Old-Lore Miscellany
ANCIENT MONUMENTS OF CAITHNESS AND SUTHERLAND.---A meeting of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland was held on 23rd November, at 5, St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh---Sir Herbert Maxwell, Bart., the chairman, presiding. An advance copy of the inventory of the ancient and historical monuments of Sutherland was laid on the table. It was decided that the forthcoming inventory for Caithness and succeeding inventories should be more profusely illustrated. The Secretary (Mr. Curle) made a verbal report on his examination of the ancient remains in Caithness. These prove to be more numerous and of greater importance than was anticipated. The remains of brochs number nearly 150, or almost double the number previously known. A large number of cairns of the Neolithic period not hitherto recorded were examined and reported on. A new class of megalithic structure, probably a dwelling with galleries supported on piers and covered with slabs so as to lessen the area required to be spanned by roof in the interior, was discovered in the parish of Latheron, and is of a type of which no remains are now known elsewhere in Scotland, though presenting an analogy to ruined structures recorded as existing in the Lews. The place-name "wag" given to the sites where several of these occur suggests that they are the structures referred to by Pennant as "hunting houses," called by the natives "uags." There were also discovered in the country a number of additional settings or rows of small standing stones, a class of monuments so far only known to exist in Scotland in this country and the adjacent strath of Kildonan in Sutherland. Mr. Curle expects the Caithness Inventory to be ready in the early summer. It is to contain about fifty illustrations with a number of ground plans.
CAITHNESS, SUTHERLAND AND SHETLAND PAPERS.---Subscribers and readers in the possession of documents of the 18th century and before, should forward them as suggested in the following Note for the purpose of printing extracts from them. Documents of 1600 and earlier will be printed in the Record Series.
ORKNEY PAPERS.---It is proposed to give a Series of Notes about Orkney people, lands, customs, etc., taken from legal documents and other papers chiefly of the 17th and 18th centuries. The following Notes are taken from papers in the charter chest of Mr. James Spence, of Pow, Orkney. The Notes will be arranged according to date without any subject heading, for the simple reason that the various items of information given are all of equal interest---granters, grantees, lands, witnesses, etc. Subscribers and readers in the possession of documents should send them by registered letter post to A. W. Johnston, 29, Ashburham Mansions, Chelsea, London, S. W. Documents of 1600 and older date will also be printed in the Record Series.
1624, April 22: feu charter George (Graham), bishop of Orkney and Shetland and chapter. Mr. Daniel Callendar, Provost; Mr. James Cok, Chancellor; Mr. H. Smythe, Sub-Dean; Mr. Patrick Inglis, Prebendary of St. John; Thos. Swentoun, Archdeacon; Mr. P. Waterstoun, Cantor; Mr. J. Gardiner, Sub-chantor---to Alexander Chalmer, smyth, and Janet Firth, his spouse, of "our peice of waist ground on the west syd of our raid of Cairstane quhairupoun the saidis Alexander and his spous have alreddie buildit and plantit ane hous and yaird, with the samin hous and yaird buildit and plantit be thame thairupoun, the said peice of waist ground being bounded with the sea on the east and fra the sea directlie to the high craigstane on the south and therefra to many craigstanes lying togidder on the west and from tthe saidis craigstanes to the sink on the south syd of the burne on the north and down the said sink to the sea." in the parish of Stromness, bishopric and sheriffdom of Orkney, with power to build houses, to cast peats to serve their own use upon the common muir and commonty of the parish, with pertinents, for a certain sum of money converted to the "weill and utilitie of our said cathedrall kirk for reparatioun thairof, the weill of ws our successouris and of our said kirk alwayis being foirsene and considerit," (1) and paying yearly two dozen good and sufficient chickens at "Lambes" with suit and presence at three head courts "at our place of the yairdis in Kirkwall" or elsewhere. Written by Andre Ellis, servitor to David Heart, writer, witnesses: Adame Bellenden, of Stanehouse, David Grahame, eldest lawful son of the bishop and apparent heir, Patrick Smyth, of Braco, "our son-in-law," Robert Grahame, Andro Smyth, George Leslie, "our servitors."
On the back of the charter it is stated that:---1656, July: This charter was produced at Kirkwall before Pa. Blair and Hew Watson (2) and a duplicate thereof sent "alongst to the Honobl. Comsrs. of his heines excequers conforme to thair commissione given to vs and certane vthers for that effect bearing dait at Edinburgh, the 21 of March, 1656."
