banffshire field club transactions 1893-1900 · 2019. 1. 10. · (2) "elisabet hamiltoh vidu...

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Transactions OF THE BANFFSHIRE FIELD CLUB. THE STRATHMARTINE TRUST The support of The Strathmartine Trust toward this publication is gratefully acknowledged. www.banffshirefieldclub.org.uk Banffshire Field Club

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  • T r a n s a c t i o n s

    OF THE

    B A N F F S H I R E FIELD CLUB.

    THE STRATHMARTINE

    TRUST

    The support of The Strathmartine Trust toward this publication is gratefully acknowledged.

    www.banffshirefieldclub.org.uk

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    http://www.banffshirefieldclub.org.uk

  • 23

    of the family history. This Mr Edgar Shand's grandfather emigrated to Nova Scotia from Huntly or Banff in the year 1794 or 1795. Another Shand of Northern origin and who is much interested in the family history is Mr J . L, Shand'. of Messrs Shand, Haldane, & Co., 24, Rood Lane, London.

    THE FAMILY OF RHIND.

    EARLY NOTICES OF THE SURNAME OF RHIND. The family of Rhind is by many supposed to have

    originated in the Low Countries; but the probability is greater that the name is of native origin, and derived either from the parish of Rynd, in Perth-shire, or from the estate of Rhind (in 1509' Rynde)', in Fifeshire. The name is said to signify in Gaèlìc ' a point,'

    1365.—In the Register of the Privy Council' of Scotland, Patrick Rynd appears in 1365 as bailie of Forfar. In Robertson's Index of Charters Sub David II. (1329-1370) appears notice of a charter to "Marthacus Rind ' of four oxengate of land of Cass and four oxengate in the forest of Platter, in the County of Forfar; also, a similar charter to Murthaens del Rynd granted at Dundeè on the 31st of July and in the 37th year of the reign of the same sovereign (1365), the reddendo in the latter case being of albarum cirothecarum, or 2d. in silver, in name of blench, only if asked, and at 'our manor of Forfar.'

    1415 — Alexander de Rend, Knight, is witness to a deed dated at Aberdeen 6th February 1415 (Register of the Bishopric of Moray).

    1436.—In the Obits of the Cathedral of Aberdeen under date 4th of Ides of March 1436—this being the date of his death (.?)—occùrs Henry Rynde, Treasurer of the Church of Aberdeen, who gifted to the chaplains of the C'hurch of Aberdeen 16s.

    annual rent arising from the croft or land of the Hedunnys Hill and' of the Langlandise for the anniversary of his father and mother, &c.

    On the anniversary for his soul—10th March— the sum of 54s. 4d. is recorded as paid yearly.

    Among the vestments for the high altar are in-cluded "unum vestimentum de blanco serico cum

    duabus tunicis datum, per Magistrun Henricum Rynde, thesauriarium.' Master Henry Rynde, Banf

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    t reasurer , also g i f ted a si lver cup, p a r t l y o r n a m e n t e d with gold. H e also gave to t h e C a t h e d r a l a n ivory p y x and four candelabra .

    1431,—In 1431, H e n r y of Rinde , chamber l a in of t h e Bishop of Aberdeen, receives his second t i t h e s f r o m the formes of Aberdeen, and in 1435 we m e e t wi th Wil l iam Rynd , of E d i n b u r g h , mak ing p a y m e n t t o the King of finance of Andrew J o f r a y s o u n e , a n d in t h e same yea r occurs T h o m a s R y n d , d e p u t y of J o h n Swyf t , cus tumar of woollen c lo th , of E d i n b u r g h .

    1453 —Henry R y n d e is wi tness to t h e t r a n s u m p t of a cha r t e r on 21st Apr i l 1453, by R o b e r t t h e J a n i t o r of Kincardine , in t h e Mearns , to D u n c a n K y m b d y . of the lands of Achiehdonachy , t h e or ig ina l cha r t e r being of d a t e c. 1317.

    1464.—Sir J o h n Rynd (Rind or Rende ) is c h a p l a i n of Ed inburgh Castle.

    1471, J u n e 15 —The King . J a m e s I I I . , conf i rmed a cha r t e r of David. Ear l of Crawfo rd , by which he g r an t ed to Alexander Rinde, son of J a m e s R i n d e of Broxmou th , t he lands of Hather . - takkis a n d Makis-hill . in t h e Lordship of t h e fores t of P l a t a n e , c o u n t y of Forfar , which the said J a m e s res igned.

    1493. —In t h e ledger of A n d r e w H a l y b u r t o n (1492-1503), Conservator of Scots Pr iv i leges in t h e low countr ies , reference is made to R o b e r t R y n d of F landers , and in the fol lowing y e a r of Robe r t R y n d of S t Andros, and in 1496 occurs t h e fo l lowing account of ' Robar t Rynd —I tem bocht in Brug i s and laid in t h e Egyl l a t h rowch t for Vy l l zem R y n d cost a t t h e first b y l i n g 6 li. 15s., i t em for pakin of i t , 3s.; i tem for toill in Brugis , 2s ; i t em p y n o r , 18 g r o a t s ; i t em for schout hir [ t rack boa t h i re ] t o t h e Fe i r (Campvere) , 4s.; som of th is s t a n w i t h t h e costis, 7 li. 5s. 6 oz.' (Throwcht—a th rough- s t ene , kind of tombstone. )

    1497. —Henry Rynde was T reasu re r of E d i n b u r g h . 1502.—John R y n d , Chapla in of E d i u b u r g h Cas t l e . 1 5 2 6 — T h o m a s R y n d , go ldsmi th , Ed inburgh , ,

    elected deacon of the Incorpora t ion (25th October ) . J o h n R y n d was also a go ldsmi th in E d i n b u r g h in 1535 and Wil l iam in 1539.

