Glenbuchat Heritage

147 Glenbuchat Mill Artefacts 2

Glenbuchat Mill Artefacts 2

The Pictures above show
1 Photo of Couple found in the Mill
2 Plaque found in the Mill
3 Grave stone of person named in the above plaque in Braemar Churchyard
4 Fife Arms Hotel 1912


Photo of Couple
The couple shown are Isabella Farquharson and Alex Shand
They were married in Glenbuchat Church in 1940 by the Rev Zachariah Moore
Their family can be seen in the Album about the Their family can be seen in the Album about the Shands of Balnagowan Croft


The Plaque

The plaque was found at the Mill and it is unclear why it was there as there is no obvious connection with Glenbuchat

The Plaque originally read
From Employees
At the Fife Arms
As a token of their deep sorrow
And great respect
For their
Beloved Master
Livingston McDonald

It relates to Mr Livingston MacDonald who was the owner of the Fife Arms Hotel
Livingston came from a family of Hoteliers

Lindsay MacDonald’s Family History

Father
Donald MacDonald 1809–1893
Farmer and Hotel Keeper, Blair Atholl Hotel
Birth Abt 1809 Dull, Perthshire, Scotland
Death 30 Jan 1893 Blair Atholl, Perth and Kinross, Scotland
Spouse
Jane Bathurst Burrell Thomson (Mrs MacDonald) 1817–1907
Of the ‘Athole-arms’ hotel, Blair Athole
children
Patrick S Macdonald 1843
John A C Macdonald 1849–
Jean MacDonald 1851–
William Thomson Ponton McDonald (Reverend) 1853–1932
Thomas T Macdonald 1858–
David Donald Macdonald (Hotel-keeper) 1861–
Livingstone MacDonald (Hotel-keeper) 1863–1911


Livingstone MacDonald (Hotel-keeper) 1863–1911
Birth 15 Jul 1863 Weem, Perthshire, Scotland
Death 23 May 1911 Aberdeen, Scotland
Burial Braemar Graveyard Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Notes Died of Pneumonia; Proprietor Of Grant Arms Hotel Grantown-On-Spey Lived At Braemar
Parents
Donald MacDonald (Farmer and Hotel Keeper, Blair Atholl Hotel) 1809–1893
Jane Bathurst Burrell Thomson (Mrs MacDonald) 1817–1907
Of the ‘Athole-arms’ hotel, Blair Athole
Spouse
Annie A Morrison (Mrs Livingstone Macdonald) from Poolewe
1865–
children
Margaret F C Macdonald 1896–
Donald L Macdonald 1897–


Livingston MacDonald was born on 15 Jul 1863 at Weem, Perthshire, Scotland.

He had been brought up in a family of hoteliers with his father running the Athole Arms at Blair Athol. His first recorded job was as a bank clerk but in his late 20s but by 1891 he was the tenant and manager of the Grant Arms Hotel in Grantown on Spey

The Scotsman on Wednesday 23 April 1902 recorded the presentation to Mr MacDonald on leaving the Grant Arms after five years. In that time, he had purchased the hotel and then the Fife Arms in Braemar in 1897 and managed them both

The Scotsman - Wednesday 23 April 1902
THE ELGIN COURANT AND COURIER, FRIDAY JULY 1, 1898
PRESENTATION TO MR AND MRS L. MACDONALD. GRANT ARMS HOTEL, GRANTOWN.
On Wednesday afternoon Mr Livingston Macdonald, the new proprietor of the Grant Arms Hotel, Grantown, and tenant of the Fife Arms Hotel, Braemar, was presented with a grand. father's chiming clock, centrepiece, and fruit stand, and Mrs Macdonald with a diamond ring from their friends in Grantown and District. Mr Macdonald, who was tenant for some five years of the Grant Arms, lately became tenant of the Fife Anne Hotel, Braemar, and general regret was expressed throughout the whole district that he had decided to leave Grantown. At that time the initial movements to get op a testimonial for him and his wife were set afoot, but when it became known that the Grant Arms Hotel was in the market along with the adjoining property of the Gables, which would permit of extensive additions and alterations to the hotel, and that Mr Macdonald had become the successful offeror, the liveliest satisfaction was felt by all who had contact with him both in business and private life. Since acquiring the combined properties, Mr Macdonald has put them both into one, and the Grant Arms, which was previously known as one of the finest hotels in the North of Scotland, is in its enlarged form now almost without a rival. The new part has been fitted up with all the latest improvements in keeping with the other arrangements of the hotel, and the added accommodation will in great measure help to cope with the increasing number of people who as each summer comes round visits this popular health resort and this popular hotel. In the purchase of the hotel Mr Macdonald has now made himself almost "a native," and in his naturalisations his friends have had great satisfaction and pleasure, and the proceedings of Wednesday were the result.

