History of the Parish of Banchory-Devenick Is More Or Less a Compilation Drawn from Material Published and Un- Published
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HISTORY OF THE PARISH BANCHORY-DEVENICK JOHN A. BEND THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES I HISTORY of the parish of BANCHORY-DEVENICK BY JOHN A. HENDERSON WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY WILLIAM TAYLOR ABERDEEN : D. WYLLIE & SON MDCCCXC TAYLOR AND HENDERSON, LITHOGRAPHERS AND PRINTERS, TO THE QUEEN, ADELPHI PRESS, ABERDEEN. INTRODUCTION. LIKE many works of a similar character, the following History of the Parish of Banchory-Devenick is more or less a compilation drawn from material published and un- published. While of a fragmentary nature, and in many respects incomplete, the subject-matter has been carefully verified as far as possible, although, for the sake of brevity, cumbrous lists of authorities have not been stated. The illustrations throughout the work have been introduced with a view of interesting the reader, and at the same time pictorially preserving several objects which are likely, in the course of time, to be lost sight of. The Author tenders his most grateful thanks to the many kind friends who have aided him in the collection of matter. He acknowledges his special indebtedness to Mr. A. M. MUNRO, Town House, Aberdeen, and Mr. J. MALCOLM BULLOCH, M.A., Aberdeen (the latter is responsible for the chapter on the Bridge of Dee), both of whom have rendered signal service. AVONDALE, CULTS, January, 1890. 531792 UBRAR7 CONTENTS. Page BOUNDARIES OF THE PARISH, i Boundaries, i. Derivation of name, Banchory, 2. BANCHORY LANDS, - 3 Kirktown granted to the See of Old Machar Banchory- Devenick granted to the Abbot and Convent of Arbroath; thereafter to Lord Alan Hostiarius, 3. History of Lord Alan Succession of the Meldrum Family, 3, 4. History of the Meldrums, 5-8. Rental of Fishings, 8. Purchase by the Garden Family, and their History, 8-12. Forbes Family and their History, 12-14. Murder of Alexander Irvine of Kingcausie by William Forbes, 14-17. Purchase by Robert Cruick- shank, Provost of Aberdeen, 17. James Gordon, 20. Purchase by the Thomson Family, and their History, 21-28. Stewart Family and their History, 28-31. PARISH CHURCH AND HISTORY OF SAINT * DEVENICK, - 32 Account of the Saint, with legends, 32-38. First Historical mention of the Church Glebe in Old Aberdeen Introduction of Episcopacy, 38, 39. Account of the old Parish Church, 39, 40. Account of the new Parish Church Notice respecting old Church Bell, 41. MINISTERS OF THE PARISH, 42 John Clatt, 42. Alexander Campbell Alexander Cabell Henry Forsyth Patrick Dunbar David Menzies, 43. Robert Merser Robert Merser (son), 44. Andrew Melvin or Melvill William Robertson, 45. David Lyell, 46. James Gordon, 46-51. John Maitland, 51, 52. John Lumsden, 52. James Nicolson, 53, 54. George Ogilvie, 54, 55. George Morison, D.D., 55-58. William Paul, D.D., 58-61. William Fyfe Lawrence, 61-62. CONTENTS. Page PARISH CHURCHYARD, - 63 Early History, 63. Visit of Resurrectionists, 64-65. Ancient Funeral Customs, 66. Cases of Longevity, 66-67. BANCHORY-DEVENICK FREE CHURCH, - 68 History of Erection, 68. Account of Ministers David Findlay Arthur, 68-70. James Ironside Still, 70. HILLDOWNTREE, 71 Origin of name, 71. Banchory Wedding, 71-73. Versified Narrative, 73-74. PARISH SCHOOL, 75 Early