As compiled and researched by Robert McWillie.
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The transcribing of the original handwritten diaries must have been an Herculean task and we residents of Drummuir/Botriphnie and readers around the world owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Robert McWillie and the wider McWillie family for their generosity in allowing us to publish the diaries on our community website. Anyone interested in life in the 19th century or in farming in general will be fascinated by George McWillie's accounts of life at that time. For those of us lucky enough to live in this beautiful place the diaries provide a poignant window into the lives of our forebears as we visualise George's peregrinations around the area. We can go for a stroll and follow his footsteps over every field he farmed and every hill and wood he shot over. Most of the buildings he speaks of were replaced in the great building boom of around 1900 but their replacements stand on the same sites and the countryside around them is little changed.
Thanks are also due to Alex and Priscilla Gordon-Duff, Lairds of Drummuir Estate, who originally brought the existence of the diaries to the attention of Robert McWillie, generously provided other material relating to the diaries and enthusiastically supported the publication of the diaries on this website.
Webmaster
This painting of a Scottish gentleman over-looking his farm with his cattle in the back ground was sent to the author by a descendant of the McWillie's of Drummuir. Within the diary there are two occasions George relates how he and others where having their likeness drawn by a local artist. The author is aware that two copies of similar paintings exist and are both being claimed to be a painting of Alexander McWillie RN=40 who farmed on Coldhome farm. It is the authors view that one of those paintings are in fact that of George McWillie author of the diaries, in any event we concluded it was an appropriate item to appear at the title of this transcription. Robert McWillie.
INTRODUCTION. In 1987 while doing family research in Scotland we had occasion to visit Drummuir Castle which is situated approximately five and one half miles south west of Keith Scotland. Drummuir estate was the home to a number of McWillie ancestors for over two hundred years dating back to the late seventeenth century. While in discussion with Mrs. Priscilla Gordon Duff wife of the Laird of Drummuir I was informed of the existence of diaries written during the eighteen hundreds by a George McWillie, a tenant farmer of Drummuir estate. Later while visiting Elgin, Scotland, we were able to examine a copy of those diaries. I was struck by the detail and the invaluable information provided in the diaries as it related to my research of McWillie families as well an observation of other historical events at the time and the providing of an excellent insight into the lives of tenant farmers in the 50 year period from 1826 to 1876. The original diaries consist of seven volumes with hand written entries and although still in Scotland unfortunately are not in the possession of, or available to, the McWillie family. Shortly after but prior to leaving Scotland discussions where held with Alistair McWillie of Stonehaven, Scotland, drawing his attention to the diaries and expressing a desire to have the diaries reproduced in a form that would make them suitable reading for family members. Shortly after returning to Canada Alistair informed me that he and his family had decided to undertake the task of transcribing the diaries. We owe our sincere gratitude to Alistair McWillie, his wife June, and his mother Barbara Symon for what must have seemed like an endless task in transcribing the diaries. It was from that transcript that we have now placed the diaries on computer and researched their content in detail, and added additional footnotes, photographs and other material to the original material started by Alistair McWillie and his family.
George McWillie was born in 1802 at Cachenhead farm within Drummuir estate and baptized at Botriphnie church which served that area. When he was 24 years of age he started to keep notes from which he wrote a brief summary of events starting in the year 1826. Likewise he wrote summaries for the years 1828, 1829, and 1830. During 1831 he adopted a more detailed method by first recording then writing a monthly summary of events, a procedure he diligently followed until May of 1876. On the 9th of May 1876 George's last living child, Jean, or Mrs Watt died at the age of 46 years and 4 months. Although George was to live for another 9 years he seemed to have lost all interest in any further entries to the diary after Jean's death. George and his wife were buried in the Botriphnie church graveyard. While recording the diaries George signed his name as MacWillie up to 1842 then without explanation he changed the spelling to McWillie by dropping the a from Mac and thereafter it appears as McWillie. In all of the transcribing of the diaries particular attention has been made to preserve as much as possible the original phrasing and spelling that George used in the writings of the original diaries. Occasionally a reader will find the sign ****., which indicates that when transcribing the diaries the writing at that point could not be clearly identified.
Footnotes have been added to assist the reader in identifying various people mentioned and also to attempt to clarify other events mentioned in the diaries. In a number of cases within the footnotes an "RN= followed by a number" has been included, those Reference Numbers refer to the RN=number that identify that individual in "VOLUME 2; GENEALOGY OF McWILLIE FAMILIES" published by Robert McWillie in 1999.
Robert McWillie.
DRUMMUIR CASTLE
Drummuir Castle is situated some five and one half miles south-east of Keith, Scotland. The present day castle was built by Archibald Duff in 1848 at a cost of 10,000 English pounds. While under construction George McWillie took a great interest in its progress and reported on it from time to time in his diaries. Later throughout the diaries he has mentioned the castle particularly in regards to events that were held for tenant farmers. The Duffs have a long relationship with Drummuir after first building an earlier home in 1670. On the death of Admiral Archibald Duff in 1858 the estate passed on to a cousin, Lachlan Duff Gordon Duff. From then on the eldest son of each generation has been called Lachlan or Thomas alternately. The present Laird, Lachlan Alexander Gordon-Duff was living in the castle with his wife and four children in 1987 but has since moved to Kirkton House on the estate. It is believed that our McWillie family ancestors first entered Drummuir estate in 1778 and served as tenant farmers for well over two hundred years. There are presently no known tenants on Drummuir estate that carry the McWillie name. The photograph was taken in 1987 by Robert McWillie, at which time maintenance work was being done on the castle, as can be seen by the scaffolding in the entrance way.
Year-1826.
January continued fresh dray weather. February the first sleety showrs, the sixteenth snow, fresh about the twentieth continued dray rough winds all the spring dray bear land*** torneep time dray and warm, a verry bad crop general, we got some flying showrs in Agust. No rain the summer most wells went dray. The harvest is general about Glassmarket, a verry short crop, no bear at all almost, the barn yards was never seen so small. No rain till about halladay when the water began to come into the wells friday before Martesmass a dreadful day blowing. On the thursday night a great many persons was lost both by sea and land and thousands of sheep smored and frosen to death. The straw so scarce that the most of the people cut whins and heather, a great many peoples cattle died for want of fother. Price of corn 27s. pr bol and bear 23**. Thair came on a great fall of snow about a fortnight before Chrisamass continued long.
Year-1827.
A dreadful weat stormy spring and verry late with rain through the summer which brought a verry short crop and a great deall of it in the end of harvest was spoilled with weat weather, thair was no good of it for man or beast, it continued six weeks constantly. Rain the first dufftoon market, the oats sold that year from 16 to 18 shillings, bear from £1 to £l-2s. The first storm came upon yuleven, continued about 2 days.
Year - 1828.
A verry weat spring the oat land could not be harrowed and the bear none better. Good weather about Whitsunday a fine fire time but came out a splash of rain that they could not be got home. Thair was one of the finest crops ever remembered both of corn and straw, the corn sold to the sea from 16sh. to 19s-6d per boll, bear from 23sh. to 26sh.
Year - 1829.
Storm came on about the 1st of January, the torneep so sore frosen that we thawed them on the killen, second January frost verry hard with storm which continued to the 12th, then fresh rainy with some nights frosts to the 20th. Bear 22s to 24s, oats from 16sh to 17sh. The end of the month fresh and warm. Snow from the first to the 8th. fresh and cold showrs, 13th. frost and storm thought on the 11th and 12th. we war sowing on Ardbrack & Towiemore. Bear 20shs to 22s, no oats selling, offering 16sh. for oat meal. The 16th frost and storm, 20th calm heasy weather fine for sewing to the 28th. land verry dray 30th. on to the 4th April, deep storm, sleety showrs the 6th., weety every day on to the 9th. we could not get home the ground was so weet. Upon the 11th. April Rvd. Mr. Angus (1) died about 6 oclock in the morning an was buried upon Friday the 17th April. Upon the 14th. on the day of April market the weather brok a little up that thair was some plowing got monday the 20th. which was verry rainy. Cold and dray to the 27th. which remained to rain on sleet and storm to even. The 28th storm and sleet and desperat cold on to the 30th. May 1st. rain and sleet, 4th. storm on to the 7th., cold and dray 8th. the day of the shoomakers wak. werry rainy but fresh ** and dray on the 13th., a fine potato season. Warm and on to the 20th., warm and a great drught on to the 30th., the 31st warm showrs. The 1st. and second of June weet and warm. At this time corn was selling to the sea from 17s. to one pound. warm and dray to the end of June. no rain to the second of July the day of J. Browns marriage, flying showrs on to the 11th. great need for the torneeps, some rain about the 20th., some showrs on the end. 1st Agust flying showrs, monday the 3rd. a dreadfull speat that took down all the bridges, flying showrs on to the 9th. and on to the 23rd.
The new minester Mr. Mason preached and married (2) me after sermon it was the first day he was in Botriphnie and still rainy on to the thirtieth, torneep was not howd the second time nor the hay taken in, September begining with showrs and wetty days, wetty days and dray through the whole month. The new minester Mr. Mason was placed on the 24th. September. October 1st. warm and dray *. October weety through the whole month but the sundays and mondays, the most of the crop was taken in on mondays the people was always up on the morning again 1 oclock monday. We took in the last of our crop 20th. high winds with showrs on to the last. November 1st wetty and sleety, verry wetty on to the 15th. Oat meal 18s. Bear meal 12 to 14sh. potatos 16shs. per boll about Fochabers and Elgin. tusday 10th Nov. * Mrs. Angus roup a verry wetty night, the 16th. wetty from the 17th. on to the 20th. hard frost, 22nd. verry wetty, 26th. fresh on to the end and dray freash and warm to the 7th. December. Hard frost between friday & saturday 9th., the 10th dreadful wind. Meall oat 14s to 15s.-6d. hay per stone 9s-6d. Hard frost from the 14th. on to the 17th., frost and storm on to the twentieth. Continued on to the 27th., hard frost and Storm Words in the bible .728.100 and letters .566.480 in whole verses 31:173
January 1830.
January 1st. frost & storm, fresh & cold the 2nd. & 3rd. the 4th fresh & warm on to the 9th., sleety showrs the 10th. high wind hard frost with stormy showrs. The 12th. & 1st. old styl, frost and storm. George Shearer, stripside, and Elspet Shearer, stripside, died within three days of each other. Elspet died the 13th. and was buried the 16th, George died the 16th and was buried the 20th. Jean McWillie (3) was born on sunday the 17th at one in the morning. Still frost and storm on the 24th. continuing on 26th. fresh on to the end.
February the 1st. fresh, 2nd frost and storm on to the 9th. with high winds & great blowing, fresh about 14th., frost 15th. and warm and fresh the 16th. The first yoaking of the plow was got from the 6th December. Thursday 18th. frost and storm on to the 21st. with high winds and blowing. Corn from 3s-9d to *, bear per quarter at Portsoy 25s. The 25th, fresh and warm Fumochfair (4) day fine day, fresh and warm the 28th. with refreshing showrs.
Warm and dray on to the 7th. with slight frost in the night. Some people sowing the 6th. The young peoples examinations began on the 7th. March, fresh showrs about the 10th.. snow about the 14th. I had my new shooes the 1st. March and boots and shooes mended. The 16th, cold and dray on to the 21st. high winds, begining the sowing generally about this time. Purk 3/6 pr. lb. Young pigs 8/6 pr. pair. Warm and dray on to the 28th., a fine oat season. I had my garden all finished at this time and about 60 men quarring stones in the moor of the old toon of the Garline the 30th.
Frosty the 1st. April, from the 2nd. & 3rd. hard frosts and showrs of dray storm, too hard for the plow. Hard frost on to the 9th. Anne Stewart died in about 15 minuts illness. Fresh & warm the 24 halph a spet I mean rather to denner time. The new houses of the Manse is going on at this time. Our bear sown on this day the 29.
Drught and high winds on to the 9 the preaching wifes son preached his first sermon this day at Botriphnie, drught on to the 24th, fire all casten at this time rain on to the 27. John took home his * wood * day stormy. Our plowing done *. Warm with flying showrs on to the 21st. * 4/6 rather wetty for the crop we got ** on the 24th. rain on to the end.
