THE PARISHES OF CRATHIE AND KINDROCHT (OR BRAEMAR.) 1

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PARISHES OF CRATHIE AND KINDROGHIT. 2
(A.D. M.DCC.XXXVI.)

1

RATHIE and Kindroghit are united parishes, in the shire, diocese, and commisiariot of Aberdeen, and presbytery of Kincardine O'Neil.

Both these parishes ly in Mar; and are from Ballachaillich, east, to Leadyolly, west, sixteen miles and an half in length, and about four miles broad in some places, but generally does not exceed one mile along the coursse of the river Dee, which extends itself from one end to the other of these parishes.

Examinable persons in this united parish are seventeen hundred and thirtyeight; whereof eleven hundred and ninety-six are protestants, and five hundred and forty-two, papists.

Here are two places of worship: the kirk of Crathie, where the minister's manse is; and the kirk of Kindrochit, six miles distant from Crathie; and the minister preaches in them by turns. 3

To understand aright the description of these parishes, it is necessary to mention the small straths on both sides, whose waters fall into Dee on both sides, and give name to these straths, beginning at the east end, and going on to the west.

1 [See Collections for a History of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, pp. 641-643.] 2 [From Macfarlane's Geographical Collections for Scotland, MSS. Bibl. Adv.]

3 ["Quid dicam de montanis Marriae, Strathaveniae, Strathspeiae, Atholiae, Badenochae, et Lochabriae, aliarumque similium regionum incolis? quid de Aebudanis? quorum multi rarissime, multi vero vix unquam, de Christo quicquam inaudiunt : cum apud eos aut penitus nulli, aut imperitissimi ac nequissimi, aut longissime inter se dissiti sint ministri evangelii. Alibi etiam quaedam ita sunt spatiis amplae ac populosae parochiae, ut tertiae populi parti instruendae vix sufficerent duo quamvis valentissimi ac vigilantissimi praecones; nedum ut uni, ut fit, ea provincia relinquenda sit. Alibi parochiae, olim tolerabiles, nunc, proh dolor, stimulante avaritia, per combinationes, et contrinationes, ad se invicem ita collisae sunt, ut earum unicus praefectus, dum multa agit, nihil peragat." (Gemitus Ecclesiae Scoticanae, sive Tractatus de Sacrilegio. Ex libro octavo Theologiae Moralis Joannis Forbesii, SS. Theologiae Doctoris, et ejusdem Professoris in Academia Aberdoniensi, cap. xiii. par. ii. sect. xiii. Aberdoniae, 1631. 4to.) This tract is reprinted in Dr. George Garden's edition of the works of the author, published by the Wetsteins at Amsterdam in 1703, but with the omission of an instructive dedication to the Primate, Archbishop Spottiswoode.]

At the east end of these parishes, Girnaig, a small water, (giving name to Strath-Girnaig,) runs into Dee from the south hills. Along, on one side of this water, are five dwelling places, situate among mountains, the farthest of which is two miles from that part of Dee to which this water runs.

From the eastmost end of these parishes, along the river Dee, to the kirk of Crathie, westward, are three miles. From thence, a corner of these parishes runs up among the hills, on the north side of Dee, as far as to the water of Garden, to the number of five miles. In this are ten dwelling places, some of them situate on each side of the water of Gairdin, and others of them scatter'd, here and there, att the foot of the mountains.

From the kirk of Crathie to Monaltry, westward, along the river Dee, will be a large mile from thence, along the water of Gelder, on the south side of Dee, are two dwelling places, att one miles distance from the mouth of Gelder.

From Monaltry, along the river Dee westward, is near a mile to Inver, where the water of Ferdur falls into Dee: in Glenfardur, along both sides of this water, are ten different dwelling places, some of them att two miles distance from Inver, among hills on the north side of Dee.

From Inver to the kirk of Brae-Mar, or Kindrochit, along the river Dee, westward, are four miles. A little to the westward of this kirk, the water of Cluny falls into Dee, from the south hills; and along both sides of this water are twelve dwelling places, some of them five miles from its fall into Dee.

