Statistical Accounts for the Parish of Kinnettles
in Angus (or Forfarshire), Scotland
Years 1791-99 and 1835 (and later, 1950-68).

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YEAR 1791 - 99  - Page 197 - NUMBER XV

PARISH OF KINNETTLES

(COUNTY OF FORFAR, SYNOD OF ANGUS AND MEARNS,
PRESBYTERY OF FORFAR.)

By the Rev. Mr DAVID FERNEY.

Name, Extent, Surface, Soil, Air, &c.

The name is of  Gaelic derivation, and signifies "out from the bogg." This name applies with peculiar propriety to the old mansion-house of the estate of Kinnettles (*The mansion-house is now removed about a furlong farther from the marsh.), which was built close to a piece of marshy ground, still called the Bogg.  The church being built within the boundaries of this estate, that circumstance probably gave the name of Kinnettles to the parish.  The form of the parish is nearly a square, having about 2 English miles for the length of each of its 4 sides.  The South line or boundary seems, however, to be rather shorter than any of the other three.  The parish is divided by a hill, one part of which is called Brigton, the other Kinnettles.  The hill is arable, except a few acres of rocky land on . . 

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. . that division of it belongs to Kinnettles, which are planted.  There are a few acres of woodland on the Brigton side.  The hill continues to descend to the South within a small distance from a rivulet which runs through the Southern district of the parish.  The Western descent contains 4 inclosures, and then dies away into flat land.  The Northern continues the length of 3 inclosures; afterward the land is rather level, comprehending 3 inclosures also.  There is a like number on the Eastern descent, which is divided into two parts.  South of the rivulet a range of sloping banks declines to the North as far as the rivulet.  The plantations and pleasure grounds of Brigton extend on both sides of the little river with a sweep about an English mile in length.  The houses of Brigton, Kinnettles, Invereighty, with the pleasure ground, have a good effect. - Our soil is various, consisting some of it of brown clay, some of loam, of loam with a mixture of clay, of loam with a mixture of sand; some of it is in quality almost mere sand.  Of this last kind there is but a small proportion.  Our clay and black soil are deep and fertile; some of the strong land yields from 8 to 12 bolls an acre, particularly in oats after ley, when it is well laid down.  Even the light soil has produced good crops with marl and kindly treatment. - The air is not so much infested with fogs as in some other districts in Scotland, being rather dry and healthful.  We have no diseases that can be said to he local.  Agues are scarcely known; fevers not epidemical; melancholy habits are equally rare here as in most other districts.  The most epidemical fever in my remembrance, was about the beginning of Spring 1789, after an uncommonly wet winter, in a village low and wet.  Our air is sharp in winter, and frosty in proportion as the Grampians are covered with snow.  We have several freestone quarries, . .

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. . which are made use of for building houses and fences; some; some of them yield stones well adapted for the purpose of hewing.

Animals. - Cattle and houses are in considerable numbers, 607 of the former, 130 of the latter.  No sheep, but a few (about 40) kept principally for the use of gentlemen's families*.  (*We have no migratory birds. except green plovers, swallows, and the cuckoo, which appear in the month of April; and the woodcock, in the beginning of winter.  The swallow disappears about the month of September, the cuckoo about the month of July.)  The farmers In the parish rarely follow the plan of rearing cattle on their best farms; they rather buy in and fatten.  Were they, however, to adopt the plan of rearing, they have the means of so doing up to 56 and 80 stone weight, when the cattle have attained the age of 4 or 5 Years; and such cattle would bring, if fat, from 5s. to 7s. the stone, according to the demand and the pitch to which they may happen to he fed.

Population, &c. - According to the return made to Dr. Webster in 1755, the number of souls was then 616.  The state of population cannot he traced far back with any degree of exactness.  The taste for enlarging farms, and razing cottages, has contributed not a little to diminish the number of inhabitants in this and most country parishes in Angus.  This diminution, however, is not so great as might be expected from the number of houses demolished.  Farmers and others, keep more female servants than are necessary, solely for the business of husbandry, and the service of their families.  When not engaged in domestic and farming business, they can find employment for them in spinning yarn for the green linen manufacturers.  But the . .

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 . . the number gained in this manner is not equal to the number lost by the razing of houses  The amount of the present population is 621, comprehending all ages; males 325; females 296.  There is no town in the parish, only 1 village, containing 78.  The number of births for 10 years preceding April 1790, was 165, making 16½ yearly.  There is no register of deaths kept here.  Since 1783, on account of the tax, there has been a register of burials, which contains all that have been buried here, whether parishioners or strangers.  This would have given certain information of the deaths in the parish, had it not been customary here not to confine the burying of their dead to the churchyard of the parish.  From October 1783 to October 1790, there have been 28 marriages.  But this article may readily occasion a mistake, and a return of many more marriages may possibly be given than have actually taken place in it.  When the bridegroom resides in one parish, and the bride in another, there may be a report of the same marriage from both these parishes.

Males.				Females.
Under	10		 68	Under	10		 49
From	10 to  20	 91	From	10 to 20	 81
-	30 to  50	116	-	20 to 50	118
-	30 to  70	 43	-	50 to 70	 43
-	70 to 100,	  8	-	70 to 100	  5

The oldest inhabitant at present is a woman in her 90th year, and 2 men going 85.  I recollect no tradition of remarkable old age here.  Exclusive of pendicle tacksmen, who depend not on farming alone for their subsistence, we have 16 farmers, besides 2 gentlemen who farm part of their own estates.  Their families in all contain 167 persons.  There are 3 farms, on which the possessors do not reside; . .

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. . and 1 of these yields the highest rent.  The circumstance of non-residence on these farms diminishes considerably the number of this class.  The number of heritors is 5 and 2 of them reside.  The number of manufacturers a 58; of handi-craftimen, 20; apprentices, 6.  Household servants are 5 male, 16 female.  There are 76 labouring servants, 51 male, 25 female; here I have marked only hired servants.  With most of our farmers, the sons and daughters of the family supply, in a considerable degree, the place of servants.  There is 1 artist employed in conducting a flax-yarn mill.  Labouring servants often go from one parish to another.  We have 2 residing heritors, Mr. Douglas of Brigton, and Mr. Bower of Kinnettles, Mr. Bower of Kinnettles or of Kincaldrum.  Their families consist of 25 persons, exclusive of domestic servants.  Lord Strathmore is one of the heritors, but has no mansion-house here; also Mr. Simson of Invereighty, who has a mansion-house here, but resides in Edinburgh.  Them is 1 clergyman, 26 Episcopalians, 5 Roman Catholics, 1 Seceder, 589 of the Established Church, 93 married men, 45 bachelors at the age of 21, widowers, 12; marriages, upon an average, may produce 5-14/15ths. There is no account of any having died of want.  No recollection of murders or suicides, except one suicide committed by a woman about 20 years since *.  Very few have emigrated.