June flying showrs 4 verry wetty flairy showrs on to the 6 slight frost all night. George Milne Reyel hardly expected life at this time. Showrs of hail of 4 to 5 inchs diametr about Foggylon and Achentoul which took the roofs of houses and a peat stack to a great distance in the air with thunder & lightning it was on the 30th May did a deal of harm a whirlwind, June market a dreadful day of rain, rather wetty for the crop we got don the torneeps on the 24, rain to the end.
July. I was at westfield in Morrowshire upon Monday * Wedensday the 7th. a great spet. I came home 30 miles that day the 8th. dufftoon market a dreadfull rain. Meal 20shs. pr. boll, oats 19s-6d pr. old boll. Meal in Elgin retailled at 24shs. The 9th., 10th. & 11th. verry wetty, the 12th. a spet, the 13th. warm and dray and on to the end.
Agust 1st. warm dray, 2nd. wetty, wetty to the 8th. Our people went to buckie July 30th., came home 7th. Agust. We drove the farm to Banff the 3rd. Agust day of the cattle show at Corncaarn 18s. pr. 8 stones. The 18th. our fast day, serman from the 1st Corinthians & vs. Verry wetty weather for the fire and torneep hoeing. Meal £ I Corn ** 24s. George Millne died about the 29th. of Agust. Wetty still on with slight frosts in the night to the end of Agust.
September 1830.
September the 1st. dray. the 3rd. wetty and so on to the 10th. The roup of Ardbrack a warm dray day. We bought the mill of ardbrack haughie at £7-3. 6 firlots sowing, we have not our torneeps howed out the second time yet. Some bear in this place cutt, Jas. Humphary bear & oats at this time our bear is ready. Midtoon went to Aberdeen to the circuit court on Saturday 11th. Summerise fair a fine day, no sale. We cut our bear the friday after the market, fine dray weather with high winds about the 20th. The 24th. verry rainy, the 25th. dray, the 26th. a clean speat, warm and dray on to the 30th. this day we was cutting beside the lime killne, we and John & Jean Petrie. Oat meal is selling at this time at 22s pr 9 stones.
October 1830
October 1st. dray, warm and dray with draying winds on to the 8th, we had none cut at this time but our hillands and a little bit of the Killhclock. Oat meal 20s & bear 10s-6d. pr. boll, we have £7-3, worth of corn on Ardbrack which is 52 threves, we have 15s worth on the Tennentoon not cut. October the 15th. we was done cutting. From the 13th. on to the 18th. warm and dray with good frosts all night, the most of the corn hot in the stacks. Midtoon returned the 15th., rain and frosty on the twentieth. The 27th. stormy showrs continued on to the end. Oat meal 16s. pr.*. The 30th & 31st. warm and dray. November warm and dray on to the 6th, the day that our house was thached a cold day calm and dray to the afternoon then a great rain. The 7th. cold and blustry. Meal 15s Still high wind the 13th., the 14th. sleety showrs. J & J at *. Thursday the 18th. high wind, the 24th., the day of the roup of Ryel, cold day. Potato corn selling at 20s. & 21s., common 18s. & 19shs., meal from 16s to 17shs. We have milled 15 bolls oat meal on Saturday the 13th. The 26th. and 27th. rain and sleet, high winds and cold the 25th. the thanksgiving day for the good harvest & rain on to the end of this month.
December 1830.
December begins with slight rains every day on to the 11th. a fine day untill 6 o'clock in the evening a desperate night of wind. rain & sleet the whole night, on the morrow, the 12th., hard frost, high wind and showrs of hail. Corn ditto as before. Plowing weall through at this time, 19th. fresh with high winds. We entered the Journal wedensday 15th. Decr. Tusday the 21st. fresh & green a shooting of wescoat and spats, I had west and spats, Wedensday, thursday. Saturday the 25th. a heavy fall of snow to 12 o'clock then calme frosty afternoon. Thair was a shottery of sculs at towie, I had two & John 5 a verry deep snow *. We thrush 25 wisps of straw on the 25th., we was scarce of water. Frost and storm on to the end. Mr. Masson brought home his wiffe on friday the last of December, a dreadfull day of storm and sleet.
Christmass 1831
I paid for powder and lead and shot the sum of 9s-6d. which returned to me;
1st. Westcoat 4s. a pair of spats
2/2
6 s-2d
2nd Two sculls at
2/-
2
3rd. A new Grape
3/6
3 -6
4th Two new harrows at 9s. a new chair 3/- 12
5th. A quarter of lb.of snuff
l/-
1
6th. A new tubb at
3/-
3
7th. One stone purly
4/-
4
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£1- 11s-8d.
January 1831.
Begins on Saturday frost about 8 o'clock at night, the 2nd. fresh, 3rd. & 4th. fresh. Wedensday the 5th. frost, 6th. & 7th. ditto, Saturday the 8th. plows going, the 9th. a rainy day. Alexr. McWillie (5) took Coldhome on Friday the 7th. of January. Fresh on to the 12th., old newyearsday, slight frosts all night but still the plows going the 16th. Corn 21s. pr quarter. The 18th. the rents paid. On Wedensday 19th. we milled 27 and one halpf bolls oat meal. Weighty wetty weather. Meal *** oats 19s-6d. Monday the 24th. a great day of storm and blowing, it was the day of William Stronachs shotting, a great storm and frost on to the end of January. Oat meal 20s pr. boll, potato corn from 25s to 26shs., comon corn 23s to 23/6.
February 1831.
February the 1st. calm and stormy the 2nd. & 3rd. desperat blowing and 4th. most desperat. 5th. & 6th. and dreadfull storm all the roads blocked up, no sermon on the 6th. the 9 of Luck was explained out of the Lettering. All the tenants in arears was called in on Monday the 7th. being 13 days after the general collection. The 8th fresh and warm with slight wind, on thursday the 11th. I got the first yoaking of the plow, fine fresh weather on to the 18th. The 19th. & 20th. sleety showrs, I was plowing to the minester the 19th. Corn comon 25s Fosty the 28th.
March 1831.
Begins with frost. Fummackfair a fine day, a good many horses in the market little done. **** about the 5th, the 6th. a fine warme fresh **. Meall 22s. pr. boll, corn pr. qr. potato 26/-. Continued weety on to the 20th., plowing going on but a bad season. The laird of ardentore has sown a good dale about the 17th. H;O Ort 20. Millition Court the 16th. The 20th. on to the 24th. fine oat seed time. 20th. sowing going on at this time with us. Friday & Saturday 25th & 26th. dreadfull wind and sleet, 27th. a fine, fresh, warm and dray day, we was plowing our clean ground at this time. Dray and warm on to the end.
April 1831.
April the 1st. warm and dray on to the 5th. Huntly market a verry wetty day. Our shelt died the 3rd. April, I was at Auchindoon seeking another the 9th. a fine dray day. Wetty the 10th., meal in huntly at this time 17/-. Dray about the 18th., at this time Jean and Alexr. (6) was ill of the missles, fine dray weather at this time, oat seed the 20th., dray the 23rd. and 24th., Jean Allan died the 21st. Dray the 24th., our bear was sown at this time, wetty to the end.
May 1831.
May 1st. warm and wetty, 2nd, 3rd. & 4th. cold dray, 6th. a verry hard frost and dreadfull storm blowing. Ept. Mgh mard 5th. Ardbrack grass parks the low Fummak haugh £16-10s, Mill of hole haugh £10-15s, Mickle Lettock £37-5s, cornyard and little Lettoch £18-15s, Westertoon park £17-15, Orchard £28, Delroddie £6-15, Bigg tennantoon £25-15, Little tennantoon £17-10, Tennantoon park £24-5, the Tennantoon below road £35-5, Mill of Ardbrack £38-5, the nether haugh £14-15, which amounts to £291-10s. Fine dray weather 16th. on to the 28th. we was in the turff moss the order was bet to armes, loachpark was on fire, haggishaw was all burnt and a good deal of planting, thair was a great drught and high wind that day. Our potatos was planted out the 17th., a fine season for cleaning the torneep land. Dray weather and warm on to the end. We bought a 6 year mear at Whithillock the 25th., she foled the 27th.
June 1831
1st of June warm and dray on to the 5th. a slight rain, we have no torneeps sown, some dung drove. We was at Portsoy with Farm meal the 3rd. Sunshine and great drught on to the 12th., warm, dray and sunshine, about 10 o'clock great clouds appeared and a weighty rain, we had the most of the neeps sown. The Militia Court the 9th., a good deal of our fire was home at this time. The 19th. still verry dray, Sunday the 20th. a good weighty rain when we was in church. Meall 22 & 22-6 pr. boll. Rain the 23rd. on to the 27th., dray to the 30th. with high winds. Meal selling at 22 shillings, taties howd and still verry drughty.
July 1831.
1st. drught and still on to the 8th. our fire all home and thached, rain the 9th. and great need. The 8th. John Taylor & Alexr. Morrison was both killed by one shot lodded with wane ball by Jas. Read. John Taylor was killed on the spot. Morrison lived 24 hours. Our sacraments the 10th. a dreadfull warm day, drught, the oats & bear most all shot. some neeps howed at this time. Rain the 13th., drught on to the 16th., this day we was turning the lime of the old church, the 17th. still drught. Our bull shot the 21st., rain the 22nd., drught on to the end.
Agust 1831.
The 1st drught. I went to Aberdeen on the 3rd. with (7) Jean MacWillies marriage, I was in town 4 days, a great drught still. I came home the 8th., some bear and oats cut in Botriphnie. We was driving home the lime of the old church at this time. Our people went to Buckie the 13th., still great drught. A good showr the 14th. about 3 o'clock, did a great good to the crop. Meal selling £1 pr 9 stones, 3 year old stots from £5 to £7 ours £5-15, we sold 2 stots. 3 quoys, & 2 cows. The 18th. a great rain all day, thair was great need for it. Our people came home from Buckie 19th., the 20th a fine day. We began the harvest the 21st. fine weather on to the 27th. with flying showrs., all our ley corn and bear cut at this time. The sutter of Turffhillock married the 26th. Dray weather with high winds on to the end. About 12 ricks in at this time.
September 1831.
1st dray and wind, 2nd. all our corn cut but a piece below the road and the haughs, we have 15 ricks in at this time. the 3rd. a rainy day with high wind. We was done cutting the 10th, no leading from the 4th. to the 10th., verry wetty the whole week, the haughs of Midtoon all to cut, we have 16 ricks and thached the week before summersfair. Elgin and Charlesfair and all the south markets a great prise. Our crop in the 21st. the Church seats parted. The 20th plowing on at this time. A fine season at this time the 21st great drught and wind on to the end.
October 1831.
Saturday the 1st & Sunday the 2nd. a dreadfull wind and rain, the 6th. the 9th. wetty we milled 12 bolls oatmeal on the 10th. The 13th. a thanksgiving day. Meal 18s bear 23 to 24s. The 14th. about 12 o'clock thunder and a great power of rain , the 15th. a warm day, my father at the port for coalls, the 16th. a wetty day. The polls lost (8) thair realm about this time. The reform bill (9) thrown over the table,but is thought will be brought up again by the population. 20th Agnes Shearer not expected liffe. Our potatos taken up the 20th., remarkable warm weather and so on to the 23rd. Warm and dray so on to the end. Thair was a shooting of mutton at towie. I one legg and 11 pence halphpeny, it was on the 29th.
November 1831.
The 1st. knoack roup, I bought a press at 29 shillings. Some frost about the 5th & 6th. the tops of hills white. Meal selling at 17s., corn 17 to 20shs. pr. qur. The 7th. and 8th. sleet and rain the first days of winter some showrs on to the 12th. * day I was plowing to the minester at Ley in croftwander, the 13th. a dreadfull wind with rough showrs. Storm the 16th., a great storm from the 18th. to the 23rd. the day that A. MacWillie (10) was married. Fresh about the 24th.
S D
At a shotting at towie I had
9 1/2 lb. & 11d. 3 5 29th. Oct.
At Rob Deys 9 lb. & 7 l/2 lb. 4 1 1/2 19th. Nov.
At the Know 10 lb & 7 & 4
lb.
5
9 1/2 23rd. Nov.
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13
4
Alexr. Robertson came servant the 24th., the 25th. I took the first yoaking of ley, bloustry the 26th., the 27th. cold and dray, fine fresh weather. Mrs. Man brought down about the 29th. corn ****.
December 1831.
Fresh but verry wetty on to the 10th., plowing going on at this time. We milled 16B.& 3 firlots of meal the 9th. we sold young woodend 10 qurs. oats at 18s. Geo. Mitchell married about the 24th., the rents paid the 28th, fine fresh weather on to the last Decr.
