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Objects | Documents

A small selection of Documents from our collection.


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Showing 14 photos.

A royal letter, dating from 1598, sent by King James VI of Scotland to the Laird of Balnagown, George Ross. From the letter, it seems a Danish ship has beached close to Tain and the goods and the ship had been stolen. The Laird of Balnagown is being held responsible for the actions of his clansmen, with the King demanding he brings those responsible to justice.

A letter sent by King James VI of Scotland to the Laird of Balnagown,

Tain Burgess Ticket.A Tain Burgess Ticket, issued to James Ross of Pitcalnie on this day, the 24 August 1810. The ticket would have allowed James to vote on Burgh matters and trade freely from the town.  These burgh councils were often dominated by Local landowners until the Burgh Reform act in 1833 introducing proper elections. The Burgess Tickets were later only handed out to people who were being given the Freedom of the Town.“At Tain, the twenty-fourth day of August one thousand Eight Hundred and ten years, in presence of Lieut. General Sir Charles Ross of Balnagown Provost of the Burgh of Tain Messrs William Murray, John Taylor and James Taylor Baillie’s thereof, Alexander Manson Dean of guild, George Murray Treasurer, and the permanent Members of the council of the said Burgh.Which Day James Ross Esquire of Pitcalny was admitted and received Freeman Burgess and Guild Brother of the said Burgh of Tain, with all the Privileges Liberties and Immunities competent to any other Burgess and Guild Brother thereof, and having taken the Oath usual at Admission of Burgesses, thereupon took Instruments Extracted byIllegible Signature”

Tain Burgess Ticket, 1810.

One page of a bill from surgeon Hugh MacFarquhar to Alexander Ross of Pitcalnie 1758. With Simona August 2004 for transcription. Full cataloguing to follow.

Tain Surgeon\'s Bill, 1758.

Parchment certificate recording the admission of Malcolm Ross of Pitcalnie as a freeman burgess and guild brother of the Burgh of Tain 1713.

Tain Burgess Ticket, 1713.

Charter recording the grant of a tenement and garden in Tain by Paul Fresaill, Dean of Ross, to Donald Fresaill, dated February 4th 1534 or 1535. The burgh seal with the figure of St Duthac is on the first tag. Two other seals are missing. The charter is written on vellum or calfskin. It describes the location of the tenement in detail, placing it at the southwest end of the present High Street. The grant was subject to an annual payment of 3 pennies Scots to the church of St Duthac. After the grant was made, bailie Alexander Davidsoun transferred possession to Donald Fresaill by sasine, giving him earth and stone from the ground of the property. This was recorded by a notary as the Instrument of Sasine, or title to the property. Charter is in Latin with a translation inside the box. Other names mentioned are Donald Henryson Macgilleduff, James Keith, Donald Johnsone, John Scott, Alexander Fresaill, Donald Cuyk, Alexander Dingval.

Charter by Paul Fresaill, 1535.

The manifest, dated 29/07/1857, is certifying goods (pipes) are being shipped in good order etc by Daniel Campbell in

"The Druid of Dumfries" delivery to Tain Beach

A receipt for a fine given to Alexander Ross of Balnagown for not attending a muster of Scotland’s army before the Battle of Gladsmuir in 1547.

Refusing to Fight, 1547.

I Alexr. Ross of Ballanagone grantis me to haif ressavit realie and wt. effect fra ane venerable man and my speciale freind Nicholas Ross commendator of Ferne and provest of Tayne in keping wtin. my house of Ballanagone yir reliks followand viz ane hede of silver callit sanct Duthois hede his chast blede in gold and his ferthyr  in silver gylt wt. gold. And therfor binds and oblis me my aiers, exres. and assignais that ye samyn hede chast blede and ferthyr salbe furcht cumand to ye said provest and college of Tayne and to all uthers heffand entres  yrto be just titill, and binds and oblis me . . to freicht  releis and keyp skatless ye said Nicholas . . and all uthers quhome it efferis for . . hede &c . . at all hands and persones havand entres yrto under ye payne of tway thosand merks . . to be pait be me my . . to . . Nicholas . . and to all &c . . for yar cost &c . . . bot any exceptiones in ye qtrar in ye maist ample form of obligatione yt. can be devisit. In witnes of ye qlk I . . hes subscrivit yir presentis wt. my hand and for mayr verificatione hes causit Sir Jhone Nicholsoun notar public subscrive ye samyn at Bellanagoun ye xvi day of Julii . . laj Vct thrie score zeris before yir witness George Ros my broder and Duncan Grant alias roy . .

Saint Duthac's Reliquaries, 1560.

