they had miserable garrans, not worth more than 5L. or 6L. a piece; now, it is no uncommon sight to see, in a farmer’s plough, horses which are worth from 36L. to 48L. the pair. The ploughs now used are chiefly of Small's construction, with an iron head and cast iron mould board. They cost from 2L. to 2L. 10s. according to the weight of the iron.
* Formerly, all the implements of husbandry used here were ill constructed. Some years ago, it was a rarity to find a farmer with spoke and nave wheels to his cart. The carts in common use, consisted of a few boards ill put together, and of a size not larger than a good wheel barrow, placed upon a thick wooden axle, which was fixed to some low wheels, composed of 3 pieces of wood, joined together by two or three large wooden pins. The axle turned round with the tumbril wheels.
Servants.
All the principal farmers here prefer married servants, as being more steady, orderly and tractable. The farmer provides him a house as near to his own as possible. It is much to he wished that this custom was more universal, as it is a most beneficial one to the country. It is, in fact, having cottagers on the very best establishment ; for the ancient kind of cottars were but too often miserably oppressed by the tenants, on whose farms they were established; as they often exacted their services most rigorously, than the landlords did from the tenants. But as the ploughmen, in this district, receive their stated fee (or wages), kitchen money and meal, and pay only 10s. or 12s. for their cottages, (though indeed they generally have them gratis), besides their masters’ horses drawing home their coals for them, no oppression can well take place. They have also the advantage of having their wives, and such of their children as can work in the fields, always at hand, who receive the common wages during hay-making and harvest; and are likewise often employed in picking stones of the land, and pulling or cutting down weeds. All this is of considerable benefit, both to masters and servants, and tends to rear up an useful, healthy generation of labourers.
Sale of Grain.
There is not the smallest resemblance of a public market for grain, within the parish or county; but the farmers find no difficulty in disposing of their crops by private bargain. The most substantial sell their grain, by the highest price of the Mid Lothian, or the Haddington fiars ; that is, they give two or three months credit to the purchaser, at the price which is the average of the year. Smaller tenants sell their grain, for the current price at the time of their delivering it.
Hay.
The collieries in the neighbourhood use a considerable quantity of hay : Their usual price is 4d. per stone ; and the hay is weighed, at the place where it is stacked to be used. Some of the farmers have found out their mistake in deferring the cutting of their hay till late in the season, thinking, by so doing, to increase the the quantity. It does so indeed to the eye; but in reality it is quite the reverse : For hay, cut at the proper time, retains all the feed in it, and therefore it weighs considerably heavier, and has more nourishment in it; and the second crop of grass is earlier, and more plentiful. Besides, it does less damage to the ground ; so that the greedy farmer cheats himself in every respect. Few, or almost no farmers, consume any quantity of hay themselves, but this will probably come in course, as their knowledge Improves; for though much has been done, and that rapidly too, there are yet many arcana, in this pleasant art, that the farmers have still to learn.
Sheep, Cattle and Manure.
There are few or no sheep kept in the parish ; nor is there much anxiety about the breed of cattle. There is little or almost no attention paid to the Dairy, although milk, in all its shapes, would find a good and steady sale in the town of Alloa. Some, who have kept an exact account of the sale of this article, are of opinion, that 6L. or 7L. might be easily made of a cow in the year.
The farmers are diligent in procuring manure from the town of Alloa; but the quantity would be considerably enlarged if the streets were properly cleaned. Few farmers have limed to any extent, though the practice is creeping in. There is no limestone in the parish; but it is brought, both burnt and unburnt, from Lord Elgin's lime works at Charlestown, near Limekilns. The price of the slacked lime, delivered at the shore of Alloa, is about 7d. the wheat boll (Linlithgow measure), which is rather more than four Winchester bushels. The farmers generally bring up the raw lime stones, and burn them on their lands.
Inclosures.
The glebe of Alloa was one of the first inclosures of the parish, which was executed by the present incumbent in 1761. It is a light, but fertile soil. It had been so much neglected, that it then produced nothing but wild mustard *, and innumerable weeds. After inclosing and laying it down in clover, the crop was sold green for upwards of 8L. per acre. Some few people near the town followed the minister's example, and with good success; Upwards of 7 guineas per acre were got for the clover crop of 4 acres of the glebe, in 1791.
Farms.
There are various opinions concerning the size of farms. In general, small farms are reckoned most advantageous for the country ; but it is seldom that any definition of a large or small farm is given. They are commonly stated by the rents; whereas the number of acres, capable of being cultivated to advantage, should be specified **. People, in general, are apt to form opinions from local circumstances, and to apply them indiscriminately to all situations. What appears a large farm, in some parts of the country, would be called a moderate one, nay perhaps a small one, in others. It is an undoubted fact, that in this parish, until the farms were enlarged, husbandry was at a very low ebb. Any one, who remembers the grounds in their former state, and who sees them now, cannot but acknowledge the different appearance that the country makes. Formerly, the miserable tenants had wretched accommodation for their families, or produce of their fields or cattle ; ragged children, with scanty education ; and wretched complaints of poverty at every term. There are now substantial houses, and convenient offices ; a double, and often a triple produce ; fields beautifully dressed and inclosed; a wealthy tenantry, and growing improvements ***.
* It is a curious fact, that, in some of Mr Erskine's old rentals, among the different grains paid by the tenants, a small quantity of mustard seed is mentioned, though the cultivation of it here is now totally unknown.
** Some years ago, the late Mr. Wedderburn of St. Germains, in East Lothian, published an ingenious and sensible pamphlet, on this most important question, "What proportion of the produce of arable land ought to be paid as rent to the landlord?" A book deserving the attention of every landholder and tenant in the kingdom, as the knowledge of it would greatly tend to their mutual benefit. Mr. Wedderburn states, that a farm of 120 Scotch, or 152 English acres of good land, is such an one as will enable a man to bring up a useful family with credit and comfort. Double that quantity of ground, he calls a middle sized farm; and three times the size, (360 Scotch or 457 English acres), a large one ; and thinks that few or none should exceed it. Large farms, some people maintain, depopulate the country, and occasion the rise of all kinds of provision, etc.; but there are others who hold a very different opinion; and, if we may be allowed to judge by analogy, with some appearance of reason. It is allowed, that no trade can be carried on to advantage without a sufficient stock; that the division of labour, and large dealings, enable people to sell at a less profit, as the quantity sufficiently recompenses for the lowness of the price. Why should the farming trade totally differ from all others? A certain size of a farm in absolutely necessary to carry on the business with any prospect of success. In those parts of Britain, where improvements have been carried on to the greatest extent, were they brought about by large or small farms? I examine them minutely, and see where the greatest skill is displayed, or the largest produce brought to market.
*** The leases are commonly given for 19 years; but where the ground was so wild, that it required a tedious and expensive process for the melioration of it, 2 nineteen years were given, with a small rise of rent at the commencement of the second period. This is thought to be no more than equitable. Many gentlemen, who have tried improving ground themselves, are thoroughly sensible, that the best part of a 19 years tack passes away before any adequate profit can be received for the expence laid out; and the farmer, who, from his knowledge and skill, adds to the stock of the community, is certainly entitled to ample retribution.
Coal.
The colliery of Alloa having been long established*, there are still many ancient customs in it. The colliers could not leave their work ; of course some recompense ** was necessary from the master. As the colliers in this work generally bind themselves for a certain term of years, little alteration has taken place in this old custom, notwithstanding the new collier law, which passed in 1775 ***. The colliers, in all countries, are generally an unruly set of labourers; and those of this work were like their neighbours. About 30 years ago, they were persuaded to give some little education to their children; and a few years after (when in search of a new schoolmaster for them), the proprietor of the colliery was lucky enough to find an old serjeant of the Royals, a diligent virtuous man, who not only brought the children, but even their parents, into some kind of order and discipline. This has greatly assisted the present proprietor, who, during the residence of 21 years, has paid particular attention to the colliers, and has now the pleasure of seeing a very great reformation among them. They were formerly remarkable for their ignorance and dissoluteness of manners. They are now rather above the ordinary rate of the common people ****. Each collier has a free house and garden, a quantity of meal proportioned to the number of the family, at the rate of 10 1/4d. per peck, and their firing: Each family, upon an average, consumes rather more than 7 cwt. per week. The colliers are paid by the piece; their earnings, therefore, depend on their own diligence and skill. The price of working varies according to the quality of the different seams of coal. A good collier can clear from 25L. to 35L. per annum; an extraordinary clever one may perhaps exceed this by 10L. or 12L. The depth of a bearing pit cannot well exceed 18 fathom, or 108 feet. There are traps, or stairs, down to these pits, with a hand rail to assist the women and children, who carry up the coals on their backs, The price given by the colliers is 4d. Per chalder, of 30 cwt. A diligent bearer often brings up, from the bottom of the pit, 6 chalders, or 9 tons of coal in the week *****. When the pits exceed the depth that bearers can carry up the coal, the collier's price is reduced, as the master is obliged to draw them up by gins, which is either wrought by horses, or driven by water. The water gin, which has been in use here for these 70 or 80 years, is a most ingenious simple machine ******. There are two collieries in the barony of Alloa, the oldest of them, called the Alloa Pits, is about 1 1/2 mile distant from the shore; the other is the Collyland, and is about double that distance. There are various seams in each colliery; some of 3, 4, 5 and 9 feet in thickness. They dip to the N. E. about 1 in 6 or 7.
The pits are free of all noxious damps, and have in general a good roof and pavement, although there are iron stones over some of the seams. The engine pit of the Alloa coal is about 48 fathom deep; and the coal is drained by a water engine, there having been a large reservoir of water collected (as has been already mentioned), for that purpose, about the beginning of the century, as the steam engine was then but lately invented, and not well known in Scotland. The engine pit of the Collyland is about 46 fathom deep; and the coal is drained by a steam engine, supposed to be one of the best of the old construction. This was erected in 1764 *******.
