An article by Duncan Downie.
A RADICAL PROBLEM
Every community has its share of legends handed down from the past. Over the years some of the facts may get lost or sometimes the story may get embellished, occasionally two or more tales may get joined together. In Kemnay there was a story of an effigy of a Burnett laird being burnt but of the rest of the tale, no one seemed to remember much about it.
One night, several years ago, while waiting for a parent teacher interview at the local academy, my eyes wandered round the titles of the books on the library shelf beside me. I picked up one, the title of which now evades me, and started thumbing through the index under Kemnay and there it jumped out at me 'Effigy of laird burned.' The source reference was given as Aberdeen Free Press March 1886.
Next evening found me in Woodside Library reading the copy referred to, and it was some read -- two and a half columns of close print on the 9th March and three and a half columns on the 26th March. The heading of the first article read, 'Eviction case in Aberdeenshire: Extraordinary Demonstration at Kemnay: Mr A G Burnett burned in effigy.' The gist of the story was that John Milne, a crofter at Glenhead was not to have his lease renewed the following year. Members of the community had got hold of this and had convened a demonstration in his support. A crowd numbered at 250 paraded from the village to Glenhead led by three pipers and two drummers and carrying flags as well as effigies of the laird A G Burnett and James Brown, tenant in Well-leys, to whose holding the croft was to be annexed. The report said that the demonstration made its displeasure at the Brown family in an emphatic way, before moving back to the village where the effigies were burned in the village street.
It reported that 600 people attended a meeting in the village hall that evening. Mr McCombie, farmer at Milton of Kemnay, one of the bigger farms on the estate was asked to chair the meeting. Henry D McCombie was a man who in his life time served the area well. According to his epitaph he 'gave 60 years devoted service to public affairs and was for 9 years Convener of the County of Aberdeen.' His brother was also for some time editor of the Free Press.
He gave a summary of events of the case to date. When it became known that John Milne was not to have his lease renewed, some of his friends met to discuss the situation and decided that action must be taken. A deputation led by McCombie approached the laird who entertained them cordially and agreed to give them a written reply stating his side of the story. This was read to the meeting along with other two letters from Mr Burnett. McCombie addressed the meeting, whipping up support for Milne and decrying the laird's attitude to the case, most of which was received with loud cheers and applause by the meeting.
Several motions were put to the meeting from the floor, which all met with unanimous acceptance.
- That this meeting considers that the system prevalent in this country of adding farm to farm and croft to croft is prejudicial to the interests of the community in general, and more especially to working men, and ought to be checked.
- That, in order to protect the interests of the community, of tenant farmers, crofters and working men, the institution of a Land Court is urgently needed.
- That this meeting cordially endorses the action of those who have taken the initiative in this matter; tenders its heartiest sympathy with Mr John Milne, Glenhead, in the position he presently occupies through the refusal of the proprietor to grant a renewal of his lease for the croft, upon which he has erected a comfortable dwelling house at his own expense, aided to a very large extent in preventing three of his relatives from becoming burdensome to the parish, and has also brought the croft into a high state of cultivation. In these circumstances, this meeting would respectfully urge the proprietor to reconsider his decision.
- That this meeting feels disappointed at the conduct of the proprietor, and highly disapproves of the way in which he has acted in repudiating the public promise he made in all good faith to give a piece of ground to the inhabitants of Kemnay for a public park, or even as much as play a game of cricket on.
The latter motion was put forward by a group of people who had met with Mr Burnett regarding the giving of ground for a public park or failing such, sufficient ground to allow them to play cricket on. They had come from the meeting fairly confident that they would receive such land, only to have it confirmed later in writing that such was not the case.
It was agreed that a copy of the resolutions should be given to Mr Burnett and a committee was formed to oversee the case.
Another meeting was held a fortnight later at which a letter from Mr Burnett was read out giving his replies to the resolutions passed at the previous meeting. This was received with great merriment by the assembled gathering. A second letter received from Mr Burnett was not read to the meeting but was printed in the press. a report from the committee was read out which stated that they were unable to take further action in the matter because the law as it stood allowed Mr Burnett to take the actions which he had. They would, however, keep their eyes on future happenings. A letter from Mr Brown in Well-leys was read to the meeting which stated that he did not wish to have the land of Milne's croft added to his holding. Considerable dialogue took place and eventually a motion was put forward and accepted.
That this meeting receive the report of the committee, thank them for what they have done, and ask them to continue in office, express deep regret that Mr Burnett has not yet agreed to renew Mr John Milne's lease, respectfully urge on him the great desirableness of either doing so or assigning satisfactory reasons for not doing so, and request the committee to forward to him a copy of this resolution.
Knowing the radical views held by the Free Press, the files of the Aberdeen Journal, which supported the Establishment, were consulted to see if it had covered the affair. It certainly had and in places was somewhat more vociferous. According to it, the effigies were shot at Glenhead and the occupants of Well-leys were treated to groans and hisses as the company passed their house. A G Burnett also published his letter of reply to the committee in the Aberdeen Journal and after the second meeting, a letter was published from 'Spectator' which ridiculed the part taken by Rev J Dymock, Free Church Minister, pointing out that many of the statements which he had made were not strictly true.
As both papers were more or less agreed on the happenings, one can surely assume that they had been reasonably truthful reporting of the event. What was the eventual outcome of the whole affair has not been fully ascertained, but on John Milne's gravestone he is stated to be of Glenhead. By the 1891 census there is no mention of Milne's holding.
Epitaph in Kemnay Churchyard:
IN MEMORY OF JOHN MILNE CROFTER GLENHEAD KEMNAY DIED 1ST FEB 1889 AGED 55 YEARS A MAN OF STERLING WORTH UNBENDING WILL AND GENUINE CHRISTIAN CHARACTER WHO AT A CRITICAL PERIOD IN HIS LIFE DID NOBLE SERVICE TO THE CAUSE OF JUSTICE AND FREEDOM. AND HIS WIFE ANN OLIVER WHO DIED 17TH DEC 1932 AGED 89 YEARS. ERECTED BY HIS WIDOW AND FRIENDS.
The burial register gives Glenhead as John Milne's address and 'late of Glenhead' at the entry for his widow's, Ann Oliver, interment. One other puzzle thrown up by this is that all the census entries give Cecelia Brown as John Milne's wife, as does an epitaph on the Brown family gravestone, giving 26 May 1885 as her date of death. Ah well! that is a story for another day.
Sources;
Aberdeen Journal Tuesday March 9 1886, page 6, cols 4,5,6: Friday March 12 1886 page 7, col 5: Friday March 26 1886, Page 6, cols 3,4,5,6: Tuesday March 30 1886, page 2, col 2.
Burial Register for Kemnay Churchyard (Aberdeenshire Council)
Census Documents for Kemnay 1861,1871,1881,1891
Daily Free Press Tuesday March 9 1886, Friday March 26 1886
Gravestone inscriptions in Kemnay Churchyard