Letham 8 May 1805
CONTRACT AMONG THE FEUARS AND HOLDERS OF PERPETUAL LEASES IN THE VILLAGE OF LETHAM. 1805
We, Subscribers, Feuars and Holders of Perpetual Leases in Letham, considering that GEORGE DEMPSTER OF DUNNICHEN ESQ. hath agreed to make over to us the Mill, School House and Greens at Letham, to be possessed by us- in common for behoof of ourselves and our successor feuars and holders of perpetual leases in that village on condition of our becoming bound to pay annually to him the sum of four pounds sterling as the interest of the money expended by him in building said School house and Mill, and it being necessary that we should enter into an agreement among ourselves as to the management of said Common Good, in order to prevent all differences among us or our successors or any other persons who may hereafter become feuars or holders of perpetual leases in said village. Therefore wit ye us to have become bound as we by these presents bind and oblige us, our heirs and successors to stand to abide by, implement and fulfill the following conditions and regulations, which are to be observed in all time coming as the rules for managing the foresaid Common Good.
PRIMO. The feuars and holders of perpetual leases shall meet annually at 12 o?clock noon on the - - - - - - day of - - - - - - within the - - - - - - - - - of Letham and make choice of nine Office Bearers from among themselves, viz. a Preses, Treasurer and seven Managers, who are to have the sole direction of letting the Mill, School House and the grass of the Greens, for such period as a majority of them shall think proper under the limitations after mentioned. These Office Bearers to continue no longer in the Management than one year unless re-elected.
SECUNDO. The Preses is to preside at all the meetings and to have the casting vote in case of equality and he along with one of the Managers is to subscribe the Minutes of all the meetings along with the Clerk.
TERTIO. The Treasurer shall receive the Rents for the Mill, Greens, etc. and shall before entering on his office find two sureties for the faithful discharge of his Office.
QUARTO. A Clerk is to be chosen for writing the Minutes, keeping the Accounts, etc. with such a salary for his trouble as shall be fixed by the Managers or a majority of them.
QUIINTO. The Managers are to be responsible to the Feuars for the trust reposed in them and shall obey the orders of the General Meeting without any power to alter what shall be therein resolved upon.
SEXTO. The interest of the money advanced by MR DEMPSTER in building the School House and Mill is to be paid out of the first of the rents drawn by the Managers and the remainder shall be applied as follows:
One moiety towards making or repairing the streets of the village or the roads leading to it, and the other moiety to be set aside as a fund for such purposes as shall be determined by the General Meeting.
SEPTIMO. Persons attending the General Meetings are to behave themselves with propriety, addressing themselves to the Preses when speaking and, if a majority of members present at such meetings shall be dissatisfied with the conduct of any member, it shall be in their power to fine him in proportion to his offence. This fine to be added to the Common Stock.
OCTAVO. No part of the expenses of any meeting or any expenses attending the management of the Common Fund to be taken out thereof, excepting the salary of the Clerk.
NONO It shall not be in the power of the Managers to give away any part of the Common Greens, which are expressly reserved to the Inhabitants of the village for the purposes of washing and bleaching their clothes. And the Mill shall always be kept as a plash mill for the use and benefit of the Manufacturers. But with power nevertheless to the Managers if they can find a second fall for another mill, to erect same or let ground for erecting one, or for any other purpose, the rent thereof being always applied for the purposes and in the terms above mentioned. But no such erection or bargain to be made without the approbation of a General Meeting.
And We consent to the registration hereof in the Books of Council & Session or others competent therein to remain for preservation and execution if necessary and for that end constitute.
In Witness whereof We have subscribed these presents wrote on stamp paper by JOHN MANN, apprentice to JAMES SANDS, Writer in Forfar. And We dispense with dates being annexed to our respective subscriptions and hold the same to be as adhibited at Letham, the date of the first General Meeting being the eighteen day of April, Eighteen hundred and five years, before these witnesses, DAVID LANGLANDS JUNIOR, & JAMES SCRIMEGOUR both in Letham.