The large coal sent to sea is sold at the shore, from 8s. 6d. to 9s. per chalder, of 30 cwt. The smaller coals, which are called chaws, are sold on the coal-hill, for 13d. per cart******** of 6 cwt. The coal of the barony of Alloa is thought to be the farthest west of any coal north of the Forth. The colliers prefer working in the night time ; some go into the pits between 8 and 9, and others again later. Those who are anxious, on any particular occasion, to draw a large sum on the Saturday, continue a very long time at their work : The usual time is from 10 to 12 hours. The men are, in general, rather of a low stature, though there are some of them 6 feet. Many of the young women are pretty. On Sundays and holidays, both men and women are clean and neatly dressed. They eat considerably more meat than other labourers, and are, on the whole, a happy race of people. They are generally healthy ; few of them, however, work at the coal wall after 63 years of age; but they are able to do some easy work below ground, for many years after that time of life. The women live longer than the men.
* This parish has been long famous for the fine coal mines in it. How long they have been wrought is uncertain. There are accounts of the expence of working them in 1623. The price was then 6s. 8d. per chalder. The same measure has been sold at a considerably lower price within these 35 years.
** The allowance given to the old collier, when past labour, was two pecks of meal per week, each weighing 8lb. Dutch, or 8lb. II oz. avoirdupoise ; and he had his free house and garden, and likewise his firing, continued to him, the same as when working. Every widow had one peck of meal per week, a free house, etc. ; and if she had any sons grown up, who were able to carry on their father's work at the coal wall, they continued at it, for behoof of the family, as they did in their father's lifetime, until they were married.
*** There were some parts of the old law which were barbarous, and which undoubtedly required to be abolished; but it is questioned, whether the total repeal of it has made the collier happier, or if it has had the effect of inducing common labourers to commence colliers, or to train up their children to the business, as was said to be the expectations of the promoters of it; nor is the price of working coal reduced. It is well known to all coalmasters, that a collier can never earn so much in any work, as in that in which he was brought up. The present law has unhappily encouraged vagrancy amongst the colliers; and, whenever they begin to wander, they generally bid farewell to industry. On going to a new place, they constantly, on some pretence or other, get money, and as the collier has broken all ties of relationship and habits, his head is continually on the rack to contrive some method to shift his place, in hopes of getting more money from a new master, without working for it.
**** They have a fund, like other friendly societies, for burying their dead, paying their schoolmasters, assisting those that are ill, and giving a small trifle annually to the widows. There are 4 bailies intrusted with the management of this fund. The principal one is appointed by the proprietor of the work, for 7 years; the 3 others are annually chosen by him, from a list of 9 given into him by the colliers. They hold courts, to take cognizance of any dispute or misbehaviour in the colliery, and exact fines from the offenders, which are thrown into the general fund.
***** The weight which a good bearer can carry, is very great. Some years ago, the proprietor weighed a piece of coal, that a lame woman had brought out of a pit, 12 fathoms deep, and was astonished to find it full 2 cwt. Another woman carried an uncommon large piece of coal, from the mouth of the pit to the overseer’s house, a distance of 400 yards; and, by the measure of this piece of coal, it must have weighed 3 cwt.
****** It is a wheel of 18 feet diameter, and appears as if two wheels were joined together, with the buckets of the one reversed from those of the other. The axle is 39 inches diameter, to which the rope that draws up the tubs, or corve, is fixed. There is a cistern placed ever the wheel, divided in the middle. Each division has a valve, exactly over the centre of the different buckets, which valve, is opened by a slider moved from the bottom; so that when the wheel turns round, it drawn up the tub, or corve, of coals, weighing 6 cwt. and lets down the empty one, on shutting the valve of those buckets, and opening the other, the corve that has just been emptied is let down, while a fresh corve full of coals is brought up.--The late Mr. Brown, the famous engineer and operative coalmaster at Newcastle, was so struck with it, when he was at Alloa in 1774, that he took a drawing of it; and, on his return to Newcastle, contrived one on the same principles, to answer for their deep pits.
******* It has often been asserted, that there have been more estates lost than made, (especially in Scotland) by working coal mines. There probably has been some foundation for such an assertion. The expences of winning and keeping up a colliery are considerable, and the commodity will not bear a great price; so that it is only a large quantity, that can produce a profit adequate to the expence. While the coals of the barony of Alloa were brought to the shore in small carts by the tenants, the quantity was uncertain, and often not very considerable. In 1768, at waggon way was made to the Alloa pits, which proved to be so great an advantage, that it induced the proprietor to extend it to the Collyland, in 1771. The sales were by these means increased, from 10,000 or 11,000 chalders, to 15,000 or 16,000. In 1785, the Alloa Waggon way was worn out, and required to be renewed. This was done on a new plan ; and it is now acknowledged to be the most complete in Britain. A description of it may therefore be thought useful :
The sleepers are very broad, and only 18 inches from centre to centre. A rail of foreign fir, 4 inches square, is pinned down to them ; and another rail, of the same dimension, is laid over it, and the whole well beat up in good clay; on the top of the upper rail is laid a bar of malleable iron, of 1 3/4 inches breadth, and nearly six-eighths thick. The waggon have cast iron wheels, 27 1/2 inches diameter, and are supposed to weigh altogether about a ton. A waggon carries 30 cwt. of coals, and 3 waggons are linked together by chains; so that 1 horse draws 4 1/2 tons of coal at once ; and the declivity of the way is so gentle, that the same horse draws with ease the 3 empty waggons back to the coal-hill. The advantage of putting the weight into 3 waggons, in place of 1, is very considerable : They are easier to fill and empty; and the throwing the weight over a greater surface, does less damage to the Waggon way, and is likewise easier for the horse as it is well known, that almost the only stress a horse has, on a good waggon way, is in the first starting of the waggon ; therefore, if the whole 4 1/2 ton were put into one waggon, the difficulty would be great; but as the waggons, when standing still, are close to one another, and the chains that link them together are 2 feet long, the horse has only 30 cwt. of coals to put in motion; for, when he starts the first waggon, the impetus of it, if it does not actually move, at least greatly assists in moving the second and third. The first expence of making this kind of waggon way, is undoubtedly great, being at least 10s. per running yard; yet the proprietor has been long ago reimbursed, and is a considerable gainer; for although this road has been made these 6 years, it has required no repair worth mentioning, and it is now near as good as when first laid.
******* About 35 years ago, this kind of coal was sold for 6d. The price has risen gradually as the demand has increased. The consumption of coal in Scotland is considerably greater than formerly; which is probably owing, in some measure, to the improvements of agriculture, etc. the country people having learnt to estimate the value of their time; and, by calculating how much is consumed in making peats, they find, that coals, though brought from a great distance, is a cheaper, as well as a pleasanter fuel. The effect that any extraordinary distress in the country has, on the sale of coal, is very evident. On the shock that credit received, by the great failures in 1772, the sale of coals, at this port, diminished one third; and it was 4 years before the usual demand took place : And the consequences of the miserable crop in 1784, were felt, pretty nearly in the same manner, in 1783.
The following tables may be depended on as particularly exact. The account of the births and burials are taken from the books of the collier's fund.
TABLE I.
Shewing the number of Males and Females in the Colliery of Alloa, at all ages, in 1780.
| Years of Age | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| Male | 5 | 14 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Female | 6 | 16 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 16 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
| Years of Age | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 |
| Male | 6 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| Female | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Years of Age | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 |
| Male | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Female | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Years of Age | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 | 71 | 72 |
| Male | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Female | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Years of Age | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | Totals | |||||
| Male | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 227 | |||||
| Female | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 248 | |||||
TABLE II.
Shewing the number of Males and Females in the Colliery of Alloa, at all ages, in 1791.
| Years of Age | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Male | 3 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 5 |
| Female | 7 | 15 | 6 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 5 |
| Years of Age | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 |
| Male | 8 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Female | 9 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
| Years of Age | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 |
| Male | 6 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Female | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Years of Age | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 | 71 |
| Male | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Female | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Years of Age | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86-90 | 91 | Totals | |
| Male | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 231 | |
| Female | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 289 | |
TABLE III.
Summary View of the two preceding tables
| Total Number in 1780 | Male | Female | Total | Total Number in 1791 | Male | Female | Total |
| From Under 7 Years | 57 | 53 | 110 | From Under 7 Years | 42 | 62 | 104 |
| From 7 to 14 | 39 | 45 | 84 | From 7 to 14 | 40 | 42 | 82 |
| From 14 to 20 | 34 | 27 | 61 | From 14 to 20 | 23 | 34 | 67 |
| From 20 to 27 | 21 | 28 | 49 | From 20 to 27 | 34 | 37 | 71 |
| From 27 to 34 | 15 | 15 | 30 | From 27 to 34 | 22 | 26 | 48 |
| From 34 to 41 | 18 | 22 | 40 | From 34 to 41 | 19 | 22 | 41 |
| From 41 to 48 | 13 | 21 | 34 | From 41 to 48 | 12 | 15 | 27 |
| From 48 to 55 | 8 | 10 | 18 | From 48 to 55 | 9 | 15 | 24 |
| From 55 to 62 | 9 | 10 | 19 | From 55 to 62 | 12 | 15 | 27 |
| From 62 to 69 | 5 | 9 | 14 | From 62 to 69 | 6 | 10 | 16 |
| From 69 to 76 | 5 | 4 | 9 | From 69 to 76 | 1 | 7 | 8 |
| From 76 to 80 | 3 | 3 | 6 | From 76 to 80 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Aged 84 | 0 | 1 | 1 | Aged 92 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals | 227 | 248 | 475 | Totals | 231 | 289 | 520 |
TABLE IV.
