| Description | Box 1/12
3x String-bound document, pp.158. Titled: ‘E.C. Arbuthnot’s Trust / Copy Letters, Excerpts from Letters and Memoranda generally / Relative to / Mrs Arbuthnot’s Claim for her legal rights and her relations with the Trust Estate’ Typed copies of letters dated between 27/7/1912 to 28/1/1914
1x Green “Stolzenberg Patent File” Titled: ‘Curatory of Edward Ogilvie Arbuthnot / Letters from Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China relative to various Investments [rg.?] to Mr Arbuthnot’Dated between 1906 and 1911.
1x Green “Stolzenberg Patent File” Titled: ‘Curatory of Edward Ogilvie Arbuthnot / Correspondence with Messrs Russell Grant &Co Ltd and others relative to Shares of Bikam Rubber [Co?] and Seafield Rubber [?] to Mr Arbuthnot’ Dated between 1909 and 1911
1x Green “Stolzenberg” Patent File Titled ‘Curatory Estate of Edward Ogilvie Arbuthnot’ Letters, articles and receipts dated between 1911 and 1912.
Box 2/12
1x Blue envelope addressed to ‘E.O. Arbuthnot Esq, Arbuthnot House, Peterhead, N.B.’ Contents: 1x Prospectus of the Malacca Rubber Plantations Limited. 1x Prospectus of the Bikam Rubber Estate, Limited.
1x Directors’ Report and Accounts for the year ending 30th June, 1908, the Kuala Lumpur Rubber Company, Limited.
1x Directors’ Report and Accounts for the year ending 30th June, 1909, the Kuala Lumpur Rubber Company, Limited.
1x Seafield Rubber Company, Limited. Directors’ Report and Statement of Accounts for the year 1908
1x E.E. Porter & Co., Ltd. Report of the Directors and Statement of Accounts for the year ending 31st December, 1910.
1x Shanghai Land Investment Co., Limited. Report of the Directors and Statement of Accounts for the year ending 31st December 1910.
1x poster sheet: The Position of Leading Rubber Plantation Companies, 1908-09.
1x General letter from the Manager and Secretary of the Albert Farming Venture, and accompanying Draft Balance Sheet (loose), 1910-11.
1x J. Llewellyn and Company Limited, Report of the Directors
1x Major Brothers, Limited. Report of the Directors, 1910.
1x Major Brothers, Limited. Report of the Directors, 1908.
1x Brown envelope, ‘Arbuthnot Estate, Dales Quarry, 1915’.
Contents:
Correspondence between Gray and Gray, James Dickie (Burgh Surveyor, Peterhead), Alexander Stephen (Acting Burgh Surveyor, Peterhead), and David Martin (Peterhead Town Clerk), and William Taylor regarding the tenancy of Dales Quarry, 1914-15. 8 loose sheets.
1x Inland Revenue Valuation figures for No. 19 Seagate, Peterhead, 1st July 1916.
1x Lease between the Trustees of the late Edward Ogilvie Arbuthnot and Alexander Clarke (‘chemist and pharmacist’), 1919.
1x letter from Alexander Clarke to Gray and Gray, protesting his right to live on the premises of his shop (leased by Gray and Gray), and hoping that there will be no necessity for him to ‘have recourse to litigation’. 15/5/1922.
1x Minute of Meeting of the Trustees of the deceased E.O.A. Esq, of Invernettie and Arbuthnot House, Peterhead, held at Edinburgh on 23/6/1914.
(4 sheets. Detailing the Trust’s intention to send £2000 to Mrs Arbuthnot in order for her to settle things with Isaac Abrahams (London moneylender).
1x Handwritten copy of Marriage Certificate between Furchtegott Hugo Heinich and Leta May Arbuthnot, 29 October 1919 (marriage in Leipzig, 9 January 1917)
2x Typed copy of Certificate of Marriage between Furchtegott Hugo Heinich and Leta May Arbuthnot. 1921 (marriage took place in Leipzig, 9th January 1917).
2x Typed copy of Certificate of Marriage between Lieut. Fred Smith and Mabelle Violet Don Garcia, 1921 (marriage dated 11 April 1918). Inside one of these is a newspaper clipping about a (different) marriage between and Englishwoman and ‘the enemy’, a German).
1x Letter to Lady [sic] Arbuthnot, from Henry C Anstey, requesting a meeting. 26 March 1914.
