SCOTTISH CATHOLIC ARCHIVES

Dr Christine Johnson

Columba House

16 Drummond Place

Edinburgh EH3 6PL

Summary handlist of holdings up to 1878

FOREWORD

The handlist is intended to be both informative and concise. This, rather than complete consistency in wording and presentation, has governed its compilation.

The system of classification is the same as that of the Scottish Record Office. Each category is given a coding based on its initial letters, e.g. BL for Blairs Letters. A number is added to indicate a section; thus BL 1 is Blairs Letters 1560—1603. A second number is then added to each item, e.g. BL 1/4~ which can be either a single large item or a folder containing several small documents. In the latter case, a third number is added to each individual document, e.g. BL 1/4/16.

For certain categories, there is a slight variation. Some (e.g. KJ, TM) have no division into sections; the first number thus indicates a single large item. In some other categories (e.g. Bq P), sections containing diverse material have letters added to the coding (thus B 1 becomes B—GH) and three numbers can then follow.

The material is listed here down to the level of single large item or folder, that is, with coding letters and two numbers. For the most part, only material before 1878, the year of the restoration of Roman Catholic dioceses in Scotland, is listed. Gaps in numeration indicate that material of later date has been omitted.

Material on the same person or subject can sometimes be found in widely separated locations. This is inevitable when material has been received or catalogued at different times; deposits too must usually be kept intact.

To take William Wallace, for instance, his sermons and poems had already been catalogued in LS 6 and LS 10 when a further large deposit (P 10) was received. It is because of continued accessions that the handlist has been put on a word—processor, with a view to further updating.

All resources @

B = Bishops

Items here concern a bishop in his private capacity. Most are writings by him or about him. In some cases where the material is varied, the bishop’s initials are added to the coding letters and the full range of numbers then follows.

 B 1: George Hay 1729—1811 (B—GH)

BGH 1: Theological and devotional

1—19 Hay’s note transcripts and compilations (mostly bound

                volumes)

BGH 2: Non—theological

1—10 Same, on various subjects (mostly bound volumes)

BGH 3: Loose notes

1—2 On various subjects

BGH 4: Transcripts

1—4 Hay’s writings, decoded or transcribed by Bishop Kyle

BGH5: Concerning Hay

1        Genealogical table

2        Various

3—5 Short printed biographies

B6H 6: Published work by Hay

1—8 Shorter published items

B2:        John Geddes 1735-99 (B-JG)

BJG 1:     Autobiographical

1        Autobiographical notes (sewn)

2—5 Journal, with large gaps, 1768—90 (sewn, bound)

6        Letter-book c. 1787—88 (sewn)

BJG 2: Scottish mission, 16—18th cent.

1              Notes on each year 1542—1793 (bound volume)

2        Critical notes on Father Archangel (sewn)

3        On Charles and George Blackhall 1643

4        On Wm Ballantine, Prefect apostolic

5        On 1745—47

6              Monthly occurrences 1782—86     

7               Extracts from letters 1768-70

8              On Wm Gordon of Auchanachy, died 1761

9              Apology for Catholics of Scotland

10-11 On duties of a Catholic missionary

 BJG 3: Theological

1-7        Notes and transcripts (mostly bound volumes)

8        Greek transcript by Bishop Hay

B2:        John Geddes 1735—99 (B—JG) (continued)

BJG 4: Various

1—2 Notes and transcripts (sewn)

3        Historical: extracts etc (bound volume)

4        On education (sewn)

5        Environs of Valladolid (sewn)

6        From book of 1582: James Crichton (sewn)

7        Short notes

 BJG 5: Published work

1        Life of St Margaret 1794

2              Watch and pray" 1797

B3: Alexander Cameron 1747-1828

1-3        Spanish affairs, including Scots College

4        French affairs

5        Notes on Scottish mission

6-9        Miscellaneous notes

10        Concerning Cameron

 B4: Alexander Paterson 1766—1831

1-4        Efforts to recover French colleges

5        Sermons (volume)

6-9        Theological treatises (bound volumes)

10        Various compilations (bound volume)

11            Miscellaneous

B5:        James Kyle 1788-1869 (B—JK)

