The records of the Guilds of Crieff are virtually all lost . In 1837 , 4 years prior to the first census there were some 27 shoemakers /souters / cobblers/ bootmakers in the Parish according to Piggots Directory . They were a particularly active Guild and the celebration of St Crispins Day ( he was their patron saint ) and had the town's first band . They were in the forefront of the processions that were held in connection with the run up to the 1832 Reform Act . This extract from an 1829 Perthshire Courier makes interesting reading. Although it doesn't say so it was part of the local agitation for reform . Things were politically dynamite . Hardie a weaver and two accomplices had been hung drawn and quartered some 22 miles down the road at Stirling for participation in the 1820 Battle of Bonnymuir an incident air brushed out of most school history books . After that protest was more subtle .10 to 12 000 attended when the Parish population was about 4 500 ! Sure your ancestor deserves our thanks for what is not generally known . 13 August 1829 CRIEFF The inhabitants of Crieff and neighbourhood were on Thursday week gratified with a procession in honour of St Crispin which excited an interest proportioned to the rarity of such exhibitions in this quarter . The new and splendid robes of Perth Royal St Crispin Lodge were borrowed for the occasion and a deputation from Muthill was escorted to the town accompanied by the Crieff Instrumental Band . The procession when arranged had a very imposing appearance ; it proceeded from the lodge through the Comrie Street , Burrell Street to the Gallowhill , and passing through King Street , St James Square , and the High Street proceeded as far east as the Toll bar from which it returned to the Lodge . The day being fine the streets were crowded to excess , and upon a moderate calculation the crowd must have amounted to 10 or 12 thousand . A ball which was kept up with spirit till a late hour next morning concluded the festivities of the occasion . Col in Crieff