1895
Death of an Old Residenter. —On Monday morning there passed away one of the oldest residenters of Cellardyke, in the removal by death of George Taylor, baker. Deceased, who had exceeded the fourscore, was a native of Crail; but has resided in Cellardyke for over 50 years. Coming from Crail, where he served his apprenticeship, he was for a short time employed as a journeyman in Anstruther, and thereafter he entered the employment Mr Hutchison, baker, here, whose daughter he married, and eventually succeeded Mr Hutchison in the business, which he continued to conduct successfully for long period. Latterly, however, owing to depression in the fishing industry and competition, his trade decreased. Still he continued to plod away. Deceased was a great favourite with the young folks, for whom he always had a kindly word. He was a devoted member of the U.P. Church, Anstruther.
Turnip Stealing.— Before Provost Martin Cellardyke Police Court on Saturday three young boys pled guilty to stealing turnips from a field near the Infant School belonging to Mr Hutton, farmer, Kilrenny Mill. Accused were let off on the recognisances of their parents to come up for sentence within the next six months if they did not behave themselves during that period, and were ordered to pay 1s 6d of costs each.
1897
The Late Provost Martin’s Gift to the Forth Street Hall – Mrs Martin, St Ayles Crescent, Anstruther, has handed over to the Trustees of the Forth Street Hall, the sum of £100 left by her late husband to this hall and Sunday school.
ln the Town Clerk’s office, Anstruther, on Wednesday afternoon the property at 21 and 23 John Street, consisting of a shop, house, and garden was exposed for sale at the low upset price of £130, but no offers were made and the sale stood adjourned.
A Warrant for Apprehension – At the Burgh Court on Monday, the case against Thomas Murray Junior was called but he failed to appear. Sergeant Anderson said he had cautioned Murray to appear. The Fiscal applied for a warrant for apprehension, which was granted by the Magistrates. It was understood that the warrant would not be put in force if Murray consented to come to next court.
1898
FOOTBALL NOTES. It was too great a new departure that a large crowd assembled in the Waid Park on Saturday afternoon. Three teams from Cellardyke and two from Anstruther were the competitors in a seven a-side competition for the Mitchell Cup. The teams were soon drawn, and the first to take the field were the Little Blues and Primrose, Cellardyke. After a pretty even ten minutes the Primrose had to retire beaten by a point. Anstruther Thistle then came on the field to take up the cudgels against Rodger Street. This tie was well fought by both teams. Each goal in turn was visited, but it was only after Bonthron put in a goal after a long run down the field that the Winner was decided. Result : —Anstruther Thistle 1 goal 1 point, and Rodger Street nil. The Little Blues once again turned out to do battle against the Waid United. They were not so fortunate in this game, and retired owning defeat by 4 goals to nothing. This left the two Anstruther teams to fight it out themselves, and after entirely one-sided game the United retired victors by 4 goals 4 points to nothing. In this match, Darsie as centre did most of the forward work though ably supported by Crieff and Jamieson. A. Duncan at half back proved himself a treasure, and the way in which he kept feeding his forwards could have taught many a half hack a lesson. T. Birrell and J. Thomson at back were a sturdy defence, so much so that their goalkeeper, John Anderson, never got a kick the whole match.
Cellardyke Harbour.—Provost Watson (Cupar), at meeting of Town Council, intimated a communication had been received from the Provost of Cellardyke as to the rebuilding of Cellardyke Harbour, which had been damaged in the recent storm. As a Corporation they could do nothing in the matter, but he recommended the “cause” to any philanthropic, good-hearted individuals as worthy one for contributing to.
EAST FIFE FISHERMEN AND SEINE NETS. PETITION TO SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND. The fishermen of Cellardyke, Pittenweem, and St Monans who were at present engaged in the seine or circle net fishing in the Firth of Forth have got up petitions to the Secretary of Scotland protesting against the bye-law issued by the fishery Board for Scotland prohibiting the method of fishing. The petitions are being numerously signed, and the petitioners deny that this mode of fishing has any detrimental effect on the spawn of any other fish, that it results in the destruction of gear. On the contrary, they assert that large quantities plaice and brill are being landed, which are not caught by the lines. The fishermen, with boats, who have embarked in this fishing have spent about £5 each on gear, and this would be rendered useless were the fishing prohibited. Besides, the fishing is affording a good livelihood to men who cannot prosecute the deep sea fishing.
Seine Net Fishing Stopped. —Considerable excitement was caused on Tuesday by cruiser of the Fishery Board steaming among a score or more boats engaged at seine net fishing in the Firth of Forth, off Anstruther, and ordering the fishermen to stop fishing or the gear would be taken. The fishermen remonstrated, and said that the prohibition time did not come into force until next Tuesday, but the Captain said his orders were peremptory to stop fishing at once. The fishermen reluctantly stopped fishing and returned to the harbour.
