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 ryegrass seeds the 9th. and plowing our clean ground. The ewie lamed the 8th. whean we was at Church. Alexd. Edward sowed the 11th., excellent dray weather, fresh snow about the 16th., sowing general about the 18th. We sowed 5 bolls the 20th., the 21st, high frosty winds with hail. Nothing going on but still about the minesters. A slight storme the 26th., Magdiline Shearer died the 5th. William making ready for going to America 27th., I have 9 good ricks in the yard besides my hay. Betty (58) and Jannet Taylor, in Keith providing for America the 28th., rainy weather at this time, thrashing out ryegrass seeds at this time.
April 1840.
Begins with showrs of sleet on to the 3rd. the day of Williams roup dray but cold, I bought halph a dozzen of China palling at it. Alexr. and me went to Aberdeen the 5th. and came home the 9th. William (59), shipped the 9th. All our corn sown the 14th. and our grass seeds the 15th., we have 7 ricks in the yard besides the barn full and hay besides and torneeps. I have sold 5 quoys at this time for £5-5 per head, they go away the 27th. I have 7 ricks at this time, all our torneep land cross plowed now. My father in the turffs moss the 25th & 27th., all our turffs cast the 30th., fine warm growing weather on to the end.
May 1840.
Begins verry warm and dray on to the 4th. a misty day and some rain in the afternoon, the 5th. and 6th. cold and stormy. Alexr. Mitchell fell from a rick and broke his jaw and cut his head terribly. Meall selling from 18s to 19shs., corn from £1-4 to £1-6 for 42 lbs. pr bushell. I have 6 ricks in the yard besides hay, John McWillie, Mains, still ill with his hinch. I milled 7 1/2 bolls meall at this time. Rough stormy weather at this time. The 13th. at the preaching at Woodend, James Wilson rose and told the people that all them that had not subscribed for parson Miller for hilp to buy a clock to retire from the barn, thats preaching and paying both at me, time forced prayers has no devotion, whean the blind leads the blind both falls into the ditch and goes to the regions where none returns with tidings, oh for the brass, ohco for the silver. A great spet on the 18th. and 19th. south sleet and haill. Thair was a lass Hay ** going home from the Church of Woodend upon Sunday the 10th. good fruits in Obediahs barn. John Cruickshank was drunk and throwing in it the 13th. Verry wetty weather this time the 25th. the Strathbogie case to be tried before the General Assembly the 26th. I sold Peter Gordeon, Cabrach, 2 stots the 26th. at £14, corn from £1-6 to £1-7, meall from £1 to 9shs. Engaged Wm. Robertson at £5-15., James McDonald £2-15 and 2s-6d referral. Watery weather the 28th., a letter from Jean Gordon the 31st., little this 3 weeks of any grouth. I have 5 ricks in the yard beside hay, that will do. Geo. Macwillie.
June 1840.
Begins Monday, we sowed the first of our torneeps the 1st., the 2nd. a rough rainy day. the 4th. getting on with the torneeps, the 8th. I was at a roup with John, we have 2 acres of neeps to sow the 9th. a good rain the 9th. in the fornoon. The minester came from the Assembly the 9th., our Church door locked and selled the 7th. and no preaching in the 7 suspended parishes, the 14th. Dr. Brice preached in our Church, Our torneeps sown out the 16th., fresh but high winds, our potatos for hoeing this time. Thrashing out two ricks of oats at this time, one to John McWillie. The other to Alexr. Moggach at £1-8-6 pr qur. High winds with rough showrs, verry little grouth at this time. Mr. Masson preached the 21st., a prayer for Queens preservation being near shot by one Oxford, firing first one pistol and the another but missed with both. The 29th. Mrs. Masson a still born child. Wetty on to the end.
July 1840.
Begins rainy on to the 6th., great rain with thunder. We had a letter from William the 6th. James (60) and Ann Peterkin, hear the 7th., the 8th. verry rainy, the potato crop failed in many places, some people sowing the torneeps again, they are looking verry poorly with so much rain. Meall from £1 to £1-1 pr boll. Still hashing among minesters strifes and anemosities in all the 7 parishes. The minester examing at Bellyhack the 6th. and 7th. Still verry weety, the bear shotting and some furrows of the oats. The high fliers all interdicted about the 18th. and 19th. The halph of our torneeps howed 18th., thairs many in Botriphnic will need no howing. I have 2 ricks of thrashed straw and three ricks of oats to thrash yet. John Ord and John Mcwillie, Forkins, told me the 7 would be put out of thair Churches in one or two weeks. I still say no, no. Midthird said no more interdicts or they should all eat thair own hats but or two days the interdicts and suspentions both came. The 23rd. and 24th. dray and some hay cutting in the parish. Thair was an examination at Towiemore but none attended but one boy from Mill of Towie. Warm and dray on to the end. We took home the first of our fire the morning of Glass market.
Agust 1840.
Begins warm and dray, we have one halph of our grass colled the 6th. and one halph of our torneeps howed the second time and about the halph of our fire drove, real dray. Still a great preaching at all barn kirks, they are coming in shipfulls like cattle for the London market. O bless me but they proclaim great things as has been shown by Stewart of Erskine so often publishing himsilfe a lier in the most of the newspapers of Scotland. Thunder and rain the 9th. & rain 10th. Dr. Forbes preached in the Church the 9th. We have home about 60 loads of fire the 10th, all our fire home at the 15th., the 16th. Mr. Geo. Gordon preached at the Church, the sacrament of Woodend the 16th. in the burn below John Dyces, the minester at Edinburgh, at this time meall selling from £1-1 to £1-2, turning scarce hear about, Meall up at the 20th. to £1-3 to £1-4 and 42 lbs, corn about £1-12-6 to £1-14. Our hay in the 20th., a good Dufftoon market, two year olds from £7 to £9, other cattle in proportion. The 21st. Mr. Masson was presented with a new gown by Admiral Duff and paritioners, thair was no none intrusionists. The 22nd. we took in our hay which was stooked. An ingagement this day about Woodend preaching, the divel is always busied. I am thrashing out an old rick the 26th., fine weather, some corn begining to turn yalow, the bear weall turned, capital weather on to the end,
September 1840.
Begins drughty with wind. I was at Jas. Petricans roup at Edingith the 2nd, a showr as we came home. A good deal of bear cut in Grange and Keith parishes and many of the oats near ready some cut Mongrow the 2nd. Rough winds about the 12th. the day our bear was cut, some rain the 13th. & 14th. Sunday the 13th. our sacrament, 86 communications, Mr. Peter preached, the minester of Lomnay, We began to our corn the 20th. about constant work the humble quoy, the 20th. I sold the mary mear at Charlesfair at £7 and 41/2 qurs. corn at £l-8-6. Our awvel and ley about cut but wind and rain the 29th. in the afternoon.
October 1840.
Begins with good harvest weather, we have a good deal in the 5th. A good deal of green corn in this place the 14th. Done cutting the 15th., all our crop in the 19th, but about one acre. Terrible high wind the 19th., we have 22 ricks in and none thrashed. Our bear meall about £1 pr boll, we have 24 ricks and potatos up the 25th. Wetty weather on to the end of the month. The Miller left Woodend the 30th, many watery eyes. G. McW.
November 1840.
Begins verry wetty weather, a good deal of corn to take in. I have milled 8 bolls and 3 firlots the 4th., we have about one halph of our ley plowed the 7th. The 7 minesters was served with labels the 5th. George Moggach received £1 the 4th. thair is still £4 dui. Rain and sleety on to the 16th., some storme the 18th., 19th. and 20th. all of the 21st. Still some corn out at this time belonging to Nons Intrusion party whom had preaching in the head the beast leading days, they had all prayer meetings from 12 till 3 but that did not take in nor cut thair corn. But now they know that. I ingaged Wm. Robertson at £5-12 and John McDonald at £2, Baby Stronach, our woman. Good weather on to the end, John Donald came home the 31st.
December 1840.
Begins with good weather. Meall selling from 14 to 16shs. according to quality. John Donald painting my portrait with Bettys, Jeans and Isabels. Plowing on Linmore the 8th., snow the 14th. John of Mains some better, Mrs. Donald verry ill at this time. Quaiet and frosty on to the 14th., the day of the plowing match on Westertoon. Jas. Humphray 1st. Hard frost, an Order from the court Session to place Mr. Edwards the 11th, and to go on in the course of 15 days, the Nons does not belive thay will tray to do it and great beats laid on both sides about it. Frosty on to the end, milled 9 bolls at 8.
CACHENHEAD FARM DRUMMUIR ESTATE.
Cachenhead farm on Drummuir estate was the farm of William McWillie and his wife Isabel Shearer and their five children. They first occupied the farm in the early eighteen hundreds. It was the birthplace of their son George McWillie who became the author of the McWillie diaries. George grew up on this farm assisting his parents with the farm duties while attending the local Botriphnie parish school. Over the years a number of farms on Drummuir estate have been amalgamated and as a result a number of the buildings are no longer in use and have fallen into disrepair. At the time of this Photo taken in 2001 the farm home was still occupied, however a number of the buildings were no longer being used. The young girl in the photograph was the daughter of the tenants.
January 1841.
Begins frosty storme the 3rd. and hard blowing the 4th. A great storme the 5th. and greater the 6th. and more the 7th., quaiet the 8th. We was at the hill water the 8th., meall selling about 16shs., oats £1 to £1-1. I was seeing Mrs. Donald the 14th., still more storme, it is about 20 to 22 inches on all leavel grounds the 15th. Thair was 6 elders to be made at the Barn Wednesday 14th. but did not take place, Middes swore the 14th. he would shoot the 7 ministers as soon as shoot a heare. Still verry stormy, I was at Drumgrain Thursday the 31st. ** gave Mrs. Riach ten pounds for Mrs. Donald. Stormy to the end. Mr. John Edwards placed minester of Marnoch the 21st. great storm. fresh about 28th. and 29th. Drove 2 loads of corn to the mill the 30th. Mrs. Donald (61), died the 23rd. and stormy on to the end.
February 1841.
Begins with a little fresh but a verry hard frost on to the 12th. We milled 26 bolls of meall and 20 before. Our barn cattle still wise in thair own concite. I was bagging for James Sellar the 10th., the plows going the first time since the 14th. December. The storme has smashed my garden bushes and trees most terrible. Meall from 15 to 16shs., corn from £1 to £1-1 according to weight. Donald McMillan and William Stronach has been taken up an offering in the Barn for four Sundays back with laddles on Mr. Mcnaughton traying for the High Church, Edinburgh. The Edinburgh council, acting on his oun maxim that nothing should be done in hurry but catch fleas, have postponed the election for 5 weeks. That even them, they may not be in the *** of wasp catching. I was shooting at Donald Catanachs. fine fresh weather, the plowing going on fast, we have about one third of our avel to plow at this time the 22nd., I have 14 ricks yet beside hay. Miss Riach and Jannet Strathdee, every one says ther neighbour was not the woman they expected, they were two Christians about a month ago, it is come to my story now nothing but anti-patrionage with the he and she nons, them that does not know thair right from left and canot tell how many Nons it needs to make six.
March 1841.
I milled 23 and 1 halph and paid the mill about the 4th. Fine dray weather at this time the 9th., we have about 1 acre of our avel to plow. Thair was elders proposed at Woodend the 3rd.., the following men, James Ross, James Adam, James Wilson, Alexr. Edward, James Cruickshank and my father. Fine dray weather and grouthy. we began sowing the 11th., mostly general about 15th. and 16th. we have our ley and halph of our avel. I have 7 ricks in the yard and 5 on the land, 12 in whole. High winds the 13th., our seed corn done at this time and plowing clean ground. James George died the 17th. A great obgect, Mr. Candish complained on to the Court of Session about the 9th. for breaking the Interdict served on him, he preached in Huntly and Keith and Marnock, Amen Candlish. The 19th and 20th. high winds but grouthy weather, the 21st. fresh showrs. The Commision of the Assembly sat the 17th. and has done nothing. They were to hold a commision at Huntly the 21st. April but that as weall as other brags has all come to nought. Nothing now with he and she Nons but stop untill the month of May, 0 for the month of May, but as Wallace said to the English Squear thair brags no worth a F-A-R-T. Thair competition prayer matches is begining to fall of, the Tenrood one is compleetly done, Miss Dyce of Paulscroft is thought to be formost at Old Burges Ludge.
Its modest speech and modest ways,
The great she nons they do despise
Till once they get upon the Codes
And then Fochabers they go in loads
And the old Nons takes it all for Joake
For Mr. Dewar will loads absolve
So they say we will not do it again we do resolve
But O James Simpson they have abhord
Since they gave him the Gravet with the black bord
Most grouthy weather at this season ever I seed. Done sowing all our clean ground the 24th. I built out the 3rd. rick of straw the 26th. I have 10 ricks of oats besides bear and hay and 2 acres of torneeps at this time, Meall from 15 to 16shs., oats 42 lbs from £1 to £l-l, no seed selling hear about, potatos 16 per boll.
April 1841.
Begins dray weather with frosty mornings. Our sowing done but where the torneeps is, our first sown good briard, all rolled the 5th. We have had no rain since sowing began that stopped one yoaking. The planers working here the 6th. All our torneeps up the 16th. I sold 3 stots to Peter Gordon the 15th. at £26-0, a dear dull market, some rough weather about this time. I sent Mr. Thomas Donalds Testament to Mr. Grant, Elgin the 17th., the day our potatos was planted. We are bussy at our torneep ground the 26th., dray weather but rough, rough winds, I got some fire wood about this time. The Barnats thrown down a dyke and some *** willing to me at this time I an looking to the Job. I bought a new press at Tenrood roup at £1-1s. chep. Midthird left Botriphnie 27th. and lawned at Aberdeen.
May 1841.
Begins dray but little grouth. Alexr. Touch roup about the 1st. I have 8 ricks of oats and one of thrashed straw besides hay. Betty had a ewe hanged the 6th. Obed will be lonely now when Middies ever true has left him and likways McScoth, the Barn minester is away the 17th. with sermons, doctorship, bag and baggage and left the poor she nons with watery eyes and halph confessed and only halph drilled. Drughty weather with flaying showrs, all our fire cut the 17th. Meall selling from 14 to 16shs., Oats per 42 lbs. £1 and 19/6d., verry drughty weather, strong winds with scorching sun. we set the fire the 24th, and began the dunging of the neeps the 25th,, I will not sew as yet, the drught is too severe. Thair is a great stilness at this time in the country untill they hear what the Assembly does in the Strathbogie Case. I paid the rent of Mrs. Donalds house the 26th. We are getting on with the sowing of torneeps the 29th. An interdict granted to the 7 the 28th., the nons, she and he, came all from the barn with a stranger to the gate of the Churchyard and read the deposition but durst not set one nose in the Churchyard, An excellent keapt sabath afternoon by them who proclaims to be anointed for Woodend.
June 1841.
Begins verry drughty, I may say we have had no rain this 2 months, verry great need for some. We had about one acre of torneeps to sow the 3rd., the hill of Machattie burnt the 2nd. I received £15 from Rickimlen the 2nd., verry high winds just now. William McWillie (62) died the 3rd., rain on the 7th. 8th. and 9th. but verry light. Corrie and many of our countray people sailed from Portgordon the 2nd. for America. Our torneeps done but one yoaking of dung, the potatos almost for howing at the 9th. The population was taken the 7th., I was one of the enumerators for Westertoon district, I had 64 meals and 72 fameals, in whole 136. The whole population in Botriphnie 714, in 1811 thair was 721. Rain now at the 24th., I had two potatos from Mr, Masson the size of crows eggs. Westertoon howing neeps the 28th., a great convasing for Lord Readhaven and James Duff. We have home about 50 loads of fire the 30th., I gave Alexr. Moggach 5 qurs, of oats at 22shs. pr qur. at the 16th. I am thrashing out a rick of ley oats and drawing the straw, I have 5 ricks yet and two of thrashed straw. The bear shooting fast at the 30th., the oats in the furrow breas begining, I am afraid of a verry short crop this year. Geo. MacWillie.
July 1841.
Begins wetty, warm and grouthy, we have home the most of the fire. A meeting of electors with the Admiral at the Kirktoon house the 1st., Lord Readhaven hear the 7th. Sold Alexr. Moggach 4 qurs. and 6 bushells of oats at £1-2-6 per qur. the 7th. The 14th. and 15th. the days of the election, Readhaven lost by a majority of 43. A rainy day the 14th., the most of our torneeps hoed the 20th., some watery about this time. The 28th., the day of Glass market, a verry rough cold day and rainy after, on to the end. I sold Richemlen 2 stots the 24th, at £14 delivered at Glass market.
Agust 1841.
Begins dray and some warme, the second day that David Innes was married by the far famed Mr. Miller of Obeds Barn. The 5th. the day of fasting at the Barn, thair Mr Burns or probationer is deaf on an ear and blind on an ey, whean the blind leads the blind they fall into the ditch together. Rain the 4th. & 5th, and 6th., thair is many has not the one halph of thair neeps hoed at this time. still rain, At the Barn sacrament they had Baker Lipie, Mr. Troup, editor of the Banner and John Adam of Kabady Elders and Miller of Dundee a quo sacra minester officiating. Capital stuff for the Nons. Saturday the 21st. rain with distant thunder, rain and thunder at night. Mrs. Masson of a son the 22nd., rainy the 23rd. You Nons look at Moores Hieroglyphe for 41 you will see a priest bearing a sword of Justice but using false means to overbalance it with a feather, begone ignorance you and I never agree. The Assembly commision sat the 11th., did nothing but was the censure the minesters that had comunion with the seven they postponed to the 25th., nothing than but inlighten the Nons and hold prayer meetings every first Monday of each month. The observer of the 27th. bears a letter from Mr Peterkin to Dr. Mcpharline proving him a lier and dishonest, Oh most extraordinary. Some oats and bear about ready the 30th.
September 1841.
Begins one dray day and two wetty. Mr. Masson bear cut the 6th., our awvel about ready. Our fast day the 9th., few of the Nons keeping it. Dray and suny the 9th., we began to our corn the 13th., we all get constant work. Robert Niven came home the 13th., all our ley and yavel cut the 18th. and 6 ricks in the 22nd., we have about two days work cutting. Wind and rain the 24th. Will you take a little tea and fish, I bilieve you dinna care about Guid onney. I returned no answer to the former question from Mrs. McWillie-Silance is best, at any rate sometimes. Geo. McWillie. We took in 3 ricks the 20th and 3 the 21st, rainy on to the end. A great speat came on the 29th, and lasted from 5 in the morning till 10 a.m., we was done cutting the 30th.
October 1841.
Begins with rain and continues on to the 9th. Midtoon has in 17, Cottertoon 7, Midtoon 8, Mains one rick, it is begining to grow verry sore in the stooks. Sunday the 10th. high wind, the halph still to cut in this place. The 11th. William Moggach and his man George Strathdee came along with the people coming from the Church with a bow from the bull when he met the Nons going to the Barn, he said he was not at the Church, no preaching at the Barn to halph past two o'clock and thats the way they keept the fornoon, it was the 10th. We have in 9 ricks and 4 howacks, rain every day and night, a great deal of it growing, some loosing out, some making goats and some leading, we trayed the leading the afternoon of the 15th., we got but two loads in whean we was stoped with the rain, We have got two young pigs the 15th., the 16th, we thached our Mill, a great rain in the afternoon. Wm. Stronach, Braehead, Blackmore and Midthird leading in corn whean our cattle could not stand on the ley for rain, for all thair good preaching they have no faith in the giver of all good. Verry high winds on the 16th., we took in all our corn the 16th., the 17th., 18th. and 19th. stormy rain and stormy showrs with wind on to the 25th. Rain and sleet the last 24 hours, our ricks all thached but 6 howacks, none of our potatos up the 26th. I think the one halph of the corn is still out in this place, a good deal to cut on the Cottertoon and Ardbrack, extraordinary weather and so much corn in the fields. Our harvest lasted near 6 weeks, a good deal of corn out at the end of the month.
November 1841.
Begins with high winds one day and showrs the other. Plowing going on fast, frost and snow the 13th, and on to the 16th, the day of Dufftoon market. I engaged William Robertson at £5-15 and Peter Robertson at £2-5. Woodends roup to morrow the 17th., he trayed to let it the 12th., no one sought it but George Shearer, he lays the blame on Mr. Masson and me for keeping back the people. Still stormy to the 28th., we got a yoaking of the plow the 29th, the 30th, rainy.
December 1841.
Begins with sleety showrs and rain betimes. Corn selling from 18/ to 19shs according to weight, meall 15shs. and 14/6d. Verry weety and stormy showrs the 12th. on to the 15th. the thanksgiving day and the day of Alexr. Gardens roup. Interdicts paid by the Nons at this time £121. Sleety showrs with some snow the 20th., hard frost and verry slippery roads the 26th., the end fresh. J. Hameltons letter 14th. Decr. marked private.
MacWillie family Hair Tree courtesy of Leslie and Toni MacWillie of San Fernando CA. USA.
The flowers within the Hair Tree are made from the hair of various Montreal family descendants with the eldest being that of Ellen Milne MacWillie, the wife of William MacWillie RN= 231 referred to in notes on page 45.
January 1842.
Begins first, second, 3rd and 4th. plowing going, on Yull verry hard frost. I have milled 44 bolls oat meall at this time, old newyears even a little soft but quaiet and misty. The 12th. and 13th. high, high winds and percing cold, I have 16 prises in 5 days. An private Order to Mr. Masson to go on with Dugids presentation as shoon as laid before the Prisbetry in the usual form and give notice to Mr, J. Grant privous to the day of Ordination and the Crown Officers will protect them. A great blowing the 22nd. the whole day and fresh about the end.
February 1842.
The first day or two thair was some plowing. We was at Woodend with our horse plowing. A verry hard frost from the 3rd. to the 11th., we got plowing the 11th., we have but 9 ricks at this time and one in the barn, I have milled in whole at this time 67 1/2 bolls, sold corn to Rothes 7 1/2 qurs., my father 6 qurs., I am threshing old corn just now. Meall 14s-6d to 15s., purk 4s-9d. pr stone ours away to Huntly the 8th. We had a letter this day the 18th. of February from Canada anouncing the death of my brother William (63), who died the 8th. January 1842.
March 1842.
Begins good weather for plowing and on to the 15th. we sowed the halph of our ley. The 16th. I was at Banff on the jury court, I seed all Duff house. Thair was a most dreadfull wind on the night of the 11th., I never hard anything like unto it, thair has few escaped eather thair houses unthached or ricks thrown over. James Innes and Jean Strathdee both died the 20th., a terrible day of wind and sleet. The 71st Rgt. came to Huntly the first of the month to stop till Mr. Dugid be placed in Glass to keep the Nons, He and She in corection. Corn from 17s-6d to 19s., the 22nd, stormy I have but 6 ricks and all my hay at this time, our ley and avel sown the 19th., storm and sleet and no labouring on to the end of the month.
April 1842.
Begins dray and excellent on to the 5th., our torneeps done but 4 loads, our plowing done but 3 riggs. We thached our byres and shop the 6th., no preaching at the barn in the fornoon, the people gaed home like a string of wild goose, they have collected £22-11 to pay expenses at Law. Cunningham has published himself a lier and paid for it too. We was done the sowing the 15th. I have but three ricks in the yard and one at mashloch in the barn, the corn weall briard, I mean the first sown. Mr. Singers denner party the 16th., our potatos set the 20th. drught. Sacrament at Woodend the 24th, thair was 6 probationers and Minesters, the Nons say it is a solem time just now. They have preaching every night for a week, thair summer sacrament was a dreadfull rainy day as it came through the tent, Miller prayed that the rain subside, I wish they would pray for rain just now, we have had about three weeks of drught. A woman sh-i-t hirsilfin the Non Kirk at Keith the 17th. Torneep land plowed and harrowed the 30th. Oh drught, drught.
May 1842.
Begins with great drught, we are driving some old fire the 2nd., Betty at Drumgrain the 2nd. I transmitted 3 strg. to Magadeline Donald the 30th. April. A slight showr of haill, our fire all cut the 14th., we are bussy forming drells for torneeps. I have but 2 ricks just now, our cattle on the grass this eight days. Great, verry great drught, Forkings some neeps sown the 14th., we sow the 21st. John Donald came hear the 19th. from Glasgow, William Taylor came home the 28th. at £5-5, Ptr. Robertson £2-8. We are halph done with the neeps, our potatos allmost for howing the 30th., our fire set the 27th, at night drught the 30th.
June 1842.
Begins with great drught, we was done sowing torneeps the 6th., our potatos howed the 7th., driving my fathers fire the 9th., at our own the 12th. We had thunder the 12th, but no rain, some rain the 14th. and 16th. John Donald left this place for Glasgow 14th. At home the 20th. from Church with a sore ey, our mashlech bear weall shot at this time, the 18th. drughty. John Taylor, merchant, died Wednesday the 22nd. betwixt four and five in the afternoon and was born the 25th, at Grange. Rain the 22nd, and 25th, a weighty rain, the 26th, we have about one halph of our torneeps hoed, we began the 20th. Men ditching in the moss of Oldlenach and Stripside, rain at times on to the end.
July 1842.
Begins with some rain, the 4th. verry wetty. No preaching the 3rd. until the afternoon, dray weather on to the ***, all our neeps hoed now our ley cut the 17th. the bear mostly full at this time. Meall selling from 16shs to 16s-6d., corn 1 pound to £l-4-6 according to weight, this is the day of glass market, rough winds with showrs. Our neeps mostly hoed the second time the 27th., a new merchant ** ludge the 25th,, some rain on to the 30th. I have a terrible crop of berries this season - 1842 - year.
August 1842.
Begins warm and verry dray, our bear weall turned and some of our oats. The merchants shop and house set at this time to an Aberdeen merchant, the 9th, a good rain and great thunder 11th. Corn now 18shs. per 40 lb., meall 15shs., Dufftoon market verry dull and nothing doing. Extraordinary warm, cloudy weather, bear cut the 17th. on different places, a third of the oats almost ready. I thrashed my old rick and milled it at this time. The house of Peers affirmed the desision of the Court of Session at this time, with additional costs. We began to cut the 28th., Hugh Robertson came home the 24th. for harvest at £2, Verry dray and warm harvest general, we had in 9 ricks the 30th. and about two days cutting.
September 1842.
Begins warm dray weather, John Taylors roup the 1st. I bought Hectors Chick Purse at 1sh. and a round mahogany table at £1-11sh. Rainy the 5th. we thached 6 ricks that day, we was done cutting the 8th. and all in the 10th. but our clean ground and haughs. The 10th. a verry rainy day, Hugh went home 8 days and came back 29th. We took all in the 1st. October, thair was ten days of rain at the end of the month. Some of the corn begining to grow.
October 1842.
Begins good weather, we took up our potatos the 3rd. We have all our clover shift brake furred about this time. meall selling from 13sh. to 14s-6d., corn 15shs. to 16shs. pr qur. the 40 lb. We have all our torneep shift plowed and our hay which was in the awvel, the 17th. rain and sleet, the 18th., the 19th. and 20th. storm and wind. Alexr. Duncan, Mains Bellyhack, died the 13th. aged 75. Thunder the night of the 26th., a deall of thunder the 27th. and a good storm. John Cruickshanks roup the 27th. Sergent Macullochs Ball the 28th, a fine dray day the 29th. Jean (64) and Isabel, went to school the 31st.
November 1842.
Begins weety and cold, we have milled 2 1/2 bolls mashloch and 13 1/2 oat meall. Rain and storm at intervalls on to the 24th. Alexr. Massie got his legg broak at Craigellachie the 26th., verry rainy at this time. Mr. M* and his wiffe hear the 30th., Janet Taylor came the 15th.
December 1842.
Begins warm and dray, delivered 8 qurs. corn
at 16s. pr qur. to William Duff, the second fine, fresh warm weather now the
5th., all our ley plowed the 5th., fine weather on to the end. George McWillie.
Most capital warm. grouthy weather on to the 14th, the day the parish people
carried home Alexr. Massie from Craigellachie to the Kirkton house. Hervest
weather to the 21st. Singer making ready the house of mill of holl for a smiddy,
some frost the 22nd. with a showr of hail, still good weather to the end.
Photograph courtesy of Margaret Duff, Victoria, Canada.
MORTLACH PARISH SCHOOL.
A daughter Jean McWillie RN=262 of William McWillie and Janet Taylor RN=21 had a son by a John Robertson which they named George Robertson referred to in notes on page 47. The Robertson family lived in the nearby Parish of Mortlach and for years George had been a carekeeper of Mortlach school. George married an Elizabeth Caller and had a family of eight children. A number of those children later immigrated to Canada and many of their descendants presently live in Canada. In the photograph Left to right are Robertson family members Elsie, Bessie, George, Mother Elizabeth, Father George, and Meta.
January 1843.
Begins now frost and some storm, I had a rick from Cottertoon at this time at the fairs of the year I have four quarters and a halph of corn. Frost and storme to the 11th., a great blowing the 13th. and 14th., the preaching at the Manse the 15th, the storme verry deep. The lare Factors ** Lumsden the l2th, the 16th, 17th, and 18th, fresh, the plows going 20th. The news frae Lunnen came yestreen - Will soon gar many ferlie - The Goverments answer to the Convocation. Verry rough winds on to the end.
February 1843.
Begins with extraordinary high winds. Plowing going on, I am done long ago but the clean ground, storm the ** and meall selling at 11shs, and 11s-6d. per boll, corn 14s to 15shs. The 29th February a Mr Bonar gave the 18th. psalm the 16 & 17 vs. but he got none of the people to sing but those who was again one of the presenters ***** was the first singer of said psalm *. Storme the most of the month, Jas. Dunbar and me at Buchrombs the 11th., verry stormy and strong frost the 13th. & 14th. Corn and straw through from £1-5 to £1-9 as much on straw as the corn. Still hard frost and deep storm the 20th., I have but 6 ricks of oats, two ricks of hay and a small one of bear but plenty of torneeps. Margaret Moggach a bride just now at Eastertoon. I have been at ten shottings (65) and has 26 prises, deep storm to the end.
March 1843.
Begins with storm on to the 11th. then a little fresh. We have had no plowing since the 1st. of January. The 7 minesters deposition made void and null the 9th., the Assembly pays all expenses. Storm on to the 18th., we sowed the 28th, tho hard frost in the morning, the 30th, quite fresh.
April 1843.
Begins fresh and warm. All our ley and awvel sown at the 2nd. The Barn Nons subscribed the sum of £15 to pay thair minester but the truth is it is to pay the Assemblys expences. Frost and snow the 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th, verry cold, I have but 3 ricks set of hay. Storm and blowing the day of Dufftoon market, the whole day of the 12th. Fresh the 14th., corn selling at 16shs, per 42 lb. oat meall from 10/6d to 11/6d. Sold Rakimline 6 stots at £4-15 per head. the 24th. All our crop laid down the 29th., I have two corn stacks and many torneeps headed and unheaded, grouthy with frost in the night.
May 1843.
Begins verry warm, hard frost in the night. Our potatos set the 4th. James Millne says the hand of the Almighty has been on the Duke of Richmond because he is against the Nons, he forgot to mention that himself has a son, daughter and grandson all lying at the point of death. The Nons fast day through Scotland the 4th. and sacrament at the Barn of Woodend the 7th. Verry grouthy now, Jas.P-et-rk and Jne. Ord broak a scull of eggs the 15th. The 16th. Mr. Masson away to Assembly, Carr the Woodend trumpeter left his dupes the 15th. No preaching the 21st, I was at the English Chappal. Verry cold weather at this time. We have about one halph of our torneeps drills formed the 22nd. A number of the Nons left the Church at this time, no preaching the last two sabaths at the Barn, few attended the Church the 28th. because of dissapointed ambition. Sleety showrs 28th., we went to the hill to cast fire the 29th., it came on a good snow about the eleven Oclock. Cold and dray the 30th, we sowed the first of our torneeps the 31st. I am ill with a sore shoulder just now.
June 1843.
Begins cold and dray, the second verry rainy the whole day and still on to the 6th. We drove some dung the 7th., the ground verry weety, we have but 20 drills of torneeps sown the 8th. I have Wm. Taylor servant man at ** & and Rodrick McKenzie for billie at £27-6. We have done nothing at the neeps this eight days and this the 13th. Done sowing torneeps the 17th., warm and drughty, the potatos just appearing above ground, thairs a great many torneeps to sow in Botriphnie the 22nd. Meall selling at from 14/- to 14s-6d., corn from 17/6 to 18 and 19shs. per 42 lb. The Nons has got a fairweather preacher the 18th. Rather weety now, no appearance of corn or bear shotting, our potatos hoed the 29th and 30th.
July 1843.
Begins grouthy and watery. Corn getting up in price, oats fully £1 pr 42 lb. I have about 25 quarters and a small rick to thrash. Cattle peetiful low prices. At the 7th. verry warm grouthy weather. A big fox hunting at the loch and two killed the 9th. We drove the first of our fire the 8th., my fathers all home, I seed some heads of corn shotting the 10th. on our haugh let, verry drughty. Hoed the first of our torneeps the 15th, the 18th. Tuesday, verry weety, I sold Jas Stewart a young mear at £8-15 and a pony to the minester of Woodend at £6 and John Green 2 quoys at £6-15. Wetty 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st, the bear and oats begining to shoot now. Monday night, the 24th., some ice on the peels at the back of our mill. The 27th. our people went to Buckie, the fast day. Our torneeps hoed about this time and our fire home the 29th., some rain for the last six days.
August 1843.
Begins watery, the second the day of Glass market, Gauld and me went to the Cabrach that night and came home the next day. Still verry rainy, the corn about halph shoot at this time, the one halph of the torneeps in this place not hoed yet the 5th. This is the 7th., a fine dray day, engaging the neeps the second time. We cut our ley the 8th. and 9th, to the 19th. extraordinary warm and drught. I bought a 2 year old horse from Duncan McDonald at £6-15 the 13th. Our hay taken in the 23rd., I went to Cullen with John McWillie (66), the 25th, offering for a farm. I sold Archibald Leslie 10 bolls of meal and 10 quarters oats at Dufftoon market, the oats.£l-l pr qur., the meall 14-6d. pr boll. Fine filling weather now the 29th, some bear cut the 30th.
September 1843.
Begins with high winds and drught. Put away two pigs the 2nd, 3/6 pr stone. Jas. Humphray some 17 stooks oats cut the 4th., terrible warme and quaiet about this time. Achlunkharts denner and ball by his tennants the 8th. I am thrashing out an old rick at this time. General harvest the 11th., we began the 14th., the halph cut the 17th. and 7 ricks in. Extraordinary warm with some wind and no rain the last 3 weeks. Belie Gray came the 22nd, to value the lands of Botriphnie. Our clean ground to cut the 23rd, and 4 borders came to saw wood to the Admirl the 22nd. Rain with wind 27th, John Bremner died the 27th, suppertendent of police and let farmer Woodend. Rain 30th, done cutting and ten ricks yarded.
October 1843.
Begins weety but warm. Admiral Duff and Mr. Cameron paid me a viset the 5th. verry weety, lead 6 ricks the 7th., sleet and rain the 9th. and storme the 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th, and verry cold. We had about one and a halph acres of clean ground corn to take in yet, all cut but some on Turffhillock in this parish a great deal out yet. Storm 15th, strong frost the 16th, we comenced plowing the 16th, some watery, sleety and snowy weather, clear and frosty on to the end. The farm let the 30th. and 1.
November 1843.
I took Midthird the 4th, watery weather for the 14 days. A wood roup the 12th., our haughs all plowed the 18th. Corn selling from 15shs. to 16 and 17 pr qur. I sold Archibald Leslie 10 qurs. oats of 41 and halph lbs. at 16shs, pr qur. the 21st, fresh one day and frost the other, after the 26th. watery on to the end.
December 1843.
Begins good weather for plowing, the most of our ley plowed, all our haughs and some awvel the 9th. We had a plowing match the 11th. at Mains of Davidston, Mr. Taylor the second prises, my man. Jean Duncan, Mains of Bellyhack, a verry strict nonintrusionist, was married in hir bead by the Woodend minester, the first he did in this place and she brought to bead in the morning and got a protty little quine. Dray weather the 13th. and verry warm, verry high winds about the 16th., Alexr. Millne, nonintrrusion elder, married the 19th. Corn selling at 16shs. pr 42 bushell, meall from 11 to 12 shs. Mr. Morrison, merchant, got a young daughter the night of the 20th. Duncan McDonald (67), verry ill at this time. Most excellant grouthy weather since Martismass, this is the 26th. Rodrick McKenzie is my orow man at £2, still high winds and verry fresh, thair has been no showr of eather storm or rain since the month began and this is the 30th. Betty at Dufftoon seeing Duncan McDonald the 30th. Our rents paid the 28th.
COTTERTON FARM, DRUMMUIR ESTATE.
The above farm home Cotterton was farmed by McWillie family members for a number of years,
January 1844.
Begins the first 3 days frost and the ground white. Fresh and warm the 5th and 6th. and on to the 13th., frosty and the ground white. Preaching at the Barn on Newyearsday, few verry attending, the Nons is rushing on preaching, too much of one thing is good for a other. Fresh and warm and plowing going as in the month of May, I have 13 ricks and a deal of hay.
February 1844.
Begins with sleet and rain on to the 5th., then a light snow. Corn from 17shs, to £1 according to quality. Our Nons sore down in thair wide mouths because no stance can be got but one at the Shenwall or Bodinfinnach and that does not please. Stormy the 12th. and continues on to the 24th. which blowed the whole day and all the 25th. and 26th. The roads all blocked up, the toll road all cut the 29th.
March 1844.
Begins with verry deep storm and so on to the 6th, I have 11 ricks and deal of hay at this time, still verry stormy. Fair price of corn £1-2-5 with straw, without 17shs. pr qur. Some soft 18th. and verry weety the 19th., still a deal of snow and cold, quite fresh but cold, we yoaked the Rory horse for the first time the 27th. and sowed 5 bolls the 28th. Getting quite fresh, all our avel sowed and harrowed the 30th. Sowed one halph of our ley and lower haugh the first Monday of April, verry dray. No preaching at the Barn in the fornoon for the four Sundays the Nons ** nor come to Church but stay at home. George McWillie.
April 1844.
Begins drughty with some frosty nights. I have all the corn sown the 10th. but I acre in torneeps, high winds with drught, I have nine ricks and a great deal of hay yet in the yard. Watchie Laurance buried the 10th. Plowing the land for our potatos and lint the 15th., done sowing the 20th. Drughty weather, no rain since we began to sow the corn. a good grouth in grass and corn. Mr. Cameron told me at Martismes that he owed his svt., Ann McWilliam £9-9 and she had no write and in case of him dying I would know the debt at that time, Amen. I sowed grass seed in the upper Glack of Midthird on Friday the 20th., a verry rough day with some showrs of rain. I had 30 bushells of ryegrass and 30 lbs of white and 20 of read clover. Great drught, the hill of Haggishaw burnt and a good deal of wood the 30th., our potatos planted the 27th.
May 1844.
Begins verry hot and great drught, some rain the 10th. but then drught on to the 15th. Our torneep ground ready for drilling and all the fire cut the 14th. Verry drughty to 18th. then cold with showr of haill and frost. We sowed the first of our torneeps the 18th., verry great, verry great drught, I bought the Pegg mear at Maryhills roup at £18-5 and a new cart at £7 and at Buchrombs a plow and torneep sower and 2 pair thets. Some sowing neeps the 31st., the white and read clovers blown at this time but the cold drught is weathering the grass, the potatos in the ground the 30th.
June 1844.
Begins verry drughty and grass not growing. I have 6 old stacks of oats and 500 stones of hay, home some fire the 7th., we had some rain the 5th. and 6th., we had none since we began the oat seed. All my fathers fire drove the 11th., we drove some fire to the old toll the 12th., a good rain the morning of the 13th., the most of our fire drove. Potatos hoed the 13th., corn giving from 19s to £1 per 42 lb. per bushel. I firgot to say our torneeps was all sown the 4th, I seed old Middies twice this day the 13th. but he would not speak to me. I have William Taylor formen at ** and Alexr. Robertson for orrow man at £2-5s. and Jannet McDonald for woman at £2-8. Some showr of rain now at 17th and 18th. Taylor Anderson andhis wife, two great Nons, had a child baptised with the priest of Keith and left the parish the 19th. for America. Corn is now £1 and upwards for 42 lbs, some bear showing the beard or avens at the 20th. Upon the 23rd. Jean fell from dyke of the Turff stack and cut hir hinch, a great cut and blooded most terrible. The weather still drughty, the oats shooting about the end of the month. Jannets rising before.