1x Copy of Birth Certificate of Leta Mary Arbuthnot, stapled to a signed declaration of its authenticity and the face that ‘Leta Mary Arbuthnot ‘is descended from a well known Scottish non-Jewish family who have lived here for several generations’.
1x E.O. Arbuthnot’s Trust, Minute of Meeting of Trustees (Draft), 23 June 1914. Details ‘proposal to make an advance to Mrs Arbuthnot of about £2000 to enable her … to discharge the claims against her at the instance of Isaac Abrahams’.
1x Brown envelope (empty) labelled ‘E. O. Arbuthnot’s Estate / Extract Entry of death Mr Arbuthnot’
1x Brown envelope (empty) labelled ‘Arbuthnot / Lists of Pawned Articles’
1x White Envelope: labelled ‘Law Accident Insurance Society, Ltd / Motor Car Department … Assured E. Arbuthnot’ etc. Contains: one slip of paper labelled ‘Papers relative to Motor Car.’; “Perfect” Legal Indemnity Policy, 4 August 1910; “Automobile” Policy, 4 August 1910; Handwritten list of items ‘In Motor Car’ and ‘In Garage; instructional papers and forms relating to making an insurance claim; letter and receipt to E. Arbuthnot regarding the purchase of a 24 H.P. Peugeot Landaulette, August 15 1909; Correspondence and receipt relative to the Registration of a change of ownership of the car, from Arbuthnot to Admiral Sir Henry Stephenson.
3x Petition of Mrs Mai Violet Garcia or Arbuthnot and another for Appointment of Curator Bonis to E.O. Arbuthnot, 3 April 1911.
4x Petition of Robert Gray , Curator bonis to Edward Ogilvie Arbuthnot, for Exoneration and Discharge, 10 July 1912.
1x The Chinese Engineering and Mining Company, Limited, Directors’ Report and Accounts. 28th February, 1911.
1x Handwritten Copy Interlocutor in Petition Mrs Mai Violet Garcia or Arbuthnot +c for Appointment of a Curator Bonis to Edward Ogilvie Arbuthnot, 17 April 1911.
1x Handwritten note from ‘Miss Agnes David, 14, Usborne Place, Aberdeen, to Lady [sic] Arbuthnot. Reads: ‘July 30th 1913. 1 ivory miniature profile of Miss Leta, framed best quality case [?] complete. £12.’ Second date at foot of note ‘7/11/14’
1x Business correspondence between E.O. Arbuthnot and Kiangsu Chemical Works, 1906.
1x Unsigned copy of letter from Mrs Arbuthnot to Messrs Alexr. Morison & Co[Edinburgh], authorising them ‘to obtain Mr Robert Gray … appointed Curator Bonis by the Court of Session to my husband’, 30 March 1911.
1x Remittance letter to E.O. Arbuthnot from Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, Shanghai, 25 April 1911.
1x White Envelope labelled ‘E.O. Arbuthnot / Two Share Certificate and Account Sales of Curios’. Contains: Handwritten (ink) ‘Copy particulars, received from D, of Christies’ [1918?]; indenture between C.J. Decker (San Francisco) and E.O. Arbuthnot (Shanghai) regarding the Dane and Mitchell mines, California; correspondence relating to the Day Dawn West Gold Mining Company March 1895).
1x Brown envelope labelled ‘E.O. Arbuthnot’s Estate / Birth Certificate of Miss Arbuthnot’, containing a copy of the same (dated 1914).
1x Letter to Gray and Gray from W.C. MacBean (Accountant) regarding annual statements of rents for Invernettie and Keith Inch properties.
1x Copy of Report by the Accountant of Court on the Intromissions and Management of Robert Gray, Curator Bonis to Edward Ogilvie Arbuthnot, From 17th April 1911 to 27 May 1912. Dated 19 October 1912.
1x Charter Bank of India, Australia and China, List of Shareholders, 31 March, 1915.
1x Note from Gray and Gray to Messrs Alex. Morison & Co., 20 December, 1915.
1x Note from Gray and Gray to Messrs Alex. Morison & Co., 7 January 1916.
1x Brown envelope labelled ‘Shooting Lease 1908.1909.’ in pencil, followed by E.O.A’s name and address in ink. Contains: Copy of Agreement and Lease between Colonel George Arthur Ferguson of Pitfour and E.O.A, Esqre., of St Fergus Shootings – Peterhead Beat. 1908; seven letters and a telegram from Mr Snowie, Pitfour Estates Office, to E.O.A. arranging the let of Pitfour shootings to him, 1908-1910; letter from E.O.A to Mr Snowie, 7 December 1908; note detailing quarry shot (638 pheasants, 316 hares etc). letter to E.O.A from John Forbes regarding shooting.
