of the parish, was a chapel of ease, dedicated to St. Brigida or Bryde. The stipend is eight hundred merks, and fifty merks for communion elements. There is no legal school. The examinable persons are about a thousand, whereof two hundred are Roman Catholicks. The Protestant ministers are: Mr. Peter Grant, minister at Kirk-Michael and Cromdale about M.DC.: Mr. John Ray succeeded, and was transported to Dundurcos in M.DC.LI.: Mr. Alexander Gordon, ordained in M.DC.LI., died in M.DC.LXXXIV.: Mr. Colin Nicholson, from Abernethie, admitted in M.DC.LXXXV., died on the twenty-fifth of September, M.DCC.IX.: Mr. Duncan MacLea, ordained in September, M.DCC.XII., transported to Doul in M.DCC.XVII.: Mr. David Muschet, ordained in M.DCC.XVIII., died in M.DCC.XXIV.: Mr. George Grant, ordained on the twenty-first of September, M.DCC.XXV., died on the twenty-seventh of April, M.DCC.LXXII. Mr. Robert Farquharson, ordained on the fourth of October, M.DCC.LXXII.

On the west side of the river, at the foot of Cromdale hill, are, from north to south, the lands of Inveraurie, Inverlochie, and Forletter, the property of the Duke of Gordon.

Above these, on the banks of the river, is Delnaboe, for some generations the heritage of a branch of the Clan Allan, but now the property of Sir James Grant of Grant.

Above Delnaboe, on both sides of the river, are Achnahyle, once a mortgage of James Grant, brother to Easter Elchies; Dellavorar, for three generations the wadset of a branch of the M'Gregors; and Gavelack. These, and some other possessions, are now wadsetted by William Gordon, grandson to Glenbucket.

Above Gavelack, Glenavon runneth into the Grampian hills about twelve miles, and is a rich pasture for cattle, and a forrest for red deer.

where now the kirk stands, was anciently dedicated. Near the kirk there is a fountain, once highly celebrated, and anciently dedicated to St. Michael. It now lies neglected, choked with weeds, unhonoured and unfrequented. In better days the winged guardian, under the semblance of a fly, was never absent from his duty. If the matron wished to know the issue of her husband's ailment, or the maiden that of her lover, they visited the well of St. Michael. Every movement of the sympathetic fly was regarded in silent awe; and as he appeared cheerful or dejected the votaries drew their presages." (The Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. xii., pp. 425, 464, 465.) "On the summit of a hill called Mealaghaneimh, is a stone called Clachbhan (from clach, a stone, and bean, a woman). On one side it measures twenty feet on the other side it is lower and of a sloping form. In face of it, two seats have been excavated, resembling that of an armed chair. Till of late, this stone used to be visited by pregnant women, not only of this, but from distant countries, impressed with the belief that, by sitting in these seats, the pains of travail would become easy to them." (Id., p. 429.)]

On the east side of the river, below the church, is Dell: above the church is Ruthven-Camdale, where, in M.DCC.LIV., a bridge of three arches was built over the river on the military road.

Next is Cromdale Bhrid, or Brigida's Camdale.

And on Conglas rivulet are several possessions, particularly Achriachan, which, for about two hundred years, was the inheritance of a branch of the Farquharsons, but is now the property of the Duke of Gordon.

Decreitt of the lordis of consale for the infeftment of Inrowreyis and Inuerlochy (22 October 1495.)

1

In the actioune and cause persewit be Alexander lord Gordoune on the aparte aganis Johne the Grant of Fruchy on the tothirparte for the wrangwis detencioune and withalding fra the said Alexander of the soume of sex hundreth merkis vsuale money of Scotlande clamit be him of the said Johne because he has nocht infeft the said Alexander lord Gordoune nor maid him to be infeft heretabelely in the twa landis and tovnys off Inrowreyis and Inuerlochy liand uithin the schirefdome of Banff and in the landis off Fochillater with thair pertinentis liand within the schirefdome of Inuernes alse frely as euer Johne Narne broikyt and joysit the sammyn landis with thare pertinentis in ony time bigain The quhilk infeftment suld haff been maid before the terme of Sanct Mertyne in wynter last bipast and is failyeit in the said Johnis defalt as is allegiit The said Johne the Grant beand lauchfully summond oft tymmes callit and nocht comperit The said Alexander lord Gordoune beand personaly present his richtis ressonis and allegaciounis at lenth sene hard and vnderstandin / The lordis of consale beand tharewitht riply avisit decrettis and deliueris that the said Johne the Grant sall withtin xl dais nixt eftir he be chargeit infeft the said Alexander lord Gordoune or mak him to be infeft heretabelely in the saidis twa landis and tovnys of Inrowreis and Inuerlochy and in the landis of Fochillater with thare pertinentis alse frely as the predecessouris of the said Johne the Narne broikit the sammyn efter the forme of his band and contract in forme of instrument vndir thre notaris signis schewin

1 [From the Acta Dominorum Concilii, p. 398; Robertson's Parliamentary Records of Scotland, p. 466.]

.

and producit before the lordis The quhilk xl dais beand bipast and the said infeftment nocht maid as said is the lordis ordinis that lettrez be writtin to distrenye the said Johne the Grant his landis and gudis for the said somme of sex hundreth merkis and to mak the said Alexander lord Gordoune be pait tharof eftir the tenor of the said instrument

Tulloch aganis Schir Walter Stewart of Straithoun. 1 1492-3.)