Shewing the Numbers of BIRTHS and BURIALS, in the COLLIERY of ALLOA, during the following years*.
| Years | Births | Children |
Burials Youths |
Aged | Total |
| 1782 | 18 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
| 1783 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 11 |
| 1784 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 15 |
| 1785 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| 1786 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 10 |
| 1787 | 22 | 25 | 4 | 9 | 38 |
| 1788 | 22 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 14 |
| 1789 | 26 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 15 |
| 1790 | 26 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 14 |
| 1791 | 14 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 13 |
| Totals | 185 | 94 | 13 | 42 | 149 |
| Average | 18 5-10ths | 9 4-10ths | 1 3-10ths | 4 2-10ths | 14 9-10ths |
*N.B. Within this period there was one still birth, which is not taken notice of, either in the births or the burials.
Some of the colliers have left the work between the years 1780 and 1791, and perhaps a few have come into it; but the variations are certainly not greater, than what happens in most parishes, which have the same number of souls. The increase, by the above tables, is 3 and 6-10ths per annum;
Which, in 11 years, amounts to 39.6 -10ths.
Number by numeration 514.6 -10ths
Number in 1780, - 475
Number in 1791, - 520
Difference, - 5.4 -10ths.
Manufactures.
Formerly this parish was famous for manufacturing tobacco; but it is long since it lost its reputation for that article ; although there is still a little snuff made here. For a long time the camblet branch took the lead, and was considered as the staple manufacture. It is in the neighbourhood of the wool of the Ochils ; and the young people were bred to these woollen employments. An early education in this branch gave them a great superiority; and this pre-eminence opened up a variety of markets, both at home and abroad. Great quantities were sent to England; which, after being dressed up, and finished off with a peculiar neatness, were returned and sold in our markets, at a very advanced price. The late Lord Cathcart, when presiding at the Board of Police, was attentive to this circumstance, and proposed to bring people from England, who should instruct them in dressing their camblets. At that time the demand was great, and the patriotic proposal was not accepted. Till within these few years 100 looms have been employed in this branch. Whether the demand for camblets has diminished, or that the young people have figured to themselves an easier, or more speedy way of getting wealth, by the sea, or the occupations connected with the distillery, or to whatever cause it is owing, there is undoubtedly a great decrease in this manufacture. At present, there are not above 40 camblet looms, and perhaps as many employed in serges, and inferior sorts of woollen stuffs. The manufacture of narrow and broad cloths has been lately introduced, and promises well. Scotch, English, and Spanish wool have all been made use of in this trade; and some very beautiful cloth has been produced. The coarsest kinds are mostly sold in the Fife markets; the finest in the neighbourhood to persons of the first rank. About 19 or 20 hands are employed in this cloth manufacture, each of whom make good wages *. There are 30 or 40 people employed in the woollen branches, in the village of Tullibody. The inhabitants of all the villages, at the foot of the Ochils, are disposed to the like employments; and, from their long and early habits, these stations seem proper for seconding the efforts of the woollen manufacturers.
* Though it is supposed, that there can be no great difference in the rate of wages, between this and other places, yet it may answer some purposes to those who pay attention to this subject, to state them exactly. A broad cloth weaver can make from 20d. to 2s. per day ; a man spinning by the jenny, 4 spinel a day, 1s. 6d. ; a woman, scribling, per day, 10d.; a man, scribling upon dish cards, per day, 2s. ; ditto, hand cards, per day, 1s. 4d.; women, spinning fine yarn by the hand, 8d.; a man, dressing cloth, per day, 1s. 6d.; a man, dying wool, per day, 2s.
The linen manufactures, of every denomination, carried on here, are mostly for home consumption, and generally according to the taste and fancy of private families. - Of late, muslin looms, with fly shuttles, have been set up, and do a great deal of business. The webs are sent, ready warped, from Glasgow, and the cloth is returned. Eight or 10 looms are already employed, and there is a demand for 20 more; as there seems to be here, as well as in other places, a growing spirit for these cotton branches.
A Foundry, upon a small scale, has been for some time established here. The metal was generally brought from Carron, and employment given in calling waggon wheels, pots of different sizes, and other small articles in that way. - There are a few nailers here, and manufacturers of other branches of iron work, * for the shipping. There is a very ingenious man, who makes large portable still-yards for weighing cattle, carts, etc. He has been employed at Dundee and Greenock, for erecting public ones, which have given great satisfaction; and the demand for them seems to be increasing. - There are a few rope-makers here. There are likewise some good wrights ** (carpenters), in all branches. - There is a ship-builder, who bears a very good character, and has a very ingenious young man, a son, breeding under him.
* The late Earl of Marr was very assiduous in procuring the bell tradesmen to settle at Alloa. There was a remarkable good smith then fixed here. Still-yards and Beams were particularly well executed. Ever since his time, there has been a succession of good hands in that branch.
** There is a native, a cabinet-maker, who returned here, (where he has a small property), about 24 years ago, after having been long in London. He was reckoned one of the best journeymen there. And it deserves to be mentioned, that in one of the first shops in London, where 80 hands were employed, 3 of the very best were born in this parish. And a young man, who served his apprenticeship with the above mentioned cabinet-maker here, is now foreman in a very principal cabinet warehouse in London.
Markets, Prices of Provisions, etc.
There are 4 stated annual fairs in Alloa, viz. on the second Wednesdays of February, May, August and November; and 2 weekly markets, on Wednesday and Saturday. The manner of living, of all ranks of people in Scotland, is considerably changed within these 30 years. In 1763, there were but 4 bakers in Alloa, 2 of whom had but little employment : There are now 14. Some of them carry on a pretty extensive trade. The mode of living, probably, has more affected the wages of labourers, etc. than the price of grain, though that must have some influence on them. In order to judge of this, the following prices of the fiars are given. It is much to be regretted, that there is not some such method fallen on, to record the prices of meat, etc. at 4 different times of the year.
Midlothian Fiars
| Wheat | Barley | Oats | Meal | ||||
| Years | Per Boll | Per Quarter | Per Boll | Per Quarter | Per Boll | Per Quarter | Per Boll |
| S. D. 12ths | L. S. D. 12ths | S. D. 12ths | L. S. D. 12ths | S. D. 12ths | S. D. 12ths | S. D. 12ths | |
| 1706 | 14 3 3 | 1 7 5 - | 12 5 8 | 0 16 5 - | 9 5 - | 12 5 2 | 10 3 1 |
| 1715 | 15 5 3 | 1 9 8 - | 12 10 4 | 0 17 0 - | 9 9 6 | 12 11 7 | 11 0 2 |
| 1740 | 13 7 7 | 1 6 2 6 | 11 3 8 | 0 14 11 - | 9 2 4 | 12 1 9 | 10 4 10 |
| 1754 | 13 8 7 | 1 6 4 6 | 11 2 8 | 0 14 10 - | 9 2 - | 12 1 4 | 10 7 3 |
| 1760 | 14 5 0 | 1 7 8 9 | 11 9 6 | 0 15 6 9 | 9 8 4 | 12 9 7 | 11 1 6 |
| 1773 | 17 4 6 | 1 13 5 - | 13 4 7 | 0 17 7 11 | 11 7 6 | 15 4 8 | 13 1 6 |
| 1790 | 20 3 7 | 1 19 3 3 | 15 2 6 | 1 0 1 - | 12 5 8 | 16 6 - | 14 3 8 |
Clackmannanshire Fiars
| Wheat | Barley | Oats | Meal | ||||
| Years | Per Boll | Per Quarter | Per Boll | Per Quarter | Per Boll | Per Quarter | Per Boll |
| S. D. 12ths | L. S. D. 12ths | S. D. 12ths | L. S. D. 12ths | S. D. 12ths | S. D. 12ths | S. D. 12ths | |
| 1740 | 13 2 11 | 1 3 11 6 | 9 8 3 | 0 12 1 6 | 8 2 4 | 10 3 - | 9 2 11 |
| 1754 | 12 11 10 | 1 3 4 - | 10 0 4 | 0 12 6 4 | 8 1 11 | 10 2 - | 9 7 10 |
| 1760 | 13 9 2 | 1 4 10 5 | 10 10 10 | 0 13 7 9 | 8 7 4 | 10 9 3 | 10 3 2 |
| 1773 | 16 7 9 | 1 10 0 6 | 13 10 - | 0 17 3 7 | 10 9 9 | 13 6 - | 12 7 8 |
| 1790 | 19 1 8 | 1 14 6 9 | 16 4 1 | 1 0 5 3 | 12 8 10 | 15 11 - | 14 2 3 |
* The fiars of Clackmannanshire are only recorded since 1712. The prices set down opposite to the years, are the average prices of the 25 preceding them.
Wages.
The former and present rate of wages is stated in the annexed tables * ; besides which, the out-door ploughmen have some small emoluments, such as liberty to plant 2 or 3 pecks of potatoes, etc. Servants and tradesmen are allowed no meat or beer; sometimes in harvest they get a dram. Few or no servants are hired by the month, or harvest time, although many farmers engage women to shear (reap) for them in harvest ; but then they are engaged by the day, or half day, according as they are employed. Almost any number can be got, at a short notice, from the town of Alloa; and it is no uncommon sight to see 60, 80, or 100 reapers in one field. Of late, there have been undertakers for cutting down a farmer's crop, at 5s., 5s. 6d., or 6s. per acre, according to the apparent ease or difficulty of the work.