    1551. — Micheall Rynd . 1562.— George Rind. 1543 —From D r Milne's ' B l a c k f r i a r s of P e r t h '

    (1893) we learn t h a t J a m e s R y n d was one of those who made an assaul t on and damaged the B lack f r i a r ' s Monastery , P e r t h , on 14th May 1543. T h e y took

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    ' aff the great kettill with the mete and carried it about the town,' and in 1546, Andrew Rynd is witness to a charter granted by the Blackfriars, Perth.

    1553 4 —'£8 gottin fra Jonet Rynd for her entres silver of ane buith under the Tolbuith.' (Records of

    Town Council of Edinburgh.) 1567.—John Rynd and several others, inhabitants

    of Leith, acknowledge Murray as Regent. (Reg. of Privy Council )

    1576 —William Rynd is one of the brethren ap-pointed for Angus aud Mearns to make ' ane overture of the policie and jurisdiction of the Kirk.'

    1582. —The lands of Rynd granted by the King to David Beatoun of Melgound.

    1596. —In this year, mention is made of William Rynd or Rind in Edinburgh, William Rynd, burgess of Forfar, and John Rynd, Perth.

    1596 1600 —Rynd was a common name about 1596 - 1600 in several parts of Scotland, eg — Perth, Forfar, &c. There are no doubt earlier references to the name Rhind in Banff or Moray, but the earliest we remember at present Elchiner Rind in Elgin, who married Margaret Angous in 1615. In 1627, we meet with James Rind, gardener to my Lord of Murray, and it is not unlikely the Banff Rhinds came from Elgin. William Rhind was a merchant in Elgin in 1685. In 1713, Rev. Thomas Rhind was served heir to John Rhind. his uncle, gardener in the College of Elgin. In 1787, James Rhind in Elgin was served heir to his father, James Rhind, mason there.

    1640, February 18.—Jonet Makcull, spouse of John Rynd, merchant, burgess of Edinburgh, heir portioner of David Mackcall. (Inquis. Gen.)

    About the middle of the 17th Century, Rind was a not uncommon name within the Presbytery of Strathbogie. e g — In 1640, Christian Rind was summoned for consulting a 'wi tch ' in Glass, and receiving charms and diirections from her. The 'w i t ch ' had to pay two dollars to the clerk, and make her repentance. At a later period Christian got into more serious trouble with the Presbytery for having her marriage solemnized by ' a mass priest.' We also meet with Robert Rhind in the Raws of Huntly. John Rind who would not sub-scribe the Covenant in 1643, and who openly said in the Kirkyard of Aberchirder that all that subscribed the same would be hanged.

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    1648. J u n e 9,—Thomas Rynd , burgess of P e r t h . ( l n q . G e n . )

    1660 . -Tombstone in Carmyl l ie Churchya rd— ' H e i r lyes ane honest man J a m e s Rind, husband to Helen Philp, who depar ted th i s ly fe 8 of J a n v a r i 1660. of age 80.'

    1664.—Carmyllie t o m b s t o n e - ' H e i r lyes J a m e s Rind younger, who depar ted th is lyfe , t h e 10 Of

    Janvar i 1664, of age 31. 1662, April 2 4 . - W i l l i a m Rind, heir of J a m e s

    Rind, rnason, burgess of St i r l ing, his f a t h e r . (Inquis Gen.)

    1680.—Christopher de R y n d . 1714,—John Rhynd had two c rof t s In Elg in

    valued at £3 6s. 8d. 1745 —In the list of rebels appear J o h n R h i n d ,

    brewer, Findhorn and Wil l iam Rhind, workman , Stonehaven. The former informed t h e rebels of t h e proper plans, and assisted in p lunder ing a t F indhorn ; H e made his escape or kept in concealment a f t e r the Rebellion.

    1784,—Among the Rose Le t te r s is a copy Of Peti t ion and Complaint, before the C o u r t of Session, of John Rhind, wheelwright and a Councillor of t h e burgh of Nairn) against t h e Magis t ra tes a n d Counci l Of Nairn.

    1808,—James Rhind, mason, Aberdeen, died 28 th February 1808. l i i s spouse, Margare t Reid, d ied 1769. aged 45.

    1808.—Alexander Rhind and Ann Cook, Fraser--burgh, had a son Will iam (1808) and a son J o h n in 1810.

    1641—1668. -John Rhind , no ta ry public, Elgin . 1709. Feb. 7 —Among t h e Rose MSS. is a l e t t e r

    t o Lord Fife f rom Thomas Rhind, accountan t , Un ion Bank, Paisley.

    1808.—Alexander Rhind and Ann Cook, Fraser-burgh, had a son William ; and in 1810 a son J o h n .

    (Reg. of Bir ths of Parish of Fraserburgh) .

    THE RHINDS OF BANFF.

