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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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