1666, Nov. 30: Sasine on feu charter (Kirkwall, Sep. 6, 1666), Andrew, bishop of Orkney and Zetland and chapter---Mr. Edward Ritchardsone, Provest; Will. Dauidson, Archdeacon; Mr. J. Hendre, Cantor; Mr. Johne Balvaird, Subdeacon; Mr. Ja. Douglas, Prebend. ---to David Beaton, baillie of Stromness, of 6½d. land, of the 13d. land called Bischopisland in Innerstromness with pertinents. Sasine given by Francis Gordone, baillie, merchant, Stromness. Charter written by David Forbes, N.P. Witnesses: John Murray, writer, Edinburgh; John Neven, Sheriff Clerk of Zetland; Johne Stevinsone, 'our servitour.' Witnesses to Sasine: Thomas Sutherland, John Broun, merchants and indwellers, Stromness; John Reyland of that ilk, James Broun, John Caird and Hieronymus Tulos, inhabitants there, David Forbes, notary.
1776, Oct. 9: Inquisition at Kirkwall before John Riddock, Sheriff substitute of Orkney; James Blaw, merchant, Kirkwall, chancellor; James Stewart, Alexander Stewart, John Paterson, Andrew Liddell, Patrick Traill, Wm. Watt, junior, Alexr. Watt, Wm. Groat, John Weir and John Calder, merchants in Kirkwall, Hugh Sclaitter, lignarium; Wm. Irvine and Magnus Laughton, sailors, Kirkwall; Dr. Robert Groat, of Newhall, affirmed that deceased Charles Graham, of Hourston, brother of Alexr. Graham, merchant, Stromness, now of Hourston, died, and that said Alexr. Graham is legitimate and nearest heir male of tail and provision of said deceased Charles Graham, his brother, in accordance with deed dated Jan. 14th, 1737. Signed, Edward Keith, Clerk depute.---A.W. Johnston
COMMUNION ELEMENTS.---A discussion is going on in Notes and Queries (11 s. ii., 188, 237, 278, 356, 396, 456) as to oatcake and whiskey having been used as eucharistic elements, in illustration of which the Rev. Dr. Craven's Journal of Bishop Forbes is quoted. In this connection it may be of interest to call attention to a letter of Pope Gregory IX., May 11, 1237, in answer to the Archbishop of Nidaros, who asked whether bread, other than wheaten, with ale or drink, other than wine, could be used in the Holy Sacrament, in which the answer is given in the negative. There was a want of wheaten bread and wine in Norway at the time. (See Dipl. Norweg. I., No. 16). Can any one give an instance of elements other than wheat bread and wine having been used in Orkney, Shetland, Caithness, or Sutherland?
GILLATT.---In Orkney and Shetland Records, Vol. 1., p. 257, l. 2 (issued with this number) is mentioned "ane gillat and ane horse foill." In Jamieson's Dict. two meanings are given of Gillat, viz., a filly or young mare, and a gelding or riding horse. Is this name now known in Orkney, and, if so, what is its meaning?
ODAL ROYTH.---Can anyone suggest a derivation for the word royth, roith or roath, which is applied in Orkney charters to the odal right of redeeming patrimonial lands. The correct O.N. term is brigð. In the charters the two terms richt and royth usually appear together.
OBSERVATIONS UPON QUERIES AND ARTICLES IN
"MISCELLANY," VOL. II.
SUTHERLAND (p. 27).---Those of this lineage first appearing in the Isles are probably of the family of Dunbeath, into which Earl William S:t Clair married c. 1450. In Orkney are Alexander S. (1441), vicar of Westray (1443); John S. (1448); both these were churchmen; Sir Robert S., 1481-1503; John S., slain c. 1500 by Sir William Sinclair of Warsetter; and ---Sutherland, who m. c. 1500, Katrin, daughter of Thorvald of Brugh, of which marriage was Thorvald Sutherland, of Brugh, Hjaltland.
HAAKON (p. 27).---This is to be found in Aitken.
ROBERTSON OF NEWBIGGING (p. 41).---Geo. R. of N. was Chamberlain of Orkney, 25th July, 1710.
THE CATTI (p. 74).---The Ness, named arbitrarily Cat-ness, gave the name to the district and people, not the tribe to the Ness. The Norse Saga references are always to the Katanesingar and katneskr---not to the Kater.
MOWAT (p. 86).---The contributor has a complete account of the descendants of Anders Mowat, Axelssen, who are now known as "Helviken."
STEWART (p. 88).---Jean, daughter of Sir James of Eday, m. [1] Sir James Young of Scotstoun, his relict in 1636. Captain Robert of Eday had a natural son John, mentioned 26th March, 1663. Robert S., 3rd of Eday, had a daughter, Isobell, noticed 31st July, 1734.
