Burgess Tickets

We have recently had some work done in our hall which necessitated taking down all the pictures. I've put them back up today. Two of them are old family documents.

The top picture shows a Burgess Ticket awarded to my great, great, great, great, great grandfather James McArthur, in 1779. The lower picture shows a Burgess Ticket awarded to his great, great grandson, also James McArthur, in 1904, both from the Royal Burgh of Dumbarton.

The older document is written on parchment and quite difficult to read.
Transcribed it reads:

In Dumbarton the twenty ninth day of December seventeen hundred and seventy nine years

In presence of the Honble the Magistrates and Town Council of the Burgh of Dumbarton compaired James McArthur, weaver in Dumbarton who was admitted and received a Burgess of the said burgh with power to him to use and enjoy all the privileges and immunities thereto belonging whereupon he gave his oath de fideli as use is.
Extracted by
John McAulay

John McAulay also signed the Burgess Ticket given to Robert Burns in 1787, a copy of which can be seen here.

Burgesses were originally people who held land in a Burgh and paid taxes. Later the term was applied to craftsmen. More information about Burgesses can be found here