January 1832.
The hill of bellyhack all burnt on yull even. Begins on Sunday a verry hard frost, first yull day begins on thursday, verry hard frost before yull. 9 lb. beef 2s.-7d., John Moggach 2s. 6d., Robert Deys 5s.6d. Sunday the 8th. fresh, Monday 9th. we began to dray, fresh on that newears day fresh and some wetty, fresh on to the 14th. we milled 24B& 2 qur. oat meal, we are plowing yavel. Wm, Stronach shotting for beef, 2 shottings. Still fine fresh weather on to the 23rd. a fine morning but a great storm or even that took of all our water but the night of the 28th. a great fresh the most of the storm of or the 29th. which was a cold fresh day.
February 1832.
Begins fresh & warm on to the 6th. the day that our sow was knifed, the weight of hir was about 14 stones. We began to thrash seed out the 7th. still excellent weather, our plowing of ley & yavel about done the 12th. Excellent weather on the whole with some white frosty mornings, we are bussey plowing our clean ground about the 20th. Sold lB. seed oats to Jas. New** 17s-6d. pr.B. to Portgordon 13 qurs. at 19s. A good deal sown at this.
March 1832.
Begins rough winds and frosty mornings, our plowing done but a few rigs of clean ground. Fummackerfair a fine day & hard feighting at night. Thair is a great perposals of stopping vagarents & beggars at this time for fear of Cholera Morbius, that dreadfull infection on the human specie or race. The 2nd. sold Woodend 4 Bls oats at 17s-8d. & 2 Bls. at 17s-8d. to Hindslack. Thursday 7th. we began sow, hard. frosty morning the 10th. & 11th. fresh, the 11th. a slight showr the day of the first examine, frosty mornings with high winds on to the 18th. which was wind and sleety showrs. Done sowing but clean ground. March the 21st. I began to plow the haughs, about the 18th. & 20th. sleet and storm. The 22nd. a fast day for the Cholera Morbius, from the 24th. to the end fine weather.
April 1832.
Begins fresh with high winds, dray and warm about the 5th. the day we sowed our haughs and the last of our oat seed, fine weather on to the 9th. Helen Ord (1l), died on the 9th. April. Our potatos set the 10th., excellent dray weather on to the 15th. with slight frosts in the night. The 19th. fresh, showrs, John shot a wildgoose the 20th., the 22nd. a fine fresh showr. William (12), proclaimed the second time the 22nd., William married the 26th,, great showrs of storm and sleet on to the 28th. a werry wetty day. Bear pr. qur. from 25s. to 26s., oats from 19s. to 20s. l am scarce of money at this time. Frosts & storm to the end.
May 1832
Being lep year. Begins with storm, sleet & frost, the roup of Ardbrackn & Wm Macwillie (13), of mains married the first, stormy weather showrs & frost on to the 5th., we are cleaning our waterside ditch at this time. We drove our long carraige the 2nd. of sand to the mill of holl park dyke. Rain & sleet on to the 13th. Meall selling at 17 shillings, comon corn selling about 19shs. & 19s.-6d., potatos 22shs., cold with showrs on to the 17th. The 18th., 19th., and 20th. drought with easterly winds. The Reform Bill thrown out about this time and Earl Gray resigned the minestery. Excellent growing weather about the 17th., the 18th. we sold John Macwillie 10 quarters oats at £1, still growing weather. All our fire delved at this time, Mains a good deal of torneeps sown. Excellant on to the 24th. and fine weather to the end.
June 1832.
Began warm and dray, we soweed a great deal of our torneeps on the Killhillock the 2nd., warm and dray on to the 4th., the Masson ludge building at this time. The 7th. rain on to the 9th. we gave John Macwillie 10 qurs. corn at £1, a great growth about this time, still wetty on to the 16th, No working among torneeps, it is verry wetty. An excellant June market, we sold 4 quoys at £3- 5, two stots at fife Keith at £11-15. William Ord shipped for Newyork the 19th., still verry wetty, a great growth. We have about 40 dreals of torneeps to sow, they are all dunged but so wetty about the 23rd. we cannot sow them. All our torneeps sown the 24th., our house mudding at this time still wetty on to the end.
July 1832.
Begins with rain and great growth, a deal of our crop laid but none of it shot at the 9th. A good hay crop in general, the masson work of the small ludge done about this time, Still verry wetty, thair is about 40 drills of torneeps to hoe the first time, our hay cut about the 26th. We drove our farm to Banff the 25th. at 16s-6d. pr.9 stone. comon price 17s. Beautifull weather about the 30th.
Agust 1832.
Begins warm and dray, our people went to Buckie the 6th. Meal 16s-6d. to 17s., corn from 19s to 20s, potato 22s., the one halph neeps hoed & other second. Excellant weather on to the 18th. rain, verry growing weather. Our sacrement the 20th. We had home the most of the fire at this time and thached from the 24th. on to the 29th. Wind and rain verry bad weather for the crop, it is swirled, twined and laid most extraordinary. Meal selling at 17s to 17s-6d., comon corn from 19s to 20s pr. quarter.
September 1832.
Begins with wind and rain, continues on at the 4th. James Humphray has some threves of bear cut down. We are seeking wheat seed at this time. I was at the taylors with my brown trousers & weast the third. The weather broke up about the 5th. and continues on to the 11th. cloudy & rough winds our bire built at this time. The Cholera raging round about us dreadful this time. A good deal of bear cut about the 8th. & 9th. Septr. We began to cut about the 15th., blustry weather about this time. Isabel MacWillie (14) born the 19th. about 2 of the o'clock in the morning the day of the Summersfair. The 21st & 22nd. verry warm, wetty, hazey weather, about the 25th. we had in 6 ricks & 2 thached. Meal selling at 10s-6d. pr. qur., our old corn 19s-6d pr. qur. The 30th. a verry wetty day.
October 1832.
Begins with high winds. We lead in eleven ricks the 3rd. a wetty night, the 5th. we lead in 21 ricks. The farmers qualified themselves for parliament voters the 5th. At Dufftoon Wm. Carr died the 6th., the 7th. high winds with rough showrs, we was done cutting the 6th. The 8th, about 6 in the evening a great rain till eleven, the water took down all our haugh with Midtoon and Mains. Wetty on to the 13th., we have our hillands to cut & about 3 loads thats left on our haugh) thair is a good deal to cut in our parish, We had all our corn in the 18th., it remained fine days on to the end.
November 1832.
Begins rough blustry and meall selling from 14s-6d. to 15s. A thanksgiving day the last day of October, the 4th. some snow, rough weather. A shotting at John Moggachs the 10th. which was an extraordinary day of wind and rough showrs. The 11th. a fine fresh warm day, we sold John Macwillie 15 boils oats and Wm. Burges 12 1/2 bolls; about this time. Cold, rough weather about the 24th. dreadfull wind and sleety showrs.
December 1832.
Begins with high winds, rough showr 2nd. Mr. Cameron preached from the 103 psalm & vs. 8, fine fresh weather about the 7th. Corn selling at 16s. to 16s-6d. John Macwillie proclaimed the 9th. Mr. Masson lectured Rvls. 3 vrs. 14, fine fresh weather on to the 14th. frosty. I was plowing on loachend the 15th. John Macwillie (15) married a stormy day Tusday 18th. The day of electioning a parlimenter for Banffshire as follows, Cornal Gordon, Park, Captain Ferguson. Ferguson was most excessively hissed, Cornal Grants carriage stopped, himself snow-balled through the town. Corn selling at 16s. pr qur. of 42 lb., meall 14s-6d to 15s. sterling, but we have a good storm now about the 19th. The 20th. fresh so on to the 23rd. Hard frost from the 26th. on to the end, we are putting a drain from the back stripe to the donnal bush at this time.
January 1833.
Begins with frost and high winds continuing hard frosty and sunshine on to the 12th. The Citadel of Antwerp bombarded and taken by the French about the last of December. We sold John Bremner 12 qurs. of oats at 16s-3d about the 5th. Meal selling about 14s. & 14s-6d pr 9 stone. Anne Riach proclaimed the 20th. still calm and frosty, hard, hard, hard. Anne Riach (16). Married the 26th.., the 27th. still frosty with desperate wind with stormy showrs. Frost with slight storm on to the end.
February 1833.
Begins soft but cold. A shooting the 1st. on the Haughs of Cachanhead for sugar, tea, snuff & Tobaco, 22 prises in the mark 82 yards distance, in the paper of one target thair was 14 balls, in the paper of the other 5, thats good fire boys. Meal from 14s-6d to 15s. and some 13s pr 9 stone. Potato corn 19s., foundling oats 16s-3 to 16s-6d. No plowing from the last of Decr. to old Candelmass, to hard frost still and on from the 7th. on to the 24th. sleety showrs. the 24th. a good storm. Fummackfair 26th. stormy, the halph of our lay to plow and yavel one halph, rough sleety and rainy weather. Thair was no fighting (17), at the market, it will make a bad crop.
March 1833.
The 1st begins verry wetty, the 2nd. and 3rd. fresh and dray, storm and sleety showrs and hard frosty nights on to the 10th., rain and sleet on the 17th. Edintore sown about 18th., still sleet and storm on to the 24th. The examination begun, we are improving watchy at this time, still sleet and rain on to the 28th. Mains sowed but wetty on to the end. Seed oats 17s. to 18s. pr qur.
April 1833.
Comes in with cold winds. We sowed our lay ground the 2nd., the 4th, high winds with rain, the 5th. verry rainy, Still rainy with cold winds on to the 7th. Jas & Bt. Moggachs both sessioned in one day the 4th April, all my garden work done about the 3rd. Jean Forbes died the 9th., the 12th, storm and rain with high winds, sleet and storm on to the 16th. We have all our clean ground to sow at this time. Comon corn is selling at 14 to 15 shillings pr quarter, oat meal from 13s-6d to 14s. I am making a new table the 16th., still wetty on to the 20th. I bought Donald the 19th. at £3-4. The church began to paint the 22nd., no serman. The 28th. we no grass seeds sown at this period & about one boll of oats to sow, still rainy, thunder and rain to the 28th., rain and sleet on to the end of the month, the corn begining to breer.
May 1833.
Begins with cold wind & sleety showrs. Our potatos planted out the 1st., warm and dry the 3rd.. we sowed the last of our oat seed the 4th, Excellant weather the 5th. & I was at the church of Mortlach, our own was not painted out. Our Jean maire foled the night of the 4th. extraordinary warm on to the 9th. which was a showry mist, a dreadfull grouth the 4th. on to the 9th, the day we cross cut the first of our tourneep ground, warm and from £7 to 12 dry on to the 12th., which was some rainy and great grouth. We drove our long carriage about the 3rd and 4th., we was mossing about the 16th., warm and dray. John MacWillies house building. Cattel selling weall this spring, 3 year olds. Still warm and dray, we are busy with our torneep ground now about the 24th. James Sellar fell about the 19th. his friends met the 21st. drught, we have a cow in dishilth lying down on the leway or lay. Some torneeps sown in the parish, rain the 25th., drught on to the end, our fire all set the 30th.
June 1833.
Begins with great drught, appearance of rain the 1st., we began to sow torneeps but the rain turned to drught, sunshine and great drught, we have the most of our neeps dunged and drelled but cannot sow for the drught, on to the 4th. Rbt. Dey married the 16th., slight showrs the 8th. & 9th. the 10th. a dreadfull spet, the Lairds is halph sarked and the water running in at the entry door spoiling the beads & furnitre most dreadfull. Watery and cold on to the 15th. the day we finished our torneeps all except watches yard. Cattel selling weall this year, cows from £4-10 to £6, 3 year old stots, 3 year olds from £7 to 9 and £10 according to quality. Jas. Sellars roup the 13th. wetty, the 17th. a good June market, verry rainy the first part of the day but break up about 11 o'clock, high winds with verry weighty rain, our stack dyke built at this time and potatos howed the 20th., rainy on to the 28th. Mry. Symon (18), brought down the 29th., dray the 30th. to the afternoon then rain.
July 1833.
