1880
Sale of Property.—The old loft and backyard in the west end of Cellardyke, so long possessed by the relatives of Mr Stephen Williamson, the aspirant for the St Andrews Burghs, has just been privately disposed of to our well known builder, Mr Thomas Brown. The price was £370, but the property has a frontage of 60 feet. That is enough for three houses on the self-contained principle now so generally preferred by the fishermen of the coast. The old tenement was built by Stephen Williamson in the middle of the last century, the family being settled here from the time of the oldest records, to wit, the minute book of the Trades Box of Kilrenny, which was instituted in the time of King Charles I.
1881
A few weeks ago a fisherman, who originally belonged to Crail, died here leaving a widow and six young children to mourn the loss of their bread-winner. He was a member of the sick society but, the rules providing that each one must have been connected with it for a year before relief is payable, the office-bearers were unable to grant any relief to the widow. Some of the members, however, bestirred themselves in a private way, and with such success that fully £24 have been collected for the widow and children in Cellardyke alone. There is some talk, we hear, of altering the rules so as to admit of relief being granted at an earlier date after a member has joined the society.
1882
BOOTS AND SHOES. ROBERT GRAY respectfully announcing to his Customers and the Public that he will offer the Whole of his Large Stock of BOOTS and SHOES at the Lowest Prices. All done on the shortest notice. 3 SHORE STREET, CELLARDYKE.
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. ANSTRUTHER. THE LATE CASE or DROWNING. —The Procurator-fiscal of the county held a precognition here on Monday last regarding the loss by drowning of Alexander Gardner, fisherman, off this coast during the storm of Friday evening the 17th ult
THE PRICE or Bread, The bakers in Anstruther and Cellardyke on Monday raised the price of bread from 6d to 6 ½ d for the 4lb loaf.
1883
He was the son of a fisherman, and he hailed from Cellardyke, where he had seen over a dozen weary winters come and go. With the soul of a Jack Shepherd burning within him, he scorned the paternal calling. So he would be “a highwayman.” And this is how his first essay in his adopted role began and ended. Sallying forth the other morning, he encountered a maiden fair of tender years, and boldly demanded “her money or her life.” On full reflection, she chose to sacrifice the former, which, in the current coin of the realm, amounted to no less than 2d. On Tuesday, the young highwayman found himself in the Sheriff Court, and on the same day he made the acquaintance of that to which he must hitherto have been a stranger—the tawse ; applied, six times on end, with no gentle touch.
Outbreak of Fever in Cellardyke. —ln the course of this week four or five cases of typhoid fever have occurred in Cellardyke, and on Wednesday Mrs Duncan, one of the patients, died. Her husband, who came lately to take the place of his deceased brother, is lying seriously ill with the fever. Both the medical gentlemen in Anstruther have been constant in their attendance, and taken the greatest pains to isolate the fever.
1885
John Foster, carter, East Anstruther, and George Lindsay, carter, Cellardyke, were charged at a Burgh Court on Tuesday—Chief-Magistrate Wilson and Bailie Gilmour on the bench—with having on Wednesday evening, the 25th ult., stolen from the goods station of the North British Railway Company at West Anstruther, seven or more barrels, valued at 1s 10d each, the property of Messrs Thomas Brown & Sons, fish merchants, Lowestoft. Both pled guilty, after it had been explained that although they had not sold the barrels they had taken them away for that purpose. The Fiscal said the accused had done wisely in pleading guilty to that serious charge. He was credibly informed that a large number of barrels had gone amissing lately, and that there was a habit of obliterating the names from the barrels, so that they could be disposed of to other fish merchants and curers in the place. He thought that was a very bad practice, because those parties who bought these barrels were resetters of theft, and by purchasing them they held out a great inducement to panels like the accused to commit theft. The accused were under the impression that because they did not sell the barrels it was not theft. They were observed to take away the barrels, and being watched were prevented from obliterating the names before they were sold. Chief-Magistrate Wilson–It is a painful thing to see young lads such as you standing in your present position. If you wish to grow rich never suppose that you will do so by taking what is not your own. You should endeavour to act to others as you would have them to do to you. There is no previous conviction against you, and we have resolved to give you the option of a fine on this occasion. We are thus to be very lenient with you, and hope that it may act as a stimulant upon you both to walk hereafter in the paths of rectitude. The sentence is that you be fined in the small sum of 15s each, or failing payment you will be imprisoned for 20 days. Now I hope this will be a warning to you in future. The fines were both paid.