[lxxiv] THE BARONY OF CROMDALE, IN THE PARISH OF CROMDALE AND SHIRE OF INVERNESS
It was the policy of the Lairds of Grant in successive generations, while they added to the family possessions, to aim at the concentration of their estates around their own home in Strathspey. They did not lose any good opportunity of acquiring new estates even at a distance, but they naturally preferred to have them near at hand, and if they could not purchase, they sometimes effected their object by exchanging some remote estate with a proprietor to whose possessions it lay more convenient, for some property which that proprietor possessed in Strathspey. When Baron Grant had determined to sell his estate of Easter Elchies in 1758, Sir Ludovick Grant could not rest in the thought that any other than a Grant should "have a footting within the two Craigelachies." Rather than that he determined to give over his purpose of purchasing an estate on which he had set his mind, that of Kincorth, and he wrote to his law-agent in Edinburgh that he would sell the lands of Allanbuie, Ballintome, and Allachie, in order to secure the continuance of the family sway in the district. Nay, he would even go further. and part, if need be, with his favourite estate of Moy, rather than allow another family to gain an opposing influence in the district. Vol. ii. of this work, pp. 269. 270. Sir Ludovick's ancestors were of the same mind, and especially so with regard to the district now known as the parish of Cromdale. That was their home, and being so, it in course of time entirely fell into the possession of the family of Grant. The previous owners of the old barony of Cromdale, the Nairns, alienated a portion of it to the Laird of Freuchie, and a century later the entire barony was made over to the Grants.
The barony of Cromdale, before its acquisition by the Grants of Freuchie, was of considerably smaller dimensions than the barony which was erected in their favour. The latter, indeed, may be said to have been an entirely new barony into which the former was absorbed.
The older barony of Cromdale appears to have belonged, in common probably with the surrounding lands, to the Earls of Fife, as, about 1226, [lxxv] Malcolm then Earl of Fife, while adjusting with Andrew, Bishop of Moray, some differences which had arisen between them in regard to their respective lands, is said to have, of pure liberality, bestowed in perpetuity upon the bishop and his successors the right of the patronage of the kirk of Cromdale. Registrum Moraviense, p. 68. That the Earls of Fife were the owners of Cromdale and the adjoining lands is further established by these being included in a resignation of certain baronies and lands made by Isabel, Countess of Fife, the daughter and heiress of Earl Duncan, who renounced the earldom of Fife in favour of her brother-in-law. Robert Stewart, Earl of Menteith, afterwards Duke of Albany and Regent of Scotland: "Likeas also the said Isabell, 22d Junii 1389, resigned ad perpetuam remanentiam in the hands of King Robert the Third, the barrone of Strathurd, Strabrann, etc., in Perth, . . the barrons of Crumdail and Affin (probably Advie) within the schireffdome of Innernes, the lands of Strahovie and Abrandolie within the schireffdome of Bamf," etc. Skene de Verborum Significatione, sub voce "Arage."
The barony of Cromdale next appears on record in possession of the family of Naim, the representative of whom, John of Nairn of Cromdale, was in 1431 Sheriff of Elgin and Forres. Registrum Magni Sigilli, vol. ii. No. 193. As held by him and his descendants, who designed themselves Barons of Cromdale, it comprised the lands of Lethindie with its castle and manor, mill, and other pertinents, the lands of Over, Middle, and Nether Auchroisk, Garling, the kirktoun of Cromdale, and the lands of Dellachaple and Rinaballoch, with their respective pertinents. Crown Charter of Resignation by King James the Sixth to John Nairn of Cromdale, elder, in life rent, and his son John Nairn and his heirs-male in fee, of the barony of Cromdale, dated 24th June 1575. The Original Charter is at Castle Grant. The barony of Cromdale was sold in 1603 by Thomas Nairn of Cromdale, who was presumably the son of John Nairn, younger, to his uncle Thomas Nairn in Dellichaple, Charter of Confirmation by King James the Sixth, dated 8th February 1603, of the Charter of Sale, dated 28th January 1603. Original at Castle Grant. and it was probably he who, under the designation of Thomas Nairn of Cromdale, sold the lands and barony to John Grant of Freuchie in 1609, and immediately thereafter resigned them in the hands of the Crown for a regrant to the Laird. Original Procuratory and Instrument of Resignation at Castle Grant.
Twenty years previously, in 1589, the same Laird of Freuchie had purchased from James Grant of Auchernach, the lands of the two Auchnarrows, [lxxvi] Downan, and Port. These lands had formerly pertained to the barony of Freuchie, and had been bestowed by Marjory Lude upon her son, Patrick Reoch (or Roy) Grant, by charter, dated 28th July 1473. On his death in 1513, the lands became the property of his grandson and heir, Nicholas Cumming, but they were apprised from him by James Grant of Auchernach. Vol. iii. of this work, pp. 394-397. These lands, with those comprised in the lordship of Inverallan, were resigned by John Grant, fifth Laird of Freuchie, in the hands of the Crown at the same time as Thomas Nairn made his resignation, one procurator appearing for both before Alexander, Earl of Dunfermline, Lord Chancellor, who, as representing the Privy Council, received the resignations. Original Instrument of Resignation, dated 27th June 1609, at Castle Grant. Thereupon, on 28th June 1609, King James the Sixth granted to John Grant of Freuchie a charter of all these lands, erecting them into one entire and free barony to be called the barony of Cromdale, of which the manor and fortalice of Lethindie was appointed the principal messuage, and one sasine taken there was to suffice for all the lands of the entire barony. The new barony was to be held of the Crown in fee for the usual services. Vol. iii. of this work, p. 408.
