BRODIE, David Merchant, Bailie of Elgin ^{1 2}

   User ID: R574

  General Notes:

"Reference No.: NM002486

Surname: BRODIE

Forename(s): DAVID

Occupation: MERCHANT

Father's Name: ALEXANDER BRODY MERCHANT IN ELGIN

Miscellaneous: 1693 father's testament - MF A45(1) p215-216"

from Local Heritage Services in Moray




"Appendix M.

Burgess Roll.

1646. David Brodie."


"The Church : Kirk Session

1649

October 30th. - David Brodie being cited, compeired and confessed his falt in setting of kaill one the Lords day. He is ordained to go to the pillar foot the next Lords day and confess his falt in face of the congregatione. "

from Records of Elgin (vol 2)




"Town Council Minutes

1656.

February 23rd. Anent moss besouth Tayock. Because the commontie of the moss besouth Tyock is spoiled it is ordained none cast thairin bot for thair awin vse allenarlie and for that effect David Brodie is ordained to gett their names and that they may be advertised accordinglie."

"I657.

Subscryved thus : M. J. Douglas, prouest, George Cuming, baillie, T. Calder, baillie, W. Hay, baillie,
Robert Dunbar ane of the counsell
Mr. W. Cobane "
J. Dunbar "
A. Lesley "
J. Chalmer "
Alexr. Petrie "
Dauid Brodie " "

"1658.

February I5th. Conveined in Counsell Mr. Jon. Douglas, prouest, George Cuming, Thomas Calder and Walter Hay, baillies, David Brodie, Andrew Leslie, Jon. Ogilvie, Alexr. Petrie, Alexr. Dunbar, Jon. Dunbar and Mr. Wm. Cobane."

"At Elgin the tuentie day of Februare I mVIc fiftie and eight yeires in presens of Mr. John Douglas, prouest of the said burgh, George Cuming, Thomas Calder and Walter Hay, baillies therof, David Brodie, Deane of Gild, Alexr. Dunbar, Andrew Leslie, Jon. Ogilvie, Deacone conveiner, Walter Gilzeane, Jon. Chalmer, Andrew Kay and Thomas Cock, four of the deacones."

from Records of Elgin (vol 1)




The Church: Kirk Session

"1670.

January 30th. - Seat Provesl Calder. - Suplication to my Lord Bischope, minister, and elders by Thomas Calder, provest, and his sone, James, desyring ane roome for ane seat for the accomodatione of himself and family. Granted the roome in the new isle under the pend a little and somquhat in the floor of the quire at the wast syde. Seat Balyie Ogilvie. - The roome next to Provest Calders given to Balyie John Ogilvie. Seat Balyie Brodie. - Roume next to John Ogilvies in the new isle to Balyie David Brodie. Seat Balyie Rutherford, Chalmer, Donaldsone, Dunbar. - The roume next to Balyie Brodies to Balyie Robert Rutherford in the new isle, and next to Bailyie Rutherford is to John Chalmer, clerk, and his son in the new isle, next is to Robert Donaldsone, then John Dunbar, merchant, all on the west side of the isle."

from Records of Elgin (vol 2)




"It appears that a Crown right for erecting a harbour had been procured at this time. The foliowhig excerpt from the Council minutes is very distinct : -

"Elgin, 20th June, 1687. - Convened in Council Sir Alexander Innes of Coxton, Provost ; Patrick Chalmers and James Wiseman, Bailies ; William Calder, Dean of Guild ; Kenneth Mackenzie, Treasurer ; George Grant, William King, David Brodie, Robert Anderson, Alexander Ogilvie, persons of Council. "

from Annals of the Parish and Burgh of Elgin<




1694.

September 24th. All the old counsellors continoved and David Brodie and Thomas Donaldsone, merchants, added."

from Records of Elgin (vol 1) ^{1 2 3 4}

  Research Notes:

'BAILIE BRODIE'

This is an attempt to point to the identity of the 'Bailie Brodie', as referenced in the Diarist, Alexander Brodie's phrase "Marg^t. Brodi, the Bailie's daughter."

Alexander Brodie's dates were 1617 - 1680, and his Diary covers events from 1652. The reference in Brodie's Diary to Margaret Brodie's marriage occurs on 15 December 1678. It follows that Margaret's father was a Bailie by then. It also suggests that Margaret was probably born in the first half of the 1660s at the latest, and possibly in the decade before that.

In the first decade of the 17th century there is mention of George Brodie who later became a Bailie of Elgin. However, his age by the 1650s would tend to rule him out as being Margaret's father. His link to Elgin, and the fact that his father was named Alexander, however, may suggest that he was the father of Alexander Brodie, a merchant in Elgin. This has not yet been proved.

From the late 1640s, there is mention in Elgin records of a Bailie David Brodie in Elgin. David Brodie had been created a Burgess, had held a place on Elgin Council (1657), and was a Dean of Guild (1658), but he was not referred to as a Bailie until 1670. There is a good chance therefore that he was a Bailie of Elgin at the time of the reference in Brodie's Diary to Margaret Brodie's marriage, on 15 December 1678.

There are also references to two Brodie bailies in Forres, a father, John Brodie, and his son, James. John Brodie was the son of the Minister of Auldearn parish, and we know from the Diary itself that he was born in 1655. This year of birth eliminates him as Margaret's father.

No actual source connection has yet been found for a father-daughter relationship between David Brodie and Margaret Brodie, except for the Diary's reference to Margaret Brodie's father being 'Baili Brodi'. The evidence is circumstantial, so the link is speculative, though not far-fetched.

David married.