PARISH OF KILMANY.
THIS PARISH is situated in the northern district of the County, being separated from the Tay on the north by the parishes of Balmerino and Forgan, and bounded by Forgan on the east, by Logie and Cupar on the south, and by Moonzie and Creich on the west. In figure the Parish is very irregular, its length east north-eastward being about six miles, and its greatest breadth towards the west about three and a half miles ; but to the east its average breadth is less than one mile. It is traversed by the old road from Cupar to Newport, and by the north road from Kirkcaldy to Newport. On this latter are situated, at about one and a half miles distance from each other, the two hamlets of Kilmany and Rathillet ; the former being about five miles, and Rathillet four, from Cupar. To the west the Parish presents a pleasing succession of hill and valley, and towards the east it occupies the southern border of a range of hills, and a portion of the bottom of a valley, through which the Motray wends its way to the sea. Immediately north-west of the hamlet of Kilmany, and in the course of the Motray, is a very romantic dell, which appears to have been formed first by a trap-rock disruption, and afterwards by the action of running water. Its banks have been planted with trees, and walks made through it, which renders it easy of access ; and its little waterfalls and over-hanging rocks present a very picturesque and interesting scene. With the exception of upwards of 150 acres, which is chiefly in wood, the entire Parish is arable, and in a high state of cultivation.
The principal mansion-houses are Mountquhanie and Rathillet, both of which form pleasing features in the landscape to the west former being the seat of David Gillespie, Esq., and the latter of David Carsewell, Esq. The Parish is almost entirely rural, the inhabitants being employed either in agricultural labours, or in trades more or less connected with rural avocations. The lands of Rathillet were the property of the Crown until the reign of Malcolm IV., when, on the marriage of Duncan, Earl of Fife, with Ada, niece of Malcolm, they were conferred upon him by a charter, which is quoted by Sibbald. They afterwards became the property of a family of the name of Hackston or Halkerstone. One of this family was a leading man among the Covenanters, and was present at the death of Archbishop Sharp, on Magus Muir, although he took no part in that deed. He was after-wards taken prisoner at the battle of Bothwell Bridge, and executed at Edinburgh. i His heirs continued in possession of the estate until towards the close of last century, when it was sold by Mr Hellenus Hackston to a Mr Sweet, by whom it was afterwards sold to the late Mr David Carsewell, father of the present proprietor. The name of the Parish has become widely known from the circumstance of the celebrated Dr. Thomas Chalmers having commenced his ministry in it.
The Parish Church, which was erected in 1768, and repaired in 1861, is situated on a pleasant eminence near the west border of the Parish, and contains upwards of 300 sittings. There is also a very handsome U. P. Church at Rathillet, which was erected in 1860. The Parish School is at the hamlet of Rathillet, in addition to which there is a Female Industrial School at Kilmany, under the patronage of the Misses Thomson, of Kilmany Cottage.
The POST TOWN for the Parish is Cupar. Walking postmen leave the Office at 1 Cupar about 9.20 A.M., by the roads leading by Foodieash to Kilmany, and by Hillcairnie to Rathillet and Mountquhanie, and both return in time for the afternoon's earliest despatch.
BLACKSMITHS.
Greig, Robert, Knowehead
Kirk, Thomas, & William, Hazleton Walls
Robertson, William, Milldeans
Wilson, John, Kilmany
BOOT & SHOEMAKERS.
Melville, David, Hazleton Walls
Miller, John, Milldeans
Pryde, James, Kilmany
CLERGY.
Borwick, James, U. P. Church, Rathillet
Brewster, David, Parish Church, Kilmany
FARMERS
Aitken, William, Easter Kilmany
Anderson, David, Starr
Birrell, .John, Newcairnie
Blyth, William, Murdocheairnie
Carsewell, David, Esq., Rathillet
Gillespie, David, Esq., Home Farm, Mount quhanie
Haxton, Mrs John, Drumnod
Horsburgh, James, Esq., Lochmalony
Inglis, Henry, Esq., Newington
Jack, Henry, Sturton
Miller, James, Easter Kinnear
Russell, Robert, Esq., Hillcairnie
Taylor, David, Muircraigs
Watt, George, Wester Kilmany
GARDENERS.
Rodger, John, Kilmany Cottage
Gold, William, Lochmalony
Smith, Thomas, Mountqnhanie
GENTRY & PEOPLE OF INDEPENDENT MEANS.
Carsewell, David, Esq., Rathillet
Gillespie, David, Esq., Mountquhanie
Horsbrugh, James, Esq., Lochmalony
Russell, Robert, Esq., Hillcairnie
Thomson, Mrs, & Misses, Kilmany Cottage
GROCERS.
Lumsden, John, Kilmany
Lumsden, Thomas, Rathillet
JOINERS & WRIGHTS. Carmichael, James, Clubston
Jack, James, Rathillet
Law, Allan, Kilmany
MILLERS. [Corn & Barley.]
Keddie, T., Sturton Mill
Ritchie, James, Rathillet
Wilson, William, Kilmany Mill
TEACHERS & SCHOOLS.
McGillivray, Wm., Parish School, Rathillet
Macfarlane, Miss, Female Industrial School, Kilmany
MISCELLANEOUS.
Angus, Ann, Dressmaker & Milliner, Mountquhanie
Jamieson, And., Forrester, Mountquhanie
Law, Allan, Saw-Miller & Wood Merchant, Kilmany
McGillivray, Wm., Inspector of Poor and Registrar, Rathillet
Morris, W., Land Steward, Mountquhanie
Ramsay, Robert, Vintner, Rathillet
In introduction for father read grandfather.
Delete Thomson Mrs & Misses Kilmany Cottage
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