1814 – Building of Dallas village
The first house in Dallas Village was probably built in 1814. By 1831 there were 29 inhabited and 6 uninhabited houses with a total population of 135. This population referred, of course, to the village and not the parish where the total population was considerably greater.
Before the date of the village there were quite a number of people on the side of the river where Hillockhead and Torchastle now are and this was probably the chief seat of the population in early times. There was no Inn prior to the rise of the village.
As noted earlier, the bottom of the valley in which the village is built was once the bed of a loch. This ground is mainly sand and gravel with little or no stone. It is therefore almost certain that much of the stone used for the building of the early houses came from the Dallas Castle which was by that time in a state of disrepair. This would explain why, when so little of the castle remains standing, there is not a greater heap of the stones from which the castle would have been built
The first house build in Dallas village was probably in 1814.
1821 – Ministers Stipend
The minister’s stipend, including communion element money, was £99 11s 3d.
1829- The Great Flood
This was the year of the greatest flood for which we have records.
The heat in the province of Moray during the months of May, June and July 1829 was unusually great and, in the earlier part of that period, the drought was so severe it killed many of the recently planted shrubs and trees. As the season advanced there were remarkable fluctuations in the barometer but the weather did not always follow these changes. Often the results were precisely the reverse of its predictions and many who relied on the barometer began to lose confidence in it.
The aurora borealis appeared with uncommon brilliancy about the beginning of July and was frequently seen afterwards being generally accompanied by windy and unsteady weather.
The westerly winds which prevailed for some time appear to have produced a gradual accumulation of moisture to the north of the mainland. This was suddenly moved by a strong north-easterly blast which drove it towards the south-west across the Moray Firth, its right edge having almost swept the Caddishness and Sutherland coasts.
The deluge of rain which produced the flood fell mainly between the Moray coast, the south-eastern part of Loch Ness and Kingussie. The gardener at Huntly Lodge measured 3¾ inches of rain between 5 a.m. on 3rd August and 5 a.m. on 4th August. This meant that about one-sixth of the average annual rainfall fell in these 24 hours.
The rivers in the area were all, to some extent, affected, including the Nairn, Findhorn and Lossie.
There was a great deal of damage caused by the flood to Sir William Cumming’s estate above Dallas Church. At the Haugh of Bethlehem, the river was so severe about 4 o’clock on the afternoon of the 3rd that the house situated a long way from the usual channel was quickly flooded to a depth of 3 or 4 feet. The crop and soil of the farm of Craigroy, attached to the Mill of Dallas, was totally ruined and the river opened up an entirely new channel through the best part of the land.
The Mill of Dallas below Craigroy had a narrow escape but much of the land of the Ardoch Farm on the right bank was carried off. Further down it swept away a wood of alder and destroyed an arable haugh of several acres belonging to the glebe.
At the manse the river was 9½ feet above its usual level and the width about 430 feet. It came nearly up to the manse and swept down the walls of the garden. About 4 in the afternoon, the river burst its left bank below the narrow pass where it enters the open valley and the whole force poured down towards the village which at that time consisted of 32 houses.
Entering broadside into the middle of the street, which is rather higher than the rest of it, it split into two furious currents, one running towards each end.
At about 5a.m. on the 4th the rush became so great that it rose three feet in the houses and a boat could have sailed on the street. This created alarm and confusion and people of all ages and sexes were seen struggling in the torrent. Some men were taking their wives and children out of windows; others were carrying the young or infirm on their backs. Carts and horses were pressed into service and all were leaving their property to the mercy of the deluge.
In due course, by the exertions of the more vigorous, one hundred and twenty people, including a number of children, and many cattle were placed on dry elevated ground. Most of the people were put up at the schoolhouse or manse.
Late on the evening of the 4th, Kenneth Maclean, a blacksmith, was nearly drowned and was fortunate to be caught by the clothes after he was under water.
Kenneth had remained to attend to a favourite sow which was about to farrow. The flood was so bad that he was forced to carry the sow up to his own bed where in due course she had what was said to be a beautiful litter. They were then all conveyed to the garret to stay until the flood receded.
