Birth, at Liberton, of Magdaleen and David Tweedie, parents: Richard Tweedie and Jean or Jane Meggat

 (Written on fly leaf or first page of the Nailstone Register of Baptisms)

The Register of Nailstone 1719

A cure for the Bite of a Mad Dog (said to be infallible) brought from Tonquin by S ir George Cobb, Baronet.
Take 24 Grains of Native Cinnabar, 24 Grains of Factitious Cinnabar, and 16 grains of Musk; grind all together into an exceeding fine Powder, and put it into a small Tea-Cup of Arrack Rum or Brandy - let it be well mixt, and give it the person as soon as possible after the bite - a second dose of the same must be repeated thirty Days after, and a third may be taken in thirty more - But if the symptoms of Madnefs appear on the Persons , They must take one of the above Doses immediately, and a second in an hour after; and if wanted, a third must be given a few hours afterwards - N.B. This Recipe is calculated for a full grown Person; but must be given in smaller Quantities to children in Proportion to their ages - This Medicine has been given (says the communicator) to Hundreds wth success; and that S ir George Cobb himself has cur'd two Persons who had the symptoms of Madnefs upon Them - I my self gave it to W m Smalley's son Joseph (about 5 years old) who was bit very much in the face; and Mr Smith of Cadeby gave it to two children there about the same Time, wth success.

- July 2nd 1754. B. Holwell, Cur.

Clare West 
 
 
 
 
 
 

This from the memoirs of David Tweedie (b.1822): 
David had a good education, but did not want to take up any of the "learned professions" or to follow in his father’s footsteps. Instead, he learned weaving.  He married Elizabeth Allan, the daughter of Alexander Allan, a boot and shoemaker of Dysart.  Their son,  David , was born at Sinclairtown in 1790. Shortly after this the family moved to Blair Adam.  They had no clock or watch, just a gamecock to wake them up in the morning with its crowing and an hourglass to tell how far through the day they were. David Tweedie (b. 1765) could make a good living working short hours and had plenty of time to go walking in the countryside, collecting birdsnests etc. Elizabeth ("Granny") was a good singer.  After a few years the family moved to Maryburgh, where Granny kept a shop and Grandfather was a spinning agent for the district. The business was based in Pathhead, Kirkcaldy. 

This from the journal of Mr McKenzie, Gardener at Blair Adam, by Kelty, Fife, whilst Robert Adam, architect, was Laird:  

"Chapter 37 - David Tweedie and his family  

[Page255] "It had been a rule on the estate to encourage tradesmen to settle here so that it was easy to have all that was required, both for the land and the people provided for amongst themselves. David Tweedie was a weaver and a first class worker. When he settled on the estate is not quite certain. He was married and had a family of three sons and two daughters at least. The rule was for each family who could at all afford it, to keep a cow and grain was supplied at a moderate rate. While hay was also to be had provided the party requiring this would work a piece of meadow land and, in the season, secure what was required for winter use, along with turnips and potatoes. David not only trained his sons to be good weavers but also in all that fitted them for being good gardiners, with a knowledge of how to have, retain, and provide for a cow. By this, the old standard food, porridge and milk was, to a considerable extent, secured. 

"At this period, the laird of Blair Adam was often non-resident at the house, and David being a man who could be trusted to look afater this house and its contents - he was permitted to reside with his family during the laird’s absence and, as the laundry premises were most fit for this purpose, as being within the bounds of the dwelling house and yet apart from it. [P. 256] While, on the return of the family, David and his family returned to a house on the Blair Hill not very far distant. In this way, the sons of David knew all that was going on and were thereby rendered familiar with other circumstances connected therewith. Thus the writer became acquainted with much connected with the estate which, apart from that, would have afterwards been lost.

"David’s three sons were named David John and William. David and William followed their father’s business and John became a shoemaker. As the others grew up, David (the)? son had taken a home of his own while his sister resided with her father and brother William. The family being highly musical, they all developed a liking for song and being gifted with fine voices. William was early appointed precentor in a large congregation in Dunfermline, walking from Kelty each sabbath morning. He was greatly esteemed as a singer. David, on the other hand, had got a home of his own and married a good wife, the daughter of a fine man named William Lyall. David Junior was settled in Bridgend and was more a man of business. He had a large loom shop with a number of looms. He had a family of five sons and two daughters. A most superior set of sons and daughters they were - all good singers and of gentle manners and superior characters. They all learned the weaving first, while they were made useful in many ways to be fitted for country life and were a credit to the estate, [P. 257] being very industrious. They were mostly early married, the eldest son, David - we may call him the third - was tall and he learned the science of gardening and horticulture. He had the manners and address of a noble man with a voice like a woman who, in the mastery of Scottish song, had few equals. He married a superior young woman brought up on the estate, Alison Jackson, a true help meet. They had a family who all did well and succeeded in business. The eldest son was David. His son, in turn, was also David and, again, his son was David so that, in the writer’s time and knowledge, there were six David Tweedies of this one family, and the father of the sixth is the Parish minister of the kirk at (Hitehill or Stitehill)? in Berwickshire. While all the other members of this family and their branches have done well and are a credit to the stock from which they are derived, and the estate of Blair Adam.  

"Note: at the period to which early reference is made, the public road passed over Kelty bridge beside which was a roadside inn for travellers between Edinburgh and Perth. This road continued through to the estate from this bridge, on through the little bridge behind Middletoun and Maryburgh, coming on to join the Great North Road at Kinneard. The present road was constructed more direct and further east when the Grt N Road was laid down. [P.258] 

"David, whom we term the second, took a great interest in the Tabernacle or little church in the village, keeping the keys, putting up the bible in the pulpit, getting one of his sons to load the praises, light the candles when the season required this, and he was one of the best at repeating the questions out of the shorter chatechism when the minister’s (visitral) (?) came (around)?. Personally, he was always __ happy and cheery, ready to relate the old stories of the locality.  One was that having been brought up so near the big house, he came in contact with the sons of the L.C.C.   One in particular was Frederick but, boy like, they were often great friends, but whiles a “cast out” as it was termed, settled in some cases by a close contact fight - One of them, Frederick had given the other a sharp knock so David, not content with this had returned it when the tempers (came?) up they were closed in a “pitch in.” - this was on the grass by the north side of the house. The laird happened to be looking out of the window and seeing how things were going outside and a little (undecided)? he went to the porch of the front door, found a dog whip hanging there and, with this in hand, hurried out along the grass and laid it smartly on the shoulders of the fighters which startled the two lads when they at once took ( ? ) the ( ? ) and separating, ran off in different directions, not a word having been spoken. Shortly after, a known boy’s cry was heard which was readily responded and the lads soon joined to enquire “were you sore hit?” and finding they had both got easily off, they were (faster)? friends than ever and this friendship continued as long as the two lived, Fred becoming the Rt. Hon. General Sir Frederick Adam K.C.B.T "

Clare West
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

With thanks 
to the present owners of the 
Blair Adam 
Estate