| Administrative History | William Alexander MacNaughton was a medical graduate of Edinburgh University (1878) and sometime Medical Officer of Health for Kincardineshire. He was editor of Caledonian Medical Journal from 1897 - 1932 and author of The medical heroes of the 'Forty-five (Glasgow: MacDougall, 1897), Caledonian medical journal (1897-1900). Though he is not recorded as a graduate of Aberdeen University, he contributed antiquarian articles to the Aberdeen University Review, and gifted or bequeathed several manuscripts to the University. |
| Description | Comprising personal papers of William A. MacNaughton, and a collection of original records and transcriptions compiled by him relating to Scottish history, and to the local history of Kincardineshire and Aberdeenshire, 1617 - 1932.
Personal papers include certificates (degree, public health diploma, etc.); material relating to his editorship of the Caledonian Medical Journal ; correspondence on antiquarian subjects; incomplete manuscripts on the history of Stonehaven; and genealogical notes or transcripts on the MacNaughton, Bruce and Burns families. Other transcripts include copy of rent book for Elfhill farm, [?parish], 1730 - 1783; account of money received by William Gibbon for building a meeting house in Stonehaven, 1737 - 1746; and ledger of the Laird of Skene, 1768.
Original records in the collection were loosely arranged into literary papers and miscellaneous papers prior to deposit, though this arrangement may change pending future cataloguing:
Literary papers include notebook containing autobiography of Dr Alexander James MacIntosh, Downham Market, Norfolk, copy register of baptisms administered by the Rev. John Robertson, Episcopal Minister Strathtay, 1812 - 1829, notes and register extracts from Episcopal church, Atholl, 1812 - 1822, notes from Augustus by E.S. Shuckburgh, 1903, and notes from Farington's diary; inventory of the moveables of Alexander Fotheringham, deceased, in Links of Arduthie, Sept 1790; notes of sermons on sacramental and other occasions by Adam Gib, minister in the Associate Congregation at Edinburgh, Jun 1770 - Jul 1782, and notes of sermons, Jun 1762 - Dec 1769; manuscript of poem, Mock Poem or Whig's Supplication , with introduction, unsigned, early 18th c; notebook containing Adagia et nonnulla latina anglica and other schoolboy notes of William Davidson, of Kelso, 1688, and James Davidson, of Kelso, c 1700; notebook of Dr Patrick Cumin, 1726; and account book of David Maxwell, Minister of Essie, 1739 - 1762.
Miscellaneous papers include letter from James VI to the Earl Marischal recommending Andrew Adie to be Principal of Marischal College, 1615 [18th century copy]; royal proclamation for dissolving the Glasgow General Assembly, 1638 [printed]; list of baronets created by Charles I; list of noblemen, gentlemen and others who have been attained and adjudged to have been guilty of High Treason, 1745 [printed]; list of debts affecting the estate of Kerse (Sir Alexander Hope), 1736 [printed]; bundle of miscellaneous petitions and answers, etc., in causes before the Court of Session, c 1730 - 1755; expense account of voyages to English and French parts, 1647; copy declaration of indemnity, 1662; letters to Hugh Fullerton, advocate, Aberdeen, 1812 - 1815; papers relating to the affairs of Thomas Smith, deceased, architect in Rothesay, 1827; assignations of James Walters, collector of customs at Wick, in favour of Robert Bruce in Staxigoe, Jul 1826, and George Sinclair, fish curer in Wick, Jul 1846.
Papers of the Menzies family, Perthshire, 1526-1808 (MS 2605/1-25) and papers relating to families and estates in Kincardineshire, particularly Stonehaven, 1530-1809 (MS 2606) were extracted from this collection in 1967 and accessioned separately. |