Latheron in the late 17th century

Latheron in the late 17th century

 

GD96/679/48 is a document which gives us a great deal of land-assessment information about the parish of Latheron. Essentially it is a summary for landlord or factor giving the names of the farms, their land-assessment valuation and the returns they made. It is not in a copy-book format. It was a working note with contractions, manuscript corrections and spelling inconsistencies. Malcolm Bangor-Jones drew it to the attention of Alasdair Ross who transcribed it and published it in TMC 14 pp 353-4, & discusses it on pp 293-294. National Records of Scotland date the document post 1681 but I don’t know their reasons. Internal evidence shows it cannot have been written before 1660. If we accept 1681 then I do not believe it can have much after. The farms which are listed run in a rough geographical order from SW to NE. Despite what it says I do not believe this is a complete list of farms in the parish but most are there.

 

Because I differ from Alasdair Ross on the interpretation of this document I have given my own transcription below. There are a few differences. Ross omitted Tacher. There is also a contracted word which he transcribes as ‘farine’ (meal). The contraction occurs after the letter ‘f’ and although this author does not always dot his ‘i’s’ he does so often enough for me to feel that the word is more likely to be ‘ferme’ (rent, specifically grain or meal for food). The difficulty is that either word could suit the context. Occasionally the word occurs along with the term ‘teind’ (tenth or tithe) which reinforces my belief it is actually ‘ferme’.

 

The table has 3 columns containing the original text, a modern version, and some commentary. I have followed the line lengths of the original. I should also explain some of the more commonly used terms:

 

‘zeirlie’ = yearly

‘moe’ sometimes appears as a contracted form of ‘money’

‘voder’ = wedder (castrated ram), a common feature in a rental

‘d land’ or ‘d’ is short for pennyland – a land-valuation unit

‘d’ is also short for penny – the currency unit (1 shilling = 12 d). These can always be distinguished from pennylands since they appear in the context of an amount of money in pounds, shillings and pence (£.s.d.)

‘s’ is short for shilling (£1=20 shillings)

‘lib’ is short for libra or pound (£; £1 = 20 shillings = 240d)

‘mkes’ is short for merks – the standard Scottish currency unit (1 merk = 160d or 13s 4d or ⅔ of a pound). The terms ‘merk’ and ‘pound’ were used alongside each other for centuries.

‘boll’ – a unit of measure for grain

‘floitts’ is a contaction of firlots (1 boll = four firlots)

‘mealls’ is for mails – another word for rent. In the context of this document ‘meall’ would be a payment in money whilst ‘ferme’ would be a payment in kind, e.g. grain. This explains the references to so many bolls of ‘ferme’ and so many merks of ‘meall’.

 

