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A true account of one
of the North East Scotland's more tragic stories The Mystery of the Fire
of Frendraught 1630.
by John
Duncan of Sketraw, FSA Scot. |
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At the
beginning of 1630 a long lasting dispute over fishing rites on the River
Devron, Aberdeenshire by James Crichton, of Frendraught and William
Gordon, Laird of Rothiemay started an astonishing feud. Led by James
Crichton and accompanied by James Leslie second son of the Laird of
Pitcaple, James Meldrum of Reidhill and others left Frendraught for a
surprise attack on Rothiemay on his own ground. On information reaching
William Gordon (the first Gordon Laird of Rothiemay) of the forthcoming
attack he set forth with his son and the brother of the Gordon of
Lesmore and a small party of foot and horsemen to meet Crichton. He
crossed the river Deveron and met Crichton on Fourmanhill but Rothiemay
was to be the looser and later died of his wounds, as did the brother of
Gordon of Lesmore. The Crichton’s were victorious with only John Meldrum
of Reidhill being seriously wounded on the day. |
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The
Marquis of Huntly George Gordon (feudal superior to both) attempted to
end the quarrel. Finding Crichton of Frendraught liable to a large sum
of money to the widow of Gordon of Rothiemay as a way, of compensation
for the death of her husband (of course as you can imagine the Marquis
was anything but bias!)
Shortly
after this however Crichton entered into a new quarrel with Meldrum of
Reidhill who had been allowed compensation by Crichton for his part in
the conflict with Rothiemay. Meldrum looking for a larger amount of
compensation (as he had a larger estimate of his services) thought abuse
coupled with threats would stow upon him a larger allowance. Crichton of
Frendraught remained obstinate and by doing so Meldrum removed two
horses from a park on the estate and was caught and prosecuted for doing
so. Refusing to appear for his sentence Meldrum of Reidhill was declared
a rebel and took refuge with his by now new brother and law James Leslie
second son of the Laird of Pitcaple (also a former participant in the
skirmish with Rothiemay). |
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Frendraucht House |
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As a
commissioner Crichton of Frendraught and Robert Crichton of Conland went
in search of Meldrum on the Lands of Pitcaple and met with James Leslie
who has harbouring the wanted Meldrum. He refused to assist them with
information and reminded Crichton of Frendraught of the services his
brother in law Meldrum of Reidhill had given in his feud with the
Gordon’s of Rothiemay. Frendraught seemed to mellow on this reminder,
but Crichton of Conland became annoyed with the freedom Leslie had with
his kinsman and shot him in the arm with a Pistol. So bad was the
gunshot wound to Leslie’s arm that he was carried home in a dying state!
The
Laird of Pitcaple went to the Marquis of Huntly at Huntly Castle
demanding reparations for the injuries his son had sustained but on his
arrival found Crichton before him. The Marquis we think considering this
to be a case in which damages should not be awarded (for a Sword in the
arm was considered in those times to be a trivial matter!) obviously
Crichton giving a different account of the story in some parts.
Pitcaple left vowing vengeance and the Marquis thought it advisable to
send Frendraught home under strong escort led by the Viscount Melyard of
Aboyne and accompanied by John Gordon son of the late Laird of Rothiemay
and six others. (A difficult choice if not strange considering what
Crichton had done to John Gordon’s Father?) They rode to Frendraught
from Huntly Casle without incident and were asked to "bide the night"
(although this was against Aboyn’s will) by Crichton and his Lady. They
drank and made merry and went to bed joyful, the Viscount of Aboyne in
the Old Tower (going of the hall) with Robert Gordon born in Sunderland,
his servant and English Will and his page were beside him in the same
chamber. The Laird of Rothiemay, with some servants were placed in the
upper chamber above Aboyn's and above that in another chamber was George
Chalmers of Noth and George Gordon, another of the Viscounts servants as
was Captain Rollock then in Frendraught's own company. |
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Rothiemay Castle |
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Then
about midnight of the 18th October 1630 when all were asleep,
the tower caught fire in a sudden, furious manner and Viscount Aboyne,
the Laird of Rothiemay, English Will, Colin Ivot another of Aboyn’s
servants plus two others, were cruelly burned to death. No help was
given by Frendraught or his Lady or for that matter anyone else of the
house hold who were looking on at the blazing tower. It is said, in an
account written by Spalding that, "The ashes and burnt bones" of the
victims were gathered up by the Gordon’s and buried at the Kirk of
Gartly.
Afterwards in an enquiry being made into the origins of the fire, it was
found that it could have only originated from within and with of
‘Set Purpose’. Popular suspicion fell on Crichton |
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of
Frendraught and his Lady due to the feud with the Gordon’s of Rothiemay
and also the ‘Blood Money’ he had to pay to Lady Rothiemay. Suspicion
also fell on Leslie Laird of Pitcaple and likewise John Meldrum of
Reidhill both who bared grudges against Crichton. Whether justly or
otherwise it was Meldrum who was condemned (although there was nothing
to prove his connection with the affair, or that he was even at or near
the house at the time of the fire) and it was Meldrum who in Edinburgh
on August 1631 was executed.
Local
stories of the Fire of Frendraught to this day believe that it was Lady
Frendraught who started the fire and threw the key of the door down the
well. We shall probably never know for sure the true story and it will
probably remain one of the mysterious events in Scottish History
© John A. Duncan of Sketraw, KCN,
FSA Scot. |
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