Aberdeen charitable trusts
The City of Aberdeen like many across Scotland, and in the rest of the United Kingdom, administers charitable trusts to benefit its residents (approximately £8m in 2013).
In general these mortifications were endowed to benefit Guildry members, the poor, medical, educational, cultural, arts and heritage purposes individuals and groups.
... be it kend till all men, be thir present letters, Me Jeane Goold, relict of umquhile David Andersone of finzeauch, burges of Aberdeine, to the honor of Almightie God, to have frielie given and mortified to the provost Baillies Councell and Communitie of the said brugh of Aberdeine, and to ther Successors, in all tyme enmeing, for the use underwreittin, the Soume of fyve hundreth nierkes, usuall money of Scotland, to be bestowed and employed upone anuel rent where most convenient employment can be hade be advyse of the Provest Baillies and Councell of the said brugh, for the tyme, and the yeirlie anuel rent therof, I ordayne to be given and bestowed, be the master of the mortified moneyes of the said brugh, for the tyme, to Bessie Leask, .... and Beatrix Mollysone, and efter both ther deceiss, I appoynt and ordayne the anuel rent of the said fyve hundreth markes to be given and bestowed, from then furth, towards the helpe and maintenance of poore vidowes and virgines, within the said brugh of Aberdeine, of the qualitie efter specified, viz : to widowes that lies beine the wyiffes of burgesses of Aberdeine, merchands, or craftsmen, livand, both in the tyme of ther widowheide, and in the tyme of ther mariage and cohabitatione with ther husbandes, of good lyfe and conversatione, frie of anie publict Scandell or offence, and to aiged virgines who are borne bairnes in Aberdeine, and who have lived in the state of virginitie, and continowes in that estate .. to ther lyves end, frie of publict Scandell, as said is .. and if anie of the saids widowes or virgines, that sail happen to be admitted, sail prove scandelous, efter ther admissione therunto, I ordayne them to be simpliciter discharged therof, upon just tryall and notice taken of ther scandelous carriage, be the Provest Baillies and Councell of the said brngh, whome I appoynt to be judges for trying of the said Scandell or miscarriage ...."[6] Additional bequests were made to the initial money by Lady Drum by several benefactors until the end of the seventeen hundreds (Alexander Galloway £226 13s 4d (Scots) 17 February 1700; Mrs Agnes Durie (Divvie?)
The Aberdeen City Council has decided to wind up a number of these charities that have insufficient funds to operate efficiently.
After discussions with OSCR the residual funds from the Lady Drum Hospital have been allocated to another local charity, the Instant Neighbour scheme.
Many Pre-reformation hospital charities or trusts have been wound up in recent years due to the absence of beneficiaries and diminishing income from mortification and the old "Feu" system.
