1840
The fishermen of Cellardyke, we hear, have resolved to present an application to the Commissioners for the Herring Fishery, for aid to form a new harbour at Craignoon—a place which, according to the report of Mr Leslie, civil engineer, naturally well adapted for that purpose. The petition having been signed by nine-tenths of the fishermen, seems to imply that there is but one opinion, both as to the fitness of the situation, and the great utility and necessity safe boat harbour at this part of the coast.
1843
TO WRIGHTS.
A WRIGHT’S SHOP and TRADE to dispose of in , CELLARDYKE. The Shop was fitted for that line of Business by the late Proprietor, and is conveniently situated. The Business, Stock, &c., can be had moderate. As this is the only Shop in the line in that thriving and populous town, any person wishing to commence Business will find this an eligible opening, and worthy immediate attention. Entry immediately. Apply to Mr John Galloway, Cellardyke.
1845
ISLAND OF MAY HERRING FIISHING We have got intelligence from Cellardyke today that their boats were at the Island last night. Some of them got a cran and others more; the highest is said to be four crans. price £2
1846
The great superiority of Elie harbour over all others on the east coast of Fife, in easterly storms, was fully verified yesterday, during the severe storm which raged from that quarter; for before dark about 40 fishing boats, belonging to St Monance and Cellardyke (the great or number, containing eight hands each, amounting in all to upwards of two hundred men), took shelter in our safe, but long neglected harbour.
1848
Chloroform – On Wednesday last week, Mr Donaldson, Baker, Cellardyke, was under the necessity of having his leg amputated above the knee. Dr Black, of Anster, was the operator, who applied chloroform in the usual way, and the patient was unconscious of pain during the operation.
1849
Kilrenny – A striking instance of the uncertainty of human life occurred here lately. A man named Adam Keay, a quarryman, died at Pitkierie on Monday 8th inst, whose marriage was proclaimed on the 7th. His intended bride came from Newburgh previous to the internment, to take a farewell look of the corpse of her lover. The Scene was truly affecting.
Wreck – On Sunday Night Last, the Nacy of Whitby, loaded with alum, and bound for Leith, was driven on the Isle of May and is thought to be a total wreck – One man drowned. The Cellardyke boat, Janet, James Tervat, Master, brought the survivors of the crew to Cellardyke on Tuesday.
The Brides Lament over the body of her deceased Bridegroom
O, how uncertain is the life of man!
Who can the ways of the Almighty scan!
Today our hopes are elevated high-
The next, they’re levelled, in the dust they lie
A, me! So is my case- last week a bride!
Now here I weep at my lost lover’s side
Heavan support me when I see his face,
And all his dear manly features trace.
The sweat of death lies cold upon his brow,
Alas! Dear Adam! Oh what will I do now!
Thy coffin, truly, is thy bridal bed,
But not the one at Newburgh I did spread.
Thy coverlet will soon be the green sod,
Prepar’d for thee by the decrees of God’
Your Neighbours lov’d you, and your masters too,-
He’ll get another, but I’ll ne’er get you.
.
My throbbing bosom, and the falling tear
May tell the stranger here the grief I bear,
Forbid that I at providence repine, –
It ne’er had been ordain’d you should be mine
But still I hope we’ll meet again on high
And taste immortal bliss beyond the sky.
Farwell! Your earthly frame I’ll see no more
I must retire the hearse is at the door.
1850
Deaths
Last week at Cellardyke, Mary and Margaret, twin children of David Watson, aged 9 months.
Births
Jan 16, at Cellardyke, Mrs Robert Fowler, a son
Jan 18, at Cellardyke, Mrs John Moncrieff a son
1852
Cellardyke – Many of the People of Cellardyke will recollect a ready witted curious character named James Dryburgh, who resided here. But notwithstanding the sharp answers which he occasionally gave to questions, there was a degree of simplicity about him, which it would not be easy to account for. He had an implicit belief in his mind that the dark spots on the moon was a Cellardyke fisherman, who had been stuck there for the crime of gathering sticks in the woods of Innergellie on a Sunday, he pointed to the bundle in the “man-on-the moon’s” back – he saw him constantly looking down on Cellardyke, and what was something new in his theory, he insisted that the fisher had a “gartline heuk” in his hand. Andrew Macgill called on him one evening, and purposely brought on the story of the man-on-the-moon, which James was never loth to enter on. He said the truth of the story was evident to everyone who could see; and more than that, – it was taken from the Bible. He had heard it read! “ What part of the Bible is it written in?” inquired Andrew. “ That’s what I would like to ken” said James, “for since the time I heard Slidam read it, I never could find the place again; but its there, (handing Andrew the Bible) try whether you can make it out” Andrew opened the book, and after composing himself a while, read as follows ;- “And in those days, when the children of men betook themselves to the ways of Satan, and heeded not the seventh day of the week, but went into the woods and gathered sticks; Lo, and behold, a whirlwind arose, and carried one of the sinners to the moon, with the bundle on his back, and he had a gartline hook in his hand, wi’ a land string in it” “that’s it nae! – that’s it nae! – we’ve got it at last” cried James, “ Keep a grip o’t till I get my specks” But Andrew was able to contain himself no longer; he shut the book, and left Mr Dryburgh to seek out the verse.
