| Description | Relates to dispute over the will of Francis William Garden Campbell, 9th Baron of Troup. The dispute was between Francis Alexander Garden, 10th Baron of Troup and Laura Johnstone or Barber (the niece of his first wife whom had been adopted as a daughter by the couple), and the widow, Ellen Thorne or Campbell (later McCowen).
Garden Campbell and Ellen married on the 23 July 1894, after the death of his first wife the previous year. Garden Campbell died in 1895.
He left his entire estate, less c. £800 in legacies to his servants, to his widow in a will dated 23 July 1894: Laura was the residuary legatee of an earlier will executed on the 8th August 1893. Francis Alexander Garden was arguing for a reduction in an bond of annuity granted by Garden Campbell to Ellen at the same time as the will. They argued that Ellen took advantage of Garden Campbell and he was not mentally fit to prepare a will. The case was initially heard at the Banff Sherriff Court.
The case was eventually settled in March 1896 before it reached the Court of Session. |