Property ownership

[Gordon]

I want to track the ownership of a particular farm in Kiltarlity Parish, Invernesshire. This would start in the 1820s.

Any ideas on how to go about it? What is the source for the legal recording of ownership? Are these records available over the internet?

Thanks

[nelmit]

I want to track the ownership of a particular farm in Kiltarlity Parish, Invernesshire. This would start in the 1820s.

Any ideas on how to go about it? What is the source for the legal recording of ownership? Are these records available over the internet?

Thanks

Somebody who knows more about it will be along soon I'm sure but a wee bit about sasines here -
http://www.nas.gov.uk/guides/sasines.asp

Regards,
Annette

[LesleyB]

Hi Gordon

Sasines would be the way to trace it -they are not on the internet but the abridgements are available on the PCs at NAS. In most cases they are indexed both by surname of persons and placename and I believe there are plans to put the index on the internet at some point.
From the info given in the abridgement (a short summary of the content) you may wish to order up the full record - though in some cases you may need to order up a few days in advance. In some cases there can be a good deal of extra info in the original sasine with regard to family info, descrpiption of the land & etc. and in some cases not so much extra. In the ones for which I have seen the full sasine, some have contained wee gems of info and others are mostly "legal speak" and no further useful info!
The link Annette gave will give a good overview of these records.

Once you get up to modern day records you would need to contact the Registers of Scotland http://www.ros.gov.uk/ who can provide copies of more recent transactions on payment of a small fee.

Best wishes
Lesley

[Gordon]

Annette and LesleyB:

Thank you both for the very useful information.

As I am in the States, I'll have to wait until the records are posted on the internet.

Thanks again.

[Currie]

Hello Gordon,

Here’s a database for Scotland 1873. I’ve no idea what it’s all about. http://www.familyrelatives.com/search/s ... h=Scotland

If a farm was to be sold it was quite often advertised in the newspapers. The advert would probably include a description etc and maybe the name of owner or occupier. The farm may also be mentioned in newspapers in connection with other happenings. You could do a free search of the 19th Century British Library newspapers. The text visible in the snippet results should give an idea as to the relevance of the item. http://newspapers.bl.uk/blcs/

Google Books may be worth searching, a search there may give results that a Google search will not. You can narrow down the search period by using the advanced search or just by selecting full view and limited preview if there’s a lot of modern day clutter. http://www.google.com/books?hl=en

Your chances of finding something would depend a lot on how exclusive the name of the farm is. You could post it on the forum if you wish and maybe someone will come up with something.

If you’re going to research an item of real estate in Scotland a bit of background information on land ownership in Scotland may be useful. You may find that it is not as you imagined and rather different to where you are. Here's an example but there’s more if you Google. http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/?lid=1308

All the best,
Alan

[Falkyrn]

If you can supply a family name I'll look up the 1873 Land Return

[Gordon]

Wow! Thanks to both of you for the additional help.

The family name is Fraser. The name of the farm is Ballindoun or Ballindown. It's located near Ballindrum close to Beauly. As I've been able to reconstruct the ownership, James Fraser came into ownership around 1830. Apparently his brother Alexander owned it prior. James died in 1849 and his surviving wife is listed as "landed Proprietor" on the 1851 census. I assume landed proprietor is a property owner.

Thanks again for providing additional resources.

[Currie]

Hello Gordon,

There’s something in the Caledonian Mercury (Edinburgh), Monday, May 26, 1800, a list of about a dozen lots, this one being VIII. I’m not sure what it’s all about.

JUDICIAL SALE OF SUPERIORITIES AND FEU-DUTIES
In Inverness-shire, and one in Ross-shire.
THE following FEU-DUTIES and SUPERIORITIES, belonging to the ESTATE of LOVAT, are to be exposed to public roup and sale, under the authority of the Court of Session, and in terms of an act of Parliament, in the several lots, and at the different upset prices after mentioned, on Wed-day the 28th day of May current, within the Parliament or New Session House of Edinburgh, and before the Lord Ordinary officiating on the bills for the time, between the hours of 5 and 7 o'clock afternoon. .
LOT VIII.—The SUPERIORITY of the Lands of Ballindown and Teancroft, belonging in property to the heirs of Captain John Grant Fraser of Ballindown, lying within the parishes of Convinth and Kiltarlity, and county foresaid, together with the following feu-duties payable out of the said lands, viz. 16 bolls farm victual, 2 bolls of horse corn, 40s. Scots money of tiend silver, one dozen of capons, one dozen of poultry, and one lamb, together with the arriage and carriage due furth of the said lands, at the terms used and wont.
The Vassal is in this case entitled to be entered gratis, being discharged of all casualties of non-entry and the Superior to believe the vassal of the stipends and other public burdens, which are accordingly deducted from the feu-duty, at ascertaining the upset price put on this Lot by the Lords, being 311l. 7s. 9d. Sterling, and the valued rent is 26l. 16s. 1d. Scots.

