Watten
| Name | Value | Date | Grid Ref | Map Sources | Other forms, comments etc |
| ‘Westbuster’ | (12d?) | 1561 | Waistbust in Books of Assumption pp 632-3.
Waistbustar in OPS II, II p 782. = Westir below? |
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| Westir? | 7⅜d | c. 1696 | GD112/58/102/31 c. 1696. See below. | ||
| Strath of Westir? | 2⅜d | c. 1696 | GD112/58/102/31 c. 1696. See below under Westir. | ||
| Cogle | 1561 | ND 2657 | Blaeu(Caithness)
Gordon(9) Roy(FC) Thomson(1822) |
Books of Assumption pp 632-3.
Oogle in Blaeu. Broch (possible) – Cogle ND 267570. See below. |
|
| Knapperfield | 1730 | ND 2656 | RS21/2/232v 1730. See below under Cogle. | ||
| Quoybrae | 1730 | ND 2657 | RS21/2/232v 1730. See below under Cogle. | ||
| Cromiequoy | 1730 | ND 2656 | RS21/2/232v 1730. See below under Cogle. | ||
| Gersa | 1561 | ND 2758 | Roy(FC) | Books of Assumption pp 632-3.
Broch (possible) – West Gersa, Gearsay Cairn ND 272581. |
|
| Scottag | 1¼d | 1730 | ND 2557 | RS21/2/232v 1730. See below under Cogle.
Broch (possible) – Scottag ND 256569. |
|
| Lynegar | 9d | 1596 | ND 2257 | RHP 3910
Thomson(1822) |
Books of Assumption pp 632-3. Sutherland (p 30) claims 9d in 1596. Broch (possible) – Lynegar House, Grey Cairn ND 230566.
See below. |
| Scarletquoyes | ¼d | 1661 | RS20/1/pp 155-6 1661. SC14/90/7/2. Part of lands of Watten.
Associated with Lynegar in valuation rolls for 1702 & 1751. See below. |
||
| Bylbster Farm | 12d | c. 1696 | ND 2654 | Blaeu(Caithness)
Gordon(9) Thomson(1822) |
Bylbuster in Blaeu.
GD112/58/102/31 c. 1696. See below. |
| Strath of Bylbster | 4d
4½d |
1665
c. 1696 |
ND 2552 | Thomson(1822) | RS20/1/pp 198-9 1665.
GD112/58/102/31 c. 1696. |
| Pennyland | (1d) | ND 2453 | RHP 22347
Thomson(1822) |
Probably = following entry and included in Strath of Bylbster above. | |
| Pennyland of Strath of Bylbster | (1d) | 1801 | GD136/184 1801 & GD136/336 1830. This will be the same as Pennyland above. Caithness Events p 60 gives a 1676 renunciation of ½d in Strath of Bilbster, Scorriclett and Achlibster. | ||
| Borgie | ND 2654 | ||||
| Scouthal
Nether Scouthal Nether Skoudaill Owir Skoudaill |
4d 6½d +1/16d 6½d |
1522 1660 1660 |
ND 2352/2353 | Blaeu(Caithness)
Gordon(9) Roy(FC) Thomson(1822) |
Scouldale in Blaeu. GD112/58/102/31 c. 1696.
4d in Neddir Sculdall in GD1/945/3 1522. GD112/58/14/9 1660 – 1/16d = ‘halffe octo land’. GD112/58/14/9 1660. See below. |
| Banks | 2d | 1660 | ND 2353 | Roy(FC) | GD112/58/14/9 1660. See under Scouthal below. |
| Newton | ¾d | 1666 | ND 2153 | Roy(FC) | See under Scouthal below. |
| Aridow | ½d | 1666 | See under Scouthal below. | ||
| Auchintoft | 2d | 1660 | c. ND 2252 | Roy(FC) | GD112/58/14/9 1660. <> Achantoft in Latheron parish. |
| Munsary | 1561 | ND 2145 | Roy(FC)
Thomson(1822) |
Books of Assumption pp 632-3. Munesry (1726).
Macfarlane’s Geographical Collections Vol. I, p 179. |
|
| Badlipster | ND 2449 | Roy(FC)
Thomson(1822) |
|||
| Achalipster | ND 2448/2449 | Roy(FC)
Thomson(1822) |
GD112/58/102/31 c. 1696. | ||
| Kensary | 1561 | ND 2248 | Roy(FC)
Thomson(1822) |
Books of Assumption pp 632-3. | |
| Rowens | 1561 | ND 2347 | Roy(FC)
Thomson(1822) |
Books of Assumption pp 632-3. | |
| Toftingall | 3d | 1701 | ND 1754/1854 | Blaeu(Caithness)
Gordon(9) |
Books of Assumption pp 632-3. Tochnagal in Blaeu.
RS21/1/327r 1701. See below. |
| Langergill | ND 1854/1855 | RHP 2177 | |||
| Dunn
South Dunn |
7d
10½d |
1538
1643 |
ND 1956
ND 1955 |
Blaeu(Caithness)
Gordon(9) Thomson(1822) |
7d RMS III (1798) 1538. Repeated in RMS V (1341) 1587 & Retours (Caithness) (22) 1644. See below.
