Source:Antiquarian notes (LXXVII)

"LXXVII. Rental of the Bishopric of Ross. Part Third and Last." Antiquarian notes, papers regarding the Highlands (2nd edition)

LXXVII. RENTAL OF THE BISHOPRIC OF ROSS, 1695. Part Third and Last. (D.)

In the concluding part of the rental given herewith will be found the value of the Bishop's Customs in Scots money. It is instructive to contrast prices of provisions at different periods, and on this account it is intended in next paper to republish, from Mr Dunbar Dunbar's contributions, prices of provisions in Inverness in 1654, while Cromwell's soldiers garrisoned the Citadel.

In 1695 the value of beef per carcase in sterling money was in Ross-shire £1; mutton, per carcase, 2s 6d ; capons, 4d; farm-yard fowls, 2½d ; eggs, each, one-third of a farthing — per dozen. 1d ; boll oats, 5s, and load of peats, 2½d. Notwithstanding the quantity of victual, the total rental of the Bishopric would not be considered high in these days.

Having reference to the observations in last paper as to the numerous off-shoots from Kintail who founded families, and received extensive lands, necessitating the enlargement by hook or crook of the main borders, it is stated in the Applecross MS. that Lachlan, infant son of William Mackintosh, of that Ilk, murdered in 1550, having been conveyed into Ross for safety by humble friends, was, when the circumstance came to the knowledge of Colin, then of Kintail, taken possession of and brought to Eilean Donan. The Chief retained Lachlan Mackintosh carefully until the years of pupillarity had expired, and then married him to his daughter Agnes — not an unsuitable match, apart from the time and manner it was brought about (1).

In this MS. history, now so valuable from its age (1666), there is the fullest information about the family of Kintail and all its branches. In districts where the same name and surname applied to so many, it was absolutely necessary that people should be known by patronymic, hence Allister-vic- Coil-vic-Farquhar, Rory-vic-Cailen-vic-Eachin, Coineach-vic-Coiichie-vic-Ian, &c., and the like, are scattered everywhere in the history. This system of nomenclature is still in operation, particularly in the Isles, where there are villages or townships. The minister in a parish* whose western shores are much indented and ceaselessly disturbed by the Atlantic lately informed us that parties known by no other name than the following live in his parish, and they are given as specimens merely — viz., Cailean-vic-Coil-vic-Ian-vic-Allister (Colin son of Donald, son of John, son of Alexander), Patric-vic-Kerracher- vic-Ian (Patrick son of Farquhar, son of John), lan-vic-Coil- vic-Ian ruaidh (John son of Donald, son of John the red) — the surnames being Macdonald, Smith, and Macdonald respectively. We were informed that a stranger hearing the names would make nothing of them, as they are all slurred together into one word, repeated by all, even by children, with astonishing rapidity. We were further informed that there are at least twenty men in the parish called in Gaelic “Fionghail” (Fingal). If among the Irish in the Northern States of America are to be found the “Fenian Brotherhood,” have not the Isles their “Fingalians” ?