Begins on Monday with rain, about 11 o'clock thunder with most extraordinary rain for the space of 40 minuts, I never saw such weight of water in so short time. Still rainy on to the 3rd., dray weather the 4th. Our people went to Buckie the 3rd., we began to hoe our torneeps the 6th. on to the 10th., rain the 11th., 12th. the whole day the 13th. and rainy the 14th., still rainy the 16th., dray the 17th., 18th., 19th., and 20th. The 21st some rain, our neeps all hoed except some weet heads, the corn all shot but the fire as wet as whean taken out of the bank. Thair is a verry light hay crop this season, we took home a fraught of turfs the morning of Glass market for the first but verry wet.
Agust 1833.
Begins verry dray, fine, grouthy weather one to about the 9th., the 10th. and 11th. rainy, we are setting up our neeps and taking some loads of fire but they are verry wet. We have no hay this year but some second crop for horse suppers. Meall 14s-6d. Still verry wetty weather, about the 14th. I am building a new neep house about the 16th., it is so wetty we can get no other work done. The corn turning the millert, some bear ready, dray the 18th. for a ferley, stoped driving fire they are so wet, we have home 3 loads of pet & turf. Still rainy and high winds, Jas. Day mrd. the 20th., we are still taking home some loads of fire, we have about 58 loads the 30th. Facing johns studdy the 31st. Meall selling at 14s pr 9 stone, bear cut on Mains the 28th. Betty shoos 30th.
September 1833.
Begins with high winds and showrs of rain and haill, so on to the 4th, then pleasent the 6th. the day that Margaret Bremner was buried. Thair is some cut through the place. the 9th. dray with wind. We wer roofing our torneep house the 9th. and Chas. Millar went home the 7th. Still rainy on to the 10th. I got my new Sunday shoos the 14th. we began to lead corn the 13th., one dray day and one wetty sermons ** a dreadfull spetty day, we lead our wheat and 2 small ricks of oats the 22nd. Meall selling about 14 shillings, we sold Wm. Duff (19), 4 and one halph quarters oats the 13th, rain the 24th. and showrs on to the 27th. then fair to the end.
October 1833.
Begins dary good harvest weather. We was done cutting the 3rd., we raised our potatos the 4th. fine dray weather. I bought a stot at Newmill market at £4-11s, we sowed our wheat the day after we are driving fire now not dray. Anne (20), of Mains is recovering the Jaundice, has been ill 4 weeks. My father went to Edinkillie the 14th. good weather. Ptr. Shearer died about the 15th., we took the heather of our mill the 23rd. dray with high winds. Meall 14s., corn pr qr. old 16s-6d. to 17s. The Jas. Sellars house building at this time, sold John Bremner 25 bushels of corn at 16s-6d. Thrashing our old bear at this time, milled 5 1/2 bolls bear meall the 30th. Wm Moggach, Tenread 30th.
November 1833.
The 1st. extraordinary high wind, 2nd. wetty, the 3rd. rough winds & sleety showrs on to the 8th. some storm, fresh the 10th. we were taking home birch wood the 9th. we began to plow our ley. the 12th. John bought a few in keith 16th. Stormy showrs about the 24th. with high winds, we sold 12 quarters of corn to Portgordon the 26th., the potatos selling thair and Buckie at 1 sh. per, they are a bad crop round the shore side. Old corn from 16-6 to 18 shillings according to the weight. The 28th dreadfull wind and rain at night. I was looking at Arndilly farms the 29th.
December 1833.
Begins with watery weather on to the 4th. then a slight storm, fresh about the 12th. on to 16th. then stormy. A good storm about the 18th., fresh about the 20th.* frosty the 22nd. We sold John Bremner 12 qurs. old corn the 18th. at 17-3. The one day frost the other fresh on to the end.
Epitaph on a tombstone in Botriphnie church yard.
" Here lies Robert McPail (21), (son of the within George McPail senior) Blacksmith Nova Scotia 36 years, who died Cachanhead 8th, March 1835 aged 78 years.
'My sledge and hammer lie declin'd
My bellows too has lost their wind
My fires extinct, my forge decayed
And in the dust my vice is laid
My coal is spent, my iron laid
My nails are drove, my work is done
My fire dried corpse here lies at rest
My soul smoke-like soars to be blest'
By George McWillie"
MAINS OF TOWIEBEG FARM HOME.
It was to the Mains of Towiebeg that the McWillie family commenced their long connection with Drummuir estate. A John McWillie and wife Elspet McIndie were the first tenant farmers and succeeding generations of McWillie families continued to farm the property until the mid 18 hundreds. The terrain is gently rolling land and would have been initially heavily wooded. It also would have been an isolated territory with very difficult and limited access roads,
January 1834.
Begins fresh, the plows going, verry changeble on to the 11th. which is verry rainy. I made my knoch and bellows the week before yule, unconstant weather not two days alike high winds and rain. The 21st. we milled 38 bolls 210 pecks of oat meall, still high winds and rain. Meall selling at 13s. and 9d. pr 9 stone, we paid 12 shillings pr 8 stone for our farm. Jas. Sheare (22), verry dowie about this time, still rough and rainy about the 26th., the 27th. and 28th, stormy, good weather on to the end, Meall pr 9 stone about 13s-3d, corn 14s to 15s-6d pr quarter.
February 1834.
Begins with frosty nights, high winds and showrs, Ann Mitchell sessioned about the 2nd. The goodwiffe of Rosarie died the 8th., excellant weather about **. The 14th. I set 400 Keail, my bushes all prownd, fine fresh days. Thair was a session on friday the 14th. on Ptr. Fbses for jumping over a woman, he said he did not. The 19th. stormy on to the 22nd., the 23rd. fresh with high winds. Sold J. and Andr. Chapman seed corn at 17s., still terrible winds with sleety showrs on to the end. The 17th. Charles Miller (23), died.
March 1834.
Begins rough winds and sleety showrs, our plowing is through but about one acre of stubble and our clean ground. I was at Keith with John at his garden. Wind, wind, John Newlands died the 11th. and John McWilliam died 19th. We began to sow our oats the 14th., excellant weather, we had our ley and stubble ground sown the 20th., now rain this 14 days, frosty nights. About this time a dreadfull cold raging with inflamation, no one escaping. Helen Duncan, Corrie, died the 16th., Isabella MacWillie (24), ill about this time with brock boill. Fine weather to the 22nd, which was high winds and stormy showrs, the 23rd. verry wetty, my onions and carrots sown the 19th. John got his new double barreled gunn the 21st., still frosty with cold winds. Jean Macwillie (25), and Alexander Robertson both dowie about the 30th. The month ends frosty.
April 1834.
Begins with frost and sleety showrs on to the 5th., the 6th. a fine day ** witness of matriemony. Cold and frosty nights on to the 14th., the 16th. John Petrie (26), died in Shenwall. Fine weather but slight frost in the night, all our corn sowd the 14th., our potatos planted the 17th. cold, Cottertoons roup the 25th., David Innes thrown out the 30th., cold frosty nights on to the end.
May 1834.
Begins drughty with frosty nights, we milled 4 bolls and 10 pecks of wheat meal and 18 of oat meal, the 2nd. we are inclosing our howess haugh frosty still. Our torneep ground getting the last furro, we wer in the turff moss the 7th., the 10th. sleety showrs, fresh growing weather about the 14th. the coach came the 15th. I got my new mear. Fridays shooes 13th., we got our coach the 15th., rain the 17th., we sowd our clover ley with bear it is a good deal too thin and mickle more in the parish. Drught the 19th., great drught on to the 27th. the day we set our fire. All our torneeps is formed but none dunged because of the drught. We sowed the first of our neeps the 29th., still drught, the drught continuing to the end. Macwillie (27).
June 1834.
Begins with drught the 1st. Sunday the Shean park set on fire, the people went from church and extinguished it . Slight rain the 4th, Donald Ross came home servant to us the 28th. Our torneeps finished the 7th., drught on to the 8th. The 9th. and 10th. we drove 12 loads of turfs, the 11th. a dreadfull rain about 25 minutes, the 13th. in the forenoon, extraordinary hail and rain. I am making a new butter bowie the 14th. a rough wind and some rain, our fast day 19th. Our potatos howed the 21st. grouthy weather. James Allan died 17th. or 18th. June.
July 1834.
Begins warm and drughty. We have 75 loads of fire home the 2nd, we drove our long carriage the 3rd. of peats from the divaks. Betty and me at Carney the 2nd. Oat meall selling from 17s-6d to 20 shillings, I bought Donald Ross trowsrs about the 1st. The minesters grass cut the 1st. Robert MacPail (28), went to Buckie the 5th., fine warm drughty days on to the 7th. the day that the minesters hay was building. The 8th. thunder and rain, began the torneep howing the 4th. and done the 15th. A fresh showr every day but the earth not weetd much. We have about 120 loads of fire home the 16th. Shot Roe deer (29). The corn weall shot at this time, our people went to Buckie the 19th., our hay cut the 21st. and halph. Cold the 25th., the 26th. weighty rain, warm and dray to the end. Our people came home from Buckie the 28th,
Agust 1834.
Begins extraordinary warm and dray, all our neeps out, howed the 2nd., the 3rd. warm. Meale selling st 18shs., most beautifull weather, our hay taken in the 18th., harvest in different places. Cattle selling weall at this time, about 160 loads of turf the 9th., about 200 in all. Dray and warm on to the 18th., rain and hail about the 20th. and on to the 24th., the hail shook to westertoon and round past the Coopers. Thair is a good deal cut bear and oats in this parish, we are pulling our lint the 27th. The 25th. I shot 2 roes at one shot. The 16th I went to Fordyce with Jean Murrays marriage, the 30th, we began to cut our wheat and oats. ther is a good deal cut bear and oats.
September 1834.
Begins dray for two days, the 3rd. wetty. I bought a humble cow about the 1st, for £6,14s, wetty the 8th. and a speat the 9th. the day of David Innes roup, Brougham in Keith the 9th. Watery about the 14th. but we began to cut wheat the 6th., we had it all cut the morning of summerfair. The 17th. we did not lead any untill the 14th., warm and dray the whole week we took it all in the 24th, and the most of it thrashed. Verry quaiet warm and dray, aples dear this year. The smith away about this time a good deal of corn out in the parish. George Macwillie 30th. Sptr. 1834.
October 1834.
Begins wind and drught on to the 9th., the 12th., the day we took up our potatos and Williams (30), house the 11th., the 12th., the 13th. Blustry, meall selling 17shs. The 13th. and 14th. sunking my garden dyke, the 16th. a thanksgiving day, wind with showrs. the 18th. sleet and wind, the 19th. cold wind. Cold storm and rain with high, high winds the 25th. plowd the first of our ley and began to build garden dyke. Still verry wetty with high winds on to the end of the month. Meall 15 & 16 shs. George Macwillie 1834 years.
November 1834.
Begins the 2 first days wetty, the Misses and Mr. Anguses in our Church Masson read 44 minuts, the longest sermon ever to be read to us, the comon time from 19 to 25 minuts, for show the 9th. he read 24 minuts. The whole week wind and rain espicially the 7th. and 8th., 9th. blustry. Joseph Edward verry ill at this time, the 12th and 13th. fine days, verry blustry winds with rain the 14th. & 15th. & 16th. my garden dyke almost finished. Sold John Bremner 8 qurs. of old corn at 18s-6d. to drive to Portgordon upon the 19th., good weather on to the 24th. The 22nd. a shotting, 2 prises, 3lb. and 6lb. mutton at 4 l/2d., good on to the 30th. Cpt. Duffs (31), mill building at this time.
December 1834.
Begins warm and grouthy. I set berry bushs and rasps and strawberrys about the 16th. John is working at Auchlankarts Mill about this time. Excellant weather on to the 7th. which was, rainy the 6th. warm and dray, fine, fresh, warm weather and the mavis singing lyke spring. Corn selling from 18 to 20 shillings, warm and dray on to the 15th. I was at the altoon with John at Auchluncharts Mill the 16th. fine day, still fair and dray on to the 20th. a shooting at Robt. Deys the 21st, excellent weather. Fresh and growing weather all except the 27th and 28th, George Macwillie.
January 1835.
Begins warm and fresh, the 5th. frosty, slight frosts on to the 9th. which was stormy the day we bagged for John Roy, frost and slight storm on to the 11th., the day before newyearsday. A good storm came on the 16th. with hard frost, the 18th. frost and storm, fresh the 22nd. we took home our mill water the 20th. & 21st., corn selling about 18 & 19 shs the 24th. I was at Rynie the 25th. taking home wood from Almore, fine weather with high winds on to the end. Geo. Macwillie.
February 1835.