BRUS-HALCRO TRADITION (p. 93).---Before attaching importance to this tradition, the Orkney origin of the Halcro family requires to be established. Brus doubtless visited Orkney because of amity and relationship with Norway and friendship with Earl John. Halcro adjoins Hastigrow, both in the parish of Bower, Caithness, and although sometimes written Hallrick, is not to be confused with the parish of Halkirk. Halcro was in feu from the Bishopric of Orkney, as also lands in Halkirk. Halcro continuously so appears from at least 1537 to 1887. (See map in Calder's History of Caithness).
SOMERLED (p. 138).---A good account of this warrior is to be found in the Scots Peerage in Vol. V. in the article on the "Lord of the Isles." The nomenclature is defective. For Ragnhildas read Ragnhild, for Roderic read Hrørek, for Donald read Dufnjal, for Dougal, Dufgall, and for the Latin "Reginald" read Rögnvald. A Chart-Pedigree of scions of Somerled is given in Andrew Lang's "History of Scotland."
BLANCE (p. 138) is the genitive of Bljan, an old Norse person-name.
SHEWAN (p. 138) may be from Svein, but it also occurs in the Isles as a place-name, and is not genitival in form.
BANNISKIRK (p. 143).---May not this be Bjarniskirk, after the celebrated Bishop of Orkney. (3)
FRESKIN (p. 150).---This name has quite a Norsk appearance. Did he have heritage lands in Sutherland, or were they conquest, that is to say, acquired by gift or purchase? He was sans surname. One son (the eldest) became of Sutherland under the Earl of Orkney and Caithness, and another (the 2nd) became of Moray.
DUNROBIN (p. 199).---This place-name more probably derives from the name of the bird, than from Hrafn, the Lawman, appointed deputy c. 1198, for Rögnvald, royalet of the Hebrides, and who fled south the same year. Cf. Ravenscraig Castle in Fife. The change from Drumrafn to Dunrobin in 1401 is merely an orthographical mutation, and has nothing to do with the Earl Robert of that time.
FRANCIS S:T CLAIR (p. 244).---Read James.
ALEXANDER SINCLAIR IN ESTAQUOY (p. 245) died 1687, and Patrick, youngest son, is only executor. In 1680 Magnus was youngest son, and in 1707 received disposition of half E. Explain?
FLETT (p. 253).---This was a place in Orphir. See Peterkins Rental (27th April, 1503), p. 39. (4)
MEAL (p. 253) is an abbreviation of Michael. (5)
AASSIE (p. 253) is the diminutive of both Asmund and Augsvald, the former being in vogue in Hjaltland, while the latter rarely, if ever, appears.
------ Roland S:t Clair.
RANY ELPHINSTONE.---This name occurs on the assize of a "Sheriff Court callit Alhallo" held at St. Magnus' Kirk, Kirkwall, by Lord Robert Stewart, November 5, 1579. From a transcript in the Sheriff Court House, Kirkwall.---J. S. C.
CANISBY CHARMS (Vol. III., p. 198).---Lebbes, libbes, or libs resemble the Gaelic, libberach, a confused story; also lebb, to take food into the mouth with the tongue; but it is most probably llabach, pronounced lyab or lyabch, which means a piece of weak, incoherent talk. The verb is almost identical, and Dr. Walter Gregor, in his Dialect of Banffshire, gives its meaning as: "To speak in an unknown tongue," and "To speak much with little meaning." In Forfar we used to say of a havering person, "what a like leeberlechan he laid doon."---A. R.
REFERENCES TO LANDS IN CAITHNESS
BY ROLAND S:T CLAIR
On 30th May, 1537, there is a Charter (Reg. Grt. Seal, 17th March, 1543) of "Terras de Schabuster, Broubsterdaill cum piscatione eorundem Bowartour, Acro, Thuro, et Lune [Huna?] cum tenentibus, etc."
Adam, Biship of O., in 1562 and 1564 gave charters of Downreay, Brubster, Thura, and other lands to W:m Sinclair of Dunbeath, who in 1557 (1567?) had confirmation from the Crown. These were apparently on the resignation of John, Earl of Sutherland.
On 20th April, 1593, there is a charter to James Sinclair of Murkle, of the lands of Halcro, etc.
In the 1595 Rental of Walls, O., there is deducted from the land-maill of Brims, there, the land-maill of the 6 merk-land called Skeebuster, which, in the Rentals of 1614 and 1642, is stated to have been excambed for Snelsetter. Is this Skeebuster in Brims, South Ronaldsey or Schabuster in Caithness?
