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Address Tough Church
The Manse
Rev A Stirling
Muir Fowlis
Kirkton Tough
Aberdeenshire Scotland
AB3 8JU
Alexander's original letter to Doug Macfie :
Dear Sir
For many years I have undertaken the lengthy research of Scottish
history. During the years study, I have witnesses in the documentation
of which I have received from the leading organisation and the
government record office of Scotland as the following.
The document concerned here is , of the day by day governmental
transactions of all the Shires and respected names of the Clans
of Scotland. A study report of the Scottish Banner, Sept 1997issue,
over 1500 names in the Ragman Rolls unaccounted for, also held
today in the Tower of London in England. The same place the (
Stone of Destiny) was returned from in 1997. ( the Stone of Scone)
. All these historic named documents had been carriaged away during
the reign of Edward I and Edward II. This is another reason why
persons can not complete their family heritage or receive documents
pertaining to their family name.
By copies enclosed you will also witness the investigation done
by William and Alexander Robertson, indexed 1793, they had found
several of these same documents as well as the (Stone of Scone)
in London. The attention I have received from member Clans, it
would be the greatest news if each society or party would write
to the Scottish National Party, to have their party represent
all concerned, the S.N.P. would contact the new government of
the Prime Minister RT Hon. Tony Blair with his partys new mandate.
Justice for all in the new Era. That they would start procedures
to have these lost charters returned to the Scottish Archives
in Edinburgh.
We have good representation with the Scottish National Party at
this suitable time, American, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand,
and Scottish Clans, shall we write this letter, or shall we fall
asleep, at the switch forever.
All, complimentary copies enclosed, with the addresses `` Lets
make this letter , a clan go go, for the year 1998.
Your comments appreciated
Respectfully,
Alexander Tough
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Dec 22 1997
Mr Alexander Tough
Po Box 213
Westmount Stn
Westmount Qc
H3Z 2T2
Dear Mr Tough
Your letter and enclosures have been received with the utmost
interest, it is clear you have preformed several years of investigation,
also the investigation indexed by William and Alexander Robertson.
These enclosures clearly state there is a probability the missing
charters very well could be still stored at Westminster House
or the Tower of London
With this is mind and public support of a letter mailed to our
office, SNP we, will undertake advisement to conduct a probable
search for the return of these very important documents to the
records department in Edinburgh.
Please convey our interest and support to all Scottish Clans and
Society branches you will contact in the United States, Canada,
Australia & New Zea Land, with letters received it will give
enough leverage to act on behalf of all concerned
Sincerely Yours,
Alex Salmond S.N.P. Leader
-------------------------------------------
21 Dec 1996
Dear Mr Tough
Thank you for your letter of 26 January and my apologies for such
a tardy response which was due to unexpected official SRO business.
I have enclosed with our compliments a photocopy of the entry
for Toughs from Blacks Surnames of Scotland (New York 1962). As
you can see, this entry also refers to the lost charters described
in your letter.
The lost charter is also listed in Robertsons Index of Charters
( Edinburgh 1791) which, based on an index discovered in about
1629, describes those charters grated by Robert I, David II, Robert
II and Robert III which had been forever lost or destroyed. Sadly
it is not therefore possible to provide any more information on
the charter granting the lands of Toulch in Aberdeenshire to Isabel
Toulch.
Also enclosed are a photocopy of the entry in the printed version
of the Register of the Great Seal Vol I App I to which Black refers
in the entry for Touch and some letter which may be of interest
to you.
I am sorry that I cannot be of further assistance at this time
Yours sincerely Ms Morna Gerrard
Historical Interview Room
Scottish Records Office
-------------------------------------------
Jan 16 1996
Dear Mr Tough
I refer to your enquiry concerning your family history.
I regret that we do not possess the charter given by King david
to Isabel Toulch, sister of Henry Toulch, of the lands of Toulch.