* Uig in the Lews

Follows the concluding part of the rental : —

Bear rent of the Bishopric of Ross continued —

	Bls.	fir.	pks
Torridon — The lands of Torridon pays	2	0	0
Monro — John Monro pays for a quarter of Meikle Allan half a boll, attour eleven bolls he pays to the minister	0	2	0
Fouller — Donald Fouller, at List Robert and John Monro's, as tacksmen of his part of Meikle Allan, pays	17	1	0
Fouller — Rory Fouller pays for his part of Meikle Allan one firlot attour seventeen bolls he pays to the minister	0	1	0
M'Culloch— Mr James M'Culloch pays for a quarter of Little Allan fyve bolls and a half, but he contraverts the half boll. It is said that he has an oxgate of Eyesland which pays two bolls inde	7	2	0
Ross — Mr Hugh Ross pays for a quarter of Eyesland	4	0	0
Stronach — John Stronach pays for one oxgate of Little Allan	2	0	0
Kilravock— Kilravock pays for Wester Rarichies and Culis	76	0	0
Little Kindeace — The Life Rentrix of Little Kindeace pays for these lands eleven bolls attour six she pays to the minister	11	8	0
Ross — Alexander Ross of Pitcalnie pays for Pitcalnie, Calnaha, and Culderary	44	0	0
Urcuhart — Mr Thomas Urquhart pays for a quarter of Nigg, twixt feu and teind bolls	16	0	0
Gairs — Alexander and Thomas Gairs pay twixt feu and teind victuall for their three oxgates of Nigg	24	0	0
Ross —Mr Robert Ross and Mr David Fearn pays for their seven oxgates of Pitkylan	20	0	0
Rioch — Donald Rioch's oxgate of Pitkylan pays	4	0	0
Dunskaith — The lands of Dunskaith pays	10	0	0
Shandwick — The Life-rentrix of Shandwick pays	8	0	0
	520	2	0
	108	0	0
	34	0	0
	690	2	0

Bear Rent of the Bishopric of Ross, his precinct, and which is possessed be himself.

	Bls.	fir.	pks
The Castle-yard pays with the lands about the same	10	0	0
Crawford's croft pays	4	0	0
John Urquhart's croft pays	2	0	0
The lands above John Urquhart's croft, be the laighest gate that leads to the Craig wood, and till ye come to the Craig woods, pays	2	2	0
The lands sometimes possest be Hugh Bayllie, Thomas Gair, and Donald Young, pays	11	0	0
The Waird next the Shore before parked, payed	1	2	0
	31	0	0

The ministers of Nigg, Fearn, and Tarbat, their localities. Minister of Nigg's locality.

	Bls.	fir.	pks
Item. — He has payed to him out of Easter Rarichies	64	0	0
Item. — He has payed to him out of Little Kindeace	6	0	0
Item. — He has payed to him out of Meikle Kindeace	26	0	0
	96	0	0

Minister of Fearn's locality.

	Bls.	fir.	pks
Item. — John Davidson pays out of Meikle Rainy	12	0	0
Item. — Gilbert Pape pays him for a quarter of Meikle Rainy	6	0	0
Item. — Norman Denoon pays him out of ane other quarter thereof	6	0	0
Mr Kenneth Mackenzie pays him out of three quarters of Little Rainy	12	0	0
Item. — There is payed to him out of a quarter of the Drums of Fearn, possest by Ross	3	0	0
Item. — There is payed to him out of that quarter of Little Allan, called Balnagoar	5	0	0
Item. — Mulderg pays him for the lands of Mulderg and Fearn	20	0	0
David Ross, Notar, pays him for Balblair	4	0	0
Item. — John Munro pays him out of his part of Meikle Allan	11	0	0
Rory Fouler pays him for his part of Meikle Allan	17	0	0
	96	0	0

The minister of Tarbat's locality.

	Pls.	fir.	pks
Item. — He has payed to him the teinds of his own and Aldie's Greanies, which is fourteen bolls, and the teinds of his own and his brother's, and of Pitkerie, which is seventeen bolls inde	31	0	0
Item. — Dunbeath, out of his Geanies, pays himself	5	3	2
Item. — Pitcalnie, out of Arboll, pays	11	0	0
Item. — David Ross M'Hutcheon pays	0	2	0
	48	1	2

The pryce of the Bishop's customs is as follows, viz

The mairt at	Scots £12	0	0
The mutton at	1	10	0
The capon at	0	4	0
The poultry at	0	2	6
The egg at	0	0	1
The boll oats at	3	0	0
The load of peats at	0	2	6

(Signed) Wil. Areskine.