*About the time of the Union, the common day’s wages of a labourer were from 5d. to 6d. per day. When every meal was given, 2 pecks, or 16 lb. Dutch weight, (about equal to 17 lb. 4 1/2 avoirdupoise), per week, seem to have been always the fixed quantity. Formerly, most part of the ploughmen lived in the farmer’s houses, and had their fees, (or wages), and bounties ; which were ;
4 ells of grey cloth at 1s. per ell – L.0 4 0
6 ditto of harn, or coarse linen, for shirts, at 6d. per ell, - 0 3 0
2 ditto of plaiding, or coarse flannel, at 10d. per ell, - 0 1 8
2 pair of shoes, or in money, - 0 5 0
Total value of bounties, - - - - - L. 0 13 8
Fee, or wages, per annum, - - - - - 2 0 0
Total wages, - - L. 2 13 8
Those ploughmen, who did not live in the farmer's house, had, besides their livery meal, 6 1/2 bolls per annum, and 4d. per week, under the name of kitchen money. ln order to know the wages of the out-door ploughman, we must put a value on the meal. This is done in the following table, by taking the price of meal, on an avenge of 25 years preceding the year specified.
| H. Ploughmen | Outed Ploughmen | Day Labourers | Maid Servants | |
| Per annum | Per annum | Per day | Half-yearly | |
| Years | L. S. D. | L. S. D. 12ths | S. D. | L. S. D. |
| 1754 | 2 13 8 | 6 0 0 11 | 0 7d | 0 0 0 |
| 1760 | 3 0 0 | 7 4 8 7 | 0 7d or 8d | 0 0 0 |
| 1773 | 4 10 0 | 9 9 5 10 | 0 9d or 10d | 1 0 0 |
| 1790 | 6 10 0 | 11 19 6 7 | 1s or 10d | 1 16 0 |
| Women | Men | Masons | Wrights | Carpenters | |||
| In the field | In harvest | In harvest | or Joiners | New work | Old work | ||
| Per day | Per day | Per day | Per day | Per day | Per day | Per day | |
| Year | S. D. | S. D. | S. D. | S. D. | S. D. | S. D. | S. D. |
| 1791 | 0 6 | 0 10 | 1 0 | 1 8 | 1 8 | 1 8 | 2 0 |
Poor.
The number of poor, who were formerly obliged to accept of constant assistance, was but few, while those who stood in need of occasional aid were numerous ; and yet the kirk-session * besides paying for the education of many young people, have been able to lay up money against any uncommon calamity.
* The Legislature, in 1597, placed the care of the poor in the KIRK-SESSION, which is an ecclesiastical court. They have esteemed this a most important trust; and have accordingly regarded it as their duty, to be perfectly well acquainted with the situation and disposition, of those who apply for relief; and assisted them in proportion, from the collection made at the church doors, and other small dues payable to the session; which were, for the most part, found sufficient for the purpose. Under such attentive and careful management, the act, 1672. was, for the most part, found unnecessary; and therefore, it is believed, was never put in practice in any parish, until the hard winter of 1740. By this act, "the heritors, ministers and elders of every parish, were required to make a list of all the poor within the parish, to liquidate a yearly sum for their maintenance; the one half to be paid by the heritors, the other half by the other householders. In 1740, some counties and particular parishes, in order to oblige absent heritors, to contribute their share towards assisting the poor in their distress, began to enforce it; and most of them have ever since followed that method, although it has brought on some few disputes about settlements, and other disagreeable circumstances attendant on all rates. But the greater part of the country most happily continued to intrust the management of the poor to the kirk-session; and it may therefore be fairly presumed, that most of the kirk-sessions in Scotland have been as attentive to this important part of their duty, as the session of this parish ; who have executed their trust, for this century past, most faithfully and judiciously.
An average Account of the parish funds of Alloa, and of the Number of Poor assisted by them, taken every 15 years,
from 1700 to 1790, with the average Price of Meal.
| Amount of the collections | Total of the receipts | Number of names on the roll | Ordinary poor Assistance per head | Ordinary poor Total assistance given | Number of occasional poor | Total number of poor | Total of disbursements | Strangers | Price of meal per Edinburgh Fiars | Price of meal per Clackmannan Fiars | |
| L. S. D. 12ths | L. S. D. 12ths | L. S. D. 12ths | L. S. D. 12ths | L. S. D. 12ths | S. D. 12ths | S. D. 12ths | |||||
| From 1691 | 18 11 9 10 | 45 8 7 10 | 10 | 0 13 4 9 | 6 14 0 - | 57 | 67 | 29 12 11 6 | 38 | 11 4 - | 0 0 |
| 1701 to 1715 | 38 8 3 1 | 47 8 7 10 | 16 | 0 13 8 2 | 10 18 10 8 | 60 | 76 | 46 7 3 4 | 29 | 10 1 1 | 0 0 |
| 1716 to 1730 | 49 19 4 2 | 102 0 8 5 | 24 | 0 15 11 4 | 19 2 8 6 | 77 | 101 | 86 10 7 3 | 34 | 10 4 1 | 9 1 5 |
| 1731 to 1745 | 44 18 7 2 | 95 10 0 2 | 28 | 0 17 2 6 | 24 2 0 1 | 79 | 107 | 89 12 8 2 | 29 | 9 8 - | 9 0 10 |
| 1746 to 1760 | 42 7 10 3 | 99 8 9 6 | 19 | 0 16 10 4 | 16 0 4 4 | 76 | 95 | 100 18 10 - | 9 | 11 6 - | 10 10 - |
| 1761 to 1775 | 56 14 8 11 | 123 8 8 - | 20 | 0 12 10 3 | 13 3 2 4 | 93 | 113 | 125 16 7 - | 17 | 14 1 10 | 13 11 - |
| 1776 to 1790 | 59 3 8 5 | 111 | 1 14 6 6 | 180 2 2 9 | 36 | 147 | 210 13 7 6 | 13 9 7 | 13 7 10 |
The account of the poor, from which this abstract is taken, affords many particulars worthy of observation; but it is too voluminous for this work. In general, the number of poor seems to have increased, when the price of meal was high ; but although the price was soon reduced, it was 2 or 3 years before the numbers returned to the common average; and in some years the poor were numerous, although the price of meal was moderate.
The collections at the church doors prove the propriety of that method of gathering aims. The diminution that began to take place in them about 1734, was probably occasioned by the secession from the church, as the collection at the meeting-house was never taken, (although the law would have allowed this to be done), the funds must consequently have suffered. The assistance given to the paupers, on the ordinary list, in 1691, was 16d. per month. This, at first view, will appear very inadequate; and yet there is no tradition of the poor having been neglected, or of their suffering greater distress than at present. About the year 1720, a greater allowance was given in extraordinary cases; but the 16d. per month still continued the usual assistance till 1776, when applications for assistance from the kirk-session became more frequent and pressing ; so that the minister was induced to apply to the heritors, and the rest of the parishioners, for some enlargement of the funds, and an aid to prevent strolling beggars from preying on the parish ; when an annual contribution was cheerfully agreed to, and liberally subscribed for. Most of the occasional poor, at that time, were thought proper objects to be put on the ordinary list. Such of the poor as are put on the ordinary list, are obliged to subscribe a writing, making over to the heritors, and kirk-session, all their little clothes and moveables, which, at their death, are sold for the increase of the fund. This is intended to cut off all improper applications for charity from those who can support themselves. Those, whose distress or misfortunes require the public aid, are put on the occasional (or temporary) list; and remain longer or shorter according to their distress.
This fund is managed by a committee of the subscribers, chosen every half year, by the heritors and kirk-session : At the same time, every contributor is welcome to attend the monthly meetings, and to give information or advice. The regular care and attention, that has been paid by the committee, will be seen by the subjoined table.
The usual allowance given to a pauper, on the ordinary list, is 3s. per month. This allowance, though it may appear scanty to such as have never thought on the subject, is rather ample, when compared with that given in 1691. Meal was then almost the only food of the poor; and the price of it, taken on an average of 25 years, was, by the Mid-Lothian fiars, 11s. per boll, or 8 1/12 d. per peck. The wages of a labourer was then from 5d. to 6d. per day. They now get from 10d. to 1s. ; and in all probability they get more constant employment; and the price of meal, by the fame fiars and average is 14s, 3 8/12d- per boll, or 10, 9/12d. per peck. Nor do the poor any longer depend solely on meal for their food, as that most agreeable and nourishing root, the potato, is every where raised in great quantities, and is happily become the "sustenance of the poor, and luxury of the rich.*" The medium price of it here is from 4d. To 4 6/12d. per peck, weighing full 20 lb. Dutch weight, about equal to 21; lb. avoirdupois. It is to be lamented, however, that this blessing does not lessen the number of applications for aid from the parish : On the contrary, they are becoming more frequent ; and receiving parish assistance is no longer looked on, by the poor themselves, or even their relations, with that horror it was formerly. When the receiving parish supply comes to be regarded as a common occurrence, it is obvious, that the poor’s rates** will become general in Scotland unless the greatest attention is paid by all ranks of people to prevent it. The management of the poor is a most difficult business. It is certainly the wish of every benevolent person, to relieve their wants as far as possible; but to establish rates, is creating a burden on the industrious, without giving relief to the pauper.
* Vide Somerville's Fable of the Two Springs.
** The laws of assessment for the maintenance of the poor, not having been universally put in practice in Scotland, have made many people imagine that there are no laws extant concerning that part of the police. The fact is, that they are very similar to those of England (vide Dr. McFarlan's Inquiries concerning the Poor), and differ only in a few points, such as an inattentive reader may conclude are of no great consequence: and yet those little differences have probably prevented the burden, from becoming as heavy, in those parts of Scotland, where the poor's laws are enforced, as they are in England.
The kirk-sessions, being a corporate body, are joined with the heritors, as the administrators of the poor's funds. The minister and treasurer generally know the circumstances, and character, of every individual that applies to them ; and, by constant attention, become perfect matters of the business, and pride themselves on executing their trust most faithfully. Whereas in England, the church wardens, and overseers of the poor, to whom this trust is committed, are chosen annually; so that, by the time they have learned the business, they are removed ; and whatever good regulations they may have made, their successors, through ignorance, or design, either alter or neglect them. Nor can it be supposed, that any annual office, which, though very troublesome and disagreeable, is not looked on in the most favourable light, will be attended to with diligence by any individual, if he sees little chance of his best intentions being of any service; but, it is more than probable, he will endeavour to pass it over, with as little trouble or vexation as possible. And the power of assessment lies entirely in the church wardens and overseers ; as it is no longer considered, that the concurrence of the inhabitants, for making a rate, is at all necessary. Though the law requires that the overseers, etc. should have the consent of two justices, it has become a mere matter of form ; for, when justices have refused their consent, the Court of King's Bench has compelled them to allow the rate. But in Scotland, the heritors must meet with the kirk-session, before any assessment can be laid on the parish ; and this obliges them (especially as they must pay one half of the assessment), to be attentive to the management of the poor's funds.
