Description |
The collection mainly consists of bundles of process (case) papers of court actions, 1705-1854, which took place in Kelso or sometimes Jedburgh, depending on the jurisdiction of the court. The courts involved can be the justices of the peace or sheriff court, or in other cases the High Court of Justiciary which heard cases on circuit as well as in Edinburgh; but it is not always clear from these papers which actions came before which court. There are also a couple of larger bundles containing assorted and mixed process papers (often in draft format), and related papers (correspondence, accounts etc), many of which relate to Smith's position as Procurator Fiscal for Kelso. Also included is a file of household invoices for William Jerdan Esq from various local Kelso businesses, 1806, 1861-1873, and a file of invoices, receipts and other financial papers, from the Kelso office of William Smith, 1760-1873. |
Admin
history |
The papers originated from a Kelso based firm of writers and notaries, John & William Smith, which was extant in the town for many years, with William Smith holding the position of Procurator Fiscal. As it is difficult to separate the Procurator Fiscal papers out of this collection, and as it is also not easy to judge which other courts these records have been generated in conjunction with, this collection has been retained intact. |