Rev. John Baird of Yetholm

John Baird was born in Eccles Manse, Berwickshire in 1799. Educated at Whitsome and at Kelso Grammar School, before moving to Edinburgh on the death of his father in 1814. In Edinburgh he, along with his brother, Andrew, studied Arts and Divinity. He was introduced to the parish of Yetholm by Wauchope of Niddrie in March 1829. At Yetholm, he inherited the literary tradition of his predecessor, William Blackie, and indeed married his niece, Margaret Oliver of Blakelaw at Kelso on 11th Jun 1833. He had been a founder member and first President of the Plinian Society of Edinburgh during his days in the city and also be a founding member of the Berwickshire Naturalists Club when it was formed, at Grantshouse (then called Bankhouse) in 1831.

Rev. John Baird and the Gypsies of Yetholm

The twin villages of Yetholm and Kirk Yetholm, near Kelso, were home to a large community of gypsies for more than 200 years. A so-called gypsy palace - in reality a modest sized cottage - still stands, but otherwise there are no tangible signs that generations of the Romany race settled there.
It is believed the first gypsies settled in Scotland more than 500 years ago. At first they enjoyed Royal protection under King James V, and the head of the gypsy tribes at that time was acclaimed as "our lovit Johnne Faa, lord and earle of Little Egipt".

But from 1571 onwards, the Scottish Romanies were persecuted by an Act of Stringency, aimed principally at bards, minstrels and vagabonds, and it was not until 1695 that their reputation and profile improved. Then a gypsy named Young saved the life of Captain David Bennet at the Siege of Namur. In an unexpected gesture of generosity, the grateful officer gave cottages to the gypsies in Yetholm. They wintered in the Borders village and took to the roads in the spring to sell their wares and horses. Smuggling tea, salt, and liquor from across the Border in England is said to have provided a valuable source of income.

Baird was known for his interest in the historic colony of Scottish gypsies at Kirk Yetholm, because of this interest, and the concerns raised by the Quaker Society, Baird, in 1838, was asked to try out the plans which he had previously put forward to the Society for the Reformation of Gypsies, in Edinburgh.
In February 1839, it was agreed that the committee would provide funding for supporting the children in lodgings while their parents were travelling, for the education of the children, and for the cost of apprenticeship fees for those boys wishing to enter a trade on leaving school. The first family to come forward, and agree to leave their two daughters in the village while they went off on their travels, ran immediately into what was a major stumbling block, no-one would accommodate them under any circumstances. This problem was only solved by Baird and his family taking the girls in themselves. His family's preparedness to take the girls and the fact that the girls went off happily to school each day, made the locals realize that there was nothing to be afraid of, and he soon had offers of accommodation for all other children whose parents wished them to stay. By 1841 there were 49 children attending school.

He writes, in 1842, 'It was a complete failure. Several families tried but returned to their wanderings. However, one man, wife and family have stayed at home for three years now and he continues to conduct himself modestly, soberly and most industriously.' By 1846, the number of families staying at home had only risen to four. Baird also tried to have them stopped from camping at the roadside, and to have the enforcement of the payment of the hawker's license carried out, both to encourage staying at home; but with little obvious recorded success. His financial support from Edinburgh waned, but despite this he managed to open a new school which has been referred to as 'The First Ragged School' in Scotland. Many more ragged schools were created all over the country, perhaps not as a direct result of Baird's work, but as a response to the same need - stability and education leading to employment - which Baird had identified. The Society for the Reformation of Gypsies was wound up in 1859.
By the time of his death in 1861, a large increase in the numbers of families staying at home was reported. Many were attending church, with their children attending Sunday School.

