This letter, from Margaret Garden to William Leiper, is written on printed
letter heading:
Woodthorpe.
Murtle
Aberdeen.
Margaret was evidently the wife of James Garden, although the matter of why they were writing from different addresses has yet to be resolved. A likely explanation is that James Garden, an Advocate, was a man of some considerable means and 32, Skene Terrace was his town house. Margaret had the inconvenient habit, when reaching the end of the fourth side of a sheet of paper, divided in two, of turning the page through 90o and continuing her script over and at right angles to the previous text. However, this minor eccentricity may be overlooked since Margaret Garden emerges as a true heroine in the collective endeavour of tracing connection to the Gordons of Terpersie; she had the fortunate knack of locating key source materials.
Exactly what relationship Margaret Garden may have had to the man she addresses as ‘Mr. William’ is likewise under investigation.
32, Skene Terrace
Feb. 19.
1877.Dear Mr. William
If you will have
patience I may get some
information for you about
Terpersie. On my return
from Glasgow I had an
interview with Mr. C. B.
Davidson, Advocate, on the
subject. He is a cousin
of my husband’s and his
“firm” – the firm of “Robert-
son Lumsden”, were Factors
for Knockespock -, till the
present proprietor succeeded.
He could remember nothing
more than that it was by
purchase Terpersie was
added. I have again seen
him and he has promised,
if the titles are still in
his office, to find from
whom and on what occasion
it was purchased. He
has, like myself, antiquar-
ian leanings and as
soon as he has time
and opportunity will
I am sure do what he
can to solve our problem.
I have also had several
conversations with Mrs.
Dr. Smith whom your
mother may remember
to have heard of, at least,
as “Mifs Duthie a des-
cendent of the Gordons
of Knockespock”. She says
Terpersie was purchased
but though knowing about
all her own Gordons, can
remember little of any
consequence about the
Terpersie Gordons. What has
become of all the Stuarts?
Did you not say some of
them were in this neigh-
bourhood? And would
they have no information
that might be of use?
I would seek them out
and question them myself
if I knew where to find them.
Does your mother remember if the
Gordons of Mains of Rhynie
claimed kindred with her?
One of them is resident in
this quarter and I shall
take opportunity of setting him
a thinking on the subject. He
may have heard what became of
the Terpersies or what branch of
the Gordons they belonged to or were
in any way connected with. How
has your Mamma been during
the Winter? Will you say to her1
that I am now a grandmother
my son’s wife having had a
daughter ten days ago, and all
doing well, With Kindest Regards
believe me
very sincerely yours
Margaret GardenHave you heard lately about
Mrs. Gordon? Is her nephew suc-
ceeding with his invention? His
aunt not his mother was
the wife of the Historian
Notes
1 At this point Mrs Garden runs out of paper and, turning the page through 90o, continues her script over and at right angles to the previous text.
Margaret Garden to William Leiper, mentioning Jane Mellis