Quoad Sacra PARISH OF ROTHIEMURCHUS
Volume IV, Number XLII. (COUNTIES OF MORAY & INVERNESS)
By the Rev Mr Patrick Grant


[Biographical Notes for the Minister adapted from the Fasti ecclesiae Scoticanae
PATRICK GRANT (c1746 – 1809) son of Patrick Grant of Glenmore in Rothiemurchus; missionary at Fort William about 1772; admitted 24th Sept. 1778. He married, 20th July 1784, Beatrix (1761 – 1845), daughter of Neil Campbell of Duntroon. [Following her husband's death, Mrs Grant established a boarding academy at Inverness, which was accidentally destroyed by fire in Jan. 1819. She was authoress of “Sketches of Intellectual Education” and “Hints on Domestic Economy”, 2 vols. (Inverness, 1812), and “Popular Models” (Edinburgh, 1816). ] They had issue —

Georgina Neil Campbell, died unmarried 21st July 1810;
Matilda Campbell, died unmarried 2nd Feb. 1838;
Ann Trapaud (married Major John Grant of Auchterblair), mother of Sir Patrick Grant, Field- Marshal;)
Captain George William Trapaud, Bengal Horse Artillery, died in India.]

Name, Situation, Soil Etc.

[318]The parish of Rothiemurchus was united to Duthil in 1625. Sir James Grant of Grant is patron. The name in Gaelic is Raat-mher-ghiuish, ‘great plain of fir’. It is situated in the county of Inverness, Synod of Moray, and presbytery of Abernethy; extends 7 miles from E. to W. upon the south banks of Spey; 4 miles in breadth. Bounded by the parish of Duthil on the N. from which it is separated by the river Spey; on the W. by Kinguisich; on the S. by Athol and Braemar; on the E. by Abernethy.

The nature of the soil near the banks of the Spey is deep and fertile; but, in general, is shallow. There is an inexhaustible quarry, more properly a mountain, of limestone, in the centre, with abundance of fuel. There are 2 small lakes, abounding with char. Lochnellan, one of them, exhibits a scene most picturesque and romantic, and by the situation of the surrounding hills are formed 5 very remarkable echoes. Upon a small island in Lochnellan, is a castle, built time immemorial; the walls of which are still entire.

To the birds common in this country may be added, in the parish of Rothiemurchus, tarmagans, the only inhabitants, through all seasons, of the tops of the highest mountains.

Population

The amount of the numbers at present is 280, all of the established church. Males, 130; Females, 150. Annual average of births, 30; of marriages, 5; deaths [319] 12. Of souls under 10, 48; from 10 to 20, 63; from 20 to 50, 92; from 50 to 70, 46; from 70 to 100, 31; farmers and families, 9; household servants, 3; labouring servants, 46; gentry, 5. Each marriage at an average, produces 5 children.

Agriculture, Etc.

Number of cattle, 180; sheep, 2300; horses, 95.
There being a number of wood manufacturers, the parish does not supply itself with provisions.
The land-rent is £300; wood, at an average £300.

School, Poor, Etc

The only school is that established by the Society for propagating Christian Knowledge. The salary is £10 Sterling. That, and the perquisites, amount to about £15. The number of scholars seldom exceeds 30.

The number of poor is 7. The annual contributions for their relief do not exceed £3; and there is no other fund.

[This is an appendix to the report on Duthil Parish.]