Scottish Archive Network Exhibitions
 
Other Exhibitions
Helen Guthrie 1663
Jean Cuthbert 1680
Christian Speid 1760s
Margaret Scott 1770s
Anne Anderson 1770s
Anne Wyllie 1782
Margaret Speid 1840s
Jemima Hay 1873
Miss Dick 1873
Hannah MacEwen 1882
Isa Cunningham 1916
Betty Jamieson 1931
Business Woman 1948
 
  Jemima Hay - A Little Fancy Writing, Arbroath 1873


Image of document written by Rev Joseph Hay


Rev Joseph Hay left details of how he wished his young daughter Jemima to be educated in the event of his death. He wished her to learn her 3 R's and believed that " a little fancy writing would be good" for her.

French, music, drawing and painting were considered essential, as was a good knowledge of optics and astronomy. He specifically forbade dancing as being "beneath their dignity as Sons of God".

He dictated her behaviour in other aspects of life: "She is never to be absent from Worship and to be in her seat before it [the sermon] begin." He did not mind her reading history for pleasure but recommended church history rather than accounts of the wars of ungodly men. He strictly forbade her to read about geology, which he believed was conjectural and dangerous.

Hay wished every hour to be filled profitably. Her time was to be spent in ministering to the poor and to the "poor ignorant perishing souls." Jemima was to be guarded against frivolous talk nor was she to spend time in the company of any family where God was not worshipped. Outward adornment was also forbidden. Jemima was not to plait her hair or to wear gold.

We do not know if Jemima followed all of her father's instructions.

Angus Archives MS 541/136