Appendix 1
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References to Gaelic in the (Old) Statistical Account of Scotland, 1790/1791
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Gaelic no longer spoken:
Auchindoir - Rev Mr James Reid
The only language spoken here is that dialect of the English which is common in Aberdeenshire.
Birse - Rev Mr Joseph Smith
The English or Scotch language is universally spoken: a few inhabiting the forest understand the Gaelic but these came originally from the upper part of the country.
Clunie - Rev Mr Robert Michie
No Gaelic is spoken within twenty miles.
Cushnie - Rev Mr Frances Adam
English is the only language now known in the parish, the Gaelic having ceased to be understood.
Kildrummy - Rev Mr Robert Lumsden
The Scots language, with the enunciation peculiar to the county of Aberdeen, is the only tongue spoken in the parish: but many of the names of places are of the Gaelic language.
Leochel - Rev Mr George Forbes
The language spoken in this parish is English, or rather a particular dialect of the Scottish, called the Aberdeenshire dialect. No Gaelic is spoken or nearer than Tullich and Corgarff, about 15 English miles distant, though it seems to have been formerly the language of this country, the names of several places being evidently derived from it. The inhabitants, since 1745, are much civilised, and little disposed to quarreling.
Lumphanan - Rev Mr William Shand
None of the parishioners speak or understand Gaelic, though the names of most places are said to be derived therefrom.
Midmar - John Ogilvie DD FRSE
The only language spoken here is that dialect of the English, common in the north of Scotland.
Logie-Coldstone - Rev Mr Robert Farquharson
The whole inhabitants ........... speak all that dialect of English common in the North of Scotland.
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Gaelic still spoken:
Strathdon - Rev Mr John Gordon
The language spoken is English, or rather broad Scotch, excepting in Corgarff. The people there, especially in the upper part of that district, speak also a kind of Gaelic: but that language among them is much in decline.
Glen Muick -
Their language is English, except in the upper parts of the parishes of Tulloch and Glengairn, where some of them use a barbarous dialect of the Gaelic among themselves, but they all understand the English.
Crathie - Rev Mr Charles McHardy
The language generally spoken is the Gaelic. Most of the people, however, understand so much of the English as to be able to transact ordinary business with their neighbours of the Low Country. It was once thought an object of political attention to use means for eradicating this ancient language from the Highlands of Scotland. It is presumed that the Legislature now entertains very different views. For experience has fully evinced, that there are no better soldiers in the day of battle than the Highlanders, and that honour, humanity, decency , and good order are not incompatible with the use of the Gaelic and of tartan plaids and philabegs. All names of places in the country, whose etymology can be traced with certainty, are Gaelic.
Footnote :
There is a missionary minister, paid by the Royal Bounty, stationed in Braemar: but as he has not the Gaelic language, and as there are some persons who do not understand any English, the parish minister is obliged to to exchange pupils with him very frequently. The General Assembly of the church of Scotland have now pledged themselves, that how soon the present ministry is otherwise provided for, they shall appoint none for the future to that mission, but persons having the Gaelic language.
Parishes outwith former Aberdeenshire
Mortlach (Banffshire) - Rev Mr GeorgeGordon
The language is a dialect of the Scottish and English blended together. There is hardly a word of Erse now spoken in any part of the parish. If anywhere, it is in Glen Rinnes.................
Kirkmichael (Banffshire) - Rev Mr John Grant
(Makes several comments on the status of Gaelic, still spoken in the parish)
Cromdale (Moray) - Rev Mr Lewis Grant
The common people speak the Gaelic tongue but the English is the prevailing language.......... In all the parishes southward of this, English alone is spoken but here both languages are preached daily..In a few years hence, the English will be the only tongue.
In the New Statistical Account of 1834-45 the Rev Archibald Anderson said of the parishes of Braemar and Crathie:
The Gaelic is very generally spoken throughout the whole parish, and, during the summer months, is used in conducting part of the public worship, both at Crathie and Braemar. There are, however, very few, if any, of the inhabitants, who are not so well acquainted with the English language as to be able to converse and transact business in it, when necessary.
Appendix 2
Residents of Inverey, appearing in Census of 1891 and also of 1911
NB difference in addresses. It is assumed the house numbers had changed, rather than places of residence.
Census Surname Given name Age Residence
1911 Coutts Jane 88 Inverey14
1891 Coutts Jane 67 Inverey19
1911 Gordon James 78 Inverey01
1891 Gordon James 58 Inverey01
1911 Gordon Lachlan 61 Inverey01
1891 Gordon Lauchlan 41 Inverey01
1911 Grant Angus 44 Inverey06
1891 Grant Angus 24 Inverey10
1911 Grant Charles 54 Inverey06
1891 Grant Charles 34 Inverey10
1911 Grant Mary 56 Inverey06
1891 Grant Mary 35 Inverey10
1911 Gruer Margaret 48 Inverey17
1891 Gruer Margaret 29 Inverey21
1911 MacDonald Ewan 58 Inverey10
1891 MacDonald Ewan 38 I Inverey16
1911 Mitchell Margaret 74 Inverey03
1891 Mitchell Margaret 54 Inverey07
1911 Morgan Ann 69 Inverey07
1891 Morgan Ann 47 Inverey11
House numbering
1891: 1, 7, 10, 11, 16, 19, 21
Probable revised house numbers, based on continuity of occupation
1911: 1, 3, 6, 7, 10, 14, 17
It would seem that 5 houses have been eliminated in the 20 year period.
This trend is seen up to the present day - there are no houses on the south side of the road through the village and several gap sites exist on the north side as can be seen on the above photograph.
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References
ALEXANDER, W. M. The Place-Names of Aberdeenshire 1952. Third Spalding Club: AUP
DIACK, F. C. 1944. The Inscriptions of Pictland AUP
GRANT, S. A Story Told in Aberdeenshire Gaelic 2008. In: Caindel Alban (Eds) O Baoill, C. & McGuire, N. AUP
SINCLAIR, A (Ed) A Statistical Account of Scotland 1791-99 Edinburgh
WATSON, A. & ALLAN, E. 1984. Place-names of Upper Deeside. AUP
WATSON, A. and CLEMENT, R. D. 1981. Aberdeenshire Gaelic, In: Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness. Vol LII: also reprinted 1983 by Mainprint Inverness
Watson, W J. 1915 ROSG GAIDHLIG. An Comunn Gaidhleach, Glasgow
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