The parentage of George Seaton is unknown, but it is supposed that he was born around 1730-35. He first appears in the Blair Atholl Session minutes, 23rd March 1755, when the The Session ordered the Kirk Officer to enquire about Margaret Robertson, residing in Invervack, who was said to be with child. The following Sabbath Margaret Robertson in Kindrochit of Lude (pro tempore) appeared and owned guilt and pregnancy, and gave up George Seaton, servant to Lude, as father to it. George Seaton was summoned.
On 6th April 1755 George Seaton, servant to Lude, appeared and owned himself father to Margaret Robertson’s pregnancy. The following week he made his first appearance before the Congregation, probably by sitting on the stool of repentance, and paid his own fine. Finally on 20th April 1755 he made his second appearance before the Congregation, was rebuked and dismissed.
There is no record showing that Margaret Robertson carried out her repentance before the Congregation, but George Seaton must have handed in a bill (an IOU) for her fine as, on 15th February 1756 George Seaton in Kilmaveonaig paid half a guinea in part payment of his bill for the fine due by Margaret Robertson, his party in fornication. This was marked on the back of his bill. When the remainder of the fine had been paid he would have 'got up his bill', meaning that the IOU would have been returned to him, marked paid, and probably destroyed.
The illegitimate child was baptised on 5th June 1755 and named Robert. In most cases an illegitimate child stayed with the mother, although it took the father's surname (in this case Robert Seaton), and the Session expected the father to provide maintenance for the child.
The timing of the baptism was not perfect as the Blair Atholl OPR records that George Seaton in Lude and Janet Stewart in Lude married 27th May 1755, just days before the birth of his illegitimate son. Not that his wife could complain too much as she herself was pregnant, and had an antenuptial child baptised 3rd January 1756, and named Isobel.
After this, George Seaton and his family leave no further trace.
| Return to Home Page |
|---|