Abernethy

As its name indicates, the barony of Abernethy is situated in the district surrounting the River Nethy, especially at or near its confluence with the River Spey, of which it is a tributary.

Tradition relates that certain parts of the Barony of Abernethy (the dabhaichean of Gartenmore, Rymore and Tullich) formed a part of the estates of the powerful Comyn family, Lords of Badenoch, who flourished in the thirteenth and the early part of the fourteenth century.¹ The remains of their caput, Castle Roy or the Red Castle {NGR: NJ 007219} , are still to be seen on a hillock just to the north-east of the Parish Church. On the forfeiture of the Comyn family, these lands returned to the crown. It has been reputed that, after the forfeiture of the Comyns, the lands were included in the earldom of Moray, erected at that time by King Robert the Bruce, and bestowed by him upon his nephew, Sir Thomas Randolph. The charter of creation of the earldom included all the King's lands in Moray as they had existed in the hands of King Alexander III., and among these were all the lands of Badenoch, Kincardine and Glencarnie,² to which the lands of Abernethy were adjacent. However, it is to be noted that the lands of Abernethy are not expressly named as being included in the earldom as granted to Sir Thomas Randolph, and they do not appear to have formed part of the earldom of Moray when it was granted by King Robert II. to his son-in-law, John of Dunbar, and Marion his spouse, on 9th March, 1373. From this grant the lordships of Lochaber and Badenoch are excluded.³

A church was planted just beside Castle Roy at a very early date, perhaps as far back as 1226. However, there is a suggestion that the first real centre of population was established further up Strath Nethy, and that this, therefore, was where the very first church was built, during the time of the Early Church, at Lethnachyle.

The present parish church bears a dedication to St George, but it is possible that this was of a later date and that in its earliest days, it bore the name of one of the Saints of the Early Church.⁴ Fawcett considers that this was a 'common church' of the Church of Moray. Certainly, parts of the lands of Abernethy were the property of the bishop, although it was only in 1226 that a dispute over church lands was finally settled. Both the parsonage and the vicarage tithes were appropriated to the Common Fund of the cathedral and the parish was, from that time, served by a succession of 'stipendiary curates.' The local priest had the use of a half-dabhach of land near the church, on which his dwelling was situated, and the bishop also retained a half-dabhach of the parish lands for himself, becoming part of the episcopal demesne or 'mensa'.⁵

The church of Abernethy would seem to have always maintained a position as the 'senior' church in this part of Strathspey. This has continued into recent times with the establishment here of the seat of Presbytery.

As we have seen, from early times, the priest had a 'half dabhach' of land for his use and he would have used it in the same way as any other 'farmer' - to grow crops and graze his cows and horses. It is very likely that he would have employed men to help him in this. However, in 1866, the heritors and Presbytery allowed him to let the glebe in order to augment his income. The glebe was eventually sold in 1929 and it then comprised 23½ acres even after part had been sold to the local golf course. This is not an inconsiderable portion of land. The eighteenth century manse at Aberethy is now the building which houses the Abernethy Outdoor Centre which is sustantial. Construction was begun on the instructions of the then Duchess of Gordon c.1736, she being then one of the heritors.

 

 

Tradition says that Abernethy church was the scene of a terrible tragedy in the fifteenth century. "The story is that, in the 15th century, the Laird of Grant or his son was murdered by the Cummings when on a visit to the Barons of Kincardine. The murderers were pursued, and took refuge in Abernethy church. The Grants, with their friendes the Stewarts, shrank from desecrating the holy place, but one of their number solved the difficulty by shooting a burning arrow into the heather-thatched roof. The building was soon in a blaze, and all the Cummings perished save one, a man of gigantic stature, who forced his way out, but was afterwards killed by the blow of a two-handed sword, 'which sword,' says the chronicler, 'to this day lies in the representative of Clan Cheran's house.'⁶

 

 

 

Charter Evidence .

