Kilmuir Easter – Summary Table

Kilmuir Easter

 

Name	Value	Date	Grid Ref	Map Sources	Other forms, comments etc
Petkenny	¼ davach	1281			See below. Roy (FC) marks a Wr Pithonich & Er Pithouich in what I think is the right area but these may be for Pitmaduthy?
(New) Tarbat			NH 7673		See below.
Milton (of Meddat or Meath)	(1 davach)	1475-6	NH 7674/7773	Pont(Gordon 20) Blaeu(Moray)	Extended to 10m in 1475-6. RMS VIII (1094) 1627, (1370) 1629. See below.
Kilmuir	(½ davach)	1543	NH 7573	Pont(Gordon 20) Blaeu(Moray)	Church symbol in Pont(Gordon 20). GD305/1/71/41 1543 gives ½ a mart as part rent which suggests ½ a davach. Ex bishopric.
Balnagown	(1 davach)		NH 7675	Pont(Gordon 20) Blaeu(Moray) RHP 13299/1	GD297/169 c. 1350-1, GD297/171 1368, GD297/172 nd, GD297/180 1439/40, RMS II (1978) 1490. SC29/1/1 f40r & f40v 1558. See below.
Mill Hill	¼ (davach)	1663	NH 7575		RS38/2/68r 1663. See under Logie Easter parish.
Garty			NH 7573		This probably subsumed into Knockgarty over time. See below.
Knockgarty	1 davach	1657	NH 7473/7474	RHP 13299/1 RHP 13299/3	Retours (Ross) (111) 1657. Quarterland of in GD71/261 1544/45. See below.
Achivarl					Quarterland of in GD71/261 1544/45. = Auchoyle?
Auchoyle	1 davach	1336-1341/51	NH 7573 NH 7374	Pont(Gordon 20) RHP 13299/3	GD297/168 nd. OS Explorer 438 2007. PNRC p 64. OS 6″ 1st Series Ross-shire Mainland Sheet LIV 1872. SC29/1/1 f40r & f40v 1558. See below.
Delny	(½ davach)	1476-9	NH 7372	Pont(Gordon 20) Blaeu(Moray)	Ex Earldom. Also maintained a chaplainry, see RSS VII (2579) 1580. See below.
Tullich (or Tulloch) Lower Upper	1m	1507	NH 7472 NH 7373		RSS I (1462) 1507. 1m was the croft belonging to the principal mair of Ross. See also RMS VIII (1094) 1627, (1370) 1629. Apparently had land of St John’s on the west (ALI No 87, 1466). (For latter see under Priesthill below). See below.
Pollo Wester Easter	1 davach 2m rent 3m rent	1381 1476-9 1476-9	NH 7471	Pont(Gordon 20)	See below.
Rhives	20s rent	1476-9	NH 7473	RHP 13299/2	6s bondages from ER in 1539. ⅜ davach?
Badebaa	20s rent	1539	c. NH 7472	RHP 13299/2	No bondages in ER. PNRC p 64
Knocknapark	2m rent	1527	NH 747729	Pont(Gordon 20) RHP 13299/2 OS 6″ Sheet LIV	RMS III (521) 1527. 6s bondages from ER in 1539. ⅜ davach? PNRC p 64 = Parkhill
Total of above 3	(½ davach)?			RHP 13299/2
Ballintraid	3m rent	1476-9	NH 7370	Pont(Gordon 20) Blaeu(Moray)	Also 3m in RMS III (521) 1527. 9s bondages from ER in 1539. See below.
Priesthill	¼ davach	1568	NH 7372	Roy(FC)	Kirklands. See below.
Ardunagage	2m	1476-9	NH 7171		=Broomhill says Watson PNRC 65. 6s bondages from ER in 1539.
Petfuir/Inchfuir	3m	1476-9	NH 7272/7273	Pont(Gordon 20)	Called Petfure in ER VIII p 592 ff of 1476-9 but also Inchefur in 14th century. Earls of Cromartie II No 524 of 1371. 9s bondages from ER in 1539. See below.
Badachonacher			NH 6973		See below.
Kinrive/Kinhrive	(¾ davach)	1536	NH 7075/6974	Pont(Gordon 20) Blaeu(Moray)	See below.
Strathrory	1 bovate	1606	NH 6777	Pont(Gordon 20) Blaeu(Moray)	Reckoned part of Kinrive in RS36/2/23r 1606. PNRC p 68. See also under chaplainry of Newmoir, Rosskeen.
Calrichie	2m	1476-9	NH 7073/7173		= Heathfield (PNRC p 68). Ex Earldom. 2m in ER.
Torran	1 ‘oxegang’	1558	NH 7175		SC29/1/1 f40r & f40v 1558. Of old Torrenlea – see Retours (Ross) (181-2) 1623 & PNRC p 66.
Total	7¼ davachs				I think the true total will be slightly more than this.