We have bands of sturdy beggars, male and female, or as they are usually called, tinkers; whose influence, idleness, and dishonesty, are an affront to the police of our country.  These persons are ready prey of all kinds.  Every thing that can supply them with provisions, bring them money, is their spoil, if it can he obtained with any appearance of safety.  They file of in small parties, and have their places of rendezvous, where they choose to billet themselves at least for one day; nor do they fail generally to make good their quarters, as the farmer is afraid to refuse to answer their demands, or to complain of the oppression under which he labours.

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None have been banished, or obliged to leave the parish for want of employment.  No uninhabited houses.  The number of the inhabited is 126; the proportion of houses to the number of inhabitants is as 1: 4-117/126.  On account of the increased size of farms, and the practice of inclosing, population does not seem to be so great now as it was 25 years ago.  Farmers were then accustomed to have 1 or 2 houses on their farms, with a small quantity of land, which were intended for the accommodation of one or two married servants.  Since the inclosing and labouring of ground with attention have taken place, that accommodation for married servants is withdrawn, and other servants are thereby discouraged from marrying.  The servant finds, too, that when married, he cannot so easily find a place with a farmer, whom, perhaps, he would he most willing to serve; nor are masters, in general, fond of retaining married servants.  In fact, there is no class among whom marriages are so infrequent, as farmers servants.

Productions, Agriculture, &c. - Almost all the vegetables, plants and trees in Scotland are to be found here, and thrive in our soil and climate; and we have such animals as are common to the low countries of Scotland.  Rent of best arable land is from 18s. to £1 : 5s, the acre.  Size of farms is from 42 to 200 acres, and upwards.  Farms, at an average, about £88 yearly.  There is at least 4/5ths of the parish inclosed.  The number of acres under the different crops, at present, is nearly as follows:-583 in oats, 335 in barley, 26 in wheat, 33 in pease, 28 in lint, 84 in turnips, 22 in potatoes, 174 in cutting grass, and 777 in pasture; amounting in all to nearly 2,065½ acres.  There are 31 ploughs, drawn by 3 or 4 horses; 56 carts; 1 coach; 1 two-wheeled chaise.  Exclusive of what some heritors retain in their own . .

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. . hands, the land-rent of the parish may be about £1,600 Sterling.  The parish supplies itself with provisions.  Besides what is sufficient for that purpose, a considerable quantity of oat-meal is sent to the neighbouring towns; and perhaps 9/10ths of our barley is conveyed partly to the towns in the county, and partly to others at a greater distance, to be manufactured there.  The attention of our farmers has never been turned to the raising of hemp.  We know not what it is in this country to turn land into grass, without sowing it with grass-seeds.  All our hay grass, and pasture on land fit for tillage, are artificial grasses.  We have some pasture (about 120 acres) on mire and moss ground, which is natural grass; such lands having not, as yet, been brought under culture.  There are about 20 acres of moor, and 12 or 16 of Plantations.  The grass-seeds sown here are red and white clover, about 19 or 20lb. to the acre, 2/3rds red and 1/3rd white.  We add 6 or 8 pecks of ryegrass feed, which has frequently a mixture of rib-grass or plantane.  Commonly this artificial grass is cut the two first years for hay, and house feeding for cows and horses in summer.  I attempted once to introduce the tall yellow clover, and commissioned a quantity of the feed of that grass, as being of a less dangerous quality than the red clover.  I was disappointed, having got only a dwarf, grovelling, unprofitable kind, instead of that which I commissioned.  I never attempted to introduce it again, nor has it as yet found its way into the parish*.

(*Our wheat in general, is sown from the end of September to the 20th October.  We sow oats as soon as the ground is sufficiently dry for receiving it.  Sometimes land is fit for feed in February, as in 1779; at other times not till the middle of April.  The desirable time for our soil, in general, is to begin about the 10th or 15th of March.  On dry land, in good condition, with a good season, there will be a luxuriant crop, though ...)

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Stipend, School, Poor, &c. - The stipend, in money is £44 : 3s. : 3-10/12ths Sterling; in victual, 2 chalders of meal, and 1 chalder of barley, each kind valued at 13s. 4d. which, with the old glebe, about 6 acres, and 2½ acres of moor, obtained in lieu of a servitude, at £1 : 10s. the acre, the whole may he rated at £88 : 18s  : 3d.  In point of benefit, I am much at a loss how to estimate a glebe.  A minister labouring it at the expense of £14 for a man-servant's wages ..

..though sown so early.  In wettish land and not into such order, there will be little straw, and altogether a deficient crop, if it he not sown considerably later.  English barley, which demands our best soil in the highest condition, requires to be sown from the 20th of April to the 5th of May, in order to produce good and sufficiently early grain; Scotch barley, from the beginning to the 15th of May; common Scotch beat, from the 10th to the 25th of May.  Our pease are of the hastings kind and do not require to be sown before the middle or 20th of April.  Lint-feed from the 20th to the the end of April.  It was earlier with some last season,  by 14 or 20 days; but where this was the case, the feed lay uncommonly long in the ground without shooting; some of it was sickly during a good part of summer; nor could at be said to be sooner ready for pulling, than that which had been sown about the usual time.  Smart nights and are frequent about the end of April, rendering the lint crop very uncertain, if it get above ground before the 1st of May.  They plant potatoes from the 20th of April to the beginning of May; and sow turnips from the 10th to the 20th or 22nd of June.  The reaping time must vary according to the nature of the summer.  Hay, which is not intended for feed. is cut from the 1st to the 10th of July; what is intended for rye grass feed, 8 or 10 days later.  Lint harvest is from the 12th to the 25th of August, sometimes a few days later.  The earliest and latest commencement of barley harvest, which I remember, was the 15th of August, and the last day of September.  In the years 1775, 1779, at 1783, the barley harvest began from the 15th to the 18th of August; in the year 1782 it began the last day of September.  The barley harvest usually begins about the 1st or 5th of September.  Wheat is cut down about the same time with barley.  Our barley, for the most part, begins to he cut down about 10 or 14 days before the beginning of oat harvest.  In a 1779, the corns on dry farms were all got in by the 10th or a 12th of September.  In  1782, they were not got in with some till the 22nd of November; with others, some days later.

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. . and board, with two horses kept for the purpose, must be a considerable loser.  It was an unlucky circumstance, in assigning land to ministers, that the Legislature did not think of allotting more.  20 or 25 acres might have been managed with very little additional expense.  The Crown is patron.  The manse was built in 1737, and was repaired to 1785.  The time at which the church was built is not known; it got a repair a good many years ago. - The schoolmaster's salary is £5.  Number of scholars from 20 to 30, at 1s. 3d. the quarter, for 3 quarters of the year.  The fees are £4 : 13s : 9d.; fees for registration of baptisms and marriages, and salary as session clerk, £2 : 8s : 4d.  The amount of the whole is £12 : 2s : 1d.; a sum less by £2 Sterling than the income of a common labourer. - The number of poor is 7.  The annual contributions are about £13 : 16s.  There we some seats in the church belonging to the poor, which yield £2 : 12s. yearly.  Interest of money, about £2 : 8s.  In all, £18 : 16s.*.

