Stenhouse, James

Board Member, resides Northfod.

For proprietors of Stevenson’s Beath.

11/02/1846, 06/08/1846, 26/10/1846, 26/04/1847, 13/05/1847, 13/10/1847, 16/02/1848, 18/05/1848, 21/09/1848, 06/02/1849, 29/11/1849, 14/02/1850, 30/10/1851, 12/02/1852, 12/08/1852, 02/09/1852, 25/02/1853, 27/05/1853, 18/02/1854, 08/09/1854,

27/11/1854 chairman – Board considered a circular dated 12/10/1854 calling upon each parochial board to provide a place for the reception and treatment of casual sick poor. Meeting requested the Inspector to find a place.

02/05/1855 – Inspector reported he had got a house but in the meantime Hannah Adamson was allowed to possess it until it is required . This to be intimated to the Board of Supervision.

01/06/1855, 30/05/1856, 05/09/1856, 21/11/1856, 27/02/1857, 05/06/1857, 21/08/1857, 13/11/1857, 17/12/1857 – Chairman – Stated that for the due conducting of the business of the Poors Board of this parish , it is necessary that an account now be opened with one of the banks in Dunfermline for the purpose of receiving when necessary temporary accommodation and also for the Collector depositing the assessments when necessary…. Meeting authorised committee consisting of Messrs. James Stenhouse, John Curror, James Robertson and the Inspector to open an account with the British Linen Coy in Dunfermline in the name of the Inspector for behoof of the Parochial Board and to borrow upon such account the cheques being signed by the Inspector and one member of the committee to an amount not exceeding £130 being one half of the estimated amount of the assessment imposed for the current year; they further agree and resolve that the advances to be made by the Bank to the account and the legal interest thereof shall be secured upon the assessment now due and received and shall be paid from the same when collected.

12/03/1858

12/03/1858 – Chaired special meeting called for the purpose of considering what means should be adopted for the extension of the present burial ground.

...considering the crowded state of the present burial ground which is altogether inadequate in point of extent , with reference to the greatly increased and rapidly increasing population of the Parish , resolve unanimously that additional burying ground should be provided on the north side of the present church and that to the extent of twenty falls Scotch and that under the powers of the Act to amend the Laws concerning the Burial of the Dead in Scotland. It was moved by Mr Dowie and seconded by Mr Robertson and carried unanimously that it was desirable to obtain a suitable piece of ground with as little delay and with as little expense as possible , and understanding that a portion of the south west part of the glebe adjoining the church may be obtained by private agreement or if necessary under

the powers of the Act before referred to , and that a committee be appointed with full powers to negotiate and carry through a purchase of said piece of ground

...the following committee was appointed – James Stenhouse, Andrew Dowie, John Phillips, James Stenhouse Jr (Convener), James Robertson, John Peebles

12/11/1858 – Inspector stated that the wall around the new burying ground (which was estimated for at thirty pounds) was all but completed. The meeting was of the opinion that a doorway should be left in the west wall, the execution of which was remitted to the committee appointed on 12th March.

13/05/1859 – Inspector instructed to pay the Presbytery of Dumfermline for the portion taken from the Glebe for the addition to the church yard as soon as titles can be arranged. The meeting remit to the management committee to consider and report to the next statutory meeting upon the manner in which the new burying ground shall be arranged and disposed of, together with the fees that shall be allowed to the Sexton and all other matters connected therewith.

11/05/1860 – Inspector instructed to employ James McFarlane, Dunfermline, to get the sanction of the Sheriff to the new burying ground.

09/05/1862 – Inspector instructed to give notice to Mr McFarlane that unless the business of the Board in connection with the Burial Ground Act , be carried out before 1st July next , such documents relating to the new Burial Ground of Beath as may be in the possession of Mr McFarlane shall be removed and placed in the hands of Messrs Beveridge and Darling, Dunfermline, for execution

10/02/1865 – James Robertson, Hilton and George Ramsay (Cowdenbeath) had requested special meeting... For the purpose of taking immediate steps for enlarging the present Burying Ground which has now become inadequate for the present requirements of the Parish….. in point of extent, in respect of the greatly increased and rapidly increasing population . The meeting unanimously resolved

that additional Burying Ground should be provided, either on the east or south side of the present Burying Ground, and that to the extent of half an acre. The ground on the east side includes a portion from the Glebe and the remainder from the lands belonging to the Earl of Moray….the additional ground to be acquired under the powers of the act to amend the laws concerning the burial of the dead in Scotland (23rd July 1855)

14/05/1858, 12/11/1858, 13/05/1859, 11/11/1859, 09/12/1859, 11/05/1860

8/5/1863 – Meeting agreed unanimously to recommend petition Parliament, if necessary, against the “Irish Poor Removal Bill”

13/05/1864 – Mr Stenhouse proposed (seconded by Mr Scott and unanimously agreed to ) that the report from the visiting Officer of the Board of Supervision regarding a suggested Combination Poor house shall be referred to the committee of the Parochial Board to consider the matter and report.

11/11/1864 – no report had been drawn up , it being understood that a general meeting of representatives of the various Parish boards, included in the proposed Combination, should be held, with a view of fully considering the subject and coming to a definite arrangement thereon. The chairman therefore proposed that the Managing Committee of the Board, together with the Chairman(of the management committee), Mr John Phillips, and Mr George Halley, be appointed for the purpose of considering the propriety of the existing Poor House at Dunfermline, being erected into a Combination Poor House for the accommodation of the parishes around Dunfermline.

14/11/1862, 08/05/1863, 25/09/1863, 13/11/1863, 13/05/1864, 11/11/1864, 10/02/1865, 24/03/1865

30/06/1865 – chaired meeting to consider late decision of the Board in reference to taking beds in the Dunfermline Combination Poorhouse.