Begins verry rough winds with sleety showrs. Williams land plowed the 2nd. A rough day the 3rd. the day of a shooting in the burn of towie, dreadfull blowing, fresh the 6th. & 7th., the 8th. wind and storm. James Innes, Linemore, married the 8th. Still rough blowing weather the 19th. a shooting at Jockleys of beef, Robertson, Alexr. and myself brought home 16 shillings worth. A great storm blowing twixt the 19th. and 20th. the last shooting at towie of paills. The 21st. rough sleety showrs and high winds to the end. Good bear from 24s to 26s-6d. pr qur. seed oats sold in fumakfair 22shs., comon from 19s-6d. £1-1 to weight 43 lb.
March 1835.
Begins stormy with rough winds on to the 10th., the day that Robert Mcphail died at halph past six o'clock in the morning and was buried the tenth a stormy day. The most of the storm away with the length of the day. The 13th. we was taking out Johns alder wood, the 14th. we took a yoaking of the plow, we have about 3 bolls sowing of avel on the upper highland and the halph of the breas of the waterside. Seed selling from 22s. to 25shs. pr quarter. The 9th. I took Cachanhead, the 16th, I sowed peas and beans in my garden. The 28th. we sowed our avel ground, the 29th. sleety and stormy on to the end.
April 1835.
Begins with storm on the 3rd., the 4th. cold but dray, plowing our clean ground at this time. Some sleet desperat high winds on to the 14th., a good storm the 15th., 16th. & 17th. the day that the young foxes was houked in the burn of towie, we got but 4. The 18th. a very rainy day, the old goodwiffe (32), of towiemore died the 18th. and the masson work of Johns new houses setting the 18th. and comon corn selling about I pound pr qur. We have all our clean ground to sow yet, sleety showrs and rain about the 24th., a good storm the 26th., 27th. & 28th. we was driving dung to Johns croft. The 29th. a blustry day, we have a good many torneeps to drive yet, the 30th. April no grass or clover seeds sown yet the *** is in so bad season. We have some of our potato ground cross plowed, I got 2 new soacks and mould to plow the 30th. which cost 18s-6d., I afford the land seed mysilf. Written this 30th. day of April by Geo. Macwillie in Cachanhead.
May 1835.
Friday the 1st. a dray day, we sowed the last of our oat seed and all our grass and clover seeds Saturday the 2nd. I went to Newmill the 3rd. Sunday verry rainy the whole day. The 4th. & 5th. I was at the roup of Burnside of Tynat. Westertoon rouped the 5th., we drove our long carriage the 9th., planks from Boat of Bridge. The 11th we wer setting our potatos but could not get the happed for a great rain but fresh the 14th., frosty with stormy showrs the 13th. the day Ardbrack roup. Our Helen maire folled the 13th., the 17th. rough wind with showrs, grouthy weather about the 24th. and 25th. The goodwife of Midthird verry poorly at this time, the 26th. and 27th. rainy, Jean Petrie (33) brought to bed the 27th., I sold 5 stots to David Innis about the 20th. current. Drealling our neeps the 29th. and 30th., dray days but frosty nights. Alexr. MacDonald came home to me the 30th.
June 1835.
Begins with warm dray weather, the 3rd. we began to dung our torneeps and done about the 13th., the 9th. and tenth dreadfull days of thunder the most of the whole days with thundray showrs. I bought my new knock about the 1st. at 55 shillings the machinery of hir. I sold the old Betty meare at June market at £1-12-6, drughty weather with high winds, a good grouth both of grass & corn, 3 year old stots selling from £6-6 to £9, Our fast day the Thursday after June market. A shooting for tubs the 22nd., our horse hilping William (34), to sow his torneeps, the 23rd. the ground white with storm a verry cold day, the 27th. a good frost that spoiled a good many of the potato heads, cold on to the end. Jas. Cruickshank mard. 30th.
July 1835.
Begins cold with hail and frost, the 3rd, I was at Boharm hunting roes a deal of thunder and rain but verry warm. Warm with showrs on to the 5th. warm but some hail. I am thrashing out our wheat from the 3rd. to the 4th. I delivered to John Bremner 4 qurs. & 5 bushells wheat at 37 pr qur. upon the 7th. Johns house sleating the 7th & 8th., howing the torneeps the 20th. Johns (35), house finished out the 22nd. I am furnishing my room at this time, we have no fire drove yet. No grouth but the corn shootting not 8 inches long, the new grass verry light, this is not good year for bees swarming, thair is none swarmed in this place except 2, the 23rd. the fast day of the general asembly. Our ley cut the 24th & 25th. and colled the day after Glass market, or the day before. Begining to drive fire about this time. the 1st, halph of the torneeps howed at this time, verry drughty weather and great need for rain. John left Cachanhead the 25th, our hay taken in,the 6th. our fire home, the 8th. our torneeps howing the second time, about the 10th. a great drught with cold and dray and verry high winds. My clock case taken home the 8th. Meall from 17/6 to 18 shillings, good corn 23 to 24 shillings. I have a stots hough broken at this time. Agnes Shearers marriage the 11th., the potatos looking verry ill at this time.
August 1835.
Begins drughty and continues over all the months of July and Agust. The 22nd. our torneeps howed the 2nd. time and working weall, our people came from Buckie the 20th., our haugh grass colled the 21st. Cattle very dull sell, meal £1 pr 9st. Dutch, Oats from 23 to 24 shillings. I have a stot with a broken leg at this time. Helen Macwillie (36) and John Watt married about the 30th. George MacWillie.
September 1835.
Begins terrible warm and drughty, we drove our farm to Delnyshack about the 1st I sold John MacWillie 5qurs. and 3 bushells old corn at 24shs. pr qur. and 10 bolls at 9 stone at £1. William Cummine came home to his harvest the 7th., we began to cut the 8th. Excellant weather on to the 10th. then rain, , a great rain on to the 13th., my house painting at the 12th., rainy, rainy, My house mud thached about the 5th. cost 9s-6d. to Hugh Robertson. We have done cutting the crop the 26th., thair is less corn yards this year than usual, we are the first done cutting in this place. We have 15 ricks in and thached about the 31st. Thair is a dead calm on to the 22nd. and the dreadfull wind that shook a great deal of corn and weat weather on to the end.
October 1835.
Begins rough winds and rain. The 1st. I was at Keith with 9 bolls of meal, a rough day with rain. The corn we cut the 8th. Sptr. is not taken in the 4th. October altho it was the first we cut. The Kirktoon haughs was sold about 13 guineas the acre. Upon the 9th. we took in a good deal of our clean ground corn and the end of the backstripe shift, all but the rackings. We rose the 10th. about 3 o'clock in the morning and lead 2 ricks and filled the barn before 6 oclock, then a verry rough rainy day and all the night wind and rain and the 11th. desperate wind and rain, no one has it all in yet in this parish. We have about one acre of our clean ground and the Broak. Really backward weather indeed. Thair was stormy showrs about the 1st. and the hills white, we took in all our corn the l3th. and our potatos the 16th. Good weather about the 18th. rough showrs with wind at the 22nd. We began to plow our haughs at the 22nd. William Cumming left his harvest the 17th, George MacWilliams corn all cut the 24th, the day our calf broak it queet the bone without the skine about one inch, we had to rip up the skine before it was got in. The 26th. a dreadfull wind and rain, the waters nigh a big as Agust 29. The Deveron dreadfull about Banff both sea and land. A park shooting the 31st. I had 2shs, and 10 pence.
November 1835.
Begins verry rough weather, John Bremners (37) roup the 2nd., I bought a 2 year old bull at £4-5shs., wind and rainy weather on to the 7th. a shooting of mutton at Jn. Moggachs. I had 2shs. worth and shot in paper and got nothing. The 8th. a fine day rough rainy on to the 15th. my new gun. Stocking at this time, milled about 11 bolls oat meal the 27th. Octr. Gee. Mitchell and Tibby Wilson proclaimed the 28th., ditto Thomas Duncan and Maddy Shearer. Fine weather about this time, we are plowing our haughs now, good weather with fresh showrs.
December 1835.
Begins fresh weather plowing going fast. The 3rd. I cut a calfs legg above the ancle. the 5th. a shootting at millahol park, I had 3 prises with my new gun. A hard frost with a slight storm on the 6th., fine weather with some frost on to the 10th. the day James Peterican (38) and Anne Macwillie. was married and Thomas Duncan and Maddy Shearer and likways Alexr. Gordon and Jean MacWillie (39), proclaimed the 13th. Excellant weather, John Bremner, Woodend, still verry, verry ill, this is two fresh and one frosty from the 14th. to the 18th. verry watery, the 20th. hard frost but quaiet. Jean Macwillie married the 24th., fine weather on to the end.
January 1836.
The 1st begins terrible cold high wind and frost, fresh and frost alternatly on to the**. Corn pr qur. 15shs-6d. to 16 shillings. John Bremner, Woodend, died the 3rd., fine weather on to the 10th. A good storm about Newyearsday and slight frost, coron about 15s. to 16s-6 pence pr qur. The 24th. frost and storm on to the 29th., corn from 18 to 20 shillings.
February 1836.
Begins with storm high winds and frost. The 1st. I let blood of John Macwillie (40). Mains, ill in inflamation, stormy on to the 4th. the night of John Macwillies carting a unweall stot. At this time, the 8th., still stormy with slight frosts, frost and fresh time about from the 10th. to the 19th., some storm. Meall selling 15shs., corn pr qur. from 18 to 20shs. according to weight. We are driving some fire wood and casting some ditches the 18th. and 19th., frosty days on to the 24th. a great storm the night of Cotertoon frolic. The 26th. a quaiet day but a great storm, we had no water till the 27th. We throush with the flails on the 26th. and 27th. A shooting of sculs at mill of hole, I had three of them. Tibby got hir new shooes the 27th. and the 28th. the storm still advancing. We have no torneeps but a few to the cows thats giving milk, a great storm to the end. Thomas Donald (4l), died about the end of this month.
March 1836.
Begins a great storm. A warm roup the 4th., we got home some loads of torneeps, the heat of the sun putting away the storm. George Shearer child born 20th. the 6th. I was making a runch the 6th., frost and storm and sleety showrs on to the 13th. The most of our awvel and halph of our ley to plow, the 20th. about three acres of ley on the hillands to plow. The 19th. the first fresh day and the land begining to dry, the 19th. Alexr. put gudge through his hand. My father went to Edinkellie the 16th, and came home the 21st., dray with high winds. I sowed peas and onions the 23rd., many sowed the 22nd., the 26th. sleet and storm, the 27th. frost and sleet. William Watt went away the 19th. unweall. Wm Macwillie (42), had a child 27th. called William. Verry backward weather with sleety showrs and frost. Onely some people sown the 26th., the 28th. we bagged for John Roy. Scouggie flew the country about the 20th. Our plowing going on in the clean ground, the 30th. frosty and sleety showrs. William Lawrance came home the 29th.
April 1836.
We began the sowing the 1st. but it came out a bad day, it got nothing but a single scrape. A good storm the 2nd., rough winds and showrs on to the 10th.. about the 11th. we sowed our lewy. My father went to Edinkellie the 13th. Wm. Watt (43) died the 13th. was buried the 16th. a drie morning but came out a verry wetty day. The one halph of our haughs sown the 16th., the examination began the 17th., some rye grass seeds sown the 22nd. the day all our neeps was taken home, thair was thunder, storm and rain the 22nd. and thunder the 24th. and rough showrs of rain. All my corn sown the 27th., backward stormy weather on to the end.
May 1836.
I sowed my rye grass seeds and set the potatos the 3rd., clear dray weather the 5th. with frosty nights, a good deal of corn to sow in the parish the 9th. The 8th. day Adam George and William Shearer both married in the session. John Riach died about the 27th. or 28th. April and Helen Macwillie came to Drumgrain about the 18th. or 19th. April. All our fire dug the 18th or 19th., the roup of Ardbrack the 21st. John Brown put of from being Church beadle about the 14th. Mrs Donald came to out towne the 21st. Excellant weather with drught for 3 weeks without showr. Alexr. Duncan came home to me the 28th.
June 1836.
