John Clephane

Burntisland's First Provost

A Merchant

One of the first to own and operate a trading vessel from the port of Burntisland was John Clapen (or Clephane). Before setting out on a trading voyage in his ship 'John' in 1563, he secured beforehand a Certificate of Character for use in foreign seaports or on the high seas. This Certificate was granted by Mary, Queen of Scots, at Stirling. An extract from it reads: "Mary, by the Grace of God Queen of Scots and Dowager (Queen) of France, to all Kings, Princes. Dukes and. by whatsoever name they are termed. Magistrates and Governors of cities, ports, castles and ships, everlasting salvation in the Lord. On account of frequent injuries inflicted by pirates and other troubles, we have thought fit and make it known that this ship named the 'John of Burntisland' is ours and that John Clapen. who is now setting out to trade in her, is our subject from the town of Burntisland . . . May the good and great God preserve you in safety. Given at Stirling." In 1565 Clapen was appointed Keeper of the Haven of Brintiland. The first record of a Burntisland Commissioner being in attendance at a Convention of Estates was at Holyrood House on 23rd September. 1586. when John Claipen represented the town. It Would be no surprise then that at the first meeting of Burntisland Town Council in October. 1586, John Claipen was appointed as the first Provost. His wife was Alison Orrock. a member of a well-known local family. John Claipen was the first MP to represent Burntisland in the Scottish Parliament and for family interest his son Nicol Clapen was MP

James Farnie

1770-1823

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Among the well-kept gravestones in the churchyard at St Columba's is one concerning Mr James Farnie and his family. This intimates that James Farnie died on 7th February, 1823, in the 53rd year of his life. His wife, Elizabeth Landale, died on 25th September, 1847, aged 77. His eldest son. also, James Farnie, died on 30th May, 1846, aged 47.

This second James Farnie is the one who became Provost of Burntisland and his younger son, Henry Brougham Farnie, who was born in Burntisland on 8th April, 1836, went to London and became a dramatic author famed in literary and artistic fields in London, Paris and continental Europe.

One prominent minister in Burntisland, speaking at a local function, said that seldom did a local family live in the town for more than three generations. Due to the fluctuating state of industry in the old days this was quite possible and the Farnie family was an indication of the happenings here in the 19th century.

In the Municipal Corporation's Report of Scotland in 1835, Burntisland Harbour was still reckoned to be the best in the Firth of Forth.

The great herring fishing of 1794-1806 had brought prosperity to the town with 300 vessels of from 15 to 40 tons operating out of the port. While the fishing had moved northwards to Rosehearty and district the local fishing fleet travelled there and in 1833, for the months of July, August, September and October^ there were 58 vessels of 2634 tonnage engaged in this industry. Vessels employed in the trade of the Burgh from 11/11/1832 to 11/11/1833 numbered 227 with a tonnage of 9976. Ten sloops travelled back and forth to the northern fishing grninds with food and gear and resumed with the fish. There were eight herring curing establishments in the town employing many people. With almost 400 men employed in the ships to and from the north. Burntisland had comparative prosperity with the rest of the country.

The Farnie family was the hub of much of this industry. They had a dry dock which was 200 feet in length with gates 44 feet wide. They could repair vessels up to 1000 tons. Farnie also had a whale fishing company which commenced in 1830. Each year they sent out two vessels one of 377 tons and the other of 311, each with a crew of 50 men. Others employed were 12 oilmen and coopers and 12-15 women and money came to the town coffers from landing charges, etc. And so when James Farnie became Provost of Burntisland from 1834-37. not only was he the principal man of the town but of  the main industries also.  

A Ancient Family

John Blyth in his book 'Burntisland — Early History and People' (page 92) says of John Clapen (or Clephane) "he seems to have been one of the Carslogie Clephanes — and during his term he was one of those who instituted the building of the present Church of St Columba." The Clephanes of Carslogie were one of the oldest families in Fifeshire. Their lands were extensive and Carslogie was in the hands of the family for more than 20 generations. The manor house which was ruinous in 1870 was built in the late 16th century. A stone in the house had the initials and date of G.C. — K.O. — 1590, represent­ing George Clephane and his wife Katherine Orme. In the 12th century the first mention of the family refers to Richard de Carslogie whose daughter and heiress married Walter de Clephane, son of the Sheriff of Lauderdale in 1234.