Climate, Diseases and Longevity
Although the town of Alloa lies low, it is allowed to be pretty healthy. The epidemical diseases of fevers, small pox, etc. carry off fewer than in the neighbouring parishes. Agues are now scarcely ever heard of. Its situation by the side of a great river, where the regular flowing of the tide is attended with a strong current, serves to purge away the damps, and to give a freshness and purity to the air. Though it is not remarkable for the longevity of its inhabitants, yet there are not wanting many instances of long life. Some years ago, a man, in the labouring line of life, died at the age of 101. Within these few weeks, an old soldier died, who, from his age in the muster roll 1746, must have been 103. A woman of the colliery died, about 5 or 6 weeks after the preceding list was taken, aged 92. There are many old people on the poor's roll ; in particular one woman past 90. There are 5 men and 5 women now living, who are past 80 ; and there are 13 men, and 20 women past 70 *.
* There is an instance of longevity, which is too remarkable to he passed over unnoticed. viz. George Abercromby, Esq. formerly of Tullibody, now of Brucefield, who is a native of this parish, and was born in the year 1705. Notwithstanding his great age, he is still in good health, and enjoys life and the company of his friends in a surprising manner. He is in perfect possession of all his faculties ; and though he sometimes complains of his sight and hearing. evidences the same acuteness of judgment, that distinguished him in his younger years. He can relate facts, of an early date, with great accuracy, and apply them with uncommon sagacity to present occurrences. This deserving old gentleman is greatly respected by all his acquaintance, and has been singularly fortunate in his family. His eldest son, General Abercromby of Tullibody, to whom he has made over his estate in this parish, now commands part of the British forces in Holland. His second son, General Sir Robert Abercromby, is governor of Bombay, and commander in chief of the forces in Bengal. Having lately commanded one of the armies against Tippoo Saib, his Majesty has rewarded his services, by creating him a Knight of the Bath. His third son is Lord Abercromby, one of the senators of the College of Justice, whose appointment to that important office gives general satisfaction. His daughters are most respectably married ; and, what is still more, he sees the rising generation trading in the footsteps of the former : General Abercromby's eldest son is now accompanying Lord Elgin in his embassy : His second is a captain in India : And all this singular prosperity, the worthy old gentleman lives to see, to enjoy, and to give God the praise.
Population.
The following tables of births are extracted from the register of baptisms ; and although this may not be perfectly exact, yet there is no appearance, that the omissions of any one period differ greatly from those of another ; and it must be observed, that the number of boys and girls are nearly equal. The progressive average more readily points out the rise and fall, than could be seen from a comparison of 25 years; from 1668 to 1692, with the same number of years, from 1695 to 1717.
An Account of the Number of Baptisms of Males and Females, in the Parish of Alloa, extracted from the Public Register,
from the year 1668 to 1790 ; with a Progressive Average of 25 years.
| Years | Boys | Average | Girls | Average | Total | Average | Years | Boys | Average | Girls | Average | Total | Average |
| 1668 | 41 | 45 | 86 | 1730 | 57 | 60 | 40 | 59 | 97 | 119 | |||
| 1669 | 35 | 26 | 61 | 1731 | 70 | 60 | 57 | 59 | 127 | 120 | |||
| 1670 | 52 | 41 | 93 | 1732 | 54 | 61 | 58 | 59 | 112 | 120 | |||
| 1671 | 46 | 33 | 69 | 1733 | 67 | 61 | 54 | 59 | 121 | 121 | |||
| 1672 | 59 | 35 | 94 | 1734 | 62 | 61 | 52 | 59 | 114 | 121 | |||
| 1673 | 51 | 43 | 94 | 1735 | 53 | 62 | 52 | 59 | 104 | 121 | |||
| 1674 | 51 | 29 | 80 | 1736 | 54 | 61 | 62 | 59 | 116 | 121 | |||
| 1675 | 49 | 51 | 100 | 1737 | 41 | 61 | 55 | 59 | 96 | 120 | |||
| 1676 | 30 | 36 | 66 | 1738 | 70 | 61 | 47 | 59 | 117 | 120 | |||
| 1677 | 51 | 50 | 101 | 1739 | 51 | 61 | 35 | 58 | 86 | 119 | |||
| 1678 | 40 | 50 | 90 | 1740 | 50 | 61 | 49 | 57 | 99 | 118 | |||
| 1679 | 52 | 45 | 97 | 1741 | 37 | 60 | 36 | 56 | 73 | 116 | |||
| 1680 | 52 | 54 | 106 | 1742 | 49 | 49 | 53 | 56 | 102 | 114 | |||
| 1681 | 56 | 37 | 93 | 1743 | 56 | 58 | 50 | 54 | 106 | 113 | |||
| 1682 | 52 | 48 | 100 | 1744 | 55 | 58 | 65 | 54 | 120 | 112 | |||
| 1683 | 58 | 36 | 94 | 1745 | 56 | 57 | 65 | 53 | 121 | 111 | |||
| 1684 | 51 | 46 | 97 | 1746 | 56 | 57 | 53 | 53 | 109 | 110 | |||
| 1685 | 54 | 46 | 100 | 1747 | 57 | 56 | 58 | 52 | 115 | 109 | |||
| 1686 | 58 | 48 | 106 | 1748 | 69 | 56 | 63 | 52 | 132 | 109 | |||
| 1687 | 59 | 44 | 103 | 1749 | 73 | 57 | 62 | 52 | 135 | 109 | |||
| 1688 | 51 | 51 | 102 | 1750 | 69 | 57 | 61 | 53 | 130 | 111 | |||
| 1689 | 43 | 62 | 105 | 1751 | 53 | 57 | 58 | 53 | 111 | 111 | |||
| 1690 | 42 | 57 | 99 | 1752 | 54 | 57 | 56 | 53 | 110 | 111 | |||
| 1691 | 59 | 64 | 123 | 1753 | 65 | 57 | 62 | 54 | 127 | 111 | |||
| 1692 | 65 | 65 | 31 | 44 | 96 | 95 | 1754 | 61 | 57 | 62 | 54 | 123 | 112 |
| 1693 | 75 | 75 | 56 | 44 | 131 | 96 | 1755 | 61 | 57 | 75 | 55 | 133 | 131 |
| 1694 | 55 | 52 | 64 | 46 | 119 | 99 | 1756 | 63 | 57 | 56 | 55 | 119 | 113 |
| 1695 | 62 | 53 | 69 | 47 | 131 | 100 | 1757 | 53 | 57 | 55 | 55 | 108 | 113 |
| 1696 | 65 | 54 | 50 | 48 | 115 | 102 | 1758 | 52 | 56 | 55 | 55 | 107 | 112 |
| 1697 | 47 | 53 | 51 | 48 | 98 | 102 | 1759 | 57 | 56 | 54 | 55 | 111 | 112 |
| 1698 | 54 | 53 | 59 | 49 | 107 | 102 | 1760 | 47 | 56 | 55 | 56 | 102 | 112 |
| 1699 | 40 | 53 | 44 | 49 | 84 | 103 | 1761 | 77 | 57 | 62 | 56 | 139 | 114 |
| 1700 | 43 | 53 | 33 | 49 | 76 | 102 | 1762 | 71 | 58 | 70 | 56 | 141 | 115 |
| 1701 | 48 | 53 | 45 | 49 | 93 | 103 | 1763 | 67 | 58 | 59 | 57 | 126 | 116 |
| 1702 | 63 | 54 | 59 | 49 | 122 | 103 | 1764 | 82 | 59 | 74 | 58 | 156 | 119 |
| 1703 | 56 | 54 | 56 | 50 | 112 | 104 | 1765 | 57 | 59 | 71 | 59 | 128 | 120 |
| 1704 | 54 | 54 | 55 | 52 | 106 | 106 | 1766 | 70 | 61 | 68 | 60 | 138 | 122 |
| 1705 | 47 | 54 | 50 | 50 | 97 | 104 | 1767 | 67 | 62 | 65 | 61 | 149 | 133 |
| 1706 | 58 | 54 | 52 | 51 | 110 | 105 | 1768 | 84 | 63 | 79 | 62 | 163 | 126 |
| 1707 | 48 | 54 | 51 | 51 | 99 | 105 | 1769 | 58 | 63 | 76 | 63 | 134 | 126 |
| 1708 | 55 | 54 | 54 | 51 | 109 | 106 | 1770 | 74 | 64 | 78 | 63 | 152 | 128 |
| 1709 | 53 | 54 | 48 | 51 | 101 | 106 | 1771 | 82 | 65 | 63 | 63 | 145 | 129 |
| 1710 | 51 | 54 | 55 | 52 | 106 | 106 | 1772 | 70 | 65 | 75 | 64 | 145 | 130 |
| 1711 | 62 | 54 | 57 | 52 | 119 | 106 | 1773 | 88 | 66 | 66 | 64 | 154 | 131 |
| 1712 | 59 | 54 | 65 | 53 | 124 | 107 | 1774 | 63 | 60 | 77 | 65 | 140 | 131 |
| 1713 | 63 | 54 | 60 | 53 | 123 | 108 | 1775 | 88 | 66 | 74 | 65 | 162 | 132 |
| 1714 | 57 | 55 | 58 | 53 | 115 | 108 | 1776 | 84 | 67 | 65 | 65 | 149 | 133 |
| 1715 | 52 | 55 | 74 | 54 | 126 | 109 | 1777 | 72 | 68 | 57 | 66 | 129 | 134 |
| 1716 | 52 | 55 | 62 | 54 | 114 | 109 | 1778 | 77 | 69 | 84 | 67 | 161 | 135 |
| 1717 | 81 | 56 | 71 | 55 | 152 | 111 | 1779 | 74 | 69 | 68 | 67 | 143 | 136 |
| 1718 | 66 | 55 | 73 | 56 | 139 | 111 | 1780 | 80 | 70 | 79 | 67 | 169 | 137 |
| 1719 | 63 | 56 | 75 | 56 | 138 | 113 | 1781 | 100 | 71 | 75 | 68 | 175 | 140 |
| 1720 | 76 | 56 | 71 | 56 | 147 | 113 | 1782 | 93 | 73 | 68 | 68 | 161 | 141 |
| 1721 | 73 | 56 | 62 | 57 | 135 | 114 | 1783 | 70 | 74 | 65 | 69 | 135 | 143 |
| 1722 | 64 | 57 | 78 | 58 | 142 | 116 | 1784 | 65 | 74 | 73 | 70 | 138 | 144 |
| 1723 | 67 | 58 | 69 | 58 | 136 | 117 | 1785 | 103 | 76 | 75 | 70 | 178 | 147 |
| 1724 | 61 | 59 | 55 | 59 | 116 | 118 | 1786 | 81 | 76 | 68 | 71 | 149 | 147 |
| 1725 | 61 | 59 | 42 | 60 | 103 | 119 | 1787 | 72 | 77 | 68 | 71 | 140 | 147 |
| 1726 | 51 | 59 | 46 | 60 | 97 | 119 | 1788 | 91 | 78 | 86 | 72 | 177 | 149 |
| 1727 | 64 | 59 | 58 | 60 | 122 | 119 | 1789 | 92 | 78 | 74 | 72 | 166 | 150 |
| 1728 | 56 | 59 | 55 | 60 | 111 | 119 | 1790 | 74 | 79 | 90 | 72 | 164 | 158 |
| 1729 | 59 | 60 | 48 | 59 | 107 | 119 |
*The decrease that appears, from 1739 to 1744, was probably owing to the Seceders neglecting to register their children's names. We are now enabled, from the Parliamentary Register (which is kept here with care), to furnish a pretty correct list for 8 years preceding 1792, of marriages and births.
