Summary Table for davachs in Ross
Ratio d:m = Ratio of davachs to merklands.
Parish/Area | Davachs | Merks(OE) | Ratio d:m | Pennylands | Place-name evidence and Comments |
West Coast | |||||
Kintail (incl. Glenshiel) | 10 | 40 | 1:4 | Yes, (162) | Allt Peighinn a’ Chuirn, Allt Peighinn a’ Bhlair |
Lochalsh | 10 | 40 | 1:4 | Yes | |
Lochcarron | 5 | Yes | Allt Slochd na pein | ||
Kishorn | 3¼ | 13 | 1:4 | No | It is possible that Lochcarron + Kishorn = 10 davachs. |
Applecross | 2⅝ | (12)? | (1:4)? | No | Possibly + ¾ davach – see Applecross Table. |
Torridon | 1 | No | |||
Gairloch | (3) | 12 | (1:4)? | Excluding Diabaig. | |
Loch Broom | 16⅜ | (65+) | 1:4 | ||
Coigach | 4 | 8 | 1:2 | ||
of which … (de Insulis estate) | (29⅛) | Perhaps 30 davachs or half these west coast parishes. | |||
Total W. Ross | Min 55¼ | I think this figure is a little shy of the true total. Uncertainty over the boundaries between parishes and where to include properties like Diabaig suggest that the ancient total may have been closer to 60 davachs | |||
East Coast | |||||
Tarbat | c. 9¾ | No | |||
Fearn | c. 9¾ | No | |||
Tain | 9¼ | 1:4 | No | ||
Edderton | 9 | No | No value for Ardmore so possibly 10 davachs? | ||
Kincardine | 9¼ | 1:10 (NE)? | No | ||
Logie Easter | 6 | No | |||
Kiltearn | 6½ | 1:10 (NE)? | No | ||
Lemlair | 3¾ | No | |||
Alness | 9⅜ | No | |||
Kilmuir Easter | 7¼ | No | |||
Rosskeen | 10½ | No | |||
Fodderty | 10¼ | No | |||
Tollie | 1¾ | No | |||
Kinnettes | 2 | No | |||
Contin | c. 14 | 1:4 | No | ||
Urray | 8½ | No | |||
Kilchrist | 1½ | No | |||
Nigg | 11½ | No | |||
Dingwall | 3¾ + | No | |||
Kilmorack | 11⅝ | No | |||
Total E. Ross | Min 155¼ | ||||
Ardmeanach | |||||
Avoch | 7½ | No | |||
Killearnan | 7¼ | No | |||
Kilmuir Wester | 11½ + | No | |||
Suddy | 3 + | No | |||
Cullicudden | 6¼ | No | Possibly 12 or 13 davachs with Kirkmichael. | ||
Kirkmichael | 4¼ | No | |||
Cromarty | 5½ | (1:4) | No | True total probably more like 7½ davachs | |
Rosemarkie | 9 + | No | |||
Urquhart & Logie Wr | 11¼ | No | |||
Total Ardmeanach | Min 65½ | ||||
Total Ross | Min 276 | A total of 300 davachs for Ross seems about right. |
We are missing evidence of the land-assessment values of quite a few chaplainries. There were a number of these in Ross and some of them – e.g. Newmore – held significant amounts of land. Unfortunately, with regard to some of these chaplainries little data has survived. This is why I am confident the true total was nearer 300 davachs for Ross.
A total of 38 parishes is given here. Earlier there were a few more. We know of some combinations but the precise composition of parishes such as Loch Broom remains uncertain. 11 parishes appear to have been close to 10 davachs in size. There is a handful with about 5 davachs each. Was there ever a set number of davachs per parish? The evidence is too imprecise to be certain but I am of the view that if there was such a system it was decimal rather than duodecimal.
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