*The price of meat, 40 years ago, may be rated at 1d. the pound.  Now all kinds of butcher meat, of the best quality, fetch from 3½d. to 4d. the pound.  Hens were then 4d. and now about 1s. and other poultry in the same proportion.  Butter, 40 years ago, was 4d. the pound; now it fetches from ?½d. to 10d.  Cheese, I presume, was not sold by weight at the distance of 40 years but was then proportionally low; now it sells from 5s. to 6s. the stone, the stone consisting of 24 English pounds.  Wheat is now from 18s. to £1 : 2s.; bear, from 10s. to £1.  These highest prices of wheat and barley have not been paid for many years, except in 1782.  The usual price of barley and oat-meal is from 12s. to 16s.  Forty years ago, grain was in general from 3s. to 5s. cheaper - Wages, without board, for a day-labourer, are 1s. or 1s. : 1d.; a carpenter, 1s. :  4d. ; carpenter, 1s. : 4d. ; bricklayer and mason, 1s. : 6d. or 1s. : 8d. - The fuel generally made use of is peat.  Gentlemen use coal in their families; it is also part of the fuel in some farm-houses.  Many burn nothing but peat, broom, and furze.  We me under the necessity of resorting for peat to a neighbouring parish at the distance of about a 2 English miles from a great part of this district.  Any moss we have in the . .

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Miscellaneous Observations. - We labour under no disadvantages, but such as are common to us with almost all the county of Angus; the want of salt, lime and coal.  We have all the advantages which are enjoyed by other inland districts; and are supplied with marl from pits near the boundaries of the parish.  Houses unconnected with land, don't yield, I think, £12. Sterling.  Farm houses are in cumulo with the farms.  Such houses being now an article of considerable expense, the landlords begin to specify a rent, according to a certain rate of interest on the money laid out in building, viz. about 7 per cent. - The writer . .

. . the parish, is not dug.  Our coals are from the [ports on the River] Forth, by sea carriage to Dundee. Moss-dues to the proprietor, are 9d. in one moss, 6d. in another, the cart-load.  The usual price of coal is 4s. the boll, the boll weighing 56 stone - The rate of common labourers is the same as that of farmers servants.

Husbands wages, 					  £ 8 :  0s.: 0d.
Meal, in place of maintenance, 2 pecks a-week, with milk,   5 : 17s.: 0d.
Industry of the wife, besides the care of the family,	    2 : 12s.: 0d.
							  ---------------
[Total] Amount of their funds for one year.		  £16 :  9s.: 0d.

This a-week is 6s. 3¾d.  I make no doubt but it may suffice for the plain diet and clothing which such families use.  Let us suppose the family to be numerous, I allow only the husband and wife, and 5 children, to depend on this weekly allowance, viz. one child of 8 years, one of 6, one of 4, one of 2, and an infant.  When the youngest of these 5 is born, a boy or girl of the family, who had reached the age of 10 years, goes to service, and the burden of that child as taken away.  A boy or girl at 8 years of age becomes useful in the family, and enables the mother to use her industry for increasing their funds.  When a few of the children get above 10 years, they increase the living of the family very considerably.  If the labourer be a farmer's servant, the farmer generally allows him a day for digging peats, and some draughts of carts for bringing home his fuel. - The wages of male servants, in husbandry, are in general about £8. Sterling, with maintenance in the family, or 6½ bolls of oat-meal yearly, with a sufficient quantity of milk.  A maid-servant has £3. Sterling, with maintenance.

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. .  of the Roman department of the Universal History, is said to have been a native of this parish. - The people in general are of an equal degree of strength, compared with the inhabitants of other counties in Scotland.  We have some who may be accounted strong.  One man, in particular, might stand high in the list of strong men in any county of Britain.  The tallest man, within our bounds, wants, I think, about half an inch of 6 feet high.  They are of different sizes, from about 6 feet down to 5 feet 4 or 5 inches, perhaps a very few below that height.  The ordinary stature is about 5 feet 7 inches.  Women. in general, are about 5 feet high.  Exclusive of shoes, we have ladies, whose height is from 5 feet 4 to 5 feet 7 inches.  The complexions of the people, are some ruddy, some pale.  They have all, however, a healthy appearance; and are pretty remarkable for an acuteness of genius, which enables them to attain to dexterity in the different occupations in which they employ their talents. - The people are very much disposed to industry.  The only manufacture is green linen, or osnaburgh.  There are 58 hands employed in that branch of weaving.  We have a spinning mill for flax yarn.  It is on a small scale, intended to contain 120 pirns (purns).  A corn mill as converted to that purpose.  It is in contemplation of the Company to extend their plan, if the experiment now making shall answer their expectations.  In the mean time, they are busy adjusting their apparatus, of which they have made trial; and the yarn which it throws, looks well, and is thought to he of a very good quality.  This work is carrying on by virtue of a lease of patent privilege from a Company in England. - We have but very few instances of fondness a seafaring life.  Nor are the people much addicted military one: the army not having, at any period, in memory of man, obtained any considerable supply here.

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The inhabitants in general are economical, and augment, rather than diminish their flock.  They are well clothed and fed.  Superior industry affords them a plentiful supply of the necessaries and comforts of life.  Among one class, however, economy does not seem to have been much regarded. - The whole landed property has been transferred by sale since the year 1743.  Prices of land have been, I presume, about 25 years purchase, or perhaps a little more. - We have few calls for extraordinary exertions of humanity: in clamant cases of distress, I can easily believe our people capable of extraordinary beneficence.  They enjoy, in a considerable degree, the advantages and comforts of society: contented with their accommodation, few remove to distant parts of the country, or emigrate to foreign countries. - The circumstances most extensively distressing, are those which affect the manufacturers of green linen.  They depend on two countries, Russia for their raw materials, and the West Indies and part of America for the sale of their manufacture.  A bad crop of flax in Russia, or the jobbing spirit of the merchants there, or extraordinary profits to the importers of the flax, often reduce the profits of these manufacturers to a mere trifle. - This evil, I think, might be removed, if flax raising could be brought to a system, which would render a flax crop equally certain with any other crop.  Our soil is pretty much adapted to the raising of flax, and the plan of farming here is such, that the farmer could easily employ a few acres in cultivating it.  In this case, there would be only the chance of the sale market against the manufacturers.  But although grievances were redressed as much as possible, it is still a question, whether that is not the most desirable manufacture which is supplied with materials from the country itself, and has the benefit of a home market, founded on the natural demand of the inhabitants for . . 

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for the manufactured articles*. - As to the manners of the people, they are distinguished from those o f a period 30 or 40 years ago, as there is more industry, attention, enterprise and sobriety.  Their customs are much the fame as . .

