Source:Antiquarian notes (LXXV)

"LXXV. Rental of the Bishopric of Ross. Part First." Antiquarian notes, papers regarding the Highlands (2nd edition)

LXXV. RENTAL OF THE BISHOPRIC OF ROSS, 1695. Part First. (D.)

From a mass of interesting papers which at one time belonged to Bailie James Dunbar of Dalcross, connected with the Dioceses of Ross and Moray, we have selected material for a few papers, giving on this occasion the first part of an authentic compend of the rental of the Bishoprick of Ross, having attached to each page the signature of William Erskine, one of the Government officials in Edinburgh.

Upon the abolition of Episcopacy in Scotland the Bishops' revenues were all annexed to the Crown. Most of their lands had been previously feued out for nominal considerations ; but as the vassals' entries were generally untaxed, the casualties of superiority, if properly looked after, would have been valuable.

The rental is very complete, and shows not only the money rents and converted value of customs, but also the teind wedders, meal, barley, and other particulars. The area whence the Church derived its revenues was broad, as may be seen in the case of Ross of Aldie, who, inter alia, paid three pounds of wax. That the Bishops could not always get their own in full is shown by the entry regarding Redcastle, wherein £66 13s 4d Scots is stated to be exacted, though “Ye buk beares mor.” It would be safe to lay this despoiling of the Church at the door of Murdoch, the dark Baron — a troublesome party to deal with, if many of the floating traditions about him in the Black Isle be true.

It will be noticed that Lord Tarbat figures for a large sum, but, as may be gathered from a memorandum about him printed in the Culloden papers, the wily and politic Visoount contrived to place himself in positions whereby not only was he able to pay his own feu, but also to turn a good penny over of these Bishops' rents.

It goes on to say, after an exposure of the Viscount's tergiversation under the different Kings, and the hardships entailed on the public by the Parliamentary declaration that his lands, wherever situated, lay in Cromarty, that—

“ 2. He has got from King William a ratification and possession of the £400 sterling out of the Crown rents of Ross, which was given him by King Charles as a reward of prosecution; and of that fund he has already received £24,000 pounds Scots.

“ 3. He is just now by means of the Duke of Queensberry to obtain a discharge of his own feu-duty, amounting to 15 chalders victual, and 700 merks of money, and this by and attour the £400 sterling pension.

“ 4. The Duke of Queensberry has also undertaken to get him a gift of the Chamberlainery of Ross, which has a thousand pounds Scots of salary annexed to it, and he to count to exchequer for the superplus.

“ 5. In ordinary years the Crown rents of Ross, according to the Exchequer fiars, will be little if any at all beyond £7000 Scots, which will not complete all the Viscount's pretences; so that he will have nothing to count for unless it may be in time of great prices, which the King and the Treasury may probably forget to crave.

“ 6. The Viscount has also obtained a gift of his Majesty of all that part of the Bishop's rents of Ross which were paid out of his Lordship's interest, either in possession or reversion, which, I am told, amounts yearly to 300 bolls of bear or thereby, nor do I question, if the King had any more in Ross to give, but his Lordship would be at it,” and so on. (1).

Follows the first part of the rental : —

A short compend of the rental of the Bishoprick of Ross, money, and price of customs : —

