[From Annals of Kirk Christ Lezayre]

CHAPTER XVII - THE GRANGEE ASSESSMENT

AT the time the church was being renovated in 1760, the question of the assessment payable by the four Quarterlands of the Grangee was raised. The Quarterland holders claimed that they ought to pay only one half of the amount paid in respect of other Quarterlands. The case was brought before the VicarGeneral, Matt. Curghey, Vicar of Lezayre.

Book of Presentments No. 58.

" The 10th of November, 1760.

We the Wardens of Kirk Christ Lezaire do present the following persons for Refusing to pay their Church Assessment, vizt-Thos. Casement, John Cottier, Ewan Kissage, Dan. Cry and Jane Cry, Edward Kissage, John Kewney and Esther Casement widow

As witness our subscription date above.

Thos. Arthur Corlett, John Caley, Thomas Tear, James Cleark. These persons appearing alledged they were assessed other than usual proportion, having never been assessed, as they alledged, more than one half in proportion to other Quarterlands in ye parish, and prayed time to prove their exemption, as to sd half of the Assessment --ordered therefore that this matter come on to be heard at a Consistory Court to be holden at Kk. Michael on Tuesd: the 16th Deer. next, when sd persons are to attend duly prepared, and hereof to give the Wardens due notice, otherwise judgment to be proceeded to in default,

Matths. Curghey.

No 53.

By virtue of the Revd. Vicar General Curghey's authority I lawfully charged Thos. Corlet, John Caly, James Clark and left charge with Ann Tear for Thomas Tear, to appear at a Consistory Court houlden at Kk. Michael on Tuesday next, by ten of the clock in the forenoon to answer the suit of Thos. Casement, Esther Casement, John Cottier and partners, this 15th Decr. 176o.

Ewan Crow, Sumner of Lezayre.

No. 60.

At a Consistory Court holden at Kk. Michael, Dec. 16, 176o. The matter of the within Presentmt coming on this day to be heard, two of the Wardens, vizt, Thos. Corlett and John Caley did not appear owing, as it is apprehended, to the severity of the weather, James Clark and Thomas Tear the other Wardens alledged they were greatly in advance on acct of the late Reparation at their Parish Church-the several persons presented (excepting Dan. Cry, Jane Cry and Esther Casement, who have not appeared) have agreed to pay unto the Wardens half the sum they are severally assessed towards defraying the expenses already incurred on acct of sd Reparation-and so as to other half of sd Assessment in respect whereof sd persons claim an Exemption by Custom, that matter is ordered to be heard at the next Consistory Court to be holden at Lezayre, when all parties are to attend duly prepared, that sd alledged Exemption may be fully enquired into and determined according to Law-and in the meantime the several persons within mentioned, excepting those above excepted, are to pay the Wardens the one half of the sum they are resepectively assessed sub pwna Juris. Matths. Curghey.

No. 48.

At a Consistory Court holden at Lezayre Feb. 27. 1761, between the Wardens of Lezayre and Thos. Casement, John Cottier, Ewan Kissack, Edmd. Kissack, John Kissack, Dan. Cry, some of the occupants of the four Quarters of the Grange-Defts.

Robt. Cottier of Lezayre, aged 45 years or thereabouts, being sworn and examined on behalf of the Defts deposeth and saith he was one of the Wardens of the Parish about three or four years ago; that the Assessments were layd and levyed on the Parishioners during his Wardenship, one of Twelve pence each Quarter and another of 3s. each Quarter; saith that the four Quarters of the Grange were assessed but 6d. each Quarter when the other Quarters were Assessed one shilling in the first assessment, and the same proportion the second Assessment, Saith there were no room or Seats allotted for the occupants of the Grange in the body of the Church, and that he bath heard, (but by whom he cannot recollect) that the reason why sd occupants paid but half the usual Assessment was that they had no room or seats allotted them in the body of the Church, and further saith not.

Robt. Cottier.