Tied Bundle 1/2: 1x Tied Bundle of receipts, licenses, and expenses, and rents collected 1912-13
Tied Bundle 2/2: 1x Tied Bundle of notes and correspondence relating to E.O. Arbuthnot’s Trust; Audits of Accounts; Will, etc. 1912-1920:
2x Inventory of Documents accompanying Additional Memorial by the Trustees of the late Edward Ogilvie Arbuthnot for Opinion of Counsel.
1x E.O. Arbuthnot’s Trust. Second Notes at Audit of the accounts of the Trustees. 29th May, 1913.
1x E.O. Arbuthnot’s Trust. Memorandum in reply to Second Notes at Audit of the Accounts for the year to 27th May 1913.
1x Report by James [Meston … ?] on the Account of intromissions of E.O. Arbuthnot’s Trustees for year to 27 May 1913.
1x Draft – Notes at Audit of the Accounts of the Trustees for the year from 27 May 1912 to 27 May 1913
1x Letter from [W.A.?] Whitehead, Manager of Chartered Bank of India, Austalia and China, to Robert Gray, indicating that the Bank ‘will be very pleased to act for the Trustees and Executors of our old client and friend, Mr Arbuthnot’. 25/11/1912
1x Letter from the Sheriff-Clerk’s Office, Aberdeen, in relation to an Exemplification of E.O.A.’s Will. 4/12/1912
1x Memorial for the Trustees of the late Edward Ogilvie Arbuthnot for the Opinion of Counsel. 1920. Concerning Mrs Arbuthnot’s debt to Mr Isaac Abrahams (taken over in December 1914 by A.J.F, Wedderburn) (the debt is still owing); redemption in June 1915 of the jewellery claimed to belong to the Trust but which were pawned by Mrs Arbuthnot (cost: £900); residence in Germany and marriage to German national of Leta; remarriage of Mrs Arbuthnot to Mr. Frederick Smith, at Wareham, Dorsetshire. 9/2/1920
1x Copy from the above Memorial for the Trustees of the late Edward Ogilvie Arbuthnot for the Opinion of Counsel (1920) of the Query 1 and the Opinion offered by William Chree. 9/2/1920
2x Typed copy from the above Memorial for the Trustees of the late Edward Ogilvie Arbuthnot for the Opinion of Counsel (1920) of the originally handwritten Additional Note made by Mr Chree, 9/2/1920
2x Typed copies of the above Opinion of William Chree. 9/2/1920
2x Copy Letter from Mrs Arbuthnot. Encloses Pledge Ticket for pawned jewellery and requests it by redeemed for the sum of £900. 25/5/1915.
2x Memorandum to Counsel for the advice of the Trustees of the late E.O. Arbuthnot of Invernettie, Peterhead. 1914. Details of E.O.A’s life. Discusses the terms of EOA’s will in the event of Mrs A’s remarriage, etc. Includes the Opinion of / Condie Sandeman / F.E. Macqueston, Edinburgh 9th Feb 1914.
1x Memorial for the Trustees of the Late E.O.A Esq, of Invernettie, Peterhead, for The Opinion of Counsel. OPINION intus. 1914. Including the opinion of William Chree, 13th June, 1914.
1x Lightly annotated Copy of the above Memorial for the Trustees of the Late E.O.A Esq, of Invernettie, Peterhead, for The Opinion of Counsel. OPINION intus. 1914. Including the opinion of William Chree, 13th June, 1914.
1x Guarantee by Robert Gray in Favour of The Union Bank of Scotland, Limited. For Advances to A.J.F. Wedderburn, 1914. Includes Directions for Signing Deeds, with signatures of Witnesses, 24th November 1914.
1x Guarantee by George Martin Gray and David Troup in favour of The Union Bank of Scotland Limited. For £200 of Advances to Alexander John Fobers Wedderburn, 9th March 1915.
Envelope:
1x Memorial for Mrs E.J.O. Arbuthnot and Mr Edward Arbuthnot for Opinion of Counsel. 1891. Boyd and Gray, Solicitors, Peterhead.
Memorial for Mrs Eleanor Jane Ogilvie Will or Arbuthnot relict of the deceased James Arbuthnot Esquire of Invernettie and Edward Ogilvie Arbuthnot late Merchant in Shanghai presently residing in Peterhead her eldest surviving son. For the Opinion of Counsel.