Alan Clephane took part with Robert Bruce in the War of Independence and fought on the Scottish side. His left hand was struck off at Bannockburn and Bruce had an artificial hand made so that he could hold the reins of his horse. This steel hand formed one of the heirlooms and passed into the hands of the Marchioness of Northampton (Margaret Clephane, who died in 1830). The horn of Carslogie has been in the possession of Clephanes from around the 9th century and was exhibited by the Marquess of Northampton in the Bishops Castle at Glasgow International Exhibition in 1888.

The Family Home

Tracing the home of a man four centuries after his days of activity is sometimes difficult. When Mr M. R. Apted. M.A., F.S.A. Scot., investigated the two painted ceilings at Mary Somerville's house in 1958. I noticed that the owner of the property on the east in his report was John Clephane of Monthagar. This property was. until 6th June. 1628, in the name of John Clephane and Alison Orrock. Later correspondence with Mr Apted brought the information that this land was now laid waste so presumably the property was demolished in the 18th century as it belonged to Robert Beatson in the mid-18th century. The present house standing on that site at the corner of Kirkgate and Somerville Square is now recorded as 24 Kirkgate. With his residence 50 yards from the Kirk and at that time a hundred yards along to the sea, John Clephane was well situated in the hub of activity as at that time Burntisland was the head port in Fife. His wife Alison Orrock was a capable wife and looked after his affairs when he was on his sea voyages. Burntisland people nowadays have much to thank John Clephane for. because in his day it took someone of his courage and ability to form the first Town Council and be foremost in raising funds to build Burntisland Kirk.

The Farnie family eventually moved to St Andrews where James Farnie was able to get his son Henry Brougham Farnie entered Into St Andrews University. Henry became editor of the St Andrews University Magazine and in the Hay Fleming Library, St Andrews, there is na bound book of the magazines edited by him from February, 1863, until January 1864. By this time Henry was wrung a number of books including "Pet Marjorie: a story of child life 50 years ago'. There was 2nd and 4th editions published in 1864 which are held in Kirkcaldy Library. He also wrote 'The City of St Rule". 'The Handy Book of St Andrews'. 'The Handy Book of The Fife Coast' and 'The Golfers Manual". This last book, written in 1857 when Farnie was only 21 years of age re-published in America in 1965 by Vantage Press of New York was arranged by Henry Farnie’s nephew David J. Farnie who had gravitated to Leisburg, Virginia, which is a very long way from Burntisland.

Attempts at environmental control are not new in Burntisland as was seen when Mr Farnie around 1824 decided to start a whaling station and a boiling house to extract oil and bones from the whales. Whenever word got around, opposition mounted and many prominent citizens put their names to a portion. Eventually a court case »as held to decide the issue and maps were published by both sides to assist their own point of view. These are interesting maps and the owners of many houses at 1824 can be noted.

At that time Mr Farnie had a dry dock near where the present East Dock is sited and his proposed boiling house was between the present-day foot of South Hill Street and the old Railway Control offices. A painting of 1832 in the Town Hall shows the chimney, boiling house and associated buildings which eventually rose out of the dispute. What appears to have been the deciding issue was the map produced by Mr Farnie. He had references to the various properties in the town — yellow for the complainers: blue for Farnie and supporters; red for the herring works, which supported him. He then went on to intimate that the opposition had premises that caused more pollution than his whaling factory would do. The Castle people had burned kelp which resulted in the town being covered with black smoke for days at a time: the vitriol works had poured out nauseous fumes; and another man had a pit on the Links with 100 tons of dung therein; whilist the offal from the herring curing factories poured via refuse gutters on the Links and was deposited in the middle of the beach. A leading opponent had an open space behind his house which generally had 3000 herring barrels lying there at one time. Mr James Farnie won his case and the whaling factory was built. He was the owner of property at the rear of the Perth Inn. now the George Hotel, but eventually he left Burntisland to live in St Andrews. He may have felt that the environment at Burntisland in those days was too much for him.