1899
CELLARDYKE Property for Sale—ln the writing chambers of Mr Murray, solicitor, Anstruther, on Saturday, a dwelling house and yard at 23 George Street, Cellardyke, was exposed for sale. The upset price was £106, and after a spirited competition, the property was knocked down to Mr Alex Caird Murray, grocer, for £162.
FIFESHIRE. DESIRABLE PROPERTIES, including DWELLING HOUSE and FISHCURING PREMISES, CELLARDYKE FOR SALE. There will be Sold by Public Roup (in virtue of the powers contained in Bond and Disposition in Security,) within the TOWN HALL, CELLARDYKE, on TUESDAY, 21st November 1899, at Two o’clock Afternoon, in One or Two Lots. (I.) That Commodious DWELLING HOUSE, GARDEN and OFFICES, and (2.) the WOODN YARD, SAW-MILL, and extensive FISHCURING PREMISES with the machinery of the Saw-mill, including Steam power, all situated as the East End of Cellardyke, and presently occupied by MR THOMAS COMMACK, and others. For further particulars apply to Messrs JAMIESON & GUTHRIE, Solicitors, Anstruther, in whose hands are the Title Deeds and Articles of Roup.
The properties at the east end of Cellardyke, including house and fishcuring premises, were exposed for sale by public roup in the Town Hall, Cellardyke, on Tuesday afternoon. The upset price was £600, but no offer was made, and the sale was adjourned.
Yarmouth drave has never in its history panned out so well. St Monans and Cellardyke boats have amongst the Forth contingent lifted the plums. Three are credited with about £900, others with £800, and so down till we come to £350. One calculator we notice places the average for the season over the Fife boats at £550, and this, we believe, is a moderate computation.
DEATH OF A CELLARDYKE MAN IN NEW ZEALAND. The Akaroa Mail of October 3rd, has the following on the late Mr Donald McKay, who worked in Cellardyke many years ago as a cooper, and who was married to a Cellardyke woman:—We very much regret to record the death of one of the oldest and most esteemed residents on the Peninsula, Mr Donald McKay, formerly of Pigeon Bay, who has latterly resided in Akaroa. Mr McKay landed in Lyttelton in September, 1859, from the ship Cresswell, after a rather long passage from London. With Mr McKay started his wife and seven children, but one son died on the passage. Immediately after his arrival he went to Pigeon Bay, where he worked for some months carpentering, putting up the main school at Pigeon Bay, where Mr Hay’s old garden once stood—a place now covered with clay from the great slip. He also took several contracts on the plains, and tried the Otago diggings. In 1860 he took up some land at the head of the valley, on the mail road to Akaroa and Christchurch. It was all dense bush at that time, and it was some years before much progress was made with clearing. As soon as a little progress was made potatoes, etc., were sown, and a good crop of wheat was grown in 1862 at the back of where Mr Geo. McKay’s house now stands. In this place the bush has now made a second growth, and where the wheat was reaped there is now comparatively big timber. As years went on he added section after section to the original 25 acres till there were some 320 acres in all. The principal work done at this time was in the posts and rails, firewood, etc., but as the land was cleared stock were accumulated, and very soon there was a flourishing dairy, but Mr McKay was not learned in stock, having been a cooper in his youth and sailed several voyages to India and elsewhere. All this time the adding to the farm was going on, the family were up, and soon were able to give substantial help. – He never became a member of any of the local bodies, but went on improving his farm whilst his family got gradually settled. One great fancy Mr McKay had was the keeping of trout. At the top of the land were two shallow lakes, which he damned so as to make really good fish ponds, eighteen feet deep. He then procured some trout ova, and had a regular hatching apparatus at the house, his labours being most successful. He left the farm about eight years ago in the hands of his eldest son, Mr George McKay, and came with his wife to reside at Akaroa, where he has since enjoyed a very peaceful existence, being blessed with good health. He was in his usual state till Sunday morning, when he died suddenly in bed from failure of the heart’s action. Mr McKay had eight children in all, seven of whom are alive.
Superstition
Changing the Luck. The wife of a Cellardyke skipper with whom I acquainted once told me that she caught the wife of another skipper one washing morning taking the first jug of hot water from the boiler- “I kent fine what she was after” said my friend “She wantit oor Jamie’s luck. He had been daen weel a’ the season an’ her man had naething; but I made her put back the water.” This was young, wife, fairly intelligent and when at school had passed the preliminary examination for pupil teacher.