The Rentall off ye parrochin off Latheroun	The Rental of the parish of Latheron	Comments
Bairing Deall is 6d land	Berriedale is 6d land	See below (A)
The davache land off Austesdeall brayne- hagnlas Langvall and Delnagoiche payes zeirlie ilk d land 36 lib 11s 8d	The davach lands of Ousdale, Braene- heglish, Langwall and Delnagoiche pay yearly, for each pennyland, £36 11s 8d	See below (B). Each davach would therefore pay £219 10s 0d.
The davache land off Millerie ilk d land payes zeirlie 28 lib 13s 4d	The davach land of Millery each pennyland pays yearly £28 13s 4d	See below (B) Millery ND 1025
The davache land off ye Bremoir ilk d land payes zerelie 36 lib 6s 8d moe	The davach land of the Braemore each penny- land pays yearly £36 6s 8d money	See below (B) Braemore ND 0730
The 2d land of Lapen payes zeirlie 6 bolls ferme & 20 mkes money	The 2d land of Lapen pays yearly 6 bolls rent & 20 merks money	Lappan ND 1730. 2d Lapat in Retours (Caithness) (31) 1676.
The (?2) d land off Achnagaill payes zeirlie 20 lib money	The (?2) d land of Achnagaill pays yearly £20 money	It is impossible to read the number of pennylands. It might be a 2, in which case the cash rent would be about right. See below (C).
The 7d land of Knockinand payes zeirlie 4xx lib money	The 7d land of Knockinnon pays yearly £80 money	4xx = 4 times 20 = 80. Knockinnon ND 1731.
The davache land off Latherounfard ilk d land yt is labored payes zeirlie 3 bolls ferme & 10 mkes off mealls	The davach land of Latherounfard each pennyland that is laboured pays yearly 3 bolls rent & 10 merks of mail	I agree with Ross on the reading of Latherounfard – but it is the only instance I have found of this place-name. We often come across place-name pairs, ‘big/meikle & little’, ‘upper & nether’, ‘garbh & min’, so possibly ‘fard & fuill‘ were another set.
The davache land off Latherounfuill payes iust alyke	The davach land of Latheronwheel pays just alike	i.e. same rate per pennyland Latheronwheel Mains ND 1732.
The d land off ye Strathie alyke	The pennyland of the Strath alike	i.e. same rate per pennyland. I think the Strath probably included properties on the west side of the Burn of Latheronwheel – perhaps in its upper reaches.
The d land off ye Mylne alyke	The pennyland of the Mill alike	i.e. same rate per pennyland. Presumably on the Burn of Latheronwheel
The d land of Loche coyache alyke	The pennyland of Loch coyache alike	i.e. same rate per pennyland. Modern drainage has probably transformed local water-courses. There is still a tiny lochan in ND 1732.
The davache land off Achintoft alyke	The davach land of Achintoft alike	i.e. same rate per pennyland. Achintoft has now disappeared but appears as Achantoft on Thomson’s map of 1822 c. ND 1732.
The davache land off Smeroll alyke	The davach land of Smerral alike	i.e. same rate per pennyland Smerral ND 1733.
The 24d land of ye east syd off ye brune off Latheroun fuill payes zeirlie ilk d land tuo bolls tuo floitts ferme & 10 mkes money qroff ye minister hes two d land for the glibe	The 24 pennylands of the east side of the burn of Latheron wheel pay yearly each pennyland two bolls two firlots rent & 10 merks money whereof the minister has two pennyland for the glebe	This would equate to 4 davachs of 6d each.
The Maniss off Fors payes zeirlie three ccx mkes money for ferme teind & silver dutie	The Mains of Forse pays yearly three ccx merks money for rent, teind & silver duty	The Mains Farm was the Home Farm of a large holding. The rent appears to be 630 merks (3 times 210) which would be £420. The ‘ferme’ here seems to have been commuted for a money payment. Forse ND 2134.
Mair sex cotts crofts ilk cotter payes zeirlie 40 s moe ane voder sex pultry and the teind sheaff	More – six cotters crofts each cotter pays yearly 40 s money one wedder six poultry and the teind sheaf	I cannot improve on Alasdair Ross’s suggestion of ‘Mair’ but am a little doubtful. The ‘teind sheaf’ refers to the ‘garbal teinds’ i.e. the tenth sheaf of corn, rendered to the church in earlier times. There were other teinds as well but this was the primary one.