The Bishopric Court in 1617, 13th November and 21st November, Enrolls:---Rob:t or Rore Mackbethson (sic) for Halcrike, Caithness; Geo. Earl of Caithness for his lands of Bortour in C.; Alex:r, Lord Forbes, for Dunray, there; James Sinclair of Murkle for Tubeg and Shebister, there; and on 1621, 8th November, Sir W:m Sinclair of Catboll, for his lands of Daill, there. In 1624 Sir Donald McKay, first Lord Reay, was infeft on charter by the Bishop of Orkney in Thura, Borlum, Downreay, and Brubster. On 30th October, 1633, in the B/Court-Book are enrolled Geo., Earl of Caithness, for Bowertour and Halkrige; Lord Rae, Murkle and Catboll, as above.
In 1642, Bishop Graham makes reply to Propositions by the Town of Edinburgh:---"Your tenants in Caithness are my Lord Caithness, my Lord Rae, the Laird of Murchill, and the Laird of Mey. Their lands are but small. The whole duty of them all is about £40. They hold of the bishopric but little parcels of land, serving for the bishop's sojourning there when stayed at the Pentland Firth."
"The mill of Bortour and lands of Halkrick lying in Caithness, feued to the Earl of Caithness, and in your possession, pay of feu farm duty 4 bolls meil and £4 money."
"The lands of Daill and Scatts of Canesbie, lying there, feued to the Laird of Mey, and in his possession pay yearly of feu duty, £8."
"The lands of Towbege and Schabuster, feued and in poss:n of the laird of Murkill, pay of feu-duty £11 : 18 : o."
"The lands of Rae and the pertinents feued and now in poss:n, the one-half thereof by the laird of Murkill and pays therefore in feu-duty £12. The other half in poss:n of my Lord Rae, and pays therefor in feu-duty £12."
"Nota.---There are sundry lands in the parish of Halkrick, holden in blensch of the Bishops of Orknay, for service in convoying them through the country of Caithness, in which infeftments there are several other conditions; the most part of their lands in poss:n of the Earl of Caithness, and some in poss:n of the Laird of Tackingae (sic) [Smith of Achengill]."
The lands of Bowertour [and Halcro] in Caithness pay yearly £28 o o
The lands of Doun in Caithness pay yearly £23 6 8
The lands of Tubeg and Shebister pay yearly £11 o o
The scattis of Rae and Dounet £8 o o
In 1651 James Sinclair is of Borlum and Thura. His son Capt. Alex:r was of Bowertour, and another son Major William, of Thura.
In 1691-92 Halcro and Bowertour were acquired by Laurence Calder of Lynegar, who, in 1694, disponed them to his son James, who sold them in 1717 to John Sinclair of Barrock.
NOTES:
Bowertour and Halcro are in the parish of Bower, Caithness. The place Halcro is not to be confused with either the place or the parish of Halkirk. Halcro is on the map of Caithness in Calder's History (1887). Just next Halcro is Hastigrow (possessed c. 1580 by the Bruce family). This Hawcrow---Latinised and Scoticised into Acro and Halcro may be the place of origin of the Halcro lineage. Bowertour = Bower-Thor and Bower-madden in the same parish = Bower-Maddan.
Schabuster: W:m Mudie of Schabuster, 30th June, 1560, is ancestor of the family of Melsetter.
Downreay, Thura, etc.: The deeds relating to these lands may enable affiliation of James Sinclair of Borlum (ancestor of the Holyhill family) with Murkle or Dunbeath I.
James Sinclair of Murkle on 4th November, 1617, appears in the Sheriff Court-Book of O. for the lands of Air, Copinshaw, and Maill.
On 10th June, 1643, Nicoll Cromartie of New bigging, has sasine of lands in Wydwall, S.R. on charter of alienation made by Magnus McBeath, son and heir of umquhile David McBeath in Houstigrow, and oy and heir of umquhile James McBeath of Halcro, and umquhile Margaret Cromartie his spouse, guddam to said Magnus, heritable udaller of the said alienated lands.
Endnotes
1. Since the disestablishment of Episcopacy the revenues of the bishopric have been appropriated by the Crown and diverted from such local uses as narrated in this charter. Back
2. Governor Watson was Cromwell's representative in Orkney (Hossack's Kirkwall). Back
3. Bjarnakirk---A. W. J. Back
4. Flet in the Rental is probably a misreading of Flec, there is a place Fleck in Houton. The Rental, however, does not state that Flet is in Orphir, but merely that the Rental of Ophir was made at Flet.---A. W. J. Back
5. Michael becomes Michel or Mitchel in Orkney, hence "St. Mitchell's Church," Harra. Michael, as a Christian name, is also pronounced Mitchell in Orkney. Meal is a common place-name in Orkney and Shetland; O.N. melr, sand hills, and the surname Meal is taken from the place-name. See Peterkin's Rentals, 1595, No. II., p. 13, where we are informed that part of the place called Male [now known as Græmeshall] had formerly "pertained to William Male, now escheat for theft."---A. W. J. Back
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