Country Code
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GB
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Repository Code
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233
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Repository
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National Library of Scotland
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Reference
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GB233/MS.15471-15481
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Title
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Chalmers of Auldgarth Papers: Antiquarian, Genealogical Papers and Correspondence
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Dates
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1768-1863
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Access Status
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Open
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Description
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MS.15471 Antiquarian papers of Patrick Chalmers (d.1854). A volume comprising (i) Papers on field antiquities, especially sculptured stones (f.1). (ii) Papers relating to documentary research (f.23). These papers axe largely transcripts of charters and writs relating to Angus. Included in this section is an essay by Chalmers entitled on Remarks the Law of the Burghs (f.26); a list of churches within the Deanery of Angus and the Diocese of St Andrews (f.40) a note on the public library In Montrose (f.78); transcripts of documents by John Stuart, Cosmo Innes, W.B.D.D. Turnbull 'a copy of a rental written on a roll of vellum in the custody of the Kirk Secession of Arbroath' made by Cosmo Innes and Patrick Chalmers (f.137)' an inventory by Turnbull of writs relating to the lands and offices of the Abbey of Cupar from the charter room of Lord Airlie (f.158); a transcript of charters of the Burgh of Brechin (f. 187) 271 ff. Folio and under. MS.15472 Antiquarian papers: printed material. Much of the volume consists of printed proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of London (to which Patrick Chalmers was elected in 1850), together with lists of Fellows thereof. But there are also items relating to Chalmers's membership of the Spalding Club; the Montrose Natural History and Antiquarian Society the Archaeological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland and the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. There is an obituary of Thomas Thomson at f.161. 180 ff. Quarto and under. MS.15473 A volume of antiquarian notes on Brechin. There are records of material remains as well as notes on documentary research into the history of the town, its ecclesiastical and other buildings, and its institutions. 24 ff. many blank. Quarto. MS.15474 Notebook containing antiquarian notes on Arbroath and district, 19th century. Ii ff. + many blanks + 5 ff. reversed. Octavo. MS.15475 General antiquarian correspondence, 1829-62. The great majority of the letters date from c1850 to 1855. A copy of a letter (1829) from James Chalmers to David Laing on the subject of the sale of the Hutton collection, of which the original is Adv.MS.29.k.2(i) f.1, is included (f.1). There is a long letter on vitrified forts (f.11). Correspondents include Albert Way, founder of the [Royal] Archaeological Institute, David Laing William B.D.D. Turnbull, Patrick Chalmers (on Roman methods of crucifixion); James Giles, RSA; J.Y. Akerman Thomas Pelham Dale; Charles Roach Smith; J.W. Papworth, Bishop William Reeves, Bishop William Basil Jones; Daniel Wilson; Henry Cockburn, Lord Cockburn, Algernon Herbert; and D.O. Hill. 203 ff. Quarto and under. MS.15476 Antiquarian correspondence: groups of letters from Patrick Chalmers's principal correspondents on antiquarian matters, 1843-61. These are: John Stuart (f.1); William Fraser (f.75); Cosmo Innes (f.121); Andrew Jervise (f.149); R.W. Billings (f.179); and Henry Laing (f.214). Some papers on early Scottish seals, associated with the interests shared by Laing and Chalmers, are included at the end of the volume (f.246). 260 ff. Folio and under. MS.15477 Letters from authors/booksellers (f.1)1 and on art and architecture (f.74). Writers include Thomas Rodd the younger and John Burke. Some fragmentary Auldbar library catalogues and miscellaneous lists of books, l8th-l9th centuries, are included here (f.38), and the lending-book of the Auldhar library records borrowings in 1860-61 by Patrick Chalmers 'a antiquarian associate Andrew Jervise (f.70). There are also papers relating to the Architectural Institute of Scotland (f,76) and letters from the engraver Robert Bell (f.88). 98 ff. Folio and under. MS.15478 Correspondence (f.1) and papers (f.87) concerning Chalmers family history and genealogy. The correspondence dates largely from the 1840s, with a few earlier and later letters, including two of 1934 which refer to manuscripts which had strayed from the Chalmers papers. The miscellaneous papers include: ~Geflea1ogical Collections relative to the Family of Chalmers collected by Alexander Deuchar, Genealogist, Edinburgh' (f.87); 'Memoranda relative to the notices of Families of the name of Chalmers' compiled by John Stuart, 18Li~6 (f.99); notes on the family by Patrick Chalmers the antiquary; genealogies compiled by Stuart (f.115); and notes on the family of Chalmers of Balnacraig by Patrick Chalmers, William Fraser and John Stuart (ff.156-207). 263 ff. Folio and under. MS.15479 Volume entitled 'Notices of Families in Aberdeenshire of the Name of Chalmers, from various registers', compiled by John Stuart. 42 ff some blank. Quarto. MS.15480 A drawing of the arms of Chalmers of Auldbar, with instructions on making a shield (? in cast iron) 19th century 510 x 430 mm MS.15481Genealogical papers. Notes by John Stuart and Patrick Chalmers (f.1), and 'Genealogical information relative to the family of Dempster, collected by Alex. Deuchar, Seal Engraver to Her Majesty, and Genealogist, Edinburgh' (f.26). Miscellaneous papers relating to the family of Young collected by Deuchar, Patrick Chalmers, and others (f. 35). 131 ff. Folio and under.
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Level
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Series
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Admin
History
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Aulbar was bought in 1753 by William Chalmers, a Gibraltar merchant whose family had owned land in Aberdeenshire, at Federate and Hazlehead. His father and brother were physicians in Aberdeen, and the papers as arranged below begin with medical records of these men. An important section relates to the trade and administration of Gibraltar in the second quarter of the 18th century, and there is also much mercantile correspondence of the 18th and early 19th centuries. As with the rest of this collection the estate papers and accounts are fragmentary and lacunose and came into the library in poor condition: large periods particularly in the later 19th century are missing and there is comparatively little on the Chalmers family estates before the purchase of Auldbar.
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Finding Aids
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NLS Catalogue of Manuscripts Acquired Since 1925 Volume XI
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Archival History
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The Chalmers Papers were surveyed by the National Register of Archives (Scotland) in 1963. On the subsequent sale of Auldbar Castle the muniments were dispersed and many items noted in 1963 have not since been located.
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