Relatively Speaking : James Mann McKenzie 14.12.1803 - 1.6.1875 Cawdor background Part 1

This post is to commemorate the death of founding-father James Mann McKenzie who died 141 years ago today, June 1, 1875.

James Mann McKenzie was born on 14th December 1803 at Cawdor and was baptised on 7 January, also at Cawdor, in the county of Elgin.

The following is from information about the parish of Cawdor from the Statistical Account of Scotland 1834-45. (Published December 1841 and revised March 1842)

Cawdor is the English spelling and pronunciation of the original name Calder (Caladar in Scots Gaelic). In 1796, the "Noble family of Cawdor" were elevated to the peerage, and the then Lord changed the name of the castle, town and clan overnight so it would match Shakespeare's version of the name in MacBeth. John Campbell was the first Baron Cawdor and seldom lived in his castle during the time of our James, residing in England instead and visiting his northern seat occasionally. Interestingly, he, too, died on June 1 - the same day as our James, but in 1821. His son, John Frederick Campbell, was the first Earl Cawdor, and the current earl at the time of the statistics gathered for this information.

John Campbell, first Baron Cawdor.

Cawdor castle

The parish of Cawdor lies south of the Nairn river, with a length of between 3 and 4 miles. Its breadth is less than a mile in some places, between 4 and 5 miles in other places, and southward across the Findhorn river it reaches a breadth of more than 16 miles. At one end, the parish is a cultivated plain, rising towards the south into a range of hills of considerable elevation, but still under cultivation. Above this is a large plantation of wood and above that, wide tracts of brown and barren heath.

River Findhorn

The climate is dry, mild and agreeable, as it is sheltered from the sea winds. In winter, snow is seldom very deep, also because of Cawdor's sheltered position. The soil is light and summer crops often suffer from drought.

In 1841 the population was 1150, with 270 families and 259 inhabited houses. A decrease in the population was confined to the highland part of the parish.

Cawdor parish was the extreme limit of the Gaelic district, with nothing but English spoken beyond its eastern boundary. Both languages were in general use, although the "peasantry" showed a decided preference for Gaelic. The population was rural and engaged in agriculture. The land was not overly subdivided, nor were the farms overly large. Crop rotation was enforced and lime was starting to be used. Improvements in cattle breeding were underway and a Nairnshire Farming Society held an annual event with prizes awarded.

A common labourer's wage was, in winter, 1s 4d, and in summer 2s per day. Tradesmen earned 2s - 2s 6d. This is likely in the area of what James would have been earning as a tradesman.

They were, on the whole, "cleanly in their habits" and their dwellings had been improved in recent years. The general character of the people was sober, regular and well-disposed, with no open vices to any extent and over whom religion exerted a considerable influence.

The church (must be the one in which James was baptised) was built in 1619 - as a consequence of a vow made by the then third laird of Calder. He was in a storm at sea and promised to erect a more convenient church for the parishioners if he should return safe to shore. (Luckily for the parishioners!) It was extensively repaired and enlarged in 1830. The people of Cawdor were all attached to the Established Church, with only one Dissenting family of the parish - who were not "natives" of it.

Cawdor Parish Church

The parish contributed to a Bible and a Missionary Society, and and collected other funds for religious and charitable purposes, with 50 on their poor roll. A clothing society was supported by the Countess of Cawdor, who matched the penny a week was contribution made by each poor person on the list. An amount of 8s 8d per person per year was raised to buy necessary items of clothing at the beginning of each winter. The poor were not entrusted to buy the items themselves . . .

There were four schools in the parish, with children of paupers taught at reduced rates. There were reading and sewing schools taught by females, and, with the exception of a very few old people, all could read and the majority could write. From this, we can assume that James, his wife Ann and their oldest children would most likely all have been literate.

There was a postal service, one inn and two licensed spirit shops. The well-known Brackla distillery - thought to be the only one at the time using the Royal arms and supply the Royal table - has been in operation in the parish for many years.

Two large peat mosses supplied fuel for the "people", and the "better" classes used coal from the sea port of Nairn. (I'm thinking that James and family would have been using the peat moss. . . )