NOTE. (1) This story, although apparently accepted by the Clan Historian (“History of the Mackenzies,” 2nd edn., p. 149, note), is not quite fair I? tho Chief of Kintail. On the death of William Mackintosh in 1550, the young Chief, Lachlan. then seven years of age, was sent to Strathnaver, to the care of the Chief of the Mackays. “But on his way northward the boy was intercepted by Kenneth Mackenzie, younger of Kintail, taken to Ellandonan, and kept there for several years, during which time he was well treated and carefully brought up. . . . . In 1558 he went to Edinburgh for further education, and from 1560 to 1562 was attached to the Court. In the latter year, at the age of nineteen, he returned to the North as a member of Queen Mary's Suite, and at once found opportunity of proving his ability and taking some revenge for his father's murder.” If, as appears probable, Sir John Gordon purposed seizing Queen Mary in Inverness, the project was defeated by the foresight of young Mackintosh, who afterwards contributed materially to the failure of the Gordon conspiracy and to their defeat at Corrichie. The downfall of the Gordons restored the fortunes of the Mackintoshes, and in 1567, when he was twenty-four years of age, Lachlan Mackintosh married Agnes, daughter of Kenneth Mackenzie of Kintail — the “younger of Kintail” who had interrupted his journey seventeen years before. Kenneth's father was John Mackenzie of Kintail, who died in 1561, at the age of 80. Colin of Kintail was Kenneth's son, and succeeded his father in 1568.—“The Mackintoshes and Clan Chattan,” 141-146. “History of the Mackenzies,” 145-149.

Timeline

Below is a list of events that are evidenced by this source. They should appear in the 'Timeline' section of articles about people and places involved in the events.

