I have to say that
I didn’t really expect to find many tales amongst the smalltown history of my un-newsworthy
Scottish forebears. So I was a surprised and delighted to come upon the one
that follows.
Explanation: Andrew
Morrison, agricultural labourer, of Merklands estate, Kirkmichael, was the
grandfather of Annie Morrison Anderson. He and his wife Ann née Ferguson bred
freely and I have to their debit Andrew (1819-1893), James (1822-1901), John
Albert (1823-1885), William (1825-1891), Annie’s father Alexander (1827-1874), Betsy
(1831-1909), Donald (1832-1912), Jean (1835-1906), Francis (1837-1915) and
Marjory (1843-?).
The children
worked variously as farm workers, farm and hostelry servants, and James and
Francis became shoemakers, while William swapped laboring for tailoring before
going blind. Jean married Peter McLaren, stone-dyker, and took in blind
William, and bachelors James, Donald and Francis, in their retirement, took
over Kirkmichael Post Office. Marjory became Mrs James Cameron
while Betsy remained single … but they didn’t really make the news, except when
young Francis got arrested for poaching.
Until 1912….
‘Death of Veteran Postillion Who
Drove Queen Victoria
By
the death of Donald Morrison, at Ballintuim in his 78th year, Strathardle has
lost one of its links with past times.
Donald
was born at Merklands estate and had been a tenant on Ballintuim for 60 years,
retaining his tenancy even when he was working elsewhere. He started
his career as a ploughman, and then, after a short time as coachman at
Ballintuim, he went to Mr [Robert] Grant, Spittal Hotel, [Glenshee] as postboy.
 |
| Spittal of Glenshee |
These
were the palmy days of posting, and Donald, sharing in the general success,
became leading postillion. From the Spittal he went to Braemar (the Invercauld
Arms) as first postillion, and in this position frequently drove Queen
Victoria, Prince Albert, King Edward (then Prince of Wales), and other members
of the Royal Family.
 |
| Invercauld Arms |
It
is related that on one occasion, when driving Queen Victoria, their route lay over
a ford, the river being in high flood. The Queen was a little nervous, and
anxiously inquired at Donald, who always rode the wheel horse, if there was any
danger? He was busy guiding his horses through the rushing waters, and
shouted back, ‘No, it’s abs-o-lutely safe, your Majesty’.
Speaking
afterwards to a friend, he explained, ‘Her Majesty might hae kent it was a’
richt whan I was there’.
 |
| Invercauld |
During
the time he was at Braemar, Donald stayed at Ballintuim during the winter, and
returned to Braemar in the early spring for the posting.
A
colonel who was a well-known traveller on the North road, but could never get a
conveyance to go fast enough for him, one day near the end of the season
strolled into the Invercauld Stables and inspected the stud, on which, by the
way, Mr Fisher, the lessee, rather prided himself. ‘ No’, said the
colonel, ‘you don't have one horse there fit for a gentleman's carriage; but I
must take what I can get, as I have to go to the Spittal, and quick's the word’.
Mr
Fisher called Donald aside and implored him to take the impatient colonel at
his best speed. "It's near the end of the season, and you can take your
time coming home". Donald conferred with his mate, the postillion on
the leaders and they determined that they would beat all records in this particular
run over the Cairnwell. The upward journey to the watershed was taken in
good time, and, the summit reached, the horses were put to their top speed.
 |
| Cairnwell, the highest road in Britain |
Down
the Devil's Elbow they raced without slackening speed. The coach rattled
and sway, but the skill of the riders and good luck kept the coach on the
roadway. Just when the bottom corner was reached the colonel shouted to
his postillions, ‘Cautious here, men!’ This was joy to the hearts of the postboys,
who had never before heard of the doughty colonel called for caution.
 |
| The original 'Devil's Elbow' |
A
quarter of a century ago Donald retired. His wants were not extravagant, and
his years of positing had yielded him many douceurs. Since then he lived
there, and really enjoyed life in his quiet way, ‘nor wished to change his place’.
A cheery personality, he will be long missed by many friends around Ballintuim.’
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