Notes |
- (Research):Some little inaccuracies as to the Family and Representatives of Bishop Keith, having appeared in the Preface and Biographical Sketch prefixed to the First Volume of his History, as republished in 1844, under the auspices of the Spottiswoode Society, I beg to supply you, from an authentic source, with more correct information ; simply adding that, when the First Volume appeared, there was no opportunity of testing the accuracy of the statements then made to the Editor, by reference to any of the Bishop's descendants. What follows, therefore, will be received in connexion with the statements in Vol. 1st. pp. viii. xi. lvii. lviii. lxxv. xc.
" The Bishop married a lady named Isabel Cameron, daughter of the Rev. John Cameron, by whom he had two daughters. One of these died unmarried ; the other, named Katherine, was married to Mr Stewart Carmichael of Leith.
The offspring of this marriage was a daughter, Katharina Stewartina, and a son who died young. The former became the first wife of Mr William Douglas, Merchant, Leith, and left issue by him, William (who died unmarried) Stewart, Archibald, and four daughters. The direct representation of the Bishop's Family, therefore, rests with the descendants of the late Mr Stewart Douglas ; who left five sons, the eldest of whom, William Douglas, Esq. of Liverpool, the great-great-grandson of the Bishop, is likewise nearest of kin, through his grandmother, to Colonel Robert Keith, of the 2d Regiment of Foot Guards '97 who was, up to his death in 1780, acknowledged as the nearest male representative of George, tenth Earl Marischal, who died two years before him, namely, in 1778.
" Taking it for granted then, that, with the death of Keith of Northfield, referred to in the statement by John Riddell, Esq. in p. lxxxix, the male representatives of the Family became extinct, the representation in the female line belongs, in the first place, to the direct descendants of Keith of Northfield; or failing them, to the direct descendants or nearest heirs of Colonel Robert Keith, who are manifestly much nearer, in point of propinquity, to the last male representative who would have inherited the title and property, than the Family of Lady Clementina Elphinstone can be.
" In reference to a statement made at p. Ixxv, it may be remarked, that the fact of the title and estates of Kintore devolving on the heirs-female of George, tenth Earl Marischal, goes no farther than to point out the representatives of the Kintore Family, which, by the terms of the charter, were allowed to pass through the female line. The title and estates of Marischal were restricted to male descendants ; and would, therefore, as has been before observed, have devolved on Colonel Robert Keith, as the nearest male heir.
" By giving insertion to the foregoing statement, for the accuracy of which I am of course responsible, '97 You will much oblige, Rev. Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
A. J. Douglas.
Mathon, Malvern,
8th December 1849.
PREBENDARY OF GOVAN'S HOUSE.
The mansion of this dignitary has passed away, leaving neither a "wreck" nor memorial behind. It is supposed to have stood in the Rottenrow.
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