As the lists of marriages were always esteemed pretty exact, 20 years have been taken, and compared with the 8 years preceding 1792, which we call the Parliamentary Register, from its being kept in consequence of the act of parliament in 1784.
The amount of these 20 years is 876; average, 43, and 4 fifths.
The amount of the last 8 years is 349; average, 43, and 5 eighths.
This wonderful coincidence makes it evident, that there can be little error.
The births, in 8 years, 1,226; average, 153, and 1 fourth.
The deaths, in 8 years, 1,170; average, 146, and 1 eighth.
The deaths in 1787 are remarkable; no less than 249; about 100 of which were children, carried off by the small pox. Fevers and fluxes proved very fatal that year.
The following tables of enumeration are thought to be particularly exact. They were all taken by the same man ; who, in each of them, set down the names of every head of a family.
An account of the population of the parish of Alloa, taken in 1784
| Divisions | Families | Souls | Divisions | Families | Souls |
| Alloa Coal Bridge and Glass-House | 1042 | 3482 | Village of Tullibody | 71 | 290 |
| Country | 97 | 536 | Village of Cambus | 42 | 178 |
| Colliery | 126 | 539 | The Whole Parish | 1378 | 5025 |
An account of the population of the parish of Alloa, taken in 1788
| Divisions | Houses | Families | Males | Females | Total | Burghers | Antiburghers | Episcopals |
| Town of Alloa | 381 | 906 | 1511 | 1779 | 3310 | 308 | 425 | 29 |
| Coal Bridge | 4 | 15 | 29 | 26 | 55 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Glass Work | 13 | 36 | 76 | 81 | 157 | 15 | 4 | 14 |
| Total in the town of Alloa | 398 | 957 | 1636 | 1886 | 3522 | 323 | 434 | 43 |
| Country | 89 | 89 | 283 | 275 | 558 | 14 | 32 | 9 |
| Village of Tullibody | 70 | 87 | 140 | 198 | 338 | 40 | 20 | 0 |
| Village of Cambus | 18 | 38 | 74 | 97 | 171 | 13 | 26 | 0 |
| The Colliery | 134 | 143 | 258 | 319 | 577 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| The Whole Parish | 707 | 1314 | 2391 | 2775 | 5166 | 392 | 512 | 52 |
An account of the population of the parish of Alloa, taken in 1791
| Divisions | Houses | Families | Males | Females | Religion | |||||||||||||
| Under 10 | 10 to 16 | 16 to 50 | 50 to 70 | 70 to 100 | Total | Under 10 | 10 to 16 | 16 to 50 | 50 to 70 | 70 to 100 | Total | Grand Total | Burghers | Anti Burghers | Episcopal | |||
| Town of Alloa | 391 | 833 | 374 | 170 | 620 | 181 | 35 | 1380 | 821 | 151 | 792 | 261 | 36 | 1361 | 2941 | 194 | 311 | 17 |
| Coal Bridge | 5 | 13 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 27 | 11 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 30 | 57 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Glass-Work | 13 | 33 | 15 | 9 | 33 | 4 | 2 | 63 | 26 | 6 | 36 | 2 | 1 | 71 | 134 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| Alloa, Coal Bridge, and Glass-Work | 409 | 879 | 400 | 182 | 661 | 189 | 37 | 1470 | 358 | 162 | 838 | 267 | 37 | 1662 | 3132 | 195 | 219 | 25 |
| Country | 90 | 113 | 79 | 46 | 141 | 18 | 13 | 285 | 63 | 35 | 155 | 19 | 3 | 275 | 560 | 27 | 27 | 7 |
| Village of Tullibody | 89 | 91 | 46 | 17 | 70 | 14 | 14 | 148 | 39 | 23 | 100 | 22 | 4 | 188 | 336 | 37 | 21 | 0 |
| Village of Cambus | 35 | 35 | 15 | 4 | 28 | 8 | 0 | 55 | 11 | 11 | 32 | 13 | 0 | 67 | 122 | 2 | 91 | 0 |
| The Colliery | 143 | 152 | 75 | 52 | 111 | 27 | 12 | 297 | 95 | 47 | 166 | 36 | 11 | 353 | 652 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| The Whole Parish | 766 | 1270 | 615 | 302 | 1041 | 256 | 41 | 2255 | 566 | 278 | 1291 | 357 | 55 | 2547 | 4802 | 263 | 376 | 32 |
| The return to Dr. Webster 1n 1755, is stated at: | 5816 | |||||||||||||||||
| Decrease | 1014 | |||||||||||||||||
*Prior to the year 1788, there was every reason to believe, that the parish was increasing, as many new houses had been erected, and the glass-house and dry-dock established, where many hands are employed, and the colliery considerably extended, all which must certainly more than make up the deficiency, that might have happened, from the falling off of the camblet trade. The enlargement of the farms would probably have been given, as a principal reason for the diminution, if the 3 enumerations had not proved, that the country part of the parish at least was not decreased. The largest farm was let between the years 1784 and 1788; and the numbers in the country had increased in those few years 22 souls. The diminution is principally in the town of Alloa, which has indeed been most rapid and astonishing and can only be accounted for, by the failure of the great distilleries in the neighbourhood, who purchased large quantities of malt made in this town ; which business employed a considerable number of hands in carrying it on, who were suddenly thrown out of employment; and much about the same time, a cotton work was set up at Down, which is not above 10 or 12 miles to the westward of this parish; and the report, of their giving great encouragement to the young as well as the old, probably induced many to emigrate from this parish, and thereby has occasioned a temporary decrease : But as the collieries, and other branches of trade, are in a very flourishing way, it is probable that a short time will replace the deficiency.
Custom House, etc.
The public revenue, and matters of trade, are managed by a custom-house, which was established here a short time after the Union. It was at first only a creek, belonging to the port of Borrowstownness. The port of Alloa not only comprehends the town of Alloa, but also the creeks of Clackmannan, Kennetpans, Kincardine, Cambus and Manor, on the north side of the river; Airth, Dunmore, or Elphinstone, and Fallin, on the south, together with the shore of Stirling. -The ships and vessels belonging to the port, by the returns lately made, amount to 115; their tonnage to 7,241 ; for the navigation whereof 500 men are employed. The staple trade for these ships is coal. The greatest number of the vessels are employed in the coast trade. About 50,000 tons of coal are annually sent, from the port to places within the frith of Forth, and to parts in the east and north of Scotland. The export and import trade is also considerable; it is carried to and from the ports of Denmark, Norway, Germany, Holland, Portugal, etc. Coals are the great article of exportation : 6,000 tons are annually exported, with valuable quantities of bottles from the glass-house. The importation generally consists of very considerable quantities of flax, lint-seed, and other articles from Holland; of grain, and wood of all kinds, iron, etc. the produce of the northern countries *. - The Excise here is conducted by a supervisor and 4 officers; and the revenue, though it is much diminished, since the failure of the great distilleries, is yet considerable, being about 5,000L. Sterling. When the distilleries were flourishing, they some-times paid 23,000L. of duty in 6 weeks time.
* From an abstract of the tonnage, taken from the anchorage duty at the shore of Alloa, it appears, that in 1774, the number of ship, which had been in the harbour, were 555; the tonnage 20,036. In 1791, the ships were 772 ; the tonnage 48,524.
Post Office.
The post office has been established for upwards of 30 years. Formerly there was a runner between this and Stirling ; now there is a regular post office established. The postage of a single letter from Edinburgh is 3d. ; from London 10d. A post has lately been extended to Kincardine ; and from thence to Culross, Dumfermline, and the Ferries. This is a great convenience. Upwards of 300L. of annual revenue arises from the post office.
Heritors and Rent.