Some short time ago Mr McDonald, on his retiring from the captaincy of K Company, 3rd Volunteers was also made the recipient of a beautiful illuminated address from the officers and men. Besides taking a keen interest in all the purely local affairs of the community, Mr Macdonald has in accomplishing much good work for the agriculturist, lift having all along taken a prominent part in the Strathspey Farmers' Society. All deserving objects met a champion in him, and he gave willingly and with a free hand, aided in all by Mrs Macdonald, who by her charming and gracious manner and thoughtful and loving taut has made herself most popular with both rich and poor alike. She belongs to Garioch, Ross-shire, and was married to Captain Macdonald some five years ago, they having now two of a family—a girl and a boy. Mr Macdonald himself is native of Blair-Atholl, where his brother is now proprietor of the Athol Arms. The Grant Arms Grantown, has long been known as one of the best conducted houses in the North of Scotland, due in great part to the strict attention which visitors receive from the leapt of the servants employed in the hotel.

During the absence of Mr and Mrs Macdonald at Braemar, the place is under the capable management of Miss Menzies, assisted by Miss Maclaren, and both have made themselves, by their kindly and obliging manners and a careful watch over the comforts and conveniences of the visitors.

During his time at Braemar Mr MacDonald immersed himself in the community and helped out in many good causes

Highland News - Saturday 26 January 1907
POOLRWE--GIFTS TO THE POOR.
Mr and Mrs Macdonald, Fife Arms, Braemar, have sent a handsome sum of money and other gifts to Mr Matheson, Inverewe, to be distributed among the poor and sick of Poolewe. Mrs Macdonald is a native of Poolewe, and her thoughtful kindness is being muck appreciated.




Saturday 24 September 1904
THE BRAEMAR GATHERING. BRIGHT SUNSHINE had dispelled the threatening mists et early morning by the time the Duff (liftmen, the retainers of the Duke of Fife, had mustered outside the Fife Arms, Braemar, on Thursday. the 15th, for the march down to the ground of Clunk, where the great gathering of the Braemar Royal Highland Society was to take place in the presence of the King, for the third time since his accession. Conspicuous even among these fine Highlanders, as they swung off down the road in their red kilts, shouldering pikes, the Duff badge of holly in their caps, were Mr Mcintosh, the Duke of Fife's factor, and Mr Livingstone Macdonald, of Braemar. The occasion was led off by a baud of ten pipers and three drummers playing the "Hielan Laddie."

At the entrance to Clunie the Duff men joined strength with the Farquharson men, 100 strong, who, carrying claymores and wearing sprigs of fir in their bonnets, were under the command of their young chief, Capt. Farquharson, of Invercauld. Included in the Farquharson contingent were a company of the Deeside High. landers, who had paid the captain the compliment of wearing his tartan and badge. The King's men, the Royal Highlanders. headed by Mr Michie, the King's factor, made a brave display in their Stuart tartan kilts, the thistle and make in their bonnets, and Lochaber axes across their shoulders. When the different contingents met the skirl of their pipes and beat of their drums filled with echoing sounds the natural amphitheatre, round which rose some of the highest peaks of the district, Lochnagee showing dark in the distance; the grey tower of Invercauld, the home of the Farquharson', now tenanted by Mr N. Ludwig Neumann, stood out against a background of firs on the opposite banks of the Dee. The games, which began at noon, and the feats of strength for the silver medal of the society were in full swing before the Royal inclosure showed signs of filling; the lack of spectators there, however, was amply compensated by the crowds elsewhere. Seated on a bench facing • platform were four veteran pipers, two of them the Ring's own pipers, acting as judges on the performances of the tyros in the ancient art of bagpipe playing. Besides the throwing of the hammer, a later display of which so delighted the Royal children. there was a two-mile race for the King's championship, a boy and girl's race, high leap and long-distance jumping, and some charming dancing of reels by three girls and a boy, all in Highland dress.