10/11/1865

15/12/1865 – Special meeting held for the purpose of reconsidering the propriety of taking seven shares in the proposed Combination Poorhouse at Dunfermline. The meeting proceeded to consider the number of beds that should be taken, but in respect of the small attendance adjourned the meeting to Friday 12 Jan 1866.

12/1/1866 – meeting considered number of shares or beds that should be taken . Chairman (Mr Stenhouse) moved that seven beds be taken in respect that looking at the present state and future probable increase in population it would be found that both for the paupers and also for the ratepayers that that number should be taken. Mr William Millar moved an amendment that no beds should be taken. Mr JamesRobertson moved a second amendment that considering seven shares to be in excess for the wants of the Parish, the Board agree to take 5 beds or shares. The latter amendment was carried by the meeting ...The meeting then resolved to take 5 beds in the Combination Poorhouse and appointed a committee ( Mr Stenhouse, Mr James Robertson and Mr Peter Curror) for the purpose of carrying out the said resolution and also for attending the meeting at Dunfermline on Monday next.

09/03/1866 – Moved by the Chairman that 7 beds should be taken in respect that this Parish could not get admitted into the Combination by taking a lesser amount. Seconded by Mr James Stenhouse. William Millar moved an amendment that no beds should be taken. This was seconded by James Rollo.

...The amendment was declared to be carried, that no beds be taken in the Dunfermline Combination Poorhouse.

11/05/1866 – The Chairman intimated that he had attended the meetings in Dunfermline on the subject and at the last meeting had stated the resolution of this Board…….it was finally resolved that those parishes refusing to take their allotted number of beds should be rejected from forming the Combination, or from participating in the benefits which Poorhouse accommodation confers. In accordance with this resolution, the Dunfermline Board had intimated that all our paupers boarded therein must be removed in order that sufficient accommodation might be given to those Parishes who had agreed to take the full complement of beds and to join the Combination on the terms proposed. The Board defer going further into the consideration of the Poorhouse accommodation until Mr Fraser has corresponded with the Board of Supervision

29/06/1866 – Circular from the Board of Lunacy regarding the opening of the Fife and Kinross District asylum. Inspector advised to act in accordance with the instructions.

10/08/1866 – Letter from Board of Supervision – “...instructed to inform you that they have approved of the rates of boarding Beath paupers in Dysart Combination Poorhouse. But the Board has not come to this resolution without much consideration and hesitation. They are of the opinion that the intuitive of the statute is that Parishes which require Poorhouse accommodation should if possible provide it in terms of the 60th and 61st Sections of the Act.The Board are further of the opinion that the terms upon which the Parochial Board of Dunfermline have offered to admit Beath into the proposed Dunfermline Poorhouse Combination are fair and reasonable. They have therefore to intimate that when the period for which the rates for boarding paupers in Dysart Combination Poorhouse expires, they will not feel warranted in renewing it, unless the Parochial Board of Beath have arranged with the Parochial Board of Dunfermline the terms of admittance into the Combination.”

09/11/1866, 10/05/1867

24/05/1867 – Stated that meeting had been called in consequence of a letter received from the Registrars general, dated 10th Current, calling upon the Poors Board to provide a fireproof safe for the purpose of keeping the books and other documents kept by Mr Scott, the present Registrar. The meeting, having considered this letter, resolve that a fire proof safe of suitable dimensions shall be provided and hereby authorise the Chairman and Inspector to procure one accordingly and to have the same properly placed in Mr Scott’s house.

18/08/1867 – Fire Proof safe had been provided and placed in the Registrar’s Office, for which the sum of £20 10/- had been paid and the further said safe is possessed of two keys, one of them has been placed in the safe keeping of the Sheriff Substitute and the other to be kept by the Registrar.

24/05/1867 – Chairman stated that the Poors Board of Beath are indebted to the Earl of Moray in the sum of £45 for the land taken from him for an addition to the present Burying Ground and also £120 as the value of the houses which were upon the said ground ……the meeting consider it is most desirable that these sums should be paid…either by borrowing what sum may be necessary beyond

the sums already collected or by overdrawing the account with the British Linen Company.

08/11/1867, 7/2/1868, 8/5/1868, 11/6/1868, 7/8/1868,

13/11/1868 – Mr Stenhouse intimated that owing to domestic affliction and the circle of his private duties widening he would be unable to officiate longer as Chairman, and that a successor must be elected. On the motion of Mr William Millar, seconded by Mr R Crawford, Mr Andrew Dowie, Dullomuir, Blairadam, was unanimously elected Chairman of the Board for the year to Martinmas 1869. Mr Dowie moved a vote of thanks to the retiring Chairman which was unanimously accorded.

05/02/1869, 14/05/1869, 12/11/1869, 13/05/1870, 11/11/1870, 10/02/1871, 31/03/1871, 12/05/1871, 10/11/1871, 19/04/1872, 10/05/1872, 18/10/1872, 08/11/1872, 09/05/1873, 08/8/1873, 14/11/1873, 13/02/1874, 08/05/1874.

12/02/1875 – Rev McPhail, Chairman, stated that before commencing the meeting he could do no less than refer to the loss which the Board had sustained in the death of the late Mr Stenhouse and it became them to record in the minutes their deep sense of the very valuable services he had for a very long number of years rendered to the Parish. He was a gentleman of excellent mental abilities, of courteous manners and of prudent business habits, and one who would be gratefully remembered for the many services he had rendered both in his public and private capacities. He moved that a copy of this minute be transmitted to Mrs Stenhouse expressive of their sincere sympathy with her and her family under their heavy bereavement.

This is an entry from the name index to the Beath Parochial Minute Board, 1845-81.

For the original - Minute Book see FCC/16/10/1.