Begins with great drought, we set out turffs and sowed the first of out torneeps the 2nd., wind and drought great need for rain. All the shifts of torneeps sowed the 8th., the backstripe one we have left as much dung as dung two acres of the uppermost highlands but still a great drought and high winds it is verry like it the night weather it come or not. I gave a man 5 shillings to spread the dung of my neep shift and I made a new carraige cart in the fornoon, A good rain the 11th. and great need, we are about done sowing torneeps on the upper hillands. The day June market still warm and droughty. I sold William Stewart 2 quoys the Monday before the market at £8-10, in the market 5 stots at £6-10, a young cult at £15. Ay drughty but a good showr the 18th. and some the 22nd., about 40 loads of fire (44), home now & hoen the potatos and hunting the fox and got one the 22nd. Some slight showrs the 24th., sold Alexr. Macwillie 2 quarters bear and straw and dilivered the second of July.
July 1836.
Begins droughty with some showrs about the 5th. and all the corn shotting and the hay crop verry poor. All the fire home in the end of June, James shearer died 7th, and was buried the 9th. I am selling corn at 22s and 8d., I have 6 stacks in the yard the 9th., the torneeps all howed the 21st, Meall 16-6d. corn 21 to 21-6. I went to imnverness the 23rd. and came home the 24th., our people went to Buckie the 24th., a gay rainy week, it has been rain on to the end, mickle, mickle need.
Agust 1836.
Begins rainy, our hay cut the 4th. & 5th., some rain the 5th., gloomy weather. I sent 44 bolls of meall to Inverness the 11th. the day of the roup of stripside, at it I bought a stot at £3. Fine warm weather, thursday the 18th. I was at church of Mortlach hearing a court concerning a new minister (45). Mains ley taken in the 20th., I am thrashing out old corn, I have two ricks in the stak yard at this time and 2 of thrashed corn.
September 1836.
Begins with rain, mostly rain on to the 12th. the day I was putting in new mettel in my mill and built a new house about the wheel. Verry rainy weather, thair is some riggs of bear cut at summersfair but verry green in general. Midtoon cut some oats the 15th., among the first in the parish. I have taken in the last of my old ricks, I think thair wil be seed in the new crop, verry heasy weather the 17th., James Humphrays farm setting at the 15th. John George came home to his harvest to me the 18th. a rainy day, the 19th. rain sleet and storme, we cut some corn in desperation in the afternoon, verry green for seed. I thrush 5 quarters of old corn the 18th., I gave Alexr. Moggach 2 and halph qur. I had sold a week before and whean I am writting this it is drifting snow and all the ground white and 19 threves cut the 20th., it is verry bad appearance for the begining of harvest, Midthird cutting and the snow white. We cut our yavel shift 27th & 28th. but both wetty days. the 30th. sleet and rain the day the Kirktoon haughs was sold. The night of the 30th. a great frost. I paid the scouring of Isla and ditches the 30th. the sum of £51, str.
October 1836.
Begins with rain, sleety showrs and frost on to the 8th. the day the Kirktoon corn was prised and it was the 8th. that Joseph Edward died and was buried the 11th., thair was 80 men at his burial. The 12th. we lead 6 ricks, the day of Newmill market, thair was but some few ricks in the parish till that day and the next day was a speat of rain and wind the whole day. This is about 3 o'clock and the rain is dreadfull, we have the most of our hillands and all our haughs to cut, the 13th. good weather with high winds on to the 20th. the day we cut our corn. We took it all in the 25th. and to Linmore to cut to Alexr. Gordon. We took up one pit of potatos the 26th., a good storm the 27th., 28th., & 29th., a great dell of green corn but this will ripe it. Thair is a large quantity of stooks among the storme yet to cut. John George left his harvest the 27th.
November 1836.
Begins frosty with storme. I was with Wm. MacWillie cutting on the greens the 3rd. but we came home and left the one halph of it that the snow was lying upon. We took up the last of our potatos the 4th., a frosty day. The 5th., 6th., & 7th. all stormy, thair is some to cut in the parish yet and a good deal to take in.
Mrs Angus was buried the 4th. Alexr. Shearer came to make some cloths for me the 7th, Potatos about 16 pr boll and meal 16s pr boll. Backward weather on to the 13th., corn selling, new I mean, from 19 to 21 shs., old from 25 to 26 shill., meal pr 9 stone £1, I have about 10 bolls thrashed yet and still 1 rick of old straw. I am feeding a crippil quoy and I have put up other 2 quoys the 21st. to feed. I feed Wm. Robertson for man and George Sellar for cow billie in Dufftoon market, thair is a court at the Kirktoon house about George Millne selling the coupper too much wood without liberty, I doubt he will to take his leggs for the same out of the parish, no mercy, no mercy. Alexr. Moggach has some corn to carry to the yard yet the 21st. Watery about the 22nd., Martesmes day, Jne Mitchel, Alxr. Duncan & Wm. Peterkin left me the 22nd., Wm. had about 12 days to make up of his time to make up. Thair came on a great storm the 23rd. with a even down fall, our harvest thanksgiving the 24th., verry stormy the 25th. Meal selling pr 10 stone at 16/6 to 17s., butter pr old lb. 13 pence. I hard the 25th. that our Laird was dead but not certainty for it, George Millne our ground officer put from mill holl the 25th. and one came the name of Lobban, he should be very quait among us if he be his own friend, he stops in Ardbrack. William Robertson (46) and George Sellar, came home servants to me the 27th. verry stormy weather, a few good days about the end.
December 1836.
Begins fresh days, the plowing going on fast on to the 8th., the 9th. a hard frost with wind and storm. The Coopers sons went to Findorn the ** out of the parish hive go hive.
Journal, 7th. December 1836 (47)
The national debt the weight therof in gold amounts to 4,088,475 lbs. or 110,047 tons 9 cwt. 3 qurs. & 13 lbs. To transport the debt across the seas in gold it would require 12,580 one horse carts, each cart being loaded with halph ton of gold. Supposing such a thing possible as that we could procure from the Mixican mines silver in sufficent quantity to pay of the debt. It would require to bring it to England a fleet of 476 ships of 250 tons each, the weight in silver 266,666,666 lbs. or 110,047 tons 12 cwt. 1 qur. 14lbs. From the same Journal An act was passed in the reign of James the I which makes it felony to raise the divel or yet to feed him whean be is raised. Thair was a dreadfull harrican in the metroplas upon Tuesday the 15th., current storm 18th. and on to the end, Thair is a dreadfull cold raging, the most of the parish ill the 30th., I am blooding 2,3 & 4 every day. Corn 21 to 22s. Meall pr stone 18s.**
BOTRIPHNIE PARISH CHURCH.
Botriphnie church is situated about three miles from Dufftown on the B9194 road on the way to Keith, Scotland. The parish comprises some 9459 acres. The parish is divided by the river Isla, which finds its source in a loch of one mile length located south-west of the church. The land comprises gently sloping hills from scrub and heather at around 1000 feet on the hill of Towie and Scaut Hill to fertile farm land found along the length of the river. Drummuir village is situated in the middle of the parish and is around 500 feet above sea level. The largest land owner within the parish was the Laird of Drummulr who lived in Drummuir castle. Saint Fummack was the saint of the parish and was celebrated each year by holding a fair. The interior of Botriphnie church is constructed of beautifully finished wood. The churchyard contains many McWillie ancestors' grave plots with family epitaphs which where found very useful in tracing our family history. George McWillie author of the McWillie diaries and his wife and two daughters are buried in the graveyard.
January 1837.
Begins with showrs of sleet, the 1st. of Youl is a fine quaiet day, fresh the 3rd., stormy, frost and slight storme on to the 12th, Newyearsday which was rainy all the afternoon. Still the infectious cold raging, my father and mother ill in it since the 1st. or 2nd. Wm. Robertson went home the 11th. and Alexr. came home the 12th, in his place. Frost and storme the 14th. & 18th. fresh, the 19th., 20th. & 21st. hard, hard frost, I was at the lint mill with lint the 21st. I milled 19 bolls of oat meall the 16th. and paid the farm the 17th. My mother still verry ill with the inflainzie the 21st., some wetty on to the end of the month. I sold a fat quoy at this time at £4. George Macwillie.
February 1837.
Begins with quaiet, fresh weather. We are plowing our yavel at this time on the hillands, fine wetty on to the 8th. the day of the court on Robt. Dey & John Burges. I milled 32 bolls of oat meall the 4th. The 10th. high draying winds, the weather excellent, at present meall selling at £1 pr Emp. boll, corn for seed from 26 to 28, to the sea 23 to 26 shillings. George Mitchell forgery brok out about the 1st. of January and Westertoon set to George Garden about the 11th. The 18th. & 19th. dreadfull winds, storme the 20th. and a good storme the 25th. I sold Alexr. Moggach 6 qur. corn the 20th, at 26shs. pr qur. Isabel Innes commited suicide the 25th. and was buried the 27th. Margaret Mackimme died, Breahead, the 27th. I paid my long carraige (48) to Elgin the 28th. the day of Fummakfair.
March 1837.
Begins wetty. I was at the Wisemans roup the 1st., plowing going fast, our haughs plowing at this time 4th. and plowed out the 8th. Stormy the 10th., 11th. & 9th. John Ord's legg broken the night of the 9th. the day that Alexr. Chalmers farm was set & mearchant carried him home on his bak and set him down on his own door. Hard frosts with storme mixed through it from the 11th. to the 19th. Mrs. Donald confirming for hir mony and movables about the 18th.. no plowing going on this season, cold, cold. Ann &Jas Petrician (49) had a son about the first of this month. Upon the 21st Donald Macmillan and me was at Mortlach seeking witnesses against one Melles for stricking his son unmercifully, George Moggach burnt all his house upon the 23rd. Mrs. Masson brought to bead of a daughter, Mary. the 24th. Our hierd came home the 25th. the name of Cruickshank, the ewie lammed the 24th., still frost and storme. We have 4 ricks in the yard and many a one is done long ago, I have a good deal of hay and torneeps the 25th, but straw terrible scarce in general. I sold William Burges 2 bolls of meall at £1, pr boll the 20th.
Middrd. B R K the Ludge window the 23rd. The 27th. stormy, the neeps so hard the cattel canot eat them. The 28th. a roup of books at Ms. Taylors a stormy night, the next day thair came betwixt the hours of 9 and 10 oclock a storme about 1 foot in depth. Linmore set by Alexr. Gordon to the MacDonald of Clunybegg. We have not got one yoaking of the plow since the 4th., a dreadfull frost the 29th. at this time and has been the most of the month. Futher for cattel verry scarce, none below £2, qur., straw all down and none to seed but midtown of Towiebegg. Geo. Macwillie.
April 1837.
Begins with frost and storme. the frost so hard the last 10 days that no beast can eat neeps. Was blooding Wm. Innes the 2nd., we took in our bear the 3rd. for seed and all the oat seed thrashed and dressed. The 2nd thair was a collection gathered in the Church for a famine in the west hillands and islands amounting to £5-7s-4d., still hard frost and storme. Always terrible frost and close storme on to the 9th., we got yoaking of the plow that day, colled the 10th. upon the field that I intend for clean ground, we have all our clean ground to plow the 11th. and about 14 acres all together, we have 3 ricks in the yard the 11th. but frost and storme. Thair is a dreadfull scarcety of straw and many a mans cattel in compleet starvation, I have sold no victal of the crop but 6 qurs, of oats and about 2 1/2 bolls of meall, I shall sell no more till I see what kind of summer thair be as thair is none sown yet. We have got a yoaking of the plow in our clean ground 11th. Isabel Innes roup the 12th., a little fresh the 14th. Cottertoon sowed some oats the first in our place, the 15th. sleety and stormy. The storme is none broken on the Scouge and Glackmuck. I was at Drumgrain the 15th. concerning Helen McWillies confirmation, verry bad day but faired up in the afternoon. We began to sow the 21st. but not a good season, we sowed our lower haugh the 25th., verry watery, I had a stot unweall at this time and 15 & 1/2 bolls oats sown and about 9 bolls sowing to plow. A bad season 26th., 27th. & 28th., likeways the 29th. the day I sowed my haughs. All our torneep shift to sow and a good dead of it to plow, a grouth begining the last 5 days, I sowed my onions & carrots about the 25th. of April.
May 1837.