From the kirk of Kindrochit, along the river Dee, to Alanquhoich, westward, are two miles. Here the water of Quhoich, or Coich, falls into Dee from the north hills; and on it there is only one dwelling, att the distance of a mile and a quarter from the embucheur of Coich.

From Alanquoich to Inver-Ey, west, are two miles, where the water of Eye falls into Dee from the south hills; and on both sides of this water are five different dwelling places, the furthest of them three miles from the embucheur of Ey into Dee.

A litle to the west of Inver-Ey, on the north side of Dee, the water of Luy runs into Dee. Along both sides of this water are five different dwellings, one of them three miles from that part of Dee into which Luy falls.

From Inver-Ey to Lead-yeolley, along the river, westward, are three miles. and a half. Here are several dwelling places, on both sides of Dee, amongst rugged hills; and this is the furthest habitable part of these parishes westward; but Brae-Mar reaches fifteen miles farther, but quite uninhabited, being lost as it were in a wild desert.

Formerly the Earl of Mar, now [William] Duff, Lord Bracco, is superior of most of these parishes.

Of both which parishes, having said so far in general, I shall now treat particularly; and, first, as to

BRAE-MAR OR KINDROCHIT.

It is called Brae-Mar, because it is the uppermost part of that division of Aberdeenshire called Mar; and Kindrochit, id est Bridge-end, because the church stands at the end of a timber bridge over Cluny, which gives name to GlenCluny, and runs here into Dee.

Chappels in Kindrochit are:

1. Eglis-kean-na-dallach, an old chappell at Dalmore.

2. Chappell of the Seven Maidens, at Inverey, where that family bury their dead.

3. Saint Bride's, at Crochauli.

4. Att Tom-an-taul.

5. At Balanard, two miles beneath the church, on Deeside; and

6. At Guastoch, five miles beneath the church, on Deeside.

There is also an Hospital here at Cairnwall, (called Shean-Spiddal, or old hospital,) where there is a road over the Grampian hills.

Mannors here are:

1. Inver-cauld, belonging to John Farquharson of Inver-cauld, commonly reckon'd chief of that name.

2. Inver-Ey, the seat of Charles Farquharson of Inver-Ey.

3. Auchindrein, the seat of Farquharson of Auchindrein.

4. Coldarach, the seat of Farquharson of Coldarach.

5. Allanquhoich, the seat of Farquharson of Allanquhoich.

6. Dalmore, the seat of M'Kenzie of Dalmore.

7. The King's Castle at Kindrochit or Castle-town, now ruinous, said to have been built by King Malcolm III.1

1 [" There is, upon the estate of Castletown of Braemar, the ruins of an ancient castle, built, as tradition reports, by King Malcolm Kenmore for a hunting seat. It stood on the top of a rock on the east side of the water of Cluny." (The Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. xiv., p. 350. Edinb. 1795.)

Kindrocht in Mar appears to have been often visited by King Robert II. Charters are extant, granted by him there, on the tenth of July, 1373; on the twenty-sixth of July, and the twenty-sixth of August, 1377; on the fourth of July, 1379; on the first and twentieth of August, 1380; and on the thirtieth of August, 1382. (Registrvm Magni Sigilli Regvm Scotorvm, pp. 99, 148, 171, 143, 164, 165; Kennedy's Annals of Aberdeen, vol. i., p. 478; Collections for a History of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, p. 316.) On the twenty-sixth of August, 1377, the King was attended by William, bishop of Saint

CRATHIE OR STRATHDEE.

The parish of Crathie is sometimes called Strath-Dee, because it is a plain along Dee; but that name extends somewhat further than Crathie parish.

1. Abergeldie, the seat of Gordon of Abergeldy: the old castle here is ruinous.

2. Monaltrie, belonging to Farquharson of Monaltrie, brother to Invercauld.

3. Aber-ardour, belonging to Inver-cauld.

4. Bal-murrel, the seat of Farquharson of Bal-murrel, brother to Inver-Ey. 5. Tulloch-coy, belonging to Farquharson of Tulloch-coy.

The kirk of Crathie is dedicate to St. Niniar or St. Manir;2 the kirk of Kindrochit, to St. Andrew the Apostle.

The stipend of both parishes, by a decreet of locality in King George the First's time, is eight hundred merks, besides communion elements.