BJK 1: Personal

1        Diary 1817

2        Autobiographical notes 1829

3        Passports 1840

4        Obituary and executry

 BJK 2:      Financial etc

1—8 Accounts 1830—1860s

9        Household inventory

10—11 Distillery and tanyard, Inverness 1838—58

 BJK 3: Academic, sermons etc

1—3 Mathematical etc

4—5 Theological

6—8 Sermons

 BJK 4:     Historical work, etc

1—4 Scottish mission: notes and transcripts

5        Early Scottish Church: notes and transcripts

6        Miscellaneous

7         Letters from Bishop Forbes! Brechin 1861—68

8         Religious controversy: Rev Patrick Mitchell and Bishop Skinner

9        Same: Mr Chree

10        Same: Rev John Forbes

 B6:       James Gillis 1802—64 (B—GI)

BGI: Letters to Gillis

1       Concerning St Margaret’s convent 1831—55

2       From Agnes Trail 1832—34

3       From others 1826—63

 BGI 2: Drafts

1        Formal addresses 1842—48

2        Concerning St Margaret’s convent

3        Concerning Church property in France

4        Ratisbon documents

5-6        Various

 BGI 3: Certificates etc

1        Personal and professional 1802—45

2        For collecting in France 1829—31)

3-6        Admission to Continental bodies 1854—62

7        Passports 1832—62

BGI 4: Notes, compilations etc

1-2         On Bossuet and Joan of Arc

3         Poetry

4-6         Miscellaneous

7-11         Lectures etc by Gillis

12         Wm Leslie’s Life of St Margaret:translation (bound Volume’

13            Challenge to N Armstrong 1831 (printed)

B 6:        Student notes etc

1—5 Mainly school subjects

6—9 Mainly theological

10        Retreats 1820—30

BGI 6:     Sermons etc

1—11 Sermons and spiritual addresses, with notes

BGI 7: Printed pamphlets

1-17        Controversial etc 1831-62

CS = Colleges in Scotland

CS 1: Scalan

A small college was opened at Scalan in the Braes of Glenlivet in1716. After 1732 it became the seminary for the Lowland District and continued as such until Aquhorties College was opened in 1799.

1 College affairs 1722-87

2 "Memorie della Casa di Scalan" 1762-6

3 "Brief historical account of Scalan", by John Geddes 1777

4-5 Treatise on seminaries in Scotland. by John Geddes 1793- 94

6 Accounts and lists of boys 1770-87 (bound ledger)

7 College accounts 1750-93

8 Roup at Scalan 1799

9 Transcripts by James Kyle 1818 (24 folios loose)

CS 2: Aquhorties

The college at Scalan was transferred to Aquhorties near Inverurie in 1799 and continued to be the seminary for the Lowland District until 1829, when the college at Blairs was opened. Aquhorties properties continued to be administered for the benefit of Blairs until they were sold in 1843.

1 Accounts of Bishop Hay 1795-1802 (notebook)

2 Accounts of James Sharp 1808-09 (notebook)

3-5 Account books of James Sharp 1812-32

6 Accounts of Aquhorties and Blairs 1840-42 (notebooks)

7 Farm accounts 1840-44 (notebook)

8 Status Animarurn 1806-08

9 Lists of students 1799-1825

10-11 Richard Sinnott’s register 1799-1823 (notebook)

12 Sinnott’s notebook on college and mission affairs 1799-1844

13 Notebook of John Gordon and James Sharp on college affairs 1795—1823

14 Arrivals and departures of boys 1799-1825 (photocopy)

13 Accounts of James Kyle 1815-18 (notebook)

16 Farm: work book and cash 1837-38 (notebook)

17 College Regulations 1799 (printed)

18 Poster of Regulations 1799 (printed)

19 College Devotions 1800 (printed)

20 Transcripts concerning Aquhorties lease, by James Kyle 1824 notebook)

21 Temporal affairs 1797-1838

22 College affairs c. 1800-22

23 Crofters’ rents 1791843 (bound volume)

24 Relinquishment of lease 1843-44

Productions of Aquhorties press 1816 (printed)

CS 2: Aquhorties (continued)

26 Aquhorties hymn-book 1818 (printed)

27 Receipts etc 1813-36

CS 3: Highland seminaries

There was a small college in the West Highlands for most of the period 1714-1829. Its existence was not continuous, however, as there were intervals when there was no college, and its location also varied.

1 Tack of Samalaman (1783-1803)

                                                            CS 4: Blairs College

(Transferred to CB)

                                                            CS 5: St Peter’s College

Founded in 1874 as a seminary for the Western District at Partickhill, Glasgow, it moved to sites near Cardross and is now in Glasgow.

1 Miscellaneous 1874—

CS 6: Miscellaneous and General

1 College rules, early 19th cent.

2 Lists of students, 1830—39 and undated

3 Taggart bursaries 1892

4 Students’ exercises etc. 19th cent.

FL 6: Leslie

This was a family in the North—East whose various branches played an important part in Scottish Catholicism.

