Olrig
Principal Sources
OSA Vol 12 No 14 1794
NSA Vol XV 1845 (written in 1840)
RMS IV (2437) 1575 on original of 1561
RMS VI (1467) 1603, on original of 1600, (1729) 1606
RMS VII (1508) 1616
RMS XI (53) 1661
RSS I (2939) 1517
RSS III (2272) 1547
RSS IV (202) 1549
GD96/227 1587, GD96/398 1616, GD96/552 1638
GD112/58/102/3 1696, GD112/58/102/4 1696, GD112/58/102/5 1696
RS36/2/37r 1606
RS36/2/188v 1607
RS36/2/282r 1607
RS20/1/p 155 1661
RS20/1/p 165 1662
RS20/1/p 296 1672
RHP 1220 Plan of the estate of Castlehill 1772
RHP 1221 c. 1772
Macfarlane’s Geographical Collections Vol. I, SHS, Edinburgh, 1906 pp 174-176 – Description Parish of Olrigg in Cathness Jun 1726
Megaw: Scottish Studies VI Part 2, 1962 pp 218-223
Olrig is a physically small parish and the fact that Murkill is divided between Olrig and Thurso makes me wonder quite how the parish was constructed. It was in existence at the time of the constitution of the Cathedral Chapter of Caithness (1223-1245). If the large farm of Murkill was created by the Norse sometime in the ninth century then why was it divided between the parishes of Thurso and Olrig in later centuries? Was it because davach boundaries (rather than ounceland boundaries) were the determinant in devising parishes? This would explain why large Norse farms later found themselves split between different parishes. (For analogous situations see Camster in Latheron/Wick or Aimstir in Halkirk/Thurso). It may be that the ghost outlines of earlier davachs lie beneath parish structure in Caithness.
RS20/1/p 296 1672 refers to the ‘lands of half Scatland in the toun of Stangergill’. This is one of four references to scatlands in Caithness. See also under Reiss (Wick parish), and Skiall & Dounreay (Reay parish).
The table gives 64⅝d which is a little over over 10 davachs or 3 ouncelands.
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