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This book is a transcript of the determinations of the Baron Baillie of Dunse between the years 1753 to 1800. Dunse had been granted a Charter of Burgh of Barony by James 1V in 1490 allowing the Baron Baillie to appoint burgesses for the day to day running of the Burgh, to afford protection of the different trades within the Burgh, to make regulations regarding commercial activities such as the size, content and price of a loaf of bread, to make regulations regarding such things as the removal of dung from the streets and early building regulations; also limited judicial authority both civil and criminal dealing with such matters as debt recovery and bankruptcies and on the criminal side comparatively minor offences such as " Boistering with tarsticks" and "entertaining of sturdy beggars". No fewer than 340 individuals are mentioned and the book is a useful source of reference from a family history point of view and also an interesting insight into the governance of a seventeenth century Scottish burgh. Wire bound price £5.00 plus postage.

Full of Egotism being the Diary of the Rev. John Hastie minister at Edrom 1797 to 1822, transcribed by Ronald Morrison

 

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This is a transcript of the Diary kept by the Rev. John Hastie starting in approximately the year 1790 and covering the period from 1797 until his death in 1822 when he was Minister of the Parish Church of Edrom. The book gives a fascinating insight into the life of a minister in the Scottish Borders at the turn of the nineteenth century, his thoughts and concerns as well as an appreciation of the virtues and failings of a very likeable and personable individual - not at all the dour censorious Calvinistic preacher of the period we are perhaps apt to imagine. The book has been fully indexed and there is a separate section showing references to christenings, marriages and deaths officiated by or known to the diarist, events in some cases of which there is probably no other record. A5 116 pages price £7.50 plus postage.

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Old Duns, Greenlaw and Chirnside by Bernard Byrom

 

 

This is the latest in a series of local photographic histories produced by Stenlake Publishing covering not only Duns, Greenlaw and Chirnside but much of the surrounding area, places such as Longformacus, Abbey St. Bathans, Allanton, Swinton, Westruther etc. Perhaps unlike some of the earlier volumes in this series this is not simply a book of photographs but contains much historical content and there are many previously unpublished photographs. The book has been written by Mr. Bernard Bryom who has very obviously put in much research and effort to produce this volume. The book (8 by 10 and a half inches) and extending to 96 pages is beautifully produced and of a high quality. Price £14.95 plus postage. To purchase or for further information rgarding any of the above contact either the Society Secretary Ronald Morrison or the Society Treasurer Tom Simpson