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Archiver > MORAY > 2003-09 > 1064287027


From: Kotuku Media <>
Subject: Re: [MORAY] Kirkton of Mortlach
Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2003 15:18:17 +1200
In-Reply-To: <BAY7-F95AAwdAkdsWEn00001563@hotmail.com>


Hi George - yes I'm after the Moirs. Apparently the Waukmiln (of
Balvenie) mob are buried there. There are a set of in-laws for me.
so anything you have would be great.

all I know is that Ann Moir m Patrick Duff of Mather Cluny (opposite
Mortlach distillery today). She was the granddaughter of Moir of
Waulkmiln who was apparently a heritor. He had enough to 'settle' Ann
comfortably on the Duff family.

Robert Moir was apparently at Walkmylne in he 1670s and James in he
1640s.

What sparked the renewal of the search was this memoir sent to me by
William Ramp:

====================================================================
Notes on ancestry of John Duncan and Isabel Moir, Drywells, Cabrach,
Banffshire

John Duncan, born June 1767 at Drywells, Cabrach, Banffshire

Christened 20 June 1767 at Cabrach: witnesses John Teprman[?] in
Boghead and John Taylor [1]

Died 8 May, 1855, Drywells, Cabrach; buried at Mortlach

Married 6 July or 26 August 1799, at Kirktown of Mortlach, to Isabel
MOIR. The marriage dates given in the relevant Old Parish Registers are
6 July 1799 (Mortlach OPR), or 26 August 1799 (Cabrach OPR). One of the
above dates may be of an announcement or registration at Cabrach parish
subsequent to the event?[2]

One of John Duncan's sons was James Duncan of Parkmore, Mortlach
(1809-1876). In a memoir of this James Duncan, Parkmore (probably
written around 1876), James Moir of Glasgow (a cousin on Isabel's side)
characterized John Duncan and Isabel Moir as follows:

"His father's name was John Duncan, a man of a very kindly disposition,
the reigning power of mind was to do good in every way he could, in
knowledge he was far in advance of many who lived in the quarter at the
time. He was not only skilled as a Veterinary Practitioner, but did
much for man - he bled - vaccinated - cured sore eyes - healed sprains.
Doctors were few and lived at a great distance from the quarter. As a
mark of esteem, his friends got up a testimonial and presented him with
a snuff box, and an eight-day clock, which remains as an heirloom in
the family, to mark their gratitude. "

"His mother's name was Isabelle Moir, daughter of Walter Moir, her
lineage can be traced as far back as 1660, when Johnnie [3] Moir was
shot at the Walk Mill[4] of Balvenie defending his house.[5] A
gravestone in the Churchyard at Mortlach gives the same statement. His
son and son's son had followed the same line and continued farming in
the Glen. His crops enticed the cattle to come down at unseasonable
times and he built dykes round his fields, so that the Farm got the
name of Moirs Parks [6] and continued under that name until Walter took
the farm of "Pit-Glassie" [7] in Auchindown."

"Walter married a Miss Clark in his old age - and had by her two
daughters Isabelle and Helen, the eldest was the mother of the late
James Duncan, "Parkmore," who was the sixth child. The family consisted
of John, Hugh, William, Helen, Robert, James, George, Walter, Isabella
and Margaret. She seconded every kindly act which her husband proposed,
kind and obliging, many a weary traveller got refreshment when they
called at Drywells, none ever went away hungry or thirsty."

"Her temper was calm, thoughtful and generous. All who knew her had
only one opinion, that she was the friend of the friendless and soother
of the burdened mind of those who were afflicted. Her name still
remains as a household one by the few remaining who knew her worth. I
may with propriety transcribe what a cousin of mine wrote on the
departure of her sister Helen who died January 13th, 1863. "She will be
greatly missed and by none moreso than by ourselves should we ever be
spared to revisit Cabrach, she is the last link of a chain by which the
old and the leal and the kindest-hearted of our relatives were held
together; but she has gone to a world of Bliss where a crown of glory
awaits her as a reward for goodness on earth, for surely if ever any
one inherited by a well spent life endless plebicity in the realms
above it is our dear departed and much lamented Aunt."


Walter Moir and Helen Clark, mentioned in the above memoir as parents
of Isabel (Moir) Duncan, were married at Knockando, Moray, 17 August
1778 (or 1779?...I need to check this). As above, Walter was claimed to
be a descendant of Johne Moir, Waulkmill of Balvenie. Isabel Moir was
baptized at Mortlach in June, 1780. Her sister, Helen, was christened
25 July 1784 at Mortlach, and married William Taylor of Boghead,
Cabrach.[8] Helen died 13 January 1863.
..................................................................

[1] Witnesses' names for John and subsequent siblings from microfilm of
Cabrach OPR as transcribed - perhaps faultily - by me

[2] Dr. H. B. L. Russell (Edinburgh) in correspondence with me dated
the marriage at 10 Aug. 1799, and noted that Isabel was "of Mortlach."

[3] should be "Johne"

[4] Waulkmill

[5] In another letter, (copy sent to me by Ian Shearer, Edinburgh),
Moir referred to the murderers as "the Cateran band."

[6] Moir's explanation of the farm name is interesting, but runs
counter to a more likely etymology of "Parkmore," in which "mor" means
"large," as opposed to "beg," meaning "small" (as in "Parkbeg, the
neighbouring farm). I wonder if the "Park" refers to the nearby
Lochpark?

[7] Pitglassie

[8] William's son, John Taylor of Boghead, kept a diary, excerpts from
which were printed in booklet form (a copy is in the University of
Aberdeen library or archives, I believe).




Sue and Ross Miller
Kotuku Media Ltd
64 4 233 1842
0274 510 339 - Sue
027 246 7682 - Ross
112 Pope Street, Camborne, Wellington

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