The principal heritor of the parish is Mr. Erskine of Marr. He resides almost always at Alloa, and pays the greatest attention to every scheme of improvement and police. Next to him, in valuation, is General Abercromby of Tullibody. When in the country, he resides at his father’s house of Brucefield, in the neighbouring parish of Clackmannan, and contributes very cheerfully every assistance for the good of the parish, that lies in his power. Lord Cathcart's valuation is very small, his principal property lying in the parish of Clackmannan ; but his house and pleasure grounds are in this parish, and he frequently resides among us. We are always much indebted to his Lordship, for his advice and assistance when in the country. Lord Alva, residing always out of the parish, gives us only the benefit of a ready and cheerful concurrence, with every measure proposed by the residing heritors. All these gentlemen hold considerable property in other parishes. The valued rent is 7,492L. 19s. 2d. Scotch. The real rent is probably about 4,000L. Sterling.
Police.
The good of the place, and the administration of justice, are in the hands of his Majesty's justices of the peace, and the sheriff-depute. There is only one sheriff-depute for this and the neighbouring county of Stirling. He appoints his substitutes; and one constantly resides here, who keeps his courts in this town. The quarter sessions, and other meetings of form, either by the justices of the peace, or sheriff, are held in the county town of Clackmannan, about 2 miles distant. There is a baron bailie, named by the proprietor of the estate of Marr. He decides on petty offences, and debts not exceeding 40s.; and regulates the stents and cesses, and other matters of police within the town and barony. An admiral court was formerly kept here, in virtue of a commission from the Lord Vice Admiral of Scotland. The jurisdiction of this court extended from the bridge of Stirling to Pettycur, near Kinghorn, on the north side of the Forth, and from Stirling Bridge to Higgin‘s Neuk on the south. For some time past, no deputation has been granted, and of course no court kept. The want of an admiral court has been complained of, as a very material grievance. For want of this, every little trifling dispute which happens at the port, must be carried before the Admiralty Court at Edinburgh, at a very considerable expence. Besides, a most serious injury seems likely to arise, from the shipmakers casting their ballast into the river, without any court to check them; which, in process of time, must interrupt the navigation, and hurt the public as well as individuals. It is thought, that an admiral court would speedily put a stop to this complaint.
Services.
All kinds of personal services from tenants may be said to be abolished, as those on the estate of Tullibody are seldom or never exacted*. The feuers in the town are obliged to turn out, in case of any accident at the dam-head of Gartmorn, etc. This cannot well be looked on as a great hardship, as most of the property would be considerably affected by any inundation. The family of Marr were found by the Court of Session, after a long litigation, to have a right to draw custom for goods passing through the town, as they were obliged to keep up the streets, etc.
*When Mr. Erskine relieved his tenants of the thirlage, he inclined to have done the same with the multure of the malt, from the brewers in the barony of Alloa; but as that was in such a number of hands, and these continually changing, he found it impracticable. The brewers strongly litigated the point about 20 years ago, It was at length decided in favour of the proprietor.
Roads.
The statute labour for the roads, is, as in other places, under the direction of the justices of the peace. The cotter's labour is converted into money, and sometimes the farmer's carriages. The country, for some time past, has been amused with schemes for turnpike roads; and perhaps this has occasioned a remissness in the exaction of the statute work. Owing to this, and the many heavy carriages while the distilleries were flourishing, the roads are exceedingly bad. It is not doubted but that some reform, in a matter so interesting to the public, will soon take place.
Church, etc.
The church of Alloa was repaired and enlarged in 1680, by virtue of a commission from the archbishop of St. Andrews. Its length is 65 feet, exclusive of Mr. Erskine's aisle ; and the breadth 30 feet, besides 12 feet of addition to the north. At the west end it has 2 rows of galleries. It is now too small and incommodious for the numerous inhabitants of this parish; for it is extremely crowded when there are 900 hearers, which is often the case. There have been many deliberations about building a new one, for upwards of 30 years past. To this the heritors are strongly encouraged, by a donation lately made of 1,200L. by Lady Charlotte Erskine*; who also left 800L. Sterling, the interest of which is to be applied for an assistant minister, whose income altogether now exceeds 70L. per annum. The present church has a good appearance to the south. The front is of hewn stone. There is a statue in a niche of St. Mungo, holding an open book**; and another of Moses, putting off his shoes before the burning bush, with the text from Exodus iii. 5. The church stands on a gently rising ground, on the west side of the gardens of Alloa, and is set off by some old trees near it***.
* This sum her Ladyship, (who was a daughter of Charles Earl of Hopeton, and widow of Thomas Lord Erskine, son of the last Earl of Marr), generously bequeathed for seats to the poor, and to such as had no legal rights to any. The latter, however, were to pay a moderate rent for them; part of which sum was to go towards augmenting the salary of the assistant minister. Many years ago, an assistant minister was established here, by a donation from Mr. Johnstone, a merchant in Alloa, who left some houses in the town, the rent of which, with the interest of 600L., that he had in the hands of a company of merchants in Glasgow, to be applied for the maintenance of an assistant minister. The company was dissolved many years ago; and the 600L. was allowed to remain in the hands of one of the partners, who had a good land estate, but who unfortunately became bankrupt some years afterwards, and the whole was lost, and nothing left for the assistant minister, but the rents of the houses. This loss was replaced by the worthy Lady Charlotte Erskine.
Stipend, etc.
The victual is converted, on an average of 25 years prior to 1760, and 25 years prior to 1790 ****.
| 1760 | 1790 | 1760 | 1790 | |
| Bolls | Per Bolls | |||
| S. D. 12ths | S. D. 12ths | L. S. D. 12ths | L. S. D. 12ths | |
| 3 Chal.= 32 Barley | 10 10 10 | 16 4 1 | 17 8 10 8 | 26 2 10 8 |
| 2 Chal.= 24 Meal | 10 3 2 | 14 2 3 | 24 12 8 - | 34 3 0 - |
| Money 400 Scotch | --- | --- | 33 6 8 - | 33 6 8 - |
| Vicarage 71L 3s. 2d. Scotch | --- | --- | 5 18 7 2 | 5 18 7 2 |
| Feu rent of a house, 12L Scotch | --- | --- | 0 0 0 0 | 1 0 0 - |
| Communion Elements 80L Scotch | --- | --- | 6 13 4 - | 6 13 4 - |
| N.B. The feu was ascertained in 1760 | ----------------------------- | ----------------------------- | ----------------------------- | ----------------------------- |
| Total | 88 0 1 10 | 107 4 5 10 |
besides two carts of coals per week, craig-leave, i.e. Paying for the collier's labour. Part of the Vicarage is paid out of the of the neighbouring parishes, and by such a number of hands, as makes the collection of it both very disagreeable and difficult. Mr. Erskine has relieved both the minister and tenants of the greatest part of the vicarage on his estate. The glebe is about 11 Scotch acres, (very nearly equal to 14 English), of fertile ground. Formerly it was over-run with weeds; but, by laying it down in grass, and pasturing, it now yields fine crops. The greatest part of the glebe lies close to the town, and the remainder very near it. The manse, which was repaired in 1776, is beautifully situated at the head of John's Street, and has a garden adjoining of about half an acre. - By the Earl of Marr's forfeiture in 1715, the Crown is patron. - There is an Antiburgher and a Burgher meeting-house in the town, both well attended, and the people are much improved in the civilities of life. There is likewise a chapel of the Scotch Episcopal church. Their number is small; but they have been joined by several of the glass-house work people, whose education leads them to prefer that form of worship. The five clergymen, who are in town, live in the greatest harmony and good intercourse with one another #.
# Dr. James Fordyce, author of the Sermons to Young Women, was last minister of this parish. He was admitted in October 1753, and went to London in 1760, when he was succeeded by the present incumbent.
** St Mungo is reckoned the tutelary saint in this, as in many other parishes of Scotland. He was a native of Culross, and is said to have been educated by St Servanus. commonly called St. Serf. This last seems to have been an itinerary apostle, who for some time carried on his spiritual functions at Tullibody, a part of this parish, and most probably devolved the charge upon St. Mungo.
*** Alexander Lord Erskine, in the 15th of King James IV. (1503) founded a chaplainery within the parish kirk of Alloa, in honour of the holy and undivided Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, of the blessed Virgin May, and St. Kentigern, for which he mortified a certain annuity, to maintain a fit and qualified person to celebrate divine service at St. Katherine's altar, etc.
**** By decree of the court of tiends, 13th February 1793, the stipend is augmented to 11 chalders, half meal, and half bean, to he paid at the rate of the fiar prices of Clackmannan. The mode of augmentation is new : The 400L. Scotch, which made part of the stipend, is now converted into 4 chalders; 2 chalders are added, which, with the 5 formerly paid, make 11 in all: 80L. Scotch, for communion elements, is continued. and 71L. 3s 2d. Scotch, vicarage, paid as use and want. The additional 2 chalders may seem a small augmentation for so large a parish; but the conversion of the money into grain makes it considerable, and gives a security for the stipend's rising with the other necessaries of life.
At the Reformation, the stipends of the Protestant clergy were fixed, to be paid at the rate of so many chalders of victual, (the general term in Scotland for all kinds of grain), part of which was paid in kind, and part in money, converting the chalder, in the rich counties, at 100L. Scotch the chalder. And at 80L. Scotch in the less fertile ones. It it greatly to be regretted, that the whole stipend was not paid in victual; as by that meant the value of them would have kept pretty nearly an equal pace with the value of estates. This method should now be absolutely fixed; or if, from local situations, it should be very inconvenient to the clergy, to receive the whole in victual, one third might be converted into money ; and the value of the bolls should be estimated by an average of 25 years; and at the end of the 25 years, a new conversion might be taken; but no alteration should be made, unless the price of victual (i.e. the medium price of barley and malt), differed from the forme: one 6d. pence per boll.
Schools and Donations.
