Ormidale Memorial
Below we bring you, bit by bit, a memorial that Ormidale wrote in 1798 laying out his grievances against his brother (“the late Otter”) in an attempt to have his will overturned. We have done our best to decipher Ormidale’s scrawl but please feel free to offer corrections of any word you think we have misread. We are quite sure that there will be a few.
Excerpt 13
Ormidale’s frustration with his brother becomes more evident as the Memorial progresses. While Otter did lead an unconventional lifestyle, he does seem to be trying to do the right thing by the children (who may or may not be his, judging by what Ormidale has written). Ormidale appears to be a more conventional character which presumably exacerbated his feelings towards Otter.
and letters were writ by her as Mrs Black
and returns directed to her as Mrs Black matters went on thus
way for years When Otter brought home a Boy and a Girll
to Otter thought to be Mrs Black’s children and ane Mr Brown
their preceptor after him one Mr Cooper and after him one
Mr Pate before the said Children were brought to Otter some
few years there after one Mr Neill McBain of Ardry wrote
to Otter that Mrs Black was cohabiting with one Mr Bain
as man and wife when Otter sent out Archibald McMeulling
his Milner in Linsaig with letter to said Mr McBain to
give information and to endeaverar to detect Mrs Black and
Mr Bruce which was done in right time when Mrs Black
and Mr Bruce confessed they were married persons
Excerpt 14
There are some unusual words and phrases in this extract:
- The “Bowerr flower” is presumably the floor of a summer house or conservatory.
- A “Tides Waiter” was a Customs Officer working at a port.
- “Jainture” is “Jointure” – an estate settled on a wife for the period during which she survives her husband in cases where there was no dower (i.e. property given by a groom directly to his bride at or before their wedding)
Upon
Otters getting a letter informing him of the like he flew about like
a mad man he pulled of his Wige and kicked it over the Bowerr
flower but Otter afterwards with his Interest got a Tides Waiters place
to Mr Bruce at Port Glasgow where he and his wife resided for
Severall years and had severall chidren but Mr Bruce acted
Some wrong prank about the Customs House of Port Glasgow
When he made his Eloptment and never was heard of since
yet Otter ordered two of Bruces said children to be boarded at
Glasgow and helped there at his expenses Till the aforesaid
period of years the Memorialist was by Otter his
order employed in Otters business at Otter and neglecting his
own Affairs and not one penny allowed him or his familie
for his trouble may be seen in his Otters rentall books
his receipt books for his publick burthens and in paying yearly
his mother Jainture Vide his Receipt Books conform to the same
Page 6th same laying in his repositories at Otter
Excerpt 15
We have another unusual term here. “Setling marches” refers to resolving a dispute over the boundaries between two properties, which could be farms, estates or even a town. In the early minutes of Helensburgh Town Council you can find a description of the council members going around the marches of the burgh to check the boundary stones.
We also have another word that we’re not sure of, in the phrase “Mr William Dey less to the Memorialist”. “Less”, as we use the word today, does not make sense here. It can also mean “junior” or “younger”, or “lease”. However none of those make sense either. Once again we would be pleased if anyone could make any alternative suggestions.
About the year 1774. 1775, or 1776 Mr William Wilson
raised a Summonds for Setling Marches with Otter and others
[?] From When Otter wrote a letter ^ by Mr William Dey less to the
Mavis Bank Memorialist requesting to see about for Witnesses to ascertain
said marches the Memorialist did so and continued Attend=
=ing said Prooff during many Vacations of the
Court of Session the Memorialist presuming were it not for
his Attendance that it was impossible for Otter to go through
with it which the Memorialist will report to the Oath
of Mr William McKenzie writer at Inveraray and Robert
Lenzie Clerk of the proof and Others then present