Barrigill is 4d land & ilk d land payes zeirlie 4 bolls 2 fs ferme & 10 mkes off mealls	Burrigill is 4d land & each pennyland pays yearly 4 bolls 2 firlots rent & 10 merks of mail	Burrigill ND 2234
Mair thrie Cotts the ane thereoff payes zeirlie sex floittis ferme & teind 4 lib money ane ston off tallou & 6 pultries the uyr tuo payes zeirlie ilk ane off them ane boll ane floitt ferme & teind & sex pultrie	More – three Cotts the one thereof pays yearly six firlots rent & teind £4 money one stone of tallow & 6 poultry the other two pay yearly each one of them one boll one firlot rent & teind & six poultry	Tallow was animal fat used for making candles.
The miller has ane d land payes zeirlie thrie bolls ferme sex mkes off mealls thrie wedders ane dissonn pultrie and alevin bolls for myln M(ultures)	The miller has one pennyland pays yearly three bolls rent six merks of mails three wedders one dozen poultry and eleven bolls for mill M(ultures)	Most of the last word is concealed by a fold but Ross’s reading makes sense. Multures refer to the tax the miller raised on the corn he ground.
Nien payes zeirlie three bolls ferme sex lib off money tuo Voders & (vii pultrie)	Niandt pays yearly three bolls rent £6 of money two wedders & (vii poultry)	Niandt ND 2133 I rely on Ross’s reading for the items in brackets.
Nodinghame is 9d land ilk d land payes zeirlie aucht bolls ferme fyve mkes money & 8 pultrie	Nottingham is 9d land each penny- land pays yearly eight bolls rent five merks money & 8 poultry	Nottingham ND 2135.
Rumster & Goulesrie is 3d land ilk d land payes zeirlie thrie bolls ferme 13 mkes 4s 8d moe 2 vodders 7 pultrie	Rumster & Golsary is 3d land each pennyland pays yearly three bolls rent 13 merks 4s 8d money 2 wedders 7 poultry	Rumster ND 2137 Golsary ND 2037
Stamster is 3d land ilk d land payes zeirlie tuo bolls ferme tuo mkes money & sex pultrie	Stamster is 3d land each pennyland pays yearly two bolls rent two merks money & six poultry	Stemster ND 1844
Achie Kinnloche is 3d land & payes zeirlie 20 mkes moe	Achkinloch is 3d land & pays yearly 20 merks money	Achkinloch ND 1942
Ranigake is 3d land and ilk d land payes zeirlie 4 bolls ferme & 40 mkes moe	Rangag is 3d land and each pennyland pays yearly 4 bolls rent & 40 merks money	Rangag ND 1744.
The Tachar payes zeirlie ten mkes moe	The Tacher pays yearly ten merks money	Tacher ND 1746. At parish boundary with Watten & Halkirk.
Badryrie 1d land payes zeirlie 3 bolls ferme ten mkes moe & ane voder	Badryrie 1d land pays yearly 3 bolls rent ten merks money & one wedder	Badryrie ND 2043
Shinovell and Achafraskill payes zeirlie fyftein mkes money	Shinovell and Achafraskill pays yearly fifteen merks money	Shinvall ND 1644 Achararskill ND 1543.
Rostar is 4d land ilk d land payes zeirlie three bolls ferme & 20 mkes moey	Roster is 4d land each pennyland pays yearly three bolls rent & 20 merks money	Roster ND 2639/2640
Achavar is 2d land & payes zeirlie thri bolls ferme & 20 mkes money	Achavar is 2d land & pays yearly three bolls rent & 20 merks money	Achavar ND 2637
Ocumster is 2d land & payes zeirlie four score libs money	Occumster is 2d land & pays yearly £80 money	Occumster ND 2635
Meikle Clythe is 24d land ilk d land payes zeirlie thrie bolls ferme & 10 lib money	Meikle Clyth is 24d land each pennyland pays yearly three bolls rent & £10 money	Clyth is a large farm and can be found in ND 2636/2736/2836/2737/2837. Meikle Clyth is West Clyth
Mid Clythe is 14d land ilk d land pay -es zeirlie four bolls tuo ptes ferme and forratein mkes halff mke money	Mid Clyth is 14d land each pennyland pay -s yearly four bolls two (pecks?) rent and fourteen merkes half merk money	The word ‘pecks’ is conjecture. As written there is no ‘k’ visible and it looks more like an abbreviation of ‘parts’. However Bolls were divided into firlots and firlots into pecks. Ross also believed it to represent pecks.
Yvertoun is tuo d land & payes zeir- -lie ten bolls ferme & 30 lib 13 s 4 d	Overton is two pennyland & pays year- -ly ten bolls rent & £30 13s 4d	Overton ND 2836 Ross also gives this as Ouertoun.
Easter Clythe is ( ) d land ilke d land payes zeirlie	Easter Clyth is ( ) d land each pennyland pays yearly	The last entry is clearly unfinished since both the valuation and the rental are left blank.

