1854
The following parties will be brought before Mr Monteith to plead Guilty or Not Guilty, on Friday 20th, and to be tried before a Jury on 31st January current, Agnes Wilson, Cellardyke assault ……
1856
Marriages
At St Andrews, on the 17th Instant, Mr Hill Brown, Carter, Cellardyke, to Miss Euphemia Campbell there.
At Kilrenny Manse, on the 17th Instant by the Rev Mr Cutler of Anstruther Easter, Mr John Donaldson, residenter, Cellardyke to Miss Ann Elder there. The gallant bridegroom is upwards of seventy years of age, but the buxom bride has not seen forty summers.
1862
On Monday, a young woman belonging to Cellardyke while crossing the street, was knocked over by a cart, laden with nets, which was passing at the time. The shaft of the cart struck the young woman in the breast, and before the cart could be stopped one of the wheels passed over her shoulder and legs. After medical aid had been procured, it was found that the injuries she had received were not of so serious a nature as was as first suspected – one f her legs being broke, but not otherwise seriously injured. She is now on a fairway to recovery.
(Another report names the girl as Agnes Mathers of St Monans who had been visiting relatives)
1864
Marriages
At Cellardyke on the 8th Inst, by the Rev Gabriel Smith of the U.P. Church Anstruther, Mr Michael Doig, Fisherman to Christian, second daughter of Mr John Pratt.
Deaths
At Cellardyke on the 17th inst, Elizabeth, daughter of Leslie Brown fisherman, aged 14 months.
1865
A story about the masons and the positive advantage being a member of a lodge can bring….
about the second decade of the present century, the late Captain Strang, of Cellardyke was voyaging among the South Sea Islands, when during the darkness of night, and at the height of a violent gale, his ship struck a coral reef, and shortly afterwards sank beneath the waves. A number of the crew perished in their efforts to reach the land, on which the surf was wildly breaking, but Captain Strang and a few others were more fortunate, and succeeded in reaching the shore. They had scarcely don so, however, when they encountered an enemy who threatened to be still more cruel and remorseless than the sea, for they were at once attacked by crowds of native savages armed with clubs, with which they fiercely beat the poor exhausted mariners. But life, even in their forlorn condition was too precious to be yielded up without a struggle, so, with true British spirit the sailors closed with their assailants. To avert the blow which was about to be dealt on his defenceless head, Captain Strang seized hold of his swarthy opponents hand and mechanically, as he declared, in the excitement of the moment gave him the ‘Mason’s grip’ To his inexpressible astonishment and joy – it would be difficult to tell which feeling most predominated – the war club was on the instant thrown away and the arm which had been uplifted for his destruction clasped him as suddenly to it’s owner’s breast, who appeared to be thrown into a transport of exaltation and delight. The other savages were at once summoned by this new and unexpected friend from their work of death, and also began to treat the bewildered Captain with the utmost kindness and respect. After the first outburst of feeling, the castaway sailors were conducted with the greatest of gentleness to the huts of the islanders, where they were provided with refreshments and mats, nor did the attentions of their hosts stop with ministering to their personal wants, for whatever of value was cast up by the sea, including clothes, nautical instruments, were at once given up, the finders appearing to be proud of an opportunity of doing this Captain a service. After sojourning for some weeks on the island, during which the feelings and conduct of the natives underwent no change, the party were taken off by a European ship, and conveyed to a British colony. We do not suspect any of our readers, except some enthusiastic mason, to believe with the worthy Captain when he essayed to explain his extraordinary adventure, that freemasonry had either the remote origin or the universal dissemination that he has asserted, although the existence of the ‘craft’ amongst the South Sea Islanders is certainly an anomaly which leaves the imagination considerable liberty to account for.
The annual meeting of the Sabbath Alliance of Scotland was held in the National Bible Society’s Rooms, St Andrews Square Edinburgh yesterday afternoon….. a report on the sacredness of the Sabbath was read …… it stated that in August last a communication had been addressed to the Society from three fishermen of Cellardyke regarding what they termed ‘a very daring outbreak of Sabbath desecration on the part of the fishermen of Pittenweem and St Monance’ In consequence of the measures which the Alliance took in regard to this proceeding, and a similar case of fishing on Sunday which took place shortly afterwards off Dunbar – by the distribution of tracts, and by the co-operation of the clergymen and others in these towns – it was believed that this form of Sabbath desecration had received a powerful check.
Number of boats involved in the winter herring
Anstruther and Cellardyke – 67 boats
Pittenweem 16
St Monance 38
Largo 5
Buckhaven 64
Crail 3
total 193
1867
On Wednesday afternoon, as the herring fishing fleet were leaving our harbour the Cellardyke boat. No 76, Alex Tarvet skipper was run into by another boat, belonging to the same place, while in the act of tacking. The collision was so violent that the first boat was cut down below the water’s edge and the transverse fittings of the bunk, where the stroke was received, were driven through the planking on the other side. Happily the accident occurred at no great distance from the pier, and the wind being southerly the damaged boat was able to reach the harbour in safety.. The other boat received no injury, and proceeded to the fishing ground. Had the collision happened at sea, the boat No 76, as well as her fishing gear, if not the lives of her crew would have been lost. The extent of the damage must detain her a night or two from the fishing before the necessary repairs can be completed.