 

Delny was an important estate centre for the Earls of Ross and it also gave title to a mairdom. One of the striking features of the land-assessment of this parish is how much sub-division there was. If a davach in the 15th century was reckoned as worth 10m annual rent there are a significant number of smaller farms worth 2 or 3m each. The difficulty is to know precisely which farms formerly united to form a davach. It seems reasonable to suppose that Rhives, Badebaa & Knocknapark once composed a half-davach but I have no concrete evidence.

 

Petkenny

A Bishop of Moray property. This is the ‘quarterium’ (¼ davach) of Petkenny described in Reg. Mor. pp 281-2 of 1281. (I differ from Watson, PNRC p xxv, who thought it one of the ‘quarters’ of Ross). Spellings vary widely. In GD305/1/27/2 1552 it is Pitcannye. In GD96/75 1559 it is Pitkandych and Pitcandie in GD96/76 1560. In Macgill pp 357-8, No 903, 1572 it is Petcandie or Petcandye ‘to be halden of ye cheplanes of Murray as superiors’ [to be held of the chaplains of Moray as {feudal} superiors]. In GD305/1/27/5 1573 Petkandye is associated with Glaktamalenye. In GD305/1/13/5 1587 it is ‘kirk lands of’ Petkenidie. It is Pitcandy and Glakteamalinie in GD305/1/23/12 1623; Pitcandi & Glackteamaline in Retours (Ross) (65) 1623; Pitcandy and Glakteamadime in GD305/1/24/5 1627. Pitcandii with Glakteamadine in RMS VIII (1094) 1627 or Pitkeandie with Glacteamalini in RMS VIII (1370) 1629. RS37/5/127v 1633 refers to the churchlands of Catboll (Fearn parish) & Peckandie.

GD305/1/73/63 1662 refers to the Maynes & Mylne of Moreiche with the Croft of Petcandie. GD305/1/108/321 1662 refers to the Mains and Mill of Moreich and the croft of Petcandie in the parish of Kilmuir. (This is the only document I am aware of that locates it by parish). Macgill p 302 No 769 1678 mentions Mulnomorick, Pitcandie & Glacktamalimu. GD305/1/144/7 1688 gives Mames (Mains?) of Morich & Pitcandie … Mill of Morich. GD305/1/128/7 1688 gives Homes (Mains?) of Morich & Pilkeandie … Mill of Morich.

GD93/2 1333-50 mentions Pethnadwy (Pitmaduthy in Logie Easter) & Morverach. GD305/1/71/41 1543 mentions Mill of Morwach. In GD305/1/72/56 1627 it is Milne Morvach or Mylne Morache. GD305/1/24/3 1627 lists Mylntoun of Meddat separately to Mill Moraich. In GD305/1/73/74 1676 it is Mill of Morvich.

The reason for quoting all the above references is to establish a likely location for Petkenny. Glakteamalinie is also lost but they both seem to be connected with the Mill of Morvich. Morvich (PNRC p 171) implies a sea-plain but probably not the Morrich-More east of Tain. I think this Morvich perhaps lay at the east end of Kilmuir Easter and/or Logie Easter where these meet with the west side of Nigg and/or Fearn. Petkenny and Glakteamalinie are likely to lie in this area. (Highland Papers II, p 338, c. 1726 mentions a Glacklime, Glacklinie or Glackline in the Tollie area. A late sasine (CWMF (393) 1763) mentions Clacktomlinie in the parish of Kincardine but I know of no such place in that parish).

 

(New) Tarbat

This is not the same as either Easter or Wester Tarbat which lie in Tarbat parish. It was formerly Milntoun (of Meddat) and it’s name was changed after a purchase in 1656. See Fraser, Cromartie II pp 429 & 431.

 

Milton (of Meddat or Meath)

This is not the same as Mill of Morwach (also spelled Morvach, Morivach, Morvich, Moreiche etc.) which may have lain across the Balnagown River in Logie Easter. See under Petkenny (above) and GD305/1/71 & 72 & 73. Long associated with the office of the principal mair of Ross – who held therefor one merkland of Tullich/Tulloch (RMS II (3746) 1512). (See under GD305/1/23). For boundary legend see Fraser, Cromartie II pp 430-31.

 

Balnagown

The church lands of Balnagoune are referred to in Retours (Ross) (89) 1642. The ‘maynes and chaplenlandis’ extended to ¾ davach in Retours (Ross) (111) 1657. GD297/217 No 53 (Retour) 1658 gives ‘Chaplan or Kirklands’ as ¾ davach.

There was also ¼ davach in Retours (Ross) (127) 1670. The total was at least 1 davach.

 

Garty

Probably Gorry (Gorty?) in GD297/171 1368, GD297/172 nd, GD297/180 1439/40. Separate to Knock-gartie in GD297/217 No 53 (Retour) 1658.

 

Knockgarty

GD71/261 1544/45 refers to ¼ lands of Achivarl and ¼ lands of Knokgarte. Achivarl = Auchoyle?

GD297/217 No 53 (Retour) 1658 gives as 1 davach.

 

Auchoyle

Awchale in GD297/168 nd or Achaile in GD297/181(v) which is a transumpt of 1450-1; Achawyl in GD297/169 c. 1350-1; Achenyl in GD297/171 1368; Achahany in GD297/172 nd; Achavill in GD297/180 1439-40; Auchile in RMS II (1978) 1490. Auchawylie a davach in RSS VII (486) 1575-6.

