February 8th 1652

It's a man's world in Pitmeddie

Many left the area to work in the new factories of Dundee and Perth and the village declined. Today all that remains is Pitmeddie Wood lying a little to the north of the old village. Pitmeddie was part of Kinnaird parish and session records of the 17th Century testify to the deep concern shown by the church in the moral welfare of the people. There were rebukes for those who broke the Sabbath by such transgressions as driving goods to market, playing at the kyles (skittles), buying or selling goods or hiring servants. Such offences normally merited a fine of 10 shillings.

Sexual misdemeanours normally required a period of repentance within the church on successive Sundays until it was considered that the sin had been purged. Women accused of such frailties seldom denied the charge as in most cases the evidence was plain for all to see, but a man sufficiently stubborn or brazen could refuse to confess and in such cases the minister faced a more difficult task.

In April 1651, Elizabeth Love confessed to the sin of fornication with a soldier. Elizabeth was a servant in the house of Thomas Christie of Pitmeddie. For some reason the session did not accept her story and summoned Christie to appear which he did on February 8th 1652 and denied any ‘carnal dealings’ with Elizabeth. But still the session was not satisfied and summoned both to appear at the next meeting.

Only Elizabeth appeared and made a full confession adding that he (Christie) “forbad her to com to the kirk at the next sabbath and said he would be mensworn (perjured) that day and that he promised that so long as he had twa pennies she should have one of them and if his wife were dead he should marie hir if she would stand to a constant deniall.”  In the light of Elizabeth’s confession the minister “called on Thomas Christie, posed (questioned) him on his guilt with Elizabeth Love and layed befor him the praesumptions thereof and asked if he was clear to purge himself be his oath, which he offered to doe and was refered til further advysement.” 

In spite of his denial, the minister continued to demand that Thomas Christie should make a public affirmation that he was innocent of the adultery. Christie resisted this invitation for some eight months until early in 1653 when there is an entry in the records that “the minister required Thomas Christie, as he had required every sabbat befoir, to declare befor the congregation if he was guiltie of the sin of adulterie wit Elspet Love or els to purge himself thairof the next sabbat by his solemne oath.” 

This time Christie did appear and “did swear solemnlie that he was not guiltie of the sin albeit she affirmed the contrair in presence of the congregation.”  The minister and session admitted defeat and Thomas Christie was left to live in peace and hopefully in conjugal fidelity with his wife.

Poor Elizabeth was less fortunate. She had indeed confessed to adultery and was therefore compelled to appear in the church in sackcloth for a matter of eighteen weeks before she was received back into the congregation.

No doubt she had plenty of time to reflect upon the enormity of her offence and perhaps also upon the fickleness of men.