Past Deacons
THE INCORPORATION OF BONNETMAKERS & DYERS OF EDINBURGH
TABLE OF DEACONS
1520-21 to the current year
No individual deacons of Bonnetmakers have so far been identified for certain before Andrew Auld in 1531-32. Prior to him we find the name of James Lawson (Lauson, Lausoun) as spokesman for the Bonnetmakers and, although not expressly called “deacon”, he was evidently acting as their elected leader. The Incorporation’s own records are very incomplete and the early parts are almost completely lacking. The early part of the present list relies heavily on the Edinburgh Council Register (and other city archives) and (from 1578 onwards) on the Act Book of the Convenery of the Trades of Edinburgh.
It is not quite clear when the headman of the Incorporation first used the title of Deacon, rather than headman or kirkmaster. The usage seems to have come in some time between about 1530 and 1556, quite probably from the beginning in 1530.
A dash in the table signifies that there was a deacon in that year but that his name is not at present known.
The asterisked deacons with their names in bold type were Deacon-Conveners of the Trades of Edinburgh in the years indicated. Each of the first five served as such during the second year of his two-year Deaconship of the Bonnetmakers. The next (John Williams in 1878-80) is the first case of a Bonnetmaker being Deacon-Convener for two or more consecutive years. The two-year deaconships of the previous deacons did not coincide with the change-over year of the Deacon-Convener, otherwise they would doubtless also have been Deacon-Convener for two years instead of only one.
Altogether there have been nine individual Deacons of Bonnetmakers who have held the office of Deacon-Convener of the Trades of Edinburgh for nineteen years between them (plus eight more individuals during the period of inactivity from 1981 to 2006 – as explained below – covering a further 26 years), making a grand total of 45 years when the Deacon-Convener was also Deacon of Bonnetmakers.
From 1981-82 to 2005-06 inclusive, all the Deacon Conveners were also the Deacons of the Bonnetmakers & Dyers in those years. As explained in the Table, the Incorporation of Bonnetmakers & Dyers voluntarily went into a sort of abeyant dormancy on 2nd March 1981, on the following condition and understanding, agreed in advance with the Convenery of the Trades of Edinburgh, viz: That Robin Legget, the Deacon-Convener of the Trades of Edinburgh for the time, would become the Deacon of the Incorporation of Bonnetmakers & Dyers of Edinburgh ex officio as Deacon-Convener. It was also agreed that subsequent Deacon-Conveners would be deemed to be ex officiis Deacons of the Bonnetmakers & Dyers until such time as the Incorporation thereof should be reactivated.
The Incorporation was awakened from its dormancy in 2003 when Deacon Convener Gordon Wyllie admitted the members of the Convenery of Trades to be members of the Craft along with him and Scott A Rae WS, the Clerk to the Incorporation qua Clerk to the Convenery, and they proceeded on 13 October that year to grant the Deed of Declaration which sets out how the Incorporation regulates its affairs today. When Scott Rae retired, the document was registered for preservation in the Books of Council and Session on 21 April 2009.
Alongside this Declaration, and almost as important, are a number of customs and conventions which the Craft observes in common with most or all of the Convenery of Trades. For instance, although the Bonnetmakers & Dyers hold annual elections for the post of Deacon and the other positions on the Master Court, it is normal for the Deacon to serve for at least two years.
1520-21 (John Lawson) Named 1st in list of 11 B’makers, but not referred to as deacon.
1521-1529 --- names not found.
1530-31 (John Lawson) Names 1st in list of 12 names; not described as deacon.
1531-32 Andrew Auld “Heidsman of Bonnetmakers” on 19 May 1531.
1532-1535 --- names not found.
1536-37 (Henry Lilly) Thought to have been deacon in this year.
1537-1542 --- names not found.
1543-44 (Jas. Stevenson) Thought to have been deacon in this year.
1544-1555 --- names not found.
