In the first of a series of twenty letters, Captain Douglas Wimberley initiates a lengthy correpondence and collaboration with William Leiper, soliciting his assistance as an illustrator.

Wimberley’s remarks on this occasion refer for the most part to the Castle of Lesmoir, reflecting the main focus of his researches at that time, crediting also substantial help received from James Macdonald of the Farm, Huntly.

Wimberley states that his grandmother had been a daughter of Sir Alexander, 6^th Baronet of Lesmoir, and sister of Sir Francis, 7^th. He also identifies his mother as ‘a daughter of Maj. Gen. Irvine, 2^nd son of the Laird of Drum, who was at Culloden’.

William Leiper Esq          Terpersie        Helensburgh.   8 Ardross Terrace           Inverness.       1 March 1893. Dear Sir,               I have been devoting my spare time of late to compiling 2 or 3 family histories, one of them being that of the Gordons of Lesmoir ; my Grandmother having been a daughter of Sir Alexr 6th Bart, and sister of Sir Francis, 7th Bart.     I got considerable help from Mr. James Macdonald of the Farm, Huntly, in presenting my researches, and among other things he told me about the old stone with a unicorn’s head on it which you now have built into your house, & which formerly formed part of the Roy. arms at the Castle of Lesmoir.     Mr. Macdonald also kindly lent me some family papers showing the descent of the Gordons of Terper- sie, which I compared with any other memoranda I had, and I have embodied the result in one of several appendices to the family history, which is now nearly com- pleted.     I should like very much when I get it printed to have a sort of vignette showing the old castle & mansion connected with it, as it must have been in the first half of the 17th Century - & probably after about 1725.     Should I be asking you too great a favour if I asked you to give me a sketch, which could be re- produced by the photo-zincographic process – size about 4¾ by 3¾?     Mr. Macdonald sent me the follow- ing description of it given to him by a native of the parish of Rhynie about 1847 “a pretty hoose wi’ seven clusters of chimneys.”-     It is nearly 40 years since I saw what there remained of the Castle : but I have no doubt it was a square tower (perhaps rounded at the angles) with a sort of cross chamber connecting it with a mansion house : the latter at right angles to the cross-chamber – There would probably be 3 clusters on the mansion ho – 2 on the cross-cham- ber, & 2 on the tower – and more or less of a court enclosed by these buildings on 3 sides.     As far as I recollect, the ruins stood on a small haugh between the road and the burn, with a spur of the tap o’noth above it.     I am getting an account of the Irvines of Drum printed just now; my mother was a daughter of Maj. Gen. Irvine, 2nd son of the Laird of Drum, who was at Cul- loden – and I purpose next having my Account of the Gordons Lesmoir printed, and shall be happy to send you a copy, as one like myself descended through a female from the old stock.     I have had for about 40 years a copy of a Pedigree of the family said to have been painted on the chimney of the house of Lesmoir, but I have failed to hear of any one who knows what has become of it if it ever was a moveable – I always supposed it to be on one of the old high mantelpieces : but it may have been painted on the wall itself.     I do not think I need apologize for troubling you with this letter : but I hope you won’t consider me ask- ing too much in begging a sketch – as I cannot draw myself – you know the ground, and would I think take an interest in what I want.                               Yrs very truly                          Douglas Wimberley.

Captain Douglas Wimberley to William Leiper