Remote & Rural Remedies

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"Survey return from John Garson"

Birsay, Orkney.

1850.

RCP/COL/4/8/167

John Garson was a church minister in Birsay.

Birsay was a united parish with Harray on the mainland of Orkney. In 1841, the population was 1634. There was some agriculture in the parish. Many women there were employed in linen manufacture.

[[Addressee]]
The Revd
John Garson
Birsay
Stromness

[[Survey]]
QUERIES

1. How many Medical Men practice within the Parish of Birsay?

One may be said to have the practice of the Parish, he being almost the only person called upon by the parishioners.

2. The Names and Addresses of these.

George Garson Surgeon Stromness

3. Has the number increased or diminished of late years?

Cannot say that there has been either an increase or decrease in the number of practitioners, but believes that there is an increased application for medical aid altogether apart from the medical aid supplied to paupers by the local board for the poor.

4. Have any left the Parish since you became connected with it? If so, for what reason?

None resides in the Parish or so far back as I can learn has ever done so.

5. Is there any complaint among the people of inadequacy in the supply of Medical aid?

None, so far as I am aware.

6. Do you know of any cases of protracted suffering, or of injury by Accident, such as might have been alleviated had proper advice been at hand?

I am not aware of any.

7. To what extent is the deficiency of qualified Practitioners made up by the efforts of other parties?

[no text]

8. Does your experience enable you to suggest any measure – of general applicability – such as would be likely to relieve to some extent the evils (if they exist) of deficiency in the supply of Medical aid?

[no text]

9. What Heritors¹ are resident, either generally or occasionally, in your Parish?

I really could not say what number exactly there may be of resident Heritors. Probably there will not be less than about 30. It is however proper to say that generally speaking their several holdings are but very small on an average not probably above £10 ,,-,,- of yearly rent.

[[Additional Text]]

29th Nov. 1850 John Garson Minister at Birsay

Explanatory notes:

1. A heritor was a landowner, under Scots Law, whose holdings were sizeable enough for them to be liable for the payment of public burdens such as Poor Law rates, road and bridge assessments and the church minister’s stipend.

"Survey return from John Garson"

Birsay, Orkney.

1850.

John Garson was a church minister in Birsay.

Birsay was a united parish with Harray on the mainland of Orkney. In 1841, the population was 1634. There was some agriculture in the parish. Many women there were employed in linen manufacture.

1. A heritor was a landowner, under Scots Law, whose holdings were sizeable enough for them to be liable for the payment of public burdens such as Poor Law rates, road and bridge assessments and the church minister’s stipend.