Jail and Bail books for Dumfries

The jail in Dumfries held prisoners from all over the county and also from Kirkcudbrightshire because Dumfries was where the judges of the High Court of Justiciary met when they were on circuit to hear really serious offences. The Jail Books are between 1714 and 1788 and the Bail Bond Registers run from 1775 to 1810.

Date: 02/08/1787 Name: McQUEEN or QUEEN Bell
Crime: Arson, threatened and attempted housebreaking
Place: Trench.
Subject: Banishment

Bell McQueen or Queen spouse to Alexander Baird residing at Trench and at present in the Tolbooth appeared before the court at the instance of Isacc Baird also of Trench for threatening to demolish and set fire to his dwelling and of being caught by constable James Turner in an attempt to break down a door. She acknowledged guilt and agreed to self banishment for the rest of her life, on pain of imprisonment, being drummed through the town and further banishment if she return. Magistrates - William Clark and John Lawson. Writer - John Armstrong. Witnesses - Simon McKenzie and John Armstrong. [Archive Ref: GF4/13/2-4]

Date: 18/08/1787 Name: COWAN John
Crime: Debt
Place: Dumfries Closeburn Glasgow
Subject: Letters of Caption

John Cowan at Croalechapple, Closeburn incarcerated in the Tolbooth under Letters of Caption of Apr last raised at the instance James Baird, merchant tailor for not making payment to him of various sums of money owed to a number of people and for a variety of articles while the accused was acting for the deceased William Lindsay, preacher of the Gospel in Glasgow. On the 4 Sep 1787 Liberated from the Tolbooth by his incarcerator, James Baird. [Archive Ref: GF4/26A/51 & 52]

Date: 27/08/1803 Name: CAIRD Adam
Breach of peace
Subject: Domestic violence

Alexander Kirkpatrick, baker enacted as cautioner for Adam Caird plaisterer and bound that he keep the Kings peace to Elizabeth Baird, his spouse for the space of twelve months under penalty of three hundred merks scots at which stage the cautioner to be relieved of further responsibility. Magistrate - Unnamed Writer - Robert Welsh Witnesses - Writer and Robert Murray. [Archive Ref: GF4/14/246]

James Kerr, joiner enacted as cautioner for Adam Caird, plaisterer and bound that the said man keep the Kings peace to his spouse, Elizabeth Baird for the space of twelve months under penalty of three hundred merks scots at which stage the cautioner to be relieved of further resp. Magistrate - Benjamin Bell Writer - Robert Welsh Witnesses - Writer and Robert Murray. [Archive Ref: GF4/14/248]

Miscellaneous Documents held in Dumfries Archive Center

Correspondence with George Guthrie and Robert Somers
Repository: Dumfries Archive Center
Date: Nov 1865, Nov 1865 and Nov 1866

(1) Thomas Baird Cairngarroch Kirkmaiden re rent for his farm and state of repairs.
(2) Thomas Baird Drummore re application to build a dyke plus estimated costs.
(3) Capt Thomas Baird Cairngarroch. ( George Guthrie factor of the Stair Estate )
Ref: GGD103/13/26 Ref: GGD103/8/32 Ref: GGD103/26/30 Ref: GGD103/27/2

Collection: Gordon of Carleton Papers, 1798-1808
and McClelland of Chapeltown and Borness Papers, 1667-1804
Repository: Ewart Library
Date: 1709
Disposition and Translation: Charles McClelland to Alexander Baird. Charles McClelland, copper smith. rented the lands Chapeltown 1695. Ref: EGD5/2/5.

RC Reid Collection: Miscellaneous Items
Repository: Dumfries Archive Center
Date: 30 Dec 1850
A letter to C baird, Sheriff Depute and Directors of the Crichton Royal Institute from a patient requesting a place at Edinburgh College. Ref: GGD498/4/20

Parish Lists of Wigtownshire and Minnigaff 1684
These are the names of the parishoners of Leswalt taken up on the twintie first day of Sept. 1684, and I declare this is a true list and are regulare. Mr. W. SOMERVELL, Minr. at Leswalt.
Kirsten Baird at Challoch and Margret Baird at Milnetoune

Oct. 15th, 1684. That this is an exact Roll of the persons above twelve in Stranrawer paroch and that ther is none disordlie amongst them is witnessed by my hand. Mr. GEORGE BROWN, Minr
Margret Baird, John Baird and Hew Baird

In 1798, during the war between Britain and France, an appeal was issued to the general public for voluntary subscriptions to help pay for the war.The contribution lists were published in the Dumfries Weekly Journal 1798.
Baird: John. Tide Surveyor, Parish of Kirkcudbright
Baird: William. in Spa--foot, Parish of Colvend
Bairden: Thomas. Parish of New Abbey
Baird Mary: Silver Craigs St, Kirkcudbright

Deaths and Memorials

This following section is only a small collection of death notices and memorials for Dumfries and Galloway more will be added in the near future.

Death Notices
Baird Mrs died at her residence Kirkcudbright 7th Feb 1833 aged 85
Baird/Cameron, Christina died 24th of December 1845, at Drybridge, parish of Dundonald, Christina Baird, relict of Mr W. Cameron, aged 102 years.
Baird Mary died 5th December 1883, at 12 Marlow Street, Kinning-Part, accidentally, by burning Mary aged 22 months, youngest daughter of William Baird. - Deeply regretted.

Memorial Inscriptions
Gravestone 334,St Cuthbert's Churchyard, Kirkcudbright.
John Baird, landwaiter of the Customs at the Port of Kirkcudbright, died 28th August 1813, aged 70 years. And of Alison Smith, relict of the said John Baird, who was born at Stockbridge, near Edinburgh and died at Kirkcudbright 7th February 1833, aged 85 years, and for 28 years Postmistress at Kirkcudbright.
Also William Smith, brother to the above Alison Smith who was for 50 years a merchant in Russia, and died at Kirkcudbright in the house of John Nicholson, Bookseller, his son-in-law, 12th July 1839, aged 86. Also his daughter Mary Smith, wife of the said John Nicholson, who died 20th January 1855 aged 66. Also the said John Nicholson who died -- September 1866 aged 88 years. Also his son James who died 1st February 1900, ages 72 years. Also Mary Ellis, wife of the above James Nicholson, who died 5th November 1917, aged 76 years.

Gravestone 210, Kirkinner.
This Stone was lying against the Kirk wall Erected by Mary Keand in memory of her husband James Baird who died on the 8th of October 1876 aged 74 years.
Also the above Mary Keand who died 29th October 1885 aged 80 years

Gravestone 233, St Ninians Whithorn Old Kirk.
Obelisk - East Side In affectionate remembrance of Margaret Lockhart wife of James McCrie, of Broughton Mains, who died on the 31st of October 1861 aged 23 years
Also Agnes Dykes McCrie their daughter who died on the 30th of October 1859 aged 7 months.

On Top Part of Pillar Also James McCrie born Nov 19th 1834 died Jan 30 1914 and is interred in Comely Bank, Cemetery, Edinburgh. Also Jane Pollock Matthews widow of James McCrie who died 11th August 1933 aged 88 years

North Side Sacred to the memory of Jamie the dearly loved son of James and Jane McCrie who died at Broughton Mains on the 31st of January 1871 aged 2 1/2 years

On Top Part of Pillar Also John Baird their youngest son and darling born 16th Oct 1886 died 19th August 1888.
Also their dear daughter Jeanie Matthews (Nurse Jean McCrie) who died at the City Hospital, Edinburgh 23rd Dec 1896 aged 21 years.
Also May and Jessie who died at Edinburgh 10th Sept 1921 and 15th August 1922.