    The earliest mention of t h e name Rh ind in t h e records of the burgh or parish of Banff is in t h e register of bir ths for the year 1674. where is recorded the baptism of ' William, son of Robert T u r n e r a n d J a n e t Rinn his Bpouse. Wil l iam Cuming of Auchry witness. '

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    W h e t h e r J a n e t Rinn, i.e.. Rind or Rhind, was of Banff descent cannot now be positively asserted, ne i t he r can i t be clearly proved tha t she was directly connected with the family whose descent we are now t rac ing , bu t t h e presumption is t h a t such was the

    case. Robe r t T u r n e r , a member of the Town Council of

    Banff , and a cooper by t rade, was the son of J a m e s T u r n e r , merchant, Banff, and lived in a house in W a t e r Lane, which was erected in 1675. probably n o t long a f t e r his marriage, and stood till within A yea r or two ago. when it was demolished. An illus-t r a t ion of i t appears in ' T h e Annals of Banff, ' Vol . I I . (New Spalding Club). T h e doorway bore the in i t ia ls R T . X I . R . , wi th t h e da te 1.6.7.5. T h e tombstones of t h e family , which still s tand in the Old C h u r c h y a r d of Banff, furnish part iculars of the fami ly , and give evidence t h a t t h e family was of s o m e s tand ing in the burgh. T h e inscriptions are as fo l lows :—

    (1) ' S u b t u s hic recondit i l a t en t cineres ac ossa viri perhones t i Jacobi Turne r , Bamfiae municipis qu i ga t i s cessit xv. Kal . April is anno dom. 1656 Necnon di lectae ipsius sponsae Joannae Shearer q u a e obii t viii. i d , Feb. A.D. MDCI.X. J.T. I .S . H e i r lyes J o h n , Robert , Georg, Alex., Issoh. 1, J a n e t , and Marga re t Turners , children lawful ly p roc rea t be twix t Rober t T u r n e r and J a n n e t Rind his spouse. '

    (2) "El i sabeth H a m i l t o n vidua Jacobi Turner merca tor i s e t municipis Banffiensis sub hoc saxo s e p u l t a j ace t quod in e jus memoriam erexit filins unions supers tes J o a n n e s T u r n e r illa obiit 25th Sep t . 1732 ae ta t i s 75. '

    (3) Hic j ace t Rober tus Tu rne r vir vere pius sobrius ac ju s tus mar i tu s charissimae conjugas

    J a n e t t e Rind qui vi tae huius curriculum summa cum laude i t gra t ia apud mortales emensus in

    spem melioris exuvias hic fel ici ter posuit 24 die Apri l i s a n n o Dom. 1690 ae ta t i s 60. Hei r lys inshrnd a man who livd in good esteem mong men and died in favour both with God and man. To C h r i s t he's gone, his grea tes t gain. Return thou s h a l t f r o m dus t , and linve a name above corruption or t h e grave. Vive memor l e th i . '

    ' J a n e t R h i n ' was witness to the baptism of George Gairdn and Chr is t ian Tyne t ' s daughter

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    Margaret in the year 1678. The Gairdns were one of the leading families in the burgh.

    The Register of Sasines of burgh of Banff conta ins an entry, of which the following is a s u m i n a r y : —

    1683, "Match 31.— Sasine of t enement and garden a t the seashore with garden and crof t for Robert Turner and J ane t Rhind his spouse. The t enement had the land tha t formerly belonged t o Rober t Turner on the east, the King's highway near t h e churchyard at the west. the seashore a t the nor th , and the tenement belonging to the heirs of Alex-ander Brockie, N.P . a t the south. The crof t had the lands pertaiuiug to William Cuming of Auchry on the south.

    Previous to his death in 1690, Rober t Tu rne r bequeathed 100 merks to the poor, which seems to have been still unpaid in Dec. 1694 (Annals of Banff II. 63).

    Al ter her husband's death, J a n e t Rhind carried on some sort of business, for in 1693 she presented a bill against the town for £7 2s., next year a bill for £8 18s., and in 1697 a bill for £5, and another for £9 14s. 8d. In 1696 she p. id for her heri tage £1 17s. 10d., and otherwise she paid to the town £ 1 yearly, thus amounting in all to £2 17s l0d.

    Her house was temporarily used as the Grammar School, as the following entry from the minutes of Town Council shows : —

    „'1700 - £5 Sc paid to Janet Rind, relict of Robert Turner, for damage done to her house, used as a school the tyme Mr Alex. Syme was maister of the Grammar School of Banff.'

    J O H N ( I ) AND ALEXANDER R H I N D .

    (Alexander died 1758). The earliest reliable notice the records of Banff

    supply regarding the ancestors of the family these notes mainly refer to is in the year 1724. when John and Alex. Rhind built the bulwark. The next is 1726-7, when the magistrates were exerting all their energies on the building of the harbour of Guthrie. The woik was commenced in 1724. and two years afterwards we find the en t ry—' For 3 chapins ale when John Rind spoke with the managers 3s. Sc.' The work of building the harbour was calculated by the Commissioners, a f te r examin-ing masons and others, to cost a t least £1100 sterling,

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    a considerable o u t l a y for Banff a t t h a t period, b u t ' t h e said place is exceedingly well s i tuate , and very advan tageous for t rade , as also t h a t it has a good foun-dat ion for bu i ld ings pier, water is deep, and the access is easy. ' T h e Commissioners made a commencement of t h e work by sanding t o Aberdeen for ' two gu i l t pocke t books ' tor enter ing contributions. 'The fol lowing ex t rac t s f rom the town's records show tho connect ion of J o h n and Alexander Rhind with the work . I t is likely the two were brothers, bu t of t h i s t h e r e is no proof. I t is of Alexander alone t h a t descendan t s a re known.