SP has these Inverness Wills. They should show who owns what and what went where.

FRASERALEXANDER21/09/1829ESQUIRE OF BALLINDOWN

FRASERJAMES15/08/1849ESQUIRE OF BALLINDOWN

FRASERBARBARA14/09/1892OF BALLINDOUN, COUNTY OF INVERNESS, WIDOW OF CAPTAIN JAMES FRASER OF BALLINDOUN, D. 29/11/1891 AT BALLINDOUN, TESTATE

It’s starting to look as if Barbara had the property left to her by her husband when he died in 1849. This 1857 Directory http://www.google.com.au/books?id=oOYNA ... 22&f=false
and this 1860 Tourist Guide (now that’s got to be a reliable source) has Ballindown as being Mrs Fraser’s.
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=D54 ... er&f=false

After Barbara’s death this article in the Aberdeen Weekly Journal, Thursday, May 7, 1896, suggests the property now belongs to Colonel Clark (son-in-law?)
BEAULY.—The Ballindown grass parks near Beauly, belonging to Colonel Clark, were let by public auction yesterday afternoon. Four old grass parks from 8 to 16 acres brought £73 17s 6d, 10 per cent. More than last year. Two new parks of 10¼ acres sold at £47 15s, 4s above last year.

The property is mentioned a few times in the London Times. During WW1 there’s reports of deaths of sons of the late George Hurdis Purves of Ballindoun, Beauly etc. In 1921 it’s up for sale for £10,000. In 1933 it’s on the market again, referred to as “Ballindoun, a stone house and 280 acres, 10 miles from Inverness”. In 1937 there’s a For Sale notice that’s worth repeating.

FOR SALE BY PRIVATE TREATY
BALLINDOUN, INVERNESS-SHIRE.
Mansion House, charmingly situated, 10 miles from Inverness; contains drawing room, dining room, library, 4 double and 2 single bed rooms, 2 bath rooms, 5 servants’ bed rooms, large kitchen premises, servants hall, &c.; electric light, central heating, ample water supply; 2 garages; garden and grounds, 2 estate cottages, and home farm of 138½ acres. Low ground shooting.
Assessed Rental £248.
Apply Stewart, Rule and Co., Solicitors, Inverness.

Here's some odds and ends I picked up along the way.

Death of James Fraser in 1791.
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=1l0 ... er&f=false

A Fraser death in 1813.
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=4V4 ... er&f=false

Caledonian Mercury (Edinburgh), Monday, April 13, 1829.
DIED —At Phoines, on the 21st ultimo, Alex. Fraser, Esq. of Ballindown, late of the colony of Essequibo.

Death of Captain James Fraser in 1849.
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=xAs ... er&f=false

The Belfast News-Letter, Saturday, March 24, 1866.
Clarke and Fraser—March 21, at Edinburgh, by the Rev. Sir Henry Wellwood Moncreiff, Bart., Captain James Cumming Clarke, 76th Regiment, son of Lieut. General Joseph Clarke, Colonel 76th Regiment, to Isabella, eldest daughter of the late James Fraser, esq., Captain 79th Highlanders, Ballindoun, Inverness-shire.

Hope there’s something useful there,
Alan

[Falkyrn]

The 1873 Land Owners Return shows Mrs Barbara Fraser as the owner of Ballindown and as the resident of Ballindown, Beauly.
The land is listed at 279 acres and with a Gross Annual Value of £310

[Gordon]

Falkyrn and Currie:

Thanks again for your assistance. The information supplied was most useful and the addtional resources will help me greatly.
Thanks for sharing your expertise.

Gordon