Deeside Tales Or Men and Manners On Highland Deeside since 1745 by John Grant Michie (1908)
PREFACE
IN his will Mr. Michie nominated as his literary
executors the late Dr. Robert Neil of Cambridge and
myself, with full discretionary powers to deal with his
literary remains. Dr. Neil having predeceased him, it
fell to me to examine a large number of manuscripts in
varying degrees of completeness. The principal items are
“Annals of Deeside,” “History of the family of Gordon,”
and “Annals of Mar.” The first is a large and ambitious
project, on which Michie worked intermittently during
the greater part of his life, but of which he completed
only a preliminary excursus on the topography and
geology of the Dee basin. The History of the Gordon
family extends to two closely written volumes, but it
has been superseded by the “Records of Aboyne ” and by
Mr. J. Malcolm Bulloch’s accurate and exhaustive
investigations. The Annals of Mar was partly utilised
for the contribution which Michie made to “Under
Lochnagar.” After careful consideration I have come to
the conclusion that none of these are of sufficient
value to warrant their publication. In a class by itself
is an autobiographical fragment, which unfortunately
stops short at the beginning of his career, but which is
of interest both for the account of his early struggles
and for the vivid picture which it presents of peasant
life in Crathie in the earlier half of last century. It
is included in the present volume, and I have added a
few paragraphs giving the chief facts of the remainder
of Michie’s life, which it may be interesting to have
put on record regarding the author of “Deeside Tales,” a
book which seems likely to retain a permanent position
among works of local history.
Weir's Way - Royal Deeside
Whatever may have been Mr. Michie’s wishes with regard
to the writings already mentioned, it was certainly his
desire and intention to issue a second edition of “
Deeside Tales,” and for this he had been making
preparations before his death. There is no evidence that
he proposed making any substantial alterations on the
body of the work, but the memoranda and jottings which
he left indicate that he intended to make some additions
to the historical side. As his notes unfortunately were
in too fragmentary a state to be used in the present
edition, the editor has contributed a few historical
articles by way of enlarging the scope of the work in
the direction which the author contemplated.
J. Macpherson Wattie.
Broughty-Ferry,
PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION
THE aim of this little work is to present the reader
with a picture of Highland manners and customs as they
existed on Deeside during the century subsequent to the
Rebellion of 1745. It does not pretend to be a connected
history of the period, but merely a sketch of five
phases of life, all of them now things of the past,
though some of them probably not yet uninteresting or
unworthy of recollection. These are— 1 st, The Cateran
Life; 2nd, The Military Life; 3rd, The Life of the
Sennachie; 4th, That of the Man of Superstitious lore;
and 5th, That of the Free Forester.
The individuals of whom short accounts are given as
representatives of these classes are real characters,
and the particulars stated regarding them are neither
legendary nor imaginary, but such as the writer has
reason to believe are substantially true.
The sources of his information have been very various,
while his opportunities of collecting it have been
numerous and extending over many years. For the
materials of the memoir of Alexander Davidson, and in
great part also for the form in which they are
presented, he has been indebted to a friend who probably
knew that singular man more intimately, and understood
him better than any one now living.
Introductory Chapter
Difference in the character of the people and to what
owing— Difference in the aspect of the
country—Agriculture a century ago—Servants—Landlords and
Tenants—Morals
Section I—The Catena Life
Chapter II
The House of Gordon during the reign of James VI.—The
arrival of the Macgregors on Deeside—Their spulrie of
Cromar— Their share in the insurrection of 1715—State of
the country after 1745—Cattanach of
Bellastraid—Settlement of the Macgregors in Glengaim and
Morven.
Chapter III
Morven Jamie—His theft from MacRobbie—His manner of life
—Lifts cattle from the minister of Strathdon—His
intercourse with John Coutts—His departure from
Scotland.
Chapter IV
Morven Jamie (coni.J—His career in India and interview
with Duguid—Newspapers of the time—Supposed
advertisement regarding Morven Jamie—Surmises as to his
wealth and heirs.
Section II—The Military Life
Chapter V
The “Black Watch"—Highland mode of warfare prior to
1745—First enrolment of the “Black Watch” the suggestion
of President Forbes—Earl of Crawford first colonel—Peter
Wright—Conduct of the Government towards the “Black
Watch”—The mutiny—Execution of Malcolm and Samuel
MacPherson and Farquhar Shaw—The Rev. Adam Fergusson of
Crathie and Farquharaon of Invercauld—Adam Fergunon the
historian—Connection of ancestors of Robert Fergusson
the poet with Deeside.
Chapter VI
The "Black Watch" (cont.)—The Officers—Conduct of, in
the rising of 1745—“Colonel Anne”—The rout of Moy—State
of Deeside after 1745—Farquharson of Invercauld— Feeling
of the Highlanders towards the French—“ Young Monaltrie
”—Outbreak of the American War.
Chapter VII
Recruiting on Deeside—The population a century ago—
Highland clearances—Relief for over-population—Decline
of the patriarchal system—Lord Chatham and Highland
regiments.
Chapter VIII
Recruiting on Deeside (cent.)—Mistaken impression of the
conduct of the Government towards the Highland
regiments— Manner of raising them—Enlistment of the 77th
or Atholl Highlanders—Col. Murray—CapL Gordon of
Abergeldie— Regiment enrolled at Perth and sent to
Ireland—Attempt to force the men to embark for India—“
Selling the men " —Mutiny—Regiment disbanded—Effect on
after enlistments —Mistaken policy—The Marquis of Huntly
commissioned to raise soldiers—John Shewan—John Coutts.
