About half a mile below the said Wallach Kirk, lyeth the lands of Dummeath, which were gifted by King Malcome the Second to the church; but are now in possession of Duff of Braco. To the north-east, by the river side, standeth the ruinous house of Edinglassie,' (a mile below Beldorny, and south-west from the church of Glass, the like distance) once belonging to the late Sir George Gordon of Edinglassie, father to the present Carnousie; but is now in the possession of the said Braco. About a quarter of a mile below this house, runneth a considerable burn, which runneth into Divern, over which the said Sir George built a stone bridge of one arch, upon which is engraven his name and arms. Near to this bridge standeth ane miln with a litle village and tolbooth, which he dessigned for a burgh of baronie.2 At the said village is holden ane yearly mercat, on the Tuesday before Cristmass, called St. Wallach Fair. On the south side of the river, within fifty paces thereto, standeth the house of Aswanly, south-east from the church half a mile, in a pleasant situation, whereby there runneth a small burn be east the house, called The Hallburn, which falleth into Divern. Near to the house, within a pair of butts, is a pleasant wood be east the same, with variety of trees and other shrubs, but chiefly of birch and allers, on the precipitous bank of the Deveron. The Saint's Well is near to the church, and was formerly much resorted to by diseased persons; and, even in our own day, it is said, a so. litary pilgrim may sometimes be seen brushing away the dews, on a summer morning, on his way to Walla Kirk.' Two pools, called baths, formed by the flowing of the Deveron between two rocks, were also held in great estimation for effecting cures in the month of May; and till lately, multitudes of diseased children were bathed in these pools, on the first day of that month, and their caps or some other part of their attire left floating on the water."] 1 [See Historicall Account of the Origine and Succession of the Family of Innes, collected from authentick writs in the chartor-chist of the samen, pp. 57, 58. Edinb. 1820. 4to: "As to Innermarky, he was forced for a while to take the hills, and when he wearied of that, he had a retreat of difficult access within the house of Edinglassie, where he sleept in litle enough security; for in September 1584, his house was surprized by laird Robert, and that retireing place of his first entred by Alexander Innes, afterwards of Cotts, who all his life was called Craig in Perill, for ventureing upon Innermarky, then desperate, and whose cruelty he helped to repay in its own coine. There was no mercy for him; for slain he was, and his hoar head cutt off, and taken by the widdow of him whom he had slain, and carried to Edinburgh, and casten at the King's feet: a thing too masculine to be commended in a woman."] 2 [See Municipal Corporations (Scotland). Appendix to the General Report of the Commissioners, p. 66. Lond. 1835. fol. Presented to both Houses of Parliament, by command of His Majesty.] about a mile of length, and a quarter in breadth 1 And there is two things for which the house is chiefly famous, and these are: primo, a daughter thereof was married to the house of Huntly, who bore two sons, commonly called Jok and Tam: Jok had three sons, Buckie, Pitlurg, and Lismore, whose posterity do possess their heretage and possessions to this day, but of doubtfull precedency, for the pedigree is uncertain: After the death of the mother of Jok and Tam, Huntley maried the Kings only sister (and setled the estate and honours upon her issue, disinheriting the children of the first marriage), who bore ane only daughter, maried to one of the house of Wintoun, by whom came the Seatoun [- Gordons.] The second thing is the way and manner the ancestors of the present Asswanly came to the inheritance, which was thus: There was one Hutcheon Calder in company with Huntley when he went to the batell of Brichen against the Earle of Crawford, who by his cunning and courage got into the camp of Earle Beardy, and likewise into his tent, who, after supper, brought away the said Earl's drinking cup, (which cup Calder of Asswanlie keeps to this day,) being a large silver cup, overlaid with gold, holding a Scots pint and two gills, of fine engraven and carved work, and with a cape upon which there is ane inscription, which is now lost; wherewith returning to the camp, in the silence of the night, he gave account to Huntley of the situation of Earle Beardy's camp, and number of his forces; and, as a testimony of his being there, produced the said cup: upon which intelligence they attacked Crawfoord in the morning, and defeated his forces; for which service the said Hutcheon Calder obtained the lands of Aswanlie, whose posterity possess it to this day. 2 In the east end of the parish, and north side of the river, lyeth the ruinous house of Cairnborrow, 3 east from the church a mile, and west from Strabogie 1 ["There are some fine old trees of ash and plane about the old mansion houses of Aswanly and Beldorney, and the whole scenery about the latter is grand and picturesque." (The New Statistical Account of Scotland, number xxxviii., p. 207.)] 