July 1844.
Begins drughty and no grouth, hoed the first of our torneeps the 8th., some rain that day and some flying showrs on to the 14th. which was rainy and a great need. I sold 9 qurs. of corn the 11th. at £1 pr 42 lb. Watery and grouthy now on the 22nd., John McWillie had a hive of bees swarm the 22nd. at six oclock in the morning. Our grass cut the 25th. and howing our neeps the second time, verry, verry warm grouthy weather since the 21st. to the 27th. The Admiral came to the Kirktoon House the 25th. Our Sacrament the 28th.
Agust 1844.
Begins verry watry, Wm. Taylor and Jean went to Buckie the 6th., verry, verry rainy on to the 10th. Thair is seventeen pair of She Nons had children since preaching began at Woodend and two at the Church. Thair is 60 heads of families gos to Church and 52 heads goes to Obeds Barn, fairweall to you you poor Jenny and likeways Obedon the Gittite. Verry rainy weather for the last 3 weeks, we canot get in our hay, giving our cows straw in the house for rain, the 20th., 21st., 22nd. and the 23rd. terrible. Verry rainy on to the 28th. then verry warm on to the end of the month. O Jannet, O Jannet McDonald.
September 1844.
Begins verry terrible warm, we cut the one halph of our bear the 3rd. the oats almost ready in general, terrible warm sunshine on the 5th. We cut our bear the 10th. and began the oats the 12th., William Robertson came home the 12th. to Martesmass at £2-15. Verry wetty the 25th. and 16th., the 21st., 22nd and 23rd. verry hard frosts and ice on the water. We have all our corn cut but some on the hillands and the clean ground, none lead yet. The 21st. I was at Craigellachie for a load of backs, Helen Sellar to Elgin Hospitle the 23rd. We was done cutting the 1st October.
October 1844.
Begins cutting our corn and verry rough
weather at this time.
The Eleventh October 1844. (68)
I George McWillie took posession of
Midthird the 11th. Octobr. 1844 and flitted all my movibles the 14th. excepting
corn and straw. The 15th., 16th. and 17th. a compete deluge of wind and rain.
Thair are 21 doors in whole on Midthird, they require ten new and eleven
repaired. The whole of the houses but the bires is a complete sea of water both
above and below. I have 28 head of black cattle and 4 work horses an orrow one
and ride plow or harrow. My wiffe has hens without number and 2 daughters. The
15th. a good deal of corn to cut in this parish. Oat meal, 12shs. to 12-6d per
boll. The 25th., 28th. and 29th. drove 134 loads of corn and straw. The wrights
making a whole race of new doors to my houses. High winds with rain on to the
end of the month. Old Middes still heare thrashing out corn, upon the 26th. I
got the potatos, torneeps and ** dung and fire and garden vauled over at the
same of £48-12shs. and fallow.
November 1844.
Begins the 1st two days dray and then watrey on to the 7th., and 8th dray the massons took the back out of our barn but then rain, a great rain on to the 10th. The Nonintrusion Church at Howdoup was estemated for putting up the 2nd. Verry rainy on to the 20th., corn selling at £1 pr 42 lb., meall 14 ton 14-4, the 21st. now dray, all our shift for torneeps plowed the 24th. and about 4 acres of our ley, fresh and dray to the end.
December 1844.
Begins most beautifull weather. Main corn yard all valued the 2nd., best £1-5-6, second £1-1-6 pr qur. Our threshing mill fully repaired and trayed the 2nd., old Middes still hear and thrashing corn and carring it of. Young Burges carried to Banff the 29th. of Novr., being blamed for stealling Cottertoons gold watch. He swore the first night he was in the joil his feet was damt cold. Wm. Stronach and Towiemores oldest daughter was sessioned in the Church about this time, both Nons. This is Willies 3 Chap Woodends daughter split at the 2nd. to Burges the day be went to joil. both Nons. Our parish Nons bussy driving materials for the Building of a new Church, John Ords wiffe left them at this time and all Towiemores family. Jean Smith got two shillings from the session and gave one of them to hilp howdoup, so far for nonintrusion. Old Midthirds roup the 12th., I bought a cart at £5-1 and rick of oats at £1-6 pr quarter. Verry hard frost this ten days past, we are thawing our torneeps in the horse coble, a good storme the 13th. and on to the 16th. Corn still casting Mitchels cornyard on to the end of the month. Preaching in the new Non Church, some old stools and the pulpit of the Barn of Woodend. The storme almost away the last two days of the month but the frost none out of the ground.
MIDTHIRD FARM HOME.
It was to this farm that George McWillie spent the better part of his life on. It is the home in which his three children were born. It is reported that it was to become one of the largest farms on Drummuir and those reports indicate that George managed it very well. It was a mixed farm operation with cattle and grain some of which he sold to the whiskey traders. Today the home is a bed and breakfast operated by the tenants.
January 1845.
Begins verry quaiet and hard frost. I am
getting the last of old Middes corn carted this day the 2nd. Sunday the 5th.
fresh and warm, no plowing to the 14th. Building my yard dyke at this time, corn
from 18shs, to £1 to £1-1 according to weight. The new Non Church all swayed
and posted. Verry cold and frosty about the 19th,. some plowing the 25th., the
26th. terrible wind, sleet and storm. Towiemores daughter fallen the 16th. and
storm at the end.
Nonintrusions Fallen: Since
1840 to 1845 January. 1st. William Burges & svt. woman; 2nd. Barbara Garden
& Alexr. Stables; 3rd. Jannet Watt & John Bremner; 4th. Margaret Moggach
& James McDonald; 5th. Isabel Hay & William Stronach; 6th. Jean Edward
& John Strathdee; 7th. Ann Innes & William Miline; 8th.Miss Millne &
John Innes; 9th. Jean Duncan & George Manroe; 10th. Jean Duncan & John
Innes; 9th. Jean Cruickshank & stranger; 12th. David Innes & Jean
McGriger; 13th. John Peddie & Janet Millne Madrak; 14th. William Shearer
& Ann Moggach; 15th. Isabel Edward & stranger, he denies; 16th. William
Stronoch & Jean Kidd; 17th. Ditto William Stronach & Ann Humphray; 18th.
Joseph Moggach & Janet McDonald; 19th. Young Wm. Burges & Ann McConachic,
Geo Duncan & Maggy Shearer, Elspet Robertson & Mary of Cottertoon, a
lass Findlay in the scougg.
February 1845.
Begins with frost. A shooting of snuff & tobaco the 3rd., thair was 57 one shilling prises. We have ten ricks at this time, a good snow and hard blowing the 6th. We have no torneeps this year, the size of my thumb, we give none but the cows. Some snow the 14th., a verry hard frost on to the 16th., some plowing the 17th. The plowing match the 20th. on our Banks of Burnend, thair was 9 prises, our two men had William Taylor the 4th. and William Robertson the 7th. I was at Keith the 21st. and commmissioned 1 & 1/2 tons guano at £8 stg., the 22nd sleet and rain, some plowing the 24th. and 25th. then frosty on to the end.
March 1845.
Begins with frost verry hard. We plowed some the 7th. and 8th., we was at Portsoy the 11th. which was high wind and storme and frost, we took home one and halph tons guano at £12. Still frost and storme 14th., our plowing mostly done but the clean ground. Fresh the 20th., dunging fallow the 27th., at Elgin the 28th. with 24 cwt of guano for long carraige, a dreadfull day of wind and rain. Westertoon sowed some ley the 27th., we was at Elgin with long carriage of 24 cwt of guano with two horses, a terrible day of wind and sleet, the twenty eight William Taylor went with the horses.
April 1845.
Begins warm and dray. We began sowing corn the 1st. and sowed the banks of Burnend with forteen qur. and 5 bushels of oats, piper haugh with 3 bushels, the kitchen croft upon the 7th. along with Haggeshaw 16 qurs. of oats and one of peas. No rain since the month began, one showr of large haill the 6th, Alezr. McIver came home here the 7th., all my onions and carrots sown the 3rd. We had seven cows calved in January, verry dray weather on to the 20th., this day the 21st. we was done sowing and all our grass seed was sown the 22nd. Our potatos planted the 30th., verry dray with high winds.
May 1845.
Begins great drught on to the 3rd. which was high winds with rain and haill. I put up pitition in the kitchen the 2nd and 3rd. verry rainy with wind on to the 8th. I was at the Kirktoon house the 8th. and signed a paper that I would refer weather my garden will be payable at Cachanhead to Mr. Brown, Elgin and Mr. Thorburn, Keith. I have sown in whole of crop 45 qurs. I am not showr of the Claggans I think it is 14 qurs. I have for Svt. men William Taylor, James Thomson £5-17-6, Alexr. Sellar, orrow man 3 pounds-3 shs. We sowed neeps the 30th.
June 1845.
Begins with drught and cold winds with no grouth. I forgot to mark that our little Meggy mear got the horse the 13th. May and we have about one acre of neeps to sow the 13th. of June. We had rain the most of the 8th, and quite warm indeed we have had long cold drught, verry warm and grouthy now on to the 14th, We cut some fire the 6th. hoed one halph of our potatos the 17th. A verry good June market long prices. John McWillie (69), Midtoon, had a son baptised the 16th. called George McWillie. Verry rainy weather for the 3 last weeks.
July 1845.
Begins warm with rain and great grouth. Corn from £1-1 to £1-3 owing to weight, meall 15-6 to 16shs. John Watt (70), died the 5th. We began to hoe the neeps the 8th., we have 6 acres will hoe, the rain has kept us back. Good 3 year old stots from £8 to £9 and £10, rain and haill now and then from the 10th. to the 14th. with slight frosts. Thair was a meeting concerning the poor rates the 9th. £40 was to serve, £15 from the Admiral, £15 from the Church and 10 pounds from the Nons, but John Strathdee, John Dawn and John Dyke as a deputation of Nons kept back the whole proceedings as they would not give the £10 and if the assesment be laid on the parish will have them to thank, Amen. From the 9th. to the 20th. closs mists with slight showrs at night and from the 24th. to the 30th. warm and dray. the third of our torneeps hoed the 30th., our oats but begining to shoot at the 30th. the day of the Glass market. If the weather be not warm and dray the crop will be late. I have 13 acres of oats to Wm. Robertson to cut at 5shs. pr acre. Robertson and Baby Stronach mard, about the 1st.
August 1845.
The first 5 days dray. Howing our neeps the second time and all done but one acre, from the 6th. verry weighty rain, Hugh Robertson mud thaching our fire house at this time. I was at Focbabers market the 20th. and bought 5s-6d. worth of moss fire. 21st. and 22nd. verry rainy, Margaret Taylor married the 11th., the corn not near shot at the 22nd. I have thrashed an old rick now, I will keep the corn for fear of seed. I do not suppose thair is one load of fire drove in this parish the 22nd. John McWillie (71), was hear the 18th. and stayed the 19th. - 20th. and went home the 21st., all great rains. I bought six stots at Dufftoon market at £8-2-6 pr head the 21st. Thair has been terrible rain the 6 weeks past, the 28th. and 29th dray and warm.
September 1845.
Begins dray and warm, some bear begining to ripen, Woodend cut some of it about the 3rd. Oats begining to turn a little about the 9th. The tenth thair was 4 men planing of a rail road, I stoped them and gave one of them the breed of himself among the corn because he would not speak or turn back whean I called to him. I made him return the same way he came with a white face. A verry hard white frost the morning of the 11th., our horse to the hill for fire to my father the 11th. for the first time. The first of our fire drove the day before Summersfair, it was a verry stiff market. I bought 3 two year old stots, small at £13-18, the next day some wind with rain the whole day laying corn compleet. We began cut corn the 29th., verry green on the kitchon croft, James Gray harvest man the 29th.
October 1845.
Begins the first two days dray to storme then rain the 3rd and 4th. verry rainy with some haill. We have 2 days work done on the Banks, a good dale of it frosted and all the Claggans. Thair is only about the halph of the parish began to harvest at this time the 4th. It will be verry let, letr, let. About a 11 acres of our ley cut the 7th. and one halph of our avel, a great frost the morning of the 6th., the 8th. verry rainy, the 9th. wetty in the morning of Newmills mkt. the 10th. wind and rain to eleven Oclock the 11th, and cutting our peas in the afternoon. I bought four two year old stots at Newmills mkt. at £7-10 per head, a dear market. The 19th. extraordinary high wind and the 21st, ditto with rain and haill which shook a deal of corn. 14 ricks in the 21st., we was done cutting the 27th., all in the 31st. We have 44 ricks and a howack besides 200 shaves of thach and a number of clew rips. Cottertoon the most of his clean ground park to take in the 31st. Geo. McWillie.
November 1845.
Begins with draying winds, fine for the corn stacks. We began to plow the 7th., our harvest man of the 8th. Meall £1, corn £1-2 for 38lb. per bushel. Feed Alexr. Watt the 19th. at £6 stg., Wm. Taylor at £6-6, James Dey at £3-8 Capital dray weather on to the 22nd., it was sleet and rain. The night of the 14th. one halph of Newtons square was burned with 4 cows, 4 sheep and a number of hen, the whole being insured. Fine weather for plowing, the first of the poor rates paid the 16th. Good weather on to the end.
December 1845.
Begins with slight frosts, we could plow none till about the 6th., 7th., and 10th. we have all plowed but for the clean ground, about six acres of ley and one of avel. We are improving the goose peel just now, William Taylor not weall at this time the 10th. The 11th. terrible day of wind and a deal of rain, we did nothing the whole day but fastened the houses. Corn about the same as last month. I have sold about 34 qurs of oats at this time. Some storme and hard frost 17th, and 18th., some snow at the 28th. and 29th., but some plows going.
January 1846,
Begins with some snow. The 3rd. plows going, our bull killed the 3rd., he was 22 months old and weighed 34 stones. Beautiful weather the 6th. and 7th., we have about one 3rd. of our hay shift to plow the 7th., done 23rd. From the 5th. to the 24th. beautiful fresh growing weather. George Forbes, Cottertoon died the 16th. aged 84 years, it was the 16th. and buried the 19th., high winds and cold with rain & the 22nd. some small rain all day. Betty at Drumgrain the 21st., our plowing done the 29th, but the clean ground and beautifull weather, the neeps growing and shotting. Our horses plowing to Alexr. Watt the 31st.
February 1846.
Begins fresh weather, the torneeps is growing as in the month of May and a good deep snow the 5th,, 6th., 7th. and 8th. fresh the 9th. and 10th. snow quite gone. Robertson flitting from the glack to the Scull holl of Cottertoon 17th., we began to plow our clean ground the 17th. and cutting a new run for the barn the 14th and 16th. and a drain up Haggishaw to take down surfes water that ran in an open ditch. We have about 40 loads of headed torneeps the 20th. and 7 acres of them to pull but all shooting 18 inches high and the yellow seed in the top of many and the grass growing as in the last of May. The sowing in many parishes the 20th. and 18th., we began to drive out dung the 27th., most beautifull weather, the berry bushes and trees getting green with flurish, we have I may say we have had no frost or snow but the ground white a day or two, I am afraid thair will come something for all this.
March 1846.
Begins Sunday the first most beautifull on to the 4th. which was one of the awfulest days of wind I ever remember to here, it lasted from nine Oclock to 3 oclock in the afternoon. We did nothing the whole time of it but and ben, out and in with rops of (72) himp and straw and a deal of clay we kept all our houses right and tight. The fifth was verry quaiet and we began sowing and sowed 5 and 1/2 qurs. and the 6th. about other 6 on the banks, we have as mickle corn as sow them out but we have no more untill thrashed. I have 19 ricks and about 7 acres of torneeps and 40 loads of headed ones, the 7th. thair was a showr of sleet in the afternoon. I have sold about 9 reeds of torneeps at 8d per reed, beautifull weather on to the 16th. which was a terrible day of wind and did a deal of damage, at night dreadfull with wind and sleet and ended in snow and drift, it was the day of Balls and Denners in honour of James Duff marraige, member of the county. The snow continued with hard frost on to the 22nd., some sowing on the 24th, I sold Archibald Leslie two ricks of oats the 23rd. to be delivered whean the corn is sown and time to thrash it out after at the price of £1-10s. strg. All our ley shift sown the 23rd., rather rainy the 24th., sleet showrs with rain on to the end of the month. Geo. McWillie.
April 1846.
Begins storme and rain and sleet, all the torneep heads is now rotten with bad weather and all the flurish on trees and berry bushes is competly weathered. Stormy the 6th., Huntly market the 7th., a fine day but a stiff dull market, the 8th. rainy to ten oclock. The 8th. I sold Robert Stewart a cow at £6-15 and the 13th. All our corn sown the 16th. but the ground where our torneeps .is, about two acres. The roup of Stripside the 10th., cold weather, I bought home our guano the 20th., it meat us at Grange, cost £8 per ton. Our torneeps all out of the ground the 23rd., verry little grouth now the 24th. Oats from £l-7s-d. to £1-10 and £1-12. according to weight, potatos in this parish from 12s to 14shs. Verry cold with snow and sleet from the 24th. to the 27th., Verry little labour in land done since the 16th. March, wetty weather. Our corn all sown out about the last day of the month. It has been verry bad weather since ever it began and I hope whean this month is done the bad weather will go along.
May 1846.
Begins on Friday a dray day and the 3rd. a dry day. We sowed out the last of our grass seeds all but five rigs which is coming through the ground, it must be rolled in the 4th. I then went to Rothes about sacks and silver, a verry rough day and rain at night. I was cutting palling wood the 5th., the meall is from £1-4-6 to £l-5, I am selling potatos at 12shs pr boll. I have about eight ricks in the yard yet and Gunn and Robertson cutting drains 30 inches deep and bottom 12 inches wide. Verry drughty from the 5th. to the 16th., little grouth. I engaged Wm. Robertson to cut eight thousand turfs to fuel the 16th. Jean ill with hir head the 15th. and 16th., our torneep shift all cross cut and harrowed the 16th. and about the 21st. a great deal of thunder, not much rain hear, cold and dray on to the 29th. the day we sowed the first of our torneeps. The bigg Megg mear was sorted the 29th. Willam Taylor, foreman, at **pounds and John Craig, second man at £6-5 and 2s-6d. ** James Watt cow billie or orrow man at £3-15 and 11 1/2 and McIver cattle hird. A deal of thunder the 29th. and we sowed the first of our torneeps the 30th. with guano up upon the shift above the town or what we call Haggishaw and Kitchen croft, verry dray weather now but warm. George McWillie.
June 1846.
This month begins verry warm and good grouth with drught on to the 3rd. Upon the 3rd,, 4th. and 5th. the thunder scarcely ever stopped except on the night upon the 5th. thair was one clap of thunder lasted 30 minutes about 2 of o'clock, not much rain but terrible warme and still warme yet at the 8th. We have about 12 acres of neeps sown the 8th. We have had Alexr. Sellar for the 3 past days hillping us, John Millne called to the session this evening by Sellar, he d-mt him he would soon clear himself of that business. Upon the 18th, a terrible day of thunder, the lightning struck some of Tullocks houses and shivered some pailling, the rain fell in heal water in many places and destroyed ricks and corn terrible. Westertoons corn and neeps sore spoiled, some of our potatos howed the 19th., about one acre of neeps to sow the 19th. but we are stopped with rain and thunder. We have had three weeks of the warmest weather ever I sead at one time. Most of our bear weall shot and some furbreas of the oats the 24th. We began to hoe our torneeps the 29th. Thair is about 30 persons (73) out of this parish to America the 24th, mostly all Innesis from Linmore, upper and lower and Robert Adam and wiffe and son and family, Robert is 77 years of age, a son of his advised them all out.
July 1846.
The 29th. and 30th. June very weighty rain, July the first dray. We began howing but very weet land but the neeps very large, all but the last sown, the bear filling and many of the oats fully shot, still warm and grouthy. Oats about £1-6 to £1-4 , meall 19s-6d to £1, a good deal of hay cut the 4th., the 5th. rainy. Our neeps a good many more than halph hoed, verry weety the 12th. Our hay all colled the 20th., high winds with some flying showrs the 23rd. harvest is begun I see by the papers in different places. Repairing the minesters brea at this time, verry warm and dray on to the end of the month.
Agust, 1846.
Began extraordinary warm and the torneeps growing like rashes, our neeps all hoed the first time the 3rd. being the let ones and all most through the second but some let ones. The bear weall turned this time and some of the oats to the first of the month. Began to drive fire the 5th., our hay was built the 1st., the sow was 40 feet long by 10 wide. A great deal of thunder night of the 7th, and from six o'clock the morning of the 8th. to 2 o'clock, all to the south west. I put old William Burges into the shoulder the seventh. My father and mother went to Buckie the 12th. and came home the 19th. Verry rainy about the 17th. and 18th., general harvest the 19th., our harvest woman came home the 19th., at dinnertime. Thair is most obnoxious desease (74) among the potats in every county in Scotland, the heads is all affected with black spots like soot drops and the potatos all roating in the ground. Some people is pulling the heads, some cutting and some plowing the earth after cutting the heads, thair is most dreadfull scronnach about them. We began cutting both bear and oats the 20th., Alexr. Sellar came home the 21st., extraordinary warm, sunny and quaiet weather on to the 30th. All our banks and the most of scouggs land which is in ley cut and mostly all laying. Some rain the 31st., we took in an old rick and thrush the most of it the 31st.
September 1846.
Begins with cutting a foundation for a new house to Admiral Duff in the bigg Lettach park of Ardbrack. Voters for Banff county 833, a rise of 25 voters. But by the by it is dreadfull warm and sunny, no wind the whole harvest, we had in 27 ricks the 11th. and cut out all our corn the 11th. We had 13 days cutting all together, thair was two cutting besides mysilfe. I have sold James McWilliam, Maislie, a ricks old corn at £1-2 per 40 lb. and 7 bolls weall 18s. the day of summeris fair a good market. John at Aberdeen at the Circuit Court, I forgot, our harvest woman got a tooth taken out by Dr. Taylor the 12th. and went of the 16th., said she was not weall, she was a nasty clort and foull fingered too. All our corn taken in the 18th., 42 ricks and one howack. Linmore setting this day the twenty first. Corn selling from £1-2 to £1-3 pr 42 lb., meall 17s-6d to 18. I bought 3 stots from Admiral Duff the 18th. at £6-5 pr head, I bought 2 stots, 2 year old , from Wm. Horn, Cabrach, at £13-12-6, the 1st. October fine weather.
October 1846.
Begins capital weather. The most part of our land for torneeps plowed the 9th. and cutting drain at this end of Dinnieorn the 8th. and 9th., corn selling at £1-6 per 42 lb and meall about £1. Our little brown maire ill with swelling on the side of hir head the 6th., 7th., 8th. and 9th. The foundation of Admiral Duffs new house laid the 8th., he does not allow the masson to take water through his parks or yet allow him to drive it out of the water at Ardbrack, he has it all to drive from the burn of Westertoon, thran Divel. Verry watery now from the 9th. to the 14th. with some showrs of haill and Isabel Rinnes verry gray the 13th. Merchant Bonniman has some corn to take in yet for real sweat tea, all the rest of the parrish in three weeks ago. I bought 4 stots of two year old at Newmills market at £8-11. The last fortnight verry watery but the last 4 days. I sold Maislie 16 and one halph qurs. of oats at_£l-6-6 per 40 l/2 lbs.
November 1846.
Begins with beautifull weather. Jean Mitchell (75), Goodwiffe of Midtoon of Towiebegg, died the 6th. aged 82 years. James Dunbar has got a second son the 6th. and torneeps has got a new flush of heads since the harvest was ended. We have had white frost with closs mists through the night and quite quaiet from the 8th. to the 15th. The most of our avel plowed and 5 acres of ley the 14th., we are now draining Dinnicorn below the dam. I belive this has been a famous year for bees and honny and selling from 2s-3d to 2s/6d per pound. Corn selling about £1-5 to £1-6 per 40 lb. at Keith mrkt. 20 qurs. of oats to Maislie the 25th., the 28th. a good snow and verry deep the 29th. and 30th. I got 6 plow landsides from Banff the 25th., carraige and all 11s/6d.
December 1846.
Begins with verry deep snow and allways growing deeper on to the 3rd. which had thunder and lightning about ten o'clock in the forenoon. The 4th. I shot a deer owre the burn of the Scougs, a weighty snow. It was the day of a court at Morrisons. In parting the hill of Bellyhack betwixt the Erol of Fife and Admiral Duff, all the old people of the parish was summoned to attend, about eight examined and then postponed to some future period. Soft and fresh the 9th. but the 10th., 11th. and 12th. hard frost with blowing, we took in one halph of a straw rick the 12th. because our mill water was blown out. A verry deep snow, we are getting our plows repaired now with Smith Sellar. Jean and William to school the 8th., Isabel at it 8 days before. Thunder and lightning the 12th. at 5 o'clock at night, a great snow with blowing and hard frost, still deep snow but quaiet 22nd. Corn still a good price according to weight, from £1-6 to £1-8. Snow on to the end.
January 1847.
The 1st. a quaiet day with close mist, fresh but flying sleety showrs 2nd., 3rd. and 4th., a good fresh the 5th and 6th. Corn now selling at £1-10 pr 40lb. Verry hard frost bear and cold on to the 14th., our Bob horse not weall at this time, hard, hard frost and verry hard on to the 26th. which is some soft. Corn rose the second week of this month from 1 pound-8 to £1-12 for 42lb pr bushell, the third week to £2 to £2-2 pr 42lb., meall selling from £1-10 to £1-11 and some mobbings and burning of efegies about the ports and small towns. We have been driving out some dung this days. I have twenty ricks in the yard the 26th. besides a good sow of hay, some snow the 30th. and 31st.
February 1847.
Begins with about four inches of snow and cold frosty air. A good snow on the 12th. some fresh the 13th., thaw and frost alternately. The 14th. I had a child born (76), this minute at 20 minutes past 5 o'clock, I have not seen it but Mrs. Garden, Westertoon, tells me it is a daughter, Still hard frost, some plows going in the lower end of the parish the 19th. We have yoaked the plow the 22nd., still some old frost. A meeting of parishers the 16th. about getting Governent money for Drains and Dycks and collecting meall for poor householders. Corn selling from £1-12 to one pound fourteen per forty pounds weight. Verry frosty on to the end of the month, we have got one yoaking of the plow since the 14th. Novr.
March 1847.
Begins quaiet weather with a good deal of old frost in the ground. A plowing match at Westertoon the 28th. February, plows could not go for frost, it was the 23rd. or 24th. of February. All our ley plowed out the 6th. March, the plowing match has taken place this day again the 8th., sleet and rain most of forenoon. Our Betty was baptised 9th., thair came a great deep snow that afternoon, about 6 inches deep. The 10th. frost and the 11th., 12th., and 13th. rain and sleet. I belive the potatos, good ones is selling about 4/6d. per bushell We sowed about 9 quar. of oats the 19th. Took home 15 cwt. guano the 20th. at £8-10 per ton The old Goodwiffe of Bommickelloch died about the 22nd., good weather on to the 27th. I sold two dun stots the 27th. at £20 to Paul Grant and bought a bull from Mr. White at £13-17. Sunday the 28th. rough showrs of snow and very cold, The torneeps in but just begining to grow yet, I have about 7 acres yet. I have eleven ricks of oats and one of bear the 29th. and 500 stone of hay, it is verry cold and a deep snow on the ground and the cattle eating a deal of fodder. The Mrs. of Mr Morrison, merchant, had a young son the night of the 30th. I had some of the headeach that night owing to some neighbours being in the night before. Still stormy on to the end.
April 1847.
Begins with deep snow, some thunder the 2nd., rough showrs hail the 6th. the day of Huntly market. A fine day the 7th and 8th. cold the 9th. high winds with sleet and rain. The first flat of Admiral Duffs (77) new house built an halph joisted the 9th. Our land verry weet at this time, we cannot plow and thair has been three weeks of a brack, we sowed some ley the 16th, and rain the 17th. and sowed the first of our clean ground the 209th. but verry damp land. I sold Paul Grant 2 dun stots, delivered the 23rd. at £20 and Peter Gordon 8 stots at £10-2-6 pr head and a farrow cow £6-10 to be delivered the 26th. which was a verry rough day with wind and rain. I have six ricks and about three acres of torneeps the 27th., our grass just begining to grow the 30th.
May 1847.
Begins with sleety showrs and terrible raps of haill. Our bear sown the 5th. and our grass seeds the 6th., cold rough winds the 7th., our crop rolled out the 8th., the 11th. dray. Weighty rain and hail from the 12th. to the 16th. with thunder, a good grouth now. Corn selling at 2 pounds for 42lb., meall l pound-8s., our potatos set the 12th., only ten short dreels. Verry cold the 17th and 18th., we was at Portgordon for guano the 18th. Now verry cold with high, high winds with rain, haill and sleet from 9th. to 23rd,, drught and high winds from 23rd. to the 28th. Our torneep land all to plow the third time after the 26th., verry little grouth the last ten days. Corn selling at £2 to £2-2 pr 42 lb. pr bushell, meall selling at £1-9 to £1-10. Upon the 29th. the thunder began about 7 o'clock in the morning and continued loud and long with moderate rain and warme. I engaged William Millne for the halph year at £6-17-6 and Jas. Watt at £4-10 and William Taylor at £6. John McWillie (78), my brother, flitted from Linmore the 7th. May. I got a fracture in the arm by being thrown of a carriers cart by his being upset. We sowed the first of our torneeps the 3rd., verry warm on to the end.
June 1847.
Hout, I have been making mistakes in the end of May for we sowed the first of our torneeps the 2nd. of June. I am selling meall at £1-8 pr boll just now. The merchants daughter, Helen died the 3rd. in scarlet feavour and George Garden son to Westertoon the 9th. in scarlet ditto. Wetty weather the last few days, no neeps sowing for weet land, a good grouth now. The Rvd. Mr. Massons daughter, Anna, died the 14th., 3 in the morning, of scarlet feavour. Verry watery weather, William Blackie came home hear at 5s-6d. pr week with vituls, the 12th. Turned two ricks today the 11th. Every people cattle and horses verry dear, mens wages for labrours from 12s to 15s, massons from 18s to 23 and 24s., good cows from £12 to £14, 3 year old stots from £9 to £12, one year olds £5 to £6, good draught horses from £30 to £40. Still verry rainy, we have only one halph of our torneeps sown the 18th. The 21st. a beautifull draying day, sowed a deal of torneeps that we had dunged and happed the 21st. Isabella Garden, Westertoon, died the night of the 18th. Capital weather now, all our neeps sowed the 30th.
July 1847.
Begins verry warm and sunshine, a good grouth, some bits of bear the heads about out and I see some of the oat furbraes begining to shoot. I was at Kellock and Drumgrain the 6th. the day we began to hoe torneeps, a deal of thunder about five o'clock on the morning of the 7th. Went to the hill for the first of my fathers fire the 7th., Hugh Robertson thaching our mill the 12th., terrible warm and dray. Began cutting our grass the 17th., we had a quoy died, quarter ill, the 22nd., about one halph of our neeps hoed the 22nd., some of them not looking weall, a rainy day the 22nd. One end of the Admirals (79), rooflng, the forth flatt going on the other end. Colled some hay the 26th., the 27th. Glass sheep market, raining from one o'clock, I was at Kellock that day. All our hay colled the 30th. Corn is now £1-8, meall £l-2-6, warm and a showr each day commonly.
Agust 1847.
Begins the first dray and then showrs on to the 5th. but always hoeing neeps altho some weety. I think I did not mention formerly our factor Mr. Peter comming to Ardbrack. At June market a great deal of crop is ludged, our bear changing the colour or fell yellow. Mr. Lamb the contractor masson for the new house to the Laird has 770 bolls of lime almost built in the 5th. and pays 4d pr boll souring. Our hay built the 14th., the sow is 50 feet long by eleven broad. I went to Deskford the 17th. with George Gauld, saw some potatos wrong this time. The Lairds house at the level all but the turrets and tower the 25th. Linmore let to one Stewart the 21st., the 22nd. a terrible day of wind and rain, our fire all home from Machatties the 25th., some rainy. Our neeps all hoed the second time the 25th. Betty Stewart died the 21st. Some bear cut about the 26th., all the oats about equal ripeness, our sacrament was the 29th., capital filling weather.
September 1847.
Begins the 1st, warme with wind, the 2nd, a desperate day of wind and rain. The 3rd. and 4th. weety and wind, the roup of Linmore the 6th. Our harvest woman the 7th. and we cut our bear, began our oats the 9th. and 2 ricks in, 13th. watery on to the 16th., a bad Keith market, I bought 4 stots at 8 pr head, we have in eight ricks the 20th., rainy the 22nd. and about one shift to cut the 22nd. Upon Tuesday the 21st. George Garden Westertoon, and me valued the farm of Ardbrack and haughs of Linmore the sum per acre, the average 1-15, Kirkton House and garden 25, the Loch per acre 5shs., the Kirkton House polices 1-15 pr acre., the Manse house and garden 12, the Gleeb lands 1-15, Ardgaithnie pasture 6shs., Schoolhouse and garden 10, this is for poor rates. We was done cutting the 29th., I had John Millne, Bodinfinnach, with five syths the 28th., we yarded a good deal the 30th. and then rain the next 6 days.
October 1847.
Begins with rain on to the 6th. We have about ten acres of clean ground corn out yet. The 8th, a terrible day of wind and rain the whole day, our corn all in the 15th. Dufftoon market the 14th., a bad market; coming home I was struck by a mear of John Gaulds and got one thigh broused and the other brused and cut severly; I am still verry cripple the 19th. We started the plow about the 14th., the day before we got in the corn. We have 42 ricks, done plowing for torneeps land the 28th. Plowing yavel now and casting some drains in the glack. I got a vile knock on the left breast from one of our quoys binding hir the 27th., dray on to the end.
November 1847.
Begins fine dray weather. Giving our cattle straw even and morning this ten days past, beautifull weather, the most of our yavel plowed the 10th., the 17th. some snow, good weather on to the 29th., hard frosts the 28th., 29th. and 30th., we have some of our ley plowed at this time, but unco hard.
December 1847.
Begins capital weather for plowing on the 6th, which came on snow in he morning. William Taylor away to the Boat of Bridge for some wood. Corn selling from 17s-6d to 18s. per 40 lb., meall about 15-6 to 16shs. The potatos all rotten in the pits, ours all gone but about 3 bushells. Capital weather on to the 14th. the day of the plowing match on Ardbrack, 23 plows started. Our Taylor the first prise, 22 sat denner. The Ball in the school, great winds all on to the 17th. which was extraordinary from six in the morning to eleven at night. I was almost gone at keeping the ricks and houses. The 18th. very quaiet and rainy the whole day, we have all the Claggans to plow the 18th. The 25th. 10 acres of ley to plow, the frost set in that day, very hard to the 28th. I sold 10 qurs. at 1-1 per 42lb. McConachies shop door closed the 24th. at the Ludge and merchant Morrisons halph shut about the same day. Terrible high wind with frost on to the end.
COLDHOME FARM.
Coldhome farm was the farm home of Alexander McWillie RN=40 and his wife Mary Taylor and their six children. Alexander had been born on his fathers farm, Midton in Oct. of 1805. He died in October of l882 and is buried in Botriphnie parish churchyard. A number of Alexander's children immigrated to the United States of America, among them was a daughter Mary who married, Lachlan MacLean, while an Alexander married a Margaret McGlashan and immigrated to Canada, they had a son John who became a doctor and practised in China for a number of years. John married Lotto Luella MacMoran and they are the parents of Colonel Donald MacWillie of Albuquerque, NM. USA.
January 1848.
Begins with hard frosts wind and sleety showrs. John of Midtoon and me went to Hungryhills the 5th. and came home the 7th., hard with sleet. We have 27 ricks at the 10th., thair is a influinzie passing none in no country at this time, we have all had it. Sold Jas. McWilliam 20 qurs of oats and John Grant 30 quarters the 14th. of this month. Plows going the 16th. but hard frost the 17th., 18th. and 19th., we drove a long carraige with two horses, earthen pipes to the Admirals house from Huntly the 18th. The frost still terrible hard, if we had not headed neeps our cattle could not eat them out of the land. This is the 27th. still hard as ever, I have been ill of a bad cold this six days. A slight snow the 30th., upon Monday the 31st a few good brothers of us at Cantlys Clunnymore in the evening.
February 1848.
Begins with some snow and hard frost, some fresh the 3rd and 4th. and snow the 5th. the day of paying the Candlmass Rents. Fresh the 9th and 10th., hard frost 12th., frost on with some snow 15th., the 16th. fresh. I went to Langlanburn (80), the 21st. and home the 22nd. Our plows going the 23rd. and Mr. McConachies roup the 23rd. at the Ludge, it snowed the whole day the 25th., fresh and rainy on to the end.
March 1848.
Our ley all plowed the 1st., rather rainy on to the 6th. Sold two stots to the Laird of Edintore the 6th. £22 strg., we began to plow our clean ground the 8th. I sold a humble cow to Rob Stewart of the Scoug of twenty one years of age, she averaged from ten to twelve pints on day, which would average 6 pints per day along the year, which would be thirty nine thousand three hundred and twelve pints, which would be one thousand eight hundred and fifty seven Ancors and fifteen pints. I think that would brag the county of Banff. We have some showrs of snow the 12th and 13th., still rainy on to the 29th., Bomiekelloch sold ten stots to Cantlie the 29th. We have eleven ricks of oats and one of bear the 31st. the day we began to sow ley on the Claggans and a sow of hay 50 feet long not broken upon the 31st.
April 1848.
Begins with good sowing weather. Our Peg mear foled the 26th March, a mear foll. We have 28 qurs. sown the 5th., cold winds the 4th. and 5th., all our corn sown the 13th. but where the neeps is thair is about four acres of them. I have about 10 and one halph ricks the 14th., snow showrs with hard frosts every morning and cold winds from the 17th. to the 23rd., watery the 24th., put away twelve stots at 11 pounds pr head. A dray day the 25th., a cold weety day, the grass just begining to grow. Cold, cold, all our neeps out of the ground the 26th., we have many headed and unheaded, the 28th. wind , rain, haill and sleet,
May 1848.
Begins warm and grouthy on to the 18th. Our cows out on the grass the first time the 17th. All our torneep land plowed and harrowed the second time and halph done plowing the third time the 18th. Betty and me at Deskford the 15th., windy. I have 6 and one halph ricks besides hay and headed neeps, got a 11 dozzen of palling wood at this time. Capital weather, rather drughty on to the 29th., we have the one halph of our torneeps shift formed the 29th. Our cattle out to grass the 21st. of this month and good weather on to the end.
June 1848.
Begins fine growing weather with warm showrs. Meall about 13s. to 13s-6d., oats is 19s pr 42lb. and cattle selling at verry high prices. Robert Stewart, Scoug, broakhis legg dancing gulliam gallum in Mr. Chambers house at Sauchenward the 2nd. D-K James Simpson, White cow, died about the 1st. The 13th. verry rainy, bought two highland ponies at £10-15 per pair, done sowing neeps the 20th. Putting up pailling the 23rd. round the Barnfauld. The 23rd. I saw some awens out on the bear. John McWillie (8l), Langlanburn. still dowie. Capital weather at this time though some drughty, grass growing weall but hay crop will not be weighty, some neeps hoeing at this time the 30th.
July 1848.
Begins with fine warm weather, hoeing torneeps fast and cattle coming down fast in price, Oxen of £10 and £12 down about two pounds a head, the grass will be all lost and a pickle shillings more. I bought two stots a gray an brown at Dufftoon market at 16 pounds-5. The day Keith market I went to Deskford to see John McWillie, he was verry poorly, Betty and my father was down the 23rd. in company in Bomiekelloch gig. Our hay cutting the 21st. and 22nd., all our neeps hoed nerly the first time the 25th. and good weather on to the end.
Agust 1848.
Begins warm, our father, mother and Jean went to Buckie the 2nd. Distant thunder the 5th., 6th. and 7th. with weighty downfalls of rain, the bear turning fast the 5th., all our neeps hoed the second time but some let ones the 9th., verry watry about this time and 60 loads of fire home. Elspet McLeod died the 5th., we had a stot brok his haunch the 4th. and we just killed him and eat him. A hard frost the 14th. that spoiled a deal of potatos and a deal of bear in the Cabrach thats of no use. Frosty dews each night with rough cold winds, the corn turning now selling at £1 -4 per 42lb., meall 17s-6d. John McWillie verry poorly at this time and Jean Sinclair (82) Drumgrain, the 30th. G. McWillie
September 1848.