(*The public road from Perth, through Strathmore, which passes thro' this parish, is repairing on a new plan, and will soon be finished within our bounds, unless it shall he deemed necessary to widen it.  It was begun to be repaired in autumn 1789.  Owning to the spirited plan of subscriptions from the gentlemen in the county, the road from Forfar to Dundee, part of which passes through this parish, is proceeding on the same plan.  All the county roads in Angus are to he repaired from the subscription-fund.  We are much indebted to the exertions of Mr. Douglas of Brigton, who transacts and superintends the business of the road from Forfar to Dundee, and for several miles on the Strathmore road.  To render the road convenient, deep bank, are avoided, and on Mr. Douglas's ground in this parish, the road takes a new direction for 1½ miles through inclosures of land of very excellent quality.  The rule is not to admit, if possible, above 1 foot of rise in 20.  These roads have turnpikes, and all the county roads either have or am to have them.  Our farmers are much reconciled to turnpikes and imagine that the accommodation obtained in this way,  is cheap.  Statute labour is not exacted in kind.  Since the plan by subscription took place, the commutation-money is to be applied to the repairing of the private road.  We have two bridges in the parish; one on the road from Forfar to Glammis (Glamis), was built by subscription, at least in part, about 21 years since, and is in good condition; the other, on the road from Forfar to Dundee, is intended to be taken down, and another built at some small distance. - In the year 1732, our driest lands were not fit for receiving feed till the 16th or 17th of April.  There was not a blade of oats to be seen till about the 12th of May, in this neighbourhood, which as rather an early district.  The barley-feed time was very backward.  About the 19th of May. we had rain for 50 hours, without intermission.  The summer was cold and wet; and on the 16th of August, we had an uncommon flood, which chilled the ground so as to deprive it of the warmth necessary for filling and ripening the corn.  On the morning of the 12th of September, we had hoarfrost as thick as at Christmas.  About 7 o'clock that morning, the sun was bright, and had influence sufficient to melt the frost; and, in a few minutes, pease and potatoes had the look of having been dipped in boiling water.  The effect of this frost made the farmer imagine that harvest was nigh.  The corns assumed a whitish appearance, and the first rain threw it in appearance several stages back.)

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. . as at that period.  Their dress is more gay, and expensive; their living more plentiful.  Though it is not the case in this parish, to any considerable degree, in show, expense, manner of living, and dress, there is an imitation of superiors creeping into the country.  Perhaps 30 years ago, the boundaries between the ranks were more distinctly marked, and more attentively observed.  Inferior ranks begin not to scruple to invade the boundaries of those above them.  The genius of the people leads them to industry and enterprise; besides, they are very communicative.  This disposition suffers no experiment to lie concealed, either as to the manner . .

back.  The corns were changed from green to whitish, and from whitish to green, according as frost or rain happened to prevail.  Our lower, ablest and best lands, which will produce 8, 10, or 12 bolls of oats an acre in good years, yielding from 15 to 16, or perhaps 17 pecks of meal the boll that year yielded 4 or 5 bolls an acre, and these yielding not above 8, 10, or 11 pecks of meal the boll.  I heard of some oats in the county, which yielded only mill dust, instead of meal.  Barley of that crop, which was used for meal, fell greatly short, both of its usual quantity and quality.  The higher grounds, raised above the region of the noxious hoarfrosts, had a more equal progress towards ripening.  And these high, weak, light grounds, not reaped till the month of November, produced oats, yielding about 15 pecks of meal the boll.  These grounds were less hurt by the frost and rain.  Of that crop. farmers paying considerable rents, could scarcely procure as much oat-meal from their farms as was sufficient for their own families, and oats for sowing their ground.  People, both in towns and the country, traversed the country, and particularly this parish, where we had several mills and thought themselves lucky if they could obtain a peck or two of meal, to supply the immediate and urgent demands of their families.  They would gladly have given more than the high current price, to have been assured of finding it at any particular place.  The scarcity continued through Summer 1783; and had it not been for a supply of English oats from Leith, I doubt not but some must have perished for want.  Some farmers, foreseeing the distressed condition of the country, sowed some barley early.  Great quantities of potatoes were planted, and the harvest of 1783 was early.  By these means the obtained a speedy and pretty plentiful supply.  Amidst the scarcity of provisions, there was one comforting circumstance.  The people, in general were not distressed for want of money.

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. . of conducting it, or as to its success.  Their spirit of enterprise makes them easily adapt a new plan, when fairly recommended by its success; and their industry secures their doing justice to any plan which they may adopt.  Free from the fetters of prejudice, they follow, let the leader be whom he will, if they are warranted by fair, well tried, successful experiments.  That spirit has brought this country to be able to support double or triple the number of inhabitants, which it could have done 30 or 40 years ago.  A great deal of  waste ground has been brought under culture; and lands which then would have yielded 3 or 4 bolls an acre, now produce 8 or 10, and sometimes more.  This is the case, more or less, with the country of Strathmore, and in the county of Angus : I know no part of the country where farming is carried on to greater perfection than in this very parish - Besides, a great increase in the quantity of corn, there is a considerable addition of profit by the rearing and fattening of cattle.  Instead of the stinted and famished breed, of which the farmer's store consisted 40 years ago, cattle can now he reared to a considerable size, and fetch a decent price, to compensate the trouble and expense; fatted cattle generally sell well.  Our farmers fatten through the winter, some 10, some 16, some 20, some 30 cattle.  Some of these are partly fed with turnips, straw and hay; some with turnips and hay.  Such as are fed wholly on turnips and hay, can be brought to a degree of fatness, not exceeded in any part of Scotland.  The greatest part of our pasture and hay foggage is, employed for the purpose of fattening.  Turnip crops keep the land clean, and the great proportion of pasture gives them vigour to produce good corn crops when broken up. - There is a grievance, which, though in one view, it affects but a single individual in a parish, yet is very extensive in its . .

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. . influence; I mean the pitiful living of schoolmasters.  In fact, there is no occupation among us, or in the country in general, from which greater profits may not he obtained.  What extent of learning and qualifications is to he demanded or expected from a person, whose office yields him hardly the bare necessaries of life?  I think we are just on the verge of having schools remaining vacant; the office being stripped of every thing that can induce a man of any capacity to accept of it. - Allow me to make another observation.  In respect to the poor, matters seem to he very improperly conducted.  We are importuned by people from almost every county in Scotland; whose stories may be true or false; and whose circumstances may therefore entitle them to charity, or may not.  Much good would accrue to the public, if such vagrants were confined to their respective parishes.  Their circumstances might then be exactly known; temptations to falsehood would be taken away, idleness would be prevented; persons able to contribute in any respect to their subsistence, would be obliged to exert their industry, or would suffer the reward due to their neglect.  Here, however, an objection occurs, namely, That some parishes, from the scantiness of their funds, and the great number of their poor, are unable to supply, in any comfortable manner, all the poor within their bounds.  Where collections, dedicated to the support of the poor, are not sufficient for necessary supplies, let there be assessments.  This would oblige landed gentlemen, and others, on whom such assessments might he chiefly laid, to exert themselves, by introducing manufactures, or other means of subsistence.  The number of poor would thereby be diminished; those who might still need parochial supply, would be less indigent, and others become able to bear a part of the burden of the unavoidably poor.

