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The Chamberlain of Dumfries kept the accounts of the cash received by the town
and the sums paid out, on a daily basis. Money came into the burgh's coffers
from various sources - from fines charged in the burgh courts, from burgess
fees (the membership due paid by merchants and craftsmen to enable them to
operate within the burgh), from renting out seats in the town churches and from
the burgh's "Common Good". The Common Good comprised land belonging to the town
which it rented out yearly and also the right to charge certain dues - at the
market, at the town gates or "ports", at the dock or on persons and goods
coming over the bridge on the Nith from Kirkcudbrightshire, and at the town
mills.
The Chamberlain's accounts also note every daily debursement - such as sums to
improve the harbour and streets, payment of the salaries of all those employed
by the burgh, incidental payments for every kind of service or commodity and
donations made in charity to the sick or unfortunate.
This first part of this volume of accounts (from October 1793 until September
1795) was written in a beautiful, clear hand by John Aitken who had been the
town's chamberlain for about 20 years. From 16 September 1795 until the end of
the book in December 1801, however, the handwriting deteriorates and there are
many smudges and crossings out as the accounts were being written up by a new
chamberlain, John McMorine.
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