I can confirm that the 'steady' hands of seventeenth-century surgeons were no better at handwriting than any other doctor... Any ideas what the surname of 'Johwhn' might have been? Do you think he actually knew? #palaeography #surgeonsproject

(3/3) Importantly, Agnes had to sign the Incorporation’s sederunt book to get the money, leaving not only an elegant signature, suggestive of literacy, but also a evocative and personal connection to her life in the seventeenth-century Scottish capital. #SurgeonsProject

Corporate Charity for ‘the House’: Craft Pensions and the Widows’ Fund, 1670–1782 | The Scottish Historical Review This article focuses on charitable provision for craft widows and the development of new ways of meeting the challenges of caring for them. The craft guild was an important part of Europe’s urban soci...

(2/3) Recent work on craft widows’ pensions has shown that corporate charity was not a given, but depended wholly on corporate means and the widow’s reputation. doi.org/10.3366/shr.... #SurgeonsProject

(1/3) On 13th December 1670, a surgeon’s widow, Agnes Urquhart, was given 20 shillings (sterling, rather than Scots) in charity from her late husband’s Incorporation. Intriguingly, this was under condition she, ‘never…truble them again’. #SurgeonsProject

Working on the Edinburgh Inc. of Surgeon's minutes from 1670 and came across a crossed out apprenticeship entry. The margin note explains why: 'Dead This deleit becaus the prentice Is dead’. His parents sent him to work with a surgeon and he didn't live to finish his training. #SurgeonsProject

James Cleilland, surgeon in Edinburgh, was apparently a good master! In 1670 he allowed his recently booked servant to leave his service. Did he lose the £3 and 4 shillings of booking fees? Sadly, no indication is given as to why his servant wanted to leave, or where he went. #SurgeonsProject