    1726 ,—'Alexander Rind, measson, ' appears for t h e first t i m e in the s t en t rolls H e is ra ted a t £3.

    1729, October 11.—Agreed with Alexander Rind, measson, to hew. lay, and clasp the f reesten one top of the pier of G u t h r i e for 3s. 6d. Sc. for squar foot.

    1720, Dec. 6 . - ' Paiid J o h n Rind £3 ' 1729, Dec. 24 .—"Paid £4 to Alexander and J o h n

    R inds for work a t t he harbour . ' 1733 —Alexander Rhind, a member of the Head

    Cour t . 1734. —The present managers aggree with Alex-

    ande r Rhind, measson, for furnishing for t n e u s e of the harbour of G u t h r y , where they can mos t conveniently he got, ei ther a t t h e B o a t H y t h or Face of Wil l iam one thousand pieces of s tones, compting twelve hundred for the t housand , whereof the one half to be twelve m e n l i f t s , and the o ther half to be six men lifts and four m e n l i f t s in equall halfs. and the harbour is to have t h e benefi t of all t he stones t ha t are under four men l i f t s , Which the said Alexander Rhind wins, when h e wins the above quan t i ty , and for deeing whereof h e is to have twelve pound ten shillings sterl ing.

    1740,—Articles of agreement between J a m e s Innes , baillie, &c., and Alexander Rhind anen t bui lding the gulph a t Guthr ie . Ho agrees to make u p and build the gulph a t the head of the east pier, and t o uphold i t for nine years, and to supply s tones . T h e magis i ra tes to pay him £12 stg.

    1751.—Contract betwixt J a m e s Collie, t reasurer of Banff , and Alexander Rhind anen t the harbour of Guth r i e . H e engages to build a pier a t Gu th r i e , which pier is to join the head of the east pier of t he said harbour , and to extend 73 feet nor thward f rom said east pieer over the rock- a t the head thereof, t h e big rock on the east s ide of t h e en t ry to t h e said

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    harbour being the inside of the said pier to be built [Alex. Rhind's signature is here]. The said new pier to be 30 feet wide at foundation, and 23 feet a t least at top, and is to rise gradually higher than the old pier, to which it is to be joined until it come to the head, which is to be full three feet higher a t the head than the present east pier, and said head to have two course of freestone upon top to bring it to said height, to be finished by 11th November (present date 11th May), Alex. Rhind to furnish stones, and to be paid £61 14s. stg.

    1752 —Debursed on the new pier £42 9s. 10d.. also Alexander Rhind's receipts, £43 10s.: total, £85 19s. l0d. Stg.

    1737.—Sasine to Alexander Rhind on Alexander Shand's tenement on the west side of High Street.

    1727. Paid Alexander Rind, measson, £2 (for new harbour).

    1724.-From this year the accounts of John and Alexander Rhind appear almost yearly in the Burgh records. The first piece of work they are recorded to have done in Banff was in 1724, when they built the bulwark. About 1711, and previously, Alexander Milne, approven mason, did the burgh work.

    1728,—Paid Alexander Rind, meason, £3 4s. 8d. 1729,— Paid Alexander Rehind, meason, £2 8s. 1730. August 1.—'The Council having considered

    that Alexander and John Rhinds, measons, have not performed the work of Guthrie conform to the contracts entred into betwixt them and the town, they appoint Archibald Simson to require them under form of instrument to perform and finish the said work, and upon their neglect or refusal he is to employ other workmen to do the samen.'

    1731-2,—Cash given Alexander Rhind for the new harbour £108.

    1734, Dec. 19.—Two Managers appointed to go to Auchmedden to inspect the sufficiency, dimensions, and number of the stones win there by Alexander Rhind and James Marr. The £12 10s. stg. agreed upon (see 1734 supra) was all paid to Alexander Rhind by 31st March 1735.

    1735, May 24.—Alexander Rhind is to begin the building of the pier head Monday next, and to employ what masons and barrowmen he finds convenient.

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  • 31 1735, Oct . 18,—The Managers recommend to

    Alexander Rh ind to finish the west pier with four sufficient masons and with barrowmen, the la t ter receiving 5s. Sc. per day .

    1736.—Paid Alexander Rhind, meason, for t h e town 's proportion of charge in repairing the minis-ter ' s manse £7 1s.

    1736.—Stone is furnished by Alexander Rhind for the new house (? Duff House).

    1750-1 —Alexander R h i n d is Deacon of t h e H a m m e r m e n .

    1756. —After this year , Alexander Rhind's name no longer appears in the list of members of Head Cour t . He died a t Pres tonpans in 1758.

    J o h n Rhind , apparent ly the brother of Alexander, appears in the Banff records in 1724, 1726, &c. (supra), usually walking in company with Alex-ander . H e was paid separately —£3 4s. 6d. in 1728, and in the following year £ 2 12s.

    ( F u r t h e r notes rè Alexander Rhind.)

    1737, December 8 ,—The Town Clerk presented a seasine in favours of Alexander Rhind, mason in

    Banff. upon the tenements of bouses which belonged to Alexander Shand . wheelwright, and Isobel Edie-son, his spouse. Revised and approved by the Councell .

    1740,—To Alexander Rhind. mason, in part for his Work at the harbour of Guthr ie , £49 4s.