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So long as mankind are supported by strolling, the industry and ingenuity of thousands must he lost to the community, and vice cherished to a considerable degree. - The decrease of population in country parishes, and the great resort of people to towns, is an evil much to he regretted.  Though this mode should continue, it is not improbable that there may be still a gradual increase of inhabitants over Scotland.  But the question is, by which of these two plans may population be supported to increase most; whether, by a well peopled state of country parishes, or by extending and crowding the towns.  In all infectious distempers, such as fevers, small-pox, measles, whooping cough, the danger to children is greatest in towns.  As to inoculated small pox, the distemper may be introduced in towns at a favourable season, and, when introduced, it takes its range of infection, and before its course is finished, the hot unfavourable season arrives, and the distemper generally becomes malignant and fatal.  In the country, infection from this distemper may be more easily avoided, and 1 hope to see whole parishes taking such rational views of inoculation, as to agree to have all their children, who have not had the distemper, put under inoculation, at the same time, during the favourable season; a victory over prejudice, not to he expected universally in large towns.  But dropping this consideration, the sickly looks of many children, in large, crowded, ill-situated, or ill-constructed towns, show that the country is the preferable place for children.  Inhabitants of large towns are sensible of this, who rejoice in the opportunity of having them settled in the country, especially after they have been ailing, as the only means of resorting their health and vigour.  But how is the prevailing resort to towns to be prevented, when the present taste is, to raze or suffer almost every house . .

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. . to go to decay, which is not conducive to the benefit of a farm?  Might not the building one or two neat villages in every country parish, be the means of preventing this great concourse of inhabitants to the towns.  They might be erected in a dry situation, and calculated for convenience as well as health.  Supposing these villages to be inhabited by mechanics, manufacturers, day-labourers, farmers' servants and widows. there might be one or two small farmers connected with the village, who might have leisure, and be induced to perform carriages to the villagers for hire *.

* Personal services are still performed here.  They are specified and limited.  Occupiers of a house and garden, or of a house, garden, and one or two acres of land, perform some days work occasionally, as the proprietor way happen to require them in the course of the year.  Such tenants as possess ground sufficient to enable them to keep a horse, besides the above services, are bound to perform two horseback carriages in the course of the year, as far as Dundee, which is about 12 miles, or to a similar distance.  Greater tenants are bound to bring a certain number of bolls of coals from Dundee to the proprietors house, which require 2 or 3 days work of their carts.  Besides, they must give a day's work of all their reapers, for cutting down the proprietor's corns.  These go by the general name of services, in place of the old arrhage and carriage, which were very comprehensive.  Arrhage - I take to be from the Latin, are, to till; and implied the driving out of the manure for the proprietor's farm, ploughing and, harrowing his ground, reaping in harvest, and bringing home his bay and corns.  The old service of carriage was very unlimited, and very tyrannically exacted - From 16 to 30 years back, from the present time, about 37 cottages were razed, or became ruinous.  From 10 to l7 years back, 10 or 11 new cottages have been erected; an increase of small houses has begun to take place; a mill. for spinning flax-yarn, is building; and a village is begun, for accommodating the hands to he employed, which will require a considerable number of house.  The employing of cottagers in agriculture. increases population.  A house for accommodating a family, is a considerable inducement for a servant to marry; and, from having a house and an acre or two of land, a servant is more inclined to remain in his master's service.  Hired servants are apt to be touchy and petulant, by being less dependent, as having it more easily in . .

215

. . their power to remove from one place to another.  A hired servant, however, has the chance of obtaining more extensive knowledge, by sometimes changing his place. - There is no post-town nearer than Forfar, about 3 miles distant from the centre of this parish.  We have one alehouse; no inn.  Ale-houses are not so much resorted to, as 30 or 40 years ago.

N U M

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PARISH OF KINNETTLES.

PRESBYTERY OF FORFAR, SYNOD OF ANGUS AND MEARNS.

THE REV. ROBERT LUNAN, MINISTER.

I. - TOPOGRAPHY AND NATURAL HISTORY.

Name. - This parish appears to have derived its name from the Gaelic word Kinnettles, signifying "the head of the bog."  The following circumstances probably gave rise to it.  The bottom of the extensive vale of Strathmore, which comprehends the northern part of the parish, appears, from several internal and external evidences, to have formed, at a remote period, the bed of a large river or lake, which, finding a pretty level passage into a small valley among the Siedlaw (Sidlaw) hills, formed a kind of bay or bason (basin?), which, when the water was diverted into another channel, formed a bog or marsh: at the head of that bog, a church was built, probably in the twelfth century, which gave the name of Kinnettles to the parish.

Extent and Boundaries. - The parish is about 2 imperial miles in length, 2 in breadth, and, comprehending 3,078 imperial acres, contains about 4¾ imperial square miles.  It is bounded on the west by the parish of Glammis; on the north by the parishes of Glammis and Forfar; on the east by the parishes of Forfar and Inverarity; and on the south by the parish of Inverarity.  Its figure is nearly a square.

Topographical Appearances. - Being pretty equally divided from east to west by an oblong hill, the parish is situated partly in the vale of Strathmore, and partly in the valley formed among the Siedlaw hills.  In consequence of this oblong hill rising nearly in the centre of the parish, the surface of the ground is generally far from being flat.  The west, north, and east sides of the hill have a gentle declivity to the extremities of these sides; and the south side declines more rapidly towards the rivulet, where the ground begins to rise with a gentle acclivity towards the southern extremity.  Hence the parish has four different aspects, of which the one to the north is the largest.  Now, the hill which produces all these varieties of aspect is one of the detached Siedlaw hills, called sometimes the . .

207

. . hill of Brigton, and sometimes the hill of Kinnettles, because it is divided betwixt the proprietors of those two estates.  This hill, whose form approaches to that of an ellipsis, whose flattish top rises about 356 feet above the level of the sea, and whose attractive appearance strikes the eye of every beholder, especially when viewed from the south, instead of disfiguring, adds considerable beauty to the parish.  Its beauty arises chiefly from its gentle acclivity, from its great fertility, and from its being all arable and under various agricultural crops, except a very few acres on its brow, which, being very steep, somewhat rocky, and not easily approached by the plough, are closely covered with various kinds of thriving wood.  The view on all sides is grand and extensive.

Meteorology, &c. - This parish, owing to its vicinity to the German Ocean (North Sea), and the situation, at least of nearly the one-half of it, among the Siedlaw hills, has an atmosphere of considerable humidity.

Among the prognostics of weather, it may be noticed that a small acquaintance with physiological botany, finds in the economy of some plants several satisfactory indications of the state of the weather.  Thus, the Convolvulus arvensis,  Anagallis arvensis, Calendula pluvialis, shut up their flowers against the approach of rain; whence the anagallis has been called the poor mans' weatherglass.  There is, in the parish, a species of soft grey sandstone, which, when built in the wall of a dwellinghouse, and not coated on the inside with lime or clay, indicates rain, by becoming gloomy and moist before rain.

