The counties of Sutherland and Ross-shire were in the Sheriffdom of Inverness. My ancestor Alexander Munro of Armadale, Sutherland is recorded in two documents in 1814, found in the Sutherland Papers, as a "wright" which is an old word for a carpenter. Curiously, two years later in September 1816 an Alexander Munro who was a "wright", along with his accomplice Hugh Anderson who was also a "wright", appeared before the Inverness Sheriff's Court on a charge of cutting and stealing growing wood. However, the material witness, Alexander Murray, did not appear in court and both Alexander Munro and Hugh Anderson were given bail for one year. The case re-appears the following year in the Sheriff Court records in September 1817, although only Hugh Anderson is mentioned in the case which was then referred to the High Court in Edinburgh for two months later, but according to the National Records of Scotland the case does not re-appear again in the records. According to two newspapers in 1817, Alexander Munro having not appeared in court was "outlawed" and "sentence of fugitation" was passed upon him. However, this is not mentioned in the Sheriff Court record of 1817. Curiously, in the case of 1816 both of the "wrights", Alexander Munro and Hugh Anderson, had given their places of residence as the parish of Edderton, Ross-shire, and having searched the Edderton parish records there is a Hugh Anderson who was a "wright" who is recorded as the father at the baptism of six children between 1812 and 1820 in the parish. However, there was no Alexander Munro in the Edderton parish registers who was a "wright". This raises the possibility that Alexander Munro the "wright" gave a false address when in court in 1816, subsequently not appearing in court in 1817. It is also worth noting that my ancestor Alexander Munro, the wright of Armadale, Sutherland was apparently from the county of Ross-shire, having removed from there to the county of Sutherland in 1784.
Hugh Anderson and Alexander Munro, both Wrights at Edderton in the parish of Edderton, County of Ross. Pannels. Indicted and accused at the insistence of His Majestey's Advocate, for his Majestey's Interest for the Crime of Theft, more especially the cutting and stealing of growing wood in the manner mentioned in the criminal idictment raised against them therent bearing that albeit here record the Indictment.
The diet being called The Advocate states that on account of the absence of a material witness he was under the necessity of moving the court to desert the diet against the Pannels pro loco et temp ore.
And the said Alexander Murray having been off times called in court and at the door of the court house yet failed to appear.
Lord Hermand fines and amerciates the said Alexander Murray in the sum of 100 merks Scots for his contempt and disobedience in not appearing this day and place in the hour of cause to have given evidence against the said Hugh Anderson and Alexander Munro their guiltiness of the crime charged against them as he who was carefully cited to that effect off times called in court and at the door of the court house and failed to appear.
Thereafter there was given in court a petition for his Majesty's Advocate craving a new warrant of commitment against the said Hugh Anderson and Alexr Munro which was granted accordingly and delivered to the Keeper of the Jail of Inverness.
Thereafter there was given in to the said Lord Hermand a petition for Hugh Anderson and Alexander Munro praying to be admitted to Bail on which a deliverance was given admitting them to Bail modifying the penalty to 300 merks Scots each and upon them finding caution for their appearance under that penalty granting warrant for their liberation.
And they having found Bail in terms of the said deliverance were liberated accordingly.
The Sheriffs of this district were then impannelled and the usual proclaimation made and no complaints being exhibited against any of them they were dismissed with the thanks of the Court for the regular discharge of their duty.
And this being the third day of the circuit at this place and no further business pending Lord Hermand by the Mouth of James Mowat Macer of Court delcares the Justice ayre at this place ended.
The diet was also deserted pro loco et termpore against Hugh Anderson and Alexander Munro, wrights at Edderton, accused of cutting and stealing growing wood, and they were recommitted on a new warrant. (link)
Hugh Anderson wright at Edderton in the parish of Edderton, County of Ross. Pannel.
Indicted and accused at the instance of His Majesty's advocate for His Majesty's interest of the Crime of Theft and cutting and stealing wood as particularly mentioned in the Criminal letters raised and presented against therent (Recent the same). Refer reading the libel, Mr J. P Grant, Advocate, Counsel of the Pannel, stated that in the double and copy of Criminal Letters served upon the Pannel, the surname of His Majesty's advocate was omitted. The Lord Reston having shortly heard parties Pors upon this point Certifies this case to the High Court of Justicary to meet at Edinburgh on Monday the seventeenth day of November next and continues the diet against the Pannel till that time.
Hugh Anderson and Alex. Monro, charged with stealing growing wood from the wood of Spinningdale, parish of Creich, Sutherlandshire, and Alex Monro having failed to appear was outlawed. Mr J. P Grant, counsel for Anderson objected to the relevancy of the indictment; that in the copy furnished to the prisoner, the Lord Advocate was inaccurately designated "Alexander of Meadowbank", the sirname being omitted. After some discussion, the case was certified to the High Court of Justiciary, to meet at Edinburgh on the 17th of November next. (link)
Hugh Anderson, and Alexander Munro, charged with stealing growing wood from the wood of Spinningdale, parish of Creich, Sutherland-shire, were called to the Bar, and Alexander Munro failing to appear sentence of fugitation was passed upon him.
Mr J. P. Grant, counsel for Anderson, objected to the relevancy of the indictment; that in the copy furnished to the prisoner, the Lord Advocate was inaccurately designated "Alexander of Meadowbank", the sirname being omitted. After some discussion, the case was certified to the High Court of Justiciary, to meet at Edinburgh on the 17t November next. (link)
Unfortunately there is not enough evidence to confirm whether the Alexander Munro who was a wright, apearing in court in 1816, and who was outlawed in 1817, was in fact the same Alexander Munro of Armadale who was also a wright, as recorded twice in 1814. (One of these is when he was employed in valuing houses in Armadale in 1814 and the other was a petition to build a house in Armadale in 1814).
The Edderton parish baptism register only dates back to 1799, and parish marriage register only back to 1812. Hugh Anderson the "wright", as well as appearing as the father on six parish baptism records in the parish of Edderton between 1812 and 1816, also appears as a "wright" on the 1841 census still living in the parish of Edderton, aged 60. It is likely that his age on the 1841 census was rounded down to the nearest multiple of five as was often the case with ages of adults on the 1841 census. On the 1812 parish baptism record for Hugh Anderson's son, Alexander Anderson, in the parish of Edderton, Hugh the father is described as "Hugh Anderson Junior" and one of the witnesses is given as "Hugh Anderson Senior", so obviously father and son. There is only one parish baptism record in the county in the right time period for a Hugh Anderson son of another Hugh Anderson and that is dated 14th October 1776 in the parish of Tain. Thus as the age of 60 on the 1841 census was probably rounded down from 65 to the nearest multiple of 5 then it fits with the parish baptism record of 1776. The parish of Tain is right next to the parish of Edderton.