Fyress — John Munro of Fyress pays twixt money and price of Scots, customs for his lands of Bildermoris and Achnaguillan	...	£25	13	8
Mackillican — M. John Mackillican of Mylnes pays for these lands twixt money and price of customs	...	14	1	4
Kinbeachie — Kinbeachie pays for the lands and miln thereof twixt money and price of customs	...	46	6	4
Pitcalnie — Pitcalnie pays for his lands of Pitcalnie, Culderaris, Cululia, and Amatnalisgas, twixt money and price of customs, and for the teind money and wedder of Arboll	...	55	18	11
Culnald — Culnald pays for his lands of Culnald, Torr, and Annat, twixt money and price of customs and the teind money of Tulloch	...	40	6	7
Assint — Assint pays for his lands of Assint, Inchoulter, Bothmore, Littleboth, Hanmock-fremner, twixt money and price of customs	...	87	9	0
Kinkell — The Liferentrix of Bishops Kinkell pays for those lands, twixt money and price of customs	...	30	12	6
Schives — Muirtown Schivez pays for the lands of Kilmuir and Sligo, twixt money and price of customs	...	35	12	10
Tarrel — Little Tarrel pays for these lands, twixt money and price of customs	...	12	19	0
Ross — William Ross of Aldie pays for these lands three pound of wax and twenty-seven shillings and twelve pennies of augmentation, and for his lands of the Gameish, one teind wedder and ten shillings teind money, inde	...	3	8	0
Pitkylen — The Seven Oxgate of Pitkylen belonging sometime to James Fraser, pays twixt money and price of customs	...	35	1	0
Rioch — Donald Rioch's Oxgate of Pitkylen pays twixt money and price of custom	...	5	14	0
Findon— Mr Rory Mackenzie of Findon, Urquhart, Wester Culbo, Barony of Allan, and teinds of the said Barony	...	131	6	8
Rosskein — William Innes of Rosskein pays for these lands	...	18	9	11
Rosehaugh — Rosehaugh pays for Little Suddie, salmond fishing of Chanonry, Avoch, Inch, and Ballaumngie	...	205	5	7
Findrassio — Findrassie pays for all his lands	...	82	18	8
Coull — Coull pays for Little Contin and Moys	...	18	17	0
Mackenzie — Charles Mackenzie pays for Stronamadrie twixt money and price of customs	...	11	8	11
Logie — John Munro of Logie pays for these lands twixt money and price of customs	...	11	9	10
Gairs — Alexander and Thomas Gairs pays for their part of Nigg twixt money and price of customs	...	51	7	4
Maclood — Hugh Macleod pays for his Eddertoun, twixt money and price of customs	...	14	5	9
Shandwick — The Liferentrix of Shandwick pays for these lands twixt money and price of customs	...	10	3	4
Lichnet — Lichnet pays for Craighouse twixt money and price of customs	...	10	7	10
St Martins— St Martins pays for Easter Balblair and Wester St Martins twixt money and price of customs	...	41	2	11
Belmaduthie — Belmaduthie pays for Easter Culbo twixt money and price of customs	...	42	10	6
Killichoan — Killichoan pays for these lands twixt money and price of customs	...	18	16	4
Redcastle — Rcdcastle, the Bishop exacts off him for Killearnan and Alehouse thereof twixt money and price of customs, though the book bears more	...	66	13	4
Drynie — Drynie pays for Wester Raddery 200 loads peats, and 16 loads of turfs at 2s 6d per load	...	32	0	0
Mackenzie — Sir Alexander Mackenzie pays for Broomhill	...	2	0	0
