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Country code |
GB |
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Repository code |
234 |
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Repository |
National Records of Scotland |
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Reference |
GD185 |
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Title |
Papers of the Abercromby Family of Forglen and Birkenbog |
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Dates |
1323-1963 |
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Access status |
Open |
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Location |
Off site |
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Description |
Summary:
Papers of the families of Abercromby of Birkenbog and Ogilvie of Forglen, united by marriage of Sir George Abercromby of Birkenbog to Jane, daughter of Alexander Ogilvie, 7th lord Banff, in 1778.
Mainly writs of lands in the sheriffdoms of Aberdeen and Banff, including many in the burgh of Banff, giving details of inhabitants and boundaries; also lands of Montcoffer, Garioch, Pitmedden, Rayne, Ordinhuiff, Forest of Boyne and Inchdrewer, 1323-1794.
Writs of lands of Forglen, held of the Abbey of Arbroath, mentioning the Breckbannock of St Columba [probably the Monymusk Reliquary, now in the National Museum of Scotland, Queen Street, Edinburgh], 1388-1585.
Writs of lands in the sheriffdom of Berwick, including Fast Castle, acquired through marriage of Sir Walter Ogilvy of Dunlugus and Alison Home, daughter and co-heiress of Cuthbert Home of Fast Castle, 1484-1594.
Correspondence, 1595-1889. Writers include Robert Gordon of Straloch, geographer; James, 1st earl of Seafield, and subsequent earls of Seafield; Lord Adam Gordon and other members of the ducal family of Gordon; William Duff of Braco 1725; William Cramond, the historian, 1889; Robert, 2nd Viscount Melville 1813; letters from Abercrombies in North and South America, including Mexico, 1762-77, 1852; few letters from India, 1811-24.
A series of most interesting letters from Sir William Fraser over the proposed publication of 'The Abercromby Book,' and the subsequent awkwardness when this was abandoned, 1879-95.
Miscellaneous papers, including some on the burning of George, 3rd lord Banff, and the house of Inchdrewer, in 1713; diary kept by G A Abercromby during a tour of France and Italy in 1868; Banffshire election dispute, 1852.
Specification of house to be built in Coates Crescent, Edinburgh, to design of William Elliot, architect, 1819.
Estate papers, 17-19th cents. Including rentals of Birkenbog, Straloch, Galcross and Ordinhuiff; minutes of the barony court of Forglen, 1688-1723; tack of garden of Forglen, describing the contents, 1682; papers on building a bridge over the Deveron, 1826; its salmon fishings, 1908-14; estate accounts of Forglen, Birkenbog, etc, 1908-63.
Papers relative to family of Douglas of Netherlaw, Castle Douglas, 1782-1860, inherited through marriage of Sir Robert Abercromby of Birkenbog to Elizabeth Stephenson, daughter and heir of Samuel Douglas of Netherlaw, in 1816, including a valuation of the stewartry of Kirkcudbright, 1819; few legal papers relative to partnership of Messrs Douglas, merchants in New York, 1782-93, later Douglas and Shaw, London 1790-1824.
Few rentals of lands of Fermoy, Ireland, 20th cent.
Many examples of seals, including the burgh of Banff [a pig], 1408, 1544; William Elphinstone, bishop of Aberdeen, 1499; William Gordon, bishop of Aberdeen, 1557; Abbey of Arbroath, 1484; James, earl of Buchan, 1494; John, 3rd earl of Buchan, 1545; John, 1st lord Darnley, 1563; James Ogilvy of Deskford, kt, 1474; burgh of Stirling [Christ crucified on Stirling Bridge], 1737; John, perpetual commendator of Coldingham, 1548, Walter, abbot of Arbroath, 1414; burgess tickets and commissions, 17-18th cents, including a Perth burgess ticket with elaborate decoration by Thomas Phinn, Edinburgh, 1778; American masonic certificate, decorated by Andrew Billings, New York 1787. |
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Level |
Fonds |
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Arrangement |
The current inventory has kept the order but given the documents bundle numbers; it is hoped that this will make it easier to use. |
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Finding aids |
Handlist |
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Format |
Text |
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Language |
English |
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Archival history |
These papers were deposited in the Scottish Record Office on indefinite loan in 1962 by Sir George Abercromby, bt. They were accompanied by a 6 volume inventory made in 1914 by Keith W Murray, Portcullis Pursuivant. This is a very accomplished and detailed work, but it suffered from a most peculiar arrangement, which made it very difficult to locate any particular document. |
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