I was given this transcript of an entry from the Rent Book of the Duke of Argyll:
The South Division of the farm of Upper Ranachan + 10\S stg for each goat kept to perform 3 days service of 1 man and 1 horse yearly. If required seed time and harvest excepted.
Memorial stated 21/8/1810 for Andrew Wylie son of the deceased John Wylie late tenant of Ranachan. In this Memorial he requests that his son Andrew’s name be inserted as a partner with him in the tack from 1811 which he wishes.
Petition dated 7 October 1812 b Andrew Wyllie for an abatement of rent, he says he offered £80 Rather than be deprived of the possession he had held for 25 years as heir to his father.
I would be grateful for any enlightenment regarding the above:
What does + 10\S stg mean?
Does the + 10\S stg relate to each goat kept, or does each goat kept require 3 days service of 1 man etc? There seems to be a lack of punctuation in this sentence.
Andrew wants his son to be a partner with him in the tack – does this mean he would have been a tacksman? Or does it mean that he is renting from the tacksman?
In the last paragraph he offers £80 Rather than be deprived of the possession he had held for 25 years (as heir to his father). This seems like a huge amount of money for 1812.
Any comments or suggestions would be very welcome.
Thanks,
Maggie