    1747, Sept.. 25 —To Alexander Rhind for work a t Guthr ie , £45 10s.

    1747. August. 8.—By two expresses to Gamrie for Alexander Rhind, meason, to come to the work a t Guthr ie . 10s.

    1751, Dec.—By cash to Alexander Rhind in con-sequence of t h e cont rac t with the Town Council a n e n t the work a t Guthr ie , £522 Sc.

    T h e aforesaid Alexander Rhind, mason, Banff, married Margare t Scot, who appeals to have been

    t h e daugh te r of Provost Wil l iam Scott. Their f ami ly were :— Banf

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    Margaret, born J u n e 15, 1726. (Wil l iam Scott , Provost, is wi tness to t h e bapt ism.)

    J e a n , born 1728 (Nov. 25). (Lady Braco, one of the witnesses.)

    Elizabeth, born 1730 (Mar. 20). James , born 2 Sept . 1732, died in in fancy . Elizabeth. John , b o m 17th J u l y 1737, d . 11 J a n y .

    1819, aged 82 yrs . J a n e t , born 1739 (baptd. J u n e 25). James , born 1741 (baptd. Nov. 29). J ean , born 1744 (baptd. Nov. 10). (Named

    a f t e r J e a n Lumsden. J a m e s and George Massie. witnesses.)

    ^Alexander, horn 1747 (baptd. A u g u s t 22). Margaret Scot died 15th May 1752, aged 46 years .

    JOHN RHIND II. (1737-1819).

    J o h n Rhind was the son of Alexander R h i n d and Margaret Scot. He was born in 1737, marr ied Christ ian Massie, daughter of George Massie, Con-vener of the Trades, and died 11th J a n u a r y 1819 a t the age of 82 years. H e appears connected wi th most of the public works of t h e burgh of Banff for a long series of years .

    His family were:—George, born 1761, n a m e d George a f t e r Geo. Massie, g r a n d f a t h e r by t h e mother (witnesses: George Fa i th , mason, a n d J a m e s Massie, the child's uncle) ; (2) Alexander , born 1762, baptised Oct. 2 0 ; (1) Margaret , born Dec. 1768; J a m e s ; Elspet , born 1770 (Augus t ) ; Christ ian, born 1777 (Jan . 16, Chris t ian Cock and J a m e s Monro, witnesses); H e l l e n ; Isabel, born 1779; Elizabeth, born 1782, named a f t e r t h e child's aun t , and baptised by Mr Cordiner, S t Andrew ' s Church, B a n f f ; John , born 1764, baptised May 19, named a f t e r J o h n Abernethie of Corskie ( John Marshall, mason, and J o h n Kei th , square wr ight , witnesses).

    (1) Margaret marr ied Alexander Gran t , mason, Banff . Thei r family were J o h n , who died 4th J u n e 1799, aged 5 years, and Elizabeth, who died 10th October 1806, aged 4. Alexander G r a n t died 20th September 1816, aged 54, and his spouse, Margare t Rhind, died 8th November 1854, aged 86 years .

    (2) Named Alexander a f t e r his g r and fa the r ,

    These months

    and days show t h e da te

    of baptism,

    not of

    birth.

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    Alexander Rhind , George and J a m e s Massie witnesses.

    1763, March 19,—Paid J o h n Rhind, meason, £2 3s. 8d. [All such entries, unless otherwise ex-pressed, are p a y m e n t s made by t h e burgh.] In this year , he made t h e bridge a t Buckie's Lock, on the Seatown Lands, a n d received t h e above payment the re fo r .

    , 1768.—The only Rh ind on t h e stent-roll this year is J o h n .

    1769.—John Rhind made a burgess. 1769, J a n u a r y 11,—Compeared J o h n Rhind,

    mason, e ldest son of the deceased Alexander Rhind, having an i n s t rumen t of Sasine, of da te 1737, on a t e n e m e n t having the High S t ree t on the east, &c.

    1771,—John Rhind is Deacon of the Hammermen. 1769, March 23,—Paid to J o h n Rhind, mason, £3. 1770, Feb rua ry 23.—Paid to J o h n Rhind, mason,

    £6. 1770.—Contract between t h e Deacon, boxmaster,

    mas ters , and r emanen t members of the Incorpora-t ion of W r i g h t s and J o h n Rhind, mason. T h e y sell to J o h n Rhind t h a t ground on t h e no r th side of the ya rd a l i t t le above t h e south end of t h e High St ree t of Banff, which yard once was Bailie W m . Ogilvie's, then J a m e s Miln's a t Mill of Boyndie, and then belonged t o t h e Incorporat ion of Wr igh t s . I t measured 57 f t . 9 1/2 in. f rom east to west, 39 f t . 6 in. from north t o south , and had t h e lane along the Heads of the Ya rds a t t h e west. [Af te rwards J o h n Rhind dis-poned i t t o Chris t ian Rhind, his daughter , spouse t o Alexander Mollison.]

    1772, J a n . 23.—Sasine of J o h n Rhind—feu con-t r ac t (1761) of Seatown lands.

    1773, Sept . 17.—Paid to Jo . Rhind for work a t t h e cistern, £ 2 1s. 11d.

    1777.—Stent Roll—heri tage of J o h n Rhind 19s„ his t r a d e £ 2 8s.

    1777.—Stent R o l l - J a m e s Rhind, glover, 12s. ( t rade) .

