Margaret Ross depones, that about 17 years ago, she had a son, named James Ingram, then about twelve years of age, whom she sent an errand to Aberdeen, and who at that time was taken up by Alexander Gray, merchant in Aberdeen, in order to be carried to the plantations that he was detained in Aberdeen about eight days, but had liberty to go through the town with other boys, and they used to go in companies, beating the drum.

Depones, that, on Sunday thereafter, she came to the chapel in the Gallowgate to hear worship, and she saw her son there, and got hold of him, and carried him home with her to Loanhead, which is about half a mile from Aberdeen.

Depones, that she kept her said son at home for some time, until four men came out of Aberdeen for him, in the night time, while the deponent and her husband were in bed, and their son James lying at their feet.

Depones, she knew none of these four men, but they told they were come from the said Alexander Gray, and wanted to carry the said James Ingram into Aberdeen.

Depones, that when her son heard them saying so, he wept and shed tears; and they insisting, caused him to rise out of bed, and go along with them to Aberdeen, and his father followed them; and she was told by her husband, they went to Alexander Gray's house.

Depones, that next day, the said John Ingram, her husband (as he informed the deponent,) came into Aberdeen, and met with Alexander Gray, and sought back his son; who said to him, that if he would pay seven pounds Scots, for the expence of maintaining his son while he was with Alexander Gray, in that case he should get back his son; but their circumstances could not allow them to pay the said seven pounds.

Depones, that thereafter they came into Aberdeen, and met with Provost Aberdein, who was then Provost of the town, and represented the case to him, and he sent for Alex. Gray, to come to the town-house and speak with the Provost.

Depones, that when he came, the Provost asked him, if he had a boy of the deponent's with him, to which Alexander Gray answered, that he had a boy, one James Ingram; whereupon the Provost said to him, that he did not think it right to take up any person's child without consent of parents, to which Alexander Gray answered, that the boy complained that his mother was not good to him; and the Provost replied, that a parent could not correct a child out of time, and desired that the deponent should get her son; whereupon Alexander Gray asked, who would pay his charges for maintaining the boy while he had him?

At the same time Gray said, he had given off the boy to one Mr Copland, in the Gallowgate.

Depones, that the Provost sent an officer for Mr Copland, who could not be found that day; but the Provost desired the deponent to go home, and return the next day to the town-house, and she should get her son.

Depones, that on her return, the Provost sent for Mr Copland, and ordered him to give the deponent her son; and he asked, who would pay the charges of him? And the Provost replied, that when his father grew rich, he would cut stones for him, he being a stone-cutter to his employment.

Depones, that Mr Copland went along with her to a barn at the backside of the town, where her son and several other boys were, the door thereof was open, and James Ross, an officer, standing thereat.

Depones, that several of the boys came out of the barn, calling to Mr Copland for shoes and other necessaries that they wanted, and her son came to the door to her, and Mr Copland desired to take from him a striped waistcoat that he had given him, which was taken from him accordingly, and the deponent put a plaid about her son above his shirt, and carried him home with her.

Depones, that she kept her son at home a considerable time with herself, thereafter he went into Aberdeen, and was taken up (as she was informed) by one Lunan in Aberdeen, who went over with boys, a trader to the plantations.

Depones, that before her son went away, he was put into the tollbooth of Aberdeen, and kept there for several weeks by the said Mr Lunan: and the deponent went twice or thrice to the tollbooth and saw her son there, and gave him her blessing before he went away, and she never saw him since.

Depones, that when she went into Alexander Gray's shop, who caused first to apprehend her boy, to seek him back, the said Alexander Gray took her by the shoulders, and thrust her out of his shop.

Depones, that at the aforesaid time, when her son was taken up and carried away, provisions were very dear and scarce, and many were dificulted to get their bread, but the deponent and her husband were in a condition to have maintained her son, and never consented to his being carried off. [1]

John Ingram depones, — conform to the said Margaret his spouse.

This passage indicates that poor children were either lured away with promises of better food and clothing or sold by their parents, the entire process making an excellent cover for kidnapping, which was expense free.