Begins cold the 1st. a terrible showr of haill the ground white. Our new cow bire roofed now and our bear cut the 2nd. Saturdays night, the 2nd., two of the wrights at the Admirals house went to see the minesters woman and was catched by the parson and his wiffe. one of them jumped about 30 feet, the other was taken and police sent for about 12 o'clock at night. The woman put out and one of the men was fined £1 and 5 shillings for expenses. We began to cut oats the 9th., we have in 4 ricks the 19th. and nearly all cut. My uncle John McWillie was born in Midtoon of Towiebeg, was farmer of Mains of Towiebeg about fifty years, went to Deskford the farm of Langlanburn, was thair four years and died the 16th. of September 1848 aged 77. We have 20 ricks in the 23rd. a wee spot of clean ground to cut the 30th. but the 28th. and 29th. some watery.
October 1848.
The 6th. was an awful day of wind and shook a deal of corn, ours was done cutting the second and all in the 9th. The 10th. rain which has continued on to the 17th. which was haill and sleety showrs and cold, started the plow the 17th. Storm the 18th., a good deal to cut in the parish and about 4 inches of snow and our people at Linmore cutting and would not see lying corn. Tuesday the 24th. an awful day of rain, rain on to the 27th. and mudthaching our new bire, storme at the 30th and 31st. Rob Sellers leg taken of the 30th.
November 1848.
Begins with snow, a deep snow on to the 4th. and fresh the 5th., thached out our bire the 5th. A great deal of corn out in this and every other place around about, some has none in at all, thair is but little corn, it is all out, it will be a cold that many a one will be long in recovering. We have about 12 ricks not thached yet. giving our cattle straw and torneeps the same as at Youleven, still a deal of oats out at the 14th. The 17th and 18th. dray, dray at night and in the parish it was all put together, but bad. We have had just six weeks of rain and sleet the 21st., our ricks still unthached. About one halph of our ley plowed the 25th., still blustry weather on to the end.
December 1848.
Begins Capital weather, the plowing match on Drumgrain the first, 19 plows, dinned in McConachies at 3 shillings each with drink. John Brown died in Tennanton and has left no bag piper in this parish, but I have retained his picture to after generations. Robert Sellar died the 6th. after his leg was heal skined with a pain in his bowels. Fine plowing weather on to the 15th., corn selling from 14 to 16shs. and the meall from 10 to 12shs. The two wrights mentioned in September has paid the minesters woman another visit, Jean McDonald told the parson that she saw them out of hours and behold he has summoned them to Banff before the Sheriff upon the 19th. Thair was a great wind with rain on the afternoon of the 25th., it was terrible to ten o'clock and then to eleven it blew a hurrican wind, south, it unroofed our sleeping house, tirred our kitchen and my fathers house, blowed the front out of the barn and the back out of the coat, destroyed our hay sow, spoiled all the thach of the ricks, the mud thach of the bigg house and byrs. Some people had from five to 20 ricks blown over, all the Kirktoon geentrees rooted out and thousands of trees in the woods. Slatted houses tirred, chimnys blown down all in Botriphnie, the 19th. terrible wind and the quaiet on to the end with hard frost The 19th. Geo. Gaulds lipp cut by Dr. Taylor.
The remains of the first church built in Deskford parish and a number of McWillie ancestors are buried in the church yard.
January 1849.
Begins with hard bear frosts and quaiet. Oats selling at 14-6d per 40lb., meall average 13s. I have sold verry little of this crop the prices is so low, I have about 50 qurs. in the loft. Betwixt the night of the tenth and eleventh a great downfall of snow. I hear potatos is upwards of £1 per boll, I have but twenty ricks the 12th. but a deal of hay and torneeps, hard frost with sleety showrs on to the 18th., getting on with plowing our avel, our ley done the 18th. George Rutherford, Dufftoon had a shot fired in at his office window about the 18th. and two the 26th., it was small shot and all ludged in the oposoite plaster, some cursed rascal. The night of the 29th. and the 30th. verry high winds with hard frost and some snow.
February 1849.
Begins with high winds and frosts, the 5th. fresh and so on to the 14th. Trees, torneeps and grass growing beautiful,, oats 14shs. to 14s-6d per 40 lb., meall 1l-6d to 12s-6d. I was hunting deer the 10th., I shot at two at once and wounded both, I took home a pice of one of thair shank boons I splintred with the ball, I am going to make snuff pens out of it. Hard frost the 23rd., snow the 24th., corn selling at from 13s-6d to 14s. per 40 lb. per bushell, meall from 11s. to 12s-6d., storm on to the end.
March 1849.
Begins with snow, I was a little bizzed the first along, being the day after Fummakfair, with some of neighbours. Plowing clean ground 5th. and 6th. a rough day the day of Huntly market, at night a most extraordinary wind which has unroofed houses and overthrown corn stacks. It was as high in many places as the night of the 15th. December, aful, aful. The 9th. storme with sharp blowing. Oats from 14s. to 15s. per 40 lb., meall 12s-6d. Admiral Duff advanced a stop, Admiral of Blew. We began to sow on the Claggans the 19th. and sold the gray bull at 13 pounds and a 3 year old stot at 9 pounds the 20th. Alexr. Mciver blasted the 16th., capital dray weather and sewing general. Alexr. Mciver died here the 31st. at fifteen minuts one oclock morning aged 67, he was about Midthird about 47 years herding cattle, I have had him four years keeping mine. He was the most shortsome and pleased creature I ever had. Thair was rain the 28th. to the end. Thomas Strachan, Whirlhead, died the 31st. of small pocks.
April 1849.
Begins with high winds and weighty rain on to the 4th. I have 9 ricks and one halph of bear, a deal of hay and selling torneeps, I have still the most of my oat crop to dispose of. The common prices; oats for seed 16s. to 17s., meall from 10 to 12shs. Thair was a ditcher fellow ravished, or tryd to do it, a little girl of 14 years with one legg in the wood oposite the manse. She was the daughter of one Read, a contractor from Fochabers and was staying at the end of Lockpark. The minester and greve of Ardbrack relieved hir and sent for the police and sent him to Banff. We have had rough winds with sleet and rain for the 14 days, I sold Maislie 20 quarters of oats at 15shs, per qur. to make room in my loft to keep and turn the reast. Sleet the 15th., the 19th. the day of the Keith market a complete blowing the whole day. Peter Gordon, Cabbachs, was stopped hear the roads is requiring cutting. I sold Reekie 15 stots, 10 at 9 pounds-7-6 and 5 at 7 pounds-7 the 19th., storme the whole day. We took home our guano from Rothes, I ton at 10 pound-10, peruvien, dreadful weather.
May 1849.
This month come in with cold easterly drught. Our neep land cross plowed and harrowed the 13th. and I paid my rent the 5th. because I would pay no road money until rent time, verry rainy weather the 16th. and on to the 21st. with cold and little grouth. Oats from 15s. to 16shs. per 42 lb., meal, 12s-6d., I have 5 ricks yet with hay a plenty. Mickle Meg the 22nd. little Meg and some neeps sown the 24th. in this place. The fees high the 25th., I have Taylor and William Buie at 8 pounds-5, Jas Bremner at 4 pound. Verry drughty weather on to the end.
June 1849.
Begins with drought and no grouth, the grass that is eaten over is not growing. The 13th., the day of June market, James Peterkin (83) fell down dead eating his denner in a house in Keith and died in three minuts and was buried on Friday the 15th. in the Churchyard of Deskford. The 16th. a good deal of rain which will be worth more nor all Botriphnie is worth, cold with rain on to the 23rd. Our neeps al! sown the 25th., oats 17 and 16 per 42lb., sold Maislie 20 qurs. oats at 17shs. pr. 42lb., rain and cold on to the end.
July 1849.
Begins with raw weather. Howed our potatos the 1st. and 2nd., ower thin. Repairing the but end of the house the 5th, and 6th., the 7th. I saw some barley shotting of George Rosses, ours hardly covering the clod yet. Casting some fire the 7th., we was graveling the close the 5th. and 6th. Oats now 17shs. per qur of 42lb. We began to hoe torneeps the 12th., all ready, weety the 25th. and 26th. The ley oats and aval shotting and only begining in the furrows. Corn now £1 per 42 lb., no fire drove this time and our potatos a verry thin crop, bad, bad. All the neeps hoed the 30th.
Agust 1849.
Begins watery and cold and so on to the 3rd. .John (84) and Isabell McWillie here at Glass market, hind from Gamrie. Weety on to the 11th., canot get neeps hoed the second time and no fire drove the 20th. Our bear turning at this time and the clean ground still shooting. John McWillie, my brother from Gamrie the 15th and 16th. I sold George Rutherford a doup of hay the 15th. at 16 pound-10, our hay cut the 13th. and 14th. The 1st. the oats was l pound the 16th. they were 19shs. per 42lb. Cattle low at this time and Collies like to sit the Britchen the 6th. or 7th. he was by the factor sequesterated.
September 1849.
Begins verry warm with dewey mornings, some frost the night of the 6th. and 7th., the 12th. and 13th. terrible rain the whole 12th., most of the 13th., the 14th. and 15th. capital. General cutting the 14th., I sold 15 qurs. and 2b., oats at 18 pr qur. the 14th. meall 13shs., we began to cut some bear the 15th. and oats the 16th. Our avel and one halph of our ley cut the 24th., all ways weety or a rank dew every morning, none lead in this place as yet the 25th., we are halph done cutting the 28th. and took in four ricks the 29th. but was brock with rain at 2 Oclock. George Garden, Westertoon and Alexander Humphray was both made elders the 30th., rain with some haill the potatos all going wrong. Geo. McWillie Midthird.
October 1849.
Begins cold, the second a good storm, thair was as hard frost that a cart could not mark the groand. We had 13 ricks the night of the 5th., the frosts was the 3rd., 4th., 5th. and 6th., sleety and rain on to the 13th., we have about one and one halph acres to cut of lying corn the 13th., all taken in the 20th. High winds and fine fresh weather, our potatos up the 27th., all the kidnys diseased, our harvest people off the 29th.
November 1849.
Begins with fine weather, plowing going fast on to the 6th. about 3 inchs of storm, all of the 8th. and capital weather 13th. and oats 13s and 13-6d. per 40 lb. A thanksgiving the 8th. and a fast day the 15th. for abeatment of the Cholera. The 23rd. an awful rain the whole day and then on to the 28th. a great frost. I bought 2 stots from Paul Grant the 27th at £25-10 and one from John Gauld at £5-5, oats 13shs. per 40 lb. meall lls-6d pr boll, frost on to the end.
December 1849.
The first fresh and so on to the 4th, the day of the anual plowing match in the Mill of Holl park, 23 plows showrs of snow that day and the next but then fresh and rain. Cottertoon poind by Dr. Taylor the 11th. and a petition signed by the parishionrs for a reduction of rent the 11th. The oats only 12s-6d per 40 lb. A new merchant came to the Ludge, the name of Anderson the 13th. We have now rough winds with rain and sleety showrs on to the end of the month, the 28th. terrible blowing.
Henry Perterkin RN=26 born September 19th, 1878 at Caithness, Scotland. Joined the North West Police in Scotland, travelled to Canada serving in a number of areas in Canada His last assignment was in Agqassiz, BC. The photo shows his wife, two daughters and sister in law Ann McWillie in spotted dress. Ann McWillie married a James Peterkin and their marriage is recorded In Dec, 1835 of these diaries.
January 1850.
Begins with snow, John Strathdee, Blackmure,
was cut of the stone, thair was 5 the size of marbles the 1st. We milled 37 and
one halph bolls of meall at this time, selling about 10shs-6d to 11s., beef a
good price, so is the eggs, 8d. and the butter 8d. The minester of Cabrach died
about the begining of the month and Alexander Robertson, old smith, died the
12th. On Monday and the 14th. a weighty snow, thair was three days this week we
could not water our cattle for blowing betwixt the 18th. and 19th. the front of
our byrs was blown up as high as the walls. We have used the flails in place of
the mill. the water being blown out. I drew a tooth to Dr. Taylor the 14th., he
would pay nothing but do the same for me but I declined in the meantime.
George McWillie (85), was up from Gamrie the week of Youle,
the toll road cut the 18th. but quite blown up the 19th. The 21st. the snow all
off but the deep wreaths, we got two days plowing this week then hard frost on
to the end.
February 1850.
Begins fresh with high winds, we have 20 ricks the 2nd., frost with stormy showrs on to the 9th. George Gauld and me went to Deskford the 8th. and came home the 11th. frost and snow, fresh the 15th and 16th. plows going. We killed our mart the 18th. and Willies ewie died the 19th., Betty Moggach (86), died the 9th. and Jas Humphrays wiffe died middle of January. Gay rough weather and prices of grain 13s-6d per 40 lb., bear about 18s per 52 lb. and potatos 1 pound, ours is nearly all rotten. Some oats sown in the parish of Keith and Glass in the end of this month.
March 1850.
Begins with good weather and some grouth in the neep heads, a wood roup the 2nd., gay cheap wood. Thair is different people sown some here the 8th., we have not begun, we are begun to plow our torneep ground the 7th. I have just 14 ricks and a whole sow of hay the 11th. We began sowing the 11th. and had all our ley and awvel sown and harrowed the 19th. without a brack, rainy the 20th., we have now 14 ricks. Torneeps growing fast now, snow the 23rd., the 24th. hard blowing. Took home two tons guano, Peruvian, the 26th. at £10-5 per ton, still frost and snow on to the 27th., the snow mostly of the 30th. which was one of the desperate days of wind to be remembered. The wind about plate south, it took the thach of our shead past Linmore, the likest thing to a flock of skeate of any thing ever you saw, it likways hashed all our mud thach most desperate. I have just 12 ricks now and a deal of hay.
April 1850.
**** and the 7th. of Nonintrusion. The 1st and second high winds and verry cold and quaieter the 3rd. Done sowing the 13th. but where the torneeps is, weety weather. I have sold twelve stots at this time, I have about £2-2-6 per head, I have still four fine humble ones I will grass some time. Verry weety weather from the 14th. to the 23rd., I have still 9 ricks the 23rd. Oats selling from 12shs. to 13shs. and meall from 10s-6d to 11shs., our crop all laid down Monday the 29th., we have some grass seeds to sow, we must roll it in because the oats is too far sprung, the 30th. sleety showrs.
May 1850.
Begins verry weet and stormy, frost sleet and snow for the first eight days. Our potatos set the 4th., sleet and snow the 6th., we have 7 ricks, a good hay sow and about 70 loads of neeps yet. The 8th. and 9th. as hard frost as at Youl, no grouth, extreme cold, all our torneeps land cross plowed 10th. Peter Murray came here the 2 days. A great rain the 25th. but then excellent weather, verry warm and grouthy. My men; Wm. Taylor and Geo. Simpson and James Bremner and our Willie and Willy Scott for cow billy. We sowed the first of our neeps the 28th., our Glack, 7 acres all done the 31st. The provest of Linmore broak this month and so did the minester Mr. Masson.
June 1850.
Begins verry, verry warm, the most part of the ley corn in all the parishes round the place verry thin with the Torry but I think the frost and snow did a good deal. Many has sown bear and some plowed it down and sown bear. We sowed the first of the torneeps the 29th. May, we have 7 acres in the Glack besides the Claggans 15 acres. I paid £1 to the tollman for spreading dung on the Claggans. Capital weather and grouthy but drughty from the 19th. to the 29th. sunshine with high winds. We was done sowing neeps the 18th. The bear is putting forth the awens the 28th. on our Dinniercom. Driving my fathers fire the 29th., I have five old ricks and about 50 qurs. oats in the barn.
July 1850.
This month begins with some shown. We began to hoe torneeps the 5th. in the uppermost end of the Glack, thair is some of the oats begining to shoot about the 7th. The minester has signed his trusdeed a month ago, thair is not many Sundays but he stops reading in the midst of the serman and Williain his son getting in to the school for schoolmaster, Mr. Cameron has resigned and gets the house and the garden and salery with £150 from the Ducks Trustees. I think the most of the parish has something against him for Dommonie. Our Tibby got badly about the 24th. of June, she is now some better. I sold Mr. Cantlie,, Keithmore, 20 qurs. oats at 17s. per 40 lb. the 4th. and Geo. Garden eight humble stots the 2nd. at £8-10 pr head the 8th., rather weety we stopped hoeing neeps, rather weety. Betty and Taylors rather rash, they are both off together in a gig to Deskford the 6th. The great Sir Robert Peel, Free Trader, died the 2nd. July. The oats and white rose that weak from 3s to 5s. per toaster that week. The last 3 weeks of July terrible warm with drught.
Agust 1850.
Begins with verry, verry warm weather, the oats fully shot the first and the bear growing quite yellow, our neeps all hoed the first time the 26th. July, nearly done the second time the 6th. Agust. Our hay all colled the 3rd., some showrs of rain, doing much good. Oats 18s. to £1 pr 42 lb. I was taking by wood the 5th. for a new kitchen, the crop of Linmore let to harvest the 5th. at 7s-6d per scotch acre to cut lead and thach. The massons come to build our kitchen the 15th., verry weety weather on to 20th. which was watery with haill showrs with us but the upthrough hills and Tibbyrinnes white the whole day. Our Jean (87), had a daughter the 20th. about ten o'clock at night. The oats in this place is nearly a ready to cut. The 22nd. in the afternoon weighty rain and great rain with verry high thunder. Our kitchen near at the livel, a good many people began cutting the 30th. and 31st.
September 1850.
Begins with capital weather, our harvest people came home the 2nd, & cut our bear. Our kitchen slated out the 6th. and we all went in to dwell in it that afternoon, we was in to it before the slates was all on. Our avel all cut and in the 13th, we have 13 ricks, the most of our ley cut & the third of our clean ground the 18th. the day of Summersfair. Verry, verry warm and dray the past 14 days, oats 15s-6d. to 16s. per 40 lb., done cutting the 26th. & 31 ricks in. A meeting of the minesters creditors the 27th., the debt is £2,200 & £30. Rough winds with heavy rain the morning of the 28th. Our crop all in the 4th. of October.
October 1850.
Begins high winds. Our corn all in the 4th and our harvest people away the 8th, verry weety and all our people quite drunk. We began to plow the 9th, verry weety weather now, not a dray day. Our winter cattle, 16 in number, baund up about the 15th, getting neeps two times a day. All our land for clean crop plowed and 4 acres avell and began our ley the last day of the month.
November 1850.
Begins cold and weety, John Burges of Cachenhead died the 2nd. and our new school was taken up about three weeks ago & has four scholars, Wm, Masson, our minesters son, is school master. Our plowing match the 7th, 23 plows on Mill of Towie, 18 men took denner. Next day verry rough and cold, Jean Mitchell (88), burnt hir foot, the 23rd. good weather.
December 1850.
Begins with the land white with snow but fresh the 3rd, good plowing weather on to the 17th, our ley all plowed the 9th. and one halph of our avel done the 14th. The Admirels house took fire from the stove the 12th, it was discovered in good time and the fire quinched. Oats 15shs. per 40 lbs, for the past three weeks & potatos £2-5 per ton. James George, Drummuir, told Peter the factor kiss his a-rs for a B-gh-r coming to pay his rent the 20th. Some got discount of five per ct. and some got none. Beautifull fresh warm weather now the 21st, onto the 24th. Our horses going to Portgordon the 25th. with potatos to Westertoon. I have been ill with a sore back this month past & little better, Agnes Shearer (89), my aunt, died the 27th, and buried the 31st, some thunder at the 30th.
January 1851.
Begins fine fresh weather but we have had that through the winter, rather watery sometimes. James Riach, Drumgrain, died the 5th. I lived on the end of his house at Cachenhead for 25 years. George Garden, Westertoon, and me went to Gamrie the 13th. and came home the 15th rough cold weather. The 16th. terrible high wind and Sunday the 19th. terrible wind and the 20th. too, rather watery on to the 26th. I have 18 ricks now and 16 fattening stots 8 humble and 8 horned and the bull. Oats 15shs. per 40lb. and meall 12shs. per bol.
February 1851.
Begins with hard frost, and some showrs of haill. I sold my bull at £ 9-9 to James Hey the first. Our plowing all done the 27th. of January but the clean ground. Capital weather on to the 18th. on which the Admiral sowed on Ardbrack. All our clean land plowed into the neeps the 19th. I bought a fat quoy for mart from Jas. Riach, Drumgrain, at £ 5. Good weather on to the end.
March 1851
Begins with fine spring weather some sleety showrs the 5th. and 6th. Our plowing done but where the torneeps is the 5th. Sold four stots the 8th. fat £10-15 and bought 2 at £30-15 the 12th. Some frosty nights. We began sowing the 14th., we had all our awvel sown and harvested the 18th., frosty mornings with cold intermixed, The shaudels (90) for the population came out about the 3rd. The 18th after two o'clock wind rain and sleet. The 19th. cold with sleety showrs, the white snow lying about one inch deep, verry rainy weather and cold on to the 26th. John Gauld sold ten stots the 25th. £ 8-15 per head,
April 1851.
I sold my winter stots £ 10-5 per head and two of them at £32-10. rather cold with slight frosts, 8 ricks the 17th, about 6 in the Glack to sow of clean land. Oats from 16s. to 16s.-6d., meall 12s.-6d to 13shs. Some sowing the 19th. and then rain and snow on to the 28th. which was a great snow but rain the 29th. and on to the 30th. The land weter nor it was all the winter,
May 1851.
Begins with rain and sleet and cold. Taking our fire wood the 1st, and taking it home the 2nd. Our Domani given up the school the first. Oats 17shs, and meall 14shs. I have but six ricks at this time, a gay sow of hey and a good deal of headed neeps. Our Isabella ill for the past three weeks. Jean McWillie, William Taylor, mickle Betty and little Bettie all ill at this time the 14th. The minester has not been able to preach the last Sabbath of March and the first Sabbath of April and but halph and halph since the month of February 1850. Still cold with snow and sleet and haill the 4th. The population of Botriphnie taken the 31st. of March 1851. Geo McWillie, Midthird District, 28 houses and people 140. Drummuir District houses 36 and people 183. Westertoon District, houses 28 and people 159. Bodinfinach District, houses 27 and people 143. Bellyhack, houses 15 and people 88. and total 713 males and famels. The two last Sabbaths of April and the two first of May we had nothing but a chapter and singing. The second of May we went all home owing to the minester dishealth. Dray weather the 6th. on to the 12th. cold with showrs on to the twentieth, our cattle out to grass the 20th. the halph of our torneep land formed and some dung out the 27th. Jas Bremner fee £5-15, Alex. Dawsons fee £6-17-6. We was just one hour in Church and 25 minutes of a discourse the 8th. of June.
June 1851.
Rather rainy about the 1st, and cold winds, the lowmost winering of the Barfauld sown in neeps the 6th. Our Torneep dung all out the 10th, we have about three acres of dung to spread but rain haill and sleet from tenth to the seventeenth high winds cold and no grouth, dray the morning of June market rain next day the 20th. we sowed all our torneeps. Mr. Cook was riding in Dufftoon the 20th. still cold with rain and white haill. George McWillie of Hungryhills was here the 20th. and 21st. we are cutting some fire in the Glack at this time. Oats at this time £1-3 per 42 lbs, Robert Stewart left Belnyscoug at the term and went to the Glack a croft on the Duck and his father came to Scoug. The 27th., 28th., 29th. and 30th. terrible warme.
July 1851.
Begins verry warm. Our turfs set the first thair was a man killed with a horse and cart at Craigellachie the name of McWilliam. The beard just appearing on our bear the 3rd. Storm and haill the 8th., we hoed some neeps the 8th. The oats from £1-3 to £1-4 per 42 lbs. The furnbreas shotting but still little grouth. I was summoned on Jury the 16th. to Banff on the 24th. One Carr from Tarmore took the lowmost haugh of Linmore in grass from the Admiral, he has had 3 cattle died in it. Thair was two Ferriers took up two of them after they were five weeks buried to inspect them to see what was the cause of death. I seed them taken up, dissected and thair haggeses carried of in a cart to be analised. Still cold rain with haill showrs. Taylor Robertson son taken to Banff for beatting one Hugh Day or Dey. The 21st. terrible cold but quite warme the 22nd, and 23rd. I was at Banff on a Jury Court the 24th. Alexander Taylor, Rosarie, died the 30th. and Elisbeth Strathdee the 29th. at Blackmure. Still verry weet weather on to the end of the month,
Agust 1851.
The first a dray day and we began to cut our hey, the neeps not hoed out the first time, Glass market good. A new schoolmaster the first of this month the name of Grigor, the minester and Lord Fife put him in against the Admiral and the parish, but he gars him pay £2 for the timber school. Our hey all colled the 7th, verry warm and dray since the first of the month. The Oats not nearly shoot yet - Oats £1-3 to £1-4 per 42 lbs. herrings 6d, per 20, large sizes. Oats giving from £1-3-6 to £1-4 per 42lb. Bear just begining to change color here the 28th. Cutting begun in some districts, our hey taken in the 29th. Capital weather just now, just begining to drive home fire, repairing dyke and road at back of bire, good weather and traying the potatos,
September 1851.
Begins with good filling weather and so on to the 10th. We had a white frost for the past few mornings, some bear almost ready about the middle of the parish Oats a little back in price this few days and potato desease in many places. Alexander Robertson has got three months in Joil for giving one Hugh Day a bit of a thrashing We began cutting the 16th. and harvest people came home the 18th, and 19th., not general cutting in this parish. Mr. Jn. and George Gauld and me at Birkenburn the 18th. guay gray frosts in the mornings, bought 7 quoys at £8 per head the 17th. Terible warm for the past 6 days, all our avel and 3 acres of clean ground cut the 24th., 25th. and 26th. wind rain haill and cold, thrashing out an old rick,
October 1851.
Rough with showrs, we lead the first of our crop the 3rd. just 4 ricks but then a great rain and rough winds with the hills white with snow. On to the 7th. whean I wrote this a great rain and cold. The 10th. lead 4 ricks the first taken in on Monday the 13th. Rose at twelve o'clock lead all day, on Tuesday at twelve and all day and all night, on the 15th. could do no leading for wind. Cut out a small laying patch at prestons and took in all the rest on the 16th. and 17th. nearly 50 ricks besides a howack of peas. Dufftoon market the next day. Our harvest people away the 27th. Yoaked the plow the 27th., the 29th. high wind haill and rain. The minester has two shifts of oats out yet. Mr. Grigor our new schoolmaster did not pass his examination by the presbetery and away about the 11th. Our cattle on neeps and straw.
November 1851.
Begins quaiet and fresh with rain each day to the 8th., at 12th. stubble rather weet for plowing. Began our ley the 12th. and to cut a run for the burn betwixt Midthird and Blackmure. Mr. James Cirmichal, Bomiekelloch, died the 12th, and buried at Glass the 15th rain and sleet and the 16th. haill sleet and wind the whole day. Betty Strachan died about the 7th. in Tennantoon. The term day wind and sleet, feed Jas Bremner at £5-5, George Simpson £6-6. The 24th. quaiet and frosty. Our plowing match was to take place the 17th., a stormy day, ten plows attended and after feering was put home from Drummuir we took our denner because it was made ready. The minester has still about two acres corn to take in.
December 1851.
Begins with some snow but good fresh about the 6th. the day the minester corn was taken in, its of little use. We have all our lay plowed the 17th., beautifull weather and so on to the 20th. Jean McDonald died at Mains of Towiebeg the 12th. Our rents paid the 18th. Saturday the 27th. I stopped the road contractor from driving stones out of the quarry on the banks of Burnend for the toll road untill damages would be paid for past six years and the present for 1852. We have most beautifull weather to the end of the month which is a little frosty.
George's wife Betty had a brother who farmed Langtanburn farm at Deskford. They had a son John McWillie who married Anne Sutherland whose parents farmed Craibstone farm and are the authors grandparents.
January 1852.
Begins with quaiet clear weather and hard frost, driving out dung for torneeps out on Haggieshaw. On Thursday the first plowing match on Drummuir, 20 plows, my Taylor the sixth and Geo. Simpson the 9th. The 7th. a beautifull day and not a cloud in the air but some cracks of thunder about 12 o'clock and or three the ground white with snow. The 8th. some snow but the plows going, the 9th. a great wind and dreadfull drifting, our bire doors not opened to eleven o-clock, our mill stopped to the 15th. Mostly of the land that is level no snow but the hallows and about houses is aful. The road cutting the 13th., 14th. and 15th. Some fresh plows going the 22nd. My brother John here the 22nd., high winds and Saturday the 24th, terrible high, some thunder the afternoon of the 24th. Our new schoolmaster entered the 13th. the name of Mr. Robb. We have had James of Newmill for the past 14 days storm bound. Mrs. Stuart Linmore died the 30th.
February 1852.
Begins with terrible high winds and cold, still plowing getting on and the oats selling at 17shs. per 40lb. Cattle dear and especially fat from 6s-6d to 7sh. per dutch stone. I have 25 good ricks. The 3rd. at seven shooting matches, I have twenty prises. Mr. Masson back from London. The new bakehouse began work the 12th. Good weather about this time, all our plowing done but the clean ground. The Goodwife of Linmore died the last day of January and Mr. William Taylor Esqr., Surgeon, Dufftoon, my doctor and most intimate aquaintance died the 15th, February. He was greatly respected when alive and greatly lamented at death. Paid our long carraige of browsed oats and hay to Elgin the 24th. James Dunbar verry ill of inflamation the 22nd., he is gamekeeper to Duff, Drummuir. I took Wm, Masson, minester son, at Ardbrack on Sunday morning at one o'clock drunk with his fathers two horses and took him to the factor, Mr. Hammond, he is a great blackguaurd as in this parish. The Admiral has sent Mr. Morrison a letter to keep a more regular house and shut shop at nine o'clock for the forgoing riot. The 28th. and 29th. high winds with snow.
March 1852.
Begins with snow. I was seeing George Gauld the first. Stormy the 2nd., the snow all away the 8th. dray cloudy weather on to the 15th. the day we sowed the first of the oat seed, all our ley sown and harrowed the 18th. William Masson broak two school windows the 8th., was summoned to Banff the 16th. and was fined £5, it was paid by John McWillie, Hungryhills, or he would have got 28 days in joil, on the 17th. he got himself drunk again and broak his fathers gig. The 19th. and 20th. hard frosty mornings with high winds. Oats 19 per 40 lbs. and meall 13shs. I sold our fat quoys and one stot to Mr. Barrie, Stonehaven, the 5th. all our oats sown but clean land the 23rd. and a tooth taken out of my own head the 24th. The 8th. or fifth Sunday of lent Mr. Masson read about one halph of his paper John the 17th. Chp. 4vs., he read 17 minutes, we was in church just 62 minutes. Hard frost and some snow.
April 1852.
Begins capital weather, done sowing the 3rd. all but an acre of torneeps William Masson left the parish the 2nd. and high time. I have about 15 ricks and 45 foot of hay sow. Seed oats £1 to £1-2 clover seed 7d to 7 l/2d., ryegrass 2shs-6d. to 3sh. John Millne, Ryel, died the 8th., he was driver of the coach twixt Keith and Banff, took ill at Banff and died of three days illness aged 23. This is beautifull dray weather with some frosty mornings, our first sown in briard, great drught and as warme as the month of June and great grouth in grass and corn for the past three weeks, George Gauld verry, verry poorly the 13th. Mr. George Gauld, Bommiekelloch, died the 27th. April, 1852 and was buried the 30th. at Glass. He was my only companion and intimate aquaintance for many years and most intelligent man in the parish. Mr. Masson had a row with the schoolmaster Dr. Robb 27th. and got the police the 29th, out of illwill and was in the wrong himself Dr. R the 29th and 30th. shit himself the 28th. quite common. I leave church I leave church. James Mitchell, Parkmore (him and father had it 114 years) roup the 5th. May. I bought his gig and harness. We had one showr of rain the 29th. the whole month none besides.
May 1852.
Begins verry drughty and verry warme, our cattle out to grass the 3rd, and Jas. Mitchell, Parkmore roup the 5th. High winds the 8th and 9th. a fox hunting the 8th. I was not at church the 9th. owing to the minesters nasty manners, he has taken a blew or blackness in the chin and throat owing to drink. Sweddish torneeps sown on Ardbrack the 5th. Monday the 10th. got of our fire ground, some rain in the morning, the afternoon most terrible wind. Sold Maislie 26 qurs oats at 17sh.-6d. per 40lb and Mr. Geo Kynoch 10 qurs. the same. The wind afull just now, a slight showr the 12th., high winds with flying showrs the 13th. Sowed some sweddish neeps the 11th., cut some fire the 12th. cold. The parson drank four glass of brandy the 13th. with Anderson in Morrison Inn. Great drought on to the 26th., hard frost the 24th, and 25th., we have ten acres of neeps sown the 26th. and mud thaching our barn now. Scarcety of grass and water and great crying for rain. Jannet Willson, Mains of Bellyhack, died the 23rd. A very weighty rain with haill between the 18th and 19th. The 19th. was very cold with showrs mixed with haill, all our dung out but about 30 loads. The 20th. I bought four small stots from John Ord at £5-15d per head, we had two soacks broak ower at the neck and one almost gone, all with burning in the laying. I am very angry.
June 1852.
Begins some cold with wind, the potatos through the ground the 1st. all our torneeps sown out the 8th. above the town. I was at the Church of Mortlach the 6th. Cattle dear, verry dear at this time. Oats 17sh-6d. pr 40lb. The 10th., 11th., and 12th. rainy with high winds. Morrison the merchant proposed coming down the 11th., the minister went to borrow a £1 from Mr. Hammond, he gave him 11shs. not in hopes of payment - George McWillie. Weighty thunder showrs for the past ten days. Granny of Langlanburn (9l), came here the 21st. and went home the **?. Our Isabella beadfast for the past 16 days. Great grouth for the past three weeks, bear shotting the 23rd, and howing neeps the 25th. rather weighty rain with thunder. M. George McWillie.
July 1852.
Begins verry warme and great grouth, oats shooting verry fast. I forgot jas. Duff M.P. was here with other four canvasers the 25th. June. The house and kitchen of the Manse is repairing at this time. Oats selling from 17s. to 17-6d. per 40lb. A meating of Mr. Morrisons creditors the end of June. Mr. Masson preached 21 minutes and took refreshment of guid kens fat twice, I doubt whisky. Extraordinary warme the 15th. and 16th. the days of polling for Mr. McDowall Grant, Arndilly, and James Duff, Duff has gained 22 majority as far as I know. Mr. Thomson, Keith minister and Mr. Jamison, Grange, after promising Arndilly not to poll at all did so for Duff. Mr. Masson promised to both and told elders and many more he would not poll at all, afterwards he geid we Duff, this is the minester of Botriphnie. Our neeps all hoed the first time 17th. My brother (92) had a young son called Benjamin, died in Gamrie the Tuesday the 13th., this is the 4th. son dead. Verry warme, terrible the 17th. and some thunder with dreadfull rains, only clouds here and thair, The bear in general weall turned some patches, the neeps is covering the driells, verry light hay crop, still terrible warme. I have had a sore breast or side for past ten days.
Agust 1852.
Begins terrible warme and great grouth. The Admiral had a ewie had a lamb in the end of winter and lamed another the first of Agust. Mr. Hammond, Factor, lying ill at Mance of Boharm the 10th. John McWillie (93) Langlanburn, here the 7th. Verry Verry warme with thunder and weighty thunder showrs for the past 3 weeks. Oats 15s-6d per 40 lbs., cattle verry dear. Our fast day the 11th., no word of the Sacrement but toakens would be distributed on Saturday and on Sunday no word, but the Church doors would be opened tomorrow at the usual time. He had not two drinks the time of the service with a verry wild appearance, the Prescentor was neither of the days. Saturday the 14th. I was at the Mance of Boharm seeing our factor, rather rainy now but quite warme. Our Sacrement the 15th., the minister got on weall with the text-9 Phil 2nd chap. 5 verse with but two drinks, he fenced the first table with the presenter holding the bible for him and served the first table, then gave out the 103 psalm then went out, came in again. When the second table was full went out again, came in bade the presenter get on with the singing went out, came in and went out again then one elder and then another till they all went out, I went out too. I took a smock with many others, at last Mr. Tompson came out at qur. past two o-.clock, John Ord told him be was verry wealcome as thair could be nothing done more without him. Mr. Masson sat the second table with the appearance of great fatigue and then went home. in twenty five minutes returned with a verry dejected appearance, sat down and had the appearance of resting on nettles. Many expected nothing else of him than what happened. The elders, four in number, are John Ord, George Garden, James George and Alexander Humphray, remaining dumb dogs. We had general harvest the 20th., rather watery from the 20th. to the 25th. Our Glack above the road and one halph of the Banks cut the 25th., always quite warme and all our oats ready, warme and dray on to the end. The Factor died the 29th.
September 1852.
Begins verry warme and dray, we lead the first of our crop the second, 11 ricks in the 4th. done cutting the 6th. Our factor carried home dead the 30th. Agust and was buried the 3rd. Sptr., a verry respected fellow all the parish asked to the funeral. Our new factor, John Grant, came to Botriphnie the day before the other was interred, he was 28 years of age, poor Hammond. 30 ricks the 9th, terrible warme to the 11th. then cold with rain and haill on to the 14th. about one halph of our clean ground oats to take in yet. Isabell rather ill for the past eight days. The battle of Philipshaugh the 14th. 1645 just 207 years ago. The Admiral offered the Nonintnisionists a stance for a Church at the Greens at this time. The neeps all white in the shaws and shooting. Our harvest work all done and our people away the 23rd., the plow yoaked the 23rd. Geo. McWillie. A great deluge of rain the 31st.
October 1852.
The first day a deluge of wind and rain to the afternoon. Our cattle bound up the 5th. The Fidddichside gathering the 6th, at the new castle of Balvenie. Cattle high prices; three year olds polld good from £10 to £12, and two year olds from £7 to £9. Oats 15-6 for 40lb. I sold the first of new oats the 1st. 20 qurs. 42 lbs., the 7th. and 8th. merchant Morrisons roup. Cold, haill, sleet and rain with wind, it began the 6th. and 7th. and the 14th. and 15th. good weather on to the 26th. We was building a new boilhouse the 24th, and 25th. then a deal of rain, wind and some sleet. I bought three quoys at Keith at £21-7-6, verry small. Jean McWillie (94), died the 15th. of September 1852 aged 39, she was born 1813 February 21st. and died upper Canada near Ancaster, I was born 25th, Febry. 1802, Isabell still verry poorly the 30th. On the 31st. Betty (95) and William Taylor went to Deskford to see her mother. The potatos a poor crop and a great many of them rotten. Alex. Stewart had a young son born to him about the 20th, of Jas Humphreys oldest daughter, Stewart of Linmore I mean. George McWillie 31 Octr.
November 1852.
The first begins with verry high wind, our horse at tarnash with 20 qurs. oats and taking home a load of coals and another of sleats. The oats 15 per 40lb. and from £5 to £6 per ton of potatos. The first at three o'clock begining to rain along with high wind. I have put away 52 qurs. of oats at this time. Cold with rain and some sleet the 18th. and snow about 20th. Wm.Taylor, foreman, Jas, Bremner second. Wm. Mciver, first cattleman and Alex. Bremner second ditto. Jean Gordon first lass. The 26th. terrible wind and rain, 27th. fresh and quiet and frosty. Isabella verry ill with her throat for the past 14 days. One cow calved the 26th. November 1852.
December 1852.
Begins with verry mucky weather the land terrible weety. The merchants plowing the 7th. watery on to the 15th. a deall of thunder about 4th. and 5th. Oats selling from 15s-9d to 16shs. rents the 16th. Isabella terrible with cough and spitting up from the 17th. to the 20th., the doctor all night the night of the 20th. Terrible rainy with some snow the night of the 16th, ditto 19th. but then rain, rain. The 25th. and 26th. cold with snow, I have but 4 ricks and one sow of old straw. The 16th. a lad Millne from Bodinfinnach was informed on by John Gray, Blackpots, for poaching on Drummuir and was fined five shillings and £4 expenses. Them that has this book after my death can read this to John Grays descendants to let them know they are come of a paid informer and is in connection with no Church. Begining to plow avel the 27th. some weet, the 31st. Friday or Newyearseven dray but high wind.
January 1853.