Seaforth — The Lady Seaforth pays for the Bishops Shodd and Meikle Ward	...	3	6	8
Applecross— Applecross pays for the Kirktoun thereof	...	0	12	0
Kinnock — Kinnock pays for the lands thereof	...	10	16	0
Mackenzie — Mr Rory Mackenzie of Kinwhilladrum pays for Urray twixt money and price of customs	...	11	16	5
Miller — John Miller pays for Kincardine twixt money and price of customs	...	20	9	0
Urquhart — Mr Thomas Urquhart pays for his lands in Nigg twixt money and price of customs	...	19	3	10
Arcandiuth — The Liferentrix of Arcandiuth pays for these lands and a quarter of Avoch, twixt money and price of customs	...	34	5	3
Kiltearn — Kiltearn pays for these lands, milne, and salmond fishing thereof	...	9	6	8
Lemlair pays for Lemlair and Komanchterrach, twixt money and price of customs	...	48	0	0
Cuthbert — Alexander Cuthbert pays for Pollock, twixt money and price of customs	...	19	8	4
Tarbat — The Viscount of Tarbat pays for his lands of Killiemuir, Meddat, and Lochnaclerach haffs, Abbacy of Fearn, and of teind for his lands within the parochin of Tarbat	...	305	4	8
Bray — The Laird of Bray pays for lands of Cullicudden and Woodhead, twixt money and price of customs	...	141	14	11
Little Farness— The lands of Little Farness pays, twixt money and price of customs attour feu victual	...	80	15	0
Munro — Hugh Munro of Teaninich pays for the lands of Canlach, twixt money and price of customs	...	7	15	10
Mey — The Lady Mey pays for her liferent lands of Little Kilmuir, twixt money and the price of customs, 9 lb. 11 sh. 2d. She pays also be the rental-book, for a quarter of Mid-Geanies lands of Cadboll, and Little Kilmuir, of teind money 40 sh. 3d and five teind weddcrs, inde	...	19	1	5
Calder — The Laird of Calder pays for the lands of Ardersier (2)	...	67	0	0
Lovat — My Lord Lovat pays for the Priory of Beauly and Kilmorack	...	236	13	4
Mulderg — Robert Barbour of Mulderg pays for his part of the blench duty of Balnagown, part of the Abbacy of Fearn	...	72	0	8
Udale — Mr Hugh Anderson of Udale pays for his lands of Udale, twixt money and price of customs	...	28	1	0
Tain — Walter Ross, Provost of Tain, and John Munro pays for the lands of Nonakiln	...	11	3	10
Dunbeath — William St Clair of Dunbeath pays for his half of Wester Geanies 20 merks, and four teind wedder for his haill Geanies, inde	...	21	19	8
Drynie — Alexander Graham of Drynie pays for his lands of Sligo, twixt money and price of customs	...	13	8	2
Seafield — Mr George Paterson of Seafield pays for Wester Tarbat and miln thereof, and teind money of the same	...	62	16	11
Moringie — George Ross of Moringie pays for his lands of Dibidell and miln of Roskeen	...	4	3	2
Balnagown — The Laird of Balnagown pays for his lands of Kincardine, ale-house thereof, Ardgay, fishing of Kincardine, Eddertoun, and ale-house thereof, attour the few victual due out of the mill of Kincardine	...	98	13	4
Munro — Hugh Munro of Swordale pays for his land of Kandlackglas, Balnacoull, Balnagall, and mo Ki Farquhair	...	26	2	6
Balnagown — Balnagown's half of the Abbacy of Fearn pays 222 lib. 11 sh. 2d, whereof deduce 72 lib. 8s already charged on Robert Barbour, remains	...	150	10	6