As you know, this chapter was listed by William Robertson in his
index to missing charters and records. These records, consisting
of fifty one rolls and three books were known to have existed
in 1629 but disappeared at some time after this date. Robertson
complied the index with the stated hope that if anyone possessed
or found these records they would return them to Register House,
where they belong. It might therefore be worth while contacting
the Register House to see if anything has been found. The address
to write to is :
Scottish Record Office, 11M General Register House, Edinburgh,
EH1 3YY
I am sorry I cannot be of greater assistance on this occasion.
Should you require any further information please contact Mrs
Garden on extension 225.
-------------------------------------------
March 1996
Dear Sir,
Thank you for the letter of 21 Feb 1996, from your offices of
which a Ms Morna Gerrard forwarded to me. The information I was
interested to receive was concerning the lost charters granted
to Isobel Toulch of the family of Henry Toulch of Castlehaven,
Chester England 1361 by King David II, Robert I and II of Scotland.
If I may, place yourself and my self asking these questions from
the position of professional investigator.
1 - Was there any investigation work done at that date .
2 - It is very difficult to believe that , 51 large rolls ( documents)
and there are three
large ( leger type) books, could be taken or disappeared from
the records archives without being noticed or investigated 1629.
- Lands were also granted to several other familys at Toulch-Tough
after this given date of 1361
- Just a few of the familys mentioned in document record Brunetts,Durward,Seton,Murray,Farquhar,Forbes,Frase,
(Toulch-Toche- Touchet)
Why & who would benefit by taking the complete set of these
charters( what would be the motive( profit) (self prestige and
personal gain), self satisfaction perhaps))
- I wonder if any of these familys have recently been asked, would
it be possible that the missing charters, could be in any one
of these private family archives.
- If all these avenues have been exhausted, or investigated, your
office still have a few more routes to go. Putting this information
on the ( inter-net) International network , may get results.
My personal hunch would be to send a letter to the familys of
Forbes and Fraser, in Aberdeenshire. If this does not bring any
results, there is only one angle left to follow up.
My professional investigation of this question would be : the
charters were deliberately destroyed by the gouvernment of Scotland
of years past, ( reason) to eliminate any past and future property
claims etc by the familys of former farm land owners of 1600-1996
( out of circulation)
I have studyed and researched Scottish history for many years,
in this case of ( the Parish of Tough in Aberdeenshire) reasons
for so many conflicting stories over the past years.
Please find enclosed possible leads to be studyed by your legal
office. I will appreciate any comments & your input into the
suggestions, given in this letter by me. Thank you for your sincere
attention into this matter . Trust to hear from your office
Yours Respectfully,
Alexander Tough
NOTE Original spelling of the next text has been copied as is
Doug Macfie
The object of this Publication is to recover fome ancient Records
of Scotland known to be miffing : and the bafis of it is an Index
complied about the year 1629 and a very ancient Quarto Manufcript
on vellum, lately difcovered.
Thefe materials came to the knowledge of the Editor by the following
means.
The Lord Clerk Regifter for Scotland , Lord Frederick Campbell,
fome years ago, in attending to the duties of his office, obfereved
the perifhing condition of the Parliamentry Records of Scotland,
and formed the defign of getting them printed for the public benefit,
as the Journals of both Houfes and the Parliamentary Rolls had
been done in England.
Preparatory for this Work, the Editor tranfcribed , with his own
hand, as much of the earlieft and moft decayed part of thfe Parliamentary
Records as would make up two Folio Volumes. And was directed by
the Lord Regifter, as foon as the bufinefs of his office would
permit, to make an accurate refearch in the Tower of London and
in the Chapter Houfe at Weftminfter, to afcertain whether thefe
acient repofitories contained ant materials, from which the defects
in the Parliamentary Records of Scotland might be fupplied, it
being well known that King Edward I had carried to England all
he Records prior to the reign of King Robert I.
In the mean time Mr Aftle, one of the Truftees of the Britifh
Mufeum, whofe knowledge in hiftorical antiquity is not lefs known
than his anxious endeavours to make it ufeful to the public, informed
the Lord Regifter, that he had difcovered fome curious Manufcripts
in the Britifh Mufeum refpecting Scotland, and in particular the
Index now printed.
