| Administrative History | The seat of the Forbes family is Castle Newe, Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, which dates from 1604, but was largely rebuilt in 1831. |
| Description | This collection relates to the Forbes family of Newe and the inheritance of their lands and titles, from the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries. Though the bulk of the papers concern ownership and transfer of land, there is much to be gleaned amongst them, on the changing land management practices which took place in the North East of Scotland during this time, with particular emphasis on peat-cutting, common grazing, shielings, and the creation and establishment of march fences. Of greatest interest amongst other legal papers, concerned in equal measure with both family and estate matters, are the sequestration papers of John Forbes of Bellabeg and his eldest son, George Forbes, 1781 - 1784; and 7 bundles of papers regarding the claim by Sir Charles Forbes of Newe and Edinglassie as heir male of Alexander, 3rd Lord Forbes of Pitsligo, 1830 - 1833. The papers are presently bundle listed, but are described below, under approximate groupings, according to record type.
Writs, titles, inventories, and associated legal papers Lands of Barns of Culquhoich and Deskorie, in the parish of Migvie, sheriffdom of Aberdeen, 1676 - 1778 (bundle 23). Includes contract between Charles, Earl of Mar and William Forbes of Newe on behalf of himself and Helen Forbes, his spouse, and John Forbes, his son, whereby the Earl sells the lands of Barns and Deskorie, 13 and 30 Dec 1676.
Lands of Buchanan, in the parish of Strathdon, sheriffdom of Aberdeen, 1592 - 1775 (bundle 19). Includes charter in favour of John Forbes in liferent and James Forbes, his son, in fee of the lands of Buchanan by resignation of Alexander, Master of Elphinstone, 18 Apr 1592.
Lands of Culquhanny/ Culquhanie, in the parish of Strathdon, sheriffdom of Aberdeen, 1683 - 1732 (bundle 2) and 1712 - 1753 (bundle 33). Includes disposition James Forbes of Culquharry to John Forbes of Newe of his half davoch of land of Culquhanie, p. Strathdon, s. Aberdeen, 20 Jun 1752.
Lands of Culquharry/ Culquharrie, in the parish of Invernoughty, Aberdeenshire, 1627 - 1755 (bundle 17), 1700 - 1741 (bundle 20), 1617 - 1784 (bundle 21), 1692 - 1752 (bundle 28); and 1664 - 1752 (bundle 30). Includes marriage contract between John Farquharson and Margaret Forbes, d. of Alexander Forbes of Culquharrie, 1700 (bundle 20); and instrument of sasine in favour of William Forbes and Katherine Gordon, his spouse, to the lands of Culquharrie, 17 May 1711(bundle 21).
Lands of Ledmakey/ Ledmacay, Toonagaven and others, in the parish of Invernethie, sheriffdom of Aberdeen, 1624 - 1753 (bundle 1) and 1687 - 1793 (bundle 25). Includes marriage contract between George Forbes of Ledmacay and Anna Michie, daughter of James Michie in Milne of Rippachie, 7 Dec 1747( bundle 25).
Lands of Melville and Little Glentarvie, Belnagle and others, 1624 (bundle1).
Lands of Over Killbatho, Barony of Milownnie, sheriffdom of Aberdeen, 1676 - 1782 (bundle 34).
Lands of Scotstownhill, in the parish of St Andrews, sheriffdom of Elgin, 1812 - 1814 (bundle 18).
Lands of Skellater and Toldieskench, 1627 - 1754 (bundle 26). Includes papers re. the rights to cast peats from the Moss of Deuchrie, and tack of the teinds of Skellater and Toldieskinch by Master James Erskine of Grange and Master David Erskine of Durn to George Forbes of Skellater, 19 Jul 1733.
Inventory of Bellabeg and Ledmacay, 1782 - 1783 (bundle 29).
Misc. Forbes writs, 1661 - 1749 (bundle 35)
Other legal papers Misc. titles and legal papers, chiefly re. process, Lumsden v Forbes, 1661 - 1815 (bundle 31).
Misc. legal papers, 1690 - 1795 (bundle 27). Includes John Forbes of Ledmakay to John Forbes of Innernethie, re. rights to turf and peat, 20 May 1691; marriage contract between William Lord Forbes of Buchanan and Katherine Gordon, 17 Aug 1708; extract registered decreet arbitral between John Forbes of Invertyre and John Forbes of Balnabaddoch re. disputed marches which divides the property and commonty of the lands of Invernochty, Drumaneddy and Lost ... from the lands of Balnabeddoch.
Correspondence and legal papers re. rights to cast peats in the Mosses of Burnreoch, Blackhillock, Malcharach and Deuchrie, c 1700 - 1812 (bundle 7).
Misc. legal papers re. Forbes of Newe, 1702 - 1835 (bundle 36). Includes marriage contract between William Forbes of Invernoughty and Agnes Copland, eldest daughter of Mr Patrick Copland, minister of Cushnie, Aug 1702; contract of tolerance re. the Moss of Deuchrie between John Forbes of Newe and John Forbes of Bellabeg, 25 Mar 1743; John Forbes of Bellabeg to John Forbes of Newe settling the line of March between Culquharry and Bellabeg, 2 Nov 1776.
Correspondence and papers re. shielings in Glenoughty, 1775 - 1781 (bundle 24).
Bonds, discharges and related papers re. John Forbes of Bellabeg, 1722 - 1781 (bundle 32). Includes marriage contract between Nathaneal Forbes of Ledmacay and Isabel Forbes, daughter of John Forbes of Belnabeg, 17 Aug 1722.
Sequestration of John Forbes of Bellabeg and George Forbes, his eldest son, 1781 - 1784 (bundles 3 - 4).
Discharge vouchers of George Forbes debts, paid by John Forbes, merchant in Bombay, 1783 (bundles 15 - 16).
Papers re. claim by Sir Charles Forbes of Newe and Edinglassie as heir male of Alexander, 3rd Lord Forbes of Pitsligo, 1830 - 1833 (bundles 8 - 14). 7 bundles, including correspondence, brieves, notes, genealogies, copy extracts from Great Seal, Acts of the Lords of Council, etc.
Papers re. Court of Session action between James, earl of Fife and others v Sir Charles Forbes and others, concerning the division of Miekle Glenoughty commonty, 1865 - 1868 (bundle 22).
Teinds and related papers Newe, Tolnaskinch, Culquhany, Farlands and others, 1792 - 1805 (bundle 5). Newe, Tolnaskinch, Culquhany, Farlands and others, 1792 - 1805 (bundle 5). Strathdon, 1784 - 1798 (bundle 6).
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