‘The object of the Memorialist is, to obtain the opinion and advice of Counsel whether a Cash Credit Bond for £4000 … granted by Mrs Arbuthnot and her son Adam Arbuthnot in favour of the North of Scotland Bank is effectual as a Security over heritable property belonging to the Trust Estate or can be set aside and to what extent’.
Box 3/12
1x Copy of Certificate of Marriage between Lieut. Fred Smith and Mabelle Violet Don Garcia dated 11th April, 1918. Copy made 1921.
Here Fred Smith is listed as 25 years of age, and ‘Mabelle’ as 24 years. This is either an administrative error or a fabrication, as Mabelle’s daughter Leta was herself 24 at the time of this marriage.
1x Copy of Deed of Settlement of Edward Ogilvie Arbuthnot, 1920.
1x Brown envelope marked ‘E.O. Arbuthnot’s Curatory. Certificate as to value of 33 Shares of Old Whale Fishing Co Peterhead’. Containing said certification dated 8/1/1925.
1x Union Bank of Scotland, note regarding Certificate of £2500 4% Funding Stock, 1960-90 [sic] in favour of Messrs David Troup, William Alexander, George Martin Gray. 15/8/1919.
1x Synopsis of Will of Edward Ogilvie Arbuthnot. 1912.
2x Petition to complete title at instance of Trustees of the late Edward Ogilvie Arbuthnot. Superiority of Lands and Estate of Invernettie and Lands of Wardes and others. Petition of Major William Alexander, … David Troup, Solicitor, … and George Martin Gray, Solicitor, as Trustees of the late Edward Ogilvie Arbuthnot [William Alexander assumed David Troup as a Trustee; they then assumed George Martin Gray]. 1926.
1x Copy of Birth Certificate of Leta Mary Arbuthnot [born 16/8/1893] signed and witnessed as a true copy 14/1/1914.
1x Petition of Mrs Mai Violet Garcia or Arbuthnot and another for Appointment of a Curator Bonis to Edward Ogilvie Arbuthnot. 3rd April 1911.
1x Court of Session Extract. Act and Decree Appointing Robert Gray to be Curator Bonis to Edward Ogilvie Arbuthnot. 17th April1911.
1x Bond of Caution on behalf of Robert Gray [as] Curator Bonis to Edward Ogilvie Arbuthnot. Stamped 9th May 1911.
1x Certificate of Entry of death of Edward Ogilvie Arbuthnot, 27 May 1912. [Cause of death given as General Paralysis]
1x Mandate by Mrs Clementina Julia Alma Ogilvy Arbuthnot or Sharpe to Messrs Gray and Gray, requesting and authorising them to ‘make over, pay and deliver to ALEXANDER MUNRO DAVIDSON, Solicitor, Eighteen Golden Square, Aberdeen, all title deeds, investments, documents and all other papers, and all monies in your hands or under your charge as trustees under the trust created by E O A who resided at Arbuthnot House, Peterhead, and his receipt shall be your discharge.’ 24 May 1958.
1x Extract Registered Deed of Assumption by Mrs. Leta May Votteler-Arbuthnot of New Trustees under Deed of Trust 15th January, 1925. Dated 11 May 1953, Registered 10 July 1953. [Leta appoints Alexander Elder Anton and Alexander Munro Davidson to be trustees, on the deaths of Charles James Davidson and Robert Pearson Masson]. 1x Copy of the above.
1x The Administrator of German Enemy Property and Leta May Votteler nee Arbuthnot. Deed of Transfer of rights and interests in the estate of Hugh Heinich-Arbuthnot. 8 August 1952.
2x Discharge by Edmund Gavin Tritton Sharpe, Executor of Mrs Clementina Julia Alma Ogilvy Arbuthnot or Sharpe, and others / in favour of / The Trustees of Edward Ogilvie Arbuthnot. 1970.
‘the testator’s widow’, Mai Violet Garcia / Arbuthnot / Smith, died at London on 19/11/1956; ‘the testator’s daughter’ Leta died on 23/09/1957 ‘without leaving issue surviving’. The ‘movable and personal estate of [Leta], there being no issue surviving or brothers or sisters, according to the Law of West Germany falls to be divided one half to the heirs of [Leta] on her father’s side, and one half to the heirs of [Leta] on her mother’s side.