2 [See A Concise History of the Antient and Illustrious House of Gordon, by C. A. Gordon, pp. 42-44. Aberdeen. 1754. 8vo; Nisbet's System of Heraldry, vol. ii., part iv., appendix, pp. 230, 231, edit. ult.] 3 ["The day before the battle of Glenlivet, [A.D. 1594.] the Marquis of Huntly came to Cairnborrow, and applied to his lady, who was supposed to rule the roast, for her assistance. She said she had got short warning; but that her old man, with his eight sons, with a jackman and a footman to each, should attend him immediately. Huntly thanked her; and after some more conversation with her, desired Cairnborrow, who had spoke never a word, to stay at home, telling him, that at his advanced years it was not proper to take him along, especially as he had so many of his sons. The old man heard him out, and, shrugging up his shoulders, said, Na, na, my lord, I'll blead the whelps mysell; they'll bite the better.' This was at once the reply of a sportsman and a soldier; and the whole family went to three miles, formerly belonging to the Gordons of Carnborrow, but now in the possession of Braco; Sir James Gordon of Park being the only representative of that house. About half a mile to the east of this, is the King's highway from south to north, which devideth the parish from Cairny; and, through this parish, along the water side, leadeth the highway from Aberdeen to the Highlands. In this parish are a great many lime quarries, from which the countrey about are supplied with lime, there being much moss there for burning of it, especially in the south side of the parish; from which runs a small rivulet called Gordon-burn, which divideth the parish of Glass from the parish of Gartley, and falls into Diveran at Arthlach, where is an inn for lodging passengers. A DESCRIPTION OF THE PARISH OF GLASS.1 (circa A.D. M.DCC.XXVI.) GLASS, or the green parish, (so called, being surrounded with green hills,) is debattle with the laird at their head. They defeated Argyle, and returned all safe to Cairn. borrow. The writer has seen a manuscript in which the names of the father, mother, and eight sons are all mentioned: John Gordon of Cairnborue married Bessie Gordon, daughter to the laird of Buckie, with whom he begat eight sons and three daughters. His sons were 1. John, laird of Cairnborue, afterwards of Edinglassie; 2. George Gordon of Sorbach; 3. James Gordon of Fermaghtie; 4. William, who coft Cairnborrow; 5. Mr. Arthur Gordon; 6. Thomas Gordon of Aitloch; 7. Robert Gordon of Gollachie; 8. Patrick Gordon of Craigston in Sutherland. All these with their father, and nine jackmen and as many footmen, went to Glenlivet battle.'" (The Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. xix. p. 294. Edinb. 1797.)] Carta alienationis concessa Joanni Gordoune de Carneborrow heredibus suis masculis et assignatis, ab Alexandro magistro de Elphinstoune feoditario terrarum et baronie de Kildrimmy, cum consensu Alexandri domini de Elphinstoune patris ejus, domini vitalis redditus earundem terrarum, de terris de Belnaglak in baronia de Kildrimmy infra vicecomitatum de Abirdene : apud Kildrimmy, 23 Octob. 1605: testibus, Thoma Espleyne in Newbiging, Franscisco Somervel, Jacobo Smith servitoribus dicti Magistri de Elphinstoune, magistro Arthuro Andersone et Alexandro Leask notariis publicis. Instrumentum saisine earundem terrarum, super preceptum in instrumento copiatum, datum eisdem die et loco eisdemque testibus qui in carta: ballivo, Joanne Gordoune filio legittimo dicti Joannis Gordoune de Carneborrow: procuratore, Georgio Andersone seruitore Gulielmi Gordoune apparentis de Carneborrow: testibus, Georgio Calder, Gulielmo Mulsone, Joanne Suttour, tenentibus in dicta villa de Belnaglak et Nicolao Stewart servitore Alexandri Coupar ibidem notario publico, Alexandro Middiltoune: 20 Aug. 1606. (Original in the possession of the Club.) : 1 [From a MS. Account of Scotish Bishops, in the library at Slaines.] dicated to Saint Andrew; and here Saint Andrew's Fair is held in July. The church has an isle. This parish was taken out of Saint Peter's of Drumdelgie, and Saint Wolock's of Dummeth. Here are still to be seen Saint Wolock's Kirk (ruined,) and Saint Wolock's Well, with two pools between two rocks, called baths, esteemed