The water continued to flow through the village until a temporary bulwark was erected on the 5th. There was a lot of damage to both houses and furniture, winter fuel had been swept away and crops completely destroyed.
About 210 acres of arable land and 400 acres of pasture had been flooded. The water covered all the lands between the Hill of the Mulundy and the ‘Knowes of Turacastle’.
The flood of 1829 carried away the only bridge then in the parish over the river Lossie. The lack of it, when the river was in spate, prevented nearly one third of the population from attending the church.
Further down, where the river boils through a succession of rapids at the lower end of Kellas, the flood mark was between 18 and 20 feet above normal. Below this, at a pass called The Dun-Coo’s Loup, where the width from rock to rock is 120 feet, the flood was about 10 feet above the normal level.
1832 – Farms to Let in Dallas
The following farms were advertised, in June 1832, as being available to let. Application had to be made to William Gordon Cumming – Tomnaveigh, Rochuln, Succoch.
1842 – Prevailing Rents in Dallas
The average rent of land was from £1 10s to £2 per acre and the duration of each lease was normally nineteen years.
In wages, the farm men-servants received between £4 and £6 a half year; women between £1 10s and £2; day labourers 1s 4d; women 6d. per day, with victuals; masons 2s 6d.; carpenters 2s 4d.; tailors 1s 4d. with victuals; for cutting peats, men received 1s 4d. and women 8d. per day with victuals.
1844 – Repeal of the Corn Laws
The following is a list of Dallas men who signed a petition against the repeal of the Corn Laws.
William Dick Rhininver John Anderson Bethlehem
Wm Asher Brackery James Find-lay Ardoch
John Grant Branchill Alex Findlay Edinvale
Hugh Douglas Scottachleys Alex Smith Hatton
And. Sutherland Blackhills Robert Young Torchastle
Geo. Philip Auchness Alex. Miller Lennoch
John Masson Branchill John Young Remichie
Wm. Hay Edinvale James Masson Craigmill
1856 – Ploughing Match at Dallas
A ploughing match took place on the farm of Mr A Sutherland, Blackhills on Tuesday 11 January. It was rather a cold day but by 10 o’clock there were no fewer than 15 ploughs started in a field of lea kindly granted for the purpose.
It was said that a finer display of horses was seldom to be seen and was a great credit to the spirit and enterprise of the farmers in the district as well as to the care and taste of their servants. There was great interest in the proceedings of the day with no fewer than 100 spectators being seen on the ground.
Owing to the excellent work, the judges, Messrs Masson, Bogside; Brander, Blairs; and Scott, Manbeen had considerable difficulty in deciding the prizes which were as follows:-
For Ploughing
1. Alex Masson, farmer’s son, Edinvale
2. Robert Simpson, servant at Pickieshillock.
3. William Hay, farmer’s son, Edinvale
4. William Smith, servant to Auchness
5 James Kynoch, servant to Rhininver
For Best Kept Harness:
1. James Taylor, servant to Easter Blackhills
2. Robert Innes, servant to Mr Smith, Hatton
3. Robert Ross, servant to Rhininver
4. Alex Anderson, servant to Mr Smith, Hatton
The prize fund having been liberally subscribed to by the farmers, the sums awarded were very handsome. The judges and a few neighbours afterwards dined with Mr Sutherland and, in the course of the evening which was pleasantly spent over a glass of ‘toddy’, the hope was expressed that although they had not witnessed the first ploughing match held in Dallas, they had not witnessed the last, not only so but they hoped it would be continued on an annual basis with like success.
The proceedings of the day finished with a ball at night to which all the ploughmen returned with their sweethearts in the evening. Dancing commenced at 8 o’clock and continued without flagging until an early hour in the morning, a plentiful supply of reeking toddy having added greatly in keeping up the hilarity of the evening.
