Take a look back at estate papers to delve into a wealth of information
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The Highland Archive Centre holds several collections of estate papers from large landed families in the area which deal with the administration of the land, the property and the people living on the estate.
Many estates do not follow parish or regional boundaries, often lying over these boundary lines. Estate papers can also be referred to as factors’ papers, as a factor (usually a solicitor) would be appointed to administer the practical management of the estate.
Estate collections can contain a wide range of documents and therefore a wealth of information. The papers often focus on the land (management, development, agriculture and livestock) with documents including maps, estate plans, correspondence, rental contracts, game stats; the buildings on the land (estate houses, cottages and other structures) including architects’ plans, factors’ records, inventories, correspondence, accounts; and the people on the land (tenants, employees and labourers) such as rent rolls, tacks, wages, receipts.
One such collection held at the Highland Archive Centre is HCA/D538 the Munro of Novar family. The papers relate to the family, their Novar estate (in Ross-shire), the family seat (Novar House) and the family’s friends and acquaintances. This collection is split into two sections – documents relating to the management of the estate and the personal papers relating to the family. The collection as a whole covers the period c1673-1967.
A significant proportion of the Munro of Novar papers were created by estate factors or their predecessors, between c1730 and the mid-20th century. The collection also includes many legal documents (some with 16th and 17th century dates) and solicitors’ correspondence. Probably the greater part of the collection relates to Novar Estate, Novar House and Forests; other papers relate to Findhorn and Muirtown, Culcairn, Culrain and Raith Estates, and Drummond Farm – either or both their acquisition by Sir Hector Munro, and their subsequent management.
A second collection worthy of mention is HCA/D456 Baillie of Dunain. This collection relates to the Baillie family, their Dunain estate, the family seat (Dunain House) and the family’s friends and acquaintances. This time the collection is split into three sections, with the family and estate papers combined. Papers contained within this collection span from 1700 to 1850.
Dunain was an estate in Inverness-shire, south-west of Inverness. Alexander Baillie, son of Sir William Baillie of Lamington in Lanark, appears to have moved north to support the Earl of Huntly against the Earl of Crawford. He was granted lands at Dunain and Torbreck and made constable of the Castle of Inverness under Huntly in 1452 as a reward for bravery in the Battle of Brechin. Alexander married Catherine, daughter of the Laird of Grant and from them are descended the families of Baillies of Dochfour, Dunain and Leys.
Before coming to the Highland Archive Centre, it seems likely that these papers were held for a time in the later 19th century by the noted Highland solicitor, historian and politician, Charles Fraser MacKintosh, who was appointed factor for the Baillies’ Dunain estate in 1865 and was solicitor to one of the new owners of the estate after it was broken up in 1869.
These collections contain an incredible amount of information which can be of use to a wide variety of researchers. The documents can be accessed at the Highland Archive Centre. For details call 01349 781130 or email archives@highlifehighland.com
