Autism in History III
Bill Long 8/18/06
The Testimony of Hugh Blair
At his trial in the summer of 1747 (Houston & Frith aren't consistent on their chronology), Hugh Blair, whose marriage to Nicholas Mitchell was being contested by Hugh's younger brother John, was interviewed by some of the judges. This essay reproduces that testimony. The reason for giving it is so that you can form your own judgment not only on Hugh's mental capacity to enter into a marriage but also on whether he had characteristics consistent with a diagnosis of autism. And, as I think you will admit, it makes a great story.
Hugh Blair's Testimony
Q. When came you to town?
A. Nickie Mitchell [i.e., his wife].
Q. When came you to Edinburgh?
A. Yes.
Q. Where did you live before you came to Edinburgh?
A. Edinburgh.
Q. Do you hear me when I speak to you?
A. Speak.
Q. Did you ride or walk from the country?
A. Ride.
Q. Is this a fair day or rainy?
A. Fair.
Q. Is this a fair day or foul?
A. Foul.
Q. Have you got your dinner?
A. Hugh Blair.
Q. Is your mother alive?
A. Yes.
Q. Who made you?
A. God.
Being asked the same question a second time, his answer was "Christ." Being asked the same question a third time, his answer was "Holy Ghost."
Q. What age are you?
A. Hugh Blair.
Q. Have you any brothers or sisters?
A. Yes.
Q. How many brothers or sisters have you?
A. Yes.
Q. What is the name of your parish minister?
A. Brown [Hugh was correct in this response].
Q. How many fingers have you?
At first he made no answer but fingers afterwards being pointed to he counted the fingers of each hand twice without stopping.
Being desired to hold up his right hand he held up the left.
Q. Is your finger or leg longest?
A. Longest.
Q. Is it forenoon or afternoon?
A. Afternoon.
Q. Is it forenoon or afternoon?
A. Forenoon.
The said Hugh Blair being shown the Bible he read the first two verses of Genesis and being shown the title of the Old Testament and likewise of the New Testament both which titles he likewise read and being several times asked what book it was he hummed but made no articulate answer.
Q. What brought you to town?
A. Kirkcudbright [A neighboring town of his home town, Borgue].
Q. What brought you to Edinburgh?
A. Yes.
Being shown a guinea of gold and asked twice what it was he answered a shilling. And being shown a shilling and asked what it was he answered a shilling. And being shown a half penny and asked what it was he answered a half penny.
Being shown a pen knife and asked what it was he answered a knife. And being shown a pair of spectacles and asked what they were he answered glass.
Being shown a watch and asked what it was he answered: do not tell.
Q. What is your name?
A. Hugh Blair.
Q. Whose son are you?
A. Yes.
Q. Can you write?
A. Yes.
And having set before him in writing as follows: answer the folloing question. What brought you to Edinburgh? In place of giving an answer in writing when desired he transcribed verbatim the writing so set before him.
And he having thereafter set down in writing before him thus: you are not to copy what is set before you but write an answer to this question. What was the reason of your coming to Edinburgh at this time? And in place of giving a written answer he copied this over in the same way which writing is upon a appaer hereto appended (see the previous essay).
Q. Are you married?
A. Nickie Mitchell.
Q. Is Nicholas Mitchell your wife?
A. Yes.
Q. Is Peggy Veitch your wife?
A. No.
Q. Do you live with Nickie Mitchell?
A. No.
Q. Do you live with May Gordon?
A. Yes.
Q. Do you live with Peggy Veitch?
A. No.
Q. Do you live with Mary Brown?
A. Mistress Mitchell.
Being asked a second time.
A. Marion.
Q. Were you ever in bed with Peggy Veitch?
A. Nicholas Mitchell.
Q. Whom do you love best?
A. Nickie Mitchell.
One of the Commissaries (judges) having asked Hugh Blair if he would marry him he answered yes.
Q. Is your wife alive?
A. Yes.
Q. Have you any bairns?
A. Bairns.
And the upon the question being put a second time.
A. Yes.
Conclusion
Well, if you were judge, what would you have decided? Would Hugh Blair have had the capacity, in your judgment, to enter into a marriage relationship? I am afraid I would have had to disagree with the court and say that he did.
Even though the judges disallowed Hugh's marriage, he and Nickie Mitchell continued to live together and they had not one but two children together.
I think the symptoms I list in the previous essay and the testimony in this essay show, however, that Hugh probably was autistic and moderately so. But what do you need to have in order to be a faithful/good husband and father? Especially since he had the resources and the oversight of his mother and wife, it is conceivable that Hugh could have been a good husband and father. But it was not to be.
We owe a debt of gratitude to Houston & Frith for bringing to light the fascinating case of Hugh Blair and making us think through what autism is and what legal capacity might be. They have enriched our understanding of the subject considerably.
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