1858 – Birth of James (Scotty) Philip
Scotty Philip was born at Auchness on 30th April 1858. In 1874 at the age of 15 he left Scotland to follow his brother to a settlement in Victoria, Kansas. He had a succession of jobs and with the money he saved from these various enterprises he bought a team of mules and a freight wagon.
He married a native American, Sarah Larabie, in 1879 and, in addition to the freight business, he began to build up a herd of cattle. Over the years he built up a considerable herd and a vast amount of land. By the time he died in 1911 he owned 23,000 acres of land and 6,000 head of cattle. He was one of the best known and most influential men of South Dakota
5 buffalo calves had been caught during the last big buffalo hunt in 1881. Scotty eventually bought these animals and their offspring to prevent the extinction of the buffalo. In time the herd grew to over 1,000 and was later used to stock National and State parks. He is credited with having saved the buffalo from extinction and had the honour of having the town of Philip, South Dakota, named after him.
1858 – New Bridge at Dallas
The bridge over the Lossie at Dallas was founded in September after a fortnight’s hard pumping with a relay of hands, night and day. The depth of the foundation was five feet. There were to be two piers of solid
masonry. The wood framing was obtained from the service Railway Bridge across the Findhorn.
1858 – Farm Steading Burned
The steading of Mr James Fraser, Mossend, Dallas caught fire. The alarm was instantly given and the neighbours were promptly on the spot and rendered every assistance to stop its progress.
There was a high wind at the time and it is supposed that a spark from the chimney had fallen on the heather roof. Fortunately, the horses and cattle were all out or they would have perished as the stable and byre were reduced to ashes. The barn, cart shed, etc were saved with great difficulty, flames on the roof having to be extinguished more than once.
1858 – Opening of Elgin – Inverness Railway
The railway between Elgin and Inverness was opened for general traffic on 25 March. This greatly improved the transport facilities for those such as the people of Dallas who were not too distant from the line.
1858 – Death from Drink and Exposure
On 11th October, Alexander Mackintosh from the village of Dallas, went to Forres to collect his pension and, although generally a sober person, had indulged too freely with some of his acquaintances. He left for home in the afternoon but had fallen on the road opposite Chapelton. He was found there bleeding from the head. He was put in a cart which arrived containing his sister who was going to Dallas and he was taken home to bed. He did not recover from his stupor and died on Wednesday evening.
1859 – Farms to let on the Dallas Estate
Most of the farms on the Dallas Estate were advertised for let on 29 July 1859 by Sir Alexander Penrose Gordon Cumming, Bart, notwithstanding the fact that virtually all of them had sitting tenants. The advertisement read:-
‘The following farms and possessions will be let in lease of 19 years or such other number as may be agreed upon, with entry to the houses, grass and fallow on Whitsunday 1859 and the remainder of the land at the separation of the crop of that year from the ground on Monday, 15 August and the following days.
Name of Farm Tenant Acres Arable Acres Pasture
Blackhills Andrew Sutherland 69 81
The Park Andrew Sutherland 53 7
Pickiehillock D Gordon 30 78
Crofthead Alex Murray 18 30
Clashdon Mr Grigor & others 58 114
Oakwood Robert Milne 4 9
Craigend James Falconer 44 8
Tombreck Alex Young 66 183
Torchastle D Grant & R Young 87 82
Hatton Alex Smith 103 29
Wangie Croft Jas Anderson 1½ 0
Wangie Croft Thomas Gordon 4 5
Ardoch Jas Findlay 63 36
Cuttlebrae 3 0
Burnside David Ross & oth 31 14
Scottackleys Lewis Douglas & oth 63 27
Tomcork Wm Anderson & oth 33 66
Whitemoss Wm McQuibbon 8 11
Bethlehem John Anderson 54 110
Craigroy Alex Lawson 48 42
Craigroy mill/croft Alex Lawson 14 15
