Bishop of Orkney’s lands in Caithness

Bishop of Orkney’s lands in Caithness

 

Sources

RSS I (1000) 1503

RMS III (2882) 1542-3 on original of 1539

Books of Assumption 1561-5 (J. Kirk, (ed.), The Books of Assumption of the Thirds of Benefices, Oxford, 1995) pp 418, 420-1, 655, 657, 668, 670, 680

RSS VII (988) 1577

RMS V (2281, 2287) 1593

RMS VI (803) 1598, (1038) 1600

RMS VII (409.2) 1610 on original of 1583

GD96/354 1610

RS37/3/292r 1626

Peterkin III pp 10-11, 21-24, especially ‘Demands by the Toune of Edinburgh and Answers therto, with what Instructions I can remember concerning ye Bischoprick of Orknay’ c. 1642

Peterkin IV p 27 1642

Laing Charters (2815-17) 1683.

Peterkin V p 31 <=1754

Henderson, J., Caithness Family History, p 17

Old Lore Miscellany of Orkney, Shetland, Caithness and Sutherland Vol IV Pt 1 1911 pp 17-19: ‘The Bishopric of Orkney. References to Lands in Caithness’. By Roland St Clair.

 

 

Lands	Parish	Extent	Source	Comment
Dunra + mill (now Dounreay) 8d land of Dourne + mill + Strybustar (Schabustar) 16d Drumray 16d of the 24d of Donraa ⅓ of Dounreay on west side of river + quoys + mill 16d (⅔) of Dunra on the N. side of the river Reay Doun (Reay) Total Dounreay = 8d + 16d = 24d	Reay	8d 16d 16d 8d 16d	RMS III (2882) 1539 Books of Assumption Books of Assumption RSS VII (988) 1577 RMS VI (1038) 1600 RMS VI (1038) 1600 Peterkin III p 23 ff Peterkin IV p 27 1642	Set in feu for £11 6s Set in feu for £30 *   NB rents p 352   Few-dewtie £24 Pays yearly £23-6s-8d
Schabuster (now Shebster) Strybustar (p 657) Skubster (p 670) – J. Kirk thinks it is Scrabster (Thurso); I think it is Schabustar (Reay). Schabuster Schabester Shebister Not named but rent implies (with Tubeg below?)	Reay		RMS III (2882) 1539 Books of Assumption   RMS VI (1038) 1600 Peterkin III p 24 Peterkin IV p 27 1642 Peterkin V p 31 <=1754	See above with Dounreay     ‘Fewed’ with Towbege Pays £11-18s With Tubeg pays £11 pa £11
Broubustardaill + fishing (now Broubster?) Brubister Browbisterdaill + fishing Browbusterdaill + fishing	Reay		RMS III (2882) 1539 Books of Assumption RSS VII (988) 1577 RMS VI (1038) 1600	*
Bowartour (now Bowertower) Superiority of the lands of Bowartoun Bowertower Buertoure Borvur Rortor	Bower	7d	RMS III (2882) 1539 RSS VII (988) 1577 RMS V (2281) 1593 RMS VI (1038) 1600 Peterkin IV 1642 Peterkin V  p 31 <=1754	£28 £28
Acro (now Halcro) Halcro Halcro, Hesticro, mill of Seytir Hacra with pertinents, viz. Setir, Quhiddiker & Crocequa, + Hostecrow mill and its croft, mill-lands etc	Bower	3d 3d	RMS III (2882) 1539 Books of Assumption RMS V (2287) 1593 RMS VI (1038) 1600	Set in feu for £4 & 6 b. meal
Thuro (now Thura) Furro/Furay Thura Thuro	Bower		RMS III (2882) 1539 Books of Assumption RSS VII (988) 1577 RMS VI (1038) 1600	*
Lune Lumay/Lunay Bowerlune Lune	Bower		RMS III (2882) 1539 Books of Assumption RSS VII (988) 1577 RMS VI (1038) 1600	*
Skat silver of Dunnet & Canisbay Scatsilver Skait-silver of Dunett & Cannesbie ** Skat silver of Dunnet & Canisbay Skat silver of Dunnet & Canisbay			RMS III (2882) 1539 RSS VII (988) 1577 RMS VII (409.2) 1583 RMS VI (1038) 1600 GD96/354 1610	£4-16s pa £4-16s 48s x 2 = 96s = £4-16s £4-16s pa
Skat malt of Dunnet & Canisbay Scat malt Skait-malt of Dunett & Cannesbie ** Skat malt of Dunnet & Canisbay Skat malt of Dunnet & Canisbay			RMS III (2882) 1539 RSS VII (988) 1577 RMS VII (409.2) 1583 RMS VI (1038) 1600 GD96/354 1610	27 bolls 27 bolls 13 bolls 2 firlots x 2 = 27 bolls 27 bolls
Scats of Reay & Dunnet Scats of Reay & Dunnet			Peterkin IV p 27 1642 Peterkin V p 31 <=1754	Pays yearly £8 £8
1½d of Hayland (now Halland?)	Dunnet	1½d	RMS VI (1038) 1600	Formerly belonged to provost of cathedral church of Orkney
Daill	Halkirk	6d	RMS VII (409.2) 1583 GD96/354 1610
Tubegg   Towbege Tubeg & Shebister (see above) Not named but rent implies (with Schabuster above?)	Reay	3d	Laing Charters (2815-17) 1683 Peterkin III p 24 Peterkin IV p 27 1642 Peterkin V p 31 <=1754	Fewed with Schabester above Pays yearly £11 £11
Domirall (possibly a corrupt form of a name above)?			Peterkin V p 31 <=1754	£22

