ibidem recipiendorum

totam terram meam de Agynway scilicet unam dauacham tenendam sibi et habendam de me et heredibus meis in puram et perpetuam elemosinam per rectas divisas suas cum omnibus pertinentiis suis justis in bosco in plano in pratis in pascuis in moris in maresiis in stagnis et aquis et molendinis et omnibus aliis ad eam juste pertinentibus salva mihi et heredibus meis piscaria de Spe que ad eandem pertinet Quare volo et concedo ut predictum hospitale habeat et possideat predictam terram in puram et perpetuam elemosinam adeo libere quiete plenarie et honorifice sicut aliqua elemosina in toto regno Scotie ex dono alicujus liberius quietius plenius et honorificentius tenetur et possidetur reddendo inde singulis annis mihi et heredibus meis pro omni servitio et exactione ad nos vel ad predictam terram pertinente unam libram piperis ad Penthecosten. Testibus Andrea episcopo Moraviensi magistris Willelmo et Edwardo et Willelmo fratre meo canonicis Moraviensis ecclesie domino Waltero de Moravia filio quondam Hugonis de Moravia Michaele de Smalham et Roberto de Cockburn et Stephano servientibus meis

Confirmatio Eve de Morthach de ecclesia de Rothes . de ecclesia de Rothes (A.D. 1235—

A.D. 1242.)

.

Omnibus hoc scriptum visuris vel audituris domina Eva Morthach domina de Rothes salutem Sciant presentes et futuri me dedisse et concessisse et hac carta mea confirmasse Deo et beate Marie et beato Nicholao et hospitali Sancti Nicholai pontis de Spe ad sustentationem pauperum ibidem confluentium ecclesiam de Rothes et quicquid juris in ipsam habere potui quam inclite recordationis Muriel de Pollok mater mea eidem hospitali dedit et concessit Quare volo et concedo ut predictum hospitale perpetuo habeat et possideat predictam ecclesiam adeo libere · quiete plenarie et honorifice in puram elemosinam sicut aliqua ecclesia vel elemosina liberius quietius plenius et honorificentius ab aliquo laico patrono habetur et possidetur. In cujus rei testimonium huic scripto sigillum meum apposui Testibus domino Willelmo de Aston canonico Moraviensis ecclesie domino Willelmo vicario de Dundurkus domino. Henrico capellano de Rothes Matheo de Elgyn canonico Moraviensis ecclesie Roberto de Pollok. Ada filio Roberti Willelmo dispensatore et aliis .

1 [From the Registrum Episcopatus Moraviensis, p. 124.]

Confirmatio Episcopi Moraviensis. (A.D. 1235-A.D. 1242.) Omnibus sancte matris ecclesie filiis hoc scriptum visuris vel audituris Andreas divina permissione Moraviensis episcopus eternam in Domino salutem. Noveritis universi nos de consilio et voluntate et consensu capituli Sancte Trinitatis de Elgyn dedisse et concessisse et hac carta nostra confirmasse Deo et beato Nicholao et hospitali ejusdem sito juxta pontem. de Spe ad sustentationem pauperum ibidem recipiendorum in puram et perpetuam elemosinam ecclesiam de Rothes cum omnibus justis pertinentiis suis in obventionibus oblationibus et omnibus aliis redditibus ecclesiasticis ad eam de jure spectantibus. Quare volumus et concedimus ut predictum hospitale habeat et possideat predictam ecclesiam de Rothes cum omnibus pertinentiis suis in puram et perpetuam elemosinam adeo libere quiete plenarie et honorifice sicut aliquod beneficium ecclesiasticum in dyocesi nostra liberius quietius plenius et honorificentius tenetur et possidetur. Salvis Episcopalibus. In horum autem testimonium huic scripto apposita sunt sigillum nostrum autenticum et sigillum autenticum predicti capituli cum subscriptione fratrum Testibus domino. S decano ecclesie Moraviensis magistro Ricardo precentore Moraviensis ecclesie domino Willelmo cancellario domino Roberto thesaurario domino Ranulpho archidiacono magistris Edwardo et Willelmo Roberto Andrea Johanne canonicis ejusdem ecclesie Radulpho capel

.

THE PARISH OF ABERLOUR (OR SKIR-DROSTAN.) 1

ABERLAURE PARISH.2 (A.D. M.DCC.LXXV.)

HE parish of Aberlaure (all in the county of Banff) is called also Skir-Drustan. It extendeth on the bank of Spey, from the mouth of Fiddich, three miles to the south-west; and, on all other sides, is environed with hills, and no where above a mile in breadth, except a small skirt in Glenrinnes.

