The Burgar/Burgess families in Shetland

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Attacks by the French ⁴⁹

For a period of 20 years or more , Shetland was attacked by the French, who pillaged the countryside with devastating effect on the local population.

Alexander Brand was the Tax collector for the King of Scotland and would occasionally visit Shetland to collect the taxes himself.

The accounts below are generally taken from  ‘A True Copy of Sir Alexander Brand’s Accompt of Charge and Discharge of the Rents of Orkney and Zetland’ which is available at the Shetland Library in Lerwick. 

The following account is ' PAPERS OF SIR ALEXANDER BRAND (ShRO, RH.15/53, Bundle 6)' ⁴⁹

The first account was written by W. Rose, minister at Northmavine in 1696.

   ‘These are to testiefie and declaire how this poore countrie of Zetland have been robbed and destroyed by the French friggets and capers who landed a great manie men in several parts of this countrie and destroyed totallie the peopell about North-Mevine, Yell and Unst, the three most considerable paroches, by taking away their goods, which was the occasione a great peart of ther lands lay waste and unlabored, and occasioned a great derth, by which manie died for want; and this was not only done in the yeir Ninetie three, but also in the yeire Ninetie four and Ninetie five.  It is not to be questioned but the Lords will take this to their consideratione.  The countrie during those yeirs, being under the two judgments of faimine and the sword of the enemy, the merchants, who are the support of the countrie, some taken and others robed in ther harbories, and other ships hier taken and burnt in sight of the land, as particular A. Brand the present taxman during these yeirs was unfortunately trystead as one testificat under the gentiellmen and herritors others hands doeth more fullie beare deated at Scalloway the 22nd day of Agust Ninetie sex yeirs, and my self was most sadlie used in the parochine of North-Meavine, two frigetts having landed in July Nyntie five, and robed wholie all that I had, nothing saved but what was unconsiderable, not sparing my books, what they robed not they rent in pieces, all bedding and other plennishing, shairs not leving one shirt to cheange, ane other belonging to me or my familie, the lose was the greater in respect they were surpryzed, so that nothing could be secure.  In testimonie wherof I have subscryved these presents with my hand at Shalowa this Twentie ninth of June, One thousand seven (sic) hundred and Ninetie eight yeirs.

                    W. Rose, Minister at North-Meaven.’

Summary

The Minister is writing that the French attacked northern Shetland in 1693, 1694 and 1695.  The shetlanders were robbed and the land laid waste.  He pleads that the Lords will take into account that the Shetland population are unable to pay their rents because of famine and the French attacks.  W.Rose, the minister was himself robbed of everything that was valuable, but all less valuable things such as bedding was torn apart and destroyed.   (Note that Scalloway is also spelt as Shalowa, one of the many variations that occur in the spelling)

Further documents in 1715 and 1716 were sent back to the King in Scotland by Alexander Brand who was the tax collector for the King.  The following accounts are from  ' PAPERS OF SIR ALEXANDER BRAND (ShRO, RH.15/53, Bundle 9)' ⁴⁹ The first was a printed petition as follows:

Regarding his tack of Orkney and Shetland says he ought to have had £600 for his three year’s salary, £1295.6s.5d. for rents he could not collect for want of the accustomed assistance of an armed force from the government, £580 for butter and oil which were part of crown rent of Zetland forced ashore by the enemy [shipwrecked at Aberdeen!], £30.10s.0d. for ferry rents detained by tenants for transporting soldiers and expresses for the late king’s services ..

..., 20 September 1715.

This suggests that collecting taxes and rent from the Shetlanders was not that easy, it was usually done with the help of an armed Government force. 

A second printed statement for the year 1716 is as follows:

Printed memorial by Alexander Brand to Lord Chief Baron and Lords of Exchequer.  During the three years of his tack of Orkney and Zetland the islands laboured under famine and sword; when Brand found himself under necessity to go in person for better inbringing of revenue, the ship wherein he was, being loaded with victual and the product of the country was seized by the French, carried from place to place; and at length they carried all away that was useful for them of the ‘loading’, with his gold, money, watch, etc., and burnt the ship with the remainder, and set him ashore ... at Unst, where they did also rob and plunder the whole inhabitants, and spared not what belonged to the ministers thereof, viz. Mr Hugh Craig and Mr Rose, and ravished some of the minister’s family, 3 July 1716.

The presence of the French enemy in the area made it particularly more difficult for Alexander Brand to carry out his tax collecting duties.  Not only was he robbed himself, but the inhabitants would have had no resources to pay any tax themselves.

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