History of Aberdeen and Banff
By William Watt (1900)
PREFACE
The History of the Shires of
Aberdeen and Banff was undertaken by Mr Alexander Allardyce, and at the time
of his decease he had carried the work, at least in outline, as far as the
early years of the Reformation period. When the task, auspiciously begun by
him, devolved upon another, it seemed desirable, on various grounds, that
the writer should make himself responsive for the whole book. The
proportions to be allotted to the different parts were accordingly
determined afresh, and the treatment proceeded from the beginning in
conformity with the writer's estimate of the significance of events and his
interpretation of the manifold data with which he had to deal. But portions
of the materials left by Mr Allardyce have been used, and frequently also
there is an incidental indebtedness to him in the early Chapters.
Throughout this brief
retrospect of the two shires, the aim has been to give as clear a
presentation as possible of the essential facts and the sequence of events
in the course of their progress, bringing into prominence whatever has been
distinctive in their life and action and showing wherein they have differed
from other counties and from the country as a whole, and what have been
their special contributions to the national history.
The broad general principle
has been steadily kept in view, that no statement or tradition should be
accepted as historical for which there is not clear and definite evidence.
There is the less temptation to give heed to legendary or mythical elements
that here the authentic records are so exceptionally abundant and complete.
By the great work carried out in connection with the first Spalding Club,
supplemented in recent years by that of its successor, a large body of the
true materials and data of the history of northeastern Scotland has been
collected, arranged, annotated, and indexed, to the great advantage of every
one entering on this field of historical research. Less socrial to the
north-east, but invaluable in relation to all such inquiries, are the many
volumes now published in which the contents of the national archives are
analysed and rendered more conveniently accessible, as also the calendars
and abstracts issued by the Historical Manuscripts Commission, of papers in
the hands of private persons and corporate authorities, to all which has to
be added the extensive results of private enterprise, through book-clubs and
otherwise, in publishing the documents of the provincial as well as the
national history of Scotland. While the writer's main indebtedness has
necessarily been to these various sources of documentary evidence, he has to
acknowledge the generous assistance he has invariably received from
possessors of local information, or custodians of records, to whom he has
had occasion to apply with regard to particular points.
Acknowledgment has also to be
made of important assistance in the compilation of the bibliography. It is
almost exclusively confined to publications having a direct bearing on
matters coming within the scope of this history. A full bibliography of the
two shires, including works by Aberdeenshire and Banffshire authors, is
announced by the New Spalding Club, and is expected to form a large volume.
17 Queen's Road, Aberdeen,
February 1900.
Welcome to Aberdeen
CONTENTS
Chapter I.
The place of Aberdeenshire and Banffshire in history—Physical features —
Earliest history : The Romans — The Taixali and Devana—Severus's expedition
: Supposed Roman camps—Eirde houses, pit dwellings, and crannogs—Duns,
laths, and cathairs — " Druidical circles" and " standing - stones " —
Sculptured monoliths—Flint implements — Early population — Legends of the
saints and the researches of the Aberdeen historians—The ' Book of Deer'—St
Columba and the conversion of the northern picts: Traces of him in
Aberdeenshire and Banffshire—Other saints — Ecclesiastical controversy and
the expulsion of the Columban monks —St Fergus—St Rule and King Hungus at
Braemar—King Grig's connection with Aberdeenshire and his services to the
Church—St Manire and religious decay—The Viking age : Inroads of
Scandinavians—Thorfinn and Macbeth —Final overthrow of Macbeth at Lumphanan
— Lulach and Maelsnechtan—Power of the northern kings in Buchan.
Chapter II.
The transition epoch—Coming of the new population—Influence of Queen
Margaret—Malcolm Canmore's northern expeditions—The Aberdeenshire mormaers
become earls — Renewed immigration under David—Rise of towns : Aberdeen, its
founders and early population—Trading privileges and charters: The northern
Hanse —Aberdeen mint and markets—Restriction of taverns—Banff— Cullen,
Inverurie, and Kintore—The ecclesiastical revolution: The Church in
Aberdeenshire—The see and its endowments—Parishes—The new territorial
aristocracy and feudal barons— Sheriffdoms—Flemish settlers—The earldom of
Garioch—The Leslies—The earldom of Mar and the Durwards—The Bysets— Advent
of the Cumyns : Statesmen, castle-builders, pious founders —The Abbey of
Deer—Durward and Cumyn rivalry—The Le Neyms, Cheynes, See.—The north-eastern
thanages—Serfdom— Fusion of races.