The 1st. day begins rainy, a great rain. I took home my clover seed the 1st., our corn all sown the 3rd. and the bear the 5th., no grass sown the 5th., some to sow the 9th., the potatos dunged but not set and stormy days. This is the day of Robt. Days roup, verry backward weather and cold north winds, no grouth, sleety showrs the 20th. & 21st. Have one rick yet but scarcely can keep it meat for cattle is so scarce, I am selling meall to Alexr. Moggach at 20 & 6d. The roup of Ardbrack the 22nd., I sowed tears this day, cold, cold. Alexr. Gordons roup the 25th. a cold drught and so on to the end. Thair is no grouth yet and all the straw and hay in the place done. Thair is no suppering for the horses nor cattle, many a one cannot lay down thair torneeps for want of meat. I have one small rick yet in the yard and some hay. I am selling meal to the session at £1-1, pr **, cattle will not sell at any price for want of fother and terrible poor in condition. Put out the first of the neep dung the 31st., rainy. George Macwillie.
June 1837.
Begins dray, a cold drught on to the 9th. we have about 2 acres of torneeps to sow yet and a scarcety of grass. Meall selling at £1-2 to 1-4 shillings, grouthy weather begins the 10th. June market terrible bad, I sold my 3 year olds at £5-5s., all our torneeps done the 17th. a rainy day but the 16th. a dreadfull drught the day the rents paid. I got discount of 3 Guineas. It turned warm and grouthy about the 18th., the 22nd. Betty and mysilfe went to Aberdeen along with Alexr. Gordon (50) & Robt. Deys people, they sailed the 28th, & we came home the 28th. Mrs Donalds money came to Keith the 28th. & I got it the 30th. We are beginning to drive some fire about this time, rather drughty weather, the potatos about the 30th. hoed. Geo. McWillie
July 1837.
Begins warm with a little rain. I was getting wood for a new stable and shead the 2nd. Some rain the 5th., John of Mains howing torneeps the 5th., a great drught on to the 12th., grass verry scarce, great need for rain, corn & grass going wrong. We hoed the first of our torneeps the 12th. and all ready for it. The drught on to the 14th. which was a dreadfull day of thunder and weighty rain and great hail in many places which did great harm. Wm. Moggach died the 15th. in about 16 hours illness. Verry rainy on to the 20th. which was dray, the day we hoed our torneeps, verry, verry, warm. Taking down our kill the 26th., I paid George Anderson £1 of his fee the 26th. The corn shooting fast out, still rainy. Our people went to Buckie the 22nd. and came home 29th. A great canvassing by Pitfour and General Duffs son at this time. George McWillie
Agust 1837.
Begins with great rains on to the 4th., massons came to build new shed and stable the day before Glass market, my bear weall mixed the 18th. nothing in the oats as yet but still shooting, no sell for cattle, meall at £1 to £1-1s., I have about 20 bolls corn at this time the 20th. high wind and rain. Miss Riach left Bothriphnie the 19th. I have an awfull crop of berries and good pears and fair apples. The hay not in yet, my new stable and shead finished in the masson work 23rd. The arch fill the next day, wetty on to the end.
September 1837.
Begins verry rainy, my new housses roofed and divoted the 4th. Some corn begining to turn the 5th., a denner to Drummure the 7th. a wetty day, we was in the Scabb at this time, Meall £1.1 sent £2 to Aberdeen to weddow Mallice on the 11th. I cut my bear the 12th. the oats only begining to turn the 13th. the day of summerfair, a verry wetty day. I sold my bull but a verry bad market I had only £4-6, small beasts not selling at all. Rainy about the 16th. and on to the 20th. the wind was verry rough, the 21st. I took in my bear the 23rd. Captain Duff gave a denner to all his tennantry. Midtoon cut some oats the 22nd., we have none ready yet, I am working at my new stable and shead the 23rd., we are keeping our nout in the hill all day this 3 weeks for want of grass, mostly dray on to the 30th. the day we began to cut corn. My harvest man came home the 30th. Alexr. Sharp ran away.
October 1837.
Begins dray with strong winds. We had in 7 stacks oats the 7th, without getting a showr in the short space of one week, many not begun to cut any at all the 9th, Alexr. Sharp (smart) left his service the 7th., no rain at the 11th. the day of newmills market, I engaged James Packman the 11th. for a fortnight and 3 days for 18shs. and bought 3 stots for £9-1. Thair came a slight showr the 16th. which stopped us from cutting but done next day, we had in 22 ricks the 19th., a good deal of corn to cut yet with high, high winds. General Duff (5l) gave a dinner to his voaters the 17th. Meall from 16shs to 19 shillings. I had all the crop in the yard the 20th. in the short space of 3 weeks but one day, my potatos up the 23rd. Some showrs and hail and frost to the end of the month.
November 1837.
Begins with rough winds and frosty nights. We milled 12 bols of meall the 3rd., Betty badly at this time. I have 3 acres plowed the 4th., I am selling meall at 16 shillings. Many people bussy at thair potatos now. we thached our neep shead the 4th. The first of the quaiet days. Doctor Menzies at Betty the 5th., hir verry ill and ditto the 8th., she is a little better the 9th. We was harrowing the ground that is for our torneeps the 9th., fine weather on to Martismass. Betty & Isabel still verry ill, Betty wane up the first time 25th. Alexr. MacDonald came home svt. the 24th. at even, Jas Nory ditto. Showrs of storm the 27th. and the 28th., about 3 inches. Corn from 16sh. to l pound, meall 15s-14d & 16s., we have none but our torneep shift on the hillands. I have 6 prises of mutton, 3 at one target, 1 at one, 2 at another. Most excellent weather, Betty & Tibby still ill and good weather on to the end.
December 1837.
Begins most beautiful weathre. Jean lingring at this time & Helen Stronach both, but not beading, Betty out the 6th., corn 18shs., the plowing match the 7th. at the Cottertoon. Excellent weather and plowing going on as in the month of May. Corn selling from 18s to 19 and 20 owing to weight. Jean Gordon & Helen Stronach not out of the bead the 25th., we are driving corn to the mill the 25th. Helen Stronach up about the 28th., famous weather on the Youll. Jas Nory went home the 7th. and Helen Stronach the 14th. of January 1838.
January 1838.
Begins plesant weather, plowing almost done, corn selling at 18 to 19 shs. A verry hard frost sets in the 8th., the ground grey with storme. The 14th. & 15th, dreadfull frost., the 13th. a fox hunting, 1 killed. Some storme on to Sunday the 21st. a desperate blowing, the minister stot in the lettering. I killed a mart the 22nd. hard frost and storme. Storme to the 24th., still stormy and great frost on to end.
February 1838.
February begins frost and great storm, all roads mostly stoped. No torneeps geting but some for new calved cows and thawing them in the well. Still a great storm and penetrating frost on to the 14th. & no apperance of fresh. Some loads of torneeps the 22nd. holled with the spads and pick, the night of the 23rd. a blowing began and not stopped the 27th. the day of fummackerfair. Thair was no preaching on Sunday, we had to boar a holl about 20 yards through the storm at the end of our smiddy, it was livel with hay sow and the top of the garden. Helen Stronach came home the 20th., about 200 men from Mortlach at the toll road and all blown up the next day the 27th., they canot get thair minester from Huntly to bury him.
March 1838.
The 5th. and 6th, the parish is casting the toll road, fresh the 8th., our plow going the 10th. but great snow in many places. The 15th. real fresh, I may say the first fresh day since the 8th. of January. Meall 16s., corn £1 to £l-lshs. We thached our mill the 19th. and plowed in the afternoon, the 20th. a good storme still on to the 26th. the day the smith brought a rick hear to thrash. I have sold none of my last years crop as yet but 8 qurs. to my father. I have but 7 ricks in the yard and the ley but a great deal of torneeps. Jean (52) and Isabel went to school the 19th. Corn selling from 21 to 22shs. pr quarter, corn and fodder from 35 to 37 shs. pr qur., dear enough for the poor man. Frost and stormy showrs on to the end.
April 1838.
Begins stormy showrs and verry cold, all our plowing done the 6th. but the land that the torneeps is in. We began to sow the 11th., I belive about 8 bolls, thair came out a rough rainy night the two Misses MacKindy came here the night the first time. I sowed my onions this day at 3 Oclock. We sowed other five bolls the 14th, on clover ley below Watchies, we have 4 ricks of oats and a small one of bear and a good deal of hay. The 15th. Sunday high, high wind with dreadfull showrs of haill and sleet the whole day. John George proclaimed the 7th. and 15th., I have about two and one halph acres of torneeps still in the ground, a good many of rotten. April market sleety and blowing the whole day and about 40 head of cattel in it, storm and blowing the whole two days after it. I sold John a cow the 19th. at £4-7-6d., sowed the last of our lay the 24th. a watery day, done sowing except 1 boll of oats and 1 of bear the 29th. April. George McWillie.
May 1838.
The 1st begins with sleet and storme the whole day. I have but 3 ricks in the yard and a good pickel hay, it has been a verry bad spring as ever I saw. I have about 1 acre of torneeps the 1st,, the good weather began the 2nd. Our oats all sown the 5th.,. I bought 8 bushells of ryegrass at 5s-6d. pr bushell, our potatos set the 10th., beautifull weather. I have sent away 7s-6d. the 12th, to Magdaline Donald to Aberdeen. Our torneeps done the 12th., the 13th. rain and sleet the whole day, Helen McWillie (53) Mains, and Duncan McDonald proclaimed the 13th. Joseph Edwards roup the 15th., snowy showrs and verry cold, dray with cold easterly winds on to the 19th. the day Jean Gordon (54) went away to Aberdeen to shop to America. Watery about the 22nd and 23rd., cold drught on to the 26th., the 25th. I ingaged William Humphray for halph a years servant at £4-12-6, no grass no grouth. Meall selling at 18 shillings, cold and dray on to the 28th., plowing our torneep ground this time the second time. I have John Ross for orow man for £2, and a hird Peter Robertson for £1-1 shs. four days past the term with ditto the 5th. day after ditto. Verry drughty on to the end but no growth in corn or grass, cattel verry dull at this time the 30th. May 1838.
June 1838.
Begins extraordinary cold and drught, the 1st, I bought 1 ewe and 2 lambs at £1-18. On Sunday the 3rd thunder in many places, the 4th. a beautifull morning and about 12 the thunder began in the south east and passed over this place to the north and in passing went in through John Taylors chimny, destroyed his fire place, broke some glasses, broke his window in peaces, drove of a deal of the slates, cut and hurt about 8 persons and killed a bull dog, A great rain and hail but verry fresh and warm, cold after the thunder. We began to sow neeps the week before the market it was spoilled compleetly with a few merchants and Taylors publishing it in the papers the wrong day. I may say thair was no grouth until the 14th. of this month, a great rain the 19th. the most of the day. Our neeps all sown the 25th., grouthy weather but verry wetty on to the 30th. I was at the Mance of Mortlach at a roup the 29th., we took in our hindmost rick the ,30th., the potatos not for howing yet the 30th.
July 1838.
Begins warm and dray. We are cleaning our waterside ditch the second. Milled 11 1/2 bols meall this time and plowing our haugh for fellow. Warm and grouthy to the 15th. and then verry cold and wetty on to the 28th. the day John Roy was buried, still weety but warm to the end, None of our fire drove and but halph of our torneeps howed, the corn begining to shoot, I doubt it will be verry let. George Macwillie.
Agust 1838.
Begins weety and cold with little grouth on to the 11th., thair is no fire drove as yet. We have one halph of our neeps howed the second time the 11th. Helen Riach died the 12th. in Drumgrain, we are cutting our lay the 13th. but rain and rain the 14th., the mill of Ardbrack ready the 13th. A great rain with cold wind whean I am writing this the 14th. Our hay colled the 18th., the 19th. rainy and so on to the 22nd., thair is no word of driving fire wet, the corn still shooting, Corn £l-8s to £1-10, meal from 21 to 22 shs.
September 1838.
The first dray to afternoon, I took in my hay the lst., the 2nd. hail with wind. I was at Buckie for coals the 3rd., the 4th. we thached our hay, weety, weety. We took home some fire the 8th. but verry weet. The bear turning, the oats scarce begun and still shooting. Thair has been from the 4th. to the 8th. constant rain, I began some drains casting 8th. below the road, we have nothing else to do. We took home the first of our fire the 3rd. to keep the house but as weet now as when they ware taken out of the hill. 10th. & 11th. dray, weety the 11th., Midtoon mill repairing now. Meall selling at £1-4 to £1-5, corn £1-10 to £1-12. I got 1 shilling from Admiral Duff the 11th. for lifting Dunbar home with one roe from our own town to the Kirkton house. James Humphrey cut some corn the 15th., some bear cut through the place the 15th.; the market verry had but the morning of it hard frost and rain at even. I sold Alexr. Moggach 13 qurs. and 1 bushell of corn at £1-8-6 pr qur. Driving fire but weet, our bear cut the 28th., fine filling weather, some of the oats as green as in June. I do not the harvest done sooner nor Martismass.
