- Aberdeenshire epitaphs and inscriptions : with historical, biographical, genealogical, and antiquarian notes, by John A. Henderson 1907:
THE CUMINES OF KININMONTH.
A tablestone bears:
To the memory of James Cumine of Kininmonth, who died May, 1803, aged 67. Also of May Ferguson, his spouse, who died November, 1770, aged 34 years, and of Elizabeth, Charles, and Sophia Cumine, their children, who all died young. As also of Charles Cumine of Kininmonth, father of the said decease James Cumine, who died anno 1764. aged 57. And of May Cumine, his daughter, and Alexander Cumine, his brother, both long since deceased, all interred in this place. This stone is erected by Alexander Russel of Moncoffer and Margaret Cumine, his spouse, daughter of the above-mentioned James Cumine. 1822.
The lands of Kininmonth were for a time in the hands of a branch of the Gordons, and thereafter of the Hays of Delgaty. In 1584. William Hay of Delgaty granted a charter to Elizabeth Keith, elder daughter of Robert Keith, Commendator of Deir, in life rent, and to Alexander Hay, his elder son and heir-apparent, of the said lands, including Mill of Perskow or Denend. (Reg. Mag. Sig. V., 1626.) William Hay of Delgaty and Kininmonth played an important part as agent and counsel for Bothwell when charged with the murder of Darnley. He espoused the cause of Montrose, and was present at the defeat at Invercharron. He was captured and beheaded 7th June, 1650. Shortly afterwards Kininmonth is found in the possession of the Cumines, a branch of the original Buchan family of that surname. Gavin Cumine — the first of the new sept — married Katherine, daughter of John Hay of Seafield — the dowry of the bride being one thousand pounds Scots. John Cumine, their son, succeeded. He married Mary Keith, of the Marischal family, and their son Charles became laird, and married Sophia, daughter of James, 15th Lord Forbes. He rebuilt the mansion house of Kininmonth, in 1740. Five years later he and his brother Alexander joined the rebels at Edinburgh, but through the intervention of powerful relatives were afterwards pardoned. Charles Cumine died in 1764, and was succeeded by his son James, who married May Ferguson of Kinmundy, who died in 1770 at the age of 34, as stated in the above inscription. In 1792, Margaret Cumine, elder daughter of this marriage, married Alexander Russell, son of Russell of Montcoffer, and thereby carried the property to the Russell family. The present proprietor is Major-General F. S. Russell, C.M.G., of Aden. Many of these particidars were contributed by Rev. Andrew Chalmers, Wakefield, who also generously allowed extracts to be taken from his very complete sketch, The Manor of Kininmonth.
|