Stonyford Alex Mann 4 0
Rhynagoup Alex Bluntach 85 114
Rhynagoup James Scott 13 9
Rhynagoup William McKenzie 29 28
Rhynagoup Geo Kynoch 25 31
Leonach Alex Miller 86 66
Brakery Widow Asher 61 345
Auchness Geo Philip 119 861
Loan Widow Anderson 10 7
Soccach Widow McPherson 63 431
Ballachraggan Alex Anderson 30 56
Altahourn Jas Philip 37 239
Torwinnie Alex Phimister 54 476
Glenlossie Vacant 41 3192
Shouldon Wm Shaw 32 208
The Tapp Wm Leslie 16)
Salterford Wm Garrow 11) 320
Coldwells Las Grant 2 0
Yellow Bog Alex Dunbar 20 172
Aultauish Widow Garrow 36 37
Goatcraig Jas Gordon 32
Coldbarns Robt Hay 19 )
Whiterashes Chas Grant 12 )
Lochens Alex Dunbar 10 )
Battlehillock(pt) Wm Douglas )
Measleys Cairn Alex Douglas 4 )
Corrhatwick Peter Brown 0 3044)
Edinvail Jas Findlay 56 43
Edinvail John Masson 57 41
Edinvail Croft Widow Stephen 4 1
Edinvail Croft William Hardie 5 2
Edinvail Alex Findlay 35 16
Skatebrae John Gordon 54 13
Remichy John Young 31 97
Backwood Alex Hay 3 2
Edinvale Alex Hay 75 24
Edinvale Croft Wm Riach 3 3
The farms are very favourably situated being within an easy distance – 9 miles – of the town of Forres where there is a Railway Station of the Inverness and Aberdeen Junction Railway and within an easy distance of the seaport of Findhorn by rail where boats from London and Edinburgh call weekly. There are weekly corn markets held at Elgin throughout the year and cattle markets are held monthly at these places, which are much resorted to by dealers from the South.
The climate is good and the soil consists partly of dry early land and deep loam capable of growing heavy crops of grain and turnips and the pastures are well known to carry a large stocking of cheviot sheep.
A large sum of money has lately been expended in draining and trenching but several of the farms are susceptible to still further improvement. The proprietor will advance money on very liberal terms for building and other purposes and lime can be had within a short distance at moderate price. Tenants of enterprise will receive every encouragement.
The farms will be let in the order in which they are advertised and the set will take place at 10 a.m. at Rhininver, Dallas – No 1 to 21 to be let on Monday 15th August, another 21 on 16th August and the remainder on 17th.
Lewis Douglas, Ground Officer, Dallas will point out the marches and all other information will be given on application to Sir Alexander Penrose Gordon Cumming, Bart or to Eric Sutherland, Factor, Shemston, Elgin.’
It was reported on 19 August that all 57 farms had been let to the sitting tenants but that a fair rise of about 30% in rents had been obtained.
1871 – Robert Douglas, MA, MD, DPH
Robert Douglas is probably the best known native of Dallas. He was born at Aultahuish in 1871 and received his early education at Dallas School. He must have been a brilliant pupil since, almost unheard of in those days for someone from Dallas, he then attended Elgin Academy. There was no transport so he had to lodge in Elgin during the week, walking the 14½ miles to and from his home at the beginning and end of each week.
From Elgin he went to Aberdeen University (receiving his MA degree), then Glasgow University (receiving his MD). He practiced as G P for a number of years both in Scotland and England but later returned to university, this time at St. Andrews, and received his DPH.
After qualifying at St Andrews University he returned to Moray. He was appointed Medical Officer of Health for Moray in 1911 and held this post until his retirement in 1942. He died in Aberdeen in 1948.
He was passionate about his Moray homeland and wrote a number of books about the area, including “The Lossie” and “The Parish Of Dallas” referred to inside the front cover of these notes. To many, he was “The Historian of Dallas”.
Robert Douglas M.A., M.D., DPH.
1882 – William Anderson, V.C.
This year saw the birth at Dallas of William Anderson. He was the eldest son of Alexander and Isabella Anderson who had been married at Dallas in 1880.
