Correspondence of the Oswald family of Auchincruive

The collection is composed of correspondence to Richard Oswald (1705-1784) and the correspondence of Richard Alexander Oswald, M.P. (1771-1841), his cousin James Oswald, M.P., and the latter's nephew Alexander Oswald, M.P., all of whom had succeeded in turn to the Auchincruive estates. More specifically there is: a batch of letters to Richard Oswald of Auchincruive from various correspondents in Scotland relating to the management of his Scottish estates and to business transactions, 1764-1884; letters of Richard Oswald Alexander to D. Campbell, 1836-1837, and letters to Oswald from various correspondents including J. Kermack, W.S. 1804-1826. And also: a letter from A. Oswald to R. A. Oswald in Italy, 1817; letters of Alexander Oswald to R. Oswald, 1774-1778; letter from Alexander Oswald to his aunt Miss E. Oswald, describing the coronation of Queen Victoria, 1838; letter of Alexander Oswald to his sisters at Ardrossan, 1839; letters to Alexander Oswald from brother, sister, aunts, Uncle James Oswald M.P., and grandmother, and also from the 10th Duke of Hamilton and from Messrs. Dundas and Wilson, 1829-1845; letters of George Oswald to R. Oswald, 1769-1772; letter of George Oswald to his brother Alexander, 1841; letter to George Oswald from A. Hain, 1793; letter of J, Oswald to R. A. Oswald in Paris, 1817; letters of James Oswald M.P. to his nephew Alexander Oswald, 1829-1843; letter of James Oswald M.P. to his sister Miss Oswald, 1838; letters to James Oswald M.P. from various correspondents, 1838-1846; letters of Mrs. Margaret Oswald to her grandson Alexander Oswald in Madeira and Pau, 1829; and, letters of Mrs. Margaret Oswald to her nephew Alexander Oswald, 1829 and 1831.

Access should be unrestricted but please check in advance of any consultation.

With Accession no. E60.2, probably acquired 1960.

The local Indexes show various other references to Oswald related material in the Laing Collection and elsewhere (check the Indexes for more details): letter to D. Laing from Alexander Oswald, 1816, at La.IV.6; letter to James Oswald, M.P. from the Duke of Hamilton about the Ministers to Churches Bill, 1834; and, franked postal cover addressed by James Oswald M.P. to Mrs Fowler, 1837.

In addition, the UK National Register of Archives (NRA), updated by the Historical Manuscripts Commission, notes for Richard Oswald (1705-1784): letterbooks (10 vols), 1759-1784, Yale University Libraries, Beinecke Library; and, correspondence (3 vols), 1761-1784, National Archives of Scotland, Ref. GD213 NRA 34739 Oswald. For Richard Oswald (1782-1818), Merchant and Army Clothier HMC notes: correspondence and papers, Private, NRA 21704 Oswald.