This parish enjoys a variety of climate, corresponding to the variety of its elevations and exposures.  Those parts of it which are little elevated above the valleys, have a mild and genial climate; whereas those that are more elevated on the north, east, and west sides of the hill of Kinnettles, and on the north side of the hill of Kincaldrum, whose summit, and part of whose base, are situated in the parish of Inverarity, enjoy a purer and colder climate.  But, as the highest grounds in the parish have only a moderate elevation above the level of the sea, the climate is, on the whole, justly entitled to the character of good and salubrious.  It was not so, however, forty years ago, because a considerable portion of the parish was then in a state of marsh and meadow, saturated with stagnant water.  But in consequence of a general drainage throughout the parish in the course of the last twenty years, there is little or no stagnant water to be found.  Of course the air, although occasionally moistened with eastern haars or fogs, which come from the . .

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. . German Ocean, and with the hoar-frosts to which the lower parts of the parish are more exposed than the higher, is remarkably pure and healthful.  In proof of this, we have no diseases that can he said to he local.  Agues, which were prevalent before drainage commenced, are now unknown; fevers of every kind occasionally make their appearance, yet they are not epidemical.  Consumption, scrofula, whooping-cough, croup, measles, inflammation, and typhus fever, may he said to be our most prevalent diseases.

Hydrography. - This parish is generally well supplied with water by means of the numerous springs in which it abounds.  These springs are partly perennial, and partly periodical.  The perennial springs appear all to flow from sandstone rocks, and probably from the rocks composing the basis of the southern range of the Siedlaw hills.  Their water is pure and soft.  Their temperature generally corresponds to that of the atmosphere; and they have no peculiarities worthy of remark.  There is one perennial spring, however, at the Kirktown, that justly deserves observation, not so much on account of the quality of its water, which is excellent, as on account of the quantity which it discharges.  To convey some idea of its uncommon strength, it was found, on pretty accurate measurement, to discharge no less a quantity than 25 imperial gallons per minute, 1,500 per hour, and 36,000 per day.  In some parts of the parish, particularly the more elevated, there are a few periodical springs, which flow during winter and spring, and then cease to flow till the return of winter.  Their water is, comparatively, much inferior in quality to that of the perennial springs.  Being chiefly the offspring of surface-water imbibed by the earth, it is impure, hard, and strongly impregnated with the properties of the media through which it is conveyed.  Besides the two kinds of springs already mentioned, there are several mineral springs, generally distinguished by the name of chalybeate, because they contain a portion of iron in solution.  Their waters are exceedingly hard, unpleasant, and ill adapted for washing and bleaching clothes, and for culinary purposes.  There are also two beautiful mineral springs from copper ore, the waters of which, though exhibiting a glistening surface, are extremely impure, of an offensive smell, and a disagreeable taste.

Although this parish can boast of no river, yet it is beautifully diversified by a large rivulet, called Kerbit (Kerbet), which, taking its rise in Dilty-Moss, in the parish of Carmyllie, seven miles distant eastward, follows a north-west direction, till it forms a junction with the  . .

209

. . (rivers) Dean, then with the Isla, and finally with the Tay; and after following a most circuitous and somewhat elliptical course of seventy-two miles, it falls into the German Ocean, about ten miles to the southward of its source. It is a gentle flowing stream, about 20 feet in breadth, 2 feet in depth, and flows with a velocity of one mile per sixty-six minutes.  It drives a multitude of mills, abounds in large and excellent trout, and affords much sport to anglers, with whom its winding banks are sometimes thickly planted, during the spring and summer months.  It is naturally pacific: but after a great fall of rain, or an effectual thaw of a winter storm, when the melted snow and ice run down in torrents from the hills, it swells to an almost incredible extent, and lays hundreds of acres of arable and meadow ground under water.

Geology and Mineralogy. - The rocks, which enter into the composition of the hill and of the inclined planes of the parish, are whinstone, sandstone, and slate.  The whinstone rock makes its appearance under the varieties of pure whinstone, trap, and basalt, in three distinct parts of the parish.  But although it thus appears in a detached state, it is in all probability related to the Siedlaw range, where a zone of whinstone strata seems to be formed, running, with occasional interruptions, from S.W. to N.E.  Its extent is considerable, particularly in the hill of Kinnettles, where it shows itself almost uninterruptedly from the one end of the hill to the other, whose length is not less than three-fourths of a mile.  Although its depth is very considerable, varying from 40 to 100 feet, yet the thickness of its strata is not great.  In consequence of its numerous intersections, the blocks of which it is composed are generally small, and very irregular.  The three varieties of this rock are worked in the parish.  Two of these, situated in the northern district, furnish stones of a dark blue colour; and the third, situated in the southern district, furnishes stones of a paler colour on the fracture, and externally muddy, resembling the colour of a toad.  In all the three the rock is very difficult to work, and the stones which they furnish, being extremely hard in their texture, of small size, and irregular in their shape, are useful only as road-metal, and for filling drains.  The sandstone or freestone rock, whose colour is partly grey and partly tinged with red, is very considerable in its extent.  It not only forms the base of the hill which rises in the centre of the parish, but traces, at a certain depth, its unbroken connection with the extensive range of freestone which pervades the whole chain of the Siedlaw hills.  This rock is stratified to . .

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. . the very surface, has four strata of puddingstone regularly interspersed among the strata, and detached yolks imbedded in the pure strata.  It furnishes stones of very large dimensions.  Its strata towards the surface are thin, but, thickening downwards, they become so massy that they cannot be raised without the assistance of gunpowder.  The slate-rock, which is a species of fine grey sandstone, and the only rock of the kind yet discovered and opened in the parish, does not appear to be very extensive.  It is situated on the north bank of the rivulet, and appears to form part of that slatey range which extends, with several interruptions, from the commencement to the termination of the Siedlaw hills.  It furnishes slates, but particularly flags, of good quality, of considerable size, and of a dark grey colour.

From a minute examination of the component parts of our globe, geologists and mineralogists have been led to conclude, that its structure has been formed by the junction of various formations.  In support of this conclusion, all the rocks in this parish discover evident marks of stratification and seams of distinct concretions.  The strata and beds of the whinstone rocks have a direction from E. to W., an inclination of 7⁰ 12' to the W., and a dip of 9⁰ 45' to the N.  The strata and beds of the sandstone rock have a direction from E. to W. nearly, an inclination of 11⁰ 45' to the S.W., and a dip of 15⁰ 30' to the N.W.  The strata and beds of the slate-rock have a direction from E. to W., an inclination of 15⁰ 28' to the W., and a dip of 18⁰ 10' to the N.W.  In the three species of rock which have just been described, numerous veins are quite discernible.  They frequently cut across the strata, and occasionally derange their structure.  But while the veins, which cut the whinstone strata in all directions, are generally filled with a ferruginous cement, those which ramify in the freestone and slate strata are generally filled with clay, and sometimes with camstone, which applies more particularly to the veins of the slatey strata.

In the different species of rock already mentioned, various ores are to be found.  The sandstone contains copper imbedded, and lead disseminated in veins; but the quantity is so small, that it would not pay the expense of extraction.  The whinstone, particularly that species of it called basalt, abounds in manganese, disseminated in veins, but is not worth working.

The freestone rocks contain various minerals, such as garnet, mica, calc-spar, quartz, lime-spar.