He joined the Yorkshire Regiment on 1905, was discharged in 1912 and then called up again in 1914 as a Corporal in the same regiment. For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty at Neuve Chapelle on 12 March 1915 he was awarded the Victoria Cross. The award was made posthumously as he had been killed on 13 March 1915. His medals are held by the Green Howards Regimental Museum in Richmond.
1886 – Tinkers Wedding
The fun loving and excitable portion of the Dallas community were delighted to hear of the proclamation of banns in the church of a couple whose united ages would not be much more than thirty and who had been living under canvas for the past two or three weeks on the banks of the Lossie.
The happy couple, William McPhee and Jemima Kilby, obtained their certificates from the session clerk but then called upon the minister to make sure everything was all right as neither of them could read. They intended to return to be married the next day but the minister decided to marry them there and then.
The Marriage Feast or Ball lasted two days and two nights and the company at intervals paraded the village street headed by a piper whose lively strains attracted the village boys who joined in the procession carrying flags and green branches, the bride receiving a large number of presents in silver and bronze. In fact the kind hearted old maids and matrons seemed to vie with each other in kindness to the bride, one preparing and serving tea to the company, a heap of road metal doing duty as a table whilst another assisted the bride out of a ditch into which she had stumbled either from excitement or stronger cause.
(Note. The above does not seem to tie in with the poverty being expressed in the next item!)
1886 – Meeting of Tenants
On Saturday, 6 March 1886, a meeting of the tenants on the Dallas property of Sir William Gordon Cumming, Bart, of Altyre was held in the public school, Dallas. There was a good attendance and among others present were:-
Messrs Sutherland (Blackhills), Strathdee (Hatton), Winchester (Craigroy), Findlay (Ardoch), Douglas (Scottackleys), Anderson (Tomcork), Grant (Auchness), Anderson (Ballachraggan), Young (Tombreck), Grant(Glenlossie), Grigor (Rhynagoup), Grigor (Clashdon), Douglas (Aultahuish), Grant (Torchastle) etc, etc
Mr Strathdee, Hatton was called to the chair and said that they all knew the reason for the meeting – to try and grapple as far as possible in their situation with existing poverty and poverty which was still approaching.
With the depression of agriculture on one hand and a series of bad harvests on the other, their position as farmers was getting very serious
indeed and the only remedy which they had come up with so far was to approach Sir William Gordon Cumming and see if he would give them an abatement of rent to tide them over their present adverse circumstances. It was proposed that a petition be signed by everyone who worked the land on that property and this should be presented to Mr Walker to be laid before Sir William. A draft of what they thought desirable was made out and he read it to the meeting. The content of the petition included “ in consequences of adverse times, depression in trade and keen foreign competition we are unable to pay the full amount of our present rents and we respectfully ask you to do all in your power towards relieving our present necessity by granting to us a substantial abatement in rent beginning with last season’s crop.”
After considerable discussion it was decided to leave the content of the petition unchanged and a deputation of three was appointed to present it. It has, as yet, not been possible to discover the outcome of the petition.
1890 – Fatal Accident Near Elgin
While John Barron, crofter, Bodymichael, Kellas was driving home on the evening of Friday, 25 November, from Elgin, the horse bolted when near Pittendriech. While attempting to help his son to stop the horse Mr Barron fell from the car and fractured his head..
He was seen by Dr McKay but could not be helped and died less than an hour later.
1894 – Old Silver Coin Found (Picture coming soon)
A silver coin was picked up in Dallas Graveyard. This was compared with a coin in Elgin museum and was found to be a silver groat of the time of Robert 1, Robert the Bruce.
The coin was in good condition with embossed head and letters REX on one side and Edinburgh Ville on the other.
1895 – The Dallas Inn
Mr David Rothnie applied for a public house license for the Inn, Dallas Village. The license was granted unanimously.
