1601 On 29 September, "David Hairt, clerk of Alexander, Master of Elphingstoun" was mentioned in a court case. "Charge had been given to Alexander, Master of Elphingstoun, treasurer, and David Hairt, his clerk, to produce this day the said signature for consideration; and now, the provost and bailies of the said burgh appearing personally, and the Treasurer by Mr. Williame Broun, his procurator, who produces the said signature, the Lords ordain the signature not to be expede through the register and seals till the pursuers be first warned and heard to the contrary." [1]
1601 On 29 December, "David Hart" appeared as procurator for "Alexander Elphingstoun, son of Alexander, Master of Elphingstoun," in a court case in Edinburgh. "Complaint by Alexander Elphingstoun, son of Alexander, Master of Elphingstoun, and donator to the escheat and liferent of Andro Meldrum of Drumbrek, George Meldrum, his son and apparent heir, and Andro Meldrum, also his son.—He is most heavily troubled by Johne Meldrum, son of the said Andro, in the lands of Drumbrek, belonging to him by virtue of the said gift. Thus, in July last, the said Meldrum came to James McKie, miller, complainer's tenant of his mill of Drumbrek, most shamefully assaulted him, and left him for dead.—Complainer appearing by David Hart, his procurator, the defender, for not appearing, is to be denounced rebel." [2]
[1606] Letter of 'Ja[mes] B[ishop] of Orcades nominaliter' to the lord treasurer deput of Scotland, sending a rental, written by David Hart. [3]
1613 In a sasine dated 2 October, Jeane Mowat received land described in a 1615 court case, suggesting that Jeane's land was her marriage settlement. If so, then Jeane Mowat may have married David Heart by 2 October 1613, the date of the sasine. [4]
1615 In a court case on October 4, Jeane Mowat and her spouse David Heart vs James Mowat of Burrafirth, Johne Mowat of Hugoland, Andro Mowat, his son and apparent heir, Thomas Johnsone in Liaskoill, Andro Erasmussone in Stow, James ___ in Stow, Donald Williamsone in Brawick, and Andro Olasone in Brawick, the plaintiffs had asked the defendents to vacate the land that Jeane has as oldest lawful daughter and heiress of her father Johne Mowat of Hugoland. The lands, in the parish of Nortmaving in Yetland (Northmavine in Shetland, are named as follows: Houssayord, North Hous in Ure, EsterHous in Ure, Liaskaill, Feall in Ure, Breweik, and Stow. The plaintiffs showed the instrument of sasine (deed), dated 2 October 1613, giving possession of the said lands to Jeane. The sheriff determined that Jean and David should peacefully enter the lands and the defendants (? except James Mowat whose claim will be considered later?) should remove themselves. [5]
1629 "John Hart or Hairt, son to David H., in Kirkwall," started an apprenticeship "with John Davidson, tailor 5 Aug 1629" in Edinburgh. [6]
1633/4 On 23 January at Kirkwall, the witnesses to a charter by George Sinclair of Rapnes included "David Heart, writer there, William Heart his son, and Robert Nielson his servitour, writer of the deed." [7]
1637/8 "David Heart of Rusland, William and Mr. John Heart, his sons" witnessed a charter dated at Kirkwall on 8 February 1638. [8]
1644 A contract for the marriage of James Grahame and Margaret Heart, daughter of David Heart and Jean Mowat, dated February 21, specifies that James Grahame's part of the agreement is to be done by the "advyse of the said Dauid Heart if he sall be on lyff And failyeing of him throw deceas be the advyse of the said William Heart his eldest sone and of Mr John Heart Minister his secund sone or ather of thame." [9]
1649 On 30 June, "David Heart of Rusland, William, George, and Edward Hearts, his sones" witnessed a deed concerning the earl's land of Isbuster purchased by Patrick Smyth for support of the school of Kirkwall from "noble and potent Earle Robert, now Earle of Mortoun, oldest laull sone and air of Umqle William, Earle of Mortoun, & heretor of the earldome of Orkney, and Lordship of Zetland." [10]
1654 On August 9, David Heart wrote a letter to the Earl of Dunfermline. [11]
For My verie Honorabill good Lord My Lord Earle of Dunfermelyne. My verie honorabill good Lord I ressavit your honoris letter fra the beirar Young Mains desyring me to send yow ane Extract out of my Registeris of all the wodset and fewit landis fewit by the lait Earles of Morton and to delyver the same to the beirar—My Lord according to your /ho/ desyre I have sent yow a minute of all the fewis In a book which I had lying besyd me Bot as for the wodsettis I can not send yor /ho/ a note thairof so soone Becaus I must look out my Registeris and Prothogollis for the same Which I sall doe with all convenient diligence to give your /ho/ satisfaction. Thus my humbill service rememberit I rest Your /ho/ humbill and affectionat servand D Heart Kirkwall 8 August 1654.