He likewife informed the Lord Regifter of a ftill more important
difcovery, which he had made as Keeper of his Majeftys State Paper
Office, which was a Quarto Manufcript on Vellum, written in a
character of great antiquity, and which , befides Tranfcripts
of many Deeds relative to Scoth affairs, contained Minutes of
feveral Parliaments of Scotland antecedent to the earlieft Parliaments
mentioned in the printed Statue Book.
In confequence of this very important information the Lord Regifter
directed copies to be immedidately made, both of the Index in
the Mufeum and the Quarto Manufcript in the State Paper Office,
preffing the Editor to repair to London as foon as he conveniently
could, for the purpofe of more effectually carrying on the intended
refearch in all the above mentioned repofitories.
The Editor accordingly, in August 1793, repaired to London, where
his firft care was to collate the two copies above mentioned with
their originals.
The Index of Charters was found to be No. 4609. of the Harleian
Manufcripts at the British Mufeum; and on the firft page of that
Index, at the top of it, there is written as follows.
`` This book contains Lifts or Inventories of feveral Rolls or
Records of Charters, granted by King Robert I, King David II ,
King Robert II and King Robert III, fuccefive Kings of Scotland
This Lift is the more valuable, as feveral of thefe Rolls are
loft ``
On an attentive examination, this Index was found to comprehend
Twelve Rols and One Book of Charters which now exift, and have
always been kept with the other Public Records of Scotland.
But befides thfe, it comprehends and relates to a much greater
number of Rolls and Books of Charters which are not now to be
found in the Public records of Scotland. The number falling under
this defcription is no lefs than Fifty one Rolls of Royal Charters
and Three Books confifting partly of the Charters, partly of Decrees
in Parliament.
Thefe Fifty one Rolls and Three Books , together with Two Rolls
of Decrees in Parliament ( mentioned in page 28, at the top),
though proved by this Index to have been known and patent to infepection
in the year 1629 , have been miflaid or difappeeared during fo
long a period, that neither the Editor , nor any person known
to him, had any knowledge of their having ever exifted, till he
had accefs to and perufed the Index which makes the subject of
the prefent publication.
The Fifty one Rolls and Three Books above mentioned as not now
exifting in thePublic Records of Scotland, feem to have contained
about 1845 Charters and 30 Decrees in Parliament, exclufive of
the contents of the two Rolls of Decrees in Parliament mentioned
page 28, which do not appear to be particularly fated in the Index.
The Manufcript difcovered by Mr Aftle in the State Paper Office
was , on examination, found to be the moft ancient Book of Scottifh
Record now know to exift, and in every refpect fo curious and
important , that the Lord Regifter thought it incumbent on him
to endeavour to recover it, for the purpofe of its being referved
in the Records of that part of the Kingdom to which it inconteftabbly
appeared to have belonged.
Parish of Tough
Presbeytery of Alford Synod of Aberdeen
Etoymology
In the : View of the Diocese of Aberdeen the name of this parish
is spelled TOUCH and in a roll of the missing charters by King
David II is - Carta to Isobel Toulch, sister to Henry Toulch of
the lands of Toulch , in viscomitatu de Abirdeen. , in the Satistical
Account of the parish in 1793, the name is written TOUGH and the
writer says `that there is no record that it had any other name
than the present one and that those skilled in the Gaelic language
says that it signifies `` Northward``. In the statistical Account
of Tough in 1842, the writer says `the name is derived from the
Gaelic language , indicating its northern exposure`` He the writer
further adds that `in a valuation of the thirteenth century it
is , however written TULLYUNCH of which the present name may be
a corruption `` Except in the prefix to the latter name viz. Tully,
which means a `knoll`
And as there is no Gaelic in the word Tough, it can have no topographical
meaning in that language. There fore, we must conclude that the
name of the parish has been derived from its former territorial
owners TOUGH or TOULCH, as above referred to
Boundries
The parish is bounded on the north by the parishes of Alford
and Keig, on the east by Monymusk, Cluny, and Midmar; on the south
by Kincardine, ONeil and Lumphanan and on the west by Leochel
Cushine
Extent
The greatest length of the parish in a direct line from the
top of the hill of Benaquhalie on the South to the burn of Bents
on the north is four miles ; and from the slack of the Tillyfourie
Hill, on the east to the Broomhill of Guise, on the west it is
also in a direct line four miles. The whole area is computed to
be 7,112 acres, 189decs.