The church standeth on the bank of the river, where a

brook, flowing from the hills towards Mortlich, falleth into it,

two miles north-west of Mortlich, two miles near to the west of Boharm, and three miles and a half north-east of Inveravon. At the confluence of Fiddich and Spey, there is a passage boat, and another at the church.

Aberlaure and Skirdrostan (the last dedicated to St. Durstan) were distinct charges; but how early they were united, I find not. In M.DC.XL., Walter Innes of Auchluncart, Adam Duff of Drummuir, and James Sutherland, tutor of Duffus, presented severally to this church; and Duffus's right being examined by the commissaries of Moray and Inverness, and some ministers, was found good (Synod Records). Now, the Earl of Fife acteth as patron; probably as coming in the place of Lord Balvenie. The stipend is eight hundred and fifty merks, with fifty merks for communion elements. The school is not legal. The mortifications are by Alexander Grant of Alachie, one hundred pounds: by William Innes of Kinermonie, (for which the Earl of Fife pays annually three and a half bolls oatmeal,) three hundred and fifty pounds: by John Proctor, sixty-six pounds, thirteen shillings and fourpence: by Patrick Clark in Boharm, thirty pounds by Alexander Green, sixty-six pounds, thirteen shillings and fourpence: and by John MacKeran in Glenrinnes, sixty-six pounds, thirteen shillings and fourpence: total, (in Scots money) six hundred and eighty pounds. The catechisable persons are

1["The name of this parish, Skirdustan, is derived from the Gaelic skir, to cut or divide, and Dustan, the name of its tutelary saint, the whole signifying Dustan's division or parish." (The New Statistical Account of Scotland, number xi., p. 110. Edinb. 1836.) "The name of Aberlour parish is derived from its local situation, at the mouth of a noisy burn, where it discharges itself into the Spey." (The Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. iv., p. 64. Edinb. 1792.) "Near the influx of the burn of Aberlour, on the daugh of Allachie, stand the roofless walls of the old church; and about three hundred yards farther to the east, on the same plain, is the new church, erected in the year 1812." (The New Statistical Account of Scotland, number xi., p. 116.)]

2 [From Shaw's History of the Province of Moray, pp. 29, 30, 329, 330]

eight hundred and forty. The protestant ministers are: Mr. John Stuart, settled before M.DC.XXIV., died on the first of April, M.DC.XXXIX. : Mr. George Speed, ordained in June, M.DC.XL., died on the twenty-second of August, M.DC.LXVIII.: Mr. Robert Stephen, ordained in summer, M.DC.LXIX., died in December, M.DCC.V. : Mr. Robert Stephen, ordained on the eighteenth of September, M.DCC.VII., transported to Craig of Munross in M.DCC.XIV.: Mr. George Lindsey, from Rothes, admitted in winter, M.DCC.XIV., died in M.DCC.XV.: Mr. Daniel MacKenzie from Kingusie, admitted in December, M.DCC.XV., transported to Inveravon in M.DCC.XVIII.: Mr. Robert Duff, ordained in March, M.DCC.XIX., died in July, M.DCC.XXXVIII.: Mr. John Touch, ordained on the thirty-first of May, M.DCC.XXXIX., transported to Mortlich in M.DCC.LXIII.: Mr. James Thomson, ordained in M.DCC. admitted on the twentieth of February, M.DCC.LXVI. Nota bene: lite pendente, the Duke of Gordon and Earl of Fife agreed to this last settlement, salvo jure.

The parish is now the property of five heritors.

In the lower end is Mudhouse, a feu pertaining to Mr. Anderson.

Next up the river is the heritage of Gordon of Aberlaure.

This

Further up the river, and on the south-east of the brook, is Alachie.1 was the heritage of Alexander Grant, third son of Bellentom, by whose daughter it came in mortgage to Duff of Keithmore, and was lately redeemed by Sir Ludowick Grant, who, in M.DCC.LVIII., disponed it to James Grant of Caron.

In the face of the hill, south-west from Alachie, is Edinvillie. This was the property of Gordon of Faskine, from whom it came to Grant of Easter Elchies, and now is the property of the Earl of Findlater.

The lands of Mudhouse, Aberlour, Alachie, and Edinvillie, were a part of the lordship of Balvenie ; and the lands of Caron where church lands, and now hold of the family of Gordon.

Below Edinvillie, towards the side of the river, is the barony of Kinermonie. This was a part of the lordship of Balvenie, and was given by Innes of Balvenie to his second son, whose heirs exchanged it for Ortown, and now it is the property of the Earl of Fife.