(To he continued.) Note.

(1) “Culloden Papers,” p. 333.

(2) Ardersier, though geographically in the Bishopric of Moray, was ecclesiastically under the Bishop of Ross, and was the seat of the Sub Dean of that diocese.

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 - Rental of the Bishopric of Ross. Pitcalnie — Pitcalnie pays for his lands of Pitcalnie, Culderaris, Cululia, and Amatnalisgas, twixt money and price of customs, and for the teind money and wedder of Arboll... £55 18 11 Scots
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 268" />
• 1695 - Rental of the Bishopric of Ross. Culnald — Culnald pays for his lands of Culnald, Torr, and Annat, twixt money and price of customs and the teind money of Tulloch... £40 6 7 Scots
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 268" />
• 1695 - Rental of the Bishopric of Ross. Tarrel — Little Tarrel pays for these lands, twixt money and price of customs... £12 19 0 Scots
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 269" />
• 1695 - Rental of the Bishopric of Ross. Ross — William Ross of Aldie pays for these lands three pound of wax and twenty-seven shillings and twelve pennies of augmentation, and for his lands of the Gameish, one teind wedder and ten shillings teind money, inde... £3 8 0 Scots
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 269" />
• 1695 - Rental of the Bishopric of Ross. Findon— Mr Rory Mackenzie of Findon, Urquhart, Wester Culbo, Barony of Allan, and teinds of the said Barony... £131 6 8 Scots
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 269" />
• 1695 - Rental of the Bishopric of Ross. Rosskein — William Innes of Rosskein pays for these lands... £18 9 11 Scots
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 269" />
• 1695 - Rental of the Bishopric of Ross. Logie — John Munro of Logie pays for these lands twixt money and price of customs... £11 9 10 Scots
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 269" />
• 1695 - Rental of the Bishopric of Ross. Maclood — Hugh Macleod pays for his Eddertoun, twixt money and price of customs... £14 5 9 Scots
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 269" />
• 1695 - Rental of the Bishopric of Ross. Shandwick — The Liferentrix of Shandwick pays for these lands twixt money and price of customs... £10 3 4 Scots
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 269" />
• 1695 - Rental of the Bishopric of Ross. St Martins — St Martins pays for Easter Balblair and Wester St Martins twixt money and price of customs... £41 2 11 Scots
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 269" />
• 1695 - Rental of the Bishopric of Ross. Applecross — Applecross pays for the Kirktoun thereof... £0 12 0 Scots
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 269" />
• 1695 - Rental of the Bishopric of Ross. Miller — John Miller pays for Kincardine twixt money and price of customs... £20 9 0 Scots
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 269" />
• 1695 - Rental of the Bishopric of Ross. Lemlair pays for Lemlair and Komanchterrach, twixt money and price of customs... £48 0 0 Scots
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 269" />
• 1695 - Rental of the Bishopric of Ross. Tarbat — The Viscount of Tarbat pays for his lands of Killiemuir, Meddat, and Lochnaclerach haffs, Abbacy of Fearn, and of teind for his lands within the parochin of Tarbat... £305 4 8 Scots
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 269" />
• 1695 - Rental of the Bishopric of Ross. Munro — Hugh Munro of Teaninich pays for the lands of Canlach, twixt money and price of customs... £7 15 10 Scots
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 270" />
• 1695 - Rental of the Bishopric of Ross. Mey — The Lady Mey pays for her liferent lands of Little Kilmuir, twixt money and the price of customs, 9 lb. 11 sh. 2d. She pays also be the rental-book, for a quarter of Mid-Geanies lands of Cadboll, and Little Kilmuir, of teind money 40 sh. 3d and five teind weddcrs, inde... £19 1 5 Scots
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 270" />
• 1695 - Rental of the Bishopric of Ross. Lovat — My Lord Lovat pays for the Priory of Beauly and Kilmorack... £236 13 4 Scots
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 270" />
• 1695 - Rental of the Bishopric of Ross. Mulderg — Robert Barbour of Mulderg pays for his part of the blench duty of Balnagown, part of the Abbacy of Fearn... £72 0 8 Scots
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 270" />
• 1695 - Rental of the Bishopric of Ross. Tain — Walter Ross, Provost of Tain, and John Munro pays for the lands of Nonakiln... £11 3 10 Scots
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 270" />
• 1695 - Rental of the Bishopric of Ross. Dunbeath — William St Clair of Dunbeath pays for his half of Wester Geanies 20 merks, and four teind wedder for his haill Geanies, inde... £21 19 8 Scots
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 270" />
• 1695 - Rental of the Bishopric of Ross. Moringie — George Ross of Moringie pays for his lands of Dibidell and miln of Roskeen... £4 3 2 Scots
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 270" />
• 1695 - Rental of the Bishopric of Ross. Balnagown — The Laird of Balnagown pays for his lands of Kincardine, ale-house thereof, Ardgay, fishing of Kincardine, Eddertoun, and ale-house thereof, attour the few victual due out of the mill of Kincardine... £98 13 4 Scots
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 270" />
• 1695 - Rental of the Bishopric of Ross. Balnagown — Balnagown's half of the Abbacy of Fearn pays 222 lib. 11 sh. 2d, whereof deduce 72 lib. 8s already charged on Robert Barbour, remains... £150 10 6 Scots
  <ref name="Antiquarian notes p. 270" />

Source citation

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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.