Descendants of Johnne Faa continued to be crowned kings and queens of the gypsies, the last queen being Esther Faa Blythe. She succeeded to the title in 1861, at the age of 65. When Queen Esther died in 1875, it appeared she would be the last of the gypsy monarchs. But 23 years later, another Yetholm minister, the Rev Carrick Miller, organized a coronation for her son, Charles, then 70 years old.
Charles Faa Blythe's passing in 1902 marked the end of an era, although descendants of true gypsies still live locally. An Edinburgh housewife has been heir to the "throne" since 1945, but has shown no interest in claiming the title. For further reading on Faa family:- The Scottish Gypsies

Introduction to the Parish of Yetholm, Roxburghshire

Rev John Baird, in his writings for the Statistical Report of 1841, adds: "Yetholm seems to be derived from the Scoto-Saxon word 'Yet' or 'gate', signifying a gate or road, and obviously connected with the Anglo-saxon word Zeat, Zete, Zate, porta... so that Yetholm or Yetham may signify the hamlet or dwelling upon the great entrance from England, or the adjoining part of Northumberland, into Scotland. It marches with England for a distance of about six miles, and no part of the parish is more than two miles from the border."

The population of the parish, as recorded by Rev John Baird starts at 1755 population 699 up to 1831 where the population is 1289. He adds, regarding the increase in numbers: 'Another probable cause might be the practice of uniting many small farms into one large one. The increase in the country parts of the parish is owing entirely, of course, to the great improvements in the system of agriculture, and the consequent greater demand for labourers: the quantity of land now under cultivation in the parish being more than doubled since the end of the last century. The same cause has also affected the population of the two villages, the greater part of which depends for employment on the farmers.
Other subordinate causes might be mentioned, as the great temptation to, and prevalence of, smuggling, from the vicinity of the villages to England, - an occupation from which a fifth or sixth of the population some years ago derived their means of subsistence; and the facility of persons in decayed circumstances procuring a room or lodging in the villages, where, after a residence of three, they very frequently become burdens on the parish.'

'The average number of children in a family is 3½ or 4; but among the gipsies not less than 6 or 6½ . I have no means of ascertaining the average number of births, deaths, and marriages for the last seven years; the registration of baptisms having been much neglected, and no registry of deaths being kept at all. It is unfortunate,' writes Rev Baird, 'that, with very few exceptions, there is little disposition among the poor to refrain from seeking parochial aid; neither do they seem to consider it in any sense degrading.'

Industry & Employment in the Parish

Baird records that 'There are nearly 6000 acres in the parish: of which more than 2600 are arable, and more than 3000 remain in permanent pasture. In addition there is a common of 200 acres, called Yetholm Common, on which the inhabitants of Kirk Yetholm have the privilege of cutting turf and grazing their cattle: it is a wild moorish piece of ground, upon the borders, claimed I believe, by both kingdoms.' He also bemoans the lack of trees and the fact that local landowners have made little or no effort to plant any.
By 1841, there had been a major introduction of Leicester sheep, for stocking the lower and cultivated parts of the parish. As Rev Baird states: 'The number of sheep in the parish may be about 4800: of these about 1800 may be Leicester, 1000 Cheviot, and 2000 half-bred, or a cross between the other two. The cattle preferred are the short-horned or Teesdale, both for giving milk and for fattening.'

Smuggling

It will be no surprise to anyone that the proximity of the parish to the border led to a thriving cross-border trade. As Baird remarks: 'The illegal practice of smuggling, till lately so prevalent in this neighborhood, and so openly practiced, must no doubt have had a very demoralizing influence upon a considerable portion of the population; otherwise I am disposed to regard them as a quiet and well disposed people.'
He also notes: 'There are no branches of commerce or manufacture carried on in this parish, with the exception, perhaps, of the illicit commerce of smuggling whisky across the border, which, I have said, formerly gave employment and subsistence to one-fifth or one-sixth of the inhabitants of the two villages. Of this commodity, I am informed that from £10,000 to £20,000 worth annually have been sold from Yetholm into England in this manner; but now the quantity disposed of illegally for the English market is scarcely worth calculating. Within the last three or four years, effectual means have been taken by a stricter police, and by heavy fines imposed upon delinquents, to put an end to this demoralizing and illicit traffic, which have succeeded in a great measure for the present. A considerable trade is also carried on here in buying cows in Northumberland, and driving them for sale to the Edinburgh markets.'