Chapter III.
The wars of succession and independence—Attitude of the Cumyns and the Earl
of Mar—Robert Bruce and the Mar earldom— Macduff and the regents—Aberdeen
and the French alliance— Buchan's border raids—Edward I. in Aberdeenshire—Wallace
: Popular support of the national cause—Edward's second visit— Coronation of
Bruce—His wanderings : In Aberdeen : Illness— Battle of Barra and
devastation of Buchan—Disappearance of the Cumyns—The part taken by
Aberdeen—" Bon-Accord "—Second partition of the counties—King Robert's
charter to Aberdeen : Municipal government—Civil war—Aberdeen sacked and
burned —Battle of Culblean—Beaumont and Mowbray—The Parliament of
Aberdeen—Progress of the burgh—The wolf of Badenoch— Lady Lindsay's defence
of Fyvie—Caterans—Close of the fourteenth century.
Chapter IV.
The fifteenth century—Alexander Stewart, Earl of Mar : His career in
Aberdeenshire, France, and the Netherlands—The battle of Harlaw—Irvine of
Drum and Provost Davidson—Mar as protector of Aberdeen — Rise of the Gordons
— Huntly appointed Lieutenant - General — His part in the civil wars —
Aberdeen fortifications—The second Earl of Huntly—Battle of Sauchie-burn and
death of James III.—Action of Aberdeenshire lords— Sir Andrew Wood and the
forest of Stocket — Hospitality of Aberdeen — Royal visits—Perkin
Warbeck—Municipal organisation— Privileges of the guild — "Simple burgesses"
— Civic oligarchy—Burgesses of trade — Crafts versus Guildry—Crimes and
punishments—The Candlemas pageant—Maritime commerce —Enlargement of St
Nicholas' Church—Episcopal, municipal, and private liberality—Importation of
materials—Condition of the Church in the two counties—Bishops as statesmen
and courtiers —The religious orders : Arrival of the Franciscans—Pestilence.
Chapter V.
State of education—.Medieval schools of Aberdeen—Song-school and
grammar-school—Monastic schools—Aberdeen students at Oxford —John Barbour :
At English and French universities — The beginning of Scottish literature:
'The Brus' — Masters of the grammar-school—A Compulsory Education Act—Bishop
Elphinstone—His early career—Foundation of Aberdeen University— Comparison
with preceding universities—Points of resemblance to and difference from the
University of Paris—The royal charters— The first principal—Boece as
scholar, historian, and biographer —His colleagues — Early students and
alumni — Endowments— Elphinstone's munificence—Elphinstone as author—The
Aberdeen Breviary and the introduction of printing into Scotland— Scottish
art — Plays and pageants — The reception of Queen Margaret Tudor —
Flodden—Death of Elphinstone — Bishop Dunbar—His completion of Elphinstone's
works—The Bridge of Dee—The cathedral and its heraldic ceiling—College
extension —Alexander Galloway—Dunbar's "new foundation" — Early prosperity
and celebrity of the university.
Chapter VI.
Premonitions of the ecclesiastical revolution—Relaxation of social and
ecclesiastical bonds—Gordon raid on Kinloss Abbey—Night attack on Aberdeen
by Garioch lairds — Breach between the citizens and the Forbeses—The trial
and execution of the master of Forbes—Robbery of the cathedral
treasure—First appearance of Lutheranism and the measures against it —
Repression of irreverence and enforcement of Church dues by the magistrates
of Aberdeen—Episcopate of William Gordon—Increasing aggrandisement of the
Gordons—Bonds of manrent—The fourth Earl of Huntly : Lieutenant of the North
and Provost of Aberdeen—The Battle of Pinkie—The burden of taxation—Huntly's
unsuccessful expedition to the Highlands : Deprived of office and honours:
Magnificence of his establishment—Earl Marischal and the Reformation—The
Forbeses—Burning of the Church of Echt—Morals of the clergy—Memorial of the
dean and Chapter.
Chapter VII.
