322 How Annan Built a Bridge. 



Town Council, and community of the burgh, on the 

 one part, and Mr Matthias Partis of Tallentyre on the other 

 part. That is to say that forasmuch as the building of a bridge 

 at the said town, over the river of Annan, is found may prove 

 very advantageous to the place, and seeing several funds are 

 designed for carrying on so good a work, which yet is thought not 

 sufficient, Therefor it is agreed that the said Mr Matthias Partis 

 shall immediately fall to work and employ, contract, and agree 

 with workmen for building a bridge over the said river at the 

 place designed, which is commonly called Tommies brae, and 

 shall furnish all manner of materials, and lay out and disburse 

 what money shall be contracted until the perfecting of the whole 

 works. And in regard at present no liquid sum can be con- 

 descended upon, Therefore the said noble Earl, with the con- 

 sent of the magistrates, council, and community, by these pre- 

 sents bind and oblige them that they shall give right and 

 commission to the said Mr Matthias Partis to receive and uplift 

 all manner of funds that may fall to the town for carrying on the 

 said work. And further, that where the said funds fall short 

 in the necessary expense They shall in ample manner assign to 

 the said Matthias Partis the whole common good, town lands, 

 and boat with customs, to be possessed by the said Matthias 

 Tartis until he be paid what sums of money he shall be found 

 to disburse necessarily in the said work with the just and true 

 interest thereof, etc. Written by William Whyte, servitor to the 

 said noble Earl." 



By this deed the senior bailie of the burgh was created 

 trustee of the bridge affairs, with power to uplift and apply the 

 funds, and to furnish any shortage, for the repayment of which 

 the town's revenues were pledged to him in security. The 

 contract proved hazardous to the town, as within five months of 

 its registration the firm of Matthias Partis and John Woosley 

 had become discredited through certain tobaccos imported to 

 Annan by the firm being arrested for payment of dues. There- 

 after the Earl of Annandale, as patron of the church of Annan, 

 in granting a year's vacant stipend towards the building of the 

 bridge, did not entrust Partis with the fund ; John Irving, one of 

 the bailies, was engaged to uplift the stipend and pay the same 

 to John Lodiore, the builder of the bridge. It appears the 

 church was vacant in 1700, 1701, and 1702. The stipend of 

 each year was granted by the Earl towards the bridge work. 

 The manse and outbuildings connected therewith were possessed 

 by Partis and Woosley as tobacco stores. On 19th May, 1700, 

 William Whyte gave in at the Burgh Court a commission by the 

 Earl of Annandale for clearing of the accounts betwixt Mr 

 Matthias Partis and the burgh anent the bridge, and whereby the 

 said Earl declares his resolution to furnish what money may be 

 wanting for the completion of the bridge, on the town's security. 



