1837
Parish Of Moneydie, Presbytery of Perth, Synod of Perth and Stirling.
The Reverend Mr. J. W. Thomson, Minister.
Topography And Natural History.Extent and Boundaries--The Parish of Moneydie (spelt Monedie in the former Statistical Account) is of a long irregular form, extending from S. E. to N. W. about 10 miles in length, and varying from 1 1Ž2 to 3 miles in breadth. Its superficial extent may be reckoned about 18 square miles.
It may be necessary here to explain the reason of the wide discrepancy between these statements, and those of the former Statistical Account. The present parish of Moneydie consists of two portions, viz. the old or original parish, and the new parish or Logiealmond, which, about eighty years ago, was disjoined from the neighbouring parish of Monzie, and annexed quoad sacra to Moneydie...
Eminent Persons.--In the former Statistical Account, there are notices of two eminent persons connected with this parish. The first "Bessy Bell," celebrated in song as the companion of "Mary Gray," a daughter of the house of Lynedoch, who during the ravages of the plague, which seems to have been remarkably severe in this quarter, took refuge together in a sequestered spot, (still pointed out) on the banks of the Almond; where, however, receiving occasional visits from a lover, they both caught infection and fell victims to the desolating malady. (In digging the foundations of the new church about twenty years ago, the workmen came upon an immense accumulation of bones, as if they had been thrown together into a pit, supposed to have been the remains of victims of the plague.) The other individual mentioned is a great-grand-uncle of the late Sir William Drummond of Logiealmond, a zealous partisan of the house of Stewart, who signalized himself at Sheriffmuir, not more for his bravery, than for his prodigious feats of strength. His formidable broadsword is still exhibited as a curiosity in the Tower of London...
The population is entirely agricultural, with very few exceptions.
Births, Deaths, and Marriages.
The yearly average of births for the last seven years is 17; of marriages 8; and of deaths no register is kept. It is proper to remark, however, that the number of births here given, does not exhibit an accurate average, as there are some parents (chiefly Dissenters) who pay no attention to have their children registered.
Number of person under 15 years of age -- 375. Number of persons upwards of 70 -- 39.
The number of persons at the various intermediate stages, it is not so easy to ascertain.
Unmarried men, bachelors and widowers upwards of 50 years of age -- 28.
Unmarried women (exclusive of widows) upwards of 45 years of age -- 22, widows 42.
The average number of children to a family is 3 1Ž2.
At present there are no persons in the parish who can come under the denominations of "insane or fatuous." There are one or to who may be called of weak intellect; one who is deaf and dumb, and one blind.
Social Comforts, &c.--The people generally speaking are healthy and robust, and seem upon the whole to enjoy a reasonable measure of the comforts and advantages of society. Among the peasantry, the staple articles of food are potatoes and oatmeal. There are few cottagers who do not keep pigs; but, with the exception of pork, animal food is rarely to be seen, except in the houses of the more substantial farmers.
General Character, &c.--With regard to "the general character of the population, intellectual, moral and religious," it is believed that they are pretty much on a footing with other parishes similarly situated. The outward forms of religion are in general punctually attended to; few, if any, habitually absent themselves from public worship; and the general tone of morals is upon the whole sound and healthy. The most prevailing vice perhaps in the present day, and in all parts of the country, is intemperance. Among the many causes that have contributed to bring about this melancholy state of things, there can be no doubt that the lowering of the duty on spirits has had a most material effect; at the same time it may be questioned whether or not the needless increase in the number of public-houses has not contributed as largely to the same mischievous result. Upon this point, the following fact is worthy of notice. In the old parish of Moneydie there was not, until within the last six months, a single whisky shop of any description, nor was there known to the minister a single individual habitually addicted to drunkenness. In the Logiealmond district of the parish, on the other hand, there are unfortunately five public-houses, and as might be expected, the sin of intemperance and its accompanying vices are found to prevail in a proportionate degree...
Smuggling and Poaching.--At one time, the practice of illicit distillation prevailed to a considerable extent in the parish. It is now, happily, almost unknown. Salmon poaching, however, still continues to be carried on; but chiefly by persons unconnected with the parish.
Cropping.--The system of cropping most commonly followed is what is technically termed a four-course shift,- viz. oats, green crop, barley, and grass. Most farmers, however, let their land lie two vears, and sometimes even more in grass. There are no beans grown in the parish, and very little wheat. Lint, which at one time was cultivated to a considerable extent, is now seldom sown, owing to the almost entire discontinuance of the practice of domestic spinning.
Stock.--Cattle of all descriptions are reared in the parish, from the bulky Teeswater to the diminutive west Highlander... The sheep are principally of the Leicester breed, those at least which are fed upon the low grounds. Besides being peculiarly adapted to the nature of the pasture, they are prized chiefly on account of their fattening so easily, being less destructive to the fences than Highland sheep, and also on account of the superior value of their fleeces...
Wages.--The wages of farm-servants vary from £10 to £14 per annum, together with 6 1Ž2 bolls (140 lbs. per boll) of oatmeal in the year, and 1 1Ž2 Scotch pints of milk daily. Married men have besides, a house and garden, rent free, and as many potatoes as they can furnish dung to raise upon their master's field. Many of them have, besides, an allowance of coals. The ordinary wages of women servants are from £4 to £6 per annum. Day-labourers receive 1s. 6d. per diem, and women working in the fields from 8d. to 10d. Harvest-work is for the most part done by threaving, which is generally at the rate of from 2 1Ž2d. to 3 1Ž2 s per threave.
Manufactures.--There has been recently established in Logiealmond, a flax spinning-mill, driven by water-power from the river Almond. It affords employment to about fifty persons, chiefly females, and natives of the country. When trade is prosperous, as at present, the mill is kept going throughout the whole twenty-four hours, by means of relays of workers--one set commencing at six o'clock in the evening, and another relieving them at six o'clock in the morning. There can be no question that this establishment has tended greatly to promote the physical comfort of the inhabitants of the district, by affording constant work and good wages to many individuals, who formerly could obtain neither. But it may, at the same time, be seriously doubted, whether or not these advantages are not more than counterbalanced, by the usual train of moral evils which the introduction of manufactures seldom fails to bring along with it.
Education.--There are three schools in the parish, viz. the parochial school at Moneydie, another at Chapelhill, and another at Heriotfield, both in Logiealmond... The branches taught in all these schools are nearly the same, reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar, book-keeping, and practical mathematics. The parish schoolmaster is also qualified to teach the elements of Latin, Greek, and French; but for these there is little or no demand. In all the schools the Scriptures are regularly read, and the catechisms of the church taught. The following is a statement of the numbers of scholars: At the parish school, 50; Chapelhill school, 76; Heriotfield school, 60; total, 186. It will be seen that there are thus somewhat more than one-sixth of the population at school. It is necessary to remark, however, that many of these are not permitted to remain above eight months out of the twelve, as the circumstances of the parents often render it desirable that their children should begin as soon as possible to do something for themselves. The consequence is, that, whenever summer begins, numbers of the children are taken from school, and sent to herding or some other employment. So far as is known, there are no persons in the parish of sufficient age, who are unable to read, (except perhaps one or two aged individuals,) and the greater proportion are able also to write. All classes are fully alive to the benefits of education, and anxious to obtain it for their children.
Press BACK to return to Main Stream.