Begins dray but high wind, the 2nd. and our New Years sermon and I have no dout but thair has many hard it that will not see the end of it, the text: Jeremiah the 8th. and 20th and 21st. vrs. The 5th. or first day of old yule high wind, the 6th. frosty till 3 o'clock then sleet all the afternoon. The 7th. a terrible day of wind and sleet to 2 P.M. Isabella always verry poorly. I have about 19 ricks and about two of old straw, frost and slippy roads the 14th. The 13th. one Christie hung at Aberdeen. About four inches of snow the 16th. Oats 16s-6d pr 40 lbs, and beef 7s to 7s-6d pr stone Dutch. The British navy 1st. January 1853 is 545 ships, men 140,000, 2000 boys, 15000 marines. Cold 17th. and 18th. fresh and plows going the 20th. some frost and the ground gray the 23rd. and I was leading at Mr. Andersons the 19th., real windy that night. The 29th. began to drive dung, driving mettle from Shean Park the 1st. of February, long carriage.
February 1853.
Begins neither frost nor fresh, between the two. I put away a cow 14 days ago and the bull and five fat quoys the 1st. and 2nd. Have but 16 ricks with hay 7th. Plowing going on from the 1st. to the 5th. About the year 40 and 43-44 and 46 the he and she nons here and other parishes, awful religious. Jas. Wilson, Mireward, Bellyhack, was put from the Nonintrusion Church for holding the annual ball in his barn. Weall this year a raffle of whiskey at John Dices, Deacon and do. at Greens in Burges barn and one of whiskey, snuff and tobacco in Braeheads barn, that good a man that he was never in the Church of Botriphnie but at the Inn always 6 to 8 times per day, no Robertson. The guid Nons is a pishing buy the Bowie now. Oats 16s. and 6 pr 40 lbs. at Portgordon, snow came on the 8th. and snowing every day on to the 16th. Flags, hail and frost and deep snow, our mill always going with the south running wall stripe, the Glack water blown out from the 10th. to the 16th. We routed out a bigg Ash tree the 15th. that stood at the back of the bires. I suppose it stood thair since the Flood. Great snow the 23rd. compleet blowing, Mr Georges man with 2 casks of Barm for Distillery stopped from Dufftoon. The snow 18 inches deep in general the 25th., I was at Dufftoon the 27th. for Mr. Cocker to see the little pegg mare not weall. Isabella still verry poorly. All the roads closs this 14 days past,
March 1853.
Begins with great deep snow, we have but 12 ricks and one halph in the barn the 1st. Our mart cut down the first, took home some neeps the 4th, with a bigg 4 feet square box as a sledge with a rope. The 8th. freshy, the 9th. afull fresh. John Ord and me at Bomiekelloch, a terrible road coming home, both some top laden. John Ord sunk one of his legs in the snow and could not take it out, I put my staff below the bight of his leg and broke it without taking out the foot, as funny a job I ever had. Some fresh the 10th. and 11th. Got home some guano (96) one ton one qur. the 14th., the 15th, frost and blowing the 16th., the 17th. Fife Keith market I sold 2 quoys at £19. Deep snow the frost quite hard, driving out dung to the Banks the 18th. Mr. Cirmichal, Main of Davidstoons, eldest son died the 19th. Margaret Newlands, wife of Alexr. Masson, Souter at Linmore Toll, died the 19th. A weighty snow the 19th., I have just 9 ricks the 19th., fresh the 27th. and plows going the 30th. Our horses all ill but one at this time of influenzie.
April 1853.
Begins the 1st. high winds fresh and cold, we yoaked the plow with the oxen the 2nd., the first yoaking for the past seven weeks and 4 days on the fiddler haugh 7 ricks the 2nd. Some sown the 7th. in the parish, turned out a bad day with wind and rain. The 8th. wind sleet and rain. I sold Bomiekelloch 8 stots the 6th. at £82. Oats straw £1-9 to £1-12 pr qur., Oats per qur. 16s-d. pr. 40lb. and seed £1. The sowing general the 16th. we only the 18th. we sowed 16-1/2 qurs. in the Scoug shift quite dray but weet, wet before April market capital. Sold John Gauld 8 stots at £82 and to Wm. Bain old cow £6-10. We had 42 qurs. sown 23rd. quite dray, cold the 24th. with showrs of snow, about four acres of torneeps in the land yet. Grouth begining only in torneeps and grass looking a little green, Isabell always verry poorly. The Nonintrusion Church contracted the at Wm. Stronachs sawmill the 17th. in the verry dame at the top of the mill, stance cut the 26th. rough showrs of snow 26th. George Gauld died Bomiekelloch 27th. April 1852. Geo. McWillie
May 1853.
Begins with drught, the grouth begining. All our torneeps home the 3rd., all the oats sown the 4th., the grass seeds the 5th. The 7th. and 8th. hail, flags and sleet. John Addison, Davidstoon, married the 7th. William Taylor to Deskford for Bettys mother. The 8th. about 3 and 1/2 ricks and 3 weeks torneeps the 8th, set the potatos the 12th. drughty and verry cold. I took the Mill of Ardbrack in second years grass for £28. The 14th. no grass still cold drught, our cows and calves out to grass the 22nd., sowed the sweddish neeps the 26th, and sold an old cow at £8-10 and a year old at calving at £8. Still droughty, all the Banks ready for neeps and one halph drilled. Rain the 28th. William Taylor, first man, Jas Bremner, 2nd. £6-10. I had a pure bull calved the 29th.., my pony foaled a mare foal the 30th. Sowed the first of the neeps the 30th.., verry drughty but good grouth. Jas, Cruickshanks wiffe, Betty Stronach, died the 29th.
June 1853.
Begins verry drughty with frost at night, I wead all my onions and carrots the 1st, Isabella out the length of the garden and grannies the 1st. She was not out of the house since the middle of October, 7 and 1/2 months. Our men casting turfs the 4th., still verry drughty. I got a new one pound the 4th. made the twenty-six of May the North of Scotland Bank, I had it on the 4th. of June, Cattle terrible dear, good calves 4 to £5, good two year olds £9 to £10 and oats 17s-6d. pr 40 lbs. The minester did not preach the 5th. it was Mr. Thomson, Keith and Mr. Cruickshank, Mortlach. The 12th. Mr. Masson wants to set the Glebe. At this time still very drughty, all the banks of Burnend sown in neeps the 11th. Making four dozen pailing at this time. Isabella still verry poorly. Still great drought, a small rain at 7 oclock all night the 19th. quite warme. John Moggach at Mains died 13th. I was at Huntly market the 22nd., hard drught. Mostly all torneeps, both common and sweddish cut of about Huntly. My brother John here the 22nd. and 24th. The rain came weighty out on the evening of the 23rd., it has been worth full £3,000 to Botriphnie alone. Isabella verry poorly the 24th. Dr. Menzies here all night. Our neeps beautifull, driving my fathers fire the 23rd. The 24th. and 25th. weighty showrs, oats £1 per 40lb., howing neeps the 30th. Some of the bear heads and oats shootting the 30th. terribly short.
July 1853.
Begins verry drughty, great need for rain. The Nonintrusion Kirk the 1st, all split and rent, no building for the past 7 days, I doubt built on sand, I doubt its giving the people more trouble nor the preaching. Amen, The Nonintrusion Church condemned to be taken out at the foundation. The foundation deepened thirty inches and planking 3 inch thick laid in the bottom and was all built but one gavel top, the people like to eat thair thoumbs. Cattle back £1 per head at the 14th., oats £1-1 pr. 42lb. Our neeps on shift all hoed the 12th., good weighty weather rains now the 14th., grand grouthy weather on to the 23rd., all the oats and barly all shot. The old schoolmaster, Mr. Cameron, Peter died the twenty third of the month at six o'clock in the morning after being Fifty four years schoolmaster of Botriphnie. Extraordinary good fellow for eather giving or taking a dram, buried Mortlach, Robert Burns died the same time. I got a sting with a scape bee this day the 23rd. on the arm and all swelled and read as scarlet in the space of five minutes, extraordinary sick, near died. July the 27th. we colled our hay on the barfald, a light crop. Showry the 29th. our torneep shift almost hoed out the 29th. Harry Millne (97), died at Elgin the 26th., a cusin of my fathers, and buried the 30th. at Botriphnie. Put up the Admirals flag the 30th., the parson preached out of Job about 16 minutes the 31st.
Agust 1853.
Begins with some showrs the first and dray on to the 8th. Oats selling at £1-1 pr. 40 lbs. No grouth in the pasture grass, too dray, our hay built the 4th. Isabella still verry poorly, the 8th. canvassing for a schoolmaster. Hes an ill mannered lout, John Garrow, our orrow man, he glours in at the window as he goes past to his meat. William Taylor went to Buckie the 14th., cloudy, verry warme and dray. The 23rd. and 24th. great drught, some bear cut in Achendoun the 16th. and a dale of rain the 26th. and great need, the grass for cattle verry scarce. A great push for a schoolmaster about the 14th., Mr. Robb, the hilpenner schoolmaster, Alexander Curmichal, Celloch, and one Wear from Carnie all candidates for it. Masson the minester supporting the latter but pretends nothing but his great support to Mr. Curmichal, Bad, Bad. The 27th. and 28th. rainy and warme, repairing roads and the close bire stalls and bindings. Isabella still verry poorly, rain on to the end.
September 1853.
Begins cold with rain. Mr. Cameron roup the 3rd. rain and some rainy on to the 9th., our harvest people came home the night of the 9th. and cut bear and green thach all day then began the oats Monday the 12th. and the 13th. rainy. Our big white bull bound in three weeks ago we was obliged the 10th. to bind him by the ring of the nose with iron chain, but that settles the lad. Capital warme weather, we had two shifts cut and twenty stacks taken in the 23rd, and all cut the 29th. Rather watery with wind the past 6 days. John Cruickshank, a noted potcher, formerly in Glenheath, thrown out of a gig and killed the 24th., collecting game.
October 1853.
Begins very warme. We had in 23 ricks the 1st., on the 4th. lead four ricks of clean ground oats but verry bad condition not win. the 5th. great rain and wind, we bound in stots for feeding. The 6th, verry weighty rain and wind on to the 9th. The oats mostly all in in Botriphnie, we have full four acres of clean ground out at the foot of Haggishaw. A son of Wm. Innesses died at Sauchenward about the 1st. and a Ketty George cusin about the same time, I forgat our potatos the end of September. Isabella always veiry poorly the 9th. Our crop all in the 19th., verry watery, our harvest people away the 20th. The most of our torneeps shift plowed 21st. Oats from £1-2 to £1-5 pr. qur. Capital weather with high winds, plowing avel the 28th.
November 1853.
Begins with capital days, rather rough winds, plowing going on as if spring. I was elected member of the Board the second. Mr. Carmichal took up the parish school the 24th. October One thousand eight hundred and fifty three. Began plowing ley the 20th., capital weather. We had James Dunbar, our let gamekeeper here the 23rd. Oats £1-3 per 40lb. Capital weather during harvest, only about three nights frosts to this time. Capital weather on to the 28th. the day of the plowing match on the Claggens of Midthird, 23 plows, Wm.Moggach, Newbrough, first prise.
December 1853.
Begins capital weather. Jean Sinclair or Mrs. Riach, Drumgrain, died the 2nd. All our ley and avel plowed at this time. good fresh weather on to the 18th. then rather watery on to the 25th. Snow the 26th., 27th. and then blowing on to the end. Old Mrs. Forbes, Cottertoon, died about the 15th. aged 95. Isabella always verry poorly, failed traveling to and from her bead the 27th. Oats £1-3-6 pr 40lb., Beef from 56 to 62 shillings per cwt. I have only 19 ricks and 1300 stones of hay, one fat quoy away at £12-10, 34 imperial stones, girth 5 feet 8 inches and 4 feet 5 inches, the bull is ready and 1 quoy and 2 stots.
ELLEN (HELEN) MILNE
Helen Milne married William McWillie RN=231 at Botriphnie parish in May 1833. Unfortunately William died in June of 1841 leaving five children. There are a number of related Milne families in Botriphnie parish. Later Ellen remarried and the family immigrated to Montreal Canada. Descendants of that family can now he found at various locations in Canada and the United States,
January 1854.
My daughter Isabella (98),
died at eight o'clock A.M. the first day of the month and first day of the new
year. She took hir death in the following manner. In the summer 1850 the 27th.
June with a pain in the back of hir head, she got soon better but failled in the
begining of harvest, at the gathering, and never gathered again. It was on the
field betwixt the garden and tollroad. She had a cough and pain in left side,
then gathered a great spit up which continued to hir death. She was beadfast
from Sptr. 1852 the 23rd. June 1853 she went out to the garden, hilped me weed
some carrots and in to my fathers the 1st. of June 1853. I took hir three times
out in the gig the length of the lodge at Woodend with little Bettie that week,
she was never out after. Great cough and spit on to within four days of hir
death. She rose every night at neat eight o'clock and sat at the fire in my arm
chair from twenty minutes to halph an hour and the night before she died the
clock stoped and it was nine before she was aware. She rose and sat three
quarters of an hour, went to hir bead as usual, I went to mine too, the cough
stoped as she lay down, she had ill getting up the glut in hir breast. Jean put
me up at two as hir mother saw hir getting weaker, Jean went to hir bead with
little Bettie and hir mother was to awake Jean if she got worse. Isabella told
hir take up Bettie, she would like to see hir, she gave hir two apples and told
Jean to give hirself an orange she had in the press, she held it up in hir hand,
said it was a right bonny one, she smiled but could say no more. I think she
wanted to give some of us it but could say no more. She looked at us all, one by
one, closed hir eyes in sleep and sleeped the sleep of death at eight o'clock in
the morning and was buried the fourth.
Great snow and extraordinary frost. The snow came on the first of the month, the
8th. desperat with wind and sleety blowing all day. Our mill always going but
little water and plenty of headed neeps, pulling some the 16th. a foot of hard
snow above them. Corn selling here at £1-5 pr. 40lb. The Boharm minister, Mr.
Forbes, died preaching the 8th. in the schoolhouse owing to the deep snow. The
19th. a sudden fresh, terible high wind broack the top of our barn. The 20th and
21st. all quite fresh, plows going the 20th., still high winds and victule verry
dear. The oats £1-6 pr. qur. and beef from 9s-6d to 10 shillings. I here the
sudden fresh has done a deal of ill with icebergs and big waters. 22nd. high,
high winds and terribly high on the 30th. Betty and me at Bomiekelloch terrible
rough night.
February 1854.
Begins fine weather but high winds with frost. James Ross, Miller, his daughter, Margaret died at Elgin the 4th. Snow the 7th. and 8th. wind and frost and the 12th. frost and blowing. I sold a fat white bull the 12th. at £23, most divilish illnatured, to one Wisely, Aberdeen, fresh the 13th. and cold, the bull was 74 stones imperial. Only 12 ricks the 13th, but a deall of hay and begun to eat it. The Saturday 18th. terrible wind with snow showrs for 24 hours and Saturday the 25th. desperate wind. The 26th. and 27th. capital days, all our clean ground plowed in to our torneeps on the Banks. Capital dray weather on to the end of the month, hot always on to the end of the month.
March 1854.
Begins extraordinary dray-dray the 6th. terrible winds took the thach of many houses, our cart shead among the rest. Terrible winds every day and no rain for the past three weeks. We began sowing the 10th. The Free Church at Howdoup rouped the 11th., I got a young bull, the 11th. all our ley and avel sown and harrowed the 18th., 9 ricks now with a sow of hay. Our ley and all our avel sown and ten acres of clean-ground sown the 24th. aful dray and still high winds. Some rain the 25th., the torneeps growing fast, all our glack neeps above the road to take home yet. The frout trees and bushes all green, all our clean land shift sown 27th., grass seeds in and all rolled the 31st. The hill above Glackmuck burned about 5 acres of the wood. it was verry high wind, 1400 trees lost. About 20 ships of the British fleet of to Russia (99), and ten thousand land forses. Still verry dray, all sown but for the neeps in the Glack.
April 1854.
Begins with excessive drught. The oats most beautifull briard, all the grass and trees quite green, no rain since the 26th. February. I sent away 6 stots the 10th., fat at £16-5 per head. Only 6 ricks in the yard the 11th. Plowing our potato land the 10th. Betty and Jean at the minesters for thair tea 11th. Potatos planted the 18th. James Sellar, Blacksmith, Tennantoon, died the 24th. a race of Blacksmiths this for 400 years in Botriphnie, which will be seen on looking at thair gravestone in the Churchyard, aged about 56 years, left two young sons carrying on the trade. Still great drught on to the 26th., the oldest of fourscore and four does not mind on the like. Great many springs dried and threshing mills stopped for want of water. Wm Duncans oldest son, a boy, died the 27th. at or in the Mains of Bellyhack. A good deal of rain the morning of the 27th. and some showrs but verry slight at the end,
May 1854.
Begins rather cold with haill showrs. Hugh Robertson mending mudthach on the barn the 2nd. I bought a rick straw from Braehead the 4th., cold with showrs of haill and sleet and rain on to the 8th. which was rather weety. Only 4 ricks some hay and some headed torneeps. We hear the British fleet has bombarded the city of Odessa in Russia, the word came the 6th., and sunk and destroyed 12 of thair fleet and took 13 Merchantmen ships. Westertoon sowing neeps the 15th., one halph of our shift formed the 19th., sowed some the 20th. Feed Mr. taylor, Jas. Bremner at £7-2-6, Alexr. Bremner £6-2-6 and Christie at £4 and Alexr. Mann £-5. Oats £1-12 per 42lb. Real dray weather 20th. Taylor McIntosh house burned and part of Wm. Innesses and Alexr. Chalmers upon the morning of Sunday the 21st. We sowed the third of our torneeps the 26th., our cattle to grass the 24th., rather cold and not much grouth. A great rain the 28th. and 29th. and closs fog with drizzle rain the 30th.
June 1854.
Begins with rain. We did not lose one yoaking of the plow or harrow since we began sowing the 10th. March and long before. Cattle dear, beef from 9s-6d. to ten shillings per imperial stone, grass growing weall now. Thinking long every week for newspapers just now to here how the British and French are getting on with the Russia ware. Oats £1-12 per 40lb. and meall from £1-5 to £1-6. Little Betty not weall and left school about the 26th, of May. All torneeps sown out the 14th. and day of June market. We had to go for Dr. Menzies the night of the 13th. at 9 o'clock complaining on hir breast and verry sick, some better next morning, the doctor remained all night. The night of the 14th. went for him again at 9 oclock at night and he remained all night and not thinking hir dangerous and nixt night at 10 oclock went for him, he stayed all night but no appearance of betterness and poor little Bettie (100), died at four o'clock afternoon 16th. Hir mother and me missed hir at the brackfast table nixt morning; little Bettie had a bad colour for a few months past, complaining some on hir breast, hir left one, and whiles on hir head. We thought nothing of it, we sent hir to Dufftoon to the Doctor about the 7th., she got some Calamel, but no better, he said it was hir stomack. On Tuesday the 13th. she was worse, the doctor mintained it was hir stomack and would soon be better, but pure little Bettie died at four o'clock the afternoon of the 16th. About an hour or so she died she tied the front of hir night gown and tied hir mutch and repaired some flannel about hir head as right and as regular as any one could have done, I asked hir if she was going from home, I asked whean she would be back, she told me she was not coming back. Poor Bettie had one halph of the shorter Catichisern and the most of the mother catechisem on hir memory besides psalms and paraphrases all before she could read. She had none of them said over but she could repeat them again, She died at age of seven and five months and four days. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, A blessed be his name, he takes out what he gave. Hir sister Isabella five months and four days before little Bettie departed this life. It has continued rather rainy from the 19th, to the 22nd. but terrible warme and terrible grouth. I see a great dale of the crop ludged not begining to shot. Our bear some heads just coming out, grass growing beautifull. Began plowing neeps the 28th. John Stewart, Paulscroft, died the 24th. The Nonintrusionists collecting £16 to pay debt on the Church the 30th.
July 1854.
Begins rather watery, quite warme and growing weather, some oats in our Glack begining to shoot. A meating of the Parochal Board the 3rd. Oats £1-10-6 per 40lb., rather rainy for the middle of July. Our torneeps hoed for the first time 18th., cutting hay the 24th. I catched James Dawn, Glackmuck, stealing my bull to a cow at eleven o'clock on Sunday night the 16th. George Christie, White Cow, cut his right hand through the bons on the back with the Admirals saw-mill. I assisted Dr. Turner in cutting it of by the joint of the shacklebone. Most beautifull weather on to the end of the month. George McWillie.
Agust 1854.
Begins verry warme, weighty thunder and rain in many places. Glass market stiff but great prices, good two year old stots and quoys from £12 to £14, Oats £1-7 per 40lb. The old woman of Langlanburn (101) came here the 26th, June, Jean at Buckie that week. Capital weather but some weighty showrs about the 8th. Alexr. (102), of Hungryhills here the 7th. on to the 11th. Our torneeps all finished the 12th,, Lammasday. My father rather poorly for this while past, always working in his shop. All our fire about drove and thached. The 29th. beautifull weather, verry warme, a deal of barley almost ready for cutting and oats turning fast. The British and French has taken the Isle of Alund or fort of Bomersound from the Russians at this time. George Cruickshank died the 27th. aged 87 years.
September 1854.
Begins most beautifull weather. We cut our barly and pulled our lint the 6th. and our harvest people came home the 8th. and cut oats the 9th. day September. Margaret Gordon, Glack, died 7th. Margaret Ross died, of Mill of Towie, the 4th. February, both old servants. My own Isabella died the first of January and my poor little Bettie the 16th. of June, all within the short space of eight months. I got a 12 & 3/4 gallons of spirits (103) the 5th., verry dear just now. My father verry poorly for the past few months and always getting a degree worse for scarcety of breath and a great pain in the head. All our crop ready for cutting down. The 13th. day of summerives fair, I sold two stots to one Mr. Maitland, Parish of Inch, at £44, two year olds comon price £12 to £14 pr. head, and a capital day for harvest. 18 ricks in the 20th. rather watery on to the 23rd. about one halph of our clean ground to cut the 23rd. Oats selling at £1-8 per 40lb. Rather watery with high winds on to the end.
October 1854.
Begins the first dray with high winds, all our crops in the 2nd., our ricks thached and potatos up the 5th. Our harvest people away the 14th. being Saturday. On the night of Friday the 13th. one Westertoons servants from Backhill of Kininvie. Joseph Watt, about 16 years old, went to bead at one o'clock and was found quite dead and stiff or morning. We tied up 16 of our cattle the 17th. verry weety day. Oats now £1-2 per 40lb. Rather watery and sleety showrs from the 20th. to the 25th. My father rather poorly, the 25th. we was twice at Dufftoon at the doctor for him this 25th.., sore breast and hard cough. Good weather, rather high winds the 28th. Capital plowing on to the end.
November 1854.
Begins rather cold. Friday the 2nd. sold 16 qurs. of oats at £l-4-4 pr. 40lb, and 15 qurs. at £1-5. The 3rd. quaiet with mist and rain. The Allies began the bombardment of Sebastapool both by sea and land. Began plowing ley the 8th. high winds with rain the 9th. and rather rainy on to the 22nd. which was sleet and rain and storm the 25th. Mens fees from £7-5 to £8 for real good hands, woman 30-35 and 40 shillings. The battle of Inkerman the fifth and about 10000 Russians killed and wounded, they made a sally out of Sebastopool but was in again. I was out with Westertoon the 2nd. of December getting up a subscription for the wives and families of the killing in Russia. The plowing match was at Ardbrack in the little Tennantoon Park, 24 plows and denner 3s-6d.
December 1854.
Begins the day after the plowing match a six inch snow, fresh and all of the 3rd. Sleety showrs and high winds on to the 9th. which was verry high with snow. The 10th. some snow and keen frost, Isabella McWilliam died 1st., Glen of Newmill, long Mrs. George of Oldlenoch, aged 95 years. For solgers and widows and bairns in Botriphnie £60-4-4. I interned the Banff Journal the 9th of November 1854. John, my brother, came here the 20th. to see my father, still verry poorly, cold sleety showrs with frost and some snow, One day frosty and another fresh, went home the 23rd. and most terrible high wind. All our ley plowed the 22nd. but some endrigs. My father still verry poorly. Still high winds with sleet and rain. The 30th. terrible wind the whole day with sleety showrs. The wind making the hair stand on my head. Geo.McWillie.
Photo. John McWillie, author's grandfather who was born at Langlanburn farm, Deskford, Scotland in 1846.
John McWillie along with his wife Margaret Mitchell and children moved to Langlanburn farm in 1844. Their daughter Betty was married to George McWillie author of these diaries. There are many recordings throughout the diaries of various visits between these two families. Langlanburn farm is situated a short distance south and west of the village of Deskford which can be found on the road B9618 between Cullen and Keith, Scotland. Prior to moving to Deskford John had farmed on the Mains of Towiebeg, in Drummuir estate. There are reports that claim the area was initially a heavy forested area but that the timber was harvested during the last two world wars. The country consists of gently rolling hills with the above photograph showing the terrain looking east from the farm home. The farm continued to be farmed by descendants of the McWillie family until around 1900.
January 1855.
It is just one year since Isabella died this day. It is terrible high winds for the past twenty four hours but fine fresh weather. Grass and torneeps begining to grow quite green. Oats £1-4-6 at Portgordon. My father always rather poorly. My gig repaired the 5th. The 8th, quite fresh but verry high wind. Our New Years sermon, Job 10. all on sickness, death and famine. Capital fresh fine weather, Mr. Cirmichal, schoolmaster went to Aberdeen to hold his Yule, he sent some letters dated Dundee the 1st. that he was coming back to Botriphnie and one to John Ord, session clerk, the 12th. to proclaim him and Jean Gordon, daughter of George Gordon, Westertoon. Some sleety showrs the 16th.
Helen McWillie (104) my
aunt. born 4 March 1764
Alexr. McWillie. my uncle born Septr. 26th. 1770
John McWillie. my uncle, born 15th. Octr. 1772
William McWillie, my father, born 15th. Agust 1776
Margaret Mitchell,. John McWillies wiffe born 13th March 1767 (Bettys mother
aged 88)
The ground some white with snow and hard frost the 24th. and 25th. My father still verry poorly. About four inches of snow the 28th. and 29th. I have just 30 ricks and large one of old straw. Mr. Alexr. Cirmichal, the schoolmaster, was married thursday the 25th. at Westertoon. Oats from £1-3 to £1.3-6 per 40lb.
February 1855.
Begins with snow and hard frost. John, my brother, came here to see my father the first day of February 1855. My father verry, verry poorly, we had to sit with him for the first time on the last night January. Closs mist the third and getting quite soft with cold. My father always quite poorly, still sitting with him. John my brother, still here the 11th. and about six inches of snow, hard frost and quite quaiet. I see by the public prints our army still dying with Colra, descintrie and cold, all for the want of cloaths, meat and hard work in the trenches, loosing about 100 weekly with bad usage. I think thair is fully 13 inches of snow overall and hard frost. Wm. Taylor at Keith for coals, a deal more snow the 29th. with some blowing. My father still verry poorly. Taking home some torneeps with the snow plow through the past week. Deep snow and hard frost on to the end.
March 1855.
Begins fresh. Some heather appearing on
Bellyhack hill. My father always verry poorly. Turned verry quaiet the 2nd. day
of March, cattle rather back for the past month and oats £1-2-6 to £1-3 pr.
qur. of 40lb. Snow cutting on the tollroad the 2nd, and a great Fummackfair;
about 100 head of cattle and 2 tents with whisky and a capital sale. The market
stood on the haugh at Burnend. John, my brother went home the 5th. my father now
verry weak. The 8th some plows going, the 6th. we squared of our clean land, the
8th. a deal of snow still lying on low land; hard frost at night. The 11th and
12th. hard blowing, the 15th. high wind with snow showrs. On Friday the second,
Nicholas Palovitch, the king of all the Russians died. Great word that it will
bring peace, but I should rather think not untill they take Sebastapool and make
them pay for the ware. Thursday the 15th. day of Fife Keith market., terrible
high wind with rain, sleet and cold frost, cold.
My father, William McWillie (105), RN=19, died the
sixteenth of March at twenty minutes past four o'clock afternoon and was buried
on Monday afternoon the 19th. We had to sit with him 6 weeks, the truble all in
his breath and head, he was all swelled up before he died. He was born Agust the
15th. 1776 he was aged 78 and 6 months. He was born in Midtoon of Towiebegg,
took halph of Cachenhead in the year 1798, lived thair and wrought his trade and
farm to 1835, had all the farm from 1825 gave it over to me 1835 then removed
with me to Midthird 1844 and continued at his trade and making most kinds of
Wright and Smith work, knives, razzors, most kinds of iron and steel tools.
Souldering most kinds of metal, making and silverising all kinds of looking
glasses, did a deal cutlery, gardening and working among beef. Him, Alexr, and
John, I think was three as stoot, weall built men as the parish produced, all
wore the highland kilt till old men. Father the first death on the new register
of deaths. Mr. Cirmichal, schoolmaster, first on the register of married. The
plow stoped the 25th. January, we have plowed two yoakings 13th. of this month,
great deal of old snow on our land. Great frost all night, showrs of snow every
day on to the 25th. the land verry weet. I have 18 ricks the 24th., two ricks
and one of old straw and 8 feet of an hay stack and men quite idle, but feeding
the cattle.
|
Scottish death certificate dated, March 1855 for George's father, William McWillie and are invaluable documents for family research purposes.
April 1855.
Begins frosty and cold. I was at Huntly market the 4th., Aberlour the 5th., both rather back in price. Oats £1-2-6 to £1-3 pr. 40lb. We sowed the halph of our avel the 6th., the 8th cold rain and snow. My mother verry poorly the 8th. and on to the 12th. which is rainy the whole day, then good sowing weather on to the end. Our crop was all laid down the 30th. a capital season, gay frosty through most nights of the month. Our torneeps all up the 30th. Oats now £1-3 pr. 40 lb., I have 12 ricks, 2 of old straw and 40 feet of a swine of hay.
May 1855.
Begins drught and cold the 3rd., high wind, haill showrs the whole day, excessive cold. Jean McWillie RN= 67 and John Watt proclaimed the 1st. at Huntly. The 8th. sleet and rain with high wind, the 9th. about four inches of snow, the 11th. the oats rose to £l-5. Cold with haill, sleet and rain and no grouth on to the 16th. Alexr., George and Isabella McWillie came here the 16th. Cattle back in price, no grouth or little mark of grass this year. My daughter, Jean McWillie (106), and John Watt. farmer, Turfhillock, was married the 17th. and or cattle out to grass the 24th. High winds the 26th. and 27th. quite drughty. Oats selling at £1-6 pr. 40lb.
June 1855.
Begins the first thunder at a distance, the 2nd. quite warme with showrs. John Dyce, Paulscroft, died by a hurt from a cow the 28th. of May. the foresaid cow got worried with a neep some weeks before. His daughter, Moriah, declared if the cow died they would be ruined and she would leave the town. So the cow has killed hir father and she will have a chance of not being long thair now. Capital weather, quite warme with some weighty rain. We have about three acres of torneeps to lay down. Little Betty died the 10th. of June 1854. at four o'clock P.M. All our torneeps sown the 23rd., quite warme with rain the 24th. and 25th. I heard just now the British and French had lost a great number of men at Sebastapool the 18th., by telegraph. Grass growing capital just now, our potatos hoed the 30th,, extraordinary warme and grouthy, thunder and thunder showrs the 30th. John Guns daughter married to one Adam Bonniman the 30th.
July 1855, and 12th year of Nonintrusion.
July begins quite warme and great grouth, our torneeps just about ready for the hoe. I intend to start tomorrow for Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Greenock and start I did by Huntly, Abdn., Montrose, Stonehaven, Pearth, Stirling, Edinburgh and Glasgow, Dumbarton Castle and town of Dumbarton and 32 milles down to the end of Loachlomond and returned home on Monday the 9th. The Barley begun to shoot Huntly as I went of the 3rd. I saw some patches begining to shoot at different places as I came home, just as early in Botriphnie as any of the places. Our torneeps halph hoed whean I came home. The oats £1-6 pr. 40lb. I went to Banff the 28th, to jury court, came home the 30th. Dreadfull warme weather, great rain the 29th. the whole day. Mr. Dixons smilting works requires 144 tons of coal the 24 hours, he has rails for taking them from the pit to his factory, he has 50 coalpits of his own. Thair is one chimney on a chemical factory the height of 400 feet, 25 men dined on the top it whean new built. The cemetery of Glasgow is 44 acres, some of the finest moniments I ever beheld. I was aboard of the persia stemer, the largest in the world, she was launched the day before I got to Glasgow, 372 feet long., 30 feet deep. Glasgow green is 100 acres along the east side of the river all posted for a bleach field, nothing on it but Nelsons moniment. It is here that the saut market of Glasgow is held. I saw nothing but shows of all descriptions, sheep and sises, especially large swings full of whowers night and day and all kinds of people, men, woman and chidren, theves and robers. I should not wonder thar is just three hundred and seventy five thousand inhabitants besides other people attending the fair. I was not one night in town but thair was f*** in some corner of it. The river Clyde streght down the middle of the town, thair is five bridges; two suspentions and three arched. Home bound stopped at Larbert Station about 15 minutes, eighty trucks lying thair at the time. Around Bannockburn a beautifull place, leavel lands full of Gentlemens Seats, past Stirling at 10 O'clock A.M. The Carsagowries on both sides of the road. Bridge of Allan station passed Dumblane at 20 minutes past ten A.M. passed a small spot of shot barly here, beautifull leavel lands here as far as I can see. Gradual slopping and grand tree rows, at Pearth at eleven o'clock, at Coupar Angus 15 minutes past 11 A.M. Mizzlie next and so on.
Glasgow July 1855. George McWillie.
Went aboard the Emprour stemer halph past
nine, Broomelow, first past a great ship building yard all under cover, then
passed Whiteinch, then passed a driging machine with 36 of hir boats in tow,
next stemer putting of passengers at Renfrew, Beautifull parks and hedges all
the way. Passed a large stemer and a lady came aboard ours, then passed hundreds
of men harrowing out mud taken from the river. Passed the Sabaroon, verry large
stemer lying too. The river getting about 400 yards broad. Stopped at Drumglass
some minutes, large rocky mountains on the east all green and wooded, passed a
large rock jutting into the river with a moniment to Henry Bell first inventor
of steme on the Clyde. The river now one mile broad, rocky mountains about
Drumkirk, here passed down the west side of Dumbarton Castle, passed a large
number of sailing vessals and large stemers all the way down to Port Glasgow.
Passed the Irishman stemer here loaded with eggs and kail from Pot Glasgow, two
miles down to Greenock the hills green and a dale of stunted bushes, the river
about three milles broad, hilly both sides.
I went through all Greenock, a long town, along the river side a great deal of
shipbuilding here and large shuggar manufactory, I left here per rails for
Paisly, beautifull gardens for a number of milles, beautifull. then about 2
miles of rock and tunnels then one miile of moss all open ditches. The land to
west hedgerows and wood on to Paisly, thair at one o'clock, one hundred yards of
tunnel here throw rock, beautifull all the way to Glasgow. Next day sailed down
the Clyde past Renfrew, the Carth water comes from it. One miile below Renfrew
passed a large Liverpool vessal, within four feet, in tow of a stemer. Took two
ladies aboard here of a boat. One of the driggers working here, passed the ship
Rival of 800 tons in tow of a stemer. Landed at the town of Bowlling, a number
of ships lying here, at ten o'clock went on the rails here. Started in five
minutes running north, to the east dreadfull hills and wood round the bases and
rocks towring above the tops of the trees. Stopped five minutes at Dumbarton
station, the houses all built of bricks and tilled, good gardens. Passed down
the east side of Dumbarton rock and castle, stoped at Renton station and
village, Argyleshire, fine potatos here and apple trees. Renten lies in a hollow
and Alexandria is two milles from Renten after passing Dumbarton bridge. The
people is extraordinary long headed I believe owing that you are out of
Renfrewshire into Argyleshire. Now at Balloch, capital neeps here, all the cows
are small flecked Argyleshire and all round Glasgow. Balloch Castle here and
Tillychuan Castle belongs to one Camble. Left the rails here at Balloch and went
aboard the Prince Albert stemer at the south end of Loachlomond, thair was three
hundred aboard. Entered the loach at nine o'clock A.M., trees, houses and wood
to the waters edge, passed the largest island in the loach, 2 milles by three.
Sailed to Rowandennan Hottl closs on the waters edge, the ship was moored to the
root of a large tree. Here you will get a pony and guide up to the top of
Benlomand. All the mountains with stunted oaks on the east, one or two small
houses and yards on the waters edge among the stunted oaks. Extraordinary warme
but some snow lying on the Inverglass mountain. Landed at 12 o'clock at Ardlui
Hottl, we was landed by planks thrown down of the ships side. Thair was no one
stopping in the hotle we had to go 1 mille and 3/4 to refresh, dreadfull heat.
An oak tree here 4 feet of shank 18 boughs, the smallest 17 inches through,
another just the same only 17 boughs. The oaks, all the way for 25 and 3/4
milles on the east side only 3 to four feet of shank and small round top like a
small rick. A capital road on the west side all the way, thair is 24 islands all
wooded and some of them full of deer, one of them with the ruins of an old
castle all wood around, it was planted by Robert the Bruce. Passed Robe Roys
cave and him standing before it in full highland dress. Thair was one brass gun
aboard of three inches of bore. I saw the place where the battle of Longside was
fought and Queen Mary sate in the castle of Dumbarton and saw hirself defeted.
Coming up from Bouling to Glasgow, 10 milles, we met 64 ships in one hour and 15
minutes just rubing on one another as they passed. This is not the halph.
Agust 1855.
Begins rather watery, our hay cut but not colled, all our torneeps hoed the second time 6th. still rainy. Sweabourg destroyed by the British and French fleets the 14th. Some barly cut in some places about the 7th. Wm. Taylor at Buckie the 17th. Some loads of fire home the 14th., warme and dray the 23rd. I was harling and repairing the stabling of the byre and putting up the iron cow on the top of the gavel. The 24th. high wind and rain the whole day, it is really backward weather. The crop laid and twisted terrible the 24th. This is a new pencil I have got. All our fire drove and mothers the 5th. of Septr. The Admirals barly cut the 25th. Agust, Westerton began cutting the 28th., constant work, we began 8 days after. Alexr. Robertson left the 28th.
September 1855.
Begins verry warme. We began to cut the 6th. full force, cut some yavel and some clean ground. The weather rather cold with showrs the 24th. all our land for torneeps plowed and in to the avel the 24th. Our cattle all on straw the 24th., cattle dear. Oats £1-10 pr. 40lb. and barly £1-18 pr. 54lb. Began to plow lay the 5th November.
November 1855.
Capital weather on to the 26th., leading torneeps, about 56 loads. One halph of our ley plowed the 26th. rather watery now the 26th., watery on to the end. Oats £1-9 pr. 40lb. and potatos going fast wrong in the pits. A man Cumming killed at Sandyhillock, a cart wheel passing over his head the 29th. John Watt, Turfhillock, poorly from the 6th. to the 14th.,then his wiffe (107) , poorly from the 22nd to the end of the month, Betty thair nursing from the 22nd. to the end.
December 1855.
Begins verry rainy on to the 5th. which was very cold and stormy, the Boharm plowing match, I would not go to it. Betty still at Turfhillock the 5th. Isabella McWillie (108), poorly for the past 8 days, Tickcholoroe. William Taylor and me at a plowing match at Rosarie roup, wind at night, terible wind with terrible hard frost which all lasted from Tuesday the 18th. to Saturday the 22nd. On the 19th. it turned over a large rick and set other four sorly to one hip, a good many ricks and houses turned. Monday the 24th. verry high wind and still hard frost. Oats £1-6 per 40lb. at Portgordon. Mrs Lumsden, Bracco, killed with a cart being overturned, the minesters wiffe and two other ladies in said cart and none hurt about the 10th. or 11th. The raill road from Huntly to Keith began to make about the first day of the month.
A Visit to Edinburgh, Scotland.
The compiling of a family history such as has been done with our McWillie family requires the cooperation and interest of many people. In the authors mind that, cooperation, assistance and contacts with the various family members have been one of, if not the most satisfying part of doing the family research. Two such people have been Harry and Agnes Stephen of Scotland RN=342. Harry had also been interested in family research and came across my name while doing research, made contact, and has been a great contributor ever since. Readers will note that a number of the photographs throughout this work are the result of Harry's skill with a camera. To the left of Agnes, Peter Dawes who is married to Sandra McWillie RN= 162 of Canada, They had visited Harry and Agnes while on a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland. Peter and Sandra are also followers of our family research.