    1778, Nov. 27 .—John Rhind , mason, for Lot No. 21, measur ing 15 fal ls and 16 elns, entry a t Whi t -sunday 1779. E n t r y money payable a t Mart inmas 1779. £ 4 10s.

    1778, J o h n Rhind , mason's est imate for building a s teeple on t h e west end of the kirk, furnishing all mater ia ls , £ 5 4s. 8d. (5 roods of mason work a t £7 S tg . per rood).

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    1779.—All who take feus in the Seatown lands are entitled to be burgesses freemen, gild brethren of the town without paying any composition, except clerk's dues.

    1779. January 20.—John Rhind. mason, took off another feu of the Seatown Lands, marked on the plan No. 45, he to pay at the rate of 14d per rood, being 17 roods or falls and 33 e l l s . and by taking off the 20 year's purchase of a four th of the whole feu for entry money makes the feu-duty payable a t Whitsunday to be 15s. stg. The first term's pay-ment is Whitsunday 1780. The entry money payable a t Martinmas 1770 is £ 5 3s. 4d.

    1779, June 6.—Paid John Rhind, mason, fo r work at the well at Penti t Effie, 6s. 2d.

    1779.—Received from John Rhind for his entry money (as feuar of Seatown lands), £4 10s. From do. for another feu in Seatown, £5 3s 4d

    1779.—Feu contract betwixt the Magistrates and Town Council and John Rhind, mason in Banff, No. 21, Seatown lands (the contract fills five pages). H e paid £4 10s. as entry money, 15 f a l s or roods and 16 ells. I t had the High Street or public road leading south and north through the Seatown lands a t the east, another public road leading east and west through the Seatown lauds a t the south, and Lot No 22 at the north.

    1782.—Paid John Rhind £3 for laying the floors of Mr Rose's laigh house a t the foot of the W a t e r Path , measuring 320 feet flags. [Paid by Lord Fife.]

    1780.—The 'Book for recording the Minutes of the Committee for erecting a battery of cannon, storehouses, &c., May 1781' records tha t the .Committee agreed with John Rhind and James Robertson, masons, for erecting dykes, making beds for the guns. [This battery was dismantled in 1815.]

    1784 —John Rhind's harbour account. ' 1785 —John Rhind's rents, &c . for Lots 66, 67,

    and 76, 7/54. and 16/10 and 8 / 4 = £ 1 12s. 74d. 1785.—Paid John Rhind, mason, £13 8s. 1d. 1785.—Paid John Rhind, mason, £15 stg. for

    paving Bridge Street. 1780 —Paid John Rhind for cisterns. £5 17s. 0 1/2d. 1780 . -Pa id Rhind & Co. for lamps £3 13s. 2d. 1786.—Paid John Rhind, mason, £ 1 5s 5 1/2d. 1784, Oct. 18.—The east pier inspected by J o h n

    Rhind and others, and found to be shaken and growing worse. They think the badness of the packing to be the cause.

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    1788.—Paid John Rhind, mason, for work at the English School, £1 1s. 3 1/2d. Paid Wm. Rhind, coppersmith, for mounting street lamps, £4 15s. 6d.

    1789, Sep. 14.—Nos. 41 and 42 Feu contract with John Rhind, mason in Banff.

    1789.—Paid John Rhind, mason, for street work, £3 11s. 8d,

    1789.—Paid Wm. Rhind, coppersmith, for mount-ing and repairing lamps, £2 3s. 6d.

    1786.—Agreement with John Rhind for building the cistern at the Back Path, also for strengthening a part of the east pier.

    1785, Sept.—Harbour Work. John Rhind is paid 2s. a day, the masons mostly 1s. 4d., other work-men 10d., 9d., and 8d. Drink is paid to the masons and labourers joining the new work to the old pier head. 26 loads stones were brought from the Girnels (5d. a load for carriage) and 3 loads from the Tumblers.

    1786, June 14,—Estimate by John Rhind for finishing the east pier, total £101 12s., viz., build-ing a parapet wall on the east side of the pier, 80 yards long, 5 feet high, 4 1/2 feet thick, finished with a course of red freestone on the top, building a bulwark at the land end of the east pier, 50 yards long, 6 feet thick at the foundation, with parapet wall, 18 feet high, &c.

    1790.—Paid Jo. Rhind, mason, for paving the Back Path and a part of the High Street adjoining thereto, £91 10s. 4d.

    1791.—Paid John Rhind for work at the streets, £7 19s.; also paid him £27.

    1792.—Estimate accepted of John Rhind for paving tho Streat Peath, he to furnish all materials; new cawsey stones for what is not sufficient in the old, crown stones and gutter stones, preparing the ground, driving away the rubage, making it with a streight slop from the corner of the well at the head of the peath to the corner of the Tolbooth at foot, which measures 420 yards, at 7d. per yard, £12 5s. [The Strait Path was macadamized in 1887 for a similar sum—£12 10s. 11d.—seventy tons of ' metal ' being employed with blinding of a loamy clay from the Elf Kirk.] Also his estimate accepted for cawseing the street at the shore from the gutter at the foot of the Water Peath to the north end of Mr Mackie's house, 1208 yards, £35 4s. 8d. For paving the Water Peath, £22 16s. 9d.