• 1695 - Bear rent of the Bishopric of Ross, which includes the victual and meal ordinarily paid in bear. Monro — John Monro pays for a quarter of Meikle Allan half a boll, attour eleven bolls he pays to the minister 0 Bls. 2 fir. 0 pks
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 274" />
• 1695 - Bear rent of the Bishopric of Ross, which includes the victual and meal ordinarily paid in bear. Fouller — Donald Fouller, at leist Robert and John Monro's, as tacksmen of his part of Meikle Allan, pays 17 Bls. 1 fir. 0 pks
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 274" />
• 1695 - Bear rent of the Bishopric of Ross, which includes the victual and meal ordinarily paid in bear. Fouller — Rory Fouller pays for his part of Meikle Allan one firlot attour seventeen bolls he pays to the minister 0 Bls. 1 fir. 0 pks
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 274" />
• 1695 - Bear rent of the Bishopric of Ross, which includes the victual and meal ordinarily paid in bear. M'Culloch — Mr James M'Culloch pays for a quarter of Little Allan fyve bolls and a half, but he contraverts the half boll. It is said that he has an oxgate of Eyesland which pays two bolls inde 7 Bls. 2 fir. 0 pks
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 274" />
• 1695 - Bear rent of the Bishopric of Ross, which includes the victual and meal ordinarily paid in bear. Ross — Mr Hugh Ross pays for a quarter of Eyesland 4 Bls. 0 fir. 0 pks
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 274" />
• 1695 - Bear rent of the Bishopric of Ross, which includes the victual and meal ordinarily paid in bear. Stronach — John Stronach pays for one oxgate of Little Allan 2 Bls. 0 fir. 0 pks
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 274" />
• 1695 - Bear rent of the Bishopric of Ross, which includes the victual and meal ordinarily paid in bear. Kilravock— Kilravock pays for Wester Rarichies and Culis 76 Bls. 0 fir. 0 pks
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 274" />
• 1695 - Bear rent of the Bishopric of Ross, which includes the victual and meal ordinarily paid in bear. Little Kindeace — The Life Rentrix of Little Kindeace pays for these lands eleven bolls attour six she pays to the minister 11 Bls. 8 fir. 0 pks
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 274" />
• 1695 - Bear rent of the Bishopric of Ross, which includes the victual and meal ordinarily paid in bear. Ross — Alexander Ross of Pitcalnie pays for Pitcalnie, Calnaha, and Culderary 44 Bls. 0 fir. 0 pks
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 274" />
• 1695 - Bear rent of the Bishopric of Ross, which includes the victual and meal ordinarily paid in bear. Ross — Mr Robert Ross and Mr David Fearn pays for their seven oxgates of Pitkylan 20 Bls. 0 fir. 0 pks
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 275" />
• 1695 - Bear rent of the Bishopric of Ross, which includes the victual and meal ordinarily paid in bear. Shandwick — The Life-rentrix of Shandwick pays 8 Bls. 0 fir. 0 pks
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 275" />
• 1695 - Bear rent of the Bishopric of Ross. Minister of Fearn's locality. Item. — John Davidson pays out of Meikle Rainy 12 Bls. 0 fir. 0 pks
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 276" />
• 1695 - Bear rent of the Bishopric of Ross. Minister of Fearn's locality. Item. — Gilbert Pape pays him for a quarter of Meikle Rainy 6 Bls. 0 fir. 0 pks
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 276" />
• 1695 - Bear rent of the Bishopric of Ross. Minister of Fearn's locality. Item. — Norman Denoon pays him out of ane other quarter thereof 6 Bls. 0 fir. 0 pks
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 276" />
• 1695 - Bear rent of the Bishopric of Ross. Minister of Fearn's locality. Mr Kenneth Mackenzie pays him out of three quarters of Little Rainy 12 Bls. 0 fir. 0 pks
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 276" />
• 1695 - Bear rent of the Bishopric of Ross. Minister of Fearn's locality. Item. — There is payed to him out of a quarter of the Drums of Fearn, possest by Ross 3 Bls. 0 fir. 0 pks
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 276" />
• 1695 - Bear rent of the Bishopric of Ross. Minister of Fearn's locality. Item. — There is payed to him out of that quarter of Little Allan, called Balnagoar 5 Bls. 0 fir. 0 pks
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 276" />
• 1695 - Bear rent of the Bishopric of Ross. Minister of Fearn's locality. Item. — Mulderg pays him for the lands of Mulderg and Fearn 20 Bls. 0 fir. 0 pks
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 276" />
• 1695 - Bear rent of the Bishopric of Ross. Minister of Fearn's locality. David Ross, Notar, pays him for Balblair 4 Bls. 0 fir. 0 pks
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 276" />
• 1695 - Bear rent of the Bishopric of Ross. Minister of Fearn's locality. Item. — John Munro pays him out of his part of Meikle Allan 11 Bls. 0 fir. 0 pks
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 276" />
• 1695 - Bear rent of the Bishopric of Ross. Minister of Fearn's locality. Rory Fouler pays him for his part of Meikle Allan 17 Bls. 0 fir. 0 pks
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 276" />
• 1695 - Bear rent of the Bishopric of Ross. The minister of Tarbat's locality. Item. — He has payed to him the teinds of his own and Aldie's Greanies, which is fourteen bolls, and the teinds of his own and his brother's, and of Pitkerie, which is seventeen
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 276" />
• 1695 - Bear rent of the Bishopric of Ross. The minister of Tarbat's locality. Item. — Dunbeath, out of his Geanies, pays himself 5 Bls. 3 fir. 2 pks
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 276" />
• 1695 - Bear rent of the Bishopric of Ross. The minister of Tarbat's locality. Item. — Pitcalnie, out of Arboll, pays 11 Bls. 0 fir. 0 pks
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 276" />
• 1695 - Bear rent of the Bishopric of Ross. The minister of Tarbat's locality. Item. — David Ross M'Hutcheon pays 0 Bls. 2 fir. 0 pks
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 276" />

Source citation

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* {{Antiquarian notes full}}

Sources

• Fraser-Mackintosh, Charles; Macdonald, Kenneth (1913). Antiquarian notes: A series of papers regarding families and places in the Highlands (2nd ed.). Stirling: E. Mackay. OCLC 858597339.