Inverey Castle (5)
The best known laird of Inverey, and possibly the only laird to live in this building in its short lifetime, was Colonel John Farquharson, known to history as the Black Colonel.  Farquharson is remembered for two events.  The first of which is remembered in a ballad - 'The Baron O' Brackley'.  The story goes like this: 

Farquharson had incurred some fines in 1666 'for killing blackfish'!  Don't know, don't ask!  The warant for the fines had been sold on by the Sheriff of Aberdeen (who had no chance of actually collecting it) to John Gordon of Brackley.  It was quite a common arrangement in those days for fines to be sold by the sheriffs to others at a reduced value, the purchaser then pursuing the value of the original fine for himself - a bit like modern bounty hunting.  Brackley is a place opposite Ballater in Glen Muick.  On the 7th September 1666, Farquharson of Inverey arrived at Brackley to sort the matter out.  There are two versions of how it was sorted out!

According to the Gordons, the laird of Brackley had, in execution of the legal warrant he held, poinded (impounded) some of Farquharson’s cattle.  Thereupon Farquharson and his armed followers, marched down to Brackley, and proceeded to drive away both his own and Gordon's cattle for good measure!  Upon Brackley sallying forth to prevent this, the Farquharsons fell upon him and murdered him and his brother. 

According to the Farquharsons, Brackley refused his offer of a settlement and, with his followers &quot;... loused several shotts&quot; against Inverey's party who, in self defence, opened fire in return and killed the Laird of Brackley and his brother William.  

The account given by Brackley's son is that Farquharson of Inverey, with a band of armed followers, came to the house of Brackley, and commanded the Laird to restore his cattle which had been impounded.  An argument followed during which Brackley and his brother were 'murdered'.

Farquharson was held responsible, but as usual in those times, seems to have escaped any significant legal retribution!
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