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    1789.—John Rhind's heritage pays 2s. 2d. (Stent roll). Wm. Rhind pays 3s. 6d. (coppersmith); John Rhind pays 4s. 6d. (he is taxed with the hammer-men) ; James Rhind, glover, pays 6d.; Elizth. Rhind pays 2s.

    1790.—The Council agree with John Rhind to causeway the Back Path and part of the High Street, from the south-west of the New Church to the Shoemaker's new house, for £67 2s. 9d.

    1793.—Paid John Rhind for work a t the streets, &c., £9 10s. 5d.

    1795,—Paid Jo. Rhind £9 0s. 2d. and £17. 1795,—Stent Roll: John Rhind pays 2s. 8d. He

    pays 6s. among the Hammermen, and among them is also James Rhind, 2s.; and John Rhind, junior,

    1s. John Rhind, shoemaker, pays 7s. fid. 1796.—An estimate was submitted to the Town

    Council from Mr John Rhind, James Robertson, and John Nicol, who were jointly concerned in building the Town House, for putting six feet additional height upon the walls of the Grammar School. Their estimate was lower than it would otherwise have been from their having lately bought the stones of the old church, which they would employ for this work. Their estimate amounted to £32 5s. 10d., including taking down and rebuilding the pediment and belfry.

    1796.—Paid John Rhind, mason, for repairing the pier and harbour and building the bulwark opposite the Warehouse.

    1796.—In Burgh Records occur: John Rhind, mason, and Jn. Rhind, shoemaker, both on the Burgess Roll.

    1799,—Lots 76 and 67 Seatown Lands set off to John Rhind, mason.

    1805.—Received from Robert Rhind for shoe-maker's ticket, 10s.

    1807.—Paid Jo. Rhind, mason, various sums. 1809.—Paid John Rhind £2 2s. 3d. Paid John

    Rhind, mason, for the church, £2 17s. 11d. Paid for taking down the old walls of Cushindae's Close, £1 l1s. 4d. Paid do. for bringing in water at the head of the town, £9 3s. 1d.

    1810.—Paid Mr Rhind for fishermen's houses—£5, £4, £20, £8, £4, £10 13s. 3d.. £7 7s. 10 1/2d., and £7.

    1810.—Paid John Rhind for Water Works—£4 7s. 2d., £2 12s., £4 5s„ £1 5s., £3 12s., £3, £5 18s. 10 1/2d , £4 15s. and £3.

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    1811.—Paid Mr Rbind for paving streets, £3 1s.; also, for the fishermen's houses and the two cisterns, £24 18s.

    1811,—Paid Jo. Rhind, mason, £6 1s. 2d. 1812.—Paid do. for work about the

    Plainstones, £1 13s. 6d.; for well at T. Duncan's, £3 2s. 5d.; for building wells, £6 18s. 4d.

    1800.—Petition to the Magistrates by John Rhind and others for additional allowance for the Town House. John Rhind's estimate for the building was £1010 10s. 9d., the cells of the prison to be of Lossiemouth ashlar, and the front of ashlar from Covesea. The plans of the Prison and Court House were by James Reid, and Messrs Robertson and Rhind executed the mason work.

    1801.—The Town Council appoint John Rhind to inspect the Springs.

    1805, Feb. 12,—Charter the Magistrates and Town Council of Banff in favour of John Rhind, senior, mason in Banff, upon Lots 66 and 67 of Seatown lands—33 falls and 19 ells—bounded on the east by the public street leading N. and S. through the Seatown lands, on the S. by the public street lead-ing E. and W. and lot No. 76 feued to Alex. M'Culloch, on the W. by said lot No. 76 and lot No. 77. feu-duty, £1 4s. 3 4/12d.

    JOHN RHIND (III) .

    John Rhind, mason, Banff, was the son of John Rhind and Christian Massie. He was born 1764, married Helen Dingwall, and died 6 February 1826, aged 62 years. His family were :—

    Alexander, born 1797 * Elizabeth, born 1799.

    Ann, born 1801. John Cuthbert, born 1804.

    (perhaps also a son, John, who died in infancy.) * Elizabeth married James Henry, mason. John Rhind held two properties in Banff in 1823. (1) No. 4, west side of High Street (Miss Aber-

    cromby was No. 2, Robert Weir No. 3, Mr Coil No. 5). (2) No. 7, Back Street, north side, between Alex.

    Glennie and James Smith. Smith and Rhind were the owners of No. 7, Fife

    Street, west side.

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    1830.—Isobel Rhind in Aberdeen gives £50 stg. in loan to the burgh at 4 per cent.

    John Rhind. as we said, died in 1826. I was surprised the other day to come upon a man who remembered seeing him quite distinctly. This was in the year 1818, when John Rhind and his son were erecting a new entrance gate and lodge to Cullen House. I t was situated between the church-yard and the present stables, and was universally admired as a work of art, but owing to other arrangements, it was demolished after a few years. The family coat of arms that formed its principal ornament was transferred to the town's buildings of Cullen, when they were erected about 70 years ago, and still look down on the public square.

    JOHN RHIND (IV).

    John Rhind, builder, Banff, was the son of John Rhind and Helen Dingwall. He was born 2nd March 1804, and died 29th August 1849. He married Elizabeth Sangster.

    Their family were William, who died in infancy ; James, born 5th March 1830, and died 2nd March 1859; Mackie, who died in infancy ; and John.