Chapter IX
Ian Allanach—The 87th or Keith’s Highlanders in Germany—
Account of, in the Vienna Gazette—Micras—Ian’s opinion
of the Prince of Brunswick—Compared with Napoleon—Ian’s
habits and manner of recounting his German
experiences—His account of the battle of
Fellinghausen—Major Pollox—His attempt to carry off the
French Marshal—Repulse of the British.
Chapter X
Ian Allanach (cont.)—How he shot a French sharp-shooter—
Leaves the army—His accident and indifference to
pain—Death.
Section III—The Sennachie
Chapter XI
George Brown—Torgalter and
Greystone—Parentage—Education—Literature at his
command—His introduction to the Rev. Murdoch
M'Lennan—M'Lennan’s influence on him—His manner of
reciting tales.
Chapter XII
George Brown (cont.)—His acquaintance with Ossian—The
Claigeann—He adopts the trade of a weaver—His marriage
—Annual visits to Aberdeen—Acquaintance with a family at
Culter—His tales.
Chapter XIII
Mucklb Fleeman—Origin of the quarrel between the Clan
Forbes and the Clan Gordon—Battle of Corrichie—Period of
Muckle Fleeman—Black Airter Forbes of Strathgirnock
—Henry Gordon of the Knoc—Quarrel regarding bridge over
the Girnock—Gordon poinds Strathgirnock’s cattle— Muckle
Fleeman interferes and discovers an intended cateran
raid—Intercepts the cattle—Donald Farquharson, the
“Baillie Mor”—Restitution of Stratbgirnock's cattle—The
great clan Chattan raid—Note on Farquharson of Inverey
and Forbes of Craigievar—Donald Farquharson’s
revenge—Strathgirnock under cloud—Attempt to apprehend
him defeated—Truce between the lairds of Strathgirnock
and Knoc.
Chapter XIV
Muckle Fleeman (cont.)—Secret love between Francie
Gordon of the Knoc and the heiress of Strathgirnock—Old
marriage customs—Black Airter’s revenge—His visit to
Muckle Fleeman—The head court at foot of Gairn, and
challenge.
Chapter XV
Forbes of Strathgirnock—The breaking out of the Civil
War—Forbes captured and confined in Auchindoun—Young
Knoc takes his lands—Wattie M'Rory keeps the house of
Strathgirnock — Forbes liberated, and takes the vow of a
broken man—His slaughter of Knoc’s seven sons—“Black
Alister Gordon” of Abergeldie takes possession of the
lands of Knoc and Strathgirnock—Traditional history of
the Knoc.
Chapter XVI
George Brown (concluded)—His knowledge of traditional
lore—His acquaintaince with theology—The Diet of
catechising—Babby Brown and Peter Frankie—A bogle
story—Fatal accident at the “cradle,” Abergeldie—Bruce
the exciseman—Death of George Brown.
Section IV—The Men of Mystical Lore
Chapter XVII
Wattie “Plants”—Remarks on superstitious lore—Wattie’s
manner of life—His garden—His peculiarities of mind—
Anecdote—His religious notions—His ideas regarding women
and physical phenomena—The flood of 1829 and Wattie’s
opinion of it—His intercourse with George Brown.
Chapter XVIII
Wattie “Plants” (conl.)-His manner of telling goblin
stories—A walk with him at night—Witch met—Return
journey..........
Chapter XIX
Wattie “Plants” (concl)— His last companion described—
Religious discussions—Dispute regarding Purgatory and
method of settlement — Failure to implement agreement—
Inference—Extract from Lord Brougham's diary.
Section V—The Free Forester
Chapter XX
Alexander Davidson—His notions of the lawfulness of
poaching —Ancestry—The story of the “Black Han"'—Sandy’s
father’s character—Acquaintance with Capt. Gordon—
Manner of death and burial.
Chapter XXI
Prize shootings—Sandy becomes gamekeeper to Lord
Kennedy— Disgusted with his service—Takes to
smuggling—His personal appearance—The forest of Mar—Glen
Derry—He becomes a timber merchant—Floating—Affair with
Roy, factor to Invercauld—Sandy’s loss in the timber
trade.
Chapter XXII
Sandy takes to the profession of poacher—His
habits—Anecdote of his generosity—Skill as an
angler—Dress—Peculiarities of mind—His admiration of the
grand in nature—Note on a thunder-storm on
Benavon—Sandy’s tastes in food—His politics—Love of
liberty—One night in prison—Dancing competition in
Edinburgh.
Chapter XXIII
His system as a poacher—How he spent the produce of his
rifle—Skill in eluding keepers and conduct when
caught—His generous treatment of a keeper—Mode of
stalking deer—His belief in fairies — “Pouting” — Grouse
shooting —Caught by Sir George MacPherson Grant of
Ballindalloch.
Chapter XXIV
Sandy’s endurance of hanger and affection for his
dog—Snow storm in Glenrinnes—Adventure on the Loch of
Skene—Esteem in which he was generally held by
gentlemen—How he resented an insalt from one—His regard
for the Earl of March.
Chapter XXV
Sandy’s end approaching—Found dead on the hills of
Glenbucket —His dog—Notice of Sandy by the Rev. Robert
Scott of Glenbucket.
APPENDIX—The Burn of Torgalter, with an Account of the
Flood of 1846.
Dictionary of Deeside
A Guide to the City of Aberdeen and the Village,
Hamlets, Districts, Castles, Mansions and Scenery of
Deeside, with Notes on Antiquities, Historical and
Literary Associations, etc. by James Coutts, M.A. (1899)
(pdf)
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