| Collection | GB 0231 University of Aberdeen, Special Collections |
| Level | Fonds |
| Ref No | MS 2098 |
| Title | George Watson, farmer: diary |
| Date | 1771 - 1780 |
| Extent | 1 volume (0.03 linear metres) |
| Creator Name | Watson, George (fl 1771-1780), farmer |
| Administrative History | George Watson was a farmer in Fiddes (Foveran, Aberdeenshire) from 1771 to 1780. |
| Source | The volume was presented by the trustees of the late Robert Findlay Crabb (1903-1946), advocate, Aberdeen, in 1947. Crabb was the son of Robert Lawson Crabb, banker, and was born in Auchenblae, Kincardineshire, in 1903. He graduated MA from Aberdeen University in 1924 and 1925, and also LL.B. in 1925. He was a hockey Blue. He became a law agent in Scotland, then joined the firm of Brander and Cruickshank, Advocates, Aberdeen. He was later a partner in the firm, and was admitted to the Society of Advocates, Aberdeen, in 1929. He was Captain in the 4th Battalion Gordon Highlanders (TA) and took an active part in training but was disabled from service in the Second World War. He was awarded the OBE and died in 1946. |
| Description | Diary belonging to George Watson. One page is allotted to each month and entries are tabulated, showing day of week, moon, month, prevailing wind and weather observations. Entries respecting farming activities, wage prices paid or obtained for stock, grain or produce are added at the foot of each page and they are interspersed with verses, apparently by the diarist, and other miscellaneous entries. The volume was originally intended for use as an account book for meal and other receipts and there are entries of this nature, dated 1692, on the first and last pages. |
| Appraisal | This material has been appraised in line with normal procedures. |
| Accruals | None expected. |
| Access Status | Open |
| Access Conditions | The records are available subject to the signed acceptance of the Department's access conditions. |
| Copyright | 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 University Archivist 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. |
| Language | English |
| Physical Description | The volume, 19.5 x 30 cm., contains pages 1-198 and is bound in vellum; parts of the leather ties still remain. Some leaves are discoloured and entries in red ink are almost illegible. |
| Publication Note | Diary of George Watson, farmer, Fiddes, Aberdeenshire, 1771-1780. Northern Scotland, Volume 1, No. 1 (1972), p.121. |