| Administrative History | James Allan, of East India Co., Madras. Son of James Allan, burgess (1770), and himself burgess 1833 [c. when he retired? - personal papers from around this date]. Purchased Midbeltie Estate 1844. Will of c. same date leaving all (with a few bequests to relatives) for fund for poor, deserving widows. Trustees of fund to include various council and Society of Advocates officials, who also administered estate. Kin including nephews George Allan (who ?contested trust - or just required to consent as nearest male heir?), and Barron brothers (among 1st trustees). Also sisters (legal papers re. payment of death duties on ending of annuities from estate).
Midbeltie (South of Torphins, par. Kincardine O'Neil): title deeds go back to 1751, when bought from Charles, E. Peterborough by Geo. Robertson, Provost of Aberdeen & transferred to Gordon's Hospital. Subsequent charters, etc. involve Gordons' Hospital & various council officials, inc. Carnegie, Town Clerk. Feu Charter June 1777 Gordons' to Lewis Innes of Balnacraig. Innes (wanting heirs - RC, offspring to Church) left (or sold - but app. descending to kin) to others - whence to Misses Farquharson of Ballogie & sister Mrs Margaret Lynch or F., who sold estate to Allan.
1777 charter describes as "town & lands of Midbeltie, corn & waulk mill, Millcroft, parts of Footee and Colcardie, teinds etc".
Widow's fund - biannual payments to needy Aberdeen widows. Discretionary payments to children of deceased beneficiaries. From c.1892, also administered Mrs Paterson's bequest (see MB/4/3/21), 2 biannual larger payments to beneficiaries of Midbeltie fund. |