History, 75. Ancient Scale of Fees, 76, 77. Teachers : William Mar Robert Jamieson David Martin Charles Cay, 78. James Clark James Hogg George Skene Keith, 79. Robert Cormack, 81. Robert Adams Patrick M'Gregor Grant, 82. John Webster, 83. William Skinner, 85. John Black, 86. Robert Ogilvie, 87. John Garden, 88. Robert Gray, 89. William Reid, 90. ESTATE OF ARDOE, - 91 Extent and Situation Early History, 91. Mar Family George Garden Cheyne Family Merser Family Fraser Family Mowat Family, 92. Menzies Family Gordon Family, 93. Fordyce Family, 94, 95. Andrew Watson Fordyce Alexander Ogston Alexander Milne Ogston, 95. History of the Ogston Family, 96, 97. BRIDGE OF DEE, 98 Account of erection 98-102. Handed over to the town, 102-105. History of its Chapel, 106-108. Erection of ports and guarding, 109-111. Catholic Rebellion quenched, 112. Siege by Montrose, 112-125. Two timber ports erected, 127. Captain Keith defeated, 128. History of upkeep and repairs, 128-130. In- scriptions, 131-134. Suicide of James Grant, 134. DOWNIES, - - - - 135 CONTENTS. Page ESTATE OF FINDON, - 136 Early History, 136. Owned by the Crab Family, 136-137. Chalmers Family, 137,138. Richard Vaus, 138. Menzies of Pitfodels Murder of Alexander Menzies, 139. " History of the Finnan Haddie," 141-142. Landing of six Saint Andrews Students who had been driven out to sea, 143-145- ESTATE AND VILLAGE OF PORTLETHEN 146 David Menzies Proprietor, 146. Sir Wm. Forbes of Mony- musk and Banchory, 147. Robert Buchan Proprietor, 147. Sir Robert Patrie, 147, 148. Chalmers Family, 148,149. Alexander Thomson, 149. Notices respecting Yeats' Family, the Family of Gammel, and the University of Aberdeen, 150. Erection of a Public Hall, 150, 151. Notices respecting the School and its Teachers, 151. PORTLETHEN CHURCH, - - - - 152 Early History, 152. Mr. Wilkins appointed minister, 153. Notices regarding Mr. Scorgie and Mr. Pirie, 155. William Law appointed minister, 155. William Bruce, 156. Alex. R. Grant, 156, 157. AUCHORTHIES, - - . - 158 Early History, 158. Owned by the Irvines of Kingcausie, 158-160. MANNOFIELD, - ... - 161 Population Situation Established Church, 161. TWO MILE CROSS, - - 162 Situation Citizens of Aberdeen Encamping Montrose Encamping, 162. Letter by Montrose to the Magistrates, 162, 163. ESTATE OF PITFODELS, - - - 164 Owned by the Family of Moray, 164. Family of Reid, 166- 173. Family of Menzies and their History, 165-190. CONTENTS. Page ESTATE OF CULTS, - - 191 Owned by the Family of Thomson, 191. Family of Irvine, 191-192. Provost Alex. Livingston, 192, 193. George Chalmers William Durward, 193. John Burnett George Symmers George Gibb Shirra Gibb, 194-195. CULTS FREE CHURCH, - 196 Early History, 196. Notices respecting ministers William Anderson, 197, 198. C. A. Salmond, 198,199. Robert William Barbour, 199. Hugh Morrison, 200. CULTS MISSION CHURCH, - 201 History of erection, 201. Appointment of Charles S. Christie as minister, 203. MURTLE, - 204 Conveyed by Malcolm IV. to the Bishop of Aberdeen, 1 163 History of the Chalmers Family, 204-206. Andrew Buk and Matilda Menzies, 206, 207. Strachan Cheyne and Murray, 207. Dr. William Guild and Katherine Rolland, 207-209. Irvine Family, 209, 210. John Gordon, 211. John Thurburn, 211, 212. Thur- burn Maclaine, 212. CRIMINAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL TRIALS, 213 Two cases of theft and one of debt, 213. Slander and assault, 