In 1636, the Bailies of Old Aberdeen decided to clear the town of

"all infamous persones all ydleris, and those that has no certaine calling to liue be and wer not provyded of kaill and fewall and other necessaries of good neighbourheid and upon recepteris of begeris ydleris and vagaboundes or strangeris without licence as also to cognosce quhat number of brousteris may serve the whole boundes of the Auldtoun Spittell, and Chanrie." ^1.

The Spital, as it is know today, is one long street which took its name from the twelfth century St Peter's Hospital, a hospice for retired priests which was situated between Aberdeen and Old Aberdeen. The Chanonry runs from the other side of Old Aberdeen towards the River Don.

A roll of the inhabitants of the Spital was drawn up in May 1636. One Beatrix Cheilles appears on the list:

9 may 1636

"Beatrix Cheilles, with ane servant, of no calling, absent"

16 May 1636

"Beatrix Cheilles has nothing to liue on, to be banished or else set cautioun"

Anyone failing to leave the town would be punished

"under the paines following, that is to say eftir the publict proclamation of thir present actes at the mercat croce if any of the saides persones be found within the Toune for the first fault to be put in the stockes or joges all the fairnoone and imprisoned efter till they set sufficient cautioun for removal. And if they be found the second tyme to lay ane burne yron on thair cheik or shoulder"

A "Scurger", Archbald Bischope, was appointed to enforce this ruling and anyone failing to assist him in his duties suffered a fine equivalent to three weeks' wages.

Beatrix appears to have died in 1687. The following burial at St Nicholas churchyard in Aberdeen is recorded:

Beatrix Chilles buried 25 April 1687

This is the earliest surviving record I can find of the surname in Aberdeenshire and it is difficult to link Beatrix to the Chillases appearing in the 1695 poll tax records.













^1. Extracts from the Council Minutes for Old Aberdeen 1636