Killiechassie

The Rev Robert Stewart was the younger son of James Stewart of Wester Clunie whose father was Alexander Stewart of Bonskeid who was in turn descended from the 'Wolfe of Badenoch'. Robert was educated at St Andrews where he graduated in 1672. He married his wife, Anne Campbell of Edramuckie, on 23rd January 1683 at Finlarig Chapel.

On 1st June 1706 Rev Robert Stewart purchased the estate of Killiechassie from John Stewart of Ballechin. According to 'Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae', he was installed by the minister of Kenmore as his vicar at Lawers on 8th August 1714. In his will of 7th October 1727, Rev Robert directs his wife " to bestow the sum of 500 merks Scots money towards the building of the Chapell of Killiechassie". When he died in 1729, "his body was gently borne, shoulder high, by his parishioners to Killiechassie, a distance of twenty-four miles, and interred in the chapel there".

In her will of 7th January 1730, his widow Annde Campbell makes the following declarations: ..."my body to be decently buried in the Chapell of Killiechassie"... "to finish the Chapell at Killiechassie at the sight and to the satisfaction of Mr James Stewart minister of Moulin and James Menzies of Culdariss"...

Roy's Military Map of 1747 shows a 'chapel' on the hillside above Killiechassie. However, a Plan of the Lands of Killiechassir made in 1787 shows the Chaple (sic) on the south of the Weem to Logierait road, on the site of the current burial ground. Also shown, on the north side of the toll road opposite the Chaple, as several houses annotated as Chapeltown.

By 1832, Thomson's map shows just an unnamed building again in the position where the current graveyard is situated. The chapel on the hillside has disappeared. On the 1862 OS First Edition map, the unnamed building is shown as 'mausoleum' but with no approaching path. In 1884, a new monumental stone was erected by one of the descendants of Rev Robert Stewart. By 1900, on the OS County Series 1st edition map, the 'mausoleum' is shown with an approaching path.

On the north side of the inside wall of the burial ground, facing north, there is a lintel stone bearing tghe inscription "R S A C 1729". It was the discovery of this stone which prompted further investigation.

The following are my sources of historic information:

1. Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae

2. Historic Memorials of the Stewarts of Forthergill - Charles Poyntz Stewart, published in 1879

3. Will of Anne Campbell - held in Perth and Kinross Archives, Edradynate Estate Collection (MS56)

4. Plan of the Lands of Killiechassie 1787 - held in the National Archives of Scotland (RHP 5299)

Information from A Beeson, on behalf of the Breadalbane Heritage Society, February 2012