1 ["Carta feodifirmae ab Episcopo Moraviensi cum consensu capituli concessa Jacobo Grant de Fruychie et Johanni Grant ejus filio et heredi apparenti, terrarum de Lagane, Ardinche, Auchnahandet, in vicecomitatu de Invernes; Cowilnakile, Auchehangane, Wester Daltuly, Ester Daltuly, et croftae de Cardell, in vicecomitatu de Elgin et Forres; et Ardaly et Alloquhy in vicecomitatu de Banff; una cum piscationibus de Ardinche super lacum ejusdem et super aquam de Spey, de Ester Daltuly et Wester Daltuly, Alloquhy et Ardaly, Dalwey, Adwy, Tullecquhene, Adwoke et Calatar super eandem aquam de Spey; in baronia de Strathspey et regalitate de Spyne: Reddendo annuatim sexaginta sex libras octodecim solidos et quatuor denarios: Apud Elgin in loco capitulari Moraviensi, 7 Maii 1541." (Registrum Episcopatus Moraviensis, p. 411.) See also pp. 449, 450.]

In the west end of the parish is Carron, at the foot of the hill of that name. It continued above two hundred years, the property of a branch of the family of Grant of Glenmorriston; and colonel John Grant, the last of Carron, being killed before Carthagena, anno M.DCC.XLI., without male issue, Charles Grant of Ringorum became the male heir. From him captain Lewis Grant of Achterblair, a branch of the Clan Allan (and who married colonel Grant's eldest daughter), purchased his right; and now captain James Grant, his son, enjoyeth it, and in M.DCC.LXVII., was made baron of Mulderie, in the county of Moray.

Confirmatio canoniarum de Petin. Bracholi Butrothen. et de Abirlochur 2 (A.D. 1224.)

Honorius episcopus servus servorum Dei venerabili fratri Moraviensi episcopo salutem et apostolicam benedictionem Justis petentium desideriis dignum est nobis facilem prebere consensum et vota que a tramite rationis non discordant effectu prosequente complere Cum igitur ecclesie tue utilitate pensata de decimis bladi villarum quarundam videlicet Petyn ·

["Carta feodifirmae terrarum de Carrane in baronia de Strathspey et vicecomitatu de Banff ab Episcopo Moraviensi concessa Johanni Grant de Culcabok in vitali redditu, et Johanni Grant Roy ejus filio et heredibus masculis de corpore; quibus deficientibus Alexandro Grant fratri gerniano dicti Johannis Grant Roy et heredibus masculis de corpore; quibus deficientibus Jacobo Grant filio dicti Johannis Grant de Culcabock et heredibus masculis de corpore; quibus deficientibus Jacobo Grant de Fruyche et heredibus masculis de corpore; quibus deficientibus heredibus masculis dicti Jacobi Grant de Fruyche quibuscunque cognomen et arma de Grant gerentibus: cum potestate piscandi super aquam de Spey in singulis limitibus terrarum cum retibus et cimbis, lie wathsperis et currokis : Reddendo annuatim novem libras, tres solidos, quatuor denarios: Apud Elgin, 7 Maii 1541." (Registrum Episcopatus Moraviensis, p. 397.) "Confirmatio ab Episcopo Moraviensi, cartae venditionis a Johanne Grant Roy factae, de terris de Carrane et Roymoir, Elizabethae Maxwell relictae quondam Johannis Reid de Straloch in vitali redditu, apud civitatem Dunkeldensem, 1 Oct. 1568: Apud Spyne, 26 Aprilis, 1571." (Ibid.) See also pp. 449, 450.]

2 [From the Registrum Episcopatus Moraviensis, p. 72. See also pp. 75, 92, 223; and above pp. 280-283.

The prebendary of Aberlour was bound to provide a deacon to serve as his substitute in the cathedral church at Elgin. (Registrum Episcopatus Moraviensis, pp. 94, 361.) In the year 1238, Andrew canon of Aberlour ("ego Andreas canonicus de Abyrlouer") is one of the prebendaries who adhibit their signatures to the constitutions for the service of the cathedral. (Id. pp. 103-105.) On the second of August, 1473, Thomas of Saint Clair, or Sinclair, is prebendary of Abirlour. (Id. pp. 256, 257.) On the twenty-third of October, 1487, and on the eighth of May, 1489, master Alexander Sutherland is prebendary of Abirlour. (Id. pp. 257, 264, 265.)]