Why did your Ancestors settle in Forglen
Old Parish Records
OPR's began in Forglen in 1647 and were reasonably recorded with the exception of around 5 years from 1754. Recorded are Baptisms 1647-1854, Marriages 1685-1854, Burials 1784-1789. Forglen is Parish no 154 in the County of Banff.
The Name
The name of the parish was formerly Teunan, or St. Eunan from a saint of that name to whom a chapel, the ruins of which still remain, is said to have been dedicated. The name now is Forglen, or Foreglen, to distinguish it from the neighbouring parish of Alvah or Back Glen.
The Early Years
There are several ancient charters connected with the transferance of property by the Ogylvies of Banff. From these, it appears that the lands of Forglen at one time belonged to the abbey of Aberbrothick, as well as the patronage of the church. The writer of this article has inspected a deed conveying the lands of Forglen, and power of presenting to the living, from Irvine of Drum to the Abbey, and another re-conveying them to the family of Irvine. These deeds are dated as far back as the beginning of the fifteenth century.
The 1700 and 1800s
Farming was the primary way of life in Forglen and in the statistical account written by Rev Ballingall 1791 - 1799 the trades were mentioned as follows: 'There are but few tradesmen and mechanicks in the parish. There are 5 square wrights, with about as many journeymen and apprentices; 3 wheelwrights; 10 weavers; 4 shoemakers; 2 smiths; 1 tailor; and 2 good old soldiers, discharged and superannuated, enjoying each his pension, sober and industrious, and of course thriving. There is a smith, an elder of the church, and a miller fit to be one. There is 1 boat within the parish, the boat of Muirish, belonging to Lord Banff; and another, the boat of Ashoyle, belonging to Mr. Leslie of Donlugass, and lands upon it a little below the house of Forglen.'
The heritors of the parish were the Right Honourable William Lord Banff, Colonel Duff of Carnousie, and Captain Hay of Mountblairy. Lord Banff's house was called Forglen and was built on a large estate accommodating many crofts which housed his 'staff' (gardeners, farm servants, smiths and other labourers) and their families. There were three mills in the parish: Mill of Ribra, Lord Banff's; and Mill of Burn-end and Mill of Carnousie, Colonel Duff's.