The solid rocks of whinstone, sandstone, and slate, which compose . .

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. . the interior parts of the area of the parish, are covered, almost universally, with a coating of various materials, which conceals them, with a very few exceptions of basalt, from our view.  That coating, whether thick or thin, as it varies from one foot to six feet, is composed of alluvial deposits, generally imposed in layers.  The lowermost layer generally consists of reddish sand or gravel; and the uppermost is composed sometimes of sandy loam, and sometimes of loam mixed with clay.

Soil. - To the agriculturist, variety of soil, corresponding to the variety of crop which he grows, must be extremely useful.  Accordingly, this parish fortunately enjoys the various soils which are suited to the purposes not only of the agriculturist, but also of the horticulturist, the botanist, the florist, and the nurseryman.  These soils are the clayey, loamy, sandy, gravelly, and mossy.  However diversified may be the strata of the subsoil, they all, with the exception of the mossy, appear to rest, at various depths, on sandstone or freestone.  Their adjuncts and concomitants may be stated as follows:

Soils.	 Extent in	Varying depth	Wetness		Productiveness.
	 imp. acres.	   in inches.	    or dryness.
Clayey,	    434		From 12 to 36	Dampish.	Most productive.
Loamy,	  1,881		     10 to 18	Moderately dry.	Nearly as productive.
Sandy,	    252		      8 to 15	Dry.		Less productive.
Gravelly,   339		      6 to 13	Generally dry.	Still less productive.
Mossy,	    172		     14 to 48	Wettish.	Least productive.

From the stratifications discernible in all these soils, it appears highly probable that they have been transported.  That this has been the case with regard to the sandy, gravelly, and mossy soils in particular, must be obvious to every intelligent geologist.  In former times, when the superficial area of the parish presented one continuous field, without dyke or ditch, and when it was partially cultivated by a great number of small tenants, who tilled their parcels in alternate ridges, depositing all the stones which they collected on the cultivated ridge, on the intermediate uncultivated one, boulders prevailed to a great extent in the several soils; but, as soon as the spirit of cultivation began to operate with new energy, and on a more extended and efficient plan, many of the most manageable of these boulders were either blasted with gunpowder and carted away, or trailed off the ground by means of a strong sledge, drawn by oxen and horses.  And, now that agriculture has reached a degree of perfection unknown to our forefathers, few, comparatively, of these stones are to be seen on the surface of the . .

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. . ground.  A few of them, indeed, are still to he met with in the ground; but when they are found, they are either blasted, or sunk into the earth beyond the reach of the plough.  Being frequently of great magnitude, some of them of two or three tons weight, the removing of them was often a task of Herculean labour.  As some of them are granites, some mica-schists, some porphyries, and some globular masses of quartz or siliceous spar, they appear to demonstrate that they are not natives of the place, and that, by means of attrition, they have been rounded and diminished in size, in proportion to the distance they have travelled.

The following is a view of the plants and animals most frequently and peculiarly attached to the soils, and to the banks of the Kerbit:

Soil.		    Plant.					Animals.
Clayey,		    Spear-thistle, milk-thistle, dock,		Plover, wild-goose,
			smeardock, restharrow, redshank,	 grub, slug, worm.
			mushroom, daffodil, wild-hyacinth.
Loamy,		    Ragwort, crowfoot, dandelion, wild		Hare, partridge,
			violet, mountain-daisy, sorrel,		 corncraik, hedgehog.
			spearmint.
Sandy and gravelly, Knot-grass, couch-grass, whin, broom,	Lark, mole, centipede,
			wild raspberry.				 beetle, toad, ant,
								 lizard.
Mossy,		    Rush, flag, horsetail, colts-foot,		Lapwing, snipe, wild-
			cotton-grass, marsh-marigold.		 duck, frog.
Banks of Kerbit,    Willow, elder queen of the mead,		Water-rat, otter, heron,
			water-cress, fungi.			 kingfisher.

Although several springs in the parish strongly indicate the presence of iron and copper ores, there is not a mine of any description worked.  In an inclined plane, on the north-west base of the hill of Kinnettles, coal was, long ago, supposed to exist.  About seventy years ago, the supposition became generally so strong, that the proprietor of Brigton employed some practical miners to make a search.  This they did by boring to a considerable depth; and tradition says, that, in conducting the search, a stratum of coal was actually found, but that the miners were bribed.  There is still an idea that coal might be extracted from the place referred to.

Zoology. - The only species of animals among our native quadrupeds, which are seldom to be found in some neighbouring parishes, are, the fox, badger, polecat, squirrel, weasel, hedgehog, and otter.  The migratory birds are, the lapwing, plover, swallow, cuckoos, landrail, kingfisher, woodcock, wild-goose, and heron.  With the exception of the woodcock and wild-goose, which generally appear in the beginning of winter, these birds make their appearance about the beginning of May, for the purpose of breeding, and . .

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. . take their departure about the end of September.  The heron, however, is frequently to be seen in winter on the banks of the Kerbit.

In regard to their live-stock in general, the farmers in this parish, though generally more disposed to graze and feed than to breed and rear, are equalled by few, and surpassed by none in the county.  Whether they breed and rear, which they do to a considerable extent, or whether they purchase to supply the deficiency, which they often do, but always with the greatest care, they generally make a point of keeping a live-stock of superior quality, large size, and great value; and thus, since the introduction of enclosures, turnips, potatoes, and sown grasses, there has been a remarkable improvement of every species of live-stock.  The cattle, formerly of small, are now of large size; and when well fed on turnips, potatoes, or grass, -a practice extensively followed in the parish, -they are much esteemed in the Edinburgh and Glasgow markets, where they bring high prices.  Nor are the farmers less conspicuous for the superior stock of horses which they. keep.  Whether they breed and rear their own horses, which they generally do in a great measure, or whether they make purchases from the south and west country dealers to make up the deficiency of rearing, which they occasionally do, but with the utmost caution and nicest selection, they never fail to keep up a choice stock.  The case was different in former times.  When roads were bad, and when most carriages were performed on horseback, and when the plough and wain were drawn chiefly by oxen, the breed of horses was comparatively small.  But the native breed has been improved both in size and shape, in proportion as they have been regularly worked, well fed, and amply provided with winter provender.  To such perfection have they been brought, that a pair are now sufficient for the cart or plough; and, in drawing these implements, they perform more work, and to better purpose, in a given time, than six oxen, preceded by two horses, did in the days of our fathers; and in such estimation are the horses that have been reared in the parish held, that a pair, when sold, often bring from £60 to £80.  The number of swine reared and fed in the parish has been greatly on the increase for several years past.  Two breeds of swine, with various mixtures and crosses of these, are to be found in the parish.  The first kind has large slouched ears, long bristles on the dorsal ridge, long shaggy hair, and a long . .

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. . tapering snout. They feed to eighteen or twenty stones, imperial weight, and, when well fed, make excellent pork; but the small Chinese breed abounds most, and feeds from eight to ten stones, imperial weight.  Those who keep a stock of hogs generally keep them in good condition, and feed them highly.