John Kewley of Lezayre aged fourty four years or thereabouts, being likewise sworn and examined, on the part and behalf of the Defts deposeth and saith he was one of the Wardens about 8 years ago, that an Assessment was laid and levyed on the Parishioners in general of i/- each Quarterland, excepting the four Quarterlands of the Grange, who paid only 6d. each Quarterland; saith that Mr. John Garrett was one of the Wardens of the Parish next before the Deponent, that the sd John Garrett gave him a list of the Assessment collected in his time, by which list it appeared to the Deponent that sd occupants of the Grange paid only one half of the Assessment that other Quarterlands of the Parish paid; saith he enquired of John Garrett why the sd occupants paid but half of the usual Assessment with the rest of the Parishioners, and that sd Garrett told this Deponent the reason was that sd occupants had no room or seats allotted to them in the body of the Church, but that sd occupants sat in the Chancel-saith he saw an old list of Assessments of the Parish, made when Deponent's father and Captain Quayle Curghey were two of the Wardens, (which to the best of Deponent's recollection may be twenty years ago and upwards) by which last mentioned list the sd occupants of the Grange paid one half in proportion with the Assessment on the rest of the Parishioners; Saith he never knew or understood there was any provision made for sd occupants of the Grange in the body of the Church.

John Kewley.

Mary Kinread, alias Maddrell, of the Parish of Lezayre, aged 6o years or thereabouts, being sworn and examined on behalf of the Defts. deposeth and saith she was bred and born in the tenement called the Kerroomoar, part of the 4 Quarterlands of the Grange, that she lived in the sd tenement until she was about 32 years of age, that about that time she and her husband Evan Kinread sold their right of Kerroomoar to John Cottier, one of the Defts. in this cause, Saith she remembers the Parish Church of Lezayre a rebuilding, that her mother sent two horses to draw sand towards the work of the Chancel, that ber sd mother attended to draw water to make mortar for sd Chancel, saith she does not know whether her mother was paid for her own and her horses' labour, or no,--saith that she heard by her mother and grandmother (who dwelt in sd Kerroomoar) that the occupants of sd place never paid more Assessment than ~ in proportion to other Quarterlands in the Parish, Saith that she had heard that the reason why the occupants of the Grange paid no more than half the usual Assessment with the rest of the Parishioners was, that they had no rights provided in the body of the Church, & further saith not.

Mary Kinread alias Maddrell her X mark.

The foregoing Depositions (the Defts having no others to follow after) taken bv & before us.

Ro. Radcliffe, Matt. Curghey.

No. 54.

At Kk. Michael, June ro, 1761.

The matter of the foregoing Presentment having been fully heard before us at a Consistory Court holden at Lezayre on the 27th Feb. last, past, and we having held the same under consideration untill this day,-'upon perusal of sundry depositions taken in this Cause, we do not find that the occupants of the Grange usually paid more than half the Assessment in proportion to other Quarterlands of the Parish, in regard no seats were allotted them in the body of the Church, and we are of the opinion that the usual and customary Assessment of the sd premises called ye Grange cannot be broke thro' unless further evidence appears to the contrary, & hereby order that the foregoing Presentment be dismissed so far as it seeks to put the occupants of ye premises on a footing with all the rest of the Parishioners, in that respect, & Decree them liable to only one half of the occasional Assessments of the Parishioners in proportion with other Quarterland holders, saving nevertheless that if it should happen at any time hereafter if sd occupants shd have seats or room allotted them in ye body of ye Church & occupy the same, then this matter be subject to the further determination of this Court.

Ro. Radcliffe, Matths. Curghey.

Two Quarterlands are mentioned, viz : Grange and Kerroomoan. Which were the other two? Were they the two Ballamanaughs-the Monks' Farm? And why were they not allotted seats with the other Quarterland holders? Had it anything to do with their position in being in the heart and centre of the Abbeylands? Had they any special duties or privileges in the Church or Chapel which must have stood on the Abbeylands?