The Oz Bloggee who is researching the history of her family-she is descended from the Buglass family of Berwick-one was a prominent shoe maker in the 18th Century has provided us with examples of court reporting in the early 19th Century. Makes more vivid reading than most of the cases dealt with by Sheriff Kevin of Duns about whose latest doings Huttonian will be ranting later.
She writesComplaint of ....... Mary Tait of the
Borough of Berwick upon Tweed,
spinster, taken and sworn on oath before John Stevenson
Esquire, Mayor and David Stow Esquire, two of his Majesty's
Justices of the Peace in and for
the said Borough this first day
of January One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eight.
Who saith
That Barbara Buglass of the Boro of Berwick upon Tweed and Christian Buglass otherwise Christian Purdy did this day violently assault and beat this Informant at Berwick aforesaid without any good cause for so doing and she therefore craveth that Justice be done.
This is my favourite though -
The Information of the Reverend Mr James Cruikshank of Berwick upon Tweed, Minister of the Gospel, taken on Oath this seventh day of December One Thousand Seven Hundred and seventy six before me William Greive Esquire, Mayor and one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the said Borough
Who saith that on last Night at Berwick aforesaid he heard John Curry of Berwick aforesaid, Burgess, curse five profane curses, in these words, to wit, God Damn this Informant for a scoundrel and blaguard (blaggard?)
Perhaps times HAVE changed just a little!
Perhaps also its not surprising that some members of the Buglas family upped sticks and joined the emigration trail to Oz. Whether voluntarily or on a convict ship is not revealed.
