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In this letter, undated on this occasion, to William Leiper, Margaret Garden commences with an extended quotation containing important information concerning the final resting place of George Cattanach and his spouse, Helen Gordon; it continues with an account of the dismal fate of Helen’s father, Charles Gordon, VI of Terpersie, before concluding with an honorable mention of Helen’s grandson, the Rev. Harry Stuart.


                     Kildrummie Ch Yd.1

“George Cattenach in Bridgend
of Mossat, & Helen Gordon, his spouse,
has placed this stone here in memory
of their deceased children, vizt., Ann,
aged 22 years ; Mary, aged 18
years ; Jean, aged 13 months
And also George Gibb, their
grandchild aged 13 months
The above named George Cattanach
died 28 May 1821, aged 88
years ; and also Helen Gordon
died 25 December 1814, aged
74.

Helen Gordon’s Father, who
was a son of2 Dalpersie or Terpersie
in Tullynessle, was out in the
’45. He was long a fugitive,
but was at last captured
by the Royalists while hiding
in an aperture in his own
house. Being identified by,
or, in other words, betrayed
by, it is said, his neighbour,
the Minister of Kinnethmont,
he was taken to Carlisle, where
he was executed along with
other ten rebels, 15 November
1746. Helen Gordon was the
Grand mother of the Revd
Harry Stuart Minister of
Oathlaw, who has done so
much to improve the
condition of Agricultural
labourers &c.”3

                    Woodthorpe
                                  Murtle

Dear Mr. William

The within, above,
is from “Epitaphs &
Inscriptions from the
Burial Grounds in the
North East of Scotland”.
It is a strange coinci-
dence that in the
last week’s day’s “Free Press”,
which I sent you this
morning4, so much on
the same subject should
appear. If I should
happen in my researches
among the ancient to
fall in with anything
more bearing on the point
I shall not fail to com-
municate it to you. I
hope you are all keeping
well. Thanks for sending Mr.
Bruce who was parti-
cularly welcome in the
circumstances. He took
out my ticket for me
& waited till he saw
me into the carriage
on my way to Edinburgh5
when he was the city and is
able to preach two and three times
every Sabbath. Thinking & speaking
so much about the past while I was
with your mamma I entirely over-
looked the present and never once
enquired if you had fixed on one
to fill Dr. Duff’s place. Have you?
There is a report here that you are
to call one of our Aberdeen ministers. I hope
it is not true. Would you let me
know if your mamma has heard
more about Mrs. Gordon, Sevt. of Newton?
We are very much concerned on account
of her distressing illness. If the nephew
who is with her at present is a Mr.
Scott, he is the son of David Dundas
Scott, the translator of Merle D’Abi-
gne’s famous “History of the Refor-
mation” and Author of the “Supression
of the Reformation in France”.6 Now, if
you have time you must favour
me with a reply - longer or shorter
and with kind regards to you all
believe me
            very sincerely yours
                  Margaret Garden

Notes

1 These words appear to have been added in pencil.

2 This section has been deleted by pencil.

3 This extended quotation can be compared with the original at:

Epitaphs & Inscriptions

4 This item, unfortunately, does not appear to be to hand.

5 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.

6 Although this letter is undated, this particular statement allows us to fit it into its proper sequences, as it is corrected in her letter of 10th May 1877.

Margaret Garden to William Leiper, mentioning Jane Mellis