Imperial gazeteer of Scotland, or, Dictionary of Scottish topography > Volume 1

BOHESPICK.
178
BOLTON.
conca-se pai-t, or mouth, perfectly circular. This
bulky fabric, in 1200, was denominated Castellum
de Bucharin. It then belonged to the Freskyns of
Duffus, by whom it was no doubt built. By assum-
ing the title De Moravia, from their connexion with
that country, they became the author of that sur-
name. They were once possessed of many fair do-
mains in the north : namely, Duffus, Duldavie, Dal-
vey, Inverallen, and Kirkdales, in Moray; Arndilly,
Aikenwall, Boharm, Botriphnie then Botruthin,
Kinermonie then Cere Kainemionth, in Banffshire ;
and Brachlie, Ci'oy, Ewan, Lunyn, and Petty, in
Nairn or Inverness, as appears by the charter of
Moray from 1100 to 1286. At this day, they are
represented by the Duke of Athole, Sutherland of
Duffus, and Murray of Abercaimy. It also appears
by the charter of Moray, that, between 1203 and
1222, William, the son of William Freskyn, ob-
tained the consent of Brucius, bishop of Moray, for
building a domestic chapel for the more commodious
performance of the offices of devotion. It stood on
its own consecrated burying-ground — forsaken only
in the course of the last century — about 50 yards
from the north end of the castle ; and, though only
24 by 12 feet within, must have been the parent of
the parish-church, which, with several others, was
erected at the private expense of James VI. for civi-
lizing the north of Scotland, in the year 1618, ai
which period Ardhitullie or Arndilly may be sup-
posed to have been annexed. On the annexation of
a part of the parish of Dundurcus a new parish-
church was erected about 2 miles to the eastward.
James Ferguson, the self-taught astronomer, re-
ceived the rudiments of his education here, under
the patronage of Grant of Arndilly. Population in
1831, 1,385; in 1861, 1,412. Houses, 276.
This parish is in the presbytery of Aberlour and
synod of Moray. Patrons, the Crown and the Earl
of Fife. Stipend, £244 16s. 7d.; glebe, 30 acres.
There are two parochial schools ; the one with £40
of salary, the other with £25. The parish church
was built in 1793, and contains about 700 sittings.
There is a Free church ; and the yearly sum raised
in connexion with it in 1865 was £93 4s. ll^d.
There are three female schools, with dwelling-houses
for the teachers, and salaries or grants.
BOHESPICK, a portion of the valley of the Tum-
mel in the parish of Blair-Athole, Perthshire.
BOINDIE. See Boyndie.
BOISDALE (Loch), a deep inlet of the Minch,
on the eastern side of South Uist, and to the south
of Loch Eynort. It is thickly strewn with islets,
and has a small half-ruined tower at its entrance.
It is one of the best and largest harbours in the
kingdom, and affords shelter to vessels in the Baltic
trade under stress of weather.
BOLD BURN, a rivulet of the eastern wing of
the parish of Traquair, Peebles-shire, flowing from
the Minchmoor to the Tweed.
BOLE, a hamlet in the parish of Rescobie, For-
farshire.
BOLESKINE and ABEETABF, an united par-
ish, containing the small post-town of Fort- Augus-
tus and the village of Balfrishel, in Inverness-shire.
It lies on both sides of Loch Ness, and is hounded
by Urquhart, Dorres, Daviot, Laggan, and Kilma-
nivaig. Its length north-eastward is about 21
miles; and its average breadth is about 10 miles.
Abertarf lies principally on the north-west side of
Loch Ness, and formerly comprised also the district
of Glenmorriston. The inhabited parts of it are se-
parated from the inhabited parts of Boleskine by a
lofty hill of seven miles in length. Boleskine com-
prises part of Stratherrick, part of the upland coun-
try of Corryarrick, and part of the Monadleadh
mountains. There are als.0 one or two small de.
tached .tracts. The district at the western extre-
mity of Loch Ness is level ; the eastern is mountain-
ous. The soil is as varied as the surface. There
are a great many sheep fed' in the hilly part of the
country. Much natural wood still remains; and,
from the large trunks of oak-trees found in all the
mosses, we may conclude the whole country has at
one period been an extensive oakrforest. The par-
ish abounds with lakes, which contain a variety of
fish. Several streams also intersect it, of which the
principal are the Oich, the Tarff, and the Foyers, —
the last famous for its falls. Granite of beautiful
appearance is found in the hills; and inexhaustible
quarries of limestone are wrought in several parts.
The principal landowners are the Frasers of Aber-
tarf, Lovat, and Foyers. The total yearly value of
raw produce was estimated in 1835 at £4,313. As-
sessed property in 1860, £8,232. A number of the
principal objects and scenes of interest in the parish
will be found noticed in other articles, such as Au-
gustus (Fokt), Caledonian Canal, Ness (Loch),
Oich (The), Foyers (The), Stratherrick, Cokky-
arrick, and Monadleadh Mountains. Population
in 1831, 1,829 ; in 1861, 1,743. Houses, 355.
This parish is in the presbytery of Abertarf, and
synod of Glenelg. Patron, Professor Hercules
Scott. Stipend, £238 2s. 2d. Schoolmaster's salary,
£40 with £20 fees. The parish church was built in
1717, and contains 428 sittings. There is a mission-
ary at Fort Augustus, who ministers to about 150
attendants. There is a Free church in Fort Augus-
tus, associated with another in Glenmorriston; and
the proceeds of it in 1865 amounted to £77 15s. 5d.
There is also a Roman Catholic chapel, with an at-
tendance of 200. There are two private schools.
BOLFEACKS. See Fortingal.
BOLL-FOR-NOUGHT. See Ninians (St.).
BOLTON, a parish in Haddingtonshire, bounded
by the parishes of Haddington, Gifford, Humbie, and
Salton. Its post-town is Haddington, 2 J miles
north of the church. The length of the parish
northward is nearly 6 miles ; and the average
breadth is not more than about 1J mile. Gifford
or Coalstone Water, a stream of much gentle beauty,
flows along the north-eastern and northern bound-
ary; and Binn's Water, from about the point of its
debouch from the Lammermoors, flows along the
southern boundary. The surface of the parish is
agreeably diversified with undulations, but does not
contain any upland or hill. About 300 acres are
under wood, between 50 and 60 are in permanent
pasture, and all the rest acknowledge the domin-
ion of the plough. There are eight or more land-
owners ; but the only resident one is the proprietor
of the charming mansion of Eaglescarnie, which was
for several centuries the seat of a branch of the
Haliburtons, Lords of Dirleton. The valued rent is
£2,437 12s. 7d. Scots. The real rent in 1792 was
£1,400; and is now above double that sum. The
total yearly value of raw produce was estimated in
1838 at £10,125. Assessed property in 1865, £3,746
Is. Id. Within the hamlet of Bolton there were, till
recently, some vestiges of a house, with a park on
the west side of it still called the orchard, which is
said to have belonged to John Hepburn, a friend of
Bothwell's, who fled with him from Dunbar, when
Bothwell escaped from the battle of Falside.
Chalmers says: — "The manor of Bolton was early
enjoyed by the St. Hilaries, who were succeeded by
William de Vetereponte, who married Emma de St.
Hilary. Notwithstanding the terrible disasters of
the succession war, in which, as we learn from Ey-
mer and Prynne, this family was involved, yet was
Bolton, with lands in other districts, enjoyed bv it