Document of the Month - February 2008
Signed minute book of the committee of the Justices of the Peace and Commissioners of Supply for the County of Aberdeen (1756-1757)
© Aberdeen City Council
This month’s highlighted document is an extract from a Minute Book of the Aberdeenshire Commissioners for Military Impressment, 1756-7. The extract describes the frightening ordeal of William Henery of the parish of Towie, when he was apprehended for recruitment early in 1757.
Previous pages of the volume explain that William Henery had the misfortune to have fallen out with his neighbours several years before, and they conspired to have him impressed into the army by the Constables for his parish. However, he had been released mainly on the grounds that he was employed as a farmer, and that the farm he shared with his brother would fail, leaving his brother destitute if he was recruited into the army.
However, as the extract shows, he was apprehended by the Constables again, and held against his will until the day of the meeting from which this extract is taken. Ultimately the Commissioners found that a hardship had taken place and ordered his release from custody and the obligation to serve in the army.
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