Papers of the Gordon family of Craig Castle and Auchindoir, Aberdeenshire

Small collection of writs and charters relating to Craig Castle and Auchindoir, Aberdeenshire, 1511 - 1730:

Charter of confirmation granted at Elphinstoun, by Alexander Elphinston, eldest son of Alexander, Master of Elphinston of Barra, Baron of Kildrummy, in favour of William Gordon of Craig and Clara Cheyne, his wife, respecting the town and lands of Contlach and Auchenleith, in the parish of Auchendoir, Aberdeenshire, 30 Jun 1596; letters of procuratory granted at Silverfoord, by John Gordon of Craig, son and heir of the late William Gordon of Craig, appointing Lewis Somervell as his procurator to appear before his superiors, Lord Elphinston and Alexander, Master of Elphinston, and resign into their hands the lands of Contlach, in favour of his son, John Gordon, younger, fiar of Craig, 21 Apr 1620; charter of confirmation containing a novodamus, granted at Kildrummy and Edzell, by John, Earl of Mar, of Erskine and Garioch, Treasurer of Scotland, and his son, John Lord Erskine, in which the lands of Contlach in the barony of Kildrummy, previously held of Lord Elphinston and his son, Alexander, Master of Elphinston as superiors, by John Gordon, younger of Craig, are now granted by Mar and Erskine as superiors for the same annual payment of 25 merks, 17 and 25 Sept 1626; precept of clare constant granted at Edinburgh, by James Erskine of Grange and David Erskine of Dun, Senators of the College of Justice, meantime hereditory proprietors of the Earldom of Mar, in favour of John Gordon of Craig, 3 Aug 1730; charter granted at Aberdeen, by Sir Alexander Irvine of Drum, to William Gordon, son of Patrick Gordon of Johnsleys, respecting to lands of Auchindoir, Fulziemond and Creak, 11 Apr 1511

Craig Castle, situated in Auchindoir and Kearn parish, West Aberdeenshire, dates from 1528, possibly earlier, with later additions in 1667, 1726, and 1832. It was the seat of a branch of the Gordon family from the early 17th century.

Chronological

Open, subject to signature accepting conditions of use at reader registration sheet

A box of manuscripts from Craig Castle (comprising 135 writs, charters, etc.) was deposited in the University on 29 Jun 1959, for listing and appraisal. They were returned to the owner on 8 Apr 1971: Photocopies of the 5 items described above were retained by the University at this time, together with a detailed inventory of the complete collection. The photocopies appear to have been made as an aid to transcription whilst the records were being listed, and not, apparently, selected for any special historical significance which they may have held within the collection.

Very brief collection level description available on Aberdeen University Library Catalogue, accessible online http://www.abdn.ac.uk/diss/library/

No further copies known

Subject to the condition of the original, copies may be supplied for private research use only on receipt of a signed undertaking to comply with current copyright legislation.

Permission to make any published use of material from the collection must be sought in advance from the Head of Special Libraries and Archives (e-mail: speclib@abdn.ac.uk) and, where appropriate, from the copyright owner. Where possible, assistance will be given in identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material.

This material has been appraised in line with normal procedures

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Original records returned to owner in 1971