GD139/11 1643 10½d Dun on the S. side of the burn of Dun. |
| Houstry
Houstry of Dunn |
ND 2154
ND 2054 |
Blaeu(Caithness)
Gordon(9) RHP2177 |
Houstre in Blaeu. | ||
| Watten
East Watten Strath of Watten West Watten |
ND 2454
ND 2655 ND 2555 ND 2355 |
Blaeu(Caithness)
Gordon(9) Roy(FC) Thomson(1822) |
Wattin in Blaeu
Broch (possible) – Watten ND 241539. Broch (possible) – West Watten, Green Hill ND 229550. |
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| Snottergill (Burn) or
Snotterfield |
ND 2050 | Roy(FC)
Thomson(1822) |
Snorterfeild (Roy). Snottergill (Thomson).
RMS XI (558) 1664. See below. |
||
| Achingale | ND 2453 | Blaeu(Caithness)
Gordon(9) Roy(FC) Thomson(1822) |
Achingal in Blaeu. GD112/58/102/31 c. 1696.
Broch (possible) – Achingale ND 243535. |
||
| Acharole | ND 2151 | Roy(FC)
Thomson(1822) |
Broch (possible) – Bail a’ Chairn, Acharole ND 228517. | ||
| Total | 74½d +1/16d |
The Books of Assumption pp 632-3 list the farms of Watten (and their teind sheaves) in 1561. It is tempting to try and estimate their values on the basis of their teinds but I do not think we should do this. What we can do is weigh the teind sheaves between the different farms and, where we know their relative valuations, use this as supporting evidence. The teind sheaves, as given in the Books of Assumption, were only an estimate in 1561. The figures are:
Vactin (Watten) 28 b. (ie. 28 bolls)
Cagill and Gers (Cogle & Gersa), 11 b.
Lynekirk (Lynegar), 12 b.
Bilbustar (Bylbster), 20 b.
Nedder Staddaill (Nether Scouthal), 18 b.
Over Sculdaill (Over Scouthal) with the pendicles, 16 b.
Monsarne (Munsary), Kansarne (Kensary) and the Rowenes (Rowens), 6 b.
Toftingaill (Toftingall), 8 b.
Waistbust (Westbuster), 20 b.
Dune (Dunn), 40 b.
Other data reinforces these figures. The important settlements were Watten, Bylbster, Scouthal, Westbuster and Dunn. Westbuster and Bylbster may have had the same valuations. Munsary, Kensary and Rowens were individually of little value. (The -ary endings of the first two suggest they were originally shielings). The teind sheaves for Watten total 179 bolls – significantly less than Bower which was 264 bolls.
RMS V (2180) 1592 and RMS VII (129) 1609 refers to teinds from Dun, Houstarie/Haustrie [Houstry] and Backles in this parish. They were linked to the archdeacon’s holding in Bower.
RMS VII (1508) 1616 gives the following properties in Watten: Wattoun, Brigend, Westir, Over and Nether Skuthaill, Byilbistir, Achingaill, Lynager and half Dune.
GD112/58/102/31 c. 1696 gives Waister, Straith of Waister, Bylbster, Strath of Bylbster, Auchahoy, Hallasarie, Scouthell, Auchingall & Auchalibster.
Macfarlane’s Geographical Collections Vol. I, SHS, Edinburgh, 1906 pp 179-181 – Description Parish of Wattin in Cathness Jun 1726 gives the principal properties as: Cogill [Cogle], Gersay, Lynager, Northdun, Southdun, Toftingall and Achangaill [Achingale].
The easternmost part of the parish must have included some of the Moss of Killimster. (NSA p 54).
Westir?
Books of Assumption pp 632-3 lists Waistbust as part of Watten in 1561. The farm gave the same return as Bilbustar (Bylbster). A valuation of 12d does not seem unlikely. GD112/58/102/31 gives a total of 9¾d c. 1696
RMS VII (1508) 1616 also gives this property in Watten. Waister and Straith of Waister appear in GD112/58/102/31 c. 1696 alongside 7 other named properties – all in Watten. There were also Wester Olrig (seemingly just referred to as Wester) and Wester in Wick parish – both of which were separate.
Cogle
Miller, in ‘The Coghills of Coghill’, claims the estate included Cogle, Gersa & Scottack (Scottag). He equates it with Coglefute which is a name sometimes found in old records. There is another Coghill near Scrabster.
RS21/2/232v 1730 gives the lands of Cogill & Gersay with pendicles called Knapperfield Over and Neather, Quey breys, Crummie Quey & Crooks of Cogill. It also gives the 5-farthing land of Scottag.
Lynegar
RS20/1/pp 155-6 1661 links ‘Lynager’ with the properties of Gartomie, Boustrie, Groquoyes and a ¼d land called Scarletquoyes which lay at the east side of the burn of Groquoyes. None of the 4 latter names survive on today’s OS Explorer 451 but Boustry is marked at ND 237581 on OS 6” 1st Series Caithness Sheet XVIII 1871. There is also a Quoy at ND 2359.