There is a numerous and flourishing school, conducted by a rector and doctor, (i.e. a master and usher), both of whom have very good apartments. The rector takes boarders, and gives them every private assistance. The pious Lady Charlotte Erskine left 300L. Sterling for educating poor children, and having them cathechised on Sunday evenings ; which, according to the direction of Mr. Erskine, to whose care it was committed, has been begun, and promises great success, under the direction of the doctor, who assembles them, with all who choose to attend on the Sunday evenings. This meeting the ministers occasionally attend, and mark the progress of the young, when the most diligent are rewarded with little books. Her Ladyship likewise bequeathed 400L. towards assisting the schools of the colliery. The charitable donations of this lady ought not to be omitted in this place, though they are deeply engraven in the hearts of many. Children of all sects have access to the benefit of these schools. There are likewise several private schools, where some of the younger and poorer scholars are educated. In the village of Tullibody, there is a numerous school, patronized by General Abercromby. In the colliery there are two schools, to accommodate what are called the Upper and Lower Works, i.e. the Collyland and Alloa. All these schools are well attended, and promise much public benefit.
Mineral Waters and Fossils.
There are many springs, strongly impregnated with steel. One of them is within the house of Alloa ; but it is not known that any of them have been sufficiently analysed, to speak of their effects. There are various quarries in the parish; some very indifferent, a few very good. One of them has been wrought upwards of 100 years. It is a remarkably good stone in every particular, excepting the colour, which is a faint red ; but it endures all kinds of fatigue. A very great quantity has been made use of, although it lies very deep in the earth, and of course is expensive to work. There is another quarry on the east side of the parish, of a good quality, and uncommonly white. There are seams of coal underneath each of these quarries. There is a field of yellow clay, or ochre, excellently adapted for fine bricks. It sometimes supplies the place of lime on the outsides of houses; but its various qualities have not yet been ascertained.
Wild Animals.
The wild animals are the same as are common to all the Low Country : hares, rabbits, foxes, badgers, otters, foumarts, or polecats, and stoats, or ermines. These last are very rare. There are no wild cats. The birds most numerous are partridges. Some few quails and land rails are sometimes seen in autumn; but they are abundant in the breeding season. The whistling or grey plovers alight sometimes on the high grounds in spring, and likewise the dotterels, both on their way to the Ochils. The bittern is become very scarce. Curlews frequent the side of the Forth. There are few herons that breed here. There are thrushes, blackbirds, woodlarks, bull finches, and all the finch tribe; sky larks, buntings, yellow hammers, and water wagtails, white and yellow; in summer, stone-chatterers, and various kinds of swallows; in winter, the several kinds of fieldfares, woodcocks and snipes, and sometimes snow birds. The lapwing, or green plover, breeds on the high grounds; but as cultivation advances, their numbers visibly decrease. The hoody, or Royston crow, breeds here. Jack-daws, crows, magpies and ravens are often seen, but do not breed. There are also hawks, kings-fishers, sand-larks, water crows, and some few of the long eared bats, owls and screech owls.
Antiquities
About a mile east of the town, there is a large upright stone, 7 feet 4 inches above the surface of the ground. It is three feet broad, and thought to be very deep in the earth. The old people use to speak of the figure of a man on horseback, which they had seen on it. If any thing of that kind, or letters (as it is said), have been formerly observed, they are now totally effaced*.
*when the adjacent farm was enclosing, upwards of 20 years ago, a ditch was made close to the stone, when many human bones were discovered ; which proves, that a battle or skirmish had some time or other taken place near that spot; and probably some man of eminence was buried hard by, as it was a common practice of the Picts on such occasions. There are two stones resembling this one, in the neighbouring parish of Alva, at no great distance from the church, but not close to one another. They are both near the foot of the Ochils.
Ancient Families and Eminent Persons.
There are no families of any consequence now existing, which were originally of this parish. The branch of the Abercrombies, which settled at Tullibody towards the end of last century, are descended from the family of Birkenboig in Banffshire, where it has been long established. The Lords Cathcart only made this the seat of their residence, upon parting with the great estate and beautiful place of Auchincruive, which they possessed for ages in Ayr-shire. Their possessions in this and the adjoining parishes, descended to the late Lord Cathcart from his grandmother Lady Shaw ; whose husband had purchased them, in the beginning of this century, at a judicial sale, from the Bruces of Clackmannan.
Neither can the Erskines be said to be originally of this parish, although they got the lands, which they are now possessed of, in the reign of King Robert Bruce. They were originally settled in Renfrewshire. They succeeded by a female, in 1461, to the earldom of Marr ; but it was not until the year 1561 that they got possession of it. It was at that time declared in parliament, that, in justice, the earldom of Marr belonged to John Lord Erskine, who, in the year 1571, was elected regent of Scotland, on the death of the Earl of Lennox. How honourably he filled that troublesome station, is recorded by all our historians *. Unfortunately he was cut off by a sudden death. The famous George Buchanan has celebrated his virtues in an elegant epitaph.
* The family of Erskine have often been honoured with having their infant sovereigns intrusted to their care, (particularly King James V. the unfortunate Queen Mary, James VI. and his son Prince Henry) ,which sacred trust they most faithfully discharged. They have some curious papers relative to those transactions.- The regent's son was brought up with King James VI. He was appointed ambassador to England a short time before Elizabeth's death. The ambassador's present is still preserved in the family; It is a bason and ewer, remarkable for its workmanship, and the elegance of its shape. Lord Marr, in his embassy, is supposed to have contributed towards the peaceable accession of King James to the throne of England. The Duke of Sully mentions him in his memoirs, and calls him his friend. On the Duke's return to France, the famous Henry IV. wrote a letter to Lord Marr, which is still preserved in the archives of the family.
These matters, however, belong rather to history than to a statistical account; but it would be improper to omit mentioning the last Earl of Marr, who had a great turn for embellishing the country. Lord Haddington, in his Treatise on on Forest Trees, says, "It was the late Earl of Marr, that first introduced the wilderness way of planting among us, and very much improved the taste of our gentlemen, who soon followed his example." And the gardens at Alloa, which were laid out according to the fashion of the times, were long visited and admired. The Earl, unhappily for his country, himself and family, was principally concerned in the rebellion 1715. But whatever errors he may have fallen into, it cannot be denied, by any one who reads the papers he has left behind him, that he had the general improvement of his country greatly at heart. His only amusement, during the long exile in which he died, was to draw plans and designs, for the good of that much loved country from which he was banished; and there is one paper *, dated in 1728, which takes notice of the improvements of the metropolis, that have been since carried into execution, and which deserves to be more generally known.
* Speaking of the public works necessary for the improvement of Scotland, Lord Marr says, "All ways of improving Edinburgh should he thought on : as, in particular, making a large bridge, of three arches, over the grounds betwixt the North Loch and Physic Garden, from the High Street at Halkerstone's Wynd to the Multursey Hill, where many fine streets might he built, as the inhabitants increased. The access to them would be easy on all hands, and the situation would be agreeable and convenient, having a noble prospect of all the fine ground towards the sea, the frith of Forth, and coast of Fife."
"One large and long street, in a straight line, where the Long Gate is now ; on one side of it would be a fine opportunity for gardens down to the North Loch; and one on the other side, towards Broughton. No houses to be on the bridge, the breadth of the North Loch; but, selling the places on the ends of the bridge for houses, and the vaults and arches below for warehouses and cellars, the charge of the bridge might he near defrayed."
"Another bridge might also be made on the other side of the town, and almost as useful and commodious an that on the north. The place where it could be most easily made is St. Mary's Wynd and the Pleasants. The hollow there is not so deep as where the other budge is proposed; so that it is thought two stories of arches might raise it near upon a level with the street at the head of St. Mary's Wynd. Betwixt the south end of the Pleasants and the Potter-Row, and from thence to Bristo Street, and by the back of the wall at Herriot's Hospital, there are fine situations for houses and gardens. There would be fine avenues to the town, and outlets from it for airing, walking, etc. by these bridges; and Edinburgh, from being a bad incommodious situation, would become a very beneficial and convenient one : And, to make it still more so, a branch of that river, called the Water of Leith, might, it is thought, be brought from somewhere about the Colt Bridge, to fill and run through the North Loch, which would be of great advantage to the convenience, beauty, cleanliness and healthfulness of the town."
"The making a canal betwixt the rivers of Forth and Clyde would be a great improvement to Scotland, as well as of great service to the trade of the whole island, especially the India trade, by saving a dangerous long passage round Britain, since, by that canal the west and east sea would be joined. The way for leading of this canal is from near Glasgow, by Kilsyth, to the mouth of the river Carron below Falkirk. It is practicable, as Mr. Adair, Mr, Smith, Mr. McGill, and Mr. Sorocold judged, who travelled twice over the ground, with a view to this work. From the hills of Campsie, and the river Carron they thought there would be water sufficient got for filling the canal ; and that, by the assistance of several sluices near to Glasgow and some in other parts, the canal would be made practicable for flat bottomed boats of a very considerable burden. They computed that 30,000L. Sterling might do the work; but, should it cost the double, it would be well bestowed, and be soon repaid by the profit arising from the canal."
Having said so much of this unfortunate nobleman, it is no more than justice to the inhabitants of this and the neighbouring parishes, to mention their behaviour to him during his exile, while the estate continued under the direction of the commissioners of the forfeited estates. They contributed considerably towards assisting him under his misfortunes. Nor should an instance of gratitude pass unnoticed : The Earl, whose taste for architecture was generally known, introduced the celebrated Mr. Gibbs into business, the beginning of this century. Mr. Gibbs dying without children, left the greatest part of the fortune he had acquired to Lord Erskine, the son of his first patron.
The following is a copy of the complimentary poem (above mentioned), wrote by George Buchanan upon John Earl of Marr, who was regent of Scotland, during the minority of King James VI.
Joanni Areskino, Comiti Marrie, Scotorum Proregi.
Si quis Areskinum memoret per bella ferocem,
Pace gravem nulli, tempore utroque pium;
Si quis opes fine faftu, animum fine fraude, carentem
Rebus in ambiguis suspicione fidem ;
Si quod ob has dotes, faevis jactata procellis
Fugit in illius patria sessa finum ;
Vera quidem memoret, sed non & propria laudes
Qui pariter petet has unus & alter erit
Illud ci proprium est, longo quod in ordine vitae
Nil odium aut livor quod reprehendat babet.