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Family history: Traveller woman is rescued from burkers.

Date 29 December 1969
Track ID 4328
Part 1

Track Information

Original Track ID

SA1969.195.A9

Original Tape ID

SA1969.195

Summary

Family history: Traveller woman is rescued from burkers.

Alec Stewart's great grandmother was burkered [burked] into a black bag. The family were sleeping in a row in a cart shed. Two men came in, and snatched the old woman away. They put a plaster over her mouth, and put her into the bag. The father and grandfather woke and chased them. The farmer fired a shot over the heads of the burkers; they dropped the bag and went off in their machine [i.e. coach].

Item Notes

Burkers were murderers who killed to sell the bodies to anatomists. The name is from the notorious Burke (of Burke and Hare), who was hanged in 1829.

Recording Location

County - Perthshire

Parish - Blairgowrie

Village/Place - Blairgowrie

Language

English

Collection

SoSS

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Good