Education in Yetholm Parish

'The parish school-house, erected in 1833, is, without exception, the handsomest building of the kind in the county. It is attended by 100 scholars; and the amount of the teacher's fees may be £30 a-year; but he also has £6 as clerk to the heritors. There are also two un-endowed schools in the parish; one in Town and the other in Kirk Yetholm. The number attending each may be from 60 to 80. Several of these children attend from the borders. The salary of the parochial teacher is the maximum, or two chalders of oatmeal. The fees at all the schools per quarter are, for reading, 2s. 6d.; for reading and writing, 3s.; for reading writing and arithmetic, 3s. 6d.; for Latin, Greek, practical mathematics, and geography 10s. 6d.. Latin and Greek are not taught in the private schools.
The total number of scholars at all the schools in the parish is 240; of whom about 40 are from England and adjoining parishes in Scotland. Under fifteen years of age, there are very few, if any, of a proper age who cannot read and write. Above fifteen years of age there may be many who cannot write, but few or none who cannot read. The people seem, in general, to be alive to the benefits of education.'

Yetholm Parish Church

The parish report for the Second Statistical Account, prepared by the Rev John Baird, about the year 1840, records: 'The parish church is situated in Kirk Yetholm, and no part of the population is distant from it more than two miles. It is a very wretched and inefficient building. An addition, larger than the original church, was built to the west of it in 1609. The age of the east end is unknown. It is much too small for the population. Usually, it is most uncomfortably crowded, and still one-third of the church-going population are unable to find accommodation. It is but fair, however, to state, that a considerable number of those who attend the Established church are from the English border, the inhabitants of which are generally Scotch and Presbyterians. The church affords accommodation for only 400; the population being nearly 1300. It is most inconvenient in point of shape, being nearly 80 feet long, and from 17 to 20 broad. But, as this goes to press, the heritors have given their consent to the erection of a new church, which it is hoped, will be commenced early in spring. The heritors have lately provided liberally for the accommodation of the minister, by repairing and building a large addition to the old manse (built in 1788) and it is now a very commodious and even handsome building. The glebe is generally considered to consist of from 18 to 20 acres, about one-half of which is excellent land. The amount of stipend is 14 chalders, and £8. 6s. 8d for communion elements. The last augmentation was granted in 1820. The valued rent of the parish is £7049. 13s. 4d. Scots.
The number of communicants at the Established church in July last was 460. Of these, however, several are from England. The church is remarkably well attended, and the people are attentive to the public ordinances of religion.'

Writing in 1841, he states 'Yetholm churchyard has probably been the burial place of many an ancient border chief. About two or three years ago, a stone coffin was discovered nearly six feet below the surface, and unfortunately was broken before it could be ascertained what it was. The stone in which the body lay was an entire mass. It contained a skeleton of unusual size. Still more lately, in the same churchyard, was discovered a square erection, consisting of four rough stones, set at right angles, and covered by a flat stone above, in which was found only a skull, which crumbled into dust when exposed for a short time to the air.'

Transport and Communication

In 1840, the Rev John Baird reports: 'No public conveyances, as coaches pass, through the parish. There is no post-office at present - a disadvantage that might easily be remedied. There is a communication by carriers between Kelso and Yetholm, five days a week, and more rarely with Coldstream and Berwick. The length of turnpike- road in the parish is four miles, generally kept in good repair, and managed by the trustees for the district of Kelso. There are two toll houses on these roads, both of which are let annually, by public sale, for £180. The turn-pike roads communicate with Kelso, Coldstream, Berwick, Wooler, Jedburgh, and with the coal and lime districts. The bye-roads, kept in repair by the statute-labour money, are about five miles in length. A very neat bridge, erected last year across the Bowmont, between the villages of Town and Kirk Yetholm, is one of the greatest improvements that have taken place in the parish for many years.'

References
Dundee Advertiser, Wednesday, the 23rd of April, 1902.
The Scottish gipsy's advocate: being a short account of the gipsies of Kirk-Yetholm, in connection with a plan proposed to be adopted for the improvement of the gipsy population of Scotland by John Baird, published at Edinburgh in 1839
Memoir of the late Rev. John Baird, minister of Yetholm, Roxburghshire: with an account of his labours in reforming the gypsy population of that parish. by William Baird, published London in 1862