Gunn, coroner of Caithness 1450s More on Gunn coroner, including information from Professor Houston’s The Coroners of Northern Britain c1300-1700 and Professor Crawford’s The Northern Earldoms Orkney and Caithness from AD 870 to 1470. In brief –
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SUMMARY Gunn coroner before Earl William Sinclair made it to Caithness was in a position of major, basically unchecked legal power. The lack of a local Sheriff and lack of a resident Earl allowed him ‘freedom’ to do things his way. The position Gunn coroner had – with its lack of checks - would probably have created enemies. The story of Hugh MacDonald of Sleat visiting Gunn in a castle has credence - it just wasn’t in a ‘Gunn castle’.
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I have just read R. A. Houston's book 'The Coroners of Northern Britain c. 1300-1700' He is Professor of Early Modern History at the University of St Andrews.
He makes it quite clear (page 3, for example) that the position is Coroner but he notes it is spelt in a variety of ways including Coronator and Crowner. Crowner? Yes; but it's not a two syllable 'regal' word as some like to think. It's a three syllable word with the middle syllable pronounced as row as in rowing so - K, row, ner. And that spelling is not surprising as it's all being written / printed before dictionaries set spelling in stone and with printers being of 'interesting' spelling ability... So it's absolutely Gunn Coroner of Caithness... Lots more to come, but that's after I re-read the book... |
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