1672 David Heart died before August 11 when his widow Jean Mowat was a witness to a baptism. [12]
1672 Baptismes ...
August 11 Robert Andersone lawfull sonne to Magnus Andersone in Crantit and Marable Grundwater was baptized be Mr. James Duglas Wittnesses [....] Robert Honyman Margret Honyman My lord bishops sonne and d[aughter] and Jean Mowat relict of umqll David Heart of Rusland
1682 Jean Mowat died in May 1682. [13]
1682 An inventory of the estate of Jean Mowat was reported on July 1. [14]
1683 Mr. James Heart reported on his administration of the estate of Jean Mowat on March 17. [15]
[1] David Masson, ed., The register of the Privy Council of Scotland, Vol. 6, 1599-1604 (Edinburgh: H.M. General Register House, 1884), 290, [HathiTrust].
[2] David Masson, ed., The register of the Privy Council of Scotland, Vol. 6, 1599-1604 (Edinburgh: H.M. General Register House, 1884), 328, [HathiTrust].
[3] National Archives of Scotland, GD150/1654, [Scotland_Archives].
[4] Robert S. Barclay, ed., The Court Books of Orkney and Shetland 1614-1615 (Edinburgh: Scottish History Society, 1967), 111-113.
[5] Robert S. Barclay, ed., The Court Books of Orkney and Shetland 1614-1615 (Edinburgh: Scottish History Society, 1967), 111-113.
[6] Francis J. Grant, The Register of Apprentices of the City of Edinburgh, 1583-1666 (Edinburgh: James Skinner & Company for the Scottish Record Society, 1906), 84, [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[7] John Anderson, ed., Calendar of the Laing Charters, A.D. 854-1837 (Edinburgh: James Thin, 1899), 510, [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive], [InternetArchive].
[8] John Anderson, ed., Calendar of the Laing Charters, A.D. 854-1837 (Edinburgh: James Thin, 1899), 529-30, Charter by Mr. Patrick Grahame of Rothisholm, second lawful son to George [Grahame], bishop of Orkney and Zetland, in terms of a contract of marriage … between them on one side, and William Stewart of Mains and Anna Stewart, his second lawful daughter … granting to the said Anna Stewart, future spouse of the said Mr. Patrick, in liferent …, [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive], [InternetArchive].
[9] National Archives of Scotland, SC11/5/1644/11, Marriage Contract: Graham, James and Heart, Margaret, 21 February 1655, held at the Orkney Archives, [Scotland_Archives].
[10] W. R. Mackintosh, Glimpses of Kirkwall and Its People in the Olden Time (Kirkwall: James Anderson, 1887), 307-10, at 309-10 of 307-310, [GoogleBooks].
[11] National Archives of Scotland, GD150/2541, Papers of the Earls of Morton, Miscellaneous Business Letters, 1651-1697, item 8, held at the Orkney Archives, D38/2541, [Scotland_Archives].
[12] National Records of Scotland, Old Parish Registers, Pre 1855 Births & Baptisms, 021/00 0010 0086, Kirkwall, [ScotlandsPeople].
[13] National Records of Scotland, Wills & Testaments 1513-1925, CC17/2/11 Orkney & Shetland Commissary Court, image 221, [ScotlandsPeople].
[14] National Records of Scotland, Wills & Testaments 1513-1925, CC17/2/12, Orkney & Shetland Commissary Court, images 58-59, [ScotlandsPeople].
[15] National Records of Scotland, Wills & Testaments 1513-1925, CC17/2/11 Orkney & Shetland Commissary Court images 221-222, [ScotlandsPeople].