Topography
Tough lies to the west and north of that long ridge called the
hills of Corrennie , or Corie-aonach , which signifies ravines
Founding of Tough
Being of a renown reputation, the familys of Touch Touchet of
Normandy, France, during the conquest of 1066 were granted lands
by William the Conqueror , who settled in England and became the
guardians of this area, Chester in the north west of England .
King David of Scotland to realize the small population , and very
much concerned of possible invasion of Scotland from the South,
decided to build his forces and allot lands to his noble Norman
friends.
The Scottish King having very good relations with his cadet friends
of Tee Touch Touchet family of Chester , England, the Earls of
Castlehaven in the 1200s. His court decided to allot lands to
the cadets of the Touch family, with the understanding the cadets
would settle and establish a parish in Aberdeenshire, between
the river (Don) on the north and the river (Dee) on the south,
with the conditions the families would protect the area and become
true Scots.
This land was soon granted to the Tough family by the kings court
, not too long afterward the kinfolk began to arrive to settle
in the new Scotland . Grateful to the King. it formed a true bond
of gratitude and respect, also to emerge along the local inhabitants
of this area. About the year 1275 , the Touch family changed their
name to Tough , translated into Scottish Gaelic as a (Knoll).
As these families increased in numbers the Toughs also thought
it would serve each other best to join their forces with that
of King David, and the Earls of MAR to protect their lands and
help maintain law and order in the North east district of Scotland
,as land hunting settlers with other Clans moved about from the
southern parts of Scotland. Along with the expansion, more fighting
did erupt into long civil wars, rebellions, also disputes with
unruly Clans over new granted lands. The wars with England were
still a threat, until a united truce was agreed upon in 1707.
Within this long period of time, the family Tough of this area
did maintain their rightful position in Scottish history; with
the origin of their surname Tough with the district village, still
known today as Kirkton Tough , in the county of Aberdeenshire,
Scotland, Alford
The Clan Tough
Hello Family Tough
During the 1200-1550- familys Tough and descendants had settled
in the vale of Alford, on about ten miles of land that was granted
to these new settlers by the then royal family court of King Robert
Bruce I and his grandson King David II of Scotland, to cut out
this barren land and establish settlement for these families,
which is know to day as Kirkton of Tough in Aberdeenshire. ( Barony
of Tough)
In medieval years of the 1300 1600 this area of Scotland had become
the stronghold of many clans, castles were built by these new
settlers on grants of land given by David II, Earl of Huntington,
to the familys Durward, Forbes, Fraser, Gordon, Hay , Moray and
Seton, these castles completely surrounded the chartered lands
of Tough.
The ideology of the king was, if Scotland was again invaded by
England, there would be many clans that the invaders would have
to fight to capture his Barons and the stronghold of Huntly, in
the province of Mar, which was well known as the Feudal Earldom
of Mar. Today one can still see the ruin remains of these same
castles.
The wars did come to this very area in the north east of Scotland.
Six national and civil wars, also the Jacobite rebellions, as
well as the Bonnie Prince Charlie war with England.
The Barons Tough were called upon to settle many uprisings on
1297 1301, 1314-1322, the war of 1341- 1411, 1571, the battle
of Alford 1645 and that of Corrichie 1562.
