Book of the valuation of Fife, 1695

Book of the valuation of Fife. A listing of the free rents of each parish of the county of Fife, together with the names of the heritors, as determined in 1695. Given as measures of wheat, oats, bear and meal in chalders and bolls, with an agreed value for each measure, as well as money rent, including what was due to ministers and schoolmasters.

The parishes are:-

• Cupar Presbytery: Balmerino, Logie, Kilmany, Flisk, Creich, Abdie, Monimail, Dunbog, Moonzie, Ceres, Collessie, Dairsie, Cults, Strathmiglo, Auchtermuchty, Cupar, Falkland, Kettle, Newburgh.
• St Andrews Presbytery: Forgan, Leuchars, Newburn, Kemback, Largo, Fernie, St Andrews, Cameron, Dunino, Kingsbarns, Crail, Kilrenny, Anstruther wester, Anstruther easter, Carnbee, Pittenweem, St Monance, Kilconquhar, Elie.
• Kirkcaldy Presbytery: Scoonie, Markinch, Kennoway, Ballingry, Leslie, Kinglassie, Wemyss, Kinghorn, Auchtertool, Auchterderran, Dysart, Kirkcaldy, Burntisland.
• Dunfermline Presbytery: Aberdour, Dunfermline, Beath, Saline, Dalgety, Carnock, Crombie, Culross, Inverkeithing.
• A note in a different hand [p.1] details the method whereby the liabilities of heritors were determined.
• In a third hand [p.4] an index, [incorrectly headed as an index of the St Andrews and Kirkcaldy presbyteries].
• In a fourth hand [p.194] a summary valuation total for each presbytery.

The commissioners of supply were instituted by Act of Convention in 1667 initially to assess and collect the land tax from each landowner, based on the value of their estates. They dealt with many other concerns too on a county-wide basis, including providing a police force and appointing county officials. They were drawn mainly form the landowning class but employed assessors, collectors and clerks each year, usually local people, to do the land valuation. This was carried out each year and was used to calculate the amount of land tax, or cess, to paid to the king, being of a certain proportion for each £100 Scots money of land value. It was also used to work out the public burdens, such as schoolmaster’s salary, teinds and stipend for the parish minister, to be paid each year. There were also valuation thresholds for commissioners of supply, freeholders, roads trustees and for commissions in the army, navy and local militia. The minutes of the commissioners consist largely of disjunctions, or apportioning of valuations between lands of the estate of one landowner; he might want each part valued separately in order to create nominal freeholders to gain fictitious votes. The apportionment could be agreed upon by the parties involved and ratified by the commissioners, or an inquiry might need to be held, examining witnesses. The commissioners later became involved with the collection of others taxes, on windows, hearth, carriages, horses, servants and property. The commissioners continued to exercise their various roles until the institution of county councils in 1889. The following year saw the last intervention of the commissioners in the land tax.

Single item

By appointment with the Keeper of Manuscripts. Access to records containing confidential information may be restricted.

Purchased, at a sale of the effects of Phineas B Brander, by John Orr, bookseller of Edinburgh, from whom the library acquired it by purchase, June 1937.

Call number used to be ms9

Individual Manuscripts and Small Collections database available as part of Manuscripts Database.

Binding: Rebound by Cockerell, July 1953, using earlier calf binding where possible. Binder's note pasted in back cover. Cover title embossed, gold on red background, Book of the Valuation of Fife. Paper: 19x30.3cm

Description compiled by Maia Sheridan, Archives Hub project archivist, based on material from the Manuscripts Database

Applications for permission to quote should be sent to the Keeper of Manuscripts. Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of documents.

Formerly in the possession of Phineas B Brander, solicitor of Edinburgh.

None

St Andrews University: GB227 msDA880.C95: Rental of the heritors of the parishes of Fife, 1695; GB227 msDA880.F4C95: Valuation of Fifeshire, 1695

ms810 is printed in Harleian Miscellany, I, (Edinburgh 1808), p.419.