Mudie of Dorrarie

MUDIE OF DORRARIE

Mudie of Dorrarie is the territorial surname given to the otherwise unidentified son and heir of Gilbert Mudie of Caldwell by the Marquis of Ruvigny and Raineval. The Moody Book: 10 The Marquis was unable to identify any record evidence for this man, but he supposed that he must be the first of the two unnamed heirs who were in line to inherit Gilbert Mudie's leasehold interest in the lands of Dorrary and others in Caithness. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, charter number 1404 on p. 288 It cannot be regarded as certain but it is possible that Mudie of Dorrarie, here treated,is the same person as Master William Mudie, Tacksman of the Bull of Hoy and that he is the eldest son and heir of Gilbert Mudie of Caldwell rather than his second son.

Notes

[1] Dorrarie is the ten shilling lands of Dorrary in the Caithness parish of Thurso. Origines Parochiales Scotiae, ii, p. 750 William Mudie, bishop of Caithness, leased this land to his brother Gilbert Mudie and two successive heirs when he appointed him as the keeper of Scrabster Castle in the same parish by a charter dated 18 September 1455. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, charter number 1404 on p. 288

[2] It seems that the Marquis of Ruvigny and Raineval believed that Gilbert Mudie in Walls was the second of the two heirs refered to in the charter Bishop William gave to his brother. It would seem too that he was unable to identify an intervening generation but supposed that there must have been one.

[3] The Marquis of Ruvigny and Raineval believed that the Christian name Gilbert was almost only ever found in the Orkney family. This is not entirely true but it was probably this conviction which led him to make this suggestion. The Moodie Book, p. 10

Critical Commentary

The Marquis of Ruvigny and Raineval believed that Gilbert Mudie in Walls was the second of the heirs named in Bishop William Mudie's charter, but no evidence of land ownership has ever been found for this man, or for his here mentioned putative father. It should be noticed, however, that Master William Mude of Schabuster witnessed a charter which was executed at Kirkwall on 30 June 1560. The charter was for lands located in the Caithness parish of Bower and it was issued by the bishop of Orkney. Master William Mude of Schabuster was probably one of the bishop's officials for he witnessed in company with the bishop's constable and his secretary. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Sinclair family of Mey, Caithness, reference GD96/77 Schabuster is undoubltedly a reference to the lands of Scrabster in the parish of Thurso, where Gilbert Mudie of Caldwell held a lease for the ten shilling lands of Dorrarie in return for keeping the Castle of Scrabster. Origines Parochiales Scotiae, ii, p. 750 Also worthy of note, thirty-one years later, on 16 August 1591, Master William Mudie of Breckness had a charter which confirmed his possession of the 8 pennyland lying on the west part of the burn of Donra, together with the lands of Schabuster in said parish. [National Records of Scotland, reference TD94/21]

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

18 September 1455: A charter by which William, Bishop of Caithness, with the consent of the dean and chapter of Caithness, confirms that he has given custody of the castles of Scrabster and Skibo to his brother, Gilbert Mudy, for the defence of his churches and the church lands in Caithness and Sutherland, which office was to be held by Gilbert and by the next two generations of his lawful heirs in succession. In return for their service, the Bishop gave Gilbert and his heirs land in Caithness with a rental value of ten merks. The lands in question was a nine penny land in the barony of Wick, the lands of Attwell, a thirteen shilling four penny land on the island of Stroma, and the twenty shilling land of Dorrary [Note]. For greater security, Gilbert Mudy obtained a charter of confirmation under the Great Seal of Scotland on 9 November 1478. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, charter number 1404 on p. 288

Note: Dorrary is probably Downreay.

                   2

At Kirkwall on 10 September 1565, Oliver Sinclair, son and one of the heirs of the deceased Robert Sinclair of Breckness, and 'dominus' of the pricipal messuage mansion, and one merk land thereof, sells to his well-beloved friend and kinsman [1] Mr. William Mudy of Donra [2] the aforesaid principal messuage or mansion and merkland of Brecknes, lying in the Wttirtoun (Outertown) of Stromness and sheriffdom of Orkney, with consent of Robert Sinclair, his son and apparent heir, for a certain sum of money. Records of the Earldom of Orkney

                   3

16 August 1591: Feu charter by the crown in favour of Mr William Mudie of Breknes and Katherine Sinclair, his spouse of 1 pennyland and 1 merk land in the isle of Gramsay, 3 merks land in [Thurwa?] in parish of Wawis and Hoy, 2 merks land in Utterstromnes, lying in parish thereof, 3 pennyland with the teindsheaves thereof in the utter town of Stromnes called the Uttertoun which sometime pertained to the sub-deanery of Orknay, the 8 pennyland lying on the west part of the burn of Donra, parish of Ra, Caithness, together with the lands of Schabuster in said parish. [National Records of Scotland, reference TD94/21]

                   4

8 May 1593: Contract between Patrick, earl of Orkney, on one part, and William Mudie of Breckness on other part, whereby latter sells former land in Dunra, Caithness in return for annualrent from Bow of Lopness, Sanday, and Bow of Walls, Ryssay, Brimes and Osmundway, Hoy. National Records of Scotland, King's Remembrancer's Office: Orkney Rentals and Papers, reference E341/68

                   6

Snelsetter, 16 November 1595: Instrument of sasine at Breknes, 20 November 1595, following on a feu charter in favour of Mr William Mudie of Breknes and Katherine Sinclair, his spouse, of 1 pennyland and 1 merk land in the isle of Gramsay, 3 merks land in [Thurwa?], in parish of Wawis and Hoy, 2 merks land in Utterstromnes, lying in parish thereof, 3 pennyland with the teindsheaves thereof in the utter town of Stromnes called the Uttertoun which sometime pertained to the sub-deanery of Orknay, the 8 pennyland lying on the west part of the burn of Donra, parish of Ra, Caithness, together with the lands of Schabuster in said parish following charter by the king, 16 August 1591; and precept by Mr William Mudy of Breknes directed to Edward Sinclair in Lieger to give sasine to Mr William and Adam Mudy, his son, and Cristian Stewart, his spouse. Subscribed at Snelsetter, 16 November 1595, and witnessed by Robert Watson and Robert Wilsoun [National Records of Scotland, reference TD94/21]