| AdminHistory | Trade incorporations began to appear in Scotland in the C15th, and by the C16th there were several trade incorporations in most of the main Scottish towns. The Incorporation of Wrights of Linlithgow was one of eight trade incorporations operating in the Linlithgow area between the 16th and 19th centuries. The Wrights worked as specialist joiners, and like other trade incorporations in Linlithgow, they enforced a monopoly over all work undertaken by their trade in the burgh.
Trade incorporations also served an important part of local community life and representatives of the various trade incorporations (including usually the deacon) filled 19 of the 27 places on the Linlithgow town council. Trade incorporations also played an important part of the Annual Riding of the Marches at Linlithgow. Along with others, members of the Incorporation of Wrights rode around the boundaries of the burgh to ensure that there were no encroachments upon their land. The various trade incorporations of Linlithgow also paid for seats in the burgh church; The incorporation minutes contain an agreement signed by all of the eight trades regarding their wives seats in church. (WL30/1/2).
In order to gain legal recognition, each trade society in Linlithgow would have been required to have a "seal of cause." These documents would have would have been issued by the magistrates and town council, and as such would have borne the town seal. This document enabled members to set their own rules and to elect a deacon or chairman. Although these documents were very important most trade incorporations have lost their original seal of cause. Like other trade incorporations, the Incorporation of Wrights replaced their rules and regulations in absence of the original seal. (rules and regulations can be found in WL30/1 & 2).
Trade incorporations were able to exert a large degree of control over the number of apprentices entering the trade and members of the Incorporation of Wrights would have had the power to veto any apprentices who were deemed to be unsuitable. The process whereby men entered the trade of Wright in Linlithgow was also long, arduous and expensive. Before being booked as an apprentice, every potential apprentice who was the son of a freeman (presumably of the wrights) was required to pay a booking fee of thirteen shillings, four pennies Scots. It was further stipulated that each apprentice would pay the clerk 3 shillings 4 pennies Scots for the insetting of his name. (WL30/1 & 2; it is not clear whether this fee applied to sons of wrights ). Apprentices were required to serve for five years before they could progress to become journeymen. After a serving a further two years as a journeyman, members were entitled, during a "speaking drink," to request to undertake an "essay". The essay was essentially a masterpiece which allowed journeyman a chance to prove that they had achieved expertise in their skills. The most common essay assigned by the Linlithgow Incorporation of Wrights appears to have been a four-paned sash window, however, essays did vary; one journeyman was set a considerably more complex essay of a twelve-paned sash window whilst another was asked to construct a barrow. Assuming they met other conditions,(all freeman were also required to be burgesses of Linlithgow), the journeyman, on successful completion of his essay and upon payment of his "freedom money" was finally allowed to become a freeman of the incorporation.
Freemen were allowed full voting and trading privileges, and after serving as freeman for three years, members were also able to take on their own apprentices, with the approval of the society. (WL30/1/2). Freemen were required to pay a regular fee to the society on behalf of the apprentice. Masters had a number of responsibilities to their apprentices. These would have been set out in an indenture; the contract between a master and his apprentice.
The Incorporation of Wrights was a tight knit grouping. Although skills were an important factor for those entering the trade, most entrants had some sort of family tie to the Incorporation, and these were always documented in the minutes of the Incorporation. On one rare occasion in 1760, the five year apprenticeship to the trade was even waived when a member of the incorporation died; his son was offered full entry to the incorporation (WL30/1/4).
Like in other trade societies, the position of deacon (or chair) was highly coveted. This position was elected on an annual basis, with this event attracting a significant expenditure on ale. The aftermath of one particular election in 1754 is particularly interesting as there was a significant degree of disagreement over which member had been elected as deacon. A year later both "deacons" were adamant that they had been the successful party (WL30/1/4)
Trade societies, like the Incorporation of Wrights also provided a vehicle through which their members could engage in self-help. The society paid for the funeral expenses of members as well as providing help to members in times of financial difficulty. In 1776, one member, James Hall, appealed to the society for help when he became unable to work following a fire-related injury. Members of the society decided to make him a payment of five shillings followed by the weekly payment of one shilling (WL30/1/4-5). This service was provided in return for the payment of regular fees. In addition to the payments made at significant times in their trade career, freemen of the Incorporation were required to make payments to the box-master at three times in the year; on Marches Day, Election Day and upon St Stephen's Day. In 1595, this payment was set at four shillings, eight pennies Scots. Later documentation of the Wrights also suggest the payment of a weekly fee, although it is unclear whether this actually replaced, the tri-annual payment.(WL30/1-2) The help provided by the Incorporation of Wrights essentially provided members with an early form of social insurance. The model of self-help provided by the trade societies was later developed by friendly societies, with both of these bodies ultimately laying the groundwork for the modern welfare state.
Although the benefits to member were clearly evident, the costs associated with membership and progressing towards the position of freedom were not inconsiderable. In 1815 one member, John Anderson, actually withdrew his freeman status as he could not afford to pay the bills, and accumulated interest, associated with his freedom, (WL30/1/4)
In addition to providing protection to members, the Linlithgow Incorporation also operated as a charitable institution. The generosity of the society was clearly demonstrated by the decision in 1776 to provide financial aid to the widows of soldiers who had lost their lives in the American War of Independence, (WL30/1/4).
Trade incorporations, like the Wrights, were governed by a large number of complex rules and regulations, governing the admittance of members and the work of the members. They also operated as a secretive institution. Within the society's rules, it is stipulated that freemen divulging any of the society's secrets would incur a financial penalty in the first instance, with a second offence resulting in their permanent loss of freedom, (WL30/1/2). It is likely that the emphasis which the Incorporation of Wrights placed on secrecy would probably mean that the minute books held in this collection do not provide a full account of activities of the society.
The powers of trade incorporations, like the Wrights, were brought to an end in 1846, when the Recissory Act removed their right to exert monopolies over local economies. Although the effect was not immediate, this brought an eventual end to the Linlithgow Incorporation of Wrights. In 1852, the remaining members decided that they could no longer respond to requests for financial assistance, with those present at the relevant meeting stating that they were not a mutual aid society. (WL30/1/4). The papers of the incorporation were presented to Andrew Meikle in 1868 (WL30/1/4).
Although most trade incorporations have now ceased to exist, trade incorporations continue to operate in Glasgow. The Glasgow Incorporation of Wrights continues to admit new members, acting both to provide aid to members, and their families, encountering financial difficulties, as well as working towards the further development of the wood-working industry and trade education.
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