1895 – Gifts for the Parish Needy
Blankets, tea and sugar for distribution among needy people on the Dallas Estate were provided Sir William and Lady Gordon Cumming. Some 25 got 1lb tea, sugar and a blanket. The Kirk Session also gave from their surplus funds 2/6d. to each of 17 poor to provide a New Year dinner to themselves. A number in the Kellas district received 3/6d. each for the same purpose chiefly the gift of the Duke of Fife.
1895 – Dallas Weather
It was reported on 19th February, that the snow with intense frost still prevailed. Roads were all more or less blocked, making it very difficult to procure the necessities of life not to speak of the ordinary traffic being carried on. Sledges of every description were pressed into service and burdens on the backs of horses, men and women were a daily occurrence.
One farmer, having the need to bring home a calf, put it in a sheet and shouldered it and, assisted by a shepherd, carried it for over a mile after his horse and cart had stuck in a snowdrift.
A very unfortunate event happened at Clashdon. A huge snowdrift at the top of a brae toppled over on to about 40 sheep which had been sheltering below. About a dozen of the sheep were killed and most of the others injured to the extent that not all of them would survive.
Sheep everywhere, even those fed by hand, were suffering. Grouse were dying of starvation. All wild animals and birds became very tame, including partridges which could be seen at barn doors like domestic hens.
1895 – Body Found at Dallas
About 1.30 the afternoon of Tuesday 22nd October, the body of Margaret Mackenzie or Kynoch, aged 66, wife of James Kynoch, Rhynagoup, Dallas was found on a piece of rough pasture near the farm. It appears she had been unwell for some time and had left home to go to Dallas on her way to Elgin to consult Dr McKay. It is supposed she became suddenly ill and died where her body was lying.
1895 – Dallas Sheep Stealer
At a pleading Diet of Sheriff and Jury on Saturday, 18 December, before Sheriff Rampendi, James MacKay, Shepherd and Sheep Owner, Dallas was accused of stealing six sheep from the farm of Knockanbuie, Advie and four from Strathdon, Aberdeenshire. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment.
1895 – Golden Wedding at Dallas
Lewis and Mrs Douglas (m.s. Miller), Scottackleys, Dallas, had their golden wedding celebrated by a very happy family reunion on 12th March.. They were married by the Rev William Tulloch of Dallas on 7th March 1845. Mr Douglas (Lewis as he was familiarly called) had been in the service of the Altyre family for nearly 60 years – for 12 as gamekeeper, afterwards as ground officer, assistant forester, moss grieve, etc. Born in 1818 he was in his 77th year. One of a family of four, he had four of a family while his eldest son also had four children.
Mrs Douglas had been a lady’s nurse in the parish having gone through a course of training in Aberdeen in 1848. She retired around 1880. As a result of a shock which left a bodily ailment, Mr Douglas had been set aside from active duties for some years. He had a son associated with him in the business at Scottackleys.
1896 – Appointment of a District Nurse
Following a proposal at the end of 1894 by Sir William and Lady Gordon Cumming to provide for a district nurse, Miss M J Ross was selected for the post. Her salary was £50 a year plus free house and uniform. Her services were free to the poor of the parish but had to be paid for by others. In addition some of the locals subscribed towards the cost.
Evidence of the need for a District Nurse was supplied by the fact that, in the first year, she made 610 visits. Approximately one-third of these were free. Many of the visits entailed walking long distances within the parish.
1896 – Trial at Elgin Sheriff Court
At Elgin Sheriff Court on Tuesday, 8 September, before Sheriff Rampendi, David Moore, Meal Dealer, Dallas was charged with having on 19 August in a field near the Public House in Dallas cruelly beaten five hens belonging to the Public House keeper there. He pleaded ‘not guilty’ but was convicted on evidence and fined £2 10s with an alternative of 15 days in prison.
The background to the case is understood to be that the publican, David Rothnie, wouldn’t keep his hens out of Moore’s corn and Moore lost his temper.
1896 – Hare Hunt
On 22 November, at the invitation of Mr Hasky who was the lessee of the Dallas shooting, farmers and others in the district had a hare hunt. The day was wet and it was rather early in the hare shooting season but the total bag was about 70 hares.
