New Spalding Club > Records of Invercauld MDXLVII - MDCCCXXVIII [1547- 1828]

FAMILY PAPERS: JOHN I. 231
" Commission by John, Earl of Marr, to Thomas Erskine of Pittodrie,
John Farquharson of Invercauld, and Robert Farquharson of Aberarder,
to be his baillies within the bounds of Braemar, Strathdee, Glengarden,
and Cromar. Dated at StirHng, 4 April 1635."
" Obligation by Gregor McGregor, in Gawlerge, that in respect he
had received from Robert Farquharson of Invercauld the persons of
Donald McLauchlane vie Roy and Duncan bane McKoilly vie Ian vie
Aulay, Servitors to Alexander McDonald of Keppoch, who had been
imprisoned within the ' chemiese ' of Kindrochat ; therefore if either of
these prisoners should do anything prejudicial or hurtful to any person
dwelling above Culbleen, in their persons, goods or gear, he, the said
Gregor, should be bound to present them within the said ' chemiese ' (or
castle) of Kandrochat, on fifteen days' warning, under a penalty. Dated
at Invercauld, 23 May 1648."
The servitors to Keppock were caterans that had been apprehended
when on a spuilzie ; and McGregor had become bail for their appearance.
From the numerous bonds of maintenance and association for defence
into which John Farquharson of Invercauld entered, it would appear that
his friendship was much sought after by the heads of other Highland
clans, and that he was a man of much influence amongst them. This
was also recognised by the Privy Council, who in 1641 issued
A " Commission to him for a certain sum of money, to defend the
Sheriffdoms of Angus, Mearns, Aberdeen and Banff (which were the
counties in which they did most injury and oppression) for a year to come
from all reif and spulzie ; and what was taken by thir robbers from them,
he was obliged to repay the same to the complainer within the space
foresaid."
This was very much the same charge as had formerly been entrusted
to the Master of Forbes ; but Invercauld discharged it with some effect,
for he kept the caterans more in check than they had been for several
years before.
It is to this period of his jurisdiction that the traditions of those
numerous skirmishes with the freebooters of Lochaber for the recovery of
stolen cattle is to be referred. Spalding, as already noticed, says that
" for executing this office the laird himself was appointed captain, and
gathered together out of his own friends (his kinsmen and clansmen) and
others about 250 men, and kept the said four shires both day and night