Family history: Traveller woman is rescued from burkers.
Track Information
Original Track ID
SA1969.195.A9
Original Tape ID
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
Genre
Collection
Source Type
Reel to reel
Audio Quality
Good