1187 x 1203 (15 March) Richard [of Lincoln], bishop of Moray, by the grace of God, greetings in the Lord to all the children of the holy mother church. Let all in the present and the future know that I have granted, and confirmed by this present charter, that, for the love of God, the church of Abernethy, with all its just appurtenances, should be held by Patrick son of William in free and pure alms, as freely and quietly as our other clerics in our diocese freely hold and possess their churches, save the episcopal dues ('episcopalibus'). We have also granted to him our land, that is to say, the half dabhach which faces the aforesaid church, to be held by him as long as he lives, paying to us 3 shillings annually at the feast of St. Martin. Witnesses: Master Robert, archdeacon [of Moray]; Brice, dean [of Elgin Cathedral]; Lambert, chaplain, parson of Kintrae; Hugh, clerk, parson of Dipple; Henry, brother of the bishop, parson of Spynie; Samuel, presbyter; Isaac, presbyter; and many others. Amen.⁷

1226 Following a dispute between Andrew, the Bishop of Moray, and James the son of Morgund, over certain lands in the feu of Abernethy [Abirnythy] in Strathspey, i.e. a certain portion of land at Coulnakyle (Cuneneges / Coningas), land which was said to belong to Abernethy; and over the teinds of cain which were customarily paid to the King from the said feu before the infeftment of the said James and his heirs, shall be quit for ever from every demand and dispute brought regarding the aforementioned. The end result was that: James and his heirs were to be freed from all exactions made by the Bishop and the Dean and Chapter, and in return bound himself to provide 'a suitable manse near the Church, with a croft extending to one acre convenient thereto, and also to pay one mark sterling yearly to the bishop (half at Pentecost and half at Martinmas) in token of the agreement being firmly and perpetually observed.' Witnesses: Thomas, prior of Urquhard; Henry, dean of Ross; Simon parson of Roscolpyn⁸; Robert, dean of christianty of Inverness; William, dean of christianty of Strathbogie; Gregory, dean of christianty of Strathspey; Ralph, the bishop's chaplain; Robert, vicar of Elgin; and many others. Enacted at the Diocessan Synod held in the church of St Giles the abbot, Elgin, on the 5th of May, 1226.⁹

1239 (30 December) On this day, Andrew de Moravia, bishop of Moray, gave to the common fund of the canons at Elgin Cathedral, the churches of Farnua, Birnie and Bona (Abriachan) all in their entirety; also the churches of Logykenny (Laggan), Kincardine in Strathspey, Abernethy, Altyre, Barevan, and Arndilly (from the gift of William de Moravia, but excepting the chapel of Boharm), all in their entirety but in each case saving the half dabhach of land belonging to the episcopal mensa.¹⁰ Also, saving the tenures of those who, at the time of this writing, possessed them by right in perpetuity during their lifetimes. Saving also to himself and his successors the right of canonical jurisdiction and episcopalibus. Witnesses: Herbert, abbot of Kinloss; William, prior of Urchard; Simon, prior of Pluscarden; brother Alan; Walter and Archibald and Andrew, bishop's chaplains; master Walter de Crawford; Henry de Douglas and Matthew, bishop's clerks; and others. Enacted on the last day of the month of December, 1239.

 

Some suggested lands in the medieval parish of Abernethy.