Every species of corn grown in the parish is less or more exposed to the depredations of insects.  Wheat suffers from slugs; but the greatest enemy that has yet assailed it, is a fly that was introduced in 1826, and that made its appearance in 1827.  This insect inserts into the ear its ova, which, soon becoming small worms, injure it very much.  In consequence of the rapid and extensive depredations of this insect, wheat has been almost banished from the parish for the last six years.  Fortunately, however, the last crop has suffered but little from its ravages, and hopes are entertained that it will soon disappear from this quarter.

II. - CIVIL HISTORY.

The ancient history of this parish appears to be involved in great obscurity.  Although the old church and tower, which stood in the present churchyard, and which were taken down in 1812, exhibited strong presumptive evidence of their having been erected in the twelfth century, yet no authentic account of the parish can be traced beyond the era of the Reformation.  At that period, and for about 200 years after, its extent was much less than it is at present; then, the Bishop of Dunkeld was proprietor of about 200 Scotch acres of land, which, though locally situated in the parish of Caputh (Webmaster's note - The reader would be well advised to read of the history of the parish of Caputh.), lay conterminous with the southern extremity of the parish, and were held on lease by a tenant called Alexander Pyott.  From his principles and practices, Pyott appears to have been a discerning, selfish, staunch, papist.  Alarmed at the progress of the Reformation, he repaired to Dunkeld, in order to hold an interview with his bishop concerning the state of public affairs.  The bishop received him most cordially, and on Pyott's assuring him that he would strain every nerve to resist the progress of the Reformation, he immediately wrote out a disposition of the said lands in Pyott's favour.  On receiving this document, Pyott, exulting at the success of his visit, returned home with his new acquisition; and, without loss of time, he repaired to his holiness at Rome, and got the deed of conveyance confirmed by a Popish bull, -in virtue of which it is held at the present day.  The last Popish proprietor of the lands in question, sinking into poverty, sold them in . .

215

. . 1758 to the Earl of Strathmore; and in 1773 the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland annexed them, quoad sacra, to the parish of Kinnettles.

Eminent Men. - Only two eminent men seem to have been connected with this parish for the last 100 years.  The first is Colonel William Patterson, son of a gardener to Mr. Douglas of Brigton, about the middle of the last century.  Honoured with the patronage of Lady Mary Lyon of Glammis, he rose to the dignified station which he filled during the greatest part of his remarkably diversified life.  He was connected with the parish by birth, as well as by residence in his early years. *

*  The cenotaph in the church-yard of his native parish bears the following inscription: Sacred to the memory of Colonel William Patterson, Fellow of the Royal Society, Member of the Asiatic and Linnean Societies, Lieutenant- Colonel of the 102nd Regiment, and for many years Lieutenant- Governor of New South Wales.  He served thirty years in the army, -twenty -five of which were passed in the East Indies, and in New South Wales; and, in fulfilling his duty to his country, he twice circumnaviga ted the Globe.  His taste for Natural History induced him in the earlier part of his life, to travel from the Cape of Good Hope into the interior of Africa, into which country he penetrated farther than any European had ever done before him.  His unwearied assiduity in the pursuit of science, supported in an unusual degree by talent and zeal, enabled him to collect, and bring to England, specimens of plants and other curiosities till then unknown.  He discharged with honour and fidelity the trust reposed in him as an officer; and his services were particularly valuable in New South Wales, as Lieutenant-Governor of that settlement.  Nor did he there neglect his favourite pursuit, but continued to enrich both public and private museums, by employing his leisure hours in useful researches.  His life was not less amiable than useful; and his happy disposition endeared him to his dependents, to society, and to his friends.  After a 1ong period of ill health, he attempted to return to his native country, but it pleased God to take him during his voyage.  He was born in this parish on the 10th of August 1755, and died on the 21st of June 1810.

The other eminent character alluded to is John Inglis Harvey, Esq. of Kinnettles.  He was born and resided in this parish till he attained the age of sixteen years.  After receiving a classical education in his father's house, he was sent to one of the English universities, where he was instructed in general literature and science, but in the law department in particular, and where he carried several prizes.  Having thus qualified himself for some conspicuous station, he, about twelve years ago, obtained an appointment to a very honourable and distinguished office in the East Indies; and afterwards ascended the bench as a civil judge in that country.

Land-owners. - The land-owners in the parish are, the Earl of Strathmore; Robert Douglas, Esq. of Brigton; John Inglis-Harvey, Esq. of Kinnettles; Captain John Laurenson of Invereighty; and Mr. John Wighton of Muiryknows.

Parochial Registers. - The kirk-session is in possession of six . .

In 1775, the population amounted, according to
		 pretty accurate statement, to  616
    And in 1790, 			    to  621
	In 1800, 260 males, 307 females.	567
	   1811, 242	    280			522
	   1821, 273	    293			566
	   1831, 246	    301			547

Number of the population residing 	in two villages, 214
					in the country, 333
The yearly average of marriages for the last 7 years,	  65/7
	"	   of births,				 16
	"	   of deaths,				  9
The average number of persons   under 15 years of age,	197
		"		betwixt 15 and 30,	143
		"		betwixt 30 and 50,	134
		"		betwixt 50 and 70,	 56
		"		upwards of 70,		 17
The number of proprietors of land of
		the yearly value of £50 and upwards,	  5
	"  of families in the parish is		106
		"      chiefly employed in agriculture,  35
		"      in trade, manufactures, 
		"			or handicraft,	 51

The number of acres, standard Imperial measure, in the parish, 
				which are regularly cultivated,	- 2,848
Number of acres which never have been cultivated, and which 
					remain constantly waste,-   106
The number of acres that might, with a profitable application 
     of capital, be added to the cultivated land of the parish, -   106
The number of acres under planted wood in the parish,	-	-   124

			 Number of	Average produce	    Aggregate produce
Species of grain sowed.  acres under	in standard imp.    in standard imperial
			 crop.		measure per acre.   quarters.
Wheat,			  112				       448
Barley,			  412		 Quarters	     1,648
Oats,			  638		  4		     2,552
Rye,			    7				        28
Pease,			    6				        24
			----				     -----
			1,175 acres			     4,700

Produce of grain of all kinds, whether cultivated for food of
				 man or the domestic animals,	£6,296  4s. 0d.
Of potatoes and turnips, cultivated in the fields for food,	 2,036  0s. 0d.
Of hay, both cultivated and meadow,	-	-	-	   242 10s. 0d.
Of land in pasture, rating it at £2 per cow, or full-grown ox,
    grazed for the season, or rating it at 10s. per ewe, or
    full-grown sheep, pastured for the year,	-	-	 2,228 12s. 6d.
Of gardens,	-	-	-	-	-	-	    60 14s. 3d.
Of the annual thinning and periodical felling of plantations,	   140 10s. 8d.
Of wool,	-	-	-	-	-	-	    66  0s. 0d.
								---------------
		Total yearly value of raw produce raised,      £11,070 11s. 5d.

In time, the Third Statistical Account of this parish may appear here.