Scarletquoyes
RS20/1/pp 155-6 1661. See under Lynegar above.
Bylbster
On today’s map (OS Explorer 450) there is a cluster of names in ND 2852/2853 where Bilbster is spelled with an ‘i’. These are in Wick parish and Bilbster Burn runs into Wick River.
About 2 kilometres west of these, in Watten parish, there is another cluster of names (ND 2553/2554, ND 2652/2653) – this time spelled Bylbster with a ‘y’. Here there is also a Bylbster Burn which runs into Wick River in ND 2654.
Finally, in GD112/58/102/31 c. 1696 there is reference to Strath of Bylbster at 4½d. This lay along the Strath Burn which runs by Pennyland in ND 2453. In GD136/184 1801 and GD136/336 1830 this is called Pennyland of Strath of Bylbster. In Roy’s map (Fair Copy) Pennyland is not given and instead is marked ‘Bylpster’.
So, what do we have here? One very large farm by the Wick River which also included the Strath Burn? Which was split between the two parishes of Watten and Wick much as Murkle was divided between Thurso and Olrig? Or two separate farms (with the same name) in two different parishes?
GD280/7/4/21 gives a useful list of lands in the parish of Wick in 1752. It includes Over and Nether Bilbster.
Scouthal
RS20/1/p 207 1666 refers to ‘2d land in nether scoudell lyand at the banks yrof’; plus ‘lands called neutoun being 3 fding land’; plus ‘half d land in nether Scoudell’ called Aridow. There are some ambiguities here which I have dealt with as follows:
‘2d land in nether scoudell lyand at the banks yrof’ = 2d Banks in the table above. It may, in earlier centuries, have been viewed as part of Scouthal.
‘lands called neutoun being 3 fding land’ = Newton in table above. The name suggests this was newly-taken-in farmland. I am not sure if Newton was ever classed as part of Scouthal so I have listed it separately.
‘half d land in nether Scoudell’ called Aridow. (Aridow means ‘black shieling’ and south of Newton lie Blackisle, Black Pools, Black Burn and Druim Dubh [Black Ridge] so a ‘Black shieling’ would not be out of context. I have assumed this ½d should be viewed as part of the assessment of Nether Scouthal.
Toftingall
RS21/1/327r 1701 describes Toftingall as‘extending of old to 3d land and comprehending now the parts and pendicles underwri(tte)n to witt Knockglass, Arieglass, Achamoan, Achanomie, Achabevigne, Badbaillzie, the neiyr [nether] burn of the Loch of Toftingall, Badinoivan, Dowbad, Gulbad, Lionacha … lyand wtin [lying within] the paroch [parish] of Wattin’.
Some of these places can still be located: e.g. Knockglass ND 1753; Achnamoine ND 1753.
Henderson, J., Caithness Family History, pp 184-7.
Broch (possible) – Knockglass ND 176532.
Dunn
Dunn was subdivided. RS36/2/118r 1606 refers to 7d which David Sinclar of Dune’s predecessors held of the family of Olyphant and Berridaill – as well as another 3d in Dune which David also had. (7d + 3d = 10d).
In 1643 the 10½d unit belonged to the Sinclairs of Dun whilst in 1644 the 7d unit belonged to the earl of Caithness. 10½d + 7d = 17½d so it seems likely that Dunn was 18d or 3 davachs or 1 ounceland. According to RSS VII (1057) 1577 there was a pennyland of Dun called ‘the pennyland of Sanct Magnus’. This must have been assigned to St Magnus’s Hospital in Halkirk parish.
RS20/1/p 206 1665 specifies Dun on both the south and north sides of its burn including Houstrie, Backles, Paddockfield and Ugglassie. These can be located as follows:
Houstry is at ND 2154, Houstry of Dunn at ND 2054; Backlass is at ND 2053; Paddockfield is not named on Explorer 451 but OS 6” 1st Series Caithness Sheet XVIII 1871 places it at ND 188558; Ouglassy is not named on Explorer 451 (except as Ouglassy Parks) but buildings are marked at Ouglassy in OS 6” 1st Series Caithness Sheet XVIII 1871 at ND 185566.
Broch (possible) – Bridge of Dunn ND 204561.
Broch (possible) – Cairn of Dunn ND 206560.
Broch (possible) – Lower Dunn ND 202567.
Snottergill or Snotterfield
This farm, which was unusual in Caithness in the sense that it was dairy rather than arable, features a number of times Donaldson’s books (see Text file). It belonged to the Mey estate which was based in Canisbay. The Mey family referred to it as Snottergill but others, including Budge of Toftingall who lived nearby, sometimes called it Snotterfield. It seems to have carried both names.
In an article in the Caithness Field Club Bulletin of October 1979, DB Miller states that Snottergill is now Shielton (ND 2050).
The place-names, and the mineral qualities of the local springs, are discussed in an article by George Watson in the Caithness Field Club Bulletin of 2018.
Broch (possible) Carn a’ Chladha – ND 231523.
Broch (possible) – Spittal Farm ND 175543.
Broch (possible) – Cairn of Achoy ND 226534.
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