Papers of John Rickart of Auchnacant/ The Rickart manuscript

Accounts of John Rickart of Auchnacant, (1671 - 1749), 1690 - 1724 (The Rickart Manuscript ), with annotated copy of transcript, compiled by William Walker, as it was printed in Scottish Notes and Queries (1913 - 1915). After returning to Aberdeen in 1692, John Rickart appears to have kept a regular and detailed account of his income and expenditure, recording details of personal and family transactions alongside those of his mercantile and money-lending businesses. The accounts thus created contain detailed and useful information regarding Aberdeen business and social life in the late 17th and early 18th century, including details of expenditure by landowners on agricultural improvements.

Rickart's original accounts are bound in 2 slim volumes, with some introductory notes and genealogical information pencilled in the opening pages by William Walker. Walker's printed transcripts are pasted into 3 volumes, and contain marginal entries in his hand, recording names of people and type or topic of transaction. Some loose papers containing Walker's rough notes and indexes are filed in a single folder.

John Rickart John Rickart (1671 - 1749), had begun trading on the continent before his father's death in 1692, but returned to Aberdeen at this time, where he made a comfortable living as merchant, money lender and country gentleman. Laird of Auchnacant estate, Aberdeenshire and other properties in the city of Aberdeen, with interests in fishing boats and extensive salmon fishings on the rivers Dee and Don, he made a good marriage in 1704, to Marjory, daughter of John Gordon of Fechil. By the time of his death in 1749, he was an extremely wealthy man, bequeathing more than 3 thousand pounds to the Work House and Infirmary of Aberdeen, and 5 hundred pounds to St Paul's Chapel.

None observed - listing in process

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

Bequeathed to the University by William Walker, c 1931

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

Scottish Notes and Queries (1913 - 1915)

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

The manuscripts probably came into William Walker's possession some time around 1913, when his first transcript of them appeared in Scottish Notes and Queries. No further details have been established.

No accruals expected

Writs of Auchnacant Farm, Foveran, Aberdeenshire, 1589 - 1993 (GB 231 MS 3507)

Several further collections of and relating to William Walker are deposited in the University. For details, see the University Library Catalogue http://www.abdn.ac.uk/diss/library/

Scottish Notes and Queries (1913 - 1915)

This material is original