There is one document which stands out against these:

Macgill p 406 prints the Latin (and on pp 262-3 the English translation) of a charter by Robert II in 1375. He also gives a photograph of the document facing p 262. The charter concerns Balnegoun, Achahanytt and Gorty. From the photo Achahanytt is difficult to make out and also lies on a fold in the document. This leaves us with a quandary – particularly since any place-name which includes the element ‘annat’ may suggest a once-important religious site.

 

Delny

‘Extending’ to 20m p.a. (i.e. 2 davachs) in RMS II (1227) 1475-6. However ER evidence consistently implies a half-davach only. The most likely reason for this is that Delny in RMS II (1227) 1475-6 contained properties that appear separately in the ER listings. (Possible candidates include Ballintraid, Petfure, Ardunagage etc).

Delny was an important estate centre and gave its name to a mairdom and a ‘Quarter’.It is the only property I know in Ross with a reference to an orchard and a gardener’s croft in 1539.

 

Tullich (or Tulloch)

Sometimes called Tulloch Delny to distinguish it from Tulloch by Dingwall. See also NRAS3094/75 for alternative version of ALI No 87.

PNRC p 66. RMS II (3746) 1512, GD305/1/23 1512-1683.

 

Pollo

Earls of Cromartie II No 525 of 1381 refers to the davach of Pollane along with Parkhill, Rowynis & Fortre. Parkhill was also called Knoknapark and Rowynis was probably Rhives. Fortre may have referred to shieling lands. Easter & Wester Pollo together came to 5m in 1476-9 which probably represented half a davach. The other half-davach was probably composed of Knoknapark (2m), Badebaa (20s or 1½m) and Rhives (20s) which add to 5m. (The fact that RHP 13299/2 is a plan of Rhives, Parkhill, Baddie-Bae & Portenleech may give this extra weight). Presumably the davach was formally subdivided between 1381 & 1476 but the components already had separate names by 1381.

RSS I (3967) 1528 gives 5m Pollaveline which may be for Pollo Delny.

The ER evidence is puzzling:

Wester = 2 bovates (1 plough) by bondage silver in ER & RMS V (1331) 1587.

Easter = 10 bovates (1¼ davachs) by bondage silver in ER & RMS V (1331) 1587.

Together these make 1½ davachs for Pollo. However I suspect these 1½ davachs included neighbouring farms which, for some reason, did not inherit the obligations of bondages.

 

Ballintraid

There are very few properties where bondage silver doesn’t seem to relate to extent. Most of these anomalies occur in properties in this area eg Ballintraid, Petfure, Feachclathie & Ardunagage. There seems to have been early subdivision of davachs here and it is difficult to work out extent. Macgill p 259 gives some detail of contents.

 

Priesthill

OPS II, II 460 quotes RSS II (3938) 1540-1 when the chaplain of the chaplainry of the Virgin Mary in the parish of Kilmure Madath (Kilmuir Easter) granted out the churchlands called Preistishill & Vlladule, with the croft of John the Baptist, all of which used to be rented at 12m yearly. (Or see GD305/1/28/1 1540). (Quarter-davach kirklands of Prestehill gave 4m old rent in GD305/1/76/106 of 1568). Ulladale was in Logie Easter parish (q.v.) and was half a davach. For John the Baptist’s well see PNRC 65. Preisthill also appears in Retours (Ross) (187) 1664. GD305/1/77/122 1704, GD305/1/77/125 1730, GD305/1/77/128 1741 all give Preisthill with a pendicle called Tobernafein (or similar).

 

Petfuir/Inchfuir

Later called Kindeace (PNRC 66). Inchefur in ALI No 77 1462-3. GD305/1/22/3 of 1609 refers to an oxingang of Inchefuir called Tobbirnacalater adjacent to Priesthill. (See also Macgill pp 302-3). In GD305/1/22/6 of 1656 this has become a pendicle of Inchefuir called Tobernacallader extending to a davach of land – where davach is likely to be a mistake for oxgang. Inschfure in Retours (Ross) (39) 1615. Roy(FC) marks Kindiss.

 

Badachonacher

Part of the chaplainry of Newmoir. (See under Rosskeen). The lands of this chaplainry seem to have extended over Rosskeen and Kilmuir Easter and I do not know what valuations this meant in each parish.

 

Kinrive/Kinhrive

Kennachrowe and Strathury (Kinrive & Strathrory) were granted by the earl of Ross in 1362 (OPS II, II, 463). RS36/2/23r 1606 refers to 2 bovates of Kanderuiff + that bovate of Kanderuiff called Stratvorie. Retours (Ross) (7) 1575 & (73) 1628 give Kandruff & Strathworie an old extent of 40s or 3m. Precise references to Old Extent are comparatively rare in Ross and this might mean ¾ of a davach. 3 east oxgangs are referred to in RMS IV (1132) of 1556 on an original of 1536. If we assume that these were matched by 3 west oxgangs then Kinrive would be at least ¾ davach in total.