UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

Page 55 from 17th century collections of recipes (MS Ferguson 61) 

A  cutting from a sales catalogue inserted in this volume describes this book as a large and curious collection of recipes. There are 330 recipes in this book, although the index at the end of the book indicates only 277, most of which appear to be of a medicinal nature. Titles in the index include entries such as "to thicken hair", "for the scurvy" and "for pain in limbs" amongst others. There are also several recipes for cordials and syrups. An inscription on the flyleaf of this volumes reads "Mary Harrison her book 1692." The recipes are written in several different hands which may indicate that the book has been written in by several generations of women. 

Page 55 on the left shows recipes for "The Plague Water" and "To keep small pox out of mouth and throat".

Alexander, Margaret. Commonplace book. Manuscript book, 1694-1731. MS Murray 188

Margaret Alexander lived in or near Glasgow, and was the daughter of John Alexander, who may have been John Alexander of Blackhouse who died in 1712. This is a commonplace book, a volume where references which the author thought important would be noted. This volume contains a number of different writings, for example, what appears to be notes on Greek writing, some simple arithmetic, religious and historical notes, some recipes and a cure for heart burn, a love poem and the definition of a good wife.  At the end of the book there are a number of receipts from tradesmen dated between 1723 and 1734. Several of these shopkeepers are listed in A view of the city of Glasgow, by John McUre (1736).