 

* Books of Assumption pp 655, 657 Brubister, Furro/Furay and Lumay/Lunay were lumped with the 16d of Dounreay.

** RMS VII (409.2) 1583 gives some important extra detail about this skait-silver and skait-malt. It does not seem to have been exacted from every farm in each parish.

In Dunnet the farms taxed were Ratter, Hambres, Corspak, Ham & Barrak.

In Canisbay the farms were Dungasbie, Cannasbie, Seatter, Gillis and Waris.

This raises questions about the ownership of these lands.

 

RSS I (1000) 1503 shows the Bishop of Orkney held properties in Caithness well before the Reformation. Why?

Peterkin III pp 22-23, c. 1642, gives some reasons:

p 22

There lands are bot small. The haill duetie of yame all is bot about fourtie pundis. They hald of the bischoprie, bot littill partiallis of land, serving for the bischoppis sugejourneying yr quhen it is stayed at Pentla Firth.

 

(Their lands are only small. The whole duty of them all is only about £40. They hold of the bishopric, only little parcels of land, serving for the bishop’s sojourning there when it is stayed at the Pentland Firth. [i.e. when the weather prevents the ferry from crossing between Caithness and Orkney]).

 

p 24

Nota. Thair is sundrie lands in ye parochin of Halkrick, halden in blensch of the Bischops of Orknay, for service in convoyeing thame throw ye cuntrie of Caitnes, in qlk infeftments yr is several uther conditiones; ye most pairt of yr lands in possession of the Erle of Caitnes, and some in ye possessione of the Laird of Tackingae.

 

(Note. There are various lands in the parish of Halkirk, held blench of the Bishops of Orkney, for service in conveying them through the country of Caithness, in which enfeoffments there are several other conditions; the most part of their lands are in the possession of the Earl of Caithness, and some are in the possession of the Laird of Toftingall).

 

The above obligations suggests that the bishops travelled by land, not sea, and that they took the inland, and not the coastal route.

 

One of the properties was Hesticro. This place-name incorporates two Norse elements: hestr (horse) + kró (pen). Travelling south required horses so it makes sense that some of the Bishop’s mainland properties provided horses.

 

The Bishop directly owned at least 36d (6 davachs) in Caithness.