Mr MacDonald died on 23rd May 1911 shortly after a tour to Canada (Where he had some investments) and where he caught a chest infection and pleurisy

His death and Obituary were reported in the local paper

Aberdeen Press and Journal - Monday 29 May 1911
OBITUARY. MR L. MACDONALD, BRAEMAR.
The death of Mr Livingston MacDonald the Fife Arms Hotel, Braemar, occurred on Tuesday, and the universal sympathy of the community goes out to the bereaved widow and family. Mr had been laid aside since his tour in United States and Canada month ago. He caught a severe chill which developed into pleurisy. Specialists were called in and Mr Macdonald was progressing favourably when a fatal relapse occurred Mr MacDonald who was but 47 years of age was one of the most popular figures, and he had a host of friends at crowds, sporting events and other visiting throng at Braemar during the season. Taking over the Fife Arms Hotel, Mr MacDonald also carried on business at Gran Spey. During his tenancy of the Fife Arms Hotel extensive additions were made to the hotel, and it, is widely known as one of the best-appointed establishments the lands.

THE LATE MACDONALD,
Tho late Livingstone Macdonald, whose death was briefly reported in yesterday's "Journal", was born at Blair Athol some 43 years ago. He was for some years proprietor of the Grant Arms Hotel, at Grantown-on Spey, and became of the Fife Arms Hotel, Braemar, in 1897. Since coming to Braemar the had taken interest in the welfare of the district, and entered heartily into the different amusements and recreations. He was keen curler, and bad been a member the Royal Highland Society since 1898, and for several years member of the
committee. He also was interested in the work of the Mutual Association, and at the time of his death was vice-president. survived by one son and two daughters

Aberdeen Press and Journal - Monday 29 May 1911
THE LATE MR MACDONALD, BRAEMAR.
The funeral Livingstone Mac Donald, Fife Arms Hotel, Bnaemar, took place noon Saturday. short service was conducted the house by the Rev. A. C. W. Saunders, Braemar, and the Rev. Donald Lamont, Blair-Atholl, when the remains were carried to the hearse the male members of the household.
There was large attendance of friends and the general public, over 400 being present. …
…Amongst those who sent wreaths were—The Princess Royal and Duke Fife, Lord and Lady Pirrie, Sir William and Lady Arrol,…

It was noted that Mr MacDonald left a considerable sum in his will.
Daily News (London) - Wednesday 30 August 1911
Mr Livingston MacDonald, Fyfe Arms Braemar Aberdeen (Personal),,,,,,£23,499
£23,000 in 1911 is equivalent in purchasing power to about £3,340,929.80 today,(2023)

His wife continued to run the hotel until 1928

Sunday Post - Sunday 17 June 1928
A Kindly Hostess. Braemar has lost one of its best-known figures in Mrs Macdonald, of the Fife Arms Hotel. She has given up business after the long period of thirty-three years, and everyone in the village is regretting her departure. Not only was she a kindly and attentive hostess, but she proved a friend to all and any of her neighbours who found themselves in need.

Even after his death his affairs still reached the papers. Firstly, a court case in 1914 for the misuse of his car after his death by an Aberdeen garage and secondly a Court of Sessions case in 1931 about his property in Canada

Aberdeen Evening Express - Wednesday 15 July 1914
Hiring Out Stored Motor Car.
A BRAEMAR CASE.
Judgment Against Aberdeen Firm. the Court of Session yesterday the judges the Extra Division disposed of appeal from the (Sheriff Court at Aberdeen on an action Mrs Annie Amy Morrison or Macdonald, widow, residing the Fife Arms Hotel, Braemar. executrix dative of her late husband, Livingstone Macdonald, hotelkeeper, Braemar, against R. and J. Shinnie, carriage builders and automobile engineers, 8-12 Union Row, Aberdeen.

