Papers of the Lumsden family of Cushnie, Aberdeenshire

This material is held atUniversity of Aberdeen Collections

Scope and Content

Collection of manuscripts relating to the estate and family of Lumsden of Cushnie, Aberdeenshire, 1464 - 1891, and 1901 - 1957, comprising over 4000 items, including charters, sasines, rentals, correspondence, and accounts. Amongst these, approximately 50 writs, dating from the 15th c - 18th c, refer to the related property of Cairncoullie, Leochel Cushnie parish, Aberdeenshire.

For a detailed description of the collection, see Colin MacLaren, Reports of Archives in Northern Scotland, Northern Scotland, 1 (1972), 117 - 119.

Administrative / Biographical History

Cushnie, an ancient parish in Alford district, Aberdeenshire, was annexed in 1798 to Leochel, and now forms the western section of Leochel-Cushnie parish. Cushnie barony, originally called Cussenin (Gaelic ch'oisinn, "corner"), belonged in the 12th century, to a family of its own name; passed by marriage in the early 14th century, to the Leslies, ancestors of the Earls of Rothes; and in 1628, to the Lumsdens. Cushnie House, built by the family in 1707 but ruined by 1901, was replaced [?in the nineteenth century] with a smaller mansion near by, by Henry T. Lumsden, nephew of Matthew Lumsden LLD (1788 - 1856), orientalist. The estate passed to the Setons of Pitmedden in the nineteenth century, and thence to the King family. It was sold by Cecil H. King c 1957.

For further details on the family and lands, see Henry W. Lumsden, Memorials of the Families of Lumsdaine, Lumisden or Lumsden (Edinburgh: Douglas, 1889). See also Scottish Notes and Queries, 3rd series, 5 (1927), 96, 117 - 118, 140, 177, 178; Bernard Burke, History of the Landed Gentry (1845 - 1862); and Margaret Stuart, Scottish Family History (Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd, 1930)

Arrangement

Main series of charters, writs, and related papers, 1464 - 1799 (nos. 1 - 3443) arranged chronologically. Further series, arranged chronologically within, for papers of Mrs Anne Forbes of Newe (d 1781), 1764 - 1784 (nos. 3444 - 3551); estate accounts and rentals, 1771 - 1773, 1783 - 1813 (nos. 3555 - 3559, 4008); legal papers, 1805 - 1869 (nos. 3560 - 3586); papers re. Leochel-Cushnie parish, 1810 - 1877 (nos. 3605 - 3749); accounts and estate correspondence, 1800 - 1891 (nos. 3605 - 3905); undated manuscript (3906 - 4003); legal correspondence, writs, etc, 1867 - 1889, rentals and factory accounts, 1899 - 1906, return of land valuation duties, 1910, inventory of writs, 1929, factors' or trustees' accounts, 1932 - 1956 (nos. 4009 - 4065).

Access Information

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

Acquisition Information

Gifted to the University between 1947 and 1957, by Cecil H. King. Additional deposits in 1972 and 1997.

Other Finding Aids

Interim descriptive list, in slip catalogues available in the Reading Room, Special Libraries and Archives (e-mail: speclib@abdn.ac.uk).

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

Alternative Form Available

No copies known

Conditions Governing Use

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.

Appraisal Information

This material has been appraised in line with normal procedures

Custodial History

Custody of the papers passed with ownership of the estate until c 1957, when the estate was sold by Cecil H. King, and the papers gifted by him to the University.

Accruals

No accruals expected

Related Material

Papers relating to history and genealogy of the Lumsden family, of Cushnie, Aberdeenshire, and elsewhere, compiled by Arthur Lumsden Bedingfield, 1928 (GB 231 MS 0875/ 1 - 2) (2 volumes, comprising Miscellany of the family of Lumsden (GB 231 MS 0875) and Genealogical records of the family of Lumsden (GB 231 MS 0875/2))

Papers relating to history and genealogy of Lumsden family, Berwick, 1799 (GB 231 MS 0848/10) (1 volume)

Collection of papers relating to Hugh Lumsden Gordon, Carlos Pedro Gordon, and marches of Clova, Aberdeenshire, 1861-71 (GB 231 MS 2050) (1 volume)

Recollections of the early life of Jane Forbes of Echt, Aberdeenshire, afterwards Mrs. Clements Lumsden (GB 231 MS 2489) (1 volume)

Papers of the Seton family of Pitmedden (GB 231 MS 3531)

Papers of the Forbes family of Newe, Aberdeenshire, 1560 - 1904 (GB 231 MS 2769/ I/2/1-2; GB 231 MS 2769/ I/3/1-4; GB 231 MS 2769/ I/13/1; GB 231 MS 2769/ I/17/1-3; GB 231 MS 2769/ I/26/1-2; GB 231 MS 2769/ I/151/1-4) (16 boxes)

Papers of the Forbes family of Newe, Aberdeenshire, including papers of Sir Charles Forbes, 1820 - 1840 (GB 231 MS 2769/ I/113/1-3; GB 231 MS 2769/ I/160/1-8; GB 231 MS 2769/ II/52/1-2) (3 volumes and 11 boxes)

Papers of the Forbes family of Newe, Aberdeenshire, 1462 - 1868 (GB 231 MS 3402) (7 boxes)

Bibliography

Colin MacLaren, Reports of Archives in Northern Scotland, Northern Scotland, 1 (1972), 117 - 119.

Henry W. Lumsden, Memorials of the Families of Lumsdaine, Lumisden or Lumsden (Edinburgh: Douglas, 1889).

Volumes 1, 3, and 4 of Illustrations of the topography and antiquities of the shires of Aberdeen and Banff, edited by Joseph Robertson and George Grubb, 4 vols., (Aberdeen: Spalding Club, 1847 - 1869), contain transcripts of several of the early Cushnie charters contained in this collection.

Additional Information

This material is original