| PRESBYTERY OF ALFORD-THE CABRACH. | 615 |
CABRACH, OR STRATHDOVERN.¹
CABRACH church is dedicated to the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.
This is reckoned the coldest parish in this diocese : being wholly enclosed with hills, the soil being very mossy, frosts here quite kill the corn, but in warm years ther is a double increase.
LESSMURDIE, the seat of Stewart of Lessmurdie.²
SOCCOTH and BALCHIRIE, belonging to Gordon of Baldornie.
[Carta
Willelmi comitis de
· Douglas · ³ (A.D.
1374.)
Robertus etc
· Omnibus
etc
· Sciatis nos
dedisse etc
· dilecto consanguieno nostro · Willelmo comiti
de
Douglas · Omnes et singulas terras foreste de Cabrauche ac
dimidiam dauatam terre de Auchmayre cum seruicio libretenentis alterius
medietatis dicte dauate que dicitur Clouethe · cum
pertinenciis
infra vicecomiatum de Banff que fuerunt Dauid Brovne de Glendrisona
· et quas idem Dauid nobis sursum reddidit et resignauit
· Tenendas et habendas eidem Willelmo heredibus suis et suis
assignatis de nobis et heredibus nostris ·in feodo et
hereditate
· Faciendo inde seruicia debita et consueta ·
· In
cuius rei testimonium etc
· Testibus etc
· Apud
Edynburghe · nono die Januarij · anno regni
nostri
· Tercio · ]
¹
["The parioch of
Cabrach is in the diocese of Aberdeen, and partly in
that shire, namely, the south side of Doveran ; and partly in
Bamfshire, namely, the north side of Doveran. The church lyes upon the
river of Royster, twenty-eight miles north-west from Aberdeen.
Gentlemens seats here are, Lismurdie, four miles east, The Soccoch,
five miles east from the church, both on the north side of Doveran. The
water Royster takes its rise eleven miles west from the church, at the
head of Old Doveran, in a hill called Craigensiore, and after running
two miles east, takes in the brook of Lerkindie, (which arises from
Monk Medden, two miles south,) and other two small brooks which spring
out of The Buck, about a mile south likewise. Then, continuing its
course by the church, it runs streight north two miles, till it meet
with The Black Water, another large river, which takes its rise in a
hill called The Klymach in Glenlivet, six miles west from the church ;
and, after mixing here with Royster, they take together the common name
of Doveran, and run streight east by Lismurdie and The Soccoch three
miles, into the parioch of Glass. The parioch is like one entire
cluster of hills ; the chief of which are Craigensiore, four miles west
; Moth-medden, two miles south ; and the vast mountain called The Buck,
one mile south, from the church. There is a great wood in Old Doveran,
and a forrest, where there is frequent resort of deer, roes,
heath-fowl, and other game ; which, with cattle, sheep, goats, butter,
cheese, and wool, are the commodities of the place. There is a highway
south and north to Elgine, and passes by the church, near which there
is an inn for entertainment". (Description of the parish of Cabrach,
[written about 1725] in Macfarlane's Geographical Collections, MS.)]
² ["There are some remains of
a chapel and burial ground on the north
bank of the Dovern, near Lesmurdie". (The New Statistical Account of
Scotland, number xxxviii., p. 197. Edinb. 1842.)]
³ [From the Registrvm Magni
Sigilli, p. 104. See also Robertson's Index
to the Charters, p. 139.]
[Google Translate: Carta Willelmi comitis de Douglas
Robertus etc Omnibus etc Sciatis nos dedisse etc dilecto consanguieno nostro Willelmo comiti de Douglas Omnes et singulas terras foreste de Cabrauche ac dimidiam dauatam terre de Auchmayre cum seruicio libretenentis alterius medietatis dicte dauate que dicitur Clouethe cum pertinenciis infra vicecomiatum de Banff que fuerunt Dauid Brovne de Glendrisona et quas idem Dauid nobis sursum reddidit et resignauit Tenendas et habendas eidem Willelmo heredibus suis et suis assignatis de nobis et heredibus nostris in feodo et hereditate Faciendo inde seruicia debita et consueta In cuius rei testimonium etc Testibus etc Apud Edynburghe nono die Januarij anno regni nostri Tercio]