The pursuer claimed £180 as loss and damage sustained by her in consequence of the defender having used motor fur their own purposes which her late husband had delivered to them sell and to store until sold, that they hired it out to their own customers, and when it was returned it was in so dilapidated a condition be of no market value. The defenders denied the pursuer's averments, and stated that the car was out, of their premises on three occasions afford trial' runs to intending- customers, and once from March 25 to April 19, 1911, when it was hired to a doctor a charge £6. They alleged that they had asked that the car should be taken away, because no purchaser could be found for it at a figure that would be accepted. After hearing evidence, Sheriff-Substitute found that unwarrantably and without permission, the defenders lent out the oar to two different parties, and that when it was removed from their premises was not in running order and in a saleable condition, and that it. had deteriorated in value to the extent of £40, and gave decree for that sum and £8 5s, the amount plaid to the defenders for lending out the car. He further found that the defenders were entitled set off against the amount for which they were liable the sum £20 for storage charges, and decerned against the defenders for payment the pursuer £23 2s 3d. The defenders appealed against this decision, and Sheriff-Principal Campbell Lorimer recalled the Sheriff-Substitute's interlocutor, and found the defenders liable in the sum of £25 for breach of contract, £6 for hiring the oar, and £5 as reasonable allowance for the deterioration of the car, and further found the pursuers liable to the defenders £21 for the repairs executed by them on the car and £15 for storage, and respect that the total sum found due to each of the parties amounted to £36, found it unnecessary to give decree to either, and found the pursuer liable to the defender the expenses of the appeal

The pursuer appealed to the Court Session, and yesterday the Extra Division recalled the interlocutor the Sheriff-Principal, and reverted to that the Sheriff-Substitute, and the pursuer was found entitled to expenses the date of the Sheriff-Substitute's interlocutor. The case was sent back to the Sheriff-Substitute with power decern for those expenses, when comes dispose the question of modification which thought right to reserve, as regards the expenses the Court of Appeal. The Decision. Lord Dundas, who gave the leading opinion, said the case turned entirely upon tile question of evidence, and was bound to say preferred the judgment of the Sheriff-Substitute to that of the Sheriff, and he thought they ought revert to it.

The general outline of the case was that the pursuer sued the defenders for £180 damages in respect, as she alleged. that the defenders having had an Arrol-Johnston oar belonging to the late Mr Macdonald, entrusted to them for the purpose of selling, and no doubt of storing it pending sale, made unwarrantable use of it for their own purposes, and otherwise failed to treat it with due care. The defenders had the car in their hands until April 12, and finally on the pursuer's instructions it was sent to Messrs Campbell, in Aberdeen. His lordship was quite satisfied upon the evidence that there was a, considerable amount of unwarrantable use by the defenders of this car.

Aberdeen Press and Journal - Friday 12 June 1931
HIS PROPERTY IN CANADA.
Braemar Hotelkeeper's Estate.
COURT OF SESSION ACTION.
Judgment was given in the Second Division of the Court of Session yesterday in a reclaiming note for the defender in action by Margaret F C. Macdonald, residing at Strathearn Cottage, Edinburgh, against the executor nominate of Livingston Macdonald, hotelkeeper, formerly the Fife Arms Hotel, Braemar, in which the pursuer claimed an accounting for her legitim.

At the date of his death the pursuer's father was possessed of certain estate in British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, which consisted of some land and a mortgage secured over land. Fell to Scots Executry. The pursuer averred that Canadian law had so prescribed that the beneficial interests in the estate, being personal estate by the law of Canada, vested in the personal representatives of the deceased, and therefore fell to a Scots executry and was subject to such claim as legitimate. The defender argued that the question was in effect concluded once the quality of the estate as immovable was conceded. If so, it was said this finally stamped the estate being heritable in Scots law, and accordingly any claim at the pursuer's instance for legitim was excluded, and that whether Canadian law did or' did not deal with it personal estate for purposes of succession.

Lord Murray, in the Outer House, before answer, allowed the parties a proof of their averments as to the provision and effect of Canadian law. By a Majority. The Division, a majority, sustained the reclaiming note, recalled the interlocutor of the Lord Ordinary, and remitted the case to the Lord Ordinary to proceed with the accounting. Lord Hunter said this was, go far as he knew, the first claim which had ever been made in a Scots court a payment in respect of legitim out of landed estate wherever situated; but the pursuer had made certain averments as to Canadian law, which, if established, she maintained entitled her to succed. The defender contended that such averments were irrelevant. The pursuer did not aver that land was movable estate by the law of Canada. Suoh an averment would probably, if made, be properly treated as self-contradictory.

Private International Law. It was a well-recognised principle of private international law and was, therefore, part the law of Scotland, that succession land and, indeed, to all subjects regarded as immovable the country where they were situated, was determined by the law of' that country. His Lordship thought the pursuer's contention proceeded upon a failure recognise the fundamental proposition that the succession to Canadian land was governed by Canadian law. His Lordship thought the interlocutor the Lord Ordinary should be recalled. Lord Anderson reached the same conclusion. The Lord Justice Clerk reached a different conclusion, and was for allowing the proof to proceed.