October 1838.
Begins warm and frosty nights the third Wedensday night a hard frost and ice on the waters. Thurday we cut our howes haugh and Wm. Robertson came home to his harvest the 5th., we will not get constant work yet 9th. We took in 3 ricks of oats the 10th. the day of Newmills market, the day of a court. The 11th. a dreadfull wind did not leve a standing stook and at even the wind and hail was extraordinary. The 12th, wind and hail and sleet, we set up all our fallen stooks the 12th., the 13th. a hard frost and closs storme. We drove our farm meall the 12th. to Mill of Towie and paid for driving it Garmouth 2/6/ we milled 2 bolls and 3 firlots of bear meall at this time. Cutting our clean ground the 16th., lead some the 17th. in the morning but rainy and sleety the rest of the day. We have in 6 ricks and 2 howacks on the land, Mains has none yet. Middes lead all the Banks the 17th. and it raining the whole day, it is terrible weather this in harvest. We had done cutting the 24th. and took it all in the 27th. and cut the rest of the day with Peter Forbes. Fine weather on to the end. George Mcwillie.
November 1838.
The first we took in our potatos, the 2nd & 3rd. thached our houses. Alexr. Moggach cut the 3rd, in the mill of Ardbrack park, the last to cut in the parish. Dray and frosty, I have sold John Macwillie 3 bolls of meall the 3rd. and 6 1/2 the 6th. Betty and me went to Rothimay the 10th., I came home 11th. & Betty the 12th., famous weather, we are busy plowing at this time, the 18th, frosty. I engaged Wm. Robertson and Grant Robertson £5-5s. and grant £2-11s., still hard frost and quaiet weather the 28th. with the 29th, wind and rain. The marcury below storm the 29th., wind the 30th. with rain. verry rough weather both on sea and land. George Macwillie.
December 1838.
Begins good winter weather, plowing going fast. I was at a court about June market the 12th., gained by George Kelman, excellent weather at this time 16th. We wrote Jean Gordon (55) the 8th. to Canada. First milling about the 1st., we had 11 1/2 bolls and paid the mill 2 shilling, I had 2 1/2-3 and paid the mill the 20th. The most of our ley plowed the 26th., hard frost, at this time corn selling from 24 to 27 shs, owing to quality, meall from £1-3 to £1-4, some bad meal, I have bought 100 quarters of old corn from Portsoy for seed at this time. Frost and some storme to the end.
INVERAVON PARISH CHURCH.
Inverawn parish church is situated some ten miles south-west of Keith, Scotland on the edge of what is referred to as the highlands of Scotland. The surrounding area consists of beautiful wooded glens and hills. It was in this parish that a William McWillie was born around the 1620s. He married a Ketren Gordone at Inveravon parish on the 6th of June in 1643 and it is from this family that the present day McWillie families have successfully traced their ancestry back for some four hundred years. They were buried in the church graveyard and the following inscription is claimed to have been on the flat tombstone, George has made reference to this inscription in October of 1869 in his diaries; "Heir lyes ane honest man called William McWillie who lived in the Corries who departed the 10th June 1685 and his spouse Ketren Gordon".
January 1839.
Begins with frost and some snow with high winds, fresh the 3rd. The plowing match at James Humphrays the 4th., a shooting of looking glasses the 1st. day of Youl Sunday the second Monday the last a dreadfull day of wind and sleet. The 8th & 9th. blowing, the 10th, some soft with calmness. Betty Cruickshank went home the 10th. The scarlet fevour taking a good many in Botriphnie, about the 20th, Alexr. had it at this time, Dr. Menzies hear the 22nd., still storm the **.
February 1839.
Begins verry stormy, the plow stopped at this time. I milled 20 bolls & 2 p. the 7th., paid our farm the 8th., got my Sunday shooes at this time, plows begining to go the 8th. The ewe lamed two lambs the 8th., corn selling at £1-5 to £1-8, seed corn from £2-4 to £2-2. Stormy about the 20th. and rough weather on to the end.
March 1839.
Begins fine weather, I was at Portsoy the 1st. measuring seed corn, came home the 2nd. Plowing the 4th., the 5th. frosty with showrs of storme, stormy the 10th., blowing the 11th. I have but 7 ricks and the hay at this time the 11th. Showrs of storm and rough weather on to the 26th, the day I took home the last load of my Portsoy oats from Keith, done plowing at this time but halph of the clean ground about I acre of torneeps, 4 oat ricks, half bear, we took in the first of our hay the 25th. The goodwife (56) of Mains verry ill at this time. Terrible cold frosty weather with dreadfull high winds, thair is some sown in Keith the 25th., some at Davidstown the 29th., Saturday the 31st. extraordinary wind and frost, George Macwillie.
April 1839.
Begins with high winds and frost, verry frosty indeed. A roup the 6th. & 7th., the 9th. I began sowing. Sowed our awvel and ley the 12th., frosty mornings, we could never yoak the harrow till about 10 oclock. I have 3 ricks of oats and one halph bear and the most of our hay. I was sowing to Mr. Masson the 10th. & 12th., quaiet and frosty, done sowing the 17th. all but about a boll for we have torneeps, our potatos set the 19th. I may say we have had no rain since newyear came in, we had some the 19th. and 20th. I have but 3 ricks in the yard and halph of bear and a good corn ley. Oat meall £1-2-6 and famous weather, all our rolling done the 29th.
May 1839.
Begins warm the 3rd. and forth fresh and rainy and a good grouth. Our torneeps all eaten the 6th., our torneep ground all crosscuted and harrowed the 4th. My father in the turiff hill the 2nd. & 3rd., cold and sleety about the 8th., milled 43 bolls old meall, cold and stormy the 12th., 13th., & 14th. and on to the 20th. The 24th & 25th. fresher and warmer, I took the last of my ricks the 27th., I have some hay. May the 28th. George Millne came home servant to me for this halph year at £5-ll shills. Warm and drughty, I have some torneeps drilled and the ground all ready. The 29th. James McDonald came home halph years servant at £2-5, we sowed the first of the torneeps the 30th., drughty with no grouth on to the end. The 31st, the Jean meare got Blackhillock. G.MacWillie.
June 1839.
Begins cold drught with frosty mornings. Geo. Gauld, Celloch, in favor at this time, we have about 2 acres of neeps to sow, the 3rd. drught on to the 10th. then some rain. our torneeps sowed the 11th. a grouthy day. Ann Calder drowned the 10th. at the bridge below Oldlenach in 7 inches of water and 18 wide. Drught on to the 19th, the day of June market, a great rain and a good market. The 23rd. the day of our sacrament a great rain the whole day, We have home about 27 loads of our old fire and 21 of my fathers new. The price of meall from 22 to 23 shillings pr boll. Rainy mostly to the end of the month but verry grouthy weather.
July 1939.
Begins verry warm, I milled 31 bolls of oat meall the 3rd., building a yard dyke at this time and setting up our potatos the 6th., drughty with high winds. Meall selling at this time from £1-2-6 to £1 -3., corn from £l-6sh to £l-10sh., potatos 1sh per peck. Rainy growing weather on at intervals to the 17th., all our torneeps hoed out the 17th., the 18th. wind with rain. My father, mother and Jean went to buckie the 20th., all my fathers fire home and thached. We have some home about 26 loads of old fire in June and 3 of new this date the 29th., still rainy and warm.
Agust 1839.
Begins the 1st. with Glass market and a good one too. All our torneeps hoed the second time the 3rd., warm and dray. Our grass cut the 5th., rainy the 6th., 7th. & 8th. driving some loads of turffs at this time but not dray. Meall selling from £1-2 to £1-3 hearabout, the corn halph shot, at the market meal selling at l pound-2 to £1-3. We have one halph of our hay thrashed the 24th. warm weather about this time, I put away 10 qurs. of oats and 11 of meall the 20th. to Rothes to Archibald Leslie, the oats £l-9-6, the meall £1-l-8d. Filling weather at the 25th., the minesters pony got a broken leg the 27th. The corn only begining to mirle some the 30th.
September 1839.
Begins a warm cloudy day, the marcury below much rain, the 2nd. rainy the 3rd. Betty went to Rothiemey. The corn mixing fast at this time, meall selling at £1-1-6 to £l-2sh. I sold Alexr. Moggach 6 qurs. of corn £1-8-6 pr qur. Verry high wind the 9th., a great frost the night of the 13th., the corn was verry weet, the 14th. rainy & Sunday the 15th. rainy the whole day and high wind. It was dreadfull from 6 to eleven oclock, the waters rose to a great height, sanded up and took away corn and bear and many bridges in different places. Fine weather the 25th. with thunder in the afternoon at a distance. Weddow Edwards roup the 19th., we began to cut corn the 25th., fine harvest weather to the end.
October 1839.
Begins with fine weather on to the 8th. which was rainy, we have it all cut but the clean ground and 6 ricks in the yard. Meall from 18 to 20 shillings per boll. Still good harvest weather on to the 12th, the day I was with John at the Enzie and Cullonhouse, we was done cutting the 14th, and 17 ricks in the yard. We have the hilland shift out still at the 16th. and verry rough weather. Took up our potatos 19th. and took in all the corn the 21st., we have 23 ricks, thair is a good deal of corn to cut in the parish the 23rd. Meall £1 pr boll, rainy the 23rd. Building a bee house the 28th., hard frosty mornings at this time, the 29th. some rain. John Ross, 30shs. left his harvest the 26th., we wanted 2 days of 5 weeks to our harvest, some to cut on Midthird, 28th. watry weather on to the end.
November 1839.
Begins with watry weather thair is a great deal of corn to take in this place at this time. The 2nd., 3rd. and 4th. rain on with wind. Betty went to Rotheymay the third, I have a sore shoulder at this time. Thair is but one rick on Delmore at the 4th. and a weeks cutting, thair is not much in on the south side of Boharm yet. Fresh quaiet weather on to the 16th., we have 4 acres of ley plowed, I engaged George Millne at £5-8, James McDonald at £2-6 per halph year 1839 bonny weather. Monday the 25th. we milled 16 bolls of meall, thair came on a good storme. Corn selling at 18 to 20 shillings, meall 15s. to 16s-6d. A shooting the 27th., I had 2 prises 22nd., the other 18d. The 30th. wind and rain, the storme all away, rainy, rainy.
December 1839.
Begins rainy and continues on to the 12th. the day I was at Dufftoon at a court about a £1 note. Sunday the 15th. the minester (57) of Botriphnie, Keith, Rothemay, Glass. Mortlach, Rhynie and Huntly suspended from preaching and all other things belonging to the Church for the space of five months. Still rainy on to the 18th., corn £1 to £1-2 according to the weight, meall from 16/6 to 17shs. per boll. Thair is minesters coming to preach in the parishes of the seven suspended parishes but none preached in this one as yet, thair is nothing, to be hard go where you will but what is to be done with the minesters and every one has a different opinion what is to befall them but as yet thair is but fucknows what is to be done concerning them.
January 1840 Years.
By George Macwillie, Cachanhead, Botriphnie.
Thair has been a hard frost with a whitning of snow on to the 8th. of the month. Thair is nothing of importance at this time but all about the seven minesters. Tuesday the 13th. the Barn of Woodend was proclaimed the parish Church by one MacNaughton and Miller, both south country minesters. Barn all seted the 18th., the Parish Church was verry thin, nothing but contention at this time. Some stormy the 21st., meall selling from 17s-6d to 18shs., a verry hard frost on to the end.
February 1840.
Begins frosty with some sleety showrs on to the 5th. the day we had a fret bagging for William Innes. The 6th. our plowing done but our clean ground and some of it too. Thair was an Interdict served on all the minesters intruding on parishes on the 24th. but they are still preaching. Hard bear frost been this 10 days past, no plowing at this time. Meall selling at 17/6 to 18shs., corn from £1-1 to £1-4 according to quality. Alexr. & Jas Cruickshank, presentors & Don McMillan, Church Officer, Woodend.
March 1840.
Begins verry drughty and frosty, we have had no rain since Yule, thair is no plowing till about the 7th. Breahead sowed some the 7th., we have our ley broken the 6th., because the plow would not go I am dressing 30 bushells of rye