Who was “Lizzie Lindsay”?

Twice Elizabeth Lindsay appeared in Birse Kirk Sessions, once in 1816 and again 1819.  This would indicate that she was residing in the parish for at least 3 years – yet on her first appearance she is given as “presently residing in the Parish of Fettercairn”, on her second appearance she was “presently residing in the Parish of Marykirk”.

From Birse Kirk Sessions dated 16^th June 1816:

“Compeared Elizabeth Lindsay sometime servant to Peter Davidson in Forest of Birse but presently residing in the Parish of Fettercairn, acknowledging herself to be with child in uncleanness and that the guilt was contracted in this parish and being interrogated who was the father of it delated Alexander Coutts, son of Alexander Coutts[1] carpenter Dalwhing Parish of Aboyne as the father of the same.  After being exhorted to repentance she was summoned apud acta to attend the Session next Lords Day along with the said Alexander Coutts whom she promised to bring along with her.”

From Birse Kirk Sessions dated 23^rd June 1816:

“Compeared Alexander Coutts and Elizabeth Lindsay de quibus supra and said Elizabeth Lindsay being again interrogated if she adhered to her former confession of being with child, and also of her former accusation of Alexander Coutts being the father of it, declared that she adhered to both in every point. 

Said Alexander Coutts being on the spot and being interrogated if he was the father of Elizabeth Lindsay’s child, answered “No”.  They were both dismissed for the time and Session closed with prayer.”

Nothing further is noted in the Kirk Sessions regarding whether Alexander Coutts finally confessed to being the father of the child or if they received further punishment.

However in 1819, Elizabeth Lindsay was again before the Kirk Session:

26 January 1819

“Compeared Elizabeth Lindsay an unmarried woman, presently residing in the parish of Marykirk, and who had lately resided in the Forest (and who had formerly been before them for fornication, having as she alleged, formerly brought forth a child to Alexander Coutts Jnr residing at Dalwhing in Aboyne) acknowledging that she had brought forth an illegitimate child about Whitsunday last in Aberdeen, and produced evidence that she had born a child, and that said child had died a few weeks after birth – and being interrogated who was the father of said child delated Peter Davidson[2] a married man residing in the Forest as the father of it.  The Session summoned her apud acta to attend here this day fourteen days and also ordered their officer to summon said Peter Davidson to attend them on said day.”

7^th February 1819

“Elizabeth Lindsay and Peter Davidson de quib supra.  Elizabeth Lindsay being interrogated if she adhered to her former accusation of Peter Davidson’s being the father of the child she had lately brought forth, declared that she adhere to it in every point.  Said Peter Davidson being on the spot and hearing the above accusation read to him, denied that he was the father of it, or had any concern with her.  The matter was delayed for the time and Session closed with prayer.”

Again there is no resolution to this accusation recorded in the Kirk Sessions. 

Who was Elizabeth Lindsay?  Did she reside in the parish of Birse for at least three years?  There no record of her being there on the Inhabitant Lists of 1815 or 1819.