1 Grant of lands of Fetternear 1566: papal approval sought 1688

2 Military action by Count Leslie, Osijek i~85

Tack of Balquhain 1765

FL7: Drummond

1 Genealogy down to early 19 cent.

2 Drummonds of Madeira

FL 8: Various

1 Charles Glendonwyn Scott: court cases 1848—49 (printed)

Fraser: land in Strathglass 1791

 

IM 1: Aberdeen

2-3 Bishop Hay’s accounts 1775—89

4 Window tax 1784—91

5 Subscription lists etc 1738—1802

6 Accounts for building new chapel 1803- 04

7 Lists, administration etc 1803—35

8-10 Accounts, including schools 1840—42

11-12 Lists, administration etc 1837—56

13 Annual reports of Aberdeen Catholic Association (printed)

IM 2: Ayr

1 Lists and petitions 1805—25

2-3 Railways going through church property 1845—46

 

IM 3: Banff

1 Description of mission 1780

2 Lists and administration 1801—45

3-4 New chapel building 1870—71

 

IM 4: Stirling

1 Rent for house and chapel 1835—38

2 Campsie mission 1830—48

3—10 New Stirling chapel and accounts 1835—42

11—13 Subscription lists, 1844—61 and undated

14 Particular money collections 1859—60

15 Lists of parishioners c.1856

16—19 Chapel repairs and expenses 1848—67

Church provostry meetings 1852-53

 

IM 5: Bellie

1 Mission statistics 1770—81

2 Mission affairs 1786—89 (notebook)

3 Notes on parish c.1796

4 About establishing Catholic school 1797

5 Mission statistics 1779—1804

6 Finances etc 1798—1805

7 Parish managers’ meetings, with accounts 1789—1805

8 Seat rents etc 1787—98

9 Mission statistics 1805-19

10 Financial 1815—23

11—12 Mission statistics, 1819—28 and undated

13 British Catholic petition 1825

14—16 New Fochabers chapel 1825—27

17 Accounts etc: 1797—1828 (bound notebook)

18—22 New Fochabers chapel 1828—35

23—24 Statistics etc 1828—44

25 Mission affairs 1841—45

26--27 Alex Hay’s executry 1821—42

St Ninian’s burial ground. 19 cent.

 

IM6: Braemar

I Account of mission c.1780 (notebook)

2 "Change of religion in Braemar" 1788

3 Description of mission, 18 cent. (photocopies)

4 New chapel 1837—38

5 Miscellaneous, 19 cent.

IM 7: Buckie

1 Use of Hall as chapel 1830—39

2 Subscription lists, choir etc 1840—49

3 Subscriptions and seat rents 1846—48(notebook)

4-6 Accounts 1850—58

7—10 Bishop Kyle~s accounts 1844—59

11 Painting of chapel 1861 (notebook)

12 Soiree 1861

13 Hall and school 1861—64

14 Baptismal register 1844—95

IM 8: Drummond

History of mission, by Wm. Innes c.1788

 

 

IM 9: Dufftown

1 Mission property 1804—74

IM 10: Dumfries

Account of Munshes mission 1804

List of subscribers etc 1817—25

 

IM 11: Dundee

1 Various 1803 -68

Claim made on Lochee parish 1867

 

IM 12: Edinburgh

Lists etc 1800—25

House in Monteith’s Close 1778

Church Property 1806-19

Various 1833-56

5-10 Accounts, seat rents etc 1810-1855

Notices Book 1864-74

IM 13: Elgin

Appeals for chapel etc 1804-53

2-18 Property, accounts etc 1843-68

IM 14: Glasgow

1 Status animarum, Glasgow and Paisley 1808

2 List of petitioners 1825

3 Various 1794—1842

"Catholicity in Glasgow 30 years ago", printed 1863 (photostat)

 

IM 15: Glengairn

Corqarff chapel, 19 cent.

 

IM 16: Glenlivet

1 Inventories etc, Tombae 1799—1822

2 New Tombae chapel 1826—30

3—5 Tombae: accounts etc 1835—46

6—7 Chapeltown: inventories, statistics etc 1829—49

8 Scalan and Tombac 1780—1812

IM 17: Falkirk

1—8 New chapel 1841—47

9 Lists etc 1830--Só

10—13 Repairs and expenses 1843—59

IM 18: Huntly

1 Inventories, petitions etc 1739—1833

2--3