(5 February

The lordis of consale assignis to Alexander Tulloch the xv day of April nixt tocum with continiatioune of dais to preif sufficiently that Walter Stewart of Straithovn knycht is awand to the said Alexander as are to vinquhile his faider the soume of merkis And alse to preif sufficiently that Mergrete laidy Dvn and Jonet Ogilby laidy Leis is awand him a croce of gold with a precious stane callit a ruby and vij orient perle with a pece of bane of Sanct Magnis hed and the price tharof And ordinis him to haf letrez to summond his witnes and the partij to here thaim sworne

1 [From the Acta Dominorum Concilii, p. 273.

The King's chamberlain of Marr, in the year 1438, takes credit for a payment made by him for driving the King's brood horses from Strathawn to Strathdon : " et quinque hominibus Walteri Stewart de Strathowne agitancium vndecim equos indomitos a Strathowne vsque Inuernochty V . solidi" (The Chamberlain Rolls of Scotland, vol. iii.

p. 387. Edinb. 1817-45.)]

IN THE PRESBYTERY OF TURREFF.

THE PARISH OF ALVATH.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PARISH OF ALVA. BY MR. WILLIAM OGILVY, A.D.

M.DCC.XXII.1

LVA parish bordereth on the south with Marnoch parish; and on the south-east with the parish of Forglen; and on the north-east with Banff.

The church stands half a mile from Deveron water to the eastward; and a myle from the church, to the east-southeast, stands a dwelling, now almost demolished, called Auchinbaidy, of the name of Mortimer, now belonging to Mr.

2

Andrew Hay of Mountblairy; whose dwelling house Mount

blairy, stands just on Deveron water, two miles from the church, south-east. Opposite to the same, standeth a dwelling, called Dunlugus, on the other side of the water of Deveron: a little distance from it, to the east, in the parish of

[From Macfarlane's Geographical Collections for Scotland, MSS. Adv. Bibl.]

2 ["There is on the farm of Auchenbadie an apparently artificial mound of earth, nearly fifty feet high it is known by the name of 'The Ha' hill.'" (The New Statistical Account of Scotland, number xxxviii.. p. 162. Edinb. 1842.)

:

"Some years ago, a tumulus was opened on the farm of Sandlaw, containing several rudely sculptured vases of baked earth. In a tumulus, on the farm of Boghead, were found several vases of a similar kind, containing ashes: contiguous to this tumulus is a large stone called carlin kist.' In digging into a small gravel hillock, near Montblairy, a rude stone case or coffin, about four feet square, was discovered, and, on removing the stone which formed the lid, were found ashes and fragments of calcined bones. In digging graves in the churchyard, several vases containing ashes have been found, but differing from others discovered in the parish, in having handles attached, and in being glazed over with a substance resembling the exterior coating of the coarse earthenware of the present day. On the eastern brow of the Hill of Alvah, is a large cairn, chiefly of small stones and earth, of an elliptical form, covering an area of about twenty falls, and in the centre rising to the height of seven or eight feet. Two smaller cairns are to be seen on the Hill of Tipperty and on the farm of Itlaw. On the farm of Boreldales, there remain four large stones of a Druidical circle; and on the farm of Newton of Montblairy, one large stone marks the site where, a few years ago, stood another circle of much larger dimensions. Some time ago,

Alva, and from Mountblairy, to the south-west, one myle, stands a house, called Rosieburn, belonging to the laird of Bogue, Steuart, on a little burn, in which there is plenty of trouts, called Rosieburn.

From Mountblairy, to the south-east, one mile, is an old dwelling, now ruinous, called Bogue of Mountblairy, near Deveron, to the east, where is also an old chappel. From that, on the same water syde of Deveron, south-east, is a dwelling, called Todlae, lately belonging to the name of Mercer, now to Lord Forglen. The church standeth near a hill, to the south, called Hill of Alva, 2 and at the head of the parish. The church is two myles from Banff.

a Druidical circle was found under ground, in digging deep into an old garden on the farm of Wardend." (The New Statistical Account of Scotland, number xxxviii., pp. 161, 162.)

The Parson of Rothiemay relates how the wars of the Great Rebellion were foretokened, in the year 1638, by "that visione of an army, seen within four myles of Banfe, upon the Hill of Manderlee," an eminence which lies on the borders of the parishes of Alvah and Aberchirder. (Gordon's History of Scots Affairs, from MDCXXXVII. to MDCXLI., vol. i., p. 58.) Similar visions, it is yet told by the neighbourhood, preceded the battle of Culloden.

Apparent dirae facies, inimicaque Trojae
Numina.]

1 ["At the farm of Bog of Mountblairie are the remains of an old castle, situated in a swamp now overgrown with alder, and said to have been built by the Earl of Buchan; and on the eminence above it are the ruins of a chapel, adjoining to which is a well, famed of old for its sovereign charms, but now fallen into disrepute. Within these few years there was an iron ladle beside it; and many still alive remember to have seen the impending boughs adorned with rags of linen and woollen garments, and the cistern enriched with farthings and bodles, the offerings of those who came from afar to the fountain." (The Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. iv., p. 399. Edinb. 1792.) "The ruins of the ancient castle which once stood near Montblairy are now levelled with the ground; and the swamp on which it stood has become a fruitful field." (The New Statistical Account of Scotland, number xxxviii., p. 162.)]

2 [The Hill of Alvah, which rises to a very great height, is thus described by an indigenous poet:

'Erigit ad nubes hic se mons Alvius ingens,
Ostentatque procul conspicienda juga:

Hic quoque templa Deûm surgunt in monte locata

Sublimi; surgit Pieridumque domus.'

At the foot of the hill, towards the north, is a spring which passes by the name of Com's, or Colm's Well, in honour, very probably, of the renowned saint of Icolumkill." (The Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. iv., pp. 394, 399.) Cf. The New Statistical Account of Scotland, number xxxviii., pp. 147, 154, 155.]