The Reformation—Contrast between its course in Aberdeenshire and in Scotland
south of the Grampians—Church revenues absorbed by outside
superiors—Church-wrecking in the south—Division of opinion in
Aberdeen—Destruction of the monasteries—Attack on the
cathedral—Pronouncement of the citizens—Adam Heriot, first Protestant
minister of Aberdeen—Visitation by Knox—Attitude of the university and the
ejection of the Catholic teachers—Principal Arbuthnot — Ordinances of the
kirk-session — Ministry of John Craig and establishment of
Episcopacy—Rivalry between Huntly and Lord James Stewart — The Queen's
return from France : Mission of John Leslie—Her northern tour—The battle of
Corrichie—Death of Huntly—Execution of Sir John Gordon —Forfeiture and
restoration—The Forbes and Gordon fights at Tillyangus and Crabstane—The
Towie tragedy—Sir Adam Gordon of Auchindoun—Exactions of the Regent
Morton—Vacillation of the sixth Earl of Huntly—Proceedings of the " Popish
Lords"— Their ultimatum to Aberdeen—The battle of Glenlivet—Termination of
the struggle between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism.
Chapter VIII.
The second university and the wandering scholars—The fifth Earl Marischal —
His embassy to Denmark — The Keiths and the Church revenues—The response in
Aberdeen to the new demand for education—Futile attempts to reform the older
university— Grant of Church lands to the Earl Marischal—His
foundation-charter of Marischal College—Organisation and early officers—A
university at Fraserburgh—Aberdeen professors in Continental
universities—The grammar-school : Cargill and Wedderburn—Illiteracy of
craftsmen — Lack of schools in rural Aberdeenshire— County families and the
grammar - school : Fight for the Yule holidays—Education in Banff—The witch
mania : Witch-burning in Aberdeen and Banff.
Chapter IX.
The age of castle-building and Episcopalian culture — Advance of wealth and
taste—The seventeenth-century castles and mansions and their builders—George
Jamesone, "the Scottish Vandyck" —Description of the city of Aberdeen—The
darker side of the picture—Poverty and mendicancy—Cateran irruptions—Tumults
of "clannit men"—The burning of Frendraught—The prohibited General Assembly
of Aberdeen—Revival and reign of Episcopacy —Brilliant episcopate of Bishop
Patrick Forbes: Church organiser and patron of learning—Forbes and the
universities—"The Aberdeen Doctors "—Raban the first Aberdeen printer—Death
of Bishop Forbes.
Chapter X.
Beginning of the "Troubles"—The nobility and the Church
endowments—Charles's ejection of Provost Patrick Leslie—The anti-Episcopal
party in municipal politics — Samuel Rutherford in Aberdee'n—Visit of the
Commissioners of the Tables—Death of the first Marquis of Huntly : Overtures
by the Covenanters to his successor—Rival proclamations at the Cross—The
Glasgow Assembly : Abstention of Aberdeen clergy—Division of parties in
Aberdeenshire—First occupation of the city by Montrose—Huntly entrapped and
sent to Edinburgh—The Trot of Turriff—Royalists again hold Aberdeen—Invasion
of the Mearns by Aboyne : Fiasco at Megray Hill—Battle of the Bridge of
Dee—The forced loan and Articles of Bon-Accord — Monro's sieges of
Royalists' residences— General Assembly in Aberdeen—Dr Guild appointed
Principal of King's College—Lord Gordon joins the Covenanters —Supplies for
the army in England—Rejection of northern recruits—Haddo and the Jaffrays—Execution
of Sir John Gordon— Montrose as Royalist leader—Fight at Justice Mills and
sack of Aberdeen—The "Cleansers" in Deeside—The battle of Alford —Huntly and
Montrose—Huntly again in command of Aberdeen —His execution.
Chapter XI.
Charles II. and the Covenant—His landing at Speymouth and visit to
Aberdeen—Provost Jaffray—Arrival of General Monk—Rule of the Commonwealth
and Protectorate—Enforcement of toleration—Divisions among the
Presbyterians—Cant's hostility to the Episcopalians—The Restoration in
Aberdeen—Revival of Episcopacy—Flight and deposition of Cant—Archbishop
Sharp—The Synod of Aberdeen unanimous for Episcopacy—Bishop Scougal revives
the bright traditions of Aberdeen Episcopacy—The penal laws against
nonconformity and conventicles — Harsh measures against the Aberdeen
Quakers—Distinctive position of the two counties mainly ecclesiastical—The
first Earl of Aberdeen—The Duke of Gordon's mild opposition to the
Revolution—Viscount Dundee in Aberdeenshire—Collapse of Jacobite resistance
after Killiecrankie—Only one Presbyterian minister in the two shires
—Resistance in Aberdeen to the Presbyterian commission of "visitation"—The
provost imprisoned — Division in the town council — The north - eastern
clergy generally take the oath of allegiance — Gradual extension of
Presbyterianism—The nonjurors—The "Rabbling of Deer"—Deprivations after the
Rebellion of 1715—Persecution and close of non-jurancy.