The Laird of Freuchie at that time, amidst other energetic efforts for the welfare of his family and estates, and the general good of the country, evolved a plan for its further development in the foundation of a township or burgh of barony in connection with the barony. The site of the Kirktoun of Cromdale, which was to form the nucleus of the new town, appears to have been the locality still occupied by the parish church of Cromdale, and in close proximity to the river Spey. The town would thus be favourably situated both in respect, of the river and also the road, as the main road through the valley would here have probably intersected the proposed town. It does not appear that the Laird's purpose was ever carried out in regard to Cromdale. The erection of Grantown upwards of a century and a half later in the same parish of Cromdale, or in what, at that time, was the neighbouring parish of Inverallan, and at a spot less than three miles distant across the river from the site of the proposed town of Cromdale, rendered the erection of the latter inexpedient. [lxxvii] In the clause of the charter authorising the erection of the burgh, the king describes the district as a wild and barbarous part of Scotland, at a great distance from the sea, and the inhabitants as rude and barbarous, void of civilisation and good manners. His expectation was, that by the erection of the burgh, with magistrates, courts, police, and prison, the inhabitants would become more civilised, and that the irregularities committed by many persons within these bounds would, by fear of punishment, be repressed. Vol. iii. of this work, p. 409.
The davochs and smaller portions into which the barony of Cromdale was subdivided are given at length elsewhere. A note of the position of several of these davochs, apparently written about 1775, found in the Grant Charter-chest, is of some interest. After premising that the Castletoun of Freuchie, now called Castle Grant, is in the parish of Cromdale, it states that Dalfour, Auchnagall, and the two Culfoichs lie to the north thereof, and about a mile down the river on the west side; Congash, to the south, at the end of the bridge over Spey, and on the east side of the river in the parish of Abernethy; Auldcharn, about a mile to the east of Congash at the west side of the Hill of Cromdale, and in the' parish of Abernethy; Glenlochy, about three miles distant from Spey on the east side of the river, and rather in the country of Strathavon, having the Duke of Gordon's lands of Inverlochy and Dellavrogatt to the north, the lands possessed by Fodderletter to the east, that large tract of hills called Cromdale to the west, and adjoining, to the south, the lands of Sir James Grant called Braes of Abernethy, in which parish it lies; Lethindie is distant about an English mile from the Kirk of Cromdale eastward; Auchroisk, Over, Mid, and Nether, and Garling, are all contiguous to the Kirk, and between it and Lethindie; Dellachaple, about three-quarters of a mile below the Kirk, on the east side of the water; and Rinaballoch to the east of Dellachaple and north of Lethindie. Inverallan, Glenbeg, Gaich, Craggan, and Dregie, lie all contiguous a short mile to the south of Castle Grant on the west side of the river, and in the parish of Inverallan; Auchnarrows and Downan in the hills to the north; and the Port at the Boat of Cromdale, all on the west side of the river and in the parish of Cromdale.
On the recommendation of the Commissioners of Parliament for the [lxxviii] planting of Kirks, the parishes of Inverallan and Cromdale were united in 1618, and the parish of Advie had previously, in 1593, been annexed to Inverallan. Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae, vol. iii. p. 232. In terms of a mandate by the Lords Commissioners, intimation of their decree was made to the Laird of Freuchie, who, as tacksman of the united parishes, was required to provide the modified stipend of five hundred and twenty merks annually to the minister who supplied the spiritual wants of the people. Mr. David Dick was then the incumbent, and he was appointed to the united charge. Precept by the Lords Commissioners, dated 7th July 1618, at Castle Grant.
Cromdale had the distinction of affording the last battle-field in Scot land, where an appearance was made on behalf of King James the Seventh at the time of the Revolution. Claverhouse had fallen at Killiecrankie, amidst the shouts of victory, and his place was taken by Colonel Cannon. Even if he had possessed the military experience of Dundee, Cannon yet wanted the tact for obtaining the confidence of the Highlanders. General Mackay, the commander of King William's troops, had already atoned for his defeat by the activity with which he took steps to counter act its effects, and Cannon shortly afterwards was obliged to retire. He was succeeded by Major-General Buchan,. whom James sent over from Ireland to take the command of the Jacobites in Scotland, and under him another effort was made in the Highlands. On his way through Lochaber and Badenoch, Buchan marched down Strathspey with about eight hundred men, and on the last day of April 1690, encamped on the plains between the hills of Cromdale and the Spey, making the Castle of Lethindie his headquarters. Castle Grant was fortified for the Government, and on Buchan's position being discovered, the Captain of the castle informed Sir Thomas Livingstone, who had been ordered to operate against Buchan. With assistance furnished by the Grants, Livingstone surprised Buchan's camp, and inflicted a severe defeat. The slaughter among Buchan's troops was very great, and it would have been greater but for the shelter afforded by the morning mists on the hills, which hid the fugitives from their pursuers. This battle is referred to in the well-known song, "The Haughs of Cromdale." Browne's History of the Highlands, vol. ii. pp. 189, 190.
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Volume I Introduction (viii) |
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