Includes Account of the Intromissions of Messrs. Gray and Gray, Solicitors, Peterhead with that part of the Estate under their charge of the late Edward Ogilvie Arbuthnot of Invernettie which was Heritable Estate at the date of death of his daughter Mrs Leta May Arbuthnot Heinich afterwards Votteler. From 12/06/1969 to 28th July 1970.
1x Copy, Commissariot of Edinburgh, Confirmation (Dative) of the Executor’s of the Late Robert Edward Karl-Franz Hugh Heinich-Arbuthnot.
3x Requests for the verification of Stock Accounts at the Bank of England by Messrs Gray and Gray, Major William Alexander and David Troup, 18/11/1926; and by David Troup and Messrs Gray and Gray, 11/10/1927 and 09/07/1928.
1x Copy of Note for Settlement with Mrs Votteler’s Assignee of her share and interest in estate up to 27th May 1927, prepared by Messieurs James Meston and Company, C.A., Aberdeen, and agreed to. 1952.
1x Rent Roll of Properties in Peterhead for Year to Whitsun, 1958 Belonging to the Trustees of the Late Mr. E. O. Arbuthnot and relative account with MacBean and Reid, Accountants, Peterhead. 3rd September, 1958.
1x Tied bundle of receipts, 1954 to 1958
1x Tied bundle of Rent Rolls and receipts, 1945 – 1960.
1x Page of handwritten notes on E.O.A, wife and daughter, and estate. In pencil, c.pre-1940s.
1x Page of handwritten notes on the E.O.A Trust. In ink, c.pre-1940s.
1x Copy of Deed of Settlement (of 1856) of James Arbuthnot. 1905. In which James assigns his spouse, Mrs Eleanor Jane Ogilvie Will or Arbuthnot, as Trustee for the Estate.
1x Probate of the Will and two codicils of Adam Arbuthnot Esqre, deceased. Dated 26 September 1851. Extracted by [Sladen?] Glennie Farquhar [V?] Sladen Proctors Doctors Commons.
Sworn under three thousand pounds within the province of Canterbury and that the Testator died on or about the 4th October 1850.
Deed of Settlement having paid to Jean [Moir?] residing in Aberdeen daughter of the deceased John [Moir?] sometime in Kirktown of Longside two hundred pounds sterling |
| Administrative History | From "Memorandum to Counsel for the advice of the Trustees of the late E.O. Arbuthnot of Invernettie, Peterhead". 1914 in box 2:
"Mr E.O. Arbuthnot belongs to an old and highly respected Peterhead family which became much scattered. [He] went to China early in life and was engaged steadily in business at Shanghai until his retiral in 1907. One of his business pursuits was the collection of Chinese curios and Eastern articles of vertu of all kinds in relation to which he had extensive dealings with the reputation of being a leading expert. He owned a large and valuable collection at the time of his death which was mainly in his home, Arbuthnot House, Peterhead.
About the year 1893 at Shanghai he married Mai Violet Garcia who has survived him. He was then 42 years of age, he senior by 25 years. What Mrs Arbuthnot’s antecedents were is unknown to the Trustees. They are involved in some obscurity. Mrs Arbuthnot describes herself as the daughter of a Spanish nobleman, but for this there is no apparent warrant. Mrs A’s mother, on the death of de Garcia, married a Mr. Wortmann from whom it is understood she separated about sixteen years ago. She kept a boarding-house in Shanghai for some time before going to Japan where it is supposed she is now. She does not appear to be a person of any social status.
Mr Arbuthnot, for reasons of his own, undertook the education and upbringing of Mai Violet Garcia and he had her for some time at Lausanne. After their marriage they lived together in Shanghai until 1907 when as stated he retired from business. Then he came home with this wife and daughter to Peterhead.
There is every reason to believe that Mr Arbuthnot during his residence in China after marriage was greatly embarrassed by his wife’s extravagance. Mr Whitehead, the Manager of the Chartered Bank of India Australia and China in London, who was on intimate terms with him … is of the opinion that but for this he would have left something like double the estate he did.
There was continuance of the same absurd extravagance in Peterhead and there is little doubt that his end was hastened by it. Latterly his mind was unhinged and Mr Robert Gray … was appointed Curator for him by the Court of Session, 17th April 1911. He was able to continue residence in his own home with an attendant. During the period of Mr Gray’s Curatory he, in turn, was exposed to the greatest difficulty from the impossibility of restraining the reckless expenditure of the wife. At the time of Mr. Arbuthnot’s death there were outstanding accounts to a large amount which should not have been incurred and these became a burden on the Trust Estate." |