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Boyndie |  |
Contents |
Parish of Boyndie
By The Rev. Mr. Alexander Milne, The Minister |
The origin of the name is unknown. The parish is bounded by the Murray Frith on the north and north-west; by Banff on the east; by Ordiequhill on the south, and Fordyce on the west. It is of small extent, being only five English miles long, and from a mile to a mile and an half in breadth. It contains about 3000 acres, above one half of which are arable, and 400 acres are planted with wood of different kinds, but chiefly with Scotch fir.
Soil and Agriculture.
The soil of the parish is various. The agriculture is, on the whole, pretty
well conducted. Though the parish is of small extent, yet there are
generally from 60 to 70 acres of turnips, and 300 acres of sown grass. This
parish was one of the first in the north of Scotland in which the new
husbandry was attempted, and carried on with success. The late Earl of
Findlater was the author of all these early improvements. The farm of
Craigholes was first improved by his Lordship about 1754; and after
improving this farm, to shew what could be done, he took every method of
exciting his tenants to follow his example. He gave them long leases of 38
years and a life-time. A better method could not have been devised. The
certain period of 38 years gave his tenants a security for carrying on their
improvements. The uncertain period at which the lease terminated, naturally
deterred them from scourging their farms when once improved, because every
man flatters himself with the hopes of a long life. From the example and
the encouragement of Lord Findlater, the face of this and some of the
neighbouring parishes was speedily altered. But though turnip and green
crops were encouraged, and flour-mills were built, yet a regular rotation of
crop has not been established, nor as much wheat been raised in this
district. It is probable, however, that the high prices of flour will
occasion wheat to be raised in greater quantities, though for a light soil a
crop of turnips, and another of barley, is less scourging, and generally
more productive that the south country practice of fallow and wheat.
Rent.
The rent of the parish is mostly in victual, and varies from L. 1000 to L.
1200.
Population.
The number of inhabitants is 1260; of which there are 800 nearly in the
country parish, and 460 in the sea-town of Whitehills. The population in
1755, is stated by Dr Webster at 994 souls.
Sea-town.
The town of Whitehills is chiefly inhabited by fishers. There are seven
boats employed in the fishery; and they are generally very successful. The
kinds of fish principally caught are cod, ling, and haddocks; and besides
considerable quantities sold in the town of Banff, and in the country
around, the fishers generally carry every year to the Frith of Forth cod and
ling to the amount of L. 500 or L. 600.
Stipend, &c.
The minister's stipend is, in money, L. 39, and in victual, 60 bolls. The
collections for the poor amount to about L. 25 yearly, including the
interest of L. 200 of lent money. The schoolmaster's salary is only 9 bolls
of meal.
Character of the People.
They are sober, industrious, and charitable. From the long leases, and
reasonable rents of the farms in this parish, the people have not that spur
to exertion which racked rents produce for a season. But they have every
inducement to steady and regular industry, which improves both their bodies
and their minds; and they are strangers to that despondency, lassitude, and
disgust, which, after a few years of unavailing exertion, take possession of
the dispirited, hard-toiling, and discontented farmer, who is oppressed by a
rack-rent and short lease, and at last becomes careless of every thing, when
he sees, that with all his industry, he is unable to pay his landlord and
maintain his family.
The Statistical Account of Scotland 1791-1799 Volume XVI Banffshire, Moray and Nairnshire