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Belnabodach, or Belnaboddach

David Turnock in 'The retreat of settlement in the Grampian Highlands' (Northern Scotland, vol 4 no 1, 1981) remarks on the remarkable meander scars of Glen Nochty.

A letter of grievances addressed to the Earl of Fife by Peter Farquharson on 1st November 1786 reiterated his complaint that 'the water of Noughty was encroaching greatly on this possession & if you do not cause the factor look to it & order bulwarks to be put in places that its cutting in it will hurt his Lordship very much for many years past if it were not stones I have put into places myself that the water was coming out in it would be down through the best hach [haugh] of land I am master of' 

(short extract from Aberdeen University Duff House papers MS 3175/1472/1 as below)

Belnabodach in the centre of the picture

Looking west from Ledmacay

The Valuation of 1667 for the parish of Invernochty shows a Wm Forbes of Balnabadoch valuation £50-11-6 but the property must then have been acquired by

John Forbes of Invernettie, Ledmacay and Belnabodach who died in 1684, when Belnabodach passed to his son William and then to William's son John (Cess Roll).  

The Poll Book of 1696 shows a valuation of £50-7-6 for Belnabodach and lists William Forbes of Belnabodach and his wife [named as Elspet Stewart of Lesmurdie in 'Jacobites in the Fifteen] and two children, John and Isobell, servants John Roger (fee £10 per annum), Charles Shaw (fee £8 per annum), Mary McCadie (fee £4 per annum), and tenants James Cattenach and his wife, John Gillenders and his wife, William Simer and his wife, Alester Wattie and his wife, and John Forbes and his wife.

Corriebreck, valuation £50-0-0, in 1696 is shown separately after Belnabodach and listed are James Grant of Corriebreck and his wife and sons John and George and daughters Anna and Elizabeth, servants John Malice (fee £10 per annum), Robert Reid (fee £10 per annum), Janet Nairn (fee 5 merks per annum), and tenants William Keson, widower, and his son [over 16], James Kesson and his wife, Janet Mulliert, widow, Robert Murgine, her servant (fee £6 per annum) and John Tayleor (no wife) and servant Elspet Mullier (fee 5 merks per annum). 

The Bond of 1699 for Peaceable Behaviour under Wm. fforbes of Belnboch lists Wm. Lawarnance & John Mulcest his servts & Alaster Muggen in Corribreg.

Jacobites in the Fifteen reports that this William Forbes' son, John Forbes, was involved in the 1715 rising, that in 1706 he married Janet Robertson, daughter of the Minister of Invernochty [Strathdon], that in 1711 John Forbes and Janet Robertson had sasine on Belnabodach, and that John afterwards sold these lands. 

In 1770 by Articles of Roup of the lands of Belnaboddach  these lands were offered for sale by Revd William Forbes of Musselburgh 'for £1,000 sterling or to the person who shall make the highest offer at the out-running of a half hour sand glass to be set up for that purpose' - but no offer was made and the roup was adjourned [NAS GD 1/404/1/32]

About 1776, by which time Belnabodach was owned by the Earl of Fife, its lease was taken up by Peter Farquharson, who until 1772 had been Laird of Tullochcoy in Crathie, Deeside.

On the right is a transcription of a letter of grievances he put to the Earl's factor in 1786 (from Duff House papers MS 3175/1472/1 by kind permission of Lady Saltoun and Aberdeen University Historic Collections)

Below is the house as it appears today  

William Rose Esq of mount coffer

Comissioner for the Right Honourable James Earl of Fife at Duff House

Sir

as I hear you will be throng {stressed} with business this week I did not chuse to trouble you by putting in a petition before his Lordship anent {concerning} my claims Therefore I hope youll speak to his Lordship anent my affairs as soon as possible & let me know if I be to get a reduction in my rent for that ten pound that was allowed me for the mason work of my house at Belnabodach at this term it is well known by all Strathdon that I Enterd to one of the worst in repair possessions that ever a man came to I had not a house to lay my head in nor a house to lay a beast in when I came to the place likewise all my farm was to clean ruin I flatter myself to think if it be represented to his Lordship anent this afair that he will grant my request as I want nothing but what is reasonable you know I told you that I got only a receipt for last rent whereas I payd every farthing I was due but the rent of the [blins] burn qch {which} I was not bound to pay as I did not get security for sd rent from the woman that possessed tack neither was she removed to me acording to bargain at the term I enterd to my tack likewise youll remember to acquaint the factor concerning that road that should be mad to Belnabodach for bringing lime to it from the Ballach all the lime I brought to it as yet was brought down on ye north side of noughty qch way I will not be allowed to bring it more therefore there can be no lime brought to this possession till there be a road made to it I also told you the water of Noughty was encroaching greatly on this possession & if you do not Cause the factor look to it & order bulwarks to be put in places that its cutting in it will hurt his Lordship very much for many years past if it were not stones I have put into places myself that the water was coming out in it woud be down through the best hach (haugh) of land I am master of Therefore I hope youll be so good as send me an answr as soon as possible if I be to get allowance as to that tenpound at this term or not you know very well I have a dear possession [you] should plead with his Lordship to Encourage me as I want to make a good possession of a bad one if it lys in my power I add no more at present but I am Sir

              Your most obnt & very humble servt

Belnabodach Nov 2nd 1786                                  Peter Farqrson

 

 

 

In 1861 the lands of Belnaboddach (which then included Corriebreck and Blairnamuick) were shown as Lot 1 on the map of lands for sale by the Earl of Fife [McDonald Collection 023006]. At some stage [perhaps not until 1875 according to MS 3175 v240] Belnaboddach was purchased from the Earl of Fife by Francis Farquharson (b about 1839 d 1909) [FG vol 2 Note 43] 

 

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