    1830.—Precept of Clare Constat in favour of John Rhind, mason in Banff, on lots 66 and 67, Seatown lands. The deceased John Rhind, mason, was the eldest son, and heir of the deceased John Rhind, mason. Bounded by Fife Street on the east, on the N. by. that part of the said two lots that was dis-poned by the deceased John Rhind to his daughter Elizabeth Henry or Rhind. John Rhind, also mason in Banff, the bearer hereof, istheeldest lawful son of the last mentioned John Rhind.

    1836.—John Rhind appears on the Burgess Roll. 1837.—John Rhind's name appears on the Head

    Court roll.

    JOHN RHIND ( v ) .

    John Rhind was the son of John Rhind (IV.) and Elizabeth Sangster, who died in 1880, aged 74 years. He was born in the year 1828. He was twice married, and died in 1892.

    His family consisted of:— William Birnie, John Massey, Duncan, Douglas,

    Sissie, Kate, and Jessie.

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    Note p. 342 Vol. II. ' Annals of Banff.' ' This family has long figured in the annals of the

    burgh in connection with building operations, and the recent and present representatives have attained marked distinction as sculptors (Cf. Vol. I . p. 377). The able sculptor and A.R.S.A. there referred to was the successful competitor for the design for a memorial statue to Dr Robert Chambers, Edinburgh, while, strange to say, his sons William Birnie Rhind and John Massey Rhind were awarded the 2nd and 3rd premiums. Other works by the same sculptor are statuettes on the fountain of Holyrood Palacc, statue of the Earl of Kellie a t Alloa, memorials of the Duke of Athole at Dunkeld, the Duchess of Sutherland at Golspie, Earl of Dalhousie a t Brechin, effigy of the Countess of Wemyess, sculptor and decorative work on many public buildings, as Fettes College, Bank of Scotland Scott Monument, Museum of Science and Art, St Giles' Cathedral, &c., bust of Mr Gladstone for the Scottish Liberal Club, t o . Mr Rhlnd was the son of Mr John Rhind, Banff, and was born in 1828. He was twice married and is survived by his wife and by four sons and two daughters all of whom have followed in their father 's artistic steps. The eldest, Mr W. B. Rhind, has been associated with him for many years in all his leading works. The second SON, Mr J . M. Rhind is achieving consider-able success as a sculptor in New York. The third son is an architect. One of Mr Rhind's daughters is an artist, and illustrates works for publishers in Edinburgh.'

    To the foregoing extract it may be added that the design of Mr Birnie Rhind has been lately selected for a statue to be erected to Mr John Walker, manager of the N.B. Railway Company, in the reconstructed hall of the Waverley Station. The statue will be in bronze, and will cost over £1000. Mr J . Massey Rhind continues his distinguished career on the other side of the Atlantic. His design was selected by Mr W. W. Astor for a memorial within Trinity Church. He also designed a fountain in Washington Park, and, says a recent writer, ' for originality and dramatic effect there is nothing in America te surpass it. ' His Calhoun statue is one of his latest works. This monument will be 75 feet high, the statue alone being 15 feet.

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    Jessie Rhind (Mrs Bonnar, Edinburgh), the daughter of the late Mr John Rhind, is a very talented artist. She has for years earned distinc-tion as an illustrator of books for Messrs Nelson & Sons, Edinburgh, and excels also in other branches of artistic work.

    1877, October 1,—The Town Council of Banff agree to allow Rev. Dr and Mrs Blaikie, Edinburgh, to erect an ornamental fountain in memory of the late Mr and Mrs Walter Biggar.

    [Note from p. 377, Vol. I., 'Annals of Banff ' :— The fountain is a highly ornamental structure of Binny freestone, ten and a half feet square and nineteen feet in height, designed by Mr John Rhind, sculptor, Edinburgh, a native of Banff. Mr Walter Biggar was born in Edinburgh in 1787, and, having settled in Banff in 1821, became the founder of the Continental herring trade. An inscription on the fountain bears that it was 'presented to the town of Banff in memory of "Walter Biggar, Esq., and Mrs Ann Duff, his wife, whose only child is Mrs Blaikie.']

    INSCRIPTIONS ON TOMBSTONES I N T H E OLD CHURCHYARD OF BANFF.

    I. Erected by Alexander Rhind, mason in Banff, in

    memory of his wife Margaret Scot, who died May 15th, 1752, aged 46, also their children, Jean, James, Alexander, and Elizabeth, are interred here. The above Alexander Rhind died at Prestonpans, 1758. Their son, John Rhind, senior, mason in Banff, has renewed this memorial of respect to his parents, and to the memory of his affectionate wife, Christian Massie, who died the 17th March 1814, aged 76 years, and of their children, George, Alex-ander, James, and Hellen. Beneath are here in-terred the remains of the above John Rhind, who died 11th January 1819, aged 82 years, also his sen, John Rhind, mason in Banff, is interred here, who died the 6th February 1826, aged 62 years.

    II. In memory of John Rhind, builder, Banff, born

    2nd March 1804, died 29th August 1849, William and Mackie, who died in infancy, James, their

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    second son, born 5th March 1830, died at sea 2nd March 1859 on his return from Australia. III

    Erected by Alexander Grant, mason in Banff, and Margaret Rhind, his spouse, to the memory of their children—viz, John, who died 4th June 1799, aged 5 years, Elizabeth, who died 10th October 1806, aged 4 years. The above Alexander Grant died 20th September 1816, aged 54 years. Also his spouse, Margaret Rhind, who died 8th November 1854, aged 86 years.

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