I thought it unbelievable today that the people Tough and the
people of Scotland were unaware, how powerful and important these
Barons became to the Kings of Scotland, until I discovered these
records in my research. I have forwarded copys to the gouvernment
and the Lord Lyon Courts of Scotland , then it was the known fact
that there was the Barons Tough in this area . Also discovered
why this history was not brought forth(why), most all the charters
of Tough had disappeared from the Scottish Archives in 1629, then
were recovered in England, indexed 1794.
Many of the familys Tough sold their farms in this district and
settled in Aberdeen city, Banffshire, Buckie, Elgin, Fraserburgh,
Edinburgh, Glasgow and migrated to Australia, Canada, N.Z. and
the United States, perhaps one of these family could be yours.
Several generations of my family Tough from this very area ,passed
down some of this only known history to exist in one package,
of the families and the village Tough, also of wath I gathered
on my trips to Tough and district in Scotland, 150 official documents
and State letters all referring to the sur name and the Kirkton
of Tough since 1275 1997.
This research was to inform the families and children concerned
of their Scottish roots. Reading these documents one will relate
to why all familys Tough are connected directly, but indirectly.
Shortly I will be retiring, also it would be great if one other
member of the Tough family would carry on with this history of
our surname, may I also suggest one should now purchase this package
of 150 official documents, that will not be available after I
retire.
Respectfully
Alexander Tough
Some contents of the history package
1 Official Coat of Arms and Crest
2 Connection with Robert Bruce family
3 Connection with other noble familys 1100- 1500
4 Support documents of Charter lands Tough by David II
5 How and why the Toughs were granted these lands
6 Battlefield maps of Tough
7 Farm names & maps with tax documents
8 Several cemeterys with stones Tough
9 Photos of Village & war memorial, photo booklet of church
Tough 1838
10 Scroll of familys Tough & county farms
11 Origin and list of names relating to the Toughs 1100- 1200
Much much more
For 8 years of research, lowest price ever
Mention your great G G grandmothers name , I will check my list
(1560- 1700)
Alexander Tough
Montreal
Kirk and School
At the Kirkton of Tough there is also a busy shop. The lovely
compact Church of Tough with its gallery on three sides and the
pulpit in the centre of the fourth wall, is now a linked charge
with Keig. Long ministries have been frequent here, the longest
being that of the rev Alexander Milne (56 years). He died in 1900
aged 83.
The present school built in 1884, the old school near the church
still surviving as a dwelling house. Toughs longest serving dominie
was probably the Rev Alexander Ingram, who died in 1859, after
56 years service but even in modern times Mr Charles Stewart was
headmaster from 1884 to 1922 and Mr George Flett from 1934 to
1952. The school was modernised in 1922 at a cost of 7,000 pounds
sterling but it still makes its own school dinners, and the latest
improvement, due in 1968 will be the provision of a general purposes
room and servery.
TOUGH
Touch, From the parish of Tough ( Gaelic tulach, a knoll) near
Alford, Aberdeenshire. The ch and gh have the guttral pronounciation
of ch in loch. In a roll of missing charters of David II is one
to Isabel Toulch sister of Henry Toulch, of the land of Toulch
in the sheriffdom of Abirdene (RMS, I App II 1561) Sande Towcht
in Aberdeen was ordered in 1538 to find cautions for ``strubbling`
others ( CRA p158) . Sir James Toucht was a notary in Fife 1549
(Gaw 27). Thomas Tucht was keeper of the inner door of Exchequer
in 1561( ER xix p 137) once Touch is recorded as burgess of Dysart
in 1768 (Dystart p36) and John Towichte was a ``baixter`in Aberdeen
in 1581( SCM ii p 54) John Touch trade burgess in Aberdeen 1611
(ROA 1 pg 231)
The surname is most common on tomb stones in the church yard
of Kearn (Jervise ii pg 217) George Touch skipper in Dysart was
returned heir of William Touch in Leaven, in ane tenement of land
in Pettinweim in 1653 ( Retours Fife 823) William Touch in Kirkton
of Inch 1748 ( Aberdeen CR) George Gray Tough of Ythan Wells was
killed in the first Great War( Turiff)
End of Part one of NOTES