On Friday week when the boat of St Monance Skipper Tarvit was at sea, it sprang a leak, and had difficulty in reaching the entrance of Cellardyke Harbour. A number of the fishermen of that place hastened to their assistance; a rope was procured, and the boat hauled into the harbour in safety. The kind manner in which the men of Cellardyke tendered their help is deserving of great praise.
1853
Letters From Australia – A letter arrived last week from Captain Rodgers, stating that the Cellardyke fishermen who emigrated about 8 months ago are all well, and in the best of spirits. They are at the Diggings, and when the letter came away they had only been there about four weeks, and had cleared eight hundred pounds, after paying all expenses.
1854
Wreck of the Ship Tayleur – This vessel sailed from Liverpool about noon, on Thursday the 19th inst, and on Saturday afternoon struck on Lambay, a flat island, situated 4 or 5 miles from the mainland, at the entrance of Dublin Bay. Her destination was for Melbourne – she is said to have had about 700 souls on board, 400 of whom are supposed to have been drowned, but the melancholy details of this calamity have not yet come to hand. There were several passengers from the East of Fife aboard
The melancholy details of this dreadful calamity are now told. There were seven persons belonging to this neighbourhood on board; namely, Dr R Hannah Cunningham, wife and child, Kingsmuir, drowned; David Nicolson, mason, Pittenweem drowned, Thomas Wilson, Mason Peat in, drowned, David Pratt, seaman, a native of Cellardyke, but now residing in Dundee, saved. And James Watson, mason, Cellardyke, saved. So that out of this list of seven, only the last two are now living, one of whom, James Watson, gives the following particulars;- About 12 o’ clock, noon, I was in bed, when David Nicolson came below and said the ship was near land, and that they were in danger; Thomas Wilson was sea sick and lay still, but I went on deck immediately, and was only there a short time when she struck on Lambay Island. This might be about 1 o’ clock. A rope was attached to the island from the vessel, and many of the people were getting on shore by it. I resolved to get on shore by that means if possible, and advised David Nicolson to follow me, but he declined, thinking the vessel would hold together. It was with difficulty I could get at the rope, from the crowd of passengers which surrounded that art of the vessel to which it was attached, but I at length succeeded, and warped myself on shore. Scarcely had I reached the Island, I saw David Nicolson standing on the deck, and called and beckoned on him to come; but I never saw Thomas Wilson which might be caused by the number of people on deck. David Nicolson was 21 years of age, and Thomas Wilson 23.
More about the ship here
THE COAST DEFENCES. Captain Craigie has issued the following circular: Having had the honour of being appointed to the command of the Royal Naval Coast Volunteers in Scotland, request you will be so good as to call the attention of the fishermen in your neighbourhood to the accompanying placard, inviting the seafaring population to enrol themselves in this constitutional force, and I shall also feel much obliged by your bringing prominently before them the following provisions of the Act of Parliament under which this body of men is about to be raised.
The volunteers are to be entered for a period of five years, and, whilst enrolled. will be exempt from impressment. Their training and exercise either on shore or on board ship, and which will be at such periods as will least interfere with their fishing, is not to exceed 28 days each year, nor are they to be taken beyond 150 miles from the United Kingdom…………………One hundred and seventy young fishermen of Newhaven. Dunbar, Cellardyke, and St Monance have, during the last few days. with the old spirit of their fathers in the late war, offered their services. Large numbers at Buckhaven, Prestonpans and Fisherrow, are about to do so; and I trust that their noble example will he generally followed by this useful and hardy class of her Majesty’s subjects.
1855
On Wednesday the 17th inst M.F. Connolly esq delivered a very able and interesting lecture on Astronomy, the Motions of the Tides &c, in the Town hall here, for the benefit of the Reading Room. The lecture was listened to with the greatest attention; and those that were present express themselves highly satisfied with the interesting facts brought forward. We regret that so few of our fishermen were present. Mr Conolly has kindly offered to give another Lecture on the same subject. If a Magic Lantern could be obtained to illustrate the appearance of the heavenly bodies net lecture night, we are sure the hall would be crowded.
Cellardyke cure for “the cauld” – A correspondent from the ‘Dyke writes, that the late and present variable weather has given nearly the whole population heavy caulds; that various remedies have been tried, but no cure has yet been found to answer the purpose so well as Clack. After a couple of doses, he says, the patients invariably get the turn, and that Clack parties are now fashionable. Ne of them was got up by subscription, attended by Kilrenny lads and Cellardyke lassies
Charade
My first is a liquid, round, broad as the ocean,
By tides never stirr’d, nor by winds set in motion;
When join’d to my second, whose name is a measure,
I’m a bondage to some – to others a pleasure,
Increased by my third – the name of a letter,
I’m a refuge to many, for want of a better.
My extreme is the fence of a land bold and brave.
From its most dreaded foe – the ocean’s proud wave.
Divided in two, I’m everywhere seen;
Much fat I contain, though haggard and lean;
And I live on a spot in the East coast of Fife,
Where the dead are more plenty than those that have life.
The solution to the Charade – The solution of the ingenious charade which appeared in our last is C-ELL-AR- DYKE, and was written by a Cellardyke man.
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