Chapter XII.
The Jacobite rebellions—The Earl of Mar as courtier and rebel leader —Aberdeenshire
and the Union—Colonel Hooke's mission—Mar's "hunting party"—Fire-raising to
compel his vassals and their tenants to rise—Proclamation of the
Pretender—The Jacobites occupy Aberdeen and elect a town council—Landing of
the Pretender at Peterhead: His court at Fetteresso — Flight of James and
Mar, and collapse of the rebellion—The forfeited estates: The York Buildings
Company's operations—The Earl Marischal's return — The political influence
of the Church : Moderatism— Overhaul of the universities—Cattle-lifting and
smuggling—The ' second Jacobite rising—Meagre part taken in it by
Aberdeenshire —Lord Lewis Gordon and the other leaders—The Jacobites in
Aberdeen—Its relief by Cumberland—The severities after Cul-loden—Final
suppression of cattle-lifting—Abolition of hereditary jurisdictions:—Social
and economic changes.
Chapter XIII.
North-eastern commerce and agriculture—Trade of Aberdeen with Flanders,
Holland, and the Baltic—Its connection with Camp-vere—Aberdeen merchants in
Poland—Rise of textile manufactures—Extent of the cloth and hosiery trades
of Aberdeen—Why the Aberdeen trade flourished—The trade of Banff--The linen
manufacture in Aberdeenshire—Backwardness of husbandry till after
Culloden—The early improvers of agriculture—Sir Archibald Grant: The Earl of
Findlater—Dr James Anderson—Miraculous transformation round Aberdeen —
Beginning of turnip husbandry and the fat cattle trade—Cattle-breeding a
speciality of Aberdeenshire—Improved communication and transport—The
fisheries—The granite trade.
Chapter XIV.
Characteristics of the people—Influences of race, history, and physical
circumstances — Teuton and Celt: "Natural selection"— Success of the early
immigrants—Land and people—Situation unfavourable to international commerce
: Aberdonian enterprise in shipping, foreign and colonial trade, and
banking—Former extensive participation in the trade of the West Indies—Aberdonians
in foreign armies: The soldiers of fortune and their great success—In the
British service : Empire makers—Lumsden, • Outram, Sir William M'Gregor,
General Gordon—Naval officers —Statesmanship and administration—Jurists and
judges—Ecclesiastics—Medical men—Travellers—Inventors—Gifted families and
hereditary genius: The Gregorys, Reids, Fordyces, &c.—Aberdeen society in
the eighteenth century—Principal Campbell and his contemporaries — "The Wise
Club" — English students: Burney, Colman—Hall and Mackintosh—Dr Johnson's
visit— Honorary burgess-ship—Aberdeenshire poets and men of letters —Burns
and Skinner—Byron—Criticism—Philosophy : Aberdeen the birthplace of the
Scottish school—The association philosophy —History a speciality—Journalism:
Perry, Gordon Bennett, Douglass Cook, &c.—Artists and architects—Aberdeen
scholars : Latinists, Hellenists, and Orientalists—The influence of
education.
William Watt
Joint proprietor and editor of the
Aberdeen Free Press from 1872-1906.
Charters and other Writs
Illustrating the History of the Royal Burgh of Aberdeen 1171 - 1804
edited with translation by Peter John Anderson (1890) (pdf)
Notes on
the early history of the Brig of Balgowny
And illustrative of the position and legal aspect of the fund conveyed
by Sir William Hay of Whytburgh and Newton for its repair and
maintenance known as the Bridge of Don Fund compiled by William Paul
(1876) (pdf)
Banff
Through the Years
An illustrated History of the Royal Burgh. Volume 2 - 18th Century by
Stanley Bruce, Banffshire Maritime & Heritage Association (pdf). Banff
Through the Years is the 4th book in the 'Through the Years' series. As
the title implies it is read on a timeline giving the reader all the
important aspects of the history of the Roya1 Burgh of Banff. This part
looks at the 18th century, which was a time of expansion for the town
which led to the building of many grand houses including the wonderful
Duff House. There are three other volumes for Banff covering Up to 1699,
the 19th century, and the 20th century. (pdf)
Aberdeen
Topographical, Antiquarian, and Historical papers on the City of
Aberdeen By John Milne, LL.D. (1911)
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