I was asked to post the abbreviations I sent to Robin Kinloch off line. The message was as follows: Robin: See if this helps. " [Dunbar,] John, B. [burgess] and G. [guild-brother], skinner, be [by] r. [right] of fr. [father] John D. [Dunbar], skinner, B. [burgess] 18 Apr. 1694 [date he became a burgess] " [Dunbar,] John, junior, skinner ; Barbara Mason 8 June 1694 [the wedding date] ,, [Colquhoun,] Humphrey, skinner, B., as p. [prentice/apprentice] to John Dunbar, skinner, B. 12 May 1714 [the date he started his apprenticeship or the date it was recorded] " [Livingston,] Wm., B., skinner, as p. to John Dunbar, skinner, B. 1 Mar. 1682 " [Simpson,] Robert, skinner, B., as p. to John Dunbar, skinner, B. 29 Mar. 1732 " [Robertson,] Alexr., mt. [merchant], B. and G., by r. of admission of Robert Craig, dean [head of] of gild [guild - the organization that granted burgess-ship] 3 Nov. 1714 [certain officials had the right to grant burgess-ship without approval of the council] " [Veitch,] Wm., mt., B. and G., be r. of w. [wife] Christian, dr. [daughter] to Patrick Govan, mt., B. 10 Sept. 1718 Prophet (Profeit, Profit), Alexr., mt., B. and G., be r. of fr. [father] John P., B. and G. 15 July 1730 Mansfield, James, mt., be r. of Peter M., mt., B. 7 Sept. 1726 " [Knox,] Dr. Robert, B. and G., in r. of fr. (blank) Knox, surgeon, B. and G., gratis [free, usually for good service or community standing] , by act of C. [council of the guild] 19 Sept. 1764 (son of John?) " [Innes,] Alexr., mt., B. and G., be r. of Katharine, dr. to James Reid, mt., B. 29 June 1730 Hepburn, Alexr., s. to dec. [deceased] Alexr. H., mt. in Aberdeen, p. to Wm. Crooks, mt. (B.) 23 July 1718 Hepburn, Alex., mt., B. and G., as p. to Wm. Crooks, mt., B. and G. (23 July 1718 [date of apprenticeship]) 3 Jan. 1724 [date of burgess-ship] " [Gardener,] Thomas, mt., B. and G., be r. of fr. Andrew G., mt., B. and G. 10 Sept. 1729 Farquhar, Alexr., s. to Alexr. F., mt. in Montrose, p. to David Milne, skinner (B.) 20 Dec. 1704 Farquhar, Alexr., skinner, B., as p. to David Miln, skinner, B. (20 Dec. 1704) 13 Mar. 1728 " [Rollo] Mr. John, p. to Henry Bethun, goldsmith 3 Jan. 1724 ,, [Rollo] Mr. John, goldsmith. B. and G., as p. to Henry Bethun, goldsmith, B. and G. (3 Jan. 1724) 21 July 1731 Richard Robertson