OF PETERHEAD. NAME. We shall THERE HERE are so many opinions with regard to the derivation of the name of Peterhead, that it would be difficult to determine which of them is the most authentic. here enumerate the different etymologies that have been given of it, that our readers may judge for themselves as to the probability of one or other of them. In the first place, it is said to be derived from a promontory, upon which part of the town at present stands, which, it is supposed, had been dedicated to the Apostle Peter. Secondly the Greek word Пergos, and the French word pierré, each signifying a rock, and the town having that for its foundation, either of them may have given rise to the name. In the third place, it is supposed to be derived from a Highland Chief B tain of the name of Peter, who lost his head in an attempt to rob and plunder the parish : to substantiate this opinion, there is a farm near Peterhead called Aughtygall, which in the Gaelic is said to signify the place where the Highlanders made a stand; and Cairngall, in Longside parish, is said in the same language to signify the place of an encampment. It was formerly called Keith-inch, but that name is now given only to a small portion of the town, which was formerly separated from the mainland, but connected with it since the formation of the South Harbour. In the year 1593 it obtained a charter as a Burgh of Barony, (see Appendix), by the name and title of Peterhead, which name it has since retained. SITUATION. Peterhead is situated in latitude 57° 32 N. and longitude 1° 47′ W. from Greenwich, on a point of land, which, projecting into * This was effected about 80 years ago, by the inhabitants, under the direction of Dr. Thomas Arbuthnot. Although this mound is composed of several thousand tons of rough granite and rubbish, the whole expence was only £.5. There are now several building yards erected upon it, besides a salt-work and flesh-market. the German ocean, forms two excellent bays, called the North and South Bay. It is in the County of Aberdeen, District of Buchan, and Presbytery of Deer. A ERECTION. The town of Peterhead was formed into a Burgh of Barony by George Keith, Earl Marischall, in 1593; it was then called Keith-inch, The peninsula on which it is situated belonged originally to the Abbey of Deer. In 1560, Queen Mary appointed Robert Keith, son of William, fourth Earl Marischall, Commendator of Deer; in 1587, James VI. created this Robert a Peer, by the title of Lord Altree, and converted the Abbey lands into a temporary Lordship, in his favour; the Peerage becoming extinct, the Abbey lands devolved to Earl Marischall. In the year 1637, William, sixth Earl Marischall, obtained a new charter from the Crown of the Abbey lands, besides the tithes, great and small, of the parish of Peterhead, the parsonage of the church, salmon and white fishing. After the forfeiture of Earl Marischall, in 1715, the town, with the lands belonging to that family in the parish, were |