We Amelia Lady Lovat do by these solemnly declare to all here concerned that because of my lately married to Mr Simon Fraser of Beaufort there have been several debates & contestations arisen among our friends & Relations and even to the interest of the public government to interpose its Royal authority against my said Husband & his friends & kinsmen to our no small grief & disquiet being that it tends to the utter ruin & extinction of this your country & all the gentlemen & others therein. Therefor to prevent any further mistakes on the foresaid account, where the same happens to be called in question, We the said Lady Emilia of Lovat assert, affirm & absolutely declare to all & everyone that his interest in me, that the said Master Simon Fraser of Beaufort is my undoubted Husband & that without any forces or compulsion whatsoever, I consented to be his lawful espoused wife & shall by God’s help continue so & cherish & maintain show love & affection to him that a wife owes to her husband, and adhere to him in all events, and desires he may be owned as such, at Erchles with his own hand before these honourable witnesses: Hugh Ross of Kilravock, Mr Simon Mackenzie of Allangrange, John Cuthbert younger of Castlehill, John MacBain merchant in Inverness, John Chisolm Laird of Comir & Allan Cameron of Lochquych.16th November 1697

Letter written by Lady Amelia Lovat whilst prisoner of Simon Fraser the 'Old Fox', 1697.

Darnaway the 12th July.For the Laird of Balangoun.Sr. I am not unsensible of your love, respect and, kindness towards me in retalliation I puyt as vharof, having friends aduyce going alongst to give testimony of my resentment therof after so pure and sincer a mainr as zealous professions, be not altogether frnstrat wherof ye shall mor fully knoue at meting which is all at present but that,I am your afexnat Cusing to serve you.Ann Stewart

Courting Letter from Anne Stewart to David Ross of Balnagown, 17th Century.

The list includes sugar, pepper, aniseed and a cannon, which was later put to use attacking Cadboll Castle. “At Edinburgh, ye last day of Marche in ye yeir of God 1553 it is agreed betwyx …. Alex. Ross of balnegoine …. And Johne Ross of ye toune of Dunskyt [Dunskaith] as followis – John Ross, will of God, shall deliver at ye port of Cromarty to the laird …so many habengeous [chained mail coats] as will extend to the spending of twenty ponds Felemish, ye said habengeous to be with sleeves and linen fastenings with ye habengeous – of ye which habengeous two to be fine and three across works. One barrel of scheyms [?], three matts, six hundred pounds of hemp, eight stone of corks, three fine chandlers of gross work, a bason and laver of tin wear is fine, four ticks of bed with bolsters, six pounds of pepper, one pound of ginger, two stone of annetsede [aniseed], two ‘laiffe cannered suicre’ [loaf sugar], three pounds sugar candy, six fine tinned stoups – the arms is three lions two above and on underneath of them in each stoup two quarts, two pints two chopins extending to fifty pounds Flemish spending, and this to be delivered at ye said Johne first coming to Scotland for the which payment above expremit, to be …... and delivered as said Alexander shall deliver and pay to ye said John for every pound Fleming spending foresaid five pounds Scotts in salted hides, dry hides and other merchands [merchandise] to the said John within twenty days next and immediate following the delivering of the merchandise above expremit without fraud or guile on the promise as “sic” merchands gives in to the contract. One dozen of leaden basins of the which three of ten quarts, three of gallons, three of half gallons and three of quarts. A culvering that be is ryt fine and schetes [sheets] far, four firkins of fine culvering powder, twelve ells of Holland cloth. And both the sais oblige them faithfully to fulfil the promises, each one towards the other, in witness of which both ye said parties has subscribed this before their witness [three names and the signature of Alexander and of John Ross the shipmaster.

Shopping list from Alexander Ross of Balnagown, 1553.

Hardback school essay book bound at one edge.  Containing Maths questions in addition and subtraction, history arguments and themes, some of which are in Latin and English, all handwritten.  Several blank pages in the middle of the book.  It has a coloured cover with a wavy design.Handwirtten on first page - Libris  Jacobi Clarke  Coll, Regi, Aberdon  July 8th 1746.

Hardback School Essay Book, 1746.

Rt. Hon.,No doubt your Honour has heard that Cromarty with the canons styled in the Ness there has forced the privateer seized by the French Captain & the Brigandine to cut their cables & leave two of their anchors in the road which he’s driven him towards the sands, and since he wants provisions necessity will oblige him to land on this side. Therefore it’s expected & entreated you will send all the assistance you can to this parish especially your canon & blew guns with all the ammunition you can spare. You have been still friendly to this parish, & now when they are in the greatest danger, you will not be wanting. Cromarty has largely bestowed in defending the other side, expect you will not be short of him in your duty to the government.David Ross, George Fraser, Andrew Gair, Hu Gair, John Morison, G. Munro, A. GairFrom the guard at Williamsbrugh the 23rd March be twelve at night 1709.

Letter sent to David Ross of Balnagown concerning a French Privateer Ship in the Cromarty Firth. 1709

Papal bull of 1492

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