1556-57 James Lawson
1557-58 John Walsh
1558-59 James Lawson
1559-60 John Walsh
1560-61 James Lawson
1561-62 John Walsh
1562-63 James Lawson
1563-64 James Lawson
1564-65 James Lawson
1565-66 James Lawson
1566-67 ---
1567-68 James Johnston
1568-69 James Johnston
1569-70 ---
1570-71 ---
1571-72 ---
1572-73 William Walker
1573-74 William Walker
1574-75 Edward Wylie
1575-76 ---
1576-77 ---
1577-78 John Alexander
1578-79 William Symmar
1579 } William Symmar
1579-80 }1 William Symmar
1580-81 William Walker
1581-82 Patrick Rannald
1582-83 William Symmar
1583-84 Patrick Rannald
1584-85 Matthew Davidson
1585-86 Patrick Rannald
1586-97 Patrick Rannald
1587-88 Robert Paterson
1588-89 William Symmar2
1589-90 Matthew Davidson
1590-91 Thomas Brown
1591-92 John Mathie
1592-93 Patrick Rannald
1593-94 Patrick Rannald
1594-95 Matthew Davidson
1595-96 Patrick Rannald
1596-97 Thomas Brown
1597-98 Patrick Rannald
1598-99 John Mathie3 (John Paterson on 11 Jul.1599)
1599-1600 John Mathie
1600-01 Patrick Rannald
1601-02 Patrick Rannald
1602-03 Thomas Paterson
1603-04 Thomas Paterson
1604-05 John Mathie
1605-06 John Mathie
1606-07 Patrick Rannald
1607-08 Thomas Paterson
1608-09 Thomas Paterson
1609-10 John Mathie
1610-11 John Mathie
1611-12 Thomas Paterson
1612-13 Thomas Paterson
1613-14 Alexander Somervell
1614-15 Alexander Sym
1615-16 Thomas Paterson
1616-17 Thomas Paterson
1617-18 John Mathie
1618-19 John Mathie
1619-20 Alexander Symmer
1620-21 Alexander Simmer
1621-22 John Bicket
1622-23 John Bicket
1623-24 Steven Robeson
1624-25 Steven Robeson
1625-26 Thomas Craig
1626-27 Thomas Craig
1627-28 Alexander Somer
1628-29 Alexander Somer
1629-30 John Bicket
1630-31 Patrick Stirling
1631-32 Alexander Somer
1632-33 Alexander Somer
1633-34 Robert Lauchlane
1634-35 Robert Lauchlane
1635-36 John Bichart
1636-37 John Bichart
1637-38 Robert Lauchlane
1638-39 David Wyllie
1639-40 David Wylie
1640-41 Robert Lauchlane
1641-42 Robert Lauchlane
1642-43 Francis Ker
1643-44 Francis Ker
1644-45 Robert Lauchlane
1645-46 Francis Ker
1646-47 Francis Ker
1647-48 William Stirling
1648-49 William Stirling
1649-50 Francis Ker
1650-51 (Francis Ker)
1651-52 Francis Ker
1652-53 Alexander Kindlay
1653-54 Alexander Kindlay
1654-55 [Alexander Kindlay] [all deacons apparently continued unelected, as all elections were postponed at the instance of Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell.]
1655-56 John Smith
1656-57 John Smith
1657-58 David Wichman
1658-59 David Wichman
1659-60 William Hopkin
1660-61 William Hopkin
1661-62 William Baird
1662-63 William Baird
1663-64 William Hopkin
1664-65 William Hopkin
1665-66 George Stirling
1666-67 George Stirling
1667-68 William Baird
1668-69 William Baird
1669-70 George Stirling
1670-71 George Stirling
1671-72 William Hopkin
1672-73 William Hopkin
1673-74 George Stirling
1674-75 George Stirling
1675-76 William Baird
1676-77 William Baird
1677-78 David Weightman
1678-79 David Weightman
1679-80 William Baird
1680-81 William Baird
1681-82 Robert Weyllie
1682-83 Robert Weylie
1683-84 William Baird
1684-85 William Baird
1685-86 Robert Weylie
1686-97 Robert Weylie
1687-88 John Robertson
1688-89 John Robertson
1689-90 Robert Weylie
1690-91 Robert Weylie
1691-92 John Pringle