January 1856.
Begins quaiet, Verry misty and drizzling rain on to the 7th. Oats selling at £1-4-6 pr. 40lb. First shooting, three prises and took a pin out of the senter at a paill shot, third three prises. Some snow the 7th. and on to the 12th. but quaiet. The snow mostly all away the 18th. Sleet and rain the 19th., roads quite slippy. The Times Vienna correspondent telegraphs at ten P.M. on Wednesday the 16th. Russia has unconditionaly accepted the propositions of the Allies, it is authentic, I scarcely think it, it may. Oats per qur of 40lb. 23 to 24shs. in Keith on Friday the 18th. Jas. Stewart of Linmore and Ann Garden, Westerton, bride and bridegroom the 13th. and married the 24th. Some plows going the 26th., frost and cold the 27th., a deep snow came on the 28th. hard blowing in the afternoon. Souter Johnstoon in the Ludge brocken some weeks ago and roumers of pace made with Russia, I dont expect it will be yet. I should go to a party at Ardbrack this night but its blowing too keen just now. Snow on to the end.
February 1856.
Begins with drizzling rain and sleet and slippery roads, snow all away the 7th, and plows going. I have 21 ricks and two of old straw the 9th. Oats now £1-9 pr. 40lb. and cattle back in price pounds a head. Done plowing all but rigers. All our avel plowed the 27th., capital weather on to the end. Fummacherfair beautifull weather, about two hundred cattle, a good many dealers 8 to 10. I sold 8 quoys and one bull. It is the first selling market we have had. 3 tents for refreshments and capital drink. Jean Stables of Glenheath or, Mrs. Cruickshank, died about the 18th of February aged 90 years. The man of Woodend sowed some the week of fummackerfair it was a great cattle market for the first time. About 200 head, I sold 2 quoys at £16 and six at less, averaging £3-5 each and a bull £22 to Mr. Mennie, Huntly, a many sold. Our plowing done but for our neeps. is, pailling wood 4 dozen, good on to the end.
March 1856.
Begins showry with sleet and some snow at the 9th, cold and the land white. The 10th quarrying some stones for a house in the yard, 13th. hard frost, the 15th. and 14th. high winds with hard frost. Our mill water frozed in the lead from the dame, all in grow, we was oblidged to set hir it was all like sowans, wind south east. The 17th and 18th quaiet and warme, we began sowing the 19th. on the far side of Haggishaw and quaiet on to the 25th,, all our ley and avel sown and harrowed the 25th. All my onions and carrots sown the 22nd. and set flowrs the 25th. I got from William Duncan, Mains of Bellyhack. All our oats sown but where the torneeps is. Peter away the 29th., put away, 18 weeks 51shs. and 3d ***2s.8 1/2. pr. week.
April 1856.
Begins quite dray. I have begun to build a small house in the garden the first. Roling our oats and harrowing our land for torneeps 4th. & 5th. high winds and hard drught, no rain since we began to sow. But the the 12th. a weighty rain for 28 hours then warme and dray. The 18th. all our grass seeds sown. One hundred loads of headed neeps yet sold 20 loads, 72 ricks, besides 2 ricks of old straw and 2 small ones of drawn straw and 36 foot of hay. William McIntosh, Glack of Midthird, died the 12th., he served in the 50th. regiment 15 years, he fought in Spain, Portugal, The Battle of Victoria, Corunna, Virniera, Salamanco, Talavari, The Sige of Coppenhagen and Badajoiz and 4 time wounded. The 25th. extraordinary warme, from the 26th. to the 29th. sleet and rain with cold, the 29th. sleety and rain the whole day. The Banff Journal has the articles of pace the 29th. The Gamekeeper had pision laid on the Fummackfair haugh for crows and other vermint and pisioned our dog. That day three weeks I was out shoting rabbets with him and I shot a fine terrier bitch of his he got for breeding, I mistuck hir for a rabbet in a whinbush --- That played him tit for tat, dealmecare, hah hah.
May 1856.
Dray and cold the first 8 days and then from the 12th. to the 14th. warme and grouthy. 80 shoot pailing mach the first week. All our torneep land cross plowed the 13th. and weall harrowed. Cold and weety from the 17th. to the 24th. George McWillie (109), Midtoon of Towiebegg, died the 19th. of sore throat in three days illness, aged eleven and six months. Servants wages high, Men first £9 to £10 and second £7 to £6 and weman £4 to £5.
June 1856.
Begins warme and dray but the end of May was cold and watery. We sowed the first of the torneeps the 30th. of May. The 4th, rain and haill desperet, some thunder all after one o'clock. I bought 2 black humble stots 2 year old the 2nd. at £20, cattle verry dear. My house in the garden roofed the 3rd. Oats £1-4 pr. 40lb. Rather showry from the 10th. to the 13th. all our neep shift sown the 13th.. quite warme. I bought 6 stots from Linmore at £8-12-6 pr. head, grass quite scarce with many. Alexr. (110), making two barly mills to send to Aberdeen, one of them away the 10th. June market good for fat and stiff for small. The 19th and 20th. verry rainy, great many of the torneeps first sown cut of with flie or cold, many sown the second time. Cold and frosty on to the end of the month. Many people poorly of for grass. George McWillie.
July 1856.
Begins rather warmer, our potatos hoed 1st. and 2nd. John Millne Donald and Mrs. M. Donald and three of a family came here from Glasgow the 2nd. for a few days, one rainy and the other dray. Donald Catanach, Linemore Bellyhack, taken a woman minus of one leg, vagarent and whore and published themselves man and wiffe in the Banfshire newspaper. John M. D. drawing Bettys likeness and my own the 15th. and 16th. Upon 15th. a terrible weighty showr of rain passed through Botriphnie and down by Rothemay some barly showing the aven 8th. rain most every day since the month came in. Oats now selling from £1-10 to £1-11 pr. 40lb., bushell barly £2. The 16th, weighty rain and high wind from the north. Began to hoe some torneeps the 15th. I have six old stacks of oats yet in the yard the 16th. besides 2 of thrashed and 3 small ones of drawn straw. John McDonald went home to Glasgow the 21st. verry warme. The oats shooting fast about 2 days howing of torneeps the 26th, craws eating the potatos,
August 1856.
Begins verry warme. Dined at Mr. Carmichals the 2nd., a thream thram that night. Cutting hay the 3rd. and howing torneeps the second time the 3rd., dreadfull warme and quaiet and sunshine on to the 6th. which was a deal of thunder but no rain. An Irish man drowned in the Lin of Keith about the 26th. of June. Thrush some hay seed the 15th. drove home our Glack fire the 18th. and driving from Bodenfinach the 17th., bear begining to turn, the oats filling fast. Betty and me at Rothemay the 14th. quite warme. Building a dyke at the top of closs, putting in a trough for watering the horses and cattle.
September 1856.
Begins rather cloudy and cold, Cottertoon cut some bear, the first in the parish, the 2nd,, Jas. Humphray some oats the 8th., Westertoon the 15th., I would think it rather green. Hugh Robertson mud-thaching the 11th. Our harvest people came home the 22nd,, we are puting in water pipes for the close the 22nd. We cut one halph acre in the lower Glack the 22nd. in the afternoon. Thair was one Mr. North that preached in the pulpit of the Free Church in the forenoon and lectured in the Old Church in the afternoon from Lettering, he is a Church of England laird, he says he is just now reformed from drink, whooredom and all other sins that can be commited. The 23rd. and 24th. and 25th. weighty rain all the three days and nights, the crop terribly twisted and laid and we have nothing to do but twin reapes. We cut oats the 27th. from 10 o'clock to even. Sunday the 28th. a full day of wind and rain, betwixt Sunday and Monday the waters all down terrible, our cattle all bound up the 29th, for the wind and rain. Arndilly lectured in the Free Church the 28th. from Hebrews the 2nd. and 29th. vers. Terrible with rain on to the end of the month. Those who cut soon thair oats and barly are growing extraordinary, especially in the Enzie and Morrayshires, none in Botriphnie but Cottertoons barly, no grass for cattle, oats so weet cannot be given them,
October 1856.
Begins with weighty rain. Cut on the 1st. and on Friday the 3rd. The 4th. and 5th. terrible rainy. John Watt not weal! the 6th. We cut Jannet Sutherlands up in the Glack the 6th., we have not a third cut by a good deal. The night of the 6th. verry hard frost, I could mix no lime to 9 o'clock, so hard. The weather cleared up with frost, the 9th. beautifull sunshine and quaiet on to this time the 13th. The railway opened to Keith on Friday the 10th. Thair was about 300 sat denner at 7-6 pr. head, the Botriphnie railway planing at this time. Started at 6 o'clock the 14th, and took in 8 stacks, rain the 25th., cutting the 16th., started leading the 17th. 5 A. M., many lead the whole night of the night of the 16th. Came on rain the 17th. at 7 o'clock P.M., the stooks quite weet the 18th. day of Dufftoon market. Our crop all taken in the 28th., was cut the 22nd. We have 43 and a small one of oats and one of barly, a big old rick and 2 ricks of thrashed straw. It has been verry weety harvest and a deal spoiled of the first cut all grown. We have not one spoiled sheaff. I bought a brown horse from Thomas Duff the 27th. of 8 year old at £30. As far as I can see the crop is all in here in Botriphnie the 28th. Harvest people of the 30th., 5 weeks and 3 days.
November 1856.
Begins with some cooling winds for the first two or three days. Started the plow the 31st. October. New oats now £1 to £1-1 pr. 40lb. Me Isabella and John Ord went to Hungryhills the 6th. and came home the 8th. wind and rain, per coach to Huntly from ditto per rails to Keith and coach to Botriphnie. The 9th. cold the 10th. 2 inches snow and cold. Oats per qur. £1-4 and £l-19-6d according to quality, oats weighing from 38lb pr, bushell to 41 lb., old corn from 29shs. to £1-10 pr. 40 lb. Our cattle tied up the 8th, and all getting a few torneeps. Helen McWillie (111), or Mrs Watt, a first cusin, in to the lunatic the 8th., not in yet the 3rd. Decr. verry watery weather on to the 26th. which was very hard frost, snow the 27th., deep snow the 29th and 30th.
December 1856.
Begins quite hard frost and then snow. Plow working on the roads, owing to the bad weather no stock of neeps for cattle. Oats 18shs. to 19shs. Meall 15s-6d to 16shs. I have sold no oats as yet the third Decr. Sold 20 quarters oats the 10th., the first I have sold, at £1 pr. 40lb., it was 41 lb. Now cold and a great deal of rain the 7th., 8th. and 9th. frost the 10th. Oats up to £1-1 pr. 40lb. the 12th. at Keith. Snow the 21st. always on to the 27th, which is blowing, quite fresh the 29th. and 30th. Geo. McWillie.
DESKFORD CHURCH MEMORIAL MARKER.
John McWillie and Jane Moggach and three of their children appear on this memorial marker which can be found in the Old Deskford Church graveyard in Scotland. These old grave markers have been invaluable tools while researching history. The John McWillie appearing in this marker was a brother of Betty McWillie, the wife of George McWillie author of the McWillie diaries.
January 1857.
Begins hard frost, the first day of old Christmass hard frost, the ground white with snow. A shooting match at Tennanton, George Ord and me 36 feet from the target, George Millne fired a shot throw a palling, the ball struck a palling head, put it of direction of the mark, it went in to George Ords left legg at the brawn, rebounded back of the bone, went about three yards of after rebounding back throw stocking and trousers. The boy taken home in a gig to Blackhall is now doing weall, it was George Millne, crofter Broomhill, that fired. Plows going the 10th and 11th., no shooting the 12th., old new-yearsday not the like the past 38 years - Geo. McWillie. Plowing some lay in the Glack the 20th. and 21st, Friday the 23rd. terrible wind sleet. John Watt of Turffhillocks bull split the night of the 23rd., all that night and the night of the 24th. terrible cold wind and sleet, dray snow the 26th. Alexander Millne, Nether Hilileys, died the 25th. and Robert Dunean, Broadrashes, died the 19th. An old woman of the name of Ferrier died at the Porter Ludge, Woodend the 23rd., and Alexander Garrow, the bellman, bonnet broad and blewe was 14 years old, the first of the month. Oats 21shs. to 21-6 pr 40lb. I am making a box barrow the 26th. Jas. Edward, Gowdenknows, died the 21st. Robie Donald, piper at Newley, Auchendown, died about the 12th. and a Simpson at Whitecow cried a dead bairn the 15th. Verry hard frost to the 31st. Slight snow, Oats selling at £1-1 per 40lb. I have only twenty two ricks with one of old straw the 3rd. of February.
February 1857.
Begins hard frost the night of the first begun with terrible high winds and hard frost for 24 hours which blowed all the snow of the land in to hollows. I was at Elgin the 5th. with .John McWillie (112) getting his sister. Helen, in to the infirmary, not right in body or mind. A capital market in Keith the 6th., one of the new monthly markets, cattle dismal dear. I sold old oats for seed at £1-10 pr. qur. and 16 for meall at £1-1 pr. 40 lb. At Keith for 30 cwts. guna capital warme day the 13th., plowing going fine dray weather on to the 25th., that day I was out with James Bonniman hunting hears. I shot three and a splendid old fox in the hill of Bellyhack up in the middle of the hill above stripside. he lay in the spot with one shot. I sold a sow of hay of 970 stones of hay the 23rd. to Mr. Dean, railway contractor, as she stood for £50 strg. Most beautifull weather and torneeps begining to grow, capital weather on to the end of the month. Our plowing done but the clean land.
March 1857.
Begins quite warme and dray, plowing our clean land the 2nd. Put away five fat quoys the 6th. to Wm. Birne for Newcastle pr. rail. Mr. William Duff Bruce at Fife, Keith fell from a loft 9 foot high down the stair taking hay to my pony and killed him on the spot, I was first in to see him. He was upwards of 30 years body servant to Lord Fife, he was aged 84 and 9 months and 13 days. he had a farm of Bracco in Grange for a farm. He paid no rent and Lord Fife had him to uphold besides, he killed the 6th. He said if he lived an hour longer nor his Lordship he would be satisfied. Lord Fife died the 9th. at 11 o'clock and 5 minutes P.M. His Lordship upheld him and wiffe and they are both dead. Quite clear weather with hard frost now. Different people sowed in the parish the 3rd. Kelloch and Towiemore, none more done the 11th. All our clean land plowed closs to the torneeps the 12th., filling up the old limekillne at the quarry and filling up a hole that sunk in the land about 100 yds. in this side of Plumpy 40 foot long and 15 wide. Margaret Mitchell (113), wiffe of my uncle John McWillie of Mains of Towiebegg and my wiffes mother, was born the 13th. March 1769 aged this 13th. March of this month 88 years. The 14th. high wind with sleet and rain with sleet and rain, terribly cold. Lord Fifes funeral the 19th. Wine used at lunchon, three hogsheads or eighteen ancors. The night before and the day of the funeral sleet and rain and high wind and cold. The 20th. terrible high wind, school examined the 20th. We began sowing the 17th. 9 qurs. on the Banks lay land. The Admirals wood roup the 21st. wind and cold. The 23rd. rain and sleet, the 24th. deep snow, our mill water requiring to be cut, the 25th. and 26th. fresh and sleety. Westertoon some sheep destroyed by dogs or dog. John Ord and me at Kelloch the 30th., the road was that bad our clothes had to be washed.
April 1857.
Begins with the terrible weet and raining each day and night a small drizzling rain and quite cold. I bought an easy chair £3-3 at this time. Not plowing the land, so watery. Our barley thrashed the 2nd. and still rain the 3rd., roads and land terrible weet. Geo, Simpson away with the missels the 28th. March. Some people sowed the 9th., a good dale of rain the 10th., the neeps and grass growing weall. Ten Scots away to Canada the 8th. from the end of the loach. None sown since the 17th. of March to this time the 15th. of April, the people saying all is wrong and will be too late, but I say it is in good time although the first sown is coming throw the ground. James Sellar, Blacksmith, died the 16th., hard frost the 4th. and high wind and showrs of snow through the day. We sowed all our clean land the day the 5th. but one acre of neeps. We have 11 ricks and one of thrashed straw the 5th, cold, cold south wind. George McWillie Midthird.
May 1857.
Begins dray but cold. The first sown oats looking beautiful breard. Straw scarce in many places but not in Botriphnie, what is selling here is 15shs. pr. qur., straw and oats from £1-1 to £1-1-6 pr. 40lb. Our potatos set the 5th., most of our torneep land cross plowed the 6th., the wind east by north cold. George Moggach, papur Paulscroft, died the 16th. He left £3-11-6, his home was burned at Stripside, mentioned in a former book about 18 years ago. Fine dry weather now the 14th., I took the park at Ardbrack called the Mickle Estertoon the 16th. at £22. Drught and high wind the 20th, began forming torneep dreels, the 21st. quite dray rather drughty. Our cattle out to grass the 15th. Mens and Wemans wages terrible high, fees; men £10 to £13, Woman £3 to £6, hirds £3 to £4 , Orrow men £7 to £8. Splendid dray for laying down torneeps, weighty rain 7th. and 9th. verry grouthy and verry warme the 13th. I am wrong with this month.
June 1857.
Clear skys and verry warme from the 13th. to the 15th., all our torneeps done sowing the 15th. A comet expected some of these days which is to burn up the Earth. Most extraordinary hot and clear, sunny on to the 20th. Cutting peats the 18th. 19th. and 20th. Thomas Murray left his service the night of the 11th. with a bruse or hurt of his privies. I had court with a svt. Bell Mackie for two days she had to make up of hir time, she ran of without asking hir wages and summoned me for them. She had to pay for the days and £l-0-6 of expences, I had 6s-6d. to pay. The 24th. some rain that night and much need with most extraordinary heat for the past three weeks. Our potatos hoed the 24th., our rent day the 25th. Jean Mitchell (114), or Mrs Petrie died at Shenwall the 13th. aged 87 years. Mary Symon (115) or Mrs. Jn. McWillie, died at Midtoon Botriphnie 21st. aged 47. Moderate rain all day the 29th., great need, we sowed the first of the neeps that afternoon. Geo. McWillie.
July 1857.
Begins extraordinary warme, the barly and oats
shooting fast, grass and torneeps are growing by the inch per day. Thunder and
some rain the 4th. and the 5th. weighty rain all day but quaiet and quite warme,
it is the day of the Nonintrusion sacrament at woodend. I have been plagued with
gout in my left knee for the past three days, George McWillie the first Sunday
of July 1857.
Upon Tusday the 7th. I was at Keith on a precognition before the Fishal of Banff
on a cause between Mrs. Watt (116) or Helen McWillie, and
hir son and son in law and daughter for some misunderstanding betwixt them,
weighty rain and wind the whole day and next day, warme and dray the next three
days. I have sold 19 qurs. of oats now at £1-7 pr. 40lb. I have but 5 stacks
now to thrash. Capital growing weather to the 17th., howing neeps the second
time the 16th. and sold John Ord the Bob horse of 23 years 11th., capital warme
weather. The oats and barly all weall shot the 14th. Mr. Grant, the Factor, Jas
Bonniman, the gamekeeper and myseile went to see the forest of Glenfiddoch and
Blackwater the 24th. We all dined and drank at the root of a birch tree on the
best mutton, ham and highland whisky and came home in one hour. We saw hundreds
of read highland deer. Our hay cut at the end.
Agust 1857.
Begins quite warme and dray, much need of rain, a great many neeps sowed at June market not hoed the first time the 7th. Bettie and me at Auchern, Carnie the 5th., a deal of barly cut near Keith, some here near ready and oats weal mixed. Our hay all of the land the 5th. in to tramp colls. Mr. Grant, Bonniman and Mr. Carmichal different shooting matches at this time. Neeps done hoeing 11th. William Garden (117), Towie, went to Buckie and died in 26 hours illness the 9th., he was only ferrier in Botriphnie and capital sportsman with ball practise, left large family all grown up but son and daughter some blind. The 10th and 14th, weighty rain and high thunder and most extraordinary warme and so on to the 18th. with closs foug*** Bought from Mr. Anderson, Mcht** a work ox at £18-0-6 about the 1st. A most dreadfull masaccre (118), of the most of our Indian officers, wives and children, and all Europians by the est Endian regiment, most all killed. Oats £1-3 to £1-4 pr. 40lb. Cattle back in price on a £20 stot fully £3 to £4. 3 larrch trees for sleepers to our mill the 25th. Doctor Angus and Mrs. Angus here the 23rd. We began our barly the 27th, Betties mother here 20th., potatos going fast wrong in every county, high winds verry, verry warme. We began to oats cutting 29th.
September 1857.
Begins great drught and excessive hot but rain the evening of the first and rain the 2nd. Bettys (119) mother here the 20th Agust, Jean McWillie (120) a son the 22nd. hir second, my daughter. We cut some fire the 1st. to Saturday the 5th., rainy all week and verry weighty thunder showrs on to the 13th, no cutting, built a new mill wheel house the past few days. A little boy at Hillend killed by a horse on the teather about the 9th. Thair was a terrible showr of rain the night of the eighth, our burn as large as ever I saw hir, Isla and different waters carrying a stack of grain, rather watery the 9th. and 11th. High winds and flying showrs the 16th. We had 20 ricks in the 22nd., high winds on to the 26th. All our cutting done the 26th, at 1 o'clock P.M. high wind a dale rushed out in cutting being verry tender with the haill winds. Our grass all in the 29th. Dray high winds quite warme to the end.
October 1857.
Begins beautifull, grass growing same as June the grass on clean land stubbles would cut Our harvest people of the 3rd. We have now taken up potatos as the one halph is wrong, all the torneeps white gumed, plowing the 10th. capital dray and warme. William Taylor poorly the 3rd. and still so the 22nd., better the 23rd. I was at James Hays roup the 15th. a few of us stopped at the Kelloch, John Ord and myselfe had some drams. He thought he bought a horse collar and sent Geo. his son to me the next day, he thought I brought it home in my gig. I told his son thair was none sold at the roup, old Blackhall was not reconcilled and sent his son back the next day, Ochon, Ochon for John had dreamed it. Still fine warme and dray on to the 22nd. the day of Fife Keith market cold and rain. I went to blood Mrs. Robertson, Braehead, the 23rd.., the great whale so fat I could see nor feel no vain and so left, altho I had specticles. Wm. Taylor poorly the 24th. but begining to mend. Capital warme and growing weather; the grass and torneeps growing as in summer on to the end. Began plowing our avel 31st.
November 1857.
Begins most beautifull, cattle grazing as in summer. Some rain the night of the 3rd. I engaged one John Stuart to hold the plow from the 17th. Octr. to the term at £2. Still capital weather, I bought 2 quoys at Tullichs roup at £15 each, I was elected on Board the fourth year. Oats selling at £1 per 40lb., still beautifull weather on to the 20th. the feeing market stall at Huntly 13s. Oats at Keith 17s. for 40lb. A stagnation amongst the Banks and Notes. all our avel plowed the 21st. Delhi in the Endies bombarded for 8 days and was taken by assult the 21st. September. The 23rd. of this month terrible with wind and rain the whole day. At Portknockic the boat Vigilant lost with 9 men and the 15th. boat Tempence of ditto 9 men and at Buckie one boat with 8 men within 100 yards of the shoer and another boat of ditto ashor at Nairn lost 7 men, one Portgordon boat with 8 men, 42 in whole left 27 weddows and 79 orphans. Some snow the 24th. but then good on to the end.
December 1857.
Begins beautifull fresh and warme, the 3rd. terrible wind which throw down ricks tirred houses but fine up to the 5th. Began plowing lay about the First. The plowing match the 8th. at Westertoon, 3 plows, most beautifull weather, torneeps and grass growing as at Glass market but generally high winds. Thair was a mutual society formed in the old timber school, Rvr. Mr. Masson gave a lecture on science or knowledge, 70 men and weman attended the night of the 15th. verry high wind, the men cleaning out the water course that day and Isabella MacWillie away to see the railway works at Boat of Bridge that 15th. Oats 18s. to 18s-6d. per 40lb. Got insharance for houses, cattle, crop and utensils the 9th. Decr. Still good weather but high winds on to the 21st. Plowing our clean land and as dray as at Glass market the 30th. Grass and gowans, Goslips and daises as beautifull as in summer and so is the second flush of heads on the neeps after the white gum.
Photograph courtesy Harry Stephen.
OLD BOHARM CHURCHYARD.
The Boharm graveyard is situated some two or three miles east of the present day church and in an area known locally as Maggieknocker. The old church prior to the growth of the surrounding trees and shrubs which are sitting on a hilltop would held a commanding view of the countryside. There are many McWillie members and relatives buried in the churchyard. The above is John Watt & wife Helen McWillie RN=39.
January 1858.
Begins most beautifull, as summer. Cattle back in prices from £3 to £4 pr. head or the swine prices as at Whitsunday. Oats 18s-6d. Bettie and William Taylor to Langlanburn the 4th., terrible high winds and cold all day. Alexr. Mann left the 4th. to go to Keith for some cloths, I gave him 8 shillings to pay them, he was our cattle man. The 5th. rough and hard frost, the 6th. quaiet and frost, the 7th, terrible high wind with frost, it has stopped the grouth of neep heads, I may say thair was no frost before. Some rain the 8th., the night of the 8th. desperate high wind and ended in rain.Betties mother Margaret Mitchell (121) , died the 10th. at Langlanburn, Deskford, aged 88 and 9 months. James Bremner, hir goodbrother was married to Isabell Mitchell, died the same day at Lentmill, Braehead Keith aged about 82 years. Died at Cottertoon, Elspet Forbes aged 12. Fine growing weather, grass as green as in the month of May but terrible high winds. A lecture at the old school by Dr. George on the health and culture of the young the 18th. A showr of snow the 21st., fresh the 22nd., the 23rd. fresh and beautifull. I have 21 ricks with small one of bear and two of old straw the 23rd. and oats £1 pr. 40lb. A roup at the Skoug the 16th., slight showr of snow the 21st., some frosty nights the 27th. and 28th. at Keith the 29th. and bought 12 new sacks at £1-3 pr. dozzen. The 29th. blustery but fresh, the 30th. some frost, the 31st. Sunday. hard frost.
February 1858.
The first and second terrible frost and blowing but the snow blown all of the land. The 3rd. fresh but high wind, Keith market good sell among fat stock, prices back, cattle would have given as much mony at Whitsunday as now after feeding. I sold five quoys at £60 fat and killed our mart the 4th. Terrible high winds every day which is disagreeable but fine weather. Taking out 4 dozzen pailling wood at this time. Admiral Duff (122), Drummuir, died at Elgin on the 9th of this month and was buried at Botriphnie on the 15th, in front of the isle betwixt it and the Church 4 feet from the wall of the isle thair is a spruce tree on the lip of the grave closs on his right hand. The grave is 7 foot deep built with bricks, there is three flags of pavement above the coffin. The coffin was covered with earth before the flags was put in. All the Botriphnie tennantry, Drummuir and Hopeman in Morrayshire, all the neighbouring Eritors and minesters and Elgin Gentry was dined at the castle at 7s-6d. pr. head by Robert Gordon, Innkeeper, Keith. All his feed svts. is left one years wages of legacy. The Factor, Mr. John Grant £200 of legacy, Jean Donald or Dawn, Glack, died the 10th. The Admiral died at the age of 84 and is suceeded by Major Gordon of Park, I do not know yet how the money and furniture is left.
March 1858.
1st March begins quaiet and verry hard frost. We are driving out dung to above town, and I am making a nice garden door. There was a grand soree at the old school and some essies wrote by a few young men read, and a number of capital songs sung by the leadies and young gentlemen. On the 2nd night of the month, William McWillie (123), has the mumps with an bad cold. This bad cold or influenza very prevailing here. Maggy Duff left her service 10 days ago near at the owrlying. She is as thick about the buttocks as our Bob horse. Oats from 19shs. to £1 pr 40lb. I have but 15 ricks. The 4th. hard frost and the ground white with snow the 2nd. The 5th. the day of Keith market, high wind and frost, good two year olds £10 to £12 fat, and 3 year olds from £12 to £15 but good beasts. The 6th high winds and blowing snow. Oats and straw from £1-15s to £2. Alexr. Duff, servt. Westertoon was seeing our woman on the night of the 14th. I catched him lying below the dresser lying on his face 12 P.M. I gave him a pailfull of water all about the neck and then kicked him out of doors, and on Sunday the 7th, at 5 past noon, I catched a Navie Irishman. It was Sunday, but in the low room. I told him to walk out or I would show him something. He told me to do it. I took a sword from the other room and drove him around the town. He had a companion waiting at the door, but they had both to take legg baill. The Parish school was examined on the 8th by Messrs. Masson, Annan and Cruickshank. An extraordinary frost now and many haill showrs, but all blown to scathies and hollows. Turnips never frozen untill this time. Frost and snow on to the 12th, and it was quite fresh. Robert Stewarts wiffe Hellen Rutherford died the 12th about 15 minuts past four P.M. , has left a large young family, aged 50 years, Thair was a large eclipse on the Sunday the day of the 15th. that she was buried, but not so large as expected. It is shown (124) this in heavens east west. It was fresh and warm untill it was sometime begun 1 P.M. when it was at its full. It became very cold for the space of an hour and then warmer. Our horses at Keith with old seed oats to Mr. George Haughs, £1-4, Sowing is begun at Mill of Davidson 22nd and Bomiekelloch 23rd. Very dray rain, the 24th I was at Lahnbride with Robert Taylor of Rosarie about his farm, the 25th. we began sowing, the 26th below the Clossley 8 1/2 qurs, cold frosty air, torneeps done with many, and oats and fodder £2-2 to £2-5s. Weigthy rain the 31st.
April 1858.
Begins weighty snow. Jean Stewart, wiffe to William Stronach, Greens, buried the 1st aged 70. Cutting our mill water, the 2nd a deal of the Tollroad will require cutting, mill water not taken in to the 3rd which rained flags of snow the whole day from the east. Bettys old ewie lambed the 1st, 2 black and one speckled lamb. Sowing in some places. The 10th, hard frost, hard frost all night and sunshine all day. Began setting some pailling the 10th for a park on the Claggans. Terrible hard frost the 11th and 12th and showrs of snow. A dale of snow on the land still there. Major Gordon Duff came on his first visit to Drummuir House the 6th, clad in good hudding gray clothes, our new Eritor. Oats with fodder £2-2 to £2-5s, without £l-ls pr 40lb, for seed £l-4s. I have but 9 ricks and one of old straw and 30 foot of length of hay. Our neeps almost done. Sir Colin Campbell took Lucknow the 14th March. Scotland for ever, Hurrah. Cattle back in price. I sold 4 stots in April market to Mr. Towns at £11 pr head. We have sown none since the month of March to the 15th, all sown the 17th but our clean land. Messrs. George Burges sowing pailling at this time. Oats 21 shs. pr qur of 40lb and straw the same. John Ord poorly at this time. All our crop down grass seeds and all the 23rd, and all rolled the 28th. All our torneeps done. The 27th extra warm. Isabella McWillie (125) left me the 23rd, was with me for two years and one halph. I understand her sister Jean is to be now married. I sold my bull the 17th for £17. The breard has come up the quickest I have seen. Just a real summer heat. We have one grass park on the claggans and another on the Dinncorn shift. We put out our young frog and filly and our calves and cows to grass the 28th, but it is for want on the torneeps. Great heat and drught, on to the 29th, the mercury down from fair to rain the 29th. The 30th weighty rain, good pieces of torneep land to sow in Botriphnie. I have 7 ricks and 36 foot of haystack, but no neeps.
May 1858.
Begins with cold winds and weighty rain for the 1st and 2nd days. Will do a dale of good. I went to Jean McWillie's (126), marriage to Gamrie the 6th. and came home the 7th by coach from Banff to Turiff, and per railway from Turriff to Inverramsey to Keith, from Keith in my oun gig. Grass and farm looking better at Botriphnie than any of the places I passed. They were just begining to sow torneeps in Gamrie. Oats now £1-4s-6d. Rank dews with some rain the 13th the day of Rosaries roup, Robert Taylors. I bought a white mare, 10 years old at £27-15shs, a saddle, flail and britchen at £l-2s discount 9d pr £1-1s, Displenish sale at Ardbrack and grass parks the 14th. I have the Mill of Ardbrack Haugh for £20-15shs. Rain the 14th and 15th and 17th with some thunder, rather cold the 18th on to the 20th with rain. Our cattle all out to grass the 15th. Some people dunging for sweedish neeps) but 20th in Botriphnie, dunged some of Kitchen Croft the 26th for sweedish neeps, but came out rain throw the day they could not he sown. Still rain and cold 28th) the 30th and 31st quite warm.
June 1858.
Begins verry warm and great growth, some weighty showrs the 2nd and 3rd, but not stopping neep work. About 8 acres sown the 4th. I have left 6 old ricks and 20 foot of hey sow. The apple and berrie flourish splendid, the apples extraordinary. Verry drughty the 5th and 6th. The 7th and 8th, wind and sunshine given frost at night, growth fair. John Ord and me at the session Church. The 6th Harry Forbes, Peter Forbes son died at Cottertoon, aged 23. All the sweedish torneeps sown before term, sowing again, being eaten of with a small clock, like a flea, she jumps as quick, but not so far, ours looking weall. I had a call from the Minester the 8th. Told him over a glass I was bad with a hard cough and cold. He advised me some pills. I do not mind the name and put my wiffe to another bead and I would soon be better. He should know, he slept two years seperate from Mrs. Masson, and he is stronger a good dale. I shall tell him the next call, I took the different plan. I lay nerar hir, got sweat and was much better. We have had great mists for the past three nights damping the land and doing much good. This is the 12th. Done sowing neeps the 14th. Cutting fire the 15th, 16th and 17th and 18th, hoeing potatos the 17th. Still severe drught sun and wind, the 18th drught to 3 o'clock then 16 minutes of weighty rain. Westertoon harrowing down neeps and sowing again 3 acres. Many has sown the 2nd time, mostly sweedish. Grass plenty, many people cropping the oats for falling. A new gamekeeper at the term, he took sloggans sheep 14 and made him pay 12 shs in the hill of Bellyhack. He should not be on such a hurry for fear of accidents. Still people sowing neeps the 2nd and 3rd time. High winds the 24th on to the 27th. Our cattle from Ardbrack the 24th. Donald Catnach had a daughter died the 20th, she was follish, and on the Board at Linmore of Bellyhack. Some rough flying showrs the 27th. Geo. Simpson pair of horses lying down Geo. Christies torneeps. Driving my mothers fire the 28th. The 29th, some flying showrs high wind.
July 1858.
Begins high winds, some cold. The 4th, weighty rain the whole day the day of the Nonintrusion Sacrament. Rainy the whole week, some each day. The day of Dufftown market 8th rain the whole day. Thinned some neeps 9th and 10th regular howing the 12th was stopped, again the 14th with rain. Oats shotting about this time fast. At Rothes the 15th with 18 qrs of oats £l-4s pr 40 to 42 lb, rather damp and rainy day. The 16th and 17th rain weighty, dray and warme the 19th 20th and rain the 21st, John Watt and my wiffe at the Boat of Bridge seeing the stupendous works putting on the bridge. The 19th, rather more than halph of our torneeps hoed, the 20th capital dray warme weather and all our torneeps hoed the first time the 27th. Glass market the 28th, dull and prices back £2 to 2-10s upon £18 cattle. Thair was some drunken skirmishes with some of our Botriphnie bucks. The torneep seed crop I think is mostly wrong with decese or verment, a small white worm. Our goose berries and black berries and rasp berries all ripe the week of Glass Market. Now rather rainy but quite warme.
August 1858.
Begins quite warme with thunder and weighty showrs. Our torneeps halph hoed the second time, the 6th. John McWillie here from Gamrie the 5th, on to the 8th, terrible hot with frost at night. Torneeps growing capital, but no growth on eaten grass. This ninth of Agust 1858 Major Gordon Duff (127) the new Eritor, his lady, son and daughter arrived in Drummuir house, the first time since the Admirals death and took possession of the castle at 3 oclock P.M. was met below the mance by all the male population and some few of the flyting sex. The males marched in rank four deep with three stand of cowlers flying, preceded by a brass band of musick. An address was delivered by John Ord, farmer, Blackhall, on arrival at the castle the band playing, "Thair is no luck about the house when our guidmans awa". The multitude being refreshed with chees, bread and porter, all marched in rank to the old well, at Greens of Woodend and partook of that famous water mixed with famous acquaitie from the Milton Distillery with a number of pounds of the famous Mr. A. Andersons lossenges and swaties. Some highland reels was trippede by young and old, to tune of Tullochgorom. The young then arrived at the Royal Anderson Shop where the games of jumping, barrow rowing etc. etc. was carried on with Botriphnie glee untill the sun had sunk his head behind Machattie. Mr. Alxr. Cannichael and mysilf was to give my wiffe 2s-6d apiece and go to the top of Bellriness that day of the 9th, and up they went, her and William Taylor. The Tennantry paid £2-10s to a brass band from Keith to music at the castle, 12 of us paid the band, quit dirty of the rest. My wiffe got one bress of muirfool and one hear from the Major on the 16th. I think it an honour of our new laird. My wiffe got a bottle of wine from Mr. Carmichael and 2s-6d from mysilf for her going to the top of Bellrinnes on the 9th. Mr. Anderson, merchant, gave hir a bottle of wine, but not good for Mr. Carmichael, he had to give hir another of good wine, and so lost his first one. The weather changed the 25th, cold with high wind, on to the 27th. Some barley cut on Cottertoon the 26th, capital weather on to the end.
September 1858.
Upon the 31st of Agust the great cattel show at Aberdeen began. Thair was upwards of twenty of us from Botriphnie paid 4s, a head for going and returning. The stock of cattle was great, and so was the agricultural instruments, the most of us came home the 2nd and 3rd of this month, Beads was verry scarce, paying 2s-6d to £1-1 s per night. I stoped with Helen Ord, or Mrs. Captain Longmuir, No 2 Bannermill st., which cost nothing, so did her father John Ord. Cutting almost done near Abdn, a number began in Botriphnie the 1st and 2nd. We had some barley the 2nd and all our oats the same ripness, warme and dray to the 6th. Our harvest people the 7th and cutting oats, we have taken in two ricks of oats and one of barley. The 11th very windy this afternoon, verry, verry rough on the night of the 10th, shook middling ripe oats. Sptr. market I sold a work ox and two year old hefart horse at £14, We lead two of ley the morning of the 17th and stoped for wind, and in the afternoon other four, but could not lead them for wind, thunder and rain on the night, quite warme, cutting thach the next morning, and not another showr I may say the whole harvest. We had done cutting the 25th and all taken in the 29th. We have forty eight ricks of oats, one of barley, and one of peas, one old rick of oats and two large ones of old straw, and the hey sow. Rather cold with showrs, but the wind dried it as it fell the 30th. Thair has been a comet (128), in sight for the past three weeks, it always appears in the west at night and is near the east in the morning. The tail of him is always due north. I could not say what is the length of his majestic tail. thair is still a few bits to cut in the parish, I have just taken in about 4 bushells of my best apples, verry large this day the 30th, the rest is making rapes and thaching ricks. Geo. McWillie, 5 P.M.
October 1858.
Begins very high winds, our potatos up the 6th, frosty and cold the day of Newmills market. Many of our Botriphnie people and myself at a roup at Ardluie, Cabrach, came out one of the terriblest days of sleet, snow and wind I ever saw. Our harvest people away the 7th, a cold blustery day. Our harvest only 4 weeks and one day, Cottertoon has about 4 acres to cut the 7th, I see none more here. Now getting on with the plowing, capital weather, on to the 25th, that morning about 6 inches of snow which lasted four or five days. We began to improve about one halph of an acre at the back of the dame betwixt the road and the head of Dinnieorn. Capital weather on to the end of the month.
November 1858.
