INNES, Alexander of Culquoich

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  General Notes:

"Of popular use in the speech of the countryside, and in Scottish ballad literature, it is only necessary to refer to 'The Baron o' Brackley', 'The Baron of Rivernie', 'The Baron o' Towie', 'The Baron o' Drum', 'The Baron of Leys' (Burnett), 'The Baron Ban' of Monaltrie (Farquharson), all on Deeside; 'The Baron of Kinchardine'' (Stewart); 'Baron of Mulben'' and others on Speyside; and further south 'The Baron Ruadh' (Reid) of Straloch; whilst the tomb of Alexander Innes of Sinnahard, Baron of Towie in Strathdon, is still pointed out at Migvie, 200 years after his death, as that of "the Baron", variously named of Towie and Culquoich..."

from The Robes of the Feudal Baronage




Referring to the period 1668-1671:

"Alexander Innes of Sinnahard, who was convicted for various scandals, resided in a part of the country somewhat inaccessible, and close upon the fastnesses of the Highland district on the river Don, seems to have been very difficult to 'deal' with, and the precautions given as to citing him afford no proof of his peaceful habits. It is ordered that

'any proces persued, or to be persued, against Alexander Innes of Sinnahard, befoir the Presbytrie of Alfuird, quher he leives, or any other churche judicatorie (in case he shall threaten or offer any violence to the officer who is to summond him, and the same being provine and made out), his citatione to any dyet from pulpit, by the minister of the parochin quher he leives, on ane Lords day after sermone, shall be als sufficient as if he wer cited by any messenger or officer.'

The citation of witnesses in Strathdon, a district lying a few miles farther into the Highlands than the residence of Alexander Innes, was not considered a safe business even fifty years after this period. On one occasion, in the early part of the eighteenth century, it was stated by an officer, during a trial before the Sheriff of Aberdeenshire, that 'the law did not pass into Strathdon' meaning that warrants could not be enforced in the ordinary way in that district."

from Records of the Kirk Session ¹

Alexander married.