1692-93 John Pringle*
1693-94 James Gray
1694-95 John Gibson
1695-96 James Lamb
1696-97 James Lamb
1697-98 William Barclay
1698-99 William Barclay
1699-1700 William Wardrop
1700-01 William Wardrop
1701-02 Michael Spens
1702-03 Michael Spens
1703-04 William Wardrop
1704-05 William Wardrop*
1705-06 Andrew Gibson
1706-07 Andrew Gibson
1707-08 James Murray
1708-09 James Murray
1709-10 John Gibson
1710-11 John Gibson
1711-12 William Wardrope
1712-13 William Wardrope
1713-14 William Barclay
1714-15 William Barclay
1715-16 William Wardrope
1716-17 William Wardrope
1717-18 John Gibson
1718-19 John Gibson
1719-20 John Lamb
1720-21 John Lamb
1721-22 John Gibson
1722-23 John Gibson
1723-24 John Home
1724-25 John Stone
1725-26 James Wight
1726-27 James Wight
1727-28 David Home
1728-29 David Home
1729-30 George Paterson
1730-31 George Paterson
1731-32 James Watson
1732-33 James Watson
1733-34 James Beveridge
1734-35 James Beveridge
1735-36 Patrick Fairly
1736-37 Patrick Fairly
1737-38 George Mitchell
1738-39 George Mitchell
1739-40 David Home
1740-41 James Wight
1741-42 James Wright
1742-43 William Dickson
1743-44 William Dickson
1744-45 James Watson
1745-46 James Watson
1746-47 William Dickson
1747-48 William Dickson
1748-49 Charles Brandon
1749-50 Charles Brandon
1750-51 William Dickson
1751-52 William Dickson
1752-53 Robert Wight
1753-54 Robert Wight
1754-55 Thomas Cuming
1755-56 Thomas Cuming
1756-57 William Gairdner
1757-58 William Gairdner
1758-59 David Home
1759-60 David Home
1760-61 John Wilson
1761-62 John Wilson
1762-63 James Somerville
1763-64 James Somerville
1764-65 Andrew Crombie
1765-66 Andrew Crombie
1766-67 Robert Wight
1767-68 Robert Wight
1768-69 William Rankin
1769-70 William Rankin
1770-71 Alexander Dallas
1771-72 Alexander Dallas
1772-73 Thomas Kirk
1773-74 Thomas Kirk
1774-75 Alexander Dallas
1775-76 Robert Wight
1776-77 Robert Wight
1777-78 Robert Gedd
1778-79 Robert Gedd
1779-80 John Auchterlonie
1780-81 John Auchterlonie
1781-82 Robert Wemyss
1782-83 Robert Wemyss
1783-84 Alexander Ferguson
1784-85 Alexander Ferguson
1785-86 Adam Brooks
1786-97 Adam Brooks
1787-88 Alexander Ferguson
1788-89 Alexander Ferguson
1789-90 John Auchterlonie
1790-91 John Auchterlonie
1791-92 Adam Brooks
1792-93 Adam Brooks
1793-94 John Crombie
1794-95 John Crombie
1795-96 John Auchterlonie
1796-97 John Auchterlonie
1797-98 Alexander Ferguson
1798-99 Alexander Ferguson
1799-1800 William Purcell
1800-01 William Purcell
1801-02 Adam Brooks
1802-03 Adam Brooks
1803-04 John Cumming
1804-05 John Cumming
1805-06 David Pollock
1806-07 David Pollock
1807-08 John Auchterlonie
1808-09 John Auchterlonie*
1809-10 William Paterson
1810-11 William Paterson
1811-12 James Hislop
1812-13 James Hislop
1813-14 Alexander Laurie
1814-15 David Pollock
1815-16 David Pollock
1816-17 James Gibson
1817-18 Alexander Laurie
1818-19 Alexander Laurie
1819-20 John Crombie
1820-21 John Crombie*
1821-22 D. Pollock sn.
1822-23 D. Pollock sn.
1823-24 T. Auchterlonie
1824-25 T. Auchterlonie
1825-26 William Paterson
1826-27 William Paterson
1827-28 William Cushnie
1828-29 William Cushnie
1829-30 John Campbell Laurie
1830-31 John Campbell Laurie
1831-32 William Wemyss ?
1832-33 William Wemyss ?