Begins fine weather. We began to plow our avel, the 1st. I am making a gravel walk in my garden the first and second. John McWillie and me was elected on the board the 3rd. The major is closing the loach with a sluce at this time, and Mr. Anderson, merchant, digging a pump well. One halph of our yavel plowed the 6th and began our ley the 8th, rather cold and watery. The wood of Lochpark was all sold by roup the 12th in large loats from £44 to £200. Gave in whole £1155 stg. and about £150 for larachs in the Tennantoon stripe. Leading tornips the 13th, frosty and cold the 15th. Three of our cows calved at the 15th. Anne Riach or weddow Edward died the 16th aged 86, and John Duncan, farmer, Corrie, 17th, the day of the feeing market Keith hard frost, but on afternoon two inches of snow, the next morning about four inches, hard frost. Wages was back and oats was 18s per quarter. I went to Mains of Mulben the 20th, a good snow and hardest frost I remember so soon in the year, along with John Watt, Turfhillock and bought a bull, black humble 15 months old at £13-15s. Fresh the 25th with high wind, good green weather to the end. Sold the first of the crop the 30th at 18s pr 40 lb to 42 1/2 lb.
December 1858.
Begins good weather, rather watery. Good fat cattle selling from 55 to 60 shillings, lean stock little doing, rather cold. Our plowing match at Cottertoon the 16th, 22 plows, denner 4s. My brother Johns daughter Isabella (129), married the 16th to Alxr. Grant. The 18th high winds with rain. Betty's four ews and ram ill in the scab, was smitten by a ewe of Taylor Robertsons at the ram. About the 23rd high winds and rough showrs. Mrs Dey Forkins, very poorly now. The oats is stationry, about 18s to 18s-6d for 40lb. The weather eight days, has one day fresh and rain, the next frost, but in whole good open weather. Our chaps is taking in a rick just now, we are requiring two each week or two quarters or better per day. Signed this 31st December or 15th of Nonintrusion years, Midthird, George McWillie. P.S. I have made a new box barrow and iron spad, the past four days. We have a terrible closs of gutters at this time. Bell Simpson, Whitecow, married 25th Dec.
George McWillie Diaries
The diaries consist of seven volumes of note pad size approximately six by nine inches, hand written in George's own style of writing. The above photocopy gives a reader some idea of the work involved to bring them to the stage of this work. We do think that George would be very glad to know that there are people within the McWillie family and others who find value and happiness with his work.
January 1859.
Begins with excellant weather, slight frosts but in general fresh with high winds. A shooting at Tennantoon, I had four prises. Mrs. Dey, wiffe to Alexr. Dey, wright, Forkins died the 8th, a greatly respected woman, and Paul Grant, cattle dealler, Nether Cluny, Mortlach the 9th. I did not go to his funeral, too far for the season, being at Tombae, Glenlivit. All the parish at Mrs. Deys funeral. Hard frost the 13th and 14th. Our two horses driving gravel to the road betwixt the mance and burnend, desperate high winds, mostly each day, We have about 5 acres of clean land plowed the 17th. our work is trenching a piece of ground at the back of the dame. Many young and old people every parish round ill with sore throats. The cure is to burn with caustic or blister with mustard. The oats now £1 pr 40lb. I have 50 qurs in the barn loft. At the 22nd, still high winds and slight white frosts. I invited all the scholars at school up to get peas. Most of them shyed, but a few I filled all thair pockets and bonnets with peas and apples, a rale grabe for the lowns. The 25th, high wind and some snow at night. It was the centanry of the poet Robert Burns, it was heald in mostly every town and parish in Scotland, besides in England and foreign countries, where thair was Scotsmen residing. The 26th and on to the 29th, snow but soft, the 29th was fresh with wind and rain.
February 1859.
Begins cold with frost and rough showrs of sleet and rain. Driving some gravel for the roads about town. Sold 4 halph fed stots at Keith the 4th at £59, a good market. William Stewart at Broomhill Croft died about the 1st, and a son of George Millne at Scullholl the 1st. Our mart slain the 3rd, a good Shetland quoy £4. I had 20 stones Imperial and 3 stones of tallow. The beaff is at 7shs pr stone. The 6th quite quaiet with small snow about 2 inches, all of the 9th. Plowing to A. Dey the 11th and to Smith Cruickshank 12th. The 13th and 14th like summer, we quarred som cover stones for drains to John Watt the 14th and straighting off some clean ground. Still a number of sore throats in this place. Oats 19s-6d. I sold the last 60 qurs at £1 pr 40lb, it weighed 42 1/2 lb. Tuesday the 15th quaiet and fresh, but rain the whole day, the 17th cold with sleety showrs. I am ill with cold 17th and 18th I was not fit to atend a party at Westertoon. I was sorry they wanted my ill jaw. About 4 inches of snow the 18th, the men yoaked Miss Gunn into the snow plow the 18th, quite quaiet, Another son of John Millnes called Peter died the 19th, and a daughter of said Geo. Millne the 2nd of March of sore throats. Thair has few young people escaped in this place and all round the other parishes. Most splendid weather, our plowing done to the side of the torneeps. I have about 7 acres yet and 20 stacks of oats and one of barly and all my hey. Oats £1 pr 40 lb and cattle fully 10shs a stone at Fummackfair. On the 26th I was out hunting with Mr. Grant factor Mr. Grant doctor and Mr. Gordon lawyer. We killede many hears, rabets and woodcocks. Blowed the lawyers white hat of silk to pices and a knife that cost him 5 shs I blowed it all to pices in the air. We all went in to Helen Stewarts or Mrs. Garrows Newburgh and told her Dr. Grant was a dancing master and Mr. Gordon singing master. She called in other four young ladies and such a house as we had, them that sees this 100 years after this will not raise funnier and then after denner some tobaco smocking and a little toddy driven doune with strong ale. Geo. McWillie Midthird.
March 1859. new ink, 1sh. pr. bottle
Begins beautiful fresh with rough winds, grass and torneeps growing fast and some early berrie bushes the bleads coming out. The factor sent me the white hat that was shot in the wood of Tenroad the 26th March, to place in my musiem among other curiositys. A three week old pig could jump throw the ribs of it. Oats sown in different places. The minister of Cairnie has some sown. Thair is a new sawmill puting in at the end of lochpark, one at Forkins and one of them at Woodend besides an old one at Tenroad. The upper halph of Tenroad wood planted this winter, and the southside of Lockpark,.All the birk and brush cut in the burn of Westertoon and planting oak, John Gauld, Bomiekellach sowed oats and peas the 11th. High high winds and verry cold on to the 15th, then snow about 4 inches at 10 A.M, Oats and fodder £1-8s to £l-9s pr 40lb and plenty too, 43 lbs oats is £1-1 1s, seed oats £1 at this time. We paid our carriage for the roads by driving mettel from the shien park to the road betwixt Burnend and Mance Bridge with 2 horses and other 2 for driving clay from the opposite side of our own dame above the road. I suppose thair is above 100 loads taken and 200 loads for daming the loach park above the sluce. Blustery weather from the 16th to the 18th, rough winds every day with flying sleaty showrs, quite cold. I have the most of all my berry bushes dunged and trenched. The bleads is getting weall out at this time. The 19th a roup of wood, dreadful dear. My mothers cow took read water the 20th and died the 24th, the 25th weety the whole day. I went to Lockpark and took a sail in the new boat about seven foot of water opposite Ryel, the new sawmill finished the 24th, the 24th and 25th raining both days, the 26th land very weet but the weather harder with wind. I sent £3-2s. I collected for Paul Grants weddow and family of Nether Clunny to Mr. Petrie, North of Scotland Bank, Dufftown with Mr. Taylor. The 27th thair was two inches of snow all of with the length of the day. The 30th hard frost in the morning and white with snow. I went over to the Loach and sailed up near the top with the two Cummings, thair came out a desperate rough day of wind and dray snow. I landed on the Ryel side and made home with speed for the cold. At Westerpark thair was 18 stacks of oats burned the 26th. It was inshoured 10 days before
April 1859.
The first began dismal high wind and rough showrs of sleet, Innes Gardiner had a boy died the 1st of 6 or 7 years of age. The second hard frost and the morning of the 1st. The morning of the 3rd terrible wind, sleet and rain, glomy through the day and light rain in middle of afternoon. The new square of Ardbrack contracting for the 2nd. I would think the first sown oats would be thru with so much bad weather. I began sowing Friday the 8th and sowed 8 quarters and 7 quarters the 9th. Sunday the 10th thair came on weighty rain at 3 o'clock P.M. to 9 o'clock, then snow the 11th, rough snow lying all day. Young pigs 8 shs. to 10shs. pr head. Grass growing quite fast though quite cold. Sergent Macullach, Newrainy died the 7th and Wm. Maconachie, Toll of Linmore the 7th. The 12th, snow about 2 inches, but all of throw the day, but on the hills, the 13th the same and the 14th hard frost and the roads slippy. It was a court day at Dufftoon, the board had a case with a Ann Rae, or McDonald; that old Donald Catnach uses as his wiffe. She broak her timber leg going in to the courthouse. She was then carried in to court by two men. She gained the plea, she took care of a paper for 1 shilling a week, she denied having paid. The registrar had no recepts and the shirreff would not take proof. The ground white each morning and hard frost. The 18th a cart could not have marked plowed land, the wind high and dreadfull gale, the 19th quaiet and frost, some flags falling through the day. Frost and light snow in the morning of the 20th and the 21st two inchs of snow in the morning sleety showrs to 2 o'clock and frost at night. I have 15 ricks and one of barly the 21 ft. the hay not brock upon, all our torneeps pulled the 20th and headed on the land. I have six weeks neeps yet headed. The weather is still backward and no sowing, it is beginning to get late, we have but 15 qurs sown, that was done the 8th and 9th of the month. We have sown other 8 qurs the 26th, a terrible day of wind. Wm. Burges, aged 80, died at the croft at the end of the Burn of Oldlenach the 25th. We sowed out all our crop the 30th, a quaiet day but cold. Arthur Willson here from Turriff 30th to 2nd of May.
May 1859.
Begins with frost, quaite and cold the first and second. I sold Mr. Barrie a cow and deformed stot at this time. I have had the cow this nine years, she was never milked, always suckled. No woman could go near hir for sticking, I had hir from Hexham in England along with a bull both together. James Millne, farmer, Buttriebrae died 5th. We planted our potatos the 5th and 7th, I sowed hulcus saccharatus, or North China sugar cane. The 7th, high winds, quite drughty, all our rolling done the 7th without a showr. I took the Fumockfair stand and the haugh up to Millofholl 6 acres the 9th at £26, Towiemorc and Westerton put me up. Helen McWillie (130), or Mrs. McDonald, my wiffes sister died, the night of May the 8th at upper Woodsid,) Rothimay and buried thair the 11th. Betty and me at the funeral, quite warme but drughty. Great drught with sunshine and south high wind, the corn cuming up fast with the heat. The 17th, 18th and 19th and 20th, cloes mist but quite warme. Good fees the 20th, men best hands £10 to £11 and boys for orrow horses £6-10s and £5-10s, woman £4 to £4-10s, real hands you must take them as you see them in market. I had a mare died the 21st, no use of her since February. A slight rain the 25th the day of Dufftoon feeing, the 26th and 27th terrible hot and dray, about 8 acres farmed for tornips the 26th and weeding my onions the 27th. A roup by the shirreff at Woodend, one Robertson only kept it two years. A stem threshing mill at Ardbrack, threshing out old ricks the 30th and 31st.
June 1859.
Begins still great drught, closs mist the 2nd with small rain, We was carting the first of turfes the 2nd and sowed the first of the torneeps the 3rd, a good deale sown in the parish about the 25th of May, we thought it too dray. We have all the banks formed, the first William MacDonald came home the 2nd for his health from Rothemay. Sowed the first of the torneeps the 3rd, terrible heat and drught, some misty mornings 6th and 7th. The ryegrass all shot, still heat, heat and drught, drught. The new square at Ardbrack begun to build the 6th and the old house or castle dung down at this time, it is not known whean built or whom built, it was used the past 24 years for a threshing mill. Some rough showrs with wind the 13th, Betty has sold a black ram just now at £l-15shs, and ram lamb at 15 shillings to Mr. Jas, Myrin, Dufftown. I hoed 40 dreels of potatos the past two days. Rents paid the 16th, and Alxr. McWillie (131), Coldhome, Keith put Peter Forbes, Cottertoon, to Banff jail the 15th for dett. He should keep him thair and no missing of him at Cottertoon, All our torneep shift laid down the 16th, still terrible drught. Mr, John Ord, Blackhall entered a lease on the farm Woodend, the 26th. The grass and some oats getting yellow with the severe drught, the 18th, about one hours small rain on Sunday afternoon the 19th. The new schoolhouse begun to build the 15th, by Wm, Strath, masson, Auchendoun, the stones taken out of our quarry. Still aful drught with tearing winds and drifting stewe. Mostly all those that sowed sweddish neeps is sowing again, I have sowed none. Wm. McDonald went home the 25th, I went along with him to Myan to visit James Bonniman, afull wind. I saw some oats on Maslie shooting fast not six inches long. We drove home 51 loads of backs for fire wood, the 24th and 25th for £l-10s. A weighty rain the 26th which will do much good, quite warme with high winds the 27th, the boys pulling thistles the 27th.
July 1859.
Begins aful drught and warme with high winds, a weighty showr the 6th, a dale of good. Driving my mothers fire the 5th to the 9th, took home some of our own the 9th. I am facing the dam embankment with stones at this time. Me and Betty at Auchern farm the 9th. The oats and barly weall shot the 9th, howing the first of the neeps the 8th. On Sunday the 10th, hot and sultry, the afternoon thunder and weighty rain and crushing hoat. The 11th warme with showrs, Taylor Robertson making a new coat, vest and trusers. From the 12th to the 19th most dreadful warme and slight winds. Mrs. Gordon Duff visiting here the l8th and thrashing and colling hey the 19th. Some rain the 20th, a dale of oats blasted black, drught on with some slight showrs. The pasture grass dray and brown. Our torneeps hoed out the 31st and taking in some hey in the afternoon to thrash. Painting our midroom the 31st.
August 1859.
Begins aful hot and dray, oats and barly turned Morray general harvest. Alexander Dey, Forkins and me went to Belniden, Strathdon the 9th and to Hir Majestys Castle the 10th, she was not at home, I hope she will not be disapointed in not seeing us. We were in not seing hir at the castle of New 11th and the church. We came home the 12th up Noghtyside and through the Cabrach, some fields of oats and barley cut in Auchendown. Thair was a cattle show at Dufftoon the 17th, John McWillie went home to Gamrie the 17th. Betty at Rothemay 18th. Our holy day the 17th, 30 men and woman went to Bellriness but sat the britchen all but 4 that went to the top. One Geo. Cumming got sick, they had to go to the bottom of the hill for water for him. Other ditto went to Moornesss per raill. Weighty rain the night of the 18th, will do great good, thair has not been in whole so much altogether. Since Whitsunday, peoples cattle sterving for meat and water. Morray and round the coast side the crop all ready and cutting. Many people is hoeing thair neeps the first time this month. from the 20th to the 25th, dreadfull hot. Clear air and quite quaite, many springs is quite dray. We are threshing on two year old rick, water verry scarce. Celloch began cutting the 22nd, Westertoon the 24th. Major Gordon Duff verry poorly at this time. Alexander McWillie (132), RN=36 my uncle, very poorly, an old man of about 89 years of age. Our harvest hands came home the 29th and began to cut the 30th, the ley shift of Dinneorn, the 31st rain at twelve, and at 5 for 20 minutes a deluge.
September 1859.
Begins hot and dray, hard frost the morning of the 5th, frost quite white, the oats stiff. On Sunday the 4th, the Majors housekeeper or cook went to go to Keith, and get sermon, but behold she brought forth a fine English girlie, at Mill of Achinachy, she is a English aged woman. On the 3rd Geo. Allan, Free School, Keith, Alxr. McWillie, Mr. Gordon, lawer and mysilfe had a sailling mach on the loach. I repaired mothers henhouse the 3rd and 5th, the bull having out the gavel. The 6th high wind and blustry. Wastie had in 6 ricks the 2nd. I see the frost of the 5th has blackened the most of the potato heads. We took in the first six ricks on the 7th, quaiet and warme, the 8th quaiet with rain at 8 A. M. Old Midtoon some better. Betty down the 7th, he had a new westcoat, it was too high in the neck and too wide up at the breast. He made hir hilpe him of with it, and take of the neck, and take in the breast. Just now she did the joab in the minute. The 9th I sold a gray four year old pony to Major Gordon Duff at £32, I bought hir in 2 year old for £13 and three shillings of discount. The 9th was terrible rough wind and a great showr at 5 P.M. I put away Maggy Laing the 12th for stealling, first apples, secondly sop, and thirdly on the night of the 3rd milk and cream to hirself, and other two woman, Jessie Wilson and Isabel Anderson, both from Bogmoor, Enzie, hirseile from Bogbain, and forthly cream and butter to hirselfe, and the forsaid two. I saw the act done, went ben and catched them with the bits in thair mouths, at ten oclock at night, on the 11th, and in the morning of the 11th, it was Sunday, I catched hir giving them crowds and cream, and lastly, a parcel of eggs below hir chaff bead, all duck eggs. But the best fun was, she stole a letter of love from Jessie Wilson and read it to my wiffe. She denied the thift to Wilson, but the reading of it condemed hir, she then took guilt on hir, but said she found it on the stair, and left it on the top of the meale girnal. Whean Willson asked back the letter, she told hir she was a damd impudent bitch. When she went out to go away, I cried at hir to come back, she had forgot hir eggs in the bead, she told me to keep them for mysilfe, but my leddy had them in hir bundle, also a print of butter. I dont know if she had bread or not, it like as she would not stop hir breakfast. It came out the 24th that our herone stole a pair of new worsted stockings of the forsaid Jessie Willson. I went to Aberdeen the 19th to see the British Association, I paid 2/5, picters or paintings was splendid, and old relects and old warlick instruments terrible. On the 20th two of the four new cannon from Portsmouth was taken to the new batery by 4 horses with the hilp of the Artilerymen. Thair weight was 96 cwt and 10 lb. Our harvest hands of the 27th one month, in 20 ricks from last year, we have 33 small and 12 old ones.
October 1859.
Begins terribly, began to plow the 1st torneeps, getting white in many places and not knotting planning the railroad, the Keith and Dufftoon about the first fortnight. Still great drught and terrible hot, the same as at midsummer, thair was a weighty rain the 11th and some the 12th. We are building a dyke on the roadside at the back of the house and trenching alongside. We began to plow ley in the upper Glaik with one furro down hill the 12th. Our cattle, part of them, put in on the straw the 12th. Mr. Alexr. Cirmichail, schoolmaster, has been verry poorly this past six weeks, I doubt consumption. I think the cornyards is fully one third below the average, the oats at Keith £1 pr 40 lb. I am only thrashing but the first of it yet. I think thair has been as much rain betwixt the 16th and 18th as has been since May. I hop it will do good to the neeps, the 18th and 19th dray. Thair is some corn to take in on Woodend and Braehead. Rain, wind, sleet and haill, the 20th, wind plate north verry cold. Made up the goodwiffe account to Mrs. Gordon Duff for butter and eggs £5-4s. Thair was four inches of snow the 21st. The 22nd cleared the road with the snow plow down to the merchants. Out shooting heares and rabbets the 25th. The 26th, rain and high wind all day, cold, cold and fussern, The 27th the Major sent the factor, gamekeeper and mysilfe to hunt deer in the wood of Almore, a dreadful day of rain and sleet the whole day, got none. On the 26th the Austerallian stame ship the Royal Charter was totaly lost near Menaie Straits, 449 persons drowned and 500-000 thousand pounds of gold, 39 persons saved. The 28th a fine quaiet day, but on Saturday the 29th fearfull wind and rain the whole day. The burns and water swollen nearly like the dreadfull flood of 1829. Thair is many people drowned by sea and land, ships and boats wrecked. The snow mostly all of the 31st.
November 1859.
Begins frosty and quaite. On the 2nd I was out with the Major, and Major Jas Duff of Hatton Castle and Mr. John Grant, factor in Loach Park. Thair was 3 roes shot besides hares. I had nothing but some hares, the next day, the 3rd, we went to the wood of Rosarie. I had the honour of shooting one their with three horns, full grown and all knaggs. It was complimented to Major Duff Hatton. I shot another in the wood of Auldmore and some hares. I was complimented with one roe, we had four by snares. On the 4th, I bought a mare pony at £16.15s. My other one is above 20 years, and some stiff. This day the 4th, I sold 11 qrs. of old oats and 9 quars of new at £1 per 40 lb, I was elected to the board (133) again the 2nd. Sleety showrs and 4th and 5th, the 8th, rain and sleet, the 9th, Thanksgiving, the ground white and very cold. The 13th and 14th quaiet and warm. We began to plow Dinnicorn ley shift the afternoon of the 11th. Mr. Cirmichal, schoolmaster still very poorly. Capital plowing dray weather. The halph of our ley plowed the 22nd. Began our avel the 23rd, quaiet and warm. On the 25th, wind with sleet showrs. I have made a clean town of servants at this term. Oats £1. to £1.Is per 40 lbs. Mr. Cirmichal, schoolmaster died, for the past 6 years a most excellent lad, and very intimat acquantance. Has left a young weddow, one son and two young daughters. He was aged 27. Thair is a new school getting the third coat of plaster this 29th day of Novr. Mr. Cirmichal was buried at Glass the 30th, some snow, verry cold with sleety shown. Thair was two candidats for the school the night of the funeral. One Stewart from Davidston, he was making intersession for the school long before Mr. Cirmichal died. it would be a pity if he suceed. The Major is begun to plant up in the glack. The dyke is finished round the knowe, called Tomnacrunnion, and the knowe of the south of it on the duck is called Auchneschool, then the Leadys Bead and Hawkies Holl. Some snow on the ground the 30th.
December 1859.
Begins some storme. I was hunting in Lochpark the 3rd. I shot one fine roe. I received a letter from the laird deated the 5th to shoot hares in the hill above Midthird for mysilfe. Very high winds the 8th, 9th and 10th. Slight rain and sleety showrs the 11th and 12th. Wm. Taylor not verry weall for the 14 days. The plowing match on Blackhall and Woodend the 13th. It was high wind with frost and snow showrs all day. The hours of plowing was from 9 to 2 o'clock or no prises, but John Riach, Wm. Murray, Charles Stephen, and James Stables all first plowman from an hour to 1 and 1 1/2 hours byond the time. and got the first prises. The judges of the harness was all night, the night before helping to clean harness and gave prises all first for the same. It was one of sadler Munros journymen and him the maker of kid harness. Thair was 12 pair the people was aware was never looked at, whether good or bad. The 14th, snow and still snow and frost on the 19th which was eight inchs deep and fully 12 upon the 20th. Ann Addisons, Glack was married the 17th, about 50 at the marriage, and a funny homecoming we had. The 21st, the rents paid, fully ten inches of snow. Thair is one bad job. we have no stored torneeps. We had before the 22nd fully 12 inchs of snow, but the night betwixt the 22nd and 23rd fully another foot. Was quite quaiet and evendown fall of flags, now fully two foot of snow over all livel lands. I am now 56 years old. I never saw so much come one night. The 24th, a kind of snow and sleet and high wind all day, wind south east. The 26th, 27th and 28th quite and sometimes weighty rain, but not fresh. The torneeps bad to get. Still about one foot of snow and the snow hard. Scriped above this is wrote the 30th. Sore work for all the men and towns to get neeps, quaiet and soft the last night of the year. George McWillie, Midthird, 31st.
THE RUINS OF AUCHINDOUN CASTLE. BALVENIE CASTLE.
On the left is Auchindoun castle which is situated some three miles South-west of Dufftown on the A941. This castle is referred to by George McWillie in his diary in a manner which leads one to believe that there would have been a connection with our ancestors of years long gone by. Balvenie Castle stands above and north of Dufftown, Scotland and the river Fiddich, and was once believed to have been called Mortlach Castle. Glenfiddich Scotch Whisky distillery sits behind the trees in the above photograph. The area includes that area of Scotland referred to as whisky row and has had a long history of whisky traders. George McWillie also records some of his dealings with the traders. During the Jacobite rebellion of 1745 the district was also known as rebel territory and it is reasonable to conclude the McWillie families of the area would have been sympathisers of the Stuart cause.
January 1860.
January 3rd, 1860. The first begins soft, I see some of the heads of the torneeps on Treeyard as we go into church. The 2nd fresh, the 3rd quaiet with mist and cloes air. My wiffe and mysilfe, or both, is going to Mr. George Allens marriage, schoolmaster, Keith Free Church. The wiffe at 12 o'clock is trying on a jacket of fine black sillk, lined read flannal, was bought for a linder for mysilfe, with a roe of fine black buttons down the front, with her newest black silk gown. The mutch is made of tullie with read pink ribbands, the front is mounted with something like black beads, but soft like cotton. I think the girth at the buttock will measure about one foot more nor hir length, but she wants on the bonnet yet. Now home the morning of the 4th at 5 O'clock. I hade 4 prises of iron work first day of youl, hard frost with deep old snow. The 6th, a new schoolmaster placed, Mr. Donald Stewart, son of Mr. Duncan Stewart, farmer, Davidston. Still hard old snow and hard frost, at the 9th still a dale of old snow and the roads terrible slippie. At Keith with 8 qurs of old oats, the 11th the 12th, a shooting. I had 3 prises of silver. Some soft the 12th. The 13th, high winds and fresh. At Keith with 9 qurs oats, new road quite slippy. Another 8 qurs same day, only went to Maslie. Hard frost, scouring our mill water 17th and 18th. Out shooting some hares for mysilfe. The 20th, rain and sleet, the 21st, high wind south east and rain and snow. Shot 14 hares on Tenroad and Drummuir lands the 24th. On Saturday the 28th, along with the keeper, I shot a fine read deer, in the wood of Scoug, and on the 30th I shot a pritty hind up in the glack above Glackmuck, in a bitt of broom, still weighty snow and hard frost.
February 1860.
Begins frost and deep snow on the 1st. Out shooting hares, began on Westertoon down to Mains of Towiebeg. Two keepers, Jas Mill and mysilfe shot 26 and 3 rabbets. Terrible cold. Oats and straw £2 to £2.2, and oats without straw is £1 for 40 lb. I have sold none below 41 1/2 lbs. Sold five fat quoys the 3rd at £13.5s pr head, some fresh the 3rd and 4th. James Andersen. Mill of Towie and Fanny Garden, Westertoon, was to be married the 2nd. She brought forth young, it was put back to the 4th. Still frost and snow the 6th. A swoard was presented to the young laird of Kininvie the 2nd. Drummuir, 5th Decr, 1859. Mr. McWillie, Midthird. If you wish to kill a few hares on the hills above your farm, this is the authorise to shoot them, J.D. Lachlan Duff. Let the keeper know that he need not be going after you when he hears firing. The snow a dale deeper the night of the 8th. The 9th still deeper about 14 inches over all, sore work for the men and lowns getting neeps, snowplow and all, great complaints for keep for sheep and cattle. I have 14 ricks the 9th, out shooting hares the 9th Gamie, Alexr. mysilfe, one hour, 4 hares. George McWillie here from Gamrie the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th. Fresh, the land clear, but the furrors, but the ground quite hard with the old frost. I was at the sawmill speaking for one hundred sheet of pailing the 17th. The 19th and 20th, hard blowing, and did not go to church, fresh the 23rd, shooting hares, and out the 25th, we had 4 hares and 3 rabbets. Our plow yoaked for the first time Monday the 27th. Plowed none since the plowing match on Woodend the 13th of December. Straw and oats from £2.3s to £2.10s pr qur. Hey 15s to 18s. and oats alone £1.1s. pr qur. Torneeps scarce, hares has done more harm this year, nor I ever remember, mostly eaten whole fields. I sold two small quoys at Fumakfair at £18 the 28th, a good market.
March 1860.
Begins some fresh, a dale of old snow still on many places. Began to plow clean land on the banks the 1st in the afternoon. Hard frost each day in the morning. I sold a thrashed rick of hey at £16, about 300 stones to Mr. Leddingham, Keith, the 2nd. Still hard frost and one yoaking a day the 9th. the 10th about 2 inches of snow., the 12th cold with frost. Mr Grants roup the 15th at Ardbrack. I bought a timepice, table bell, some books and pictures. John Burges, Cachenhead, eight chairs @ 1.10s a pice, or £12. Geo Garden, Westertoon, a carpet £3, the rug £1.9s, it cost 10s.6d. new. John Burges chairs, 28 sh. a pice. Always frost, high wind and haill showrs on the 23rd. We have just 14 ricks the 23rd. Oats £1.2s to £1.2s.6d pr 40 lb. straw verry scarce. We was at Keith the 23rd with 15 qurs oats, 8 to Rosarie and 7 to the station for Urqurhart, rain and slett the whole day. Oats up to £1.4s. pr 40 lb. The 25th and 26th, rain and sleet and land terrible wet. the 27th two inches of snow and cold. An extraordinary meeting of the shareholders of the Keith and Duffton Railway at Keith in the Gordon Arms Inn the 31st. Mains of Auchynachie was setting his potatos as I went down. Some oats sown today at Mures of Auchendown, the land weet and dale of neeps rotten in the land with the severe winter.
April 1860.
The first a fresh morning, rather cold through the day, some showrs in the afternoon. Westertoon sowed the 3rd. We sowed the first on Dinnicorn the 5th, ley all sown the 6th. Hard frost in the morning, clear and sunny all the day. Weighty rain the 8th, hard frost and the land raw. I sold a rick of corn and straw the 13th, of 8 qurs, 4 bushels, and 3 pecks at £2.3s pr qur. I have but 8 ricks and sow of hey. Oats selling at £1.6s pr 40 lb. Mr James Watt, shoemaker at Pachals and his wiffe Finella Edwards, both cripples, has but one son, George Watt, a clerk in Keith. His mother was poorly in hilth a short time ago, thinking she was to die. She banked thair mony in Georges name. He has taken up every rap of the mony, and of to America. From the 13th to the 20th, cold frosty winds. Sowed our clean ground in glack the 19th, the banks to sow yet. White clover 11d, read new 6d, read old 5d, rygrass seeds 3d. Sunday the 22nd, high winds. Flags and hail showrs throw the day. We was at Keith station the 21st with hey to John Watt, at 1/2 pr stone. Verry cold and great hail showrs the 23rd. Oats now at Elgin £1.10 pr 42 lb. with straw £2.3s. to £2.5s, hey 1s, to 1/2 pr stone. I have six ricks and took in the 7th. the 23rd. Torneeps near done and 500 stones of hey. The 25th, fine quaiet day, the 26th, fresh I may say for the first time. We sowed one halph of the banks the 26th, clean land. A new factor, of the name of D, Robertson, came about the first. The 30th, quaiet and verry warme, all our neeps home the 30th, about 3 acres to sow on the bank. Sold Major Gordon Duff 224 stones of hey at 1s. pr stone.
May 1860.
The first three days extraordinary hot, the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th cold east winds. Peter Forbes roup by the shirrefs warrent, was on the 28th May, for arears of rent. I bought his tea kettle and chojar at 6/9. I sold 248 stones of hey to Thomas Humphray, Fochabers at 1s. pr stone. The 7th, we have only 4 ricks and one taken in to the barn which is fine, we have only about 2 loads of neeps the 8th. Cold drught, about one third of our neeps land plowed the 8th. All our neep land plowed the 17th, and began to form dreels the 17th with one pair of horses. John Watt and me bought £2 worth of backs at the loach sawmill the 16th, I began to drive the 18th, drughty with wind, moderate capital weather for cleaning neep land.
June 1860.
The 1st, verry drughty and no growth in grass, we have the shift at the end of the closs sown in to the style the 2nd. The 4th, wind east, rain all the day. It was the Monday Market Duffton. I have still 3 ricks, and two of them old ones. The night of the 4th, a gold watch presented to the Rvd. Mr. Fairweather, Nonintrusion Minister, I gave him five shs. Oats £1.8s. to £1.9s pr 40 lb, meal £l.2s.6d. Botriphnie. Helen Peterkin here from the Broom, not very weal, 6th, rather rainy, 5th and 6th, Betty at Rothemay seeing Wm. McDonald the 8th. The 12th was an afull day of wind and rain from the east, did a dale of dammage on Waterside. June Market, few dealers and stiff mkt. excepting for fat stock. I sold 3 small stots to Mr. Finloater for £13.2s.6d pr head. The fifteenth, high wind, about 5 acres of torneeps to sow, mostly all dunged. Good growing weather and a dale of thunder 16th. Our rents paid the 18th at the Castle to Mr. Green, Keith, the Major present, quite warme. A new dyke building of stone and lime around the schoolhouse at this time., Wm. Strath, Masson. Done sowing neeps the 20th, two acres, got the speat, I rolled them with the big roler to brack the scariff. At Turfshill 21st and 22nd, some showry the 23rd. Grass rather scarce but crop doing weall. Hindmost tears sown the 21st. Our cattle out to grass the first time the 15th. not fare up yet, good growing weather. The 26th, some showrs, all our torneeps shift formed the 26th, the halph of our tears sown the 26th. A dale of thunder and weighty rain, much good. Rather cold with frost at night the 28th. flying showrs the 29th, Taylor & Bremner at Keith for Guano. We sowed the first of the neeps from the 24th to the end of the month of June, cold with high winds and rough showrs.
July 1860.
Alexander Garrow Bellman for the past 10 years, gave up his birth to the Parson, the reason is, he had the grass of the churchyard, but grass being scarce this year, the minister thought proper to eat with teathered sheep and was for him to cut the nittles and other noxious weeds. Garrow gave up the birth, and on Sunday the first of June, the Parson came with his big bible, like a pack merchant, and no Bellman, and many of the people gave no babees. He tryed one Jas. Newlands, he would neather carry books or ring bells unless paid three pence per hour. Mr. Parson had no recourse but give up the grass to Garrow again. Haugh, haugh, haw! Began howing neeps the 6th and I saw the first points of awens coming out of our barley the 7th. A new road finished throw the pasture of Midthird to the new crofts on the other side of the hollow. Stables, farmer, Linmore of Bellyhack sold straw to Miss McPherson, Aberlowr, at £1.14s. pr. quarters straw. For the past 14 days, high tearring winds, pasture grass is scarce in many places. Fat cattle dear, and two year olds is £9 to £10. 1 ditto £5 to £6, but good weighty rain for one hour at 7 o'clock P.M. the 13th, high wind the 14th and the 15th and rain the 16th, much good, the oats begining to shoot. Our fire house mudthaching, done in 4 days by John Findlay, 9 shs. The 15th, I feed three weaman at £2.1s pr head, a cutter £3.8s. A dale of thunder the 15th at 8 o'clock, verry high cracks hail and rainy. The 16th, cloudy. Peter Forbes, Cottertoon is begun to cross plow his torneep land the 16th. He was sowing something into his clean land at this time, thair is about two acres was not sowen in spring. I hear it is sown with torneeps again. The thunder of the 15th, Sunday, killed a cow to the Rvd. Fairweather. It was reported in Keith I had a horse killed, I now see it in the Banff Journal, it is not truth. Our neeps done hoeing the first time the 25th. rather watery and cold comonly frost at night. Isabella George at Drumure died the 17th, aged 25. A great many thousands of trees for coal props driving out of the wood above our town. We have a ewe of 15 years old has had 3 lambs mostly each year. She was not at the ram last fall because of her age. She went off to the Mains of Towiebeg, the 26th February, got the ram hirseile and lambed. A fine ram lamb of the southdown breed the 22nd of July. Rather showry on to the end.
August 1860.
Begins the day of Glass Market, a capital sale
and high prices. In the second time in dewey days drawing the crops of 7000
larch trees out of the wood for fire. I got the crops for a road to drive down
the wood, it is for coall props. The crop will be late, not nearly shot yet the
3rd. I have only one old stack about eleven or twelve quarters. I sold ten
quarters of oats at £1.11s pr. qur the 3rd. Weall, upon the 6th, Wm. Taylor and
me started for Aberdeen, the 6th Taylor came home with the 5 o'clock train. I
was to hold on to Edinburgh next day, thair being a Review of 22000 Riflemen
reviewed by the Queen. I could get no acquantance, and I went to Aboyne, thair
was a masson walk and ball that night, so thair was, the next day the Queen
arrived at 3 o'clock P.M. Stayed one half hour at the station. All hir equpage
being thair also, and 50 of the 93 Highland Regement, and as many Rifflelmen
from Banchory. The Queens horses and carriage, in leaving the station, got a
little restive, and ran to thair own hotel, was owned by one cook, and his son
was driving. It was about 60 yards of the road. I came to Aberdeen that night
and home the next day being the 8th. I took a bad cold that afternoon, and so
did Wm. Taylor, Got no rain, but at home it rained almost all the time, and the
9th and 10th, it rained all day, and me ill with a gout in the top of my left
thigh.
Mrs Burges, weddow of John Burges Cachenhead, has managed the farm for the past
10 years. Had a family of 3 sons and 4 daughters, brought them all up with good
education. Died the 14th at 6 P.M. Still rainy since the 15th of July, Marter
Bullions days. The 16th, the day of Dufftoon Market and all that night, wind and
verry weighty rain. The ** in bad condition. Our hey was only cut the 14th, no
word of any earth fire being drove. Oats is £1.10s. pr. qur of 42 lbs. I am
still ill with my thigh and back. I put mustard blister the 12th. That night I
had a dream that I shit my britches. I told my wiffe my dream before I rose out
of bead. Whean rising and beholding my britches, all spoilled with the mustard
the afternoon before. Them that sees this may judge of my astonishment. George
McWillie, Betty, went to the Broom by rail the 21st, a dray warme day, but the
22nd, rain the whole day. I would not sell the Major but 2 qurs of oats, the
22nd, untill I see the weather alter, the hey is in a bad state. All in bouts or
stooks, and the clover growing up through the hey. The 23rd, I was out with the
Major shooting mourfoul and hares. We killed 10 brace and some hares in the hill
of Bellyhack. It was the first time I ever was taken out to shoot mourhens by
the laird. Quite warme, rain the 24th and some the 25th. The 26th, Mr. Miller,
the first Minister of Nonintrustion ever at the Barn of Woodend, he did not use
the paper whean he officiated as Minister of the Barn, but now reading the paper
with his specticles. What may his he and she hearers think of him now, when he
was thair pastor, they would go and here none thar read a paper sermon. Oats
£1.14s from Geo. Duff to the Major. Our hey colled the 27th, quit weet.
Margaret McKimmie, Backhill of Kininvie had a ilegimat child born about the 9th,
which she conceald in the wood of Loachpark. Mr. Robertson, supperintendant of
police, got a wisper of on the 23rd, and on the 24th, she was taken to Keith,
and on the 25th, she returned with police gig. Had him for the child was hid,
and he took them both to Banff. Verry rainy, on to the end of the month. Some
oats only begining to change to yellow, and no fire, drove as weet as when cut.
Grass for cattle now verry scarce.
September 1860.
Begins on Saturday, rain the whole day. We have taken in half of an old rick to straw our cows, horses and calves. No hey as yet got in for the rainy weather. Torneeps getting yallow in damp land. The 6th and 7th, quiet and terrible heat, rain 9th and 10th. At Keith the 12th for coals and 2 flagstons for barn. The 13th, rain the whole day. Putting out some top dressing the 13th and 14th. Some barly and oats cut on different farms in Botriphnie the 17th, Summerssfair the 19th some stiff market. James Dunbar and two sons from Strathdon here the 19th. Drove the first of the fire the 19th, as weat as when cut out of the moss. People building thair hey now, not in good condition. Westertoon began full force the 24th. Our harvest hands came home the 28th, and Saturday the 29th was rain the whole day, we began to cut the 1st October.
October 1860.
Begins quaite and rank dew, began cutting the 1st at eleven o'clock in the Upper Glack, rain at night. Thair is no ripe oats as yet, in general only meall and kale and some places as green as the torneeps. Thair has been white frost mostly each morning through the summer. Little or no fire drove, and what we drove is only put up in dyks to dray. The grass is completely done. The son was weading all day on Tuesday the 3rd and quaiet. The wind rose through the night, at 5 in the morning blowing a huricane, which continued to eleven A.M. I see many house unthached, and up in Haggishaw, above Midthird, upwards of one thousand fine larach trees rooted out. One would think the wood was all built in bothes, some roots are 20 foot broad by 14 foot high. I went up in the hight of temest, the earth was moaving with the tree roots as the waves of the troubled sea. I could not go in to the woods. Weighty rain began at nine o'clock, but the wind still blowed dreadfull. We had about 4 acres cut at Westertoon about the 20th, and not one standing stook left. I don't think thairs much corn shook, owing to the strength of the wind, keeping it always bent and down. Alexander McWillie (134), my uncle in Midtoon of Towiebeg, died the 6th, aged 90 years and 10 days, in the same house he was born in. The 7th rain and the 8th rain and sleet. Some cutting the 9th, rain and hail. Newmills market quaeit and the son weading the 10th. Cutting the Keith and Duff railway. Begun Keith about end of September. Terrible news of the let hurricane by sea and land. The 10th, in the morning, fully one inch of snow, and cold with wind. We are taking in loads of corn for the cattle. It cannot be thrashed for weet. Our old straw done the 10th. The 11th, snow in the morning, some rain and cold, on to the 15th. We began the 17th, 8 ricks of hey and lead some and built it in the Glack, the 18th. We have one third of it and more to cut the 19th. We began to cut on the banks clean land, dray and windy and slight drops of rain. Westertoon has lead, all the 17th, 18th and 19th. We have only 17 ricks. The 27th, thair was high winds. The 25th and 26th, hard white frost, and on the 27th. Giving our cattle straw evening and morning. We were done cutting the 30th, hard frosty mornings and quaeit.