214. Two of murder, 215, 216. Witchcraft, 216, 217. Ecclesiastical, 217. ANTIQUITIES, - 218 Druidical Stones at Portlethen, 218, 219. Stone Cairns near Cults House Find near Findon Stone Coffins at Clashfarquhar, 220. Stone Coffins found at Cults, Ardoe, and Banchory, 221. Finds at Clashfarquhar and Ardoe, 222, 224. Find of Axe Head at Lynwood, Deebank and of Quern below West Cults, 224, 225. EXTRACTS FROM THE SESSION RECORDS, - 226 Parochial Board and Relief of the Poor, 226-231. Career of Lieutenant-Colonel Joyner, 230, 231. Disburse- ments, Bequests, &c., 232-239. Church Laws, 239-241. Ancient Form of Oath, 241. Offences against the Church, 242-252. Special Services and Intimations, 253-260. Church and Parish Property, 260-263. CONTENTS. xiii Page APPENDIX, - - 265 Estate of Banchory Notices respecting Lord Provost Stewart and Provost Robert Cruickshank, 265. Charter by Alexander II. to the Abbot and Convent of Arbroath Charter to Lord Alan Hostiarius, 266. Charters to William of Melgdrum, 267-269. Descrip- tion of lands in Mr. Thomson's Deed of Entail, 269, 270. Additional particulars concerning the Parish Church and its belongings, 270-273. Inscriptions on Tablets in Church, 274. Letter by James Calder, Merchant, Aberdeen, intimating Bequest of ^500 to the Poor, 274-277. Disposition of Saint Devenick's Bridge in favour of the Kirk-Session, 277-279. Boun- daries of Findon as settled in 1654, 280, 281. Versified Legend of the Baron of Petfoddils quha was Wirriet by his awin cat, 282-288. Contract between the Lord Forbes, Johne Leslie of Balquhane, and Thomas Menzes of Pittfoddelis, 288-291. Band of protectioune Huntlie to Pitfoddellis, 291. Charter of Murtle by Malcolm IV. in favour of the Bishop of Aberdeen, 292. Savings Banks, 292-294. Agriculture, 294-296. Popu- lation Statistics, 296. Inscriptions on Tombstones in the Parish Churchyard, 297-319. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PEN AND INK. TO FACE PAGE MAP OF THE PARISH, - i BANCHORY HOUSE, from the South-East, 26 PARISH CHURCH, from the South-East, - 41 REV. GEORGE MORISON, D.D., 55 SAINT DEVENICK BRIDGE, with part of Cults, from the South- East, 56 ARDOE HOUSE, from the West, 96 BRIDGE OF DEE, from the East, - 98 - JOHN MENZIES OF PITFODELS, the last of his race, 188 VIEW IN THE POLICIES OF BANCHORY, - 265 MISCELLANEO US. Page BANCHORY DEVENICK FREE CHURCH, - 70 ARMS OF OGSTON OF THAT ILK, - 97 SEAL OF WILLIAM DE CAMERA OF FINDON (Mar Charters, 1440), 145 FACSIMILE OF THE SIGNATURE OF PROVOST PATRIE OF PORTLETHEN, - 148 FACSIMILE OF THE SIGNATURE OF PROVOST AULDJO OF PORT- LETHEN, - 150 PORTLETHEN CHURCH, - 157 ARMS OF PROVOST ALEXANDER REID OF PITFODELS, - 168 ARMS OF THOMAS MENZIES AND MARION REID ON TOMB- STONE IN COLLISON'S AISLE, ABERDEEN,- 173 SEAL OF PROVOST THOMAS MENZIES (Pitfodels Charter, 1573), 175 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Page ARMS OF JOHN MENZIES OF PITFODELS, 189 ARMS OF PROVOST LIVINGSTON OF CULTS, - 193 CULTS FREE CHURCH, - 200 CULTS MISSION CHURCH, - 203 DRUIDICAL STONES AT PORTLETHEN, - 218 URNS FOUND AT ARDOE, - 223 AXE HEAD FOUND AT LYNWOOD, - 224 QUERN FOUND BELOW WEST CULTS, - 225 FACSIMILE OF THE SIGNATURE OF PROVOST CRUICKSHANK OF BANCHORY, - 265 ARMS OF ALEXANDER THOMSON II. OF BANCHORY, - 271 ARMS OF THE REVEREND GEORGE MORISON, D.D., - 279 ARMS OF BISHOPS WILLIAM ELPHINSTONE AND GAVIN DUNBAR, 279 HISTORY OF BANCHORY-DEVENICK.