1833-34 William Stevens
1834-35 William Cushnie
1835-36 William Cushnie
1836-37 William Cushnie
1837-38 John Laurie
1838-39 John Laurie
1839-40 John Laurie
1840-41 William Paterson
1841-42 William Paterson
1842-43 William Paterson
1843-44 John Williams
1844-45 John Williams
1845-46 William Cushnie
1846-47 William Cushnie* (Colston, p.148)
1847-48 William Cushnie
1848-49 John Williams
1849-50 John Williams
1850-51 John Williams
1851-52 William Cushnie
1852-53 William Cushnie
1853-54 William Cushnie
1854-55 John Williams
1855-56 John Williams
1856-57 John Williams
1857-58 William Cushnie
1858-59 William Cushnie
1859-60 William Cushnie
1860-61 John Williams
1861-62 John Williams
1862-63 William Cushnie
1863-64 William Cushnie
1864-65 William Cushnie
1865-66 John Williams
1866-67 John Williams
1867-68 John Williams
1868-69 William Cushnie
1869-70 William Cushnie
1870-71 William Cushnie
1871-72 William Cushnie
1872-73 John Williams
1873-74 John Williams
1874-75 John Williams
1875-76 John Williams
1876-77 John Williams
1877-78 John Williams
1878-79 John Williams* (Colston, p.149)
1879-80 John Williams* (Colston, p.149)
1880-81 John Williams
1881-82 John Williams
1882-83 John Williams
1883-84 John Williams
1884-85 John Williams
1885-86 John Williams
1886-97 John Williams
1887-88 George Morham
1888-89 George Morham
1889-90 George Morham
1890-91 Andrew McDonald
1891-92 Andrew McDonald
1892-93 Andrew McDonald
1893-94 Andrew McDonald
1894-95 Andrew McDonald
1895-96 Lord Provost Andrew McDonald
1896-97 Lord Provost Andrew McDonald
1897-98 Sir Andrew McDonald
1898-99 Sir Andrew McDonald
1899-1900 Sir Andrew McDonald
1900-01 Sir Andrew McDonald
1901-02 Sir Andrew McDonald
1902-03 Sir Andrew McDonald
1903-04 George Morham
1904-05 George Morham
1905-06 George Morham
1906-07 George Morham
1907-08 George Morham
1908-09 George Morham
1909-10 George Morham
1910-11 George Morham
1911-12 George Morham
1912-13 John Peddie
1913-14 John Peddie
1914-15 John Peddie
1915-16 John Peddie
1916-17 John Peddie
1917-18 John Peddie
1918-19 John Peddie
1919-20 Robert S. Barclay
1920-21 Robert S. Barclay
1921-22 Robert S. Barclay
1922-23 Major Andrew McDonald
1923-24 Major Andrew McDonald
1924-25 Major Andrew McDonald
1925-26 George Tullo
1926-27 George Tullo
1927-28 William Kinloch Anderson
1928-29 William Kinloch Anderson
1929-30 George Johnston McKinnon
1930-31 George Johnston McKinnon
1931-32 Robert Peace JP
1932-33 Robert Peace JP
1933-34 Kenneth Noble Morham
1934-35 Robert Peace JP
1935-36 Robert Peace JP*
1936-37 Robert Peace JP*
1937-38 Kenneth Noble Morham
1938-39 Bailie Charles Edward Stevenson JP
1939-40 Charles Edward Stevenson JP
1940-41 James Fowler White
1941-42 James Fowler White SSC
1942-43 James Fowler White SSC
1943-44 James Fowler White SSC
1944-45 David Sinclair
1945-46 David Sinclair
1946-47 Joseph Carnochan Smith
1947-48 John Matthews
1948-49 John Matthews
1949-50 John Matthews
1950-51 Kenneth William Kinloch Tullo
1951-52 Kenneth William Kinloch Tullo
1952-53 James Wilson Stevenson
1953-54 Kenneth William Kinloch Tullo
1954-55 Kenneth William Kinloch Tullo
1955-56 Kenneth William Kinloch Tullo
1956-57 Kenneth William Kinloch Tullo
1957-58 Kenneth William Kinloch Tullo
1958-59 Lindsay Douglas Gumley*
1959-60 Lindsay Douglas Gumley*
1960-61 Lindsay Douglas Gumley*
1961-62 Lindsay Douglas Gumley*
1962-63 Lindsay Douglas Gumley*
1963-64 Lindsay Douglas Gumley*
1964-65 Lindsay Douglas Gumley*
1965-66 Lindsay Douglas Gumley*
1966-67 Lindsay Douglas Gumley*
1967-68 George Morham Dacker
1968-69 George Morham Dacker
1969-70 George Morham Dacker CA
1970-71 James Tullo CA
1971-72 James Tullo CA
1972-73 James Tullo CA
1973-74 James Tullo CA
1974-75 James Tullo CA
1975-76 James Tullo CA
1976-77 Gordon E. Small
1977-78 Gordon E. Small
1978-79 Campbell MacLean Mitchell TD
1979-80 Campbell MacLean Mitchell TD
1980-81 Campbell MacLean Mitchell TD
[The Incorporation went into abeyance on 2nd March 1981, when Robin Legget, the Deacon-Convener of Trades for the time (and the next eight Deacon-Conveners for the time coming after him) was deemed to be ex officio deacon of the Bonnetmakers and Dyers, until such time as the Incorporation thereof should be revived.]