November 1860.
Begins quaiet and frosty. About 6 acres of oats to take in the 4th. My people did not go out to 6 o'clock in the morning, and in at 6 at evening. A set of meear cows I had to put them out each morning. We drove up five ricks from Burnend of clean ground oats the 9th, and built it the 10th by our harvest hands. On the 10th, we took 2 hours of the plow, the 10th, 11th and 12th, watery and misty. Frosty with showrs and mist, from the 12th to the 17th. At 12 A.M. came on about one inch of snow, it was on the 15th, the day before the feeing Friday. We built our last howak of brock. Monday the 19th, about 4 inchs of snow. Oats is now £1.1s per 40 lb. and meal £1 to 19s. per boll. Thair is still a dale of corn to take in, in Boharm and many other places, about 9 acres on Cottertoon, and about 4 on Ryhnesses on the White Cow. Rain every day from the 21st to the 25th and the 26th white with snow. Began to plow ley the 20th, the stubles for neeps so weet. The Keith and Dufftown Railway (135) is getting on in style in near twenty different places. I was out shooting hares and rabbets the 24th. Hard frost, stopt plowing the 27th. The 28th and 29th, ground white and quite cold. Oats now £1 pr 40 lb. It is weighing from 36 lbs to 41 lbs, Barly in Botriphnie 48 lbs. Sleety showrs at the end. The railway getting on all along the line. The bridges at Woodend, the foundation is cut ten foot deep throw clay, then thair is 15 foot of black moss, thairs 18 inchs of small stones covered with slacked lime, then double planking 3 inchs thick laid cross ways, The grannet is from Aberdeen, the rest of the stones out of the brea of Argarthney anent the farm of Ardbrack.
December 1860.
Begins rain for the first four days, constant the 5th and 6th, high winds with mist and some showrs of rain. Plowing ley, the land terrible weet. Betty and Taylor at Dufftown carding mill the 6th, cold wind and weety, terrible with gutters. I was hunting roes with the Major the 8th and Captain Ewieng. Killed three besides hares. I carried home one roe and one hare, from the Burn of Oldmore to Midthird for my own share, and at Achlunkhart the 11th with the gentlemen, and Achlunchart, thair was nothing killed but 16 hares and 6 woodcocks. Both days dray, but ground most terrible weet, then rain on to the 17th, it has about one inch of snow. Still above 100 acres of oats in the Glen of Bodinfinnach and on Cottertoon and White Cow, Robertsons daughter, Braehead and one Humphrey Masson, Elgin, proclaimed the 16th. Mr Masson would not alow the marriage to go on without three proclaimations, but for a load of fire wood, he allowed it to go on for two proclamation. Thats the boy for the times. Mark that my young friends that intends matrimony. Only one load of firewood, 1/8, besides driving, three hours work @ 9d. pr hour, 2/7 in whole 4s.3d. rather muckle. The 18th, about two inchs of snow, the 21st, 9 inchs, the 22nd, snow is still on the incress. Our rents was paid, about 70 of us was dined in the Castle. Five navies poaching in Bellyhack, all the rent day. Monday the 24th, out shooting with the Major. One halph dozzen of hares, fully 15 inchs of snow, and most penetraeting frost, and so on to this time, the 25th. I do not mind to see acres of stooks at a new Christemess. The snow still weighty but quaiet. On to the night of the 29th which was a terrible night of wind and blowing, and Sunday all day the roads all blocked up, but the land all made bear in to hows and dens. Oats up to £1.5s. pr. qur of 40 lb. only in general weighing in many places from 34 to 39 lbs. and owing to weety summer, a great scarcity of fire, nothing but wood and coals. Butter 8d. pr lb. and eggs, 91/2 pr doz. Beef, £3 to £3.5s pr cwt. I shot one of the finest roebucks ever, I shot the 31st at Lord Fifes March above Tollroad ley and Ryell small shot, at sixty yards.
January 1861.
Another year is gon over My head and I do not suppose mysilfe old, altho past 58 years, time is fast rolling along, and I am not perceving the swiftness of its motion, so I have no doubt will hurl me along with its torrent sea of eternity. I wish I could look ahead for the brackers of the lea, shore cannot be as to distance fare of. The first day of January, 61, is quaiet with frost, and Betty weaving new feet to my tartan hose for goeing on to the Majors Tea, Ball and Supper on the evening of the 3rd. Be it known to those of the rising generation, the ball did take place after sixty partaking of an excellant tea, and all its followers, Mr. Geo, and Mrs. Garden, mysilfe and wiffe, broak up the ball with highland fling to the tune, "The Marquas of Huntly". Went on to halph past 8, then the sixty ate an excellent supper pined with a glass of best shampine and tumbler of Alloway ale. The dancing began again comenced by the Major taking the floor with my wiffe, along with the ladys maid and mysilfe, to the tune of "Craigellachie Bridge" and lady Duff sitting laughing looking on, but could not join the dance owing to chilblains on hir feet. The musick and merry dance got untill three o'clock next morning, all happy to part, and yes, happy to meet again. It was quiet with hard frost. A shooting at Tennanton, the ground we lay upon was laid with shaves out of the stook. I had three iron bindings for cattle, and four gills of whisky at 7d. pr gill. I have attended shootings thair for the past fifty years, and I never saw stooks in Botriphnie the first day of Old Christemess. Thair will be no of it to man or beast. I mind thair was out in Boharm the same time, and to some to cut 1817. The 9th was soft and closs air, the 10th, a little fresh. A wager was laid by Alxr. Dey, Forkins and Mr. Anderson, merchant, 1st December, that the foresaid would not have a thrashing mill fit for thrashing in five weeks. I joined on Anderson side, 1 lb. tobaco. I got three notices to be down on the 12th at twelve o'clock, and bring the tobaco. Down I went, the mill was sitting on a small bit of floor laid for a thrash. Neather walls or roof above the mill and three inches of water and sleet on the floor, neather strippers on drum or shackers no belts. Mind the wager was one rick thrashed on the 12th. But I came home and my tobaco. Weall, at 9 P.M. o'clock, the mill thrush three bushels with hilp of John Duff who drove the shackers, thair beeing no belt for the purpose. I think she will require other three weeks or she be a mill fit for thrashing a rick witheout John Duff or some more of the boys with flails. A dale of snow with frost the 15th, a little soft the 19th and 20th, but the 21st, rale fresh and warm and all the bees out of thair hives. We have had just five weeks of frost and snow. We have had hedded neeps all the time, only we was always pulling a few to keep headed ones. Our quoys and stots dead fat, but as we have plenty of keep, they will always be getting bigger and fatter. Beef is from £3.5s. to £3 pounds for the hunderweight, and the oats at £1.6s. pr qur of 40 lbs. pr bushel, thair is from 34 lbs. to 41 lbs. per bushel, not nere so much of the straw as the past year. Still a dale of stooks to take in. in many places. They have been building at the Railway Bridges through the winter, for all the snow. I was out shooting roes, hares and rabbets the 22nd. with Major and Auchlunkhart, and out the 23rd with Chine and Tom, keepers, shooting hares. We were at the scoug at the marriage of his daughter Lizzy, with one Sime from Elgin the 24th. Cottertoon took his shift of clean ground oats, 23rd and 24th, so did Rhyness of Whitecow. It was the longest out stooks ever I saw. I forgot we began to plow the 22nd, after five weeks of snowe. The 26th, quaiet and warme. I was cleaning and repairing a kitchen grate for our kitchen, I got in a compliment from Major Duff., Gordon Duff. The 27th, fresh, the afternoon high wind and cold. A great many old wreaths of snowe. The 27th, fresh, the afternoon high wind and cold. A great many old wreaths of snowe. The 27th, a shooting of sculls, I had but one at 2/6, thet used to be from 8d. to 9d, and made of juniper scobs a all. By letter, Hellen Peterkin died here this morning, Aberdeen, 24th January, 1861 Betty is aunt. From the 24th, most beautifull, on to the end.
February 1861.
The first was a Keith Market. I sold 3 quoys at £18 pr. head. A beautiful day to two o'clock, then weighty rain, quaiet the 2nd with frost. Oats at Keith £1.5s. pr 40 lbs. High wind the 4th, with great showrs of flags. The 5th, the same. Our high land awvel plowed, and began to Dinnicorn the 4th. All my berrie bushes prowned out the 7th, then about two inches of snow through the night. My mother poorly the 5th, still in bead. The 8th, about 4 inches of snow, quaiet with frost, snow on to the 16th, all of the 17th. Plows going the 18th, high winds with rain and sleet the 19th, terrible cold. Suddenly by bursting of a blood vesiel, at Queens Bridge, Belfast, on the 8th inst., Alexander McWillie (136), aged 28 years, eldest son of John McWillie, farmer, Midtoon, Botriphnie. Capital draying days from the 22nd to the 25th. Ten rigs of awvel to plow. The 25th, all our ley and avel plowed the second of March.
March 1861.
Begins dray with frosty mornings. I have 24 ricks of oats and small one of barly, and one of hey, and one halph of the torneeps. The 2nd, oats £1.4s. to £1.5s pr qur. Peter Forbes, Cottertoon, sowing the 2nd on ley. Died the 28th February, Fliza Anderson, aged 27 daughter of Alexander Anderson, farmer of Mill of towie and Westerchalder, Keith. The sixth, terrible wind and cold, frosty and high on to the 11th, we are throw plowing, in to our neeps the 12th. Begun to build the bridge for the railway below the church over the Isla the 14th. The water for Midthird was covered in with 6 inch toils from our improved land up to the burn, in the month of February, and the pasture taken of Midthird for a croft. Thair is a number of people planting above Blackmure and a dyk building to keep out cattle, and thair planting and filling up natural wood betwixt the burn and Sheean park. From the 14th to the 19th, rather cold with showrs of sleet and snow. Thair was a man got his leg broak at the railway bridge at Woodend, by falling of a sandbank. The 16th Robert Stronach came here for his health, an old servant. The 15th, I got schedules for the population, the 16th for the Drummuire district. Capital dray weather for work. The Lairds horses and John Watts is plowing on Cottertoon, I suspect Pr. Forbes most remove soon. We began to sow on Claggans the 25th, excellent dray weather, on to the 27th, the 28th and 29th, wind and rain. John Strathdee and Wastie sowed the 29th, after 10 o'clock it rained all day. The railway bridge below the mance founded the 29th, Saturday.
April 1861.
Bigns rainy. I was out distributting schedules, in the Drummuire district for the population on the 1st and 2nd, rainy both days and on to Saturday the 6th, we have put up all our pailling round the Bank of Burnend, being new grass for a park for the cattle. Rainy on to the day I was out distributting schedules for the population to the 6th the 9th and 10th. The population was taken up the 8th, I had the Drummuire district. Capital dray sowing weather, all our ley sowen out the 12th, and 7 acres of our ley sown out the 15th. The cattle could fill themselves on grass. The berry bushes green the 4th. and all the flourish out, the 13th, terrible hot and misty mornings. By a decision of the Shirreff Substitute, the Major has plowed about twelve acres on the Cottertoon. The head Shireff has reversed the decision, and Peter Forbes is getting on with the sowing of the farm as usual. Cattle rather back in price. I bought a small gig pony the 16th, of ten year old at £8.5s. Quaiet warm misty days and great grouth. This the 19th, wind rather rough and sunshine. Oats, 40 lbs. about £1.59. William Taylor got verry poorly the 23rd. All our crop laid down. The 28th, Major Duff Gordon resigned being member for the county at this time. I have sold him two ricks of oats and straw at £1.14s pr qur, Grass and eveything growing like summer. Wm Taylor verry poorly the 30th, now much colder at the end.
May 1861.
Begins rather watery. Our potatos set the 2nd,
then cold with sleety showrs. My mother, Isabella Shearer (137),
died the 3rd. at halph past three o'clock, of two days ilness, aged eighty four
and eight months, and was buried in my fathers grave the 6th. I have sold the
Major two ricks of oats and straw at £1.14s pr qur and 2 bushels. Still rain,
sleet and snow at the 10th, the land quite weet. Alexander Mitchell died at
Hillfolds, aged 60, son of Alxr. Mitchell, let farmer of Midthird, the 6th. A
stout fellow in his prime. Still rather watery, on to the 13th. I was putting up
pailling round the neepseed the 13th. We have 12 ricks, and one of hey the 13th.
Many peoples cattle out at grass at this time. The bridge over the railway below
the mance at the leavel, and the dyks round the station the 13th. I was 14 years
of age whean all Haughs from Midtown to Linmore was full of alder wood, and that
weet and moss hols that no beast but ducks could pass throw them. A deal of
Aisla whean cut, was thrown out with paills, and the meall mill of Mill of Hole
was oppoite the castle of Drummuire and driven with water out of the loach of
Loachpark, and the Mill of Ardbrack was at the deep cut beside the station. The
railway passes throw the stance of hir and Mill of Hole. Adam Hey was miller and
then James Ross, now at Mill of towie. The night of the 15th and 16th rainy, but
quite warme. Geo. McWillie.
Ann Roy, born at Midtown, and long day labrour on Ardbrack, who wrought hard and
lived sober diet, an scarcely any cloaths. She has left £127, and died the 19th
about 51 years of age. The 19th was verry warme, and the morning of the 20th, a
dale of thunder, verry loud from five to six o'clock and weighty rain, in the
middle of the parish, and scarcely any here at all. Our torneep land all cross
plowed the 20th. The fees for fore or good men £10 to £12, woman from £4 up
to £5. The 27th and 28th, dray, many Swedish neeps sown that 2 days, then
showry on to the end. Our cattle out to grass 25th, capital.
June 1861.
Begins rainy. I put 15 cattle to a park on Braehead anent the school. I paid £26, discount a calf at 16shs. The railway people is taking down the bridge at Woodend that is wrong in the foundation at this time, will cost £100. The one below the mance is riven and posted. Over the railway of 16 men and the 1 pumping water out of the foundation of the one beside it which they are taking down, the water comes out of the brae of Ardgarthney, a beautiful spring, From the begining on to the 9th constant rain mostly. The railway mens wages was £14shs, to June for ten hours, now 16shs. for 12 hours. We began to sow neeps about the 6th, the land terrible weet. Now at the 18th, terrible warme and a great grouth to the 15th. All our neeps shift sown out our to the how beyond the dame. I see the new station house risen and now 6 foot up, altho banked and 5 foot up with earth. Our rents paid 20th, very warme and dray, taken and recepted by Mr. P. Murray, Portsoy. Howing potatos 21st, awful grouthy. 6 ricks at this time, torneeps not all sown, the 22nd. I hoed potatos all day the 22nd, it was misty all day. People not fit to distroy thair grass growing like licks, and thair growing at the rate of one halph inchs in 24 hours in our yard. Torneeps all sown the 25th and then rainy to the 29th. Adam George died at Tennantoon the 30th, and was formerly farmer of Oldlenach. People have been thigging for him this 20 years, and has had twenty two children, but wives two had them, yes two wives.
July 1861.
Begins rather watery and great grouth, the barly beginning to shoot and I see some of the oats pointing out. Cattle dreadfull darth, three year stots £20, two ditto £16 and one ditto £10, and oats is £1.5s pr 40 lbs. I am facing our dame dyke with stones. Our potatos is set up. The 6th, rather rainy with distant thunder. I started the 10th, for the farm of Broom, Mrs. Is Peterkins. Rough with some showrs of rain, and a large showr of hail, the land white. The 11th, to Banff to the Rifflshooting, including Banff, Aberdeen and Morray Shires for a cup of silver given by Lord Fife, value sixty guineas, and to be shoot for 3 years and gained two times out of the three, by the one who gets the cup. It was gained this time by one Dunbar, from Aberdeen at the range of 600 yards. The railway new bridge over Fiddach of two archs fell the 9th, and killed William Robertson and girlie of 12 years. He was below the bridge at his breakfast, he belonged to Botriphnie, The telegraph poasts up from Keith to Lochpark the 16th. Rather watery, some mostly every day. One halph of our neeps hoed the 16th. Our hey cut the 11th and 12th and colled the 22nd. Misty and small rain the 23rd. Mr. James Jack, Ranas, Enzie, and me went to Dufftoon to see the fallen bridge of fiddoch on the railway. The 23rd, great rain and rain the 24th, and 25th, the day of Fifekeith Market, and rain the 26th, and on Saturday the 27th, awful thunder and rain at nine at night and rain on to the end.
August 1861.
Is begun with weighty thunder showrs every day on to the 12th, which is weighty rain. A dale of oats laid and not nearly all shot. The railway people has gone in to my quarry today the 8th. I have objected. The 12th, Lammas Day, weighty rain to two o'clock, the 13th weighty showrs throw the day. We turned two ricks the 13th and 14th and driving gravel to mend the road. I see by the Banff papers thair is barly cut in different parishes. I have other three stacks of oats to turn. Oats £1.3s to £1.4s pr qur of 40 lbs. Drove home some of our hey to the yard the 17th, but was stoped by weighty rain. The 18th, was high wind and weighty rain. Thair was rain every day on to the 23rd. We took home the rest of our hey the 22nd, John Gauld and John Peterkins wiffe here, a weighty rain after three o'clock. Our barley beginning to grow yellow. The 24th and 25th very high winds and weighty rain, the crop sore laid. Alexander Paterson, coachman to the Major, died the 25th in about 24 hours illness. I belive water in the head, he belongs to near Elgin. We was at Keith station the 26th for 45 cwts. coals and a ram, came from Gamrie. We built one rick of hey ther 30th, and has another one to build, but rain came and stopped us still on to the end.
September 1861.
Begins rainy, we scarcely no what to do.
Great rain on Tuesday the 3rd. We are thrashing straw to thach part of our barn.
The last thach was put on, the year 1845. The afternoon of Friday the 6th, one
of the showrs of rain mixed with hail, we had the weighest I ever saw, the
stripes and furrows on leys was like small rivers.
It lasted about forty minuts. But oh, the oats is dreadful laid. Betty hir new
every day shooes the 5th, price 7/6. The 8th, I found Mr. John Angus in the
churchyard looking for his fathers grave, the late Revd. Alexr. Angus. The 9th,
a warme quaite day. I was making and mending mounting rains the 13th, 14th and
15th, and Monday the 16th. Wm. Buie mudthaching the front of our mill. Began the
13th, and we cut our barly the 13th, pickles of oats cut in the lower end of the
parish. Thair is no fire drove this year at this time, and the land as weet as
in the head of winter, and the crop laid and twisted, most dreadful. The potatos
going wrong and the neeps in weety land. Geo. McWillie, Sepr 16th, 1861.
Our harvest hands came home the night of Summersfair the 18th, and begun to cut
the 19th at 8 A.M. At 8 A.M. the 20th, general harvest. The 23rd the rain
continued from 5 A.M, tonight and call night, a complete deludge, the waters
doing a dale of damage to haugh land. The 24th, 25th and 26th, still rain. Our
people making rapes. We begun the leading the 30th and took in 9 ricks of our
avel.
October 1861.
Begins with sun and wind the 1st, and 2nd, took in 5 ricks, and took in other three of Mashlech the 4th, but wind and rain in the afternoon, but began to cut the shortest of our ley. More nor the halph of our clean land is cut, seventeen ricks in, and the Bear in Howaks. We had in 25 ricks the 8th. Maggy Duff, the house woman, grew ill the 18th of September with rematicks, still worse to the 8th of this month, on which she went home. We have good harvest weather, a terrible wind on Sunday afternoon the 13th. Drove over all the stooks and ricks to many people, but the 14th windy. We began to lead at 4 o'clock A.M. and lead to eleven o'clock at night, and the 15th, lead all our cut corn and one days cutting in the upper Glack above the road. Rain the afternoon of the 15th. All our cutting done the 17th, 44 ricks yarded. The oats now £1 per qur of 40 lbs. and the majority of the potatos is wrong. I see by the papers the Queen at Fettercairn last week and at Badonach, all in a privat tour. Capital draying weather now, and all our crop taken in, the 19th, Dufftoon Market day, and all thached the 21st, but 6 without the yard. High wind the 21st and rather misty. About 2 acres to cut on Cottertoon. John Dawn, Glackmuck has none in the 21st, but his clean land, his folks not weall. The Majors, and other people cut his ley and avel, not in the 21st. We got home a new cart, mostly made of oak the 25th September. Some people taking home some loads of turfes, as thair was none got home throw the summer, always weat and rainy. I was out hunting with the Major Aclunkhart, and Cornal Fraser. I shot 3 hares and one fox the 22nd. Our potatos up the 23rd, our harvest hands away the 24th, our harvest just one month and warm fine weather. The first frost the 27th. We began to plow the 24th. I was out shooting the 28th, round Haggeshaw and Clunymore. I shot six partriges and one hare. Beatifull weather on to the end.
November 1861.
Begins with heat and white frost at night, but shooting the 5th. Got one roe and many hares. I shot two hares, it was rainy. Thair was a meeting of Heritors the 6th, to make the sallery of Mr. Stewart, the Schoolmaster, none but the Major and Minister. The stipend was made £40 stg. Thair was a meeting for electing members for the board, John McWillie, Midtoon and mysilfe elected. I went then with the Major at Lochpark to shoot roes. I shot a roe and roebuck right and left or I was 5 minuts on the station below Ryel in a hollow, and one hare. Bruckly weather on to the 9th. Sunday night the 10th, thair came out an awfull night of sleet and rain. About 2 inches of snowe on Monday the 11th, all of or 10 A.M. I went out to shoot hares in the afternoon. James Shearer, Towie, died the 9th. The 12th, rain, sleet and cold all day. We began to plow our ley the 6th on Haggishaw. Rainy the 14th, Thanksgiving day. The Oats from 19s to one pound. The engine up to the Drummuire station for the first time the 9th. with ballest taking it all from corsairtly near Keith. The day Keith Feeing Market, cold with snow the 15th, and 16th closs ending snow. Taking home torneeps the 17th, about 7 inches of snow. The 18th, verry high wind and fresh, all the snow of or evening, the waters dreadfull swollen, a servant boy drowned in the Burn of Glenmarkie. Quaiet the afternoon, and all the snow quite away the 25th. Plowing the 26th and 27th. The 28th, frost too hard for the plow. The outcray for fire is beginning over all this North Country. We took but three loads of our last years turfes in the end of harvest, I have a halff years fire of fine fir backs, 50 loads of 2 years old, and 45 cwt. of coals. I forgat to write down in the month of July, that two of our young chaps, about 16 years old, went to the top of the Hill of Carron for 2s.6d as naked as whean born, through the close of Glackmuck, Alxr. Bonniman and Alxr. Riach. The one first at the top of the hill had one shilling from his neghbours, Bonniman gained, thair was a quite high wind. they gained the top in 18 minuts
December 1861.
Begins sever frost the 1st and 2nd. Shooting hears the 2nd, fresh the third. Shooting hears the 3rd and the 4th out and shot one roebuck in the brea of Grashekhillock, hard frost that day. Much rain all night and plows going the 5th. Our oats weighing 42 lbs. The engine bussy ballasting from the new road through the Milloflholle Park up to the Loachpark. Capital fresh plowing weather from the 9th to the 14th. William Taylor verry poorly for the past two weeks, and Alxr. my brother also. Began some yavel plowing the 23rd. Bremorriston, Elgin. Mrs. Francis Duff, relict of Archbald Duff of Drummuire, died the 21st, and was buried here in the churchyard of Botriphnie. That saves £1000 a year to the Major yearly. About thirty of the parishioners at funeral, it was on the 27th, and Prince Albert (138) died the 14th. on Saturday night, at ten minuts before eleven at night, aged 43 years. The queen a weddow. Frost severe the 21st, but quaiet and not one breath of wind for the past ten days, some verry closs mists, about the end. Oats 21 shillings per 40 lbs. Poor Wm. Taylor verry poorly, Betty and me with him mostly throw the night, I do not think he can stand long, he is so weak. He has been a faithfull servant, about twenty years. My wiffe says she will keep poor William as long as he lives, if she live hirself. I am quite agreeable. This is a verry cold day, the wind north. This will now finish the old year sixty one. Another year past, and now 1862.
January 1862.
Begins quaite with hard frost in the ground, with closs mist the whole day. Still soft and misty on to the 4th. Yesterdays market, the beef, for good fat from £3 to £3.5s pr cwt. or 8 stones. The 6th fresh, a shooting at Tennanton. I had one prise and broak the nipple of my gun. I went a hare shooting the 7th, and killed none, but shoot some bonnets in the hill of Bellyhack, belonging to the men employed. Planting up oppsite to Paulscroft, being all planted this season, excepting above Whilrhead and Braehead, at the foot of the hill, which was planted the year 27. Quite fresh the 8th and 9th. All our ley done plowing the 9th, a fine day, some high wind. George McWillie Hungryhills the 4th and 5th, A deal of rain and sleet the 11th, the whole day. Upon the 15th, the first engine and train was to pass up and down, but did not. The 16th, high wind with rain the whole day. We was to go to a plowing on Boddingfinnach to Robert Taylor, did not go but took home 24 bolls of meall from the mill. The 17th, high wind and quite cold. Hard frizzel the 23rd to the 26th, but plows is still going. For the past ten days, high winds, which made it quite cold. George Ruthford, Dufftoon, has broake down at this time, his det about £3000. I bought his bushel, his toddy kettle, and Lord Fiffes picture. The roup was on the 24th for cattle and impliments. The houses and furniture the 25th, the houses £400 to Alxr. Stewart, Old Scougs. Fine dray plowing weather from the 26th to the 30th, and all our yavel plowed but two days work. The engine was up the line the 30th, with freight of raills, and two carriages, with the directors. The contractor has about 10900 tons of ballest to take from a gravel pit at Corsairtly up to the road below the old castle of Balvenie. This is Friday the 31st, a rainy day all throw. I put on a good fire in the house in the garden, and made four gig wheep shafts out of young birch shoots, with the three point branches, hard plait and then a sneed of weep cord of this form Yours George McWillie 1862.
February 1862.
Begins with verry hard frost, the ground white with snow the 6th. I sold a bull in Keith Market the 7th at £23. Rain the 11th and 12th. Jean McWillie (139) or Mrs. Watt had a son the night of the 10th, called James Watt. The 12th, old Candlmass, dark and misty. We began to straight of our clean land the 15th, the land verry weet, but fresh. Grass and neeps turning green, and I see by the newspapers the Americans is still thrashing one another. Our manufacturers, for want of cotton, is laid iddle, and bringing down the prices of cattle. Still plowing our clean land, but verry weet. The Keith and Dufftoon Railway opened the 21st. I went to Dufftoon Station and travelled home by Dufftoon. The 25th, blustry with sleety showrs. I am taking moles just now. Fummackfair rather cold and dray. Thair was but one cattle dealler from Aberdeen, Mr. Thompson, a number sold, but prices back about £2 besides at January. 3 trucks full of cattle left Drummuire Station, the first on the railway. Mr. John Watt (140), Auchmadies, Boharm, died the 26th, aged 76, my daughters father in law. Quaiet with some frost, on to the end.
March 1862.
Begins frost and snow came on about 7 o'clock in the morning, about three inchs. We began to drive out dung to Dinneorn the 2nd, and still now. I forgat I sold 3 stots at Fummackerfair at £17 pr head, and has 24 ricks oats, 1 barly, one of old straw, and two of hey. The 4th, and still snow. Alexander Andersons roup of merchandise agriculteral instruments on the 4th and 5th, I bought 13 chip white and black hats at 2/4 and a soft hat at 3/6, two parasols at 2/1, a brass 16 shillings. The Major pointed out a valuation for a house and garden for me the 13th, at the end of Towie burn, a capital place. It was quite fresh the 15th, and all the snow away the 16th, the land quite sweet, closs mist at this time and deway. We set pailling round the Banks of Burnend, the 15th, all our clean land plowed to the torneeps. Geo McIntosh, Taylor, was drunk the 13th, fell in the fire and burnt all his face. The railroad engine and carriages going and coming from Dufftoon and Keith four times each day. The station master and wiffe in our house at the end of the kaillyard. Getting the valuations of the farms greatly highted, and great consternation the 24th. From the 18th to the 24th, hard frosts, and land white every morning. Crosscutting for our torneep land for want of work. From the 24th to the 28th, snow and slety showrs. oats for seed £1.3s to £1.4s. The limekills at Craigminain, Burn of Towie, founded the 26th, belonging to Miss Gordon, Tullocahallum for lace. The people in Botriphnie in great consternation about the valuation and marchs of the farms. I sold yesterday in Dufftoon Market three quoys, fat at £13.7s.6d pr head, and eleven trucks full away pr rail. The 31st, setting pailling for a calves park, frosty but dray.
April 1862.
Begins dray, the Major got one rick of oats and straw the 1st, at £1.8s. pr qur. Upon the 2nd, we sowed the first of our oats, and on Saturday night we had 22 quarters sown and harrowed above the road all up to the wood. Gay hard frost in the mornings, but dray. William Taylor very poorly at this time. Jean Smith, a papur on the parish at Blackhall. Our merchant was publickly hung and burnt opposite his own door, Alexr. Anderson, he rather impudent to a hantle of his customers. All our ley and avel sown and harrowed the 10th. We sowed 6 quarters in the clean land the 11th. An extraordinary cold frosty and windy day, no grouth in grass as yet the 12th, and 13th, colder nor I mind, hard frost and wind, the plow cannot go. April Market dull, all our oats sown, cut 4 rigs for some neeps. Helen Petrie (14l), formerly goodwiffe on Upper Towie, died the 14th, aged 91. long a papur. I sold one stot the 15th at £15.15s. Good dray days, little growth now. Jamison, the new merchant, was married to Pharoh or Sarah Anderson, the 19th. None of his two shop keepers, or other servants, got so much as one drop of any article to cool thair tounges, excepting cold water. Other day, our potatos was set. The 23rd, I went over to Elgin and bought a staff of Holland with a spade and hook at one end and a mans hand carved round the hilt at the other or upper end, at the late Admiral Duffs roup an cocked blue bonet 4/6, the staff or hoe one shilling. The grass no better in Morrayshire nor in Botriphnie, out torneeps all home the 24th, about six loads, drughty on to the end.
May 1862.
Begins high wind and sunshine the 1st, at night weighty rain. Our cattle out to the grass the 1st, quite drughty the 3rd, the briard looking fine. I took a grass park on Braehead, 7 scots acres at £15.15s, discount 8 shillings, the 5th. Betty at Rothemay and me at Huntly Market the 7th, a beautiful, warme day, the 8th, a fine day to 2 P.M. then a dale of thunder and weighty rain. I forgat, my old mare pony in April sold to Alexr. Edward, Pauchels, for £1. I bought hir in the year 47, then 8 year old. I sold one meare out of hir at £32. She was thick stout made, a neck like a highland bull. In hir 18 year, she left the Keith and Dufftoon coach, and I suppose the Dufftoon railway now would make no fool of hir. I bought hir at £8.5s, Roy Stewart, Scouge. The corn and grass is growing at this time, like rashes, all our neep land plowed for the last time, but a few riggs the 10th, which was rainy, thrashing an old rick. Began to sow sweddish torneeps the 20th, rather drughty, about four acres sown the 22nd, and mostly all formed the 24th, still drught. Good mens fees from £10 to £12 at Keith and Dufftoon. All our shift of neeps sown on Claggans from corner to corner the 31st. The new Inn was opened the 26th, formerly the Masson Lodge, John Hendry, from Keith, Innkeeper.
June 1962.
Begins quite warme the 1st and 2nd, fine dray days for neeps. The tory or grub still terrible. The torneeps done all the 6th, high winds, but the 7th, Saterday, dreadful wind for the season, the clouds of dust going like snow drift. A warm weighty rain morning of the 9th. A show of wild beasts at Keith the 9th. We took home four loads of our two year old turffs the 10th, gay wet. I got a tree in the Burn of Whirlhead of beach, about 14 inches through up six foot then other six up it being of this formation. As cross bar betwixt the two boughs quite sollid as the rest of the tree. Rain mostly every day. on to the 24th, since the 12th. I went to Inverness the 21st with John Watt and Peter Dey, and Jessie Dunbar and sister Cathriene. I traveled up to Loach Ness the 22nd, and saw some ants hills of 4 foot high, and besids too numurous things to mention. Our rent day the 25th, cold and rainy on and little growth. Casting some turff for fire, but dont expect to get them home, our past two years still in the hill and will remain for me, George McWillie, 1862 (Alxr. McWillie to Strathpefer the 28th).
July 1862.
Began with wind, cold and rain with some hails. The 3rd, weighty showrs of hail and Bellrinnes quite white half down. Our potatos houd out the 2nd and set up. The 3rd, cold, rain on to the 6th. I went to Aberdeen to see the Revuie and 68 pounder cannon firing. About sixty thousand people on the links and Broadhill. I saw some barly shooting at Inverury, We began to hoe neeps about the 1st, about the third and onto the 12th. Quite warme the 14th, but rain in the morning, barly begining to shoot here. I am pulling thrisles the 14th, very hot, and the 15th quite warme and weighty rain at night, and rain the 16th to eleven o'clock Some staks of oats shooting, the rain doing a deal of harm to grass and corn. Beaff good £3, grasing cattle back in price, oats £1.2s pr 40 lbs. to £1.3s. A dreadful wind the 19th, distroyed all frout trees, and shaken the gose and black berries, awful from the south west, and continued the 20th and 21st, but not halph so high as the 19th, all three days rough showrs and cold. Weighty showrs of hail the 22nd. The 25th, all our neeps hoed terrible high wind, aful dale of my berries shaken again. The 25th, oats beginning only to shoot in general. Alexr. McWillie came home from the Wells of Strathpefer the 26th. Good warme days on to the end of the month, and grouthy for the neeps. John McWillie of Hungryhills, my brother, here the 28th to the 29th. Glass Market verry stiff, and prices back a pound or two on your cattle of say £16 to £18, grasing stock verry little doing.
August 1862.
Begins the 1st on Friday, in the afternoon weighty rain with hail and thunder. The 2nd, after the thunder, now a dale warmer, but still rain every day. We took home 2 loads of turffs, but quite weet, all our torneeps finished the 7th. I was at Elgin the 8th, at a cattle show, and quite cold some rain the 9th and 10th, the 12th and 11th, all showrs, the thirteenth, showrs and the 14th, rained all day. The oats is now £1.7s to £1.8s and the land dreadfull weet. The oats now shootingt fast, but not near at the length. I pestered with a tooth, I made Alex, pull it out the 14th at 3 o'clock P.M. From the 14th to the 19th, rain and mist, about 4 days that it never faired, but quite quaiet. Out at 6 o'clock A.M. and shot four rabbets in 36 minutes, the 21st, took in some hey and thrush the 22nd, but rain came on and stopped us. Betty and Taylor at the carding mill, Dufftoon, the 22nd, verry weighty rain in the afternoon. About the 20th, a man, Adam Bonniman, a day labrour with Major, and stoping at the cottage at the top of the Loach park, had both his legs taken off by the sawmill. He is doing weall now. The 30th, verry warme, grouthy on to the end. Some barly turning yellow, the torneeps growing beautifull.
September 1862.
The first, quite warme and quaiet, the 4th, desperate weighty rain the whole day, and west at Elgin, verry high thunder and quite vevied lightning. The 4th, Alexander McWillie left the Bank of Aboyone, and came to Keith N.S. Bank Accountant. The 5th, Alexr. Sellear called here, home from the states of America, the city of Bouston, and Geo. Sellear, his oldest brother from Huntly, a race of blacksmiths in Botriphnie for the past four hundred years, as will be seen in this churchyard, on looking at thair gravestones. For after generations; George Moggach, 15 years greive on the home farm of Drummuir 1784. From his memorandam book. Going to Portsoy with four horses with meall, the expences for ale, four pence. To Robert George, Oldlenoch, wright, to new cart axhells, 3s.6d. To a new cart, 3s. To John Gray, Cachanhead for burning, the boll of lime, 2 pense pr boll. To Revd. Mr. Angus, a young calf, 1 shilling, to a superior one, ls.6d. To killing two sheep, three babees. His own wages, £6 pr year, and to Wm. Burges, plowman, £3, and I have his snuff mill, silver mounted, horn holds five ounces of snuff, date 1784. Two of my men hilping Alxr. Dey, Forkins, to put in his sawmill dame, the 8th, a fine day. I blood mysilfe today, for a sore side, I required two broads of the knife. We have now ripning days, the oats growing yellow, some bits of barly cut about the 17th. Our white torneeps all shooting, I put up 8 quoys on them not to lost them, thair are many neeps going the same every way, the 20th, some oats cut on Ardbrack, and Westertoon about the 30th.
October 1862.
Begins some showrs, our harvest hands home the 3rd, and 4th, began cutting the 4th. About one halph of our clean land cut the 7th, and one halph of our avel. The 9th, terrible hot and quaiet, on to the 10th, slight frost in the night, but now general harvest at the 10th. We lead two ricks the 14th, the 15th dew, and cut some green oats for the horses and cows. We have three acres of ley oats nixt the wood, was all eaten by the rabbets, it was as bear eatten as the closs in Agust, and now five foot in length only weall shoot. I have £15 loss, Altho I have liberty to kill hears and rabbets, I cannot clean them of. All our clean land and avel is cut the 17th, and the third of our ley. Verry high wind the night of the 17th, but rain in the morning, Wm. McWillie (142) (George's nephew) here from Durres, Deeside, and Alxr. McWillie from the North Scotland Bank, Keith, being accountant thair. We have in 15 ricks the 18th, all our avell, and part of our clean land. The 19th, rough cold wind all day, but rain at night, Monday the 20th, most all the stooks over, and an awfull showr of snow at eleven o'clock. The weather getting verry thrawn like. The 21st, rough and shury, a deal of rain at night. The 22nd, verry high wind, with some showrs of rain. Took in four ricks the 23rd, but a weighty rain at four o'clock. Rough showrs of rain the most of the day of the 24th. Thached the first of our ricks the 24th. I shot a bird about the size of a meaves on the top of our chimney the 25th, breast black and white spots, the back bluish green. All our crop taken in the 30th, but some rackings verry rough, The frost was quite hard the 30th, the 31st, verry high wind and cold.
November 1862.
Begins with showrs, but high cold draying winds. Our harvest hands away the 4th. Yoaked the plow the 5th, quite quaiet. I was at Turfshillock, and saw at Forkins 18 ricks all thached, and not one rape was put on. At 7 P.M. the hills white. The 6th, John McWillie, mysilfe elected for the board. The 5th, hard frost, but still the plows going, A Caird man and his wiffe, on the 7th, had a fire up in our Glack. Thair horse had fallen, and the time they were lifting the horse, they had a chield of six months tumbled in to the fire, was so burnt, it only lived for a few days. From the 11th to the 18th, heading torneeps, some of the yellow weighting 10 lbs. to 12 lbs, the first sown, the average is 7 to 8 lbs. At the 20th, hard frost and quite quaiet, and continues on to the 26th, some hail and flags, making the land white, the frost is percing. Men and womans fees a £1 back, excepting those remaining men, say first hands, £11 to £12, and second £9.9s to £10.10, woman £2, £2.10s to £3, and oats pr qur 19s.6d. pr 40 lbs. pr bushel. James Millne, Reyl, had a girlie died the 26th, aged 6 years. Began to plow by the 25th, the frost bad. I was out shooting roes on Drummuire and Kininvie the 27th and 28th. Killed 6 roes, one fox, and a number of hares. The 29th, a concert at the school for Lancashire £6. James Thomson, second man, got Sauterday the 22nd to himsilfe, be came back on the 26th at 8 P.M. and not able to work on the 27th, and bad the 28th. The little loon wanted two days.