of great virtue, so that children frequent them much in May. A DESCRIPTION OF GLASS PARISH, IN ABERDEENSHIRE. (A.D. M.DCC.XLII.)1 BY JAMES FERGUSON. Glass parish is bounded, on the north, by Botriphny and Cairnie parishes; on the east, by part of Cairnie and Dumbennan parishes; on the south, by part of Dumbennan, alias Strathbogie, and Gartly parishes; on the west, by part of Cabrach and Mortlach. The church lies four miles, west and by south, from Huntly or Strathbogy; and has the river Dovern running near it, on the north syde. The length of the parish from north to south, is four miles; its breadth, three miles. About a quarter of a mile to the south-east from the church, lies Calder of Aswanlie's house; and to the south-west, two miles, Gordon of Beldorny's. About two miles south-east from the church, is an old chappel, called Wella Kirk, so termed by the peasants thereabout, who ascribe wonderful qualities to its There is another old chapel, two miles south-west from the church, called water. St. Peter's Kirk, both frequented as burial places. Since the revolution, the ministers here have been Mr. Alexander Alexander, 2 who died A.D. M.DCC.XIV.; Mr. Syme,3 now at Mortlach; and the present Mr. Chalmers, who was settled A.D. M.DCC.XXXVII. The number of examinable persons is about nine hundred. The Duke of Gordon is patron. 1 [From Macfarlane's Geographical Collections for Scotland, MSS. Adv. Bibl.] 2 [See F. Douglas' Description of the East Coast of Scotland, p. 149; List of Pollable Persons within the Shire of Aberdeen, 1696, vol. ii. p. 461. Aberdeen, 1844, 4to.] 3 [" It is worthy of notice, that the maternal great-grandfather of Henry lord Brougham and Vaux, Mr. Walter Sim, was minister here about the beginning of last century, and was thence translated to the neighbouring parish of Mortlach, where he died." (The New Statistical Account of Scotland, number xxxviii., p. 205.) See also number xxviii., p. 448. Mr. Sim, or Syme, died on the sixth of January, 1763. Province of Moray, p. 325.)] (Shaw's History of the THE PARISH OF CAIRNIE; OR THE UNITED PARISHES OF RUTHVEN, AND BOTARIE (OR SAINT MARTIN'S KIRK), WITH PART OF DRUMDELGY (OR SAINT PETER'S KIRK.) A DESCRIPTION OF THE PARISH OF CAIRNIE. (circa A.D. M.DCC.XXVI.) HIS parish is made up of the three old parishes of Botarie, 1 [From a MS. Account of Scotish Bishops, in the library at Slaines.] 2 ["Cairny is made up of the united parishes of Botary, Rathven, and part of Drumdelgy. There are three churchyards in the parish: St. Peter's is considered as the most holy ground, and consecrated to the catholics." (The Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. xii., pp. 127, 128. Edinb. 1794.) "In the church of Botarie there is a fragment of an aisle, belonging to the Gordons of Pitlurg, with the following inscription : SIR. IOHNE . GORDONE • OF . PETLVRG . 6 AND HIS note.) REMEMBERANS OF • HIS · PREDICES • TO BE · ANE BVRIAL · TO. HIM. PLESIS • GOD • THAY • CON AS IT 1597.'" (Extracts from the Presbytery Book of Strathbogie, pref., p. viii., "The gable and belfry of the old church of Ruthven still remain, as well as part of the north wall of the church. In a niche of the latter there is placed the effigy of Tam of Rivan,' one of the sons of Sir Adam Gordon of Huntly. He is in full panoply, but there is no inscription to his memory. The belfry of Ruthven still contains a bell of fine tone, on which is the following inscription: Omne regnum in seipsum divisum desolabitur, 1643. The bell is generally known by the name of The Wow of Rivan,' and is said to have been brought from the Low Countries." (Ibid.) See also the Archaeologia Scotica, vol. iii., pp. 6-8, and plate 2, figure 3. "In digging near the present church of Cairney (which is about two miles to the west of the old church of Rivan) a tomb was discovered, composed of flat stones, arranged so as to resemble a box without a bottom. The interior dimensions were four feet in length, three feet in breadth, and eighteen inches in depth. It contained a human skeleton, nearly entire the head was at the east end of the tomb, and close beside lay an urn containing about a handful of mould. The urn is made of unburnt or half-burnt clay, evidently formed by the hand, without the use of a wheel; and part at least of the ornaments appear to have been impressed by a cord or notched tool. It is about six inches in height, and its circumference at the mouth is about eighteen inches." (Notes on some antiquities in the parish of Cairnie, in Aberdeenshire, by Andrew Dun, F.S.A., Scot. [December, 1836] MSS. Bibl. Soc. Antiq. Scot.) The urn is in the museum of the society. The churches of Elchies and Botarie were erected into a prebend of the cathedral church |