 |
Marnoch |  |
Contents |
Parish of Marnoch, (County of Banff.)by the Rev. Mr. James Innes. |
Name, Situation, Soil, and Productions.
Abercherder was the old name of this country and parish, which is now called
Marnoch, the church being dedicated to St. Marnoch. This parish lies in the
county of Banff, presbytery of Strathbogie, and synod of Moray. It is from
nine to ten measures miles in length, and from four to five in breadth. In
general it is rather flat, low-lying land, being mostly surrounded with hills
upon the west, north, and east, which are covered with heath. The river
Doveron, which is not navigable, runs from five to six miles along the south
side of the parish. The soil near the banks of the river, is a rich loam, and
produces good crops. Toward the upper part of the country, it is wet, stoney,
and stiff. The crop consists of barley, oats, pease, potatoes, and turnips. A
very large quantity is annually exported from Banff, Portsoy, or McDuff. The
best arable and meadow ground rents per acre from 15 s. to 20 s.; the rent of
inferior from 6 s. 8d. to 2 s. 6 d. The parish is fully provided with good
peats. Considerable numbers of cattle are reared yearly and sold, and likewise
a large quantity of butter and cheese. The are several extensive plantations of
various kinds of wood, viz. Common fir, spruce, larix, and pine, beech, oak,
elm, ash, birch, and alder, most of them in a very thriving condition, and some
of them well advanced in size. There being no measurement of the parish, the
extent of the farms cannot be precisely ascertained. There are farms that pay
rent from L 40 to L. 70 Sterling, and many lesser ones from L. 10 to L. 8
Sterling, and a very great number of small crofts from L. 5 and L. 6 down to L.
1 of rent.
Diseases. - The air is wholesome, and the people in general healthy. Except a few tradesmen, they are not employed in a sedentary life; being either country gentlemen, farmers, or crofters, their business occasions them to be much in the open air. No local distempers take place in this parish, consumptions and fevers are the most prevalent.
Rent, & e. - The rent of the parish is L. 2300 Sterling yearly. The only language spoken in it is English.
Church. - The church is very old, and in a very ruinous condition.
James Donaldson, Esq; of Kinnardie, is the patron. About twenty years ago, the
church was repaired, and galleries erected sufficient to accommodate 300
people. A new and much larger church is to be built next year, which clearly
shows the increase of population here, occasioned partly by a good many
extensive farms being parcelled out and let in crofts, which also made a
considerable increase of rent to the heritors.
The living was augmented in 1789; and is now L. 45 in money, 90 bolls of meal,
and 22 bolls of bear. There are ten heritors in this parish, four of whom
reside in it, whose farms are mostly inclosed; but the rest of the country, in
general, is not.
Poor. - There are seven upon the poor's roll. The sum of L. 40 Sterling is yearly expended for their relief, which arises from the collections of the church, penalties, a small payment for the mort-cloth, and hand-bell, at burials, with the annual rent of L. 100 settled for their relief.
Prices of Labour. - A ploughman's wages are from L. 5 to six guineas a-year, other men servants about L. 5 Sterling. A woman servant from L. 2 to L. 3 a-year.
Eminent Men. - Marnoch has produced no men eminent in learning or science, except Alexander Gordon, Esq; late of Achentoule, who entered into the army of Czar Peter the Great, and by his personal valour and good conduct in the war carried on against Charles XII, King of Sweden, was raised to the rank of Major-General, and wrote his history.
Character of the People. - The people are industrious. Few of them inlist in the army. They enjoy in a reasonable degree, the comforts and advantages of society, and are contented with their situation. They are decent, active, and humane. It is very remarkable, that during the time of the present incumbent, which is now almost 36 years, none have emigrated, neither has any single person been condemned or even tried for a capital crime.
Population, & c - The births, deaths, and marriages, as entered in the parish register, for the last seven years, stand thus:
Years. Births. Deaths. Marriages. 1784 28 20 13 1785 24 20 15 1786 37 21 8 1788 28 12 7 1788 36 17 8 1789 37 16 14 1790 37 9 7
By an enumeration made this year, the whole population amounts to 1960, 84 of which are Roman Catholics, 60 Episcopals, and eight or ten Seceders. In Dr Webster's report the number was 1894.
The bridges were built, and are held in repair by the county, and the road by the statute labour. There are about 599 work horses, and about 3000 cattle, in the parish. There are about 500 different families, which, at an average, will make near four persons in each. There are no houses uninhabited, and many more have been lately built than pulled down.
School. - The schoolmaster has only 100 merks salary, two guineas as session clerk, 1 s. per quarter for teaching English, 1 s. 6 d. for writing and reading, and 2 s. for Latin and arithmetic; 3½ d. for each certificate, 6 1/2 d. for each baptism, and 1 s. 7 d. for each marriage. At the parochial school there are from 12 t 20 or 30 scholars; at the charity school in Foggieloan from 40 to 60.
There are six alehouses in the parish.
The Statistical Account for Scotland, 1791-1799. Volume XVI. Banffshire, Moray & Nairnshire Pages 315-18.