Ferguson of Kinmundy papers The collection contains a substantial number of legal documents illustrating the ownership of the family's estates from an early period. There are sasines and other deeds to the lands of Kinmundy and Coynach from 1541, including transactions involving the lands forfeited by the Earl Marischal, as well as private legal papers between members of the Ferguson family, and also documents of their relatives by marriage such as Alexander Deans's property interests in a saltpan at Prestonpans. There are also documents concerning Brigadier-General James Ferguson's second marriage in the Low Countries and his daughter's estate. While there are gaps in the estate papers at some periods, the coverage of this area is relatively full for the early 18th century, the period at which James Ferguson of Pitfour was acting as tutor to his cousin both for the Kirktonhill estate and at Kinmundy. Rentals from this period are present for both estates, and there is a varying amount of material covering estate matters from the later 18th century to the first years of the 20th century. The correspondence present in the collection is largely between family members and relatives, but also includes outside material such as the legal papers of Thomas Ferguson, who had a legal practice in Edinburgh in the second half of the 18th century. The papers of William Ferguson LLD (1823 - 1904) reflect his business and charitable activities. The business papers relate to the textile trade with India and the development of railways in the north of Scotland, and Ferguson's close involvement with Presbyterianism is reflected in the material on Sabbath Schools and other church matters, including a school for Muslim girls in Beirut. William Ferguson's other charitable activities represented in the collection include the organisation of the Admiral Fitzroy Testimonial Fund. He also carried out lecture tours in the United States, and the collection includes his unpublished "Journal of my work in America" of 1857. 16th century-20th century