EARLSFERRY, a burgh (of regality), in the parish of KiLCONQUHAR,
district of St-Andrew's, and county of Fife a mile (W.) from
Elie, and 2 miles (S.) from Colinsburgh; containing 496
inhabitants. This place, which is of great antiquity,
and was originally an inconsiderable fishing-village, derived
its name, and, according to some, its erection into
a royal burgh, from Macduff, Thane or Earl of Fife,
who, fleeing from the usurper Macbeth, took shelter in
a small recess in Kincraig hill, a precipitous rock rising
abruptly from the south-western coast of the parish.
After remaining some time in concealment, Macduff was
conveyed across the Firth of Forth, to Dunbar, by the
fishermen of the village; and in return for the kindness
he had experienced, he is said to have obtained from
Malcolm III. a charter of incorporation for the inhabitants,
erecting the village into a royal burgh, to which, in
memory of his escape, he gave the appellation of Earl's
Ferry. Among the privileges conferred was that of
sanctuary to all who should sail hence across the Firth;
it was ordained that their persons should be inviolable
while here, and that, after their embarkation, no boat
should be allowed to go in pursuit of them till they were
half way across. After it became a burgh, the place
appears to have carried on a large trade; two weekly
markets and two annual fairs were held, and the provost
and bailies levied dues and customs. But the want of
a convenient harbour prevented its attaining much consideration
as a port: its trade, which had for many
years been declining, was, from the construction of a
harbour and the erection of a pier at Elie, in its immediate
neighbourhood, at length wholly transferred to
that place; and both its fairs and markets were consequently
discontinued. The inhabitants are chiefly employed
in the coal-works in the vicinity of the town, and
in weaving for the manufacturers of Dundee, Kirkcaldy,
and other places; the articles woven are sheetings,
dowlas, and checks, which are wrought in hand-looms
by the people at their own dwellings. There are about
seventy seamen engaged in the harbour and at the ferry;
and during the months of July and August, a few of
them are employed in the herring-fishery on the northeast
coast. Many of the weavers who have been brought
up as seamen occupy themselves in summer in the
whale-fisheries on the coast of Greenland, from which
pursuit they return to their looms in the winter.
The original charter of Malcolm, bestowed in the
eleventh century, was destroyed by fire; and a new
charter, confirming all the privileges it had conferred,
was in 1589 granted by James VI., by which the government
is vested in three bailies, a treasurer, and a council
of sixteen burgesses, assisted by a town-clerk and other
officers. The bailies and treasurer are elected annually
by the council for the time being, and on their appointment
nominate the council for the following year; the
chief magistrate is e.r officio a justice of the peace. There
is power to hold courts for the determination of civil and
criminal causes; but since IS'20, only five civil cases
and one criminal case have been decided. At one period
the burgh enjoyed the privilegeof sending a member
to the Scottish parliament; but it was relieved on its
own petition, some time prior to the Union in 1707-
The prison is in a state of dilapidation: it was latterly
seldom used, and only for the temporary confinement of
persons found guilty of misdemeanors; and after the
passing of the Prisons' act for Scotland about ten years
ago, it was abolished as a place of confinement.