December 1862.
Begins soft but good for plowing. About one halph of ours plowed the 10th, a small showr of flags the 11th. John Dawn, G lack, rent at present £33, and Scoug £20, both now £83. Blackmoor £35, and now £65. Oats 19s pr qur of 40 lb pr bushell. Barly £1.7s pr qur of 52 lbs. Wm. Taylor still poorly. The ware in America (143) still going on in dispiration. Cotton risen from 4 pence to 7 pence, and extraorddmary famine in many towns of cutton. Many factorys about 500-000 idle, enormas sums of mony colecting from most all British Dominions for them. Alexander Donnald, cattleman, left with a sore throat, and put a man in his place. The 13th, good weather, then on to the 18th, then high wind, and 19th and 20th, and 21st, last three days terrible wind and sleety showrs. The 23rd, capital plowing weather. Oats 19s.6d. pr 40 lbs. Another chap, the name of Cruickshank, came in Alxr. Donalds place at 4 shs. per week, came home the 23rd. Ground white 26th, Donald came home again the 25th, not able to work with a sore haunch, terrible bealling, not better the 31st. Cattle selling at £3 to £3.3s pr cwt. I sold two quoys to Geo, Garden, Westertoon at £15.15s. at this time, Geo McWillie, Midthird, 1862.
January 1863.
Begins fine dray weather. The 1st day I was out with the Major shooting. We began at Argarthney Brea, at the school, and then to Tenroode wood, thair killed one roe, which required eleven shoots. I got no chance of roes that day, but plenty of hares. On Sunday the 4th, some whitning of snow. On the 5th, first day of Old Yule, 2 inchs of snow, but quite quaiet. Thair was no shooting at Tennantoon. Thair was but one year for the past fifty that wanted one. The 7th, a bad day of sleet, wind and rain, wind north and north east. The most of the parishners has got notice the 7th, to puting in writing if they are to take thair farms at the valuation of a Mr. Bettie from Aberdeen, before or on the 15th January. They are saying they winna take them, weall I should not wonder, the most is doubled, but I shall give a scitch in this book after I here all rents. The roads dreadfull with slippeness, but the plows is still going the 10th, 11th and 12th, and capital quaite days with frost. Oats now about £1 to £1.1s. pr 40 lbs. Cold, sleet and now the 18th, the 19th, high wind and sleet all day, the 20th, a weighty ding on of snow, and blowing about four inchs of snow. All the snow of the 23rd. The 22nd, I sold 5 quoys and one stot at £12 a head. Rather bruckly to the 26th, of which was wind, plowing the 26th. That night most dreadfull wind, spoiled our barn thach, the 27th, rain and snow, and tearing winds, on to the 31st.
February 1863.
Begins with south west, and west winds, cold, the plowing going on. There was a number of the Valuation Rents taken the end of January. Great rise in rent, and some of them doubled. The Midtoon broken in two, the one halph to Cachenhead, the other to Mains of Towiebegg. The McWillies has posessed it for the past 200 years. My uncle improved the Haughs of Midtoon, mysilfe the Haughs of Cachenhead, and the halph of the Isla run at one shilling pr yard, 20 foot wide at the top and 10 foot at bottom. A ditch at the brea foot of 10 wide and five deep, and Isla the same depth. I suppose it would now cost five shillings pr yard. It was one Frances Innes and John Innes, from Boharme, had the contract, and saved a dale of mony. Upon the Kirkton Haughs, a dale of it thrown out with pails, it was so weet, it was a compleet bog of elderwood, it was all the same from Woodend to Loachpark. The leate Admiral Duff improved all the Loach, and one, Laing, a contractor, did the work for the first crop, but had a bad bargan of it, it was no crop at all, it was too mossy, the top of hir was never drayed. What was called the Eye, was 18 foot of water, after the ditch down the middle. We at the 16th, have quaite beautiful weather, with some frost in the mornings, and on to the 19th. We killed our mart the 19th. I am quarring stones for my new house down at the Plumpy of wood on Banks of Burnend. Cold and frosty, now the 21st. Bettie from Aberdeen is now throw with the valuation of Davidston, and top of Carny. Peter Shearer, Tenrood, his wiffe died 20th. Good weather for outdoor work, we are done plowing to our neeps. George Allan, Fiffe Keith, here the 21st and John McWillie my brother, here the 12th, from Gamrie. He has taken another farm just now for his George. The name is Upper Clochforbie (144), Gamrie. Oats £l.ls6d. seed £1.5s. Most splendid weather and torneeps growing. Sowing oats in different places and no rain for 17 days past.
March 1863.
Begins beautiful. John Watt and his daughter Jessie, both verry poorly the 1st, and she died the 3rd, aged three years and six months. We are driving stones to build my new house the 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Some oats sown at Kelloch the 3rd and Scougg the 4th. I have about 120 loads of stones drove for my house at roadside. The 9th, sleet and rain the whole day. The 10th, about three inchs of snow with rather rough wind it being the marriage day of the Prince of Wales, the newspapers has nothing to speak about but rejoicing, balls and shootings, through England, Scotland and all the British Dominions. Perhaps the time may arive when he may devors hir Highness Alexandria. Thair was 8 or 9 people killed with mob at London, and many hurt, and maimed through Scotland. Thair was some millions of mony spent on the rejoicing through the nation. Sowing general on Monday the 23rd, the day we began, high wind, and the 24th, rainy in the morning, but I see many people sowing. James Riach, Drumgrain, has taken Poolside at this time. Peter Forbes, Cottertoon, was thrown out the 20th, and 21st, mill corn and straw, turff, stack, berry bushes, himsilfe, bag and baggage and one, Barclay, that he let his farm to, and was beggared. They were both weak meat, as to law. Peter through out by subtennant David Innes a number of years ago. Its an old saying, those that stricks with the sword, gets with the scabord. We have sown the 27th, the Upper Glack leys, below the road, and all our avel above the houses 23 acres. The 26th, Dufftoon Market, an awful day of wind and hail showrs, the 27th, awful wind all day, both days the wind from the north west. The farms in the Carny district let the 25th, Shenwall about doubled, former rent was £40, and now £72, and 6 acres off, of the best land, Geo. Petrie, farmer, and present tennant. The 28th, rough wind, then quaiet on to the 31st, the torneeps shooting and yellow and grass growing beautifull. William Taylor taken verry ill the 27th, both cough and great spit up, looks bad.
April 1863.
Begins beautifull weather, all our ley of Banks and Glack, and all our awvel sown and harrowed the 2nd. Our horses plowing on Cottertoon to John McWillie the 3rd. Wm. Taylor verry, verry poorly this day, I doubt will not stand long, to his apperance just now, 4 past P.M. William Taylor died the 6th. He came home as servant in 1841, remained in Cachenhead to the end of the lease thair the 11th of October, 1844, then foreman on Midthird, this day the 6th of April, 1863. Died at fifteen minutes from eight o'clock in the morning. He has not been fit for any work for the past two years, but still doing small orrow little things, and seeing others do thair work the right and perfect way. He was 44, a joval servant among the rest, and was greatly beloved by all ritch and poor, for his oblidging manner. He was buried in the Churchyard of Botriphnie in the McWillie lair, it was his last request. Dindunas is the buriel place of the Taylors of Rosarie, but he did not wish to geat his reasting place thair. He was a splended vionlest, and seven years presentor, the time of the disruption, and never paid. The oats coming fast through, the 12th, gay rough drughty weather. All our torneeps taken up the 13th, about 70 loads headed. Oats £l.ls6d. to £l.2s pr 40 lbs. most people torneeps done, and cattle about £3 pr cwt, and calves now dropped £2 to £2.10s. Potatos 2s.6d. pr bushel. Our potatos set the 23rd. I got ten pounds worth of wood for my house at roadside, 45 trees. The 23rd, cold snowy showrs. The briard coming fine up, the trees and bushes in full flowrish, 23rd, dreadful, thing of grub or tory in the ley corn, and fears is interetained for the crop. Cutting wood the 25th, in Almore, for my new house. Driving it the 26th and 28th, I have got 46 trees above Mains. I got ten pounds worth from the Major in a compliment, it will not near do the fire house. High winds, extra cold, with sleet, haill and rain. Some thunder the 28th. The ministers wiffe Mrs. Masson, poorly for the past three weeks, and John Catnach put to jail by the Board of Mortlach. because he would not pay a Dufftoon lass Crabe for getting a bairn with hir the 17th or 18th. He is blacksmith, Linmore, Bellyhack.
May 1863.
Begins good weather. Trees and bushes of every kind looking beautifull. All our land for torneeps looking fine. Mrs. Masson is still poorly. Our cows and calves out to grass the 6th. The first of the Freeston, one truckful, for my new house came the 11th. Major G, Duff had a son, was baptised this day the 13th, called Archbald Hey Gordon Duff. Now cold and dray, no grouth. Our cows and calves out to grass the 20th. A capital cow died the 25th, £15, cold and dray. A freeston cutter at my freeston the 26th. All our torneeps formed the 26th and tares sown. Oats now £1.2s pr 40 lbs pr qur. Cold and no grouth, on to the end,
June 1863.
Begins cold for the first two days, the 4th quite warme. I went to William McWillies (145) marriage the 2nd, at a farm in Fetteresso, near Stonehaven. Stopped all night, and home. The 6th pulling down the old house for building my new one, warme and grouthy. Mrs. Masson, the ministers wiffe, died the 7th, and was buried the 10th, in old Isle, Botriphnie, now warme grouthy weather. The massons began to build my house the 10th, I am busied shooting rabbets, they are dismal on the briard. The neeps coming beautifull. George McWillie, Hungryhills, Gamrie, was married the 4th. The tennant that took Breahead and Whirlhead has given up, £105 was the rent, a new stating to build, costing £700. Our horses away to Craigellachie Tillworks, for cans for lining my chimmnies. The 15th, a capital June Market. All our potatos hoed the 20th. The 20th, my last years foreman, James Bonnyman and Jean Sellar, Tennanton was married. His brother John is with me as ditto. He was only asked to the marriage the night before, be would not go to it. It came on an aful deludge of rain, haill and thunder about four o'clock, and the marriage away to the Mulben station. I am shoure they have thair tails drucked. John Bonnyman, Alexr. Donald and mysilfe in our quarry. We had a stone of one ton weight, begun to split at one end with hammer. We took shelter below a bank in the quarry, thair came a dreadfull flash of lightning and terrible peal of thunder, we thought thair was a cannon fired beside us. Whither the rain, the thunder, or the lightning, the big stone was split in two about ten yards from us, below the bank, to which we three witnesses. Geo McWillie, John Bonnyman and Alexr. Donald.
July 1863.
Begins quite drughty and verry warme. The oats shooting fast, not the length of my tobacco spluchton, and dale of it thin. The old seed all quite thin. Alexr. McWillie to the Strathpaffer Spaw the 8th. Began to hoe the neeps the 4th, great need for rain, Burnend dray, and many fine springs in different places. My house all built the 11th, but the freestone of the chimmnies not finished in cutting. This night the 11th, we burnt five verry large wasp hives, and Betty had one of hives swarmed the 11th. Brother Johns cornyard was set on fire on the 5th at eleven o'clock P.M. and on the 7th, at the same time, thair servant lass is taken up for it, the name of Duff from Portsoy. Keith feeing market, wages down average from one pound to fifteen shillings, and quite easy spoken to. We had some rain that afternoon, great need, frost the two nights before. Potatos in some places quite bleckned. Betty went to Craigellechie station unto the craying of Mrs. Stewart the station master ten milles on the 18th, Saturday. The crop still shooting not the length of your finger, and the crows eating up all the potatos. The Great North line is now running through this parish to Elgin and Granton by Craigellechie. 20th great drught. House finished masson work. A great want of rain, drove some water to the massons with a cart from the well of the mance the 23rd. Margrate Gauld, late goodwiffe of Midthird, died the Saturday, first of August aged 87 years. Burning everything up for want of rain.
August 1863.
Begins dreadfull drught, sun and wind, but some rain the 3rd, with thunder. Our neeps half hoed the 3rd, and the crop of hey will scarcely cut. I have been weall for pasture grass. Upon the 6th, thair was a revewe of the Banffshire Rifels at Keith. Captains Thorburn of the first company, and Malcom Stuart of the second, about 250. A shooting match at Burn of Drum after revewe. One, McKirron, Aberlour, the first prise among officers. A dale of rain, and great need, the 7th and 8th, weighty rain, fortold by Thomas Willson, Schoolmaster, Auchendown. I have been keept back with my house for 12 days by the slatter. One came the 8th, Saturday, quite warme. The dominie has got his salary augmented this day the 8th, from £40 to £45 sterling. The 12th, beautifull, the slatting of my house going on. Verry high wind the 14th, the lairds hey built that day. John McWillie and wiffe from Langlanburn, Alexr. McWillie and wiffe, Coldhome, and John McWillie, Midtoon the 12th. The pavement laid and windows into my new house the 19th. John Hendry of the Drummuire Inn, died the 15th. Some weighty showrs at this time. John Strathdees house at Blackmure unroofed, and lightning in the walls for slatting. The oats and barly turning yellow, and barley cut in some places. The massons harling the house, the 28th, rather watery. Peter McConachie my servant, his marriage the 29th, a speat I would not go to the marriage at Newton, Cabrach. Two horses working on the Sourbow road to the laird the 29th, rainy rainy. The day on the roads is not due the last year of the lease, but as thair was no day sought since the Major was laird, I sent two horses. Oats now £l.ls6d. pr 40 lbs.
September 1863.
Begins quite warme. Upon the 4th, I was at the wood of Oldmore, and took by fifty one trees for my new office houses. The plastrer souring lime for plaster. He should have been here 14 days ago, a great rascal, John Willson, Keith plaster. Mr. and Mrs. Allan, daughter Annie, and old Geo. Allan here on Saturday the 5th. A beautifull day and hot, but came out rain about two o'clock. I cut two ricks, now to thrash. Cacheahead and Towiemore Upper began to cut oats the 4th, a dale cut in Keith parish. The torneeps looking beautifull. The American ware (146) still going on. and they are still threatning a ware with England. I wish they would tray, as they are both bragarts. I see buy the papers that England is making 600 pound shells at this time. Geo McWillie, I am some tipsey. We began to cut the 14th, in the afternoon good harvest weather. The 16th, the day of Sumerisfair, cold wind meddling high, some dewey the 17th. General harvest now at the 20th, some frost and showrs through the day. The 22nd, 23rd and 24th, weighty rain. Cut on the 25th, in the afternoon rather watry, on to the end. We have only 5 ricks in at the end.
October 1863.
Begins dray with leading. We have 14 ricks The 5th high winds, but dray, about one halfe of our clean land shift to cut the 5th. All my new house has the first coat of plaster and upstairs one room finished, beginning to the other. Laying foundations for three ricks at the new house on the afternoon of the 5th. Great big white clouds appearing all around the north and east. Our crop all in and finished, and harvest people of the 17. The ricks in number 35 and the smallest book of straw I have had for 19 years. The 19, 20th, on to the 23rd, I am almost done providing for roup. The laird not all in the 22nd. The massons came to build my office houses the 19th. My roup was on the 23rd, a beautifull day, a dreadful thing of people and everything sold terrible. We removed to our new house the 26th, bag and baggage the wright work not done, and the plaster not dray and the massons building our office houses, hard frosty weather.
November 1863.
Begins with four days snow, but all away the 5th. All the patch of land furro drained, and finished the 14th, betwixt the house and wood. I have started the plow on my Argathnie cottage the 16th, and oh the kitchen is ill with reek, and the rest of our house is splendid, like to fuss up the littlest schoolers going past to school. The 16th, fresh and warme. Thomas Willson died at Raws, Auchendown the 14th. He was schoolmaster, postmaster and phelosopher, an arthmetican not paralled in the county he belonged to, Bellyhack. Upon the 17th. Thomas Sim, gamekeeper, Botriphnie, went with Major to Park, to hunt roes. He got unweall going down, came home the 18th, and at Ardbrack in his room in the east side of the square, he was found the next morning, with his gun laying beside him, and his brains blown out, naked on the floor. The right barrel was loaded with small shoot, but no powder. The other barrel did the job, with nothing but powder and wadding. My wiffe and Jean Stronach gathered up his brains, put them in his heid, tied up his heid and washed him. He had taken the muzzle of the gun into his mouth, and the shoot came out the left side of the brow. Soft fresh weather this time the 23rd, rather frosty mornings from the 24th to the end of the month. The massons done building my office houses the 28th, the wrights began making the roof the 28th, walls quite weet, the slatters came immedtally.
December 1863.
The slatters began booring sleats the 1st, and done slatting the 5th, altho two days of snow. I was out shooting the 3rd and 4th, killed 4 hears and 1 rabbet the 3rd, and 2 hears the 4th. Thair is four of the people of Westertoon lying in tiphus feavour, at this time. Verry high winds the past 3 days, and quite cold. Thair has been four proclomations of marriages the past three Sundays. Quite fresh but cold, and aful high winds each day the 11th and on to the 20th. Masson done our office houses the 19th, and slatter ditto, the 20th. high wind and cold. Mr Stewart, schoolmaster, is preaching his first sermon at Glenrinnes this day the 20th, wind and rain in the afternoon. Our two cows is into the new bire, are all furnished the 19th. The people of Westertoon all on the turn better, but old Westertoon it is only ten days since he beaded. Most beautiful weather, but high, verry high winds every day and night. I am putting my shop in order the 25th. All the houses was paid this 22nd, 23rd and 24th. Thair came out snowe the evening of the 26th, Mr. Stewart the schoolmaster in our house whean it came on, he was going to preach at Glass. The 27th, about 3 inchs and storm, but all the snow away at the end.
January 1864.
Begins high winds, but the 3rd quaiet and hard frost. Thair has been no shootings this year. I have been shooting a good dale roes and hares. I have the Majors authority now for shooting over the lands of Pitlurg. Alexander McWillie, accountant, North of Scotland Bank, was on it the 5th, but could not win near the hares' the frost was so hard. We killed but one. The frost is still penetrating the 8th. Oats is 16shs, pr of 40 lbs. I here thair is a man shot at a shooting match at Forgieside parish of Keith by pulling the gun to him through a bush, the name of Turner, and another at Dufftoon of the name of Louas Dey. A man was shooting a dog, the ball struck a stone wall, and going of in a slanting direction went through his forehead. Still hard frost, on to the 16th, which was cold, and soft fresh it was the night of the Majors Ball at the castle, about 70 sat, tea and supper. I was desprate horse with cold, and did not dance much, but drank plenty to four o'clock in the morning. I thought at supper whean the walls and roof vaults and plaster would be like Auchendown, or the castle of Balvenie of old, whean the read and clerrat wine and good whisky was circulating with as much mirth as was in the castle of Drummuir the 15th, I suppose they had bagpipes for music, and we had two fiddlers and the stationmaster helping. The lords, ladies and vassals of ages past are all in the dust, and castle in ruins. In another generation we will be known no more. The 17th, terrible high wind with hard frost, and so is the 18th. Capital open weather, but three or four kinds every day, but allways the frost prevails, with verry high winds, westerly winds, and has been westerly all the suimmer and harvest. The oats is from 25 shs. to 15shs. 6d. pr 40 lbs and meal 13 shs to 13s.6d.
February 1864.
Begins terribly cold and soft. Driving mettle for my garden walks. The 12th, terrible cold and sleety showrs. Mrs Hendry, inkeeper has 5 plows plowing ley, but hard frost. The 6th was two inchs of snow. I was shooting on my ground at Pitlurg the 6th, killed 4, out the 8th only two, now about four inches of snow and severe frost, and on to the 10th. Oats 15 shs for 40 lbs, butter 8d, and eggs 6d. doz. Whisky 7d pr imperial gill. The frost is continuing on the ground, white to the 26th, but quite quaiet. Fummackerfair a good market, beef £3 to £3.5s per cwt, some blew eys and brocken noses (147) in the evening. Still frosty, on to the 28th. Our man got this afternoon, his mother had died of small poacks, at Cloachin in Enzie. The 29th, Monday, the wind east, quite cold with small rain mixed with sleet.
March 1864.
Begins hard frost, the ground white with snow each morning, the wind east and north east. On Saturday the 5th, a good roup and weather the same, the 6th snow, 7th and 8th snow, about 5 inches deep and some blown wreaths three to four foot, and many complaints of the torneeps soft and rotting with the severe frost in January. I was rale ill of the cold and sore breast and sore head, which I never had before, but with blows. Still snow and hard frost, on to this day, the 11th, No outdoor work doing, and verry, verry cold. High wind and cold, fresh the 15th, all the snow away the 18th, plowing going on the 21st, but weet land, never got the plow yoaked in my ley. John Watt plowed all the ley and harrowed the Brackfur for dunging the 19th. I am now making walls in my garden and leaveling it. The dyk to build yet, dray the 23rd. Now begun to drain on Breahead with tills in the howe below the old houses. They are throwing down in the meantime. Upon the 26th, I planted boxwood in my yard, but thair came out snow and stoped me. More the 27th, and the 28th, snowed the whole day, mostly with high wind, norwest, and upon the 29th, began sowing oats on Turfhillock, Davidson and Edintore, it would have been as warme in the barn. Massons from Dufftoon, began to build a new house for the station master, the 25th, by the Major at the back of the wood betwxit me and the school. 5 P.M. and powering on snow. I made this day a probe to cattle, and a horn glass for whisky for mysilfe. Thats a desperate night the 28th, stormy showrs on to the end,
April 1864.
Begins cold winds and stormy showrs. I am building in my hearth for a smiddy the 1st, Thair is complaints of the torneeps rotting owing to the severe frost in mid winter. Betty not weall, the Dr, Menzies here the 1st and the 2nd. It is small pox, they came out the 2nd, and the 3rd hir face is unkenable and all hir body is spotted with them. The 3rd is raw with some rain, the ground quite weet, I was not at church today, for fear of the people being afraid of infection, and as good need, I never saw pocks before, they are loathsam. Good weather for putting in the seed. I have sown onions the 8th, and planting trees and bushes. The 9th, the pocks turning black on Betty, she is rather grim in the apperance. The weather always dray with wind and sunshine. Some rain the 12th. John George building our yard dyk the 14th. I was at Fochabers for apple and pear and berry bushes, with other ezectras the 16th. Still drught with east winds. George McWillies (148) wiffe died the 2nd at ther farm of Clochforbie, parish of Gamrie. We sowed all our oat crop of ley and awvel the 21st, great drught on untill the 25th, wind east. Oats 15s. pr 40 lbs, potatos 6d pr bushel. Cheaper nor they were for the past twenty years. I had severe twist of gout or rehumatism the 22nd, Betty all right for work the 21st. John George finished building my garden dyk the 29th, cost £1.2s.6d. three massons, a stone and lime part of it next the barn. Still hard drught.
May 1864.
Sunday the first of May, Mr. Stewart,
schoolmaster preached for the first time in this parish, from Romans the eight
chapt and first verse, and sung the first verses of the 103 psalm, and gave a
most excellent discourse. A throng congregation. The weather has been scorching
dray for about three weeks, it is my opinion Mr. Stewarts good serman has
brought out at four o'clock afternoon, a weighty rain, will do much good, 7
o'clock P.M. Geo. McWillie.
Still drught after the first, on to the 12th, cold easterly wind. The new
station house at the Woodside sleatting by Robbie Currie, Dufftoon. I am putting
up a bee house the 12th. Cattle is from £3 to £3.2s, per cwt and oats 15s. pr
qur, potatos 6d pr bushel some years back, £1 pr boll of 12 bushels. The 10th,
severe frost in the morning, hard drught, but the 11th and on to the 14th, verry,
verry warme. The American war is still getting on, first one side loses and then
the other. I went to Gamrie with Jannet Garrow the 16th to Hungryhills to my
brothers, all ways drughty. But on the 17th, I went to Clockforbie in the end of
Gamrie, and about one o'clock thair came out an aful thunder and weighty rain
the whole afternoon, done a dale of damage to runing torneeps, the thunder or
the lighhtning killing some people and spoiling or damaging houses. I came home
the 18th, no rain or thunder here, but the 19th, a dale of thunder to the east,
as early as three o'clock in the morning the 20th, or the feeing friday. A good
weighty rain for the past 8 days, great grouth in corn and grass, aful hoat for
the season, and the cattle all out on grass the 16th, the flowrish on the fruit
trees extraordinary. The Americans still killing, other some new accounts states
at 40-000 at three or four days feighting. Some cold and watery from the 20th to
the 26th, but the 28th rainy, the 29th snow showrs through the day, and rain and
sleet the 30th to 1 P.M. and all the afternoon poured on snow and drift about 3
inches deep. The Merchants cows out to 6 P.M. A dreadfull night, the tops of the
hills white all the next day.
June 1864.
Begins cold and rainy for past two three days. We was putting up waire palling posts at this time. Now warmer the 6th. Cattle 60 to 63 shs pr cwt, oats 15 shs pr qur. Aful thunder haill and rain the 10th, it killed a ewe in Glack, and dog, and kindled a rick of straw at Picktallum, Glass. Hot and verry grouthy on to the 17th. Cutting fire the 16th and 17th, from the 17th to the 22nd, great drught with bright sun and high wind. The rent day the 22nd. I paid the last halph of the rent of Midthird the 22nd, no dram, but the station master and mysilfe took a gill at Mrs. Hendrys on the homeward passage. I have left in the house £35 after all. Jean McWillie, my daughter, had a young son the night of the 22nd. I went to Aberdeen with Mr. Geo. Allan and Alexander McWillie. I was throw Kings Collage and musium and saw the great Review, and sham feight of 3000 men upon the 29th, came home that night, some rain.
July 1864.
Begins with some rain, the 2nd rainy, the 3rd rained the whole day, only 40 people in the church. Only begining to the howing in this place about the 5th and 6th. Some sowing the second time about the 9th, too late, quite hot and sumry the 10th. We began to hoe torneeps the 18th. John Watt and Jean McWillie (149), Bomickelloch, had son baptised the 17th at Ardgathnie Cottage, called William. Slight rain the 21st, the oats beginning to shoot. Ours beginning only the 24th. Thair was a lassie of Peter Shearers of Towie killed by thair millwheel, by hir and some more children driving hir round. There was a man, Fettes, at Mill of Towie, killed by a throw from a horse the 21st, a cray for rain. John Watt trucking hey at 8d pr ston the 26th for Forres, old hey. I see the oats at Banff 16s.6d. pr qur. The drains on the haughs of Midtoon and Cachenhead is wrong in the two leadders not holding water. Charles Chiyne, the gamekeeper came to Botriphnie the 22nd. A weighty pour of rain the day after Glass Market the 28th, it will do much good. We are putting up a wood house for holding fire at this time. Rather dray and some cold, on to the end.
August 1864.
Begins rather cold and drughty. I went to Abernethy the 5th. I had a drive on the engine up and down for nothing. Some barly beginning to turn yellow up Speyside, the oats not near shot the 9th. Oats is now 17 shs pr 40 lbs. A dale of torneeps hoeing the second time. The 9th, a showr of rain and distant thunder and much need for the 8th was an afull day of westerly wind. The goosberries about halph ripe, people now begun to drive thair turff. The 10th, 11th and 12th, afull heat. Our Holie day the 12th. I went to Keith. Upon the 16th. thair was found by about a dozzen of men deapning Isla run about 200 yards below the Free church, upwards of 150 silver coins of England, Scotland, Spanish, Danish and German. Next day, I found two of said coins, one of Charles the 2, and of Philip the 4th, by the Grace of God, King of Spain and the Indies 1633, and other side Burgmaster of Brabant Archduck of Austria, weighing six new shillings, all claimed by the fiscal for the queen. Thair was also some human bones, in the same place, by one of the chaps, as much as 33 pices in all the 33,21 ozs of silver, thair was a few copper pices of Scotland, and about 6 lbs in all. Weall, about eight days, some wags put an old sword in the bottom, about thirty yards above the place. The contractor found it, and went immediately with it to the Castle and presented it to the Major, Hup hup hurrah. The weather much colder about the 20th, and on to the 25th, with rain and haill showrs. The barley beginning to get some yellow and the oats still some of them shooting. The new Square of Brehead all roofed the wood work. Now warmer the 26th, all my fire drove the 22nd and in to the new house. George Gauld, Parkhall of Glass, died the 20th, and left about from 8 to £1000, all made by himsilfe. He has left £800 for a famile school in Glass, and capital warm on to the end.
September 1864.
Begins the first 3 days warm and quaiet, but great storm of wind and rain in England and south of Scotland, then on Monday the 5th, afull wind here, shook some green barly and apples. Mr. Jamison, merchant, cut 8 stooks the 7th, and then 8th, an aful day of wind, a verry bad herring fishing round this month, coast 24 to 26 shs. pr cran and oats 18 shs. pr 40 lbs. Most oats quite green here the 9th. I am making a cage for taking birds the 9th. When writing, a timpest of wind and rain. Showry on to about the 20th. Cutting going on some of the farms, but not general to the 24th Saterday. I was to Keith to get a raker to John Watt, Kelloch, a cutting machin working on som of the fue lands. The Major has one working on the Home farm, the first in this place, the price is £16. Our loon Donnald, ill with a pain in his ancle the 26th, then cutting general and dray with some hard frosts, on to the end.
October 1864.
Begins fine weather and hard frost the 2nd. I cut my corn the 4th, and Alexr, Donald went to Banff Hospitle the 8th, with a sore ancle. I went with him. A deal of the crop to cut all the way down. I took in my crop the 12th, the day of Newmills Market. A high wind and wind and rain the next day, the 13th. I had four ricks and a little one. Old oats 15 shs pr qur of 40 lbs, and new oats 15 shs pr qur. I took up a small pit of potatos the 19th, the 20th, day of Fife Keith Market an aful day of sleet, wind and rain the whole day, the Isla and waters aful swollen, all the Haughs covered from the station to the Free Church. Alexr. Donald, my servant came home from Banff hospitle the 20th, his ancle was opened on both sides and rendring afull. The wind from north and nor west, the 22nd, rain and sleet the whole day, many has one halph of thair crop cut, but all cut out the 21st. John Seller, smith, hindmost and none in. The American ware still terrible, and I am afraid for the Pope of Room. Still cold and always rainy, on to the 29th. Alexr. Donald still ill with his ancle. I lanced it again the 26th, and still a dale of thick mater rendering The 20th, the day of the hurricane, three boats and 28 men drowned, belonging to the town of Buckie and left 12 weddows. The Majors doog cart, the factor and pony broak all to splinters, yoaking this day the 27th, the pony kicked, lay down and broak the shafts again. I have been repairing some looking glasses, and took out the mercurie of the weatherglass and cleaned it, and getting an old rick thrashed at this time. Thair can be nothing done to the crop, it is so weet. Some corn taken in the 29th, and laid round wood. I turned out two of my ricks the 29th, but rain in the afternoon.
November 1864.
Begins closs and rainy. A dale of ricks watered and quite hoat, still weet. I was out shooting the third, in Lochpark, three roes killed above Ryel, and about 30 hares and rabbets, a dray quaiet day, but the 4th, again rain. Some taken in the 7th, but all put round wood. I turned my other two ricks quite hoat at night, weighty rain all night and quaiet the 11th and 12th, frost in the morning and dray throw the day. A dale of corn taken in, in bad condition, weighty rain with wind, and so was the 15th, not any of the crop in sight now but John Seller, of Tennantoon. Muller the London murdrer, hung the 14th, thair was 100,000 spectators, a German. James Garrow, Alxrs old housekeeper here on the 12th. He went to near the Newbrough, came up the foot of Bellyhack hill, down the burn of Whirlhead, pulled a pocketful of ruddens, fell and hurt his back a little. Went to church on Sunday, was very cold on Monday, and Tusday not so weall as usual, on Wednesday the 16th, got Dr. Menzies, he put a blister on his breast in the forenoon, and or afternoon, he was attacked with cough and spitting blood, which has continued on to the 23rd. It is on the loungs. Still rainy with some frosty nights. The last crop in this parish. Howaked the 21st a dale of stacks not keeping, being so weet, hoat and roating. Some of the Majors stacks falling from roating. Meal 12/6 to 13 shs, and oats 13s 6d. to 14 shs. Alexr. is rather better the 29th. Still great powers of rain and sleet, and the ground white with snow the 28th. My brother John here, from Gamrie the 29th. Thair was an aful wrake of an Aberdeen Stamer, named the Stanley, on Thursday the 24th, at the mouth of the Tyne, 27 people drowned.
December 1864.
Begins dray, out thanksgiving day and colection for the Buckie weddows and orphans, by the late gale of 20th Octr. Now fine weather for the season, on to the 13th, the day I got my land plowed for torneeps. Alexr. always verry poorly, some rainy the 15th. Sleet and about one to two inches of snow this the 19th. Out with the Major the 20th, to shoot roes in Tenroad Wood and Bellyhack hill, got none, but a number of hares and rabbets, snow and frost. Out again the 21st, in the Sheean Wood and Burnpark, one roe, a number of hares and rabbets, but about two o'clock in the afternoon, about the centure of the Burnpark, four hundred yards from the road that crosses the burn, up the north side, or near the Swilles, as the place is called, we ware driving the wood to the west, Charles Chine, gamekeeper came on a small basket under a tree, thair was in it about two ounces of tea, and one halph oz. of tobaco, a roe passing at the same time, he fired and turning around, stumbled on the bare legs of a dead woman, roaring out, a dead man, but it was a woman without stocking or shoes, or any covering on the head, an old petticoat, shirt and stays. The Major dispatched the under gamekeeper to Keith to warn the police. She lay the next day being the 22nd, then Doctor Manson, Banff, and Turner, Keith, dessected hir in the wood, about 24 people. Whean striped, hir stays was marked, and the shirt with letters G. Citty P.H. which we take for Glasgow Citty Poor House. Thair was in the brain whean opened, an oval lump of spongy flesh about one and halph inches in deamiter above the right eye imbeded in the brain on the right side. She was opned from the lip to the bottom of the stommack, it was quit empty, traces being lead she had lain about 24 days. She was buried in the strangers lair in the churchyard of Botriphnie. Geo. McWillie. Frosty with sleety showrs the 26th. Mr. Thomas Duff, young laird, ill with the pox about the 21st, but I was out on the 27th and 28th, shooting, and snow came on the 31st about from 4 to 5 inches, but quite quaiet.
January 1865.
Begins five inches of snow and a verry hard frost, being the first day of the New Year. I wish all and sundry health and happiness, I am now 62 years of age, and cannot expect to see many by course of nature, altho I have good health, but one stone of less weight nor I was the beginning of the year 1864, betwixt old and new Christmass. I have seen 124 of them. Alexander is still verry poorly. The new tennant of Braehead has sent a man and pair of horses, it is £135 rent. Cattle higher in price ever, I saw good year olds £10 to £15, but good, good fat at £3.10s. pr cwt, sheep about the same pr cwt and oats 14s.6d. to 15 shs. pr 40 lbs. bushel. My journal of nearly 40 years will be found in part, in the banffshire journal of the 13th and 20th of December. Fresh the 4th. Out with Mr. Duff, young laird Mr. Walker and keepers, roe hunting. I was stationed north end of Shean Park. I shot 2 roes, right and left, I shot another in the wood of Almore, all in the space of an hour. The rest of our party killed two hares and one rabbet. There was 41 plows or Braehead giving the new tennant a yoaking. The 10th capital weather, the ground white with snow the 14th, but plows going. Quarrers begun to quarry for an agmentation to the castle the 11th, The Major to Bremonston and family, the 12th. Miss Menzies, Dufftoon, died the 11th, of dipthria, and on the 14th, Mary Mead, Livermore, hir nice. A great many dying from deseas and accedint on sea and land. Some snow the 16th, I was at a tea party that night at the gamekeepers, Chyne, terrible slushy roads. More snow the 19th, but quaiet, but terrible hurricans of wind for month past. The Royal Theatre burnt at Edinburgh the 13th, and six lives lost, one of them the Dean of Guild, Mr. George Lorimer, being to foreward, the Banff Journal, Friday the 13th, Oats, 40 lbs 15 shs. barly 54 lbs. £1 to £1.1s, oatmeal, pure, 12s.6d. beef from 7d to 10d pr lb, butter 111/2, eggs 1sh, chickens, pr pair 2 shs. At Aberdeen, I see the oats 15 shs to 15s.6d. Some snow the 18th and between the 20th and 21st, from 17 to 18 inches deep. Upon the 25th, I was at the funeral of two sisters, both came togeather of Mary Mede Livermore, who was interred the 14th, all of dipptbria. Our rents paid the 25th, snowing all day. Still 20 inches of snow. I was not at church the 29th, for cold. The 30th, high wind all day, and hard blowing the whole day. The roads all blocked up, the train was back to 4 P.M. the 31st, high wind, small sleet and terrible cold, 3 foot of snow before the school on the Tollroad and over to the Merchants. The torneeps very bad to pull and get home, I've still about eight days neeps home. The month ends with all the roads blocked up.
February 1865.
Begins with weighty snow, the trains blown up in many places. Near Granton, the train all covered, but the top of the funnal of the engine. The people at Granton on the mail train was stoped at the Dava Station, and had neather meat or drink. The passangers resolved to get to the Dava Inn, an English Commercial man gave a navie two soverigns to conduct him to the Inn. They eat up all the wiffes hens and a big swine. The toll road was a cutting on Saturday and Monday the 4th and 6th. Some sleety showrs on the 7th, hard frost. Great loss by sea of liffe and property, fires by sea and land. Cattle back at Keith Market about £2 to £2.10s on a £26 stot, about £3.5s. to £3.8s. pr cwt, before it was 70 to 75 shs pr cwt. The toll road blown up and cutting the 13th, then on the evening of the 16th, Thursday, began to snow and continued from the night of the 16th at 4 o'clock to the next morning to 9 o'clock. Thair was from 22 inchs to two foot of snow in about 12 or 14 hurs. The fall was weighter in the time, nor any in remembrance by the oldest person. With the old snow and new fallen, thair is 27 inchs over all livel lands, but in many places, thair is 6 to 10 and even 15 foot. The trains stoped, and many men working on the line. All the lower flat of the Castle, the wooden flowrs and pavement taken out, and laying it with ashfelt and Hughers preparing freeston for the new augmentation to be built on the west end. The railroad cut opened the 21st, tollroad cut the 23rd and 24th. Many of my aple trees and bushes broken down. It began fresh the 23rd. I took home my neeps with a slead and 2 sculls. Alexr. my brother, up for the first time the 23rd. Just 14 weeks now better. Verry cold the 25th, on to the 28th, the day of Fummackerfair, a number of fine cattle, but few dellers and prices is back, full £2 on a £24 stot. Oats is about 18 shs, for seed for milling 14 to 14s.6d. pr qur.
March 1865.
Begins cold the 2nd and 3rd, rain and sleet. The 6th, 7th and 8th, frost and snow showrs, the plow going on some bear places and others guide keans whean for old wreaths of snow, all my old ricks of the 8th. Always frost at night and cold throug the day, onto the 9th, the night Alexr. Dey, wright at Forkins died. It was him that furnished my house. One of the best nighbours, and most joky man in the parish. The man that saw, thought he saw nothing and he saw althings almost through a stone, Oh, a great blank on the roadside, aged 59. High wind and verry cold the 17th, the day of his funeral to Mortlach. I bought a quoy at the calving from Mr. Longmure, banker, Keith the 16th. The 17th and 18th, both high wind and desperate frost. The 19th, 20th and 21st, hard frost and percing cold with showrs of small haill too hard for the plow. The 25th, about 3 inchs and the 26th, thair is 8 inchs. I was not at church, it snowed all day, but the 27th and 28th, quite fresh, the 30th and 31st beautiful. Thair is still many old snow wreaths on a dale of the land. Now I give my certificate that this book is all truth as fare as I know, or read from the papers, yours firmly George McWillie.
April 1865.
Begins with fresh warm weather. I got my ley shift plowed the 4th, and Donald Cattnach, a capital blacksmith, Linmore, Bellyhack, died. Sowing general the 4th, but high winds. Seed oats is from £1 to 18 shs. Souter Watt, souter at Little Greens, roup the 6th, him and wiffe away to meet Gordy, thair son in America, he ran of some years since, to America, and took all thair money along with him. I sowed my onions, peas and carrots the 8th, and planted straberries the 12th. I am away today, I was at an prisentation of a tea service of silver to the Rvd. Mr. Masson, the night of the 13th, John Ord, farmer, made the speeach. Thair is forty massons and hewers working at the new augmentation to