1825
22 Dec
Thomas Salter, Fisherman, Cellardyke, having gone to Pittenweem on Thursday last, in the afternoon, where he met with some of his acquaintances and got himself intoxicated, in returning home went off the high road ( it is supposed) being bewildered by the darkness of the night, and crossing a field toward the sea side, fell over a precipice between Pittenweem and Anstruther. His body was discovered on Friday and taken to Cellardyke, he left a wife and 3 children to lament his untimely fate.
1843
22 Dec
The fishing has commenced much earlier this season, one Drave boat and one yawl set their nets near the Isle of May, the boat brought in 12 barrels of herrings which sold at 32s per barrel. The yawl has not come in yet. The whole fleet of Cellardyke boats is preparing to go toe the Island tonight.
The fishermen of St Andrews, though a laborious, and in many cases a respectable are an exceedingly improvident race. They carry the divine precept a great deal too far – they ‘take no thought for tomorrow’ they might be rich – they are poor; they might have houses of their own- they rent dirty, damp hovels at ten times their values. They have separated themselves by such habits from all decent society, and associated only with each other in slovenly filth, and I fear moral degradation. Now, the reverse of all this is the case in Cellardyke, and other fishing stations along the coast. Their houses are generally their own. The husbands come home at night to neatly- dressed wives and clothed children. They have butcher meat in the pot at least twice a week, and tea and coffee whenever they wish it.. Look on this picture and on that, mark the difference.
1848
21 Dec
We are glad to hear that five pounds, a legacy of the late Miss Williamson has been appropriated to the opening of a soup kitchen, as a supply of nourishing food, it is one of the best preventatives against cholera…
1864
24 Dec.
On Wednesday Mr David Black, baker, Cellardyke, the leader of the Psalmody in the Free Church here, entertained the 22 members of the choir to an excellent and substantial supper. After full justice had been done to the good things so kindly and liberally provided the evening was pleasantly passed with song and sentiment….
1868
25th Dec
During the severe storm of Thursday the deep sea boat Jean Wallace of Cellardyke, Skipper William Smith was brought to anchor in the offing of North Berwick. The poor crew were wet and weary with their ling conflict with the storm, and stood mightily in need of rest and refreshment; but being afraid to make for the harbour, owing the many dangerous rocks that beset the fairway, there was no prospect of obtaining either, when to their great relief a boat came from the shore with several local fishermen, by whose help and direction the Cellardyke boat was taken safely into the harbour, The storm beaten fishermen were assisted in the kindest way, but this was not all. Fishermen, of course do not carry money with them on an ordinary fishing trip, and the Fife crew landed without and resources, but no sooner was their cause known that one of the North Berwick fishermen, in the frankest and most delicate way, slipped a pound note into skipper Smith’s hand, by which timeous help the men were enabled to telegraph their whereabouts to their anxious families, and also to procure the comforts of which themselves stood much in need. We have been requested to publish the foregoing that the generous and brotherly conduct of the North Berwick men may be known, and in doing so we beg to add the earnest hope that in any similar emergency the gallant fellows may ever receive the hospitality which they on this occasion gave.
1880
23rd Dec
The house and yard at the west end of Cellardyke belonging to Alexander Tarvit was exposed for sale…. (sold to James Fleming (Coul) for £220).. The house had been long inhabited by a singular character Martha Alexander or ‘Black Martha’ as she was usually called. Her ordinary occupation was of fishwife but her usual system of trade- especially with the country wives – was barter. She was accompanied in her country expeditions by her stalwart son ‘Daft Willie’ each with his or her backload now of fish or wheaten bread …. And so it went on until her tragic death of Cholera some 31 years ago when sums of money of £150 were found secreted in this corner of that old miser’s dwelling
1912
Robert McRuvie, fisherman, Rodger Street Cellardyke was presented with the national Royal Humane Society’s parchment for having jumped into Anstruther Harbour and rescued Alexander Pattie (10) from drowning in August, Provost Black made the presentation.
1915
25th Dec
The Aberdeen trawler Monarch brought into Aberdeen yesterday the crew of the Berwick Drifter Success II which was wrecked some three miles north of the Bridge of Don yesterday …. The rescue was effected with great daring. By means of a lifeline and half a dozen lifebelts. Captain Michael Doig (Cellardyke) succeeded in having the crew of the disabled drifter pulled through the stormy sea to safety, the critical operation being pulling the men aboard the vessel……