Name	OS Grid Ref.	Extent	Including	Barony
Auchnaconalin:		1 dabhach
			Rivalk
			Culnafin
	NJ 062188		Loinchyle (Lynhill)
			Eskinluchlaid
	NJ 063182		Tobberay
	NJ 056186		Lantichen
	NJ 056191		Laggandow
Clachaig:	NJ 023185	1 dabhach		Abernethy.
			Croftnacardach
			Poulnastank
			Luibnadow
	NJ 025170		Lyngarve
			LynMcGilbert
			Dagbihainaik
			Inchtomach
			Struhanlea
			Renachcar
			Ruderuiclywa
			Badiechaple
			Galdnahairn
Bellifurth:	NJ 015236	1 dabhach		Abernethy.
			Polchristan
			Auchchernack
			Backucharn
			Culnakyle
Belliemore (Oldtoun of Abernethy)	NJ 004217	1 dabhach		Abernethy.
	NJ 012227		2 crofts at Culraich
			Bellnaclach
			Baddiniden
			Rynachatinhan
	c.NJ 13_230		Glenlochy
	NJ 122203		E & W Glen Brown
			Belnaclaigh
			Croft McQueen
			Lynebeanteine
Muckerach	NJ 064173	1 dabhach		Abernethy.
	c.NJ 062166		Drum
	c.NJ 082163		Dell
	NJ 068172		Ballintuim
	NJ 062175		Ellan
			Stranchamnerich
	NJ 097176		Litteratin
			Knockmachernie
			Lurg of Clackack
Culnakyle & Riemore	NH 998215	1 dabhach		Abernethy.
			Balnagown
			Carrechullie
Easter Conygnes (Aultcharn)		1 dabhach		Abernethy.
Wester Conygnes		1 dabhach		Abernethy.
	NJ 056258		Balnatau
	NJ 050256		Inchbrock
	NJ 051250		Topperfettle
	NJ 055248		Ballinluig
	NJ 066241		Lynmore
			Glenlochy
Rothemune	NH 996209	1 dabhach		Abernethy.
			Cullivullin
			Balnagown
Gartenmore	NH 948190	1 dabhach		Badenoch.
	NJ 183417		Tomdow
			Croftindam
	NH 950183		Mulingarroch
			Tomellochin
			Sleich
Easter Tulloch	NH 978158	1 dabhach		Badenoch.
	NJ 012147		Rinatten
			Achderdanach
	NH 993157		Rinanwan
			Croft Chorie
West Tulloch		1 dabhach		Badenoch.
Lettoch	NJ 024193	1 dabhach		Abernethy.
	NJ 024207		Garlyne
			Newtown
			Conage
	NJ 022211		Croftmaqueen
			Corrichulie
			Allen
Laggan	c.NH 96_20_	1 dabhach		Strathspey.
(Garlin) see Lettoch		1 dabhach
Gorithmemon same as Rothemune?		1 dabhach
Rathemoine		¾ dabhach
Aldtoun		¾ dabhach
Achernach		½ dabhach
			Badnyden
			Bachcharn
			Croft Bolebain
Culnakyle	NH 998215	½ dabhach
Belliefurth	NJ 014236	½ dabhach
Lennacheil		½ dabhach
Bellisnet		½ dabhach
Riemore		½ dabhach		Abernethy.
			Croft Chlerich
			Rienanuan
			Lynnamber
			Auchdergranach
			Runerrech
			Kicknanlupe
Rinanache (part of Gartinbeg)		¼ dabhach
Glenbroun (part of Bellimore)		¼ dabhach
Coullmullin (part of Rathemoine)		¼ dabhach
Lenzig (part of Clachaig)		¼ dabhach
Coninche (part of Lettoch)		¼ dabhach
Lettoche	NJ 024193	¼ dabhach
Information from Ross (2003).11 Locations by David at Cushnie Enterprises.

 

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Other Churches and Chapels in the parish .

Congash {NGR: NJ 058262} There is an enclosure (said to be the site of an old chapel and burial ground) in which are two Pictish symbol stones lying at the south end of a small circular enclosure on the farm of Congash. Locally, it is suggested that on the same farm there are 'similar structures believed to be ancient burial grounds.' The two stones have been used as portal stones for the entrance to the burial ground which is located in a near level pasture field which , to this day, is called Pairc an Caipel. The stones are described as being Class 1 stones, of blue gneiss, and recorded as Congash 1 and 2. The enclosure measures some 35.0m north to south and 29.0m east to west and it is enclosed by a stony bank. By 1966, the entire area has been covered by 'modern field clearance' and there is only a faint trace of the chapel's footings remaining. No dedication has survived for this supposed chapel.

Lethnachyle {NGR: NJ 062188} After an extensive study of place-names in this vicinity, I am persuaded to think that Lainchoil is the modern form of Lethnachyle. Forsyth tells us that, "The other chapel may have been at Lethnachyle, to the east of the Dorback, where, according to tradition, the earliest settlement took place, and where, on the hill called Tom-na-cairbhe, there are remains of cairns, hut circles, and an old burying-ground." If this isaccepted then the name of the hill might correspond to Toberaie, a farm name at {NGR: NJ 063182} , (Tom-na-moine being only 2 miles south-east at {NGR: NJ 077171} . There has been much recent survey work done in and around this location in preparation for forestry planting and the associated report - in the Canmore database - is most thought-provoking.¹² If we accept that it was here that the earliest settlement was located, then it would be reasonable to presume that the earliest Christian site would have been located here too.