1981 Robin Legget* (Skinners), ex officio as Deacon-Convener of Trades
1981-82 Ian S. Beattie* (Mary’s Chapel), ex officio as Deacon-Convener of Trades
1982-83 Ian S. Beattie* (Mary’s Chapel), ex officio as Deacon-Convener of Trades
1983-84 Ian S. Beattie* (Mary’s Chapel), ex officio as Deacon-Convener of Trades
1984-85 Ian S. Beattie* (Mary’s Chapel), ex officio as Deacon-Convener of Trades
1985-86 Lawrence D. Gow* (Tailors), ex officio as Deacon-Convener of Trades
1986-97 Lawrence D. Gow* (Tailors), ex officio as Deacon-Convener of Trades
1987-88 Lawrence D. Gow* (Tailors), ex officio as Deacon-Convener of Trades
1988-89 R. Peter Rae* (Hammermen), ex officio as Deacon-Convener of Trades
1989-90 R. Peter Rae* (Hammermen), ex officio as Deacon-Convener of Trades
1990-91 R. Peter Rae* (Hammermen), ex officio as Deacon-Convener of Trades
1991-92 Henry Roy Tatton* (Goldsmiths), ex officio as Deacon-Convener of Trades
1992-93 Henry Roy Tatton* (Goldsmiths), ex officio as Deacon-Convener of Trades
1993-94 Henry Roy Tatton* (Goldsmiths), ex officio as Deacon-Convener of Trades
1994-95 Stuart Crombie* (Hammermen), ex officio as Deacon-Convener of Trades
1995-96 Stuart Crombie* (Hammermen), ex officio as Deacon-Convener of Trades
1996-97 Stuart Crombie* (Hammermen), ex officio as Deacon-Convener of Trades
1997-98 Peter Braid* (Fleshers), ex officio as Deacon-Convener of Trades
1998-99 Peter Braid* (Fleshers), ex officio as Deacon-Convener of Trades
1999-2000 Peter Braid* (Fleshers), ex officio as Deacon-Convener of Trades
2000-01 Derek Ferguson* (Tailors), ex officio as Deacon-Convener of Trades
2001-02 Derek Ferguson* (Tailors), ex officio as Deacon-Convener of Trades
2002-03 Derek Ferguson* (Tailors), ex officio as Deacon-Convener of Trades
2003-04 Gordon Malcolm Wyllie, W.S.* (Hammermen), ex officio as Dn.-Conv. of Trades
2004-05 Gordon Malcolm Wyllie, W.S.* (Hammermen), ex officio as Dn.-Conv. of Trades
2005-06 Gordon Malcolm Wyllie, W.S.*
[The Incorporation of Bonnetmakers and Dyers was reactivated as an independent body by Deacon-Convener Gordon Wyllie on 13 October 2003.]
2006-07 Gordon Malcolm Wyllie, W.S.
2007-08 Gordon Malcolm Wyllie, W.S.
2008-09 Gordon Malcolm Wyllie, W.S.
2009-10 Rosalind Grant-Robertson
2010-11 Rosalind Grant-Robertson
2011-12 Rosemary H. M. Woodroffe WS
2012-13 Rosemary H. M. Woodroffe WS
2013-14 Thomas Gilbert Packe
2014-15 Thomas Gilbert Packe
2015-16 Thomas Gilbert Packe
2016-17 Andrew D. Winskell
2017-18 Andrew D. Winskell
2018-19 Joan M. H. Houston
2019-20 Joan M. H. Houston
2020-21 Prof. N. Keith Rutter
2021-22 Prof. N. Keith Rutter
2022-23 Prof. N. Keith Rutter 2023-24 Patricia A. Jones