 

Notes

A) Berriedale – the first entry in this rental tells us that Berriedale was 6d land. We also have evidence from GD112/58/14 (post 1681) that Berriedale was divided into 6 davachs. Alasdair Ross has then come to the conclusion (p 353) that this reference to ‘Bairing Deall is 6d land’ must be referring to these 6 davachs and that therefore every instance of a ‘d’ refers to a davach land. I don’t believe this is correct. When the author of this document writes davach he means a davach of 6 pennylands. Only the larger landowners held whole davachs. Most tenants just had a portion such as a pennyland or a fraction thereof. We must remember the name Berriedale was not just a location or settlement – in this case a davach farm with 6 pennylands. It also served as an estate name. It is in the context of a whole estate that GD112/58/14 says Berriedale is divided into 6 davachs. The actual davach located at Berriedale contained 6d – just like all the other davachs in the area. With this interpretation the document is entirely consistent. When the author wants to list a davach he calls it such. All his ‘d land’ references are to pennylands.

 

B) Having stated that Berriedale was 6 pennylands this document then starts with the names of 6 other davachs, five of which (with Berriedale) probably composed the 6-davach estate of Berriedale. They are:

Austesdeall – the geographical context suggests Ousdale ND 0620/0720.

Braynehagnlas – Braeneheglish or Brae na h-Eaglaise (N. side of Langwell Water)

Langvall – Langwell (Langwell Water joins Berriedale Water just before the latter falls into the sea)

Delnagoiche – (Ross reads Delnagoithe) – Dailyoich by Berriedale Water

Millerie – Millery (E. side of Berriedale Water)

Bremoir – Braemore (S. side of Berriedale Water in Thomson (1822) – now the N. side)

 

We can turn to other documents to help work out these place-names. RMS III (2450) 1541 gives the following: Hoistildaill, Balnehaggelis, Langwell, Mellere and Ballegay. The editors of OPS also looked at the Privy Seal version (RSS II (4212) 1541) and offer Hoistisdale as an alternative spelling and a different rent for Balnehaggelis (OPS II, II pp 765-6). We have one piece of land-assessment data in RMS III (2450) which is that Hoistildaill was 6d. The rents returned are instructive. The rents for Langwell, Mellere and Ballegay exactly match those for Hoistildaill. The cash rent for Balnehaggelis is less but the rent in wedders and oats are the same. Each of these places was probably also 6d (or 1 davach) in 1541.

GD112/58/8/27 tells us Breanaheglische, Langwell, Dalligoth and Breamore were davachs in 1637. GD112/58/8/35 tells us Dolligaiche was a davach in 1638. From Retours (Caithness) (30) we know that Langwall & Millery were davachs in 1674. GD112/58/43/22 1680 and GD112/58/14/12 (post 1681) both tell us that Braeneheglish was a davach. Put these documents together with GD96/679/48 and we can be confident of these illustrating the 6-davach Berriedale estate.

But where was Delnagoiche and which of these 7 davachs was not part of the Berriedale estate? In the ‘Testament of Alexander Suthyrland of Dunbeath, 1456,’ printed in The Bannatyne Miscellany Vol. III, p 98, Edinburgh, 1855, Alexander assigns his son Nicholas, the lands of ‘Dallzanze and Berydal’ until he is paid a certain sum of money. ‘Dallzanze’ is probably ‘Delnagoiche’. In the records our place-name occurs as follows:

Dallzanze (1456); Dalligoth (1637); Dolligaiche (1638); Delnagoiche (post 1681); Dailyoich (1871). Dailyoich no longer appears on the map but lies on the east side of Berriedale Water at ND 1024.

As to which davach was not technically part of the Berriedale estate I think it has to be Ousdale. This is several kilometres away and, crucially, in a different drainage-basin.

It is striking how many of the farms listed above appear on Thomson’s map of 1822. Thomson gives a list of 7 local sources and only about 140 years separate the writing of GD96/679/48 and Thomson’s map-making. The places which were locally important c. 1681 were still important in 1822.

 

C) Lists of farms often followed a geographical order. On this basis Achnagaill is now probably Achnagoul ND 1632. There is a broch, cairn, chambered cairn and standing stone all nearby so it had probably been an important site for centuries. It appears in Thomson’s map of 1822 as Achnagaol.