Andrews; by John earl of Carric, steward of Scotland; Robert earl of Fife and Menteith; William earl of Douglas; John of Peblys, archdeacon of Saint Andrews, the King's chancellor; Sir James of Lyndesay, knight; and Sir Alexander of Lyndesay, knight. The same King granted a charter at Glenschee, on the twenty-seventh of June, 1376. (Registrvm Magni Sigilli Regvm Scotorvm, p. 131.)]

1 ["On the lands of Monaltry, and on the north bank of the river Dee, in a narrow pass, where there is not above sixty yards from the river to the foot of a high, steep, rocky hill, stands a cairn, known by the name of Carn-na-cuimhne, or cairn of remembrance. This is the watch word of the country. In former times, the moment the alarm was given that danger was apprehended, a stake of wood, the one end dipped in blood, and the other burnt, as an emblem of fire and sword, was put into the hands of the person nearest to where the alarm was given, who immediately ran with all speed, and gave it to his nearest neighbour, whether man or woman: that person ran to the next village or cottage, and so on, till they went through the whole country; upon which every man instantly laid hold of his arms and repaired to Cairn-na-cuimhne. The stake of wood was called Croishtarich. At this day, were a fray or squabble to happen at a market or any public meeting, such influence has this word over the minds of the country people, that the very mention of Cairn-na-cuimhne would, in a moment, collect all the people of this country who happened to be present, to the assistance of the person assailed." (The Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. xiv., pp. 351, 352.)]

2 [See Collections for a History of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, pp. 135—137.]

Carta Duncani comitis de Marr de ecclesia de Kindrouch (A.D. 1214A.D. 1234.)

Omnibus has litteras etc. Duncanus Comes de Marre salutem vniuersitati vestre notum facimus nos dedisse et hac carta nostra confirmasse Deo et Sancte Marie de Munimusc et canonicis ibidem Deo seruientibus et inperpetuum seruituris pro animabus antecessorum et successorum nostrorum ecclesiam Sancti Andree de Kindrouch cum ouencionibus et oblacionibus et omnibus aliis justis pertinenciis suis et cum vna acra terre in Aucatendregen ex altera parte amnis qui uocatur Alien in puram et perpetuam elemosinam Quare volumus quod prefati canonici prefatam ecclesiam Sancti Andree de Kindrouch habeant et possideant prout melius quiecius plenius honorificencius aliqua elemosina in toto regno Scocie • ex dono alicuius comitis uel baronis tenetur et possidetur. Testibus etc.

Confirmacio Gilberti Aberdonensis episcopi de ecclesia de Kindrouch (A.D. 1228-A.D. 1239.)

.

2

Omnibus sancte matris ecclesie filiis hoc scriptum visuris uel audituris Gilbertus miseracione diuina ecclesie Aberdonensis minister humilis eternam in Domino salutem Nouerit vniuersitas uestra nos ad presentacionem nobilis viri Domini Duncani Comitis de Marre dedisse concessisse et hac carta nostra confirmasse. Deo et ecclesie Sancte Marie de Munimusc et canonicis ibidem Deo seruientibus et seruituris ecclesiam Sancti Andree de Kindrouch. cum decimis oblacionibus et ouencionibus et omnibus aliis ad eandem ecclesiam iuste pertinentibus et cum vna acra terre in Auchatendregen ex altera parte amnis qui vocatur Alien Tenendam et habendam in puram et perpetuam elemosinam. adeo libere et quiete plenarie et honorifice sicut aliqua elemosina in regno Scocie liberius quiecius plenius et honorificencius tenetur et possidetur. Saluis episcopalibus. In huius rei testimonium presens scriptum sigilli mei munimine duximus roborandum Testibus etc.

1 [From the Liber Cartarum Prioratus Sancti Andree, p. 367.]

2 [From the Liber Cartarum Prioratus Sancti Andree, p. 368.

On the twenty-eighth of May, A.D. 1245, the same church of Saint Andrew of Kindrocht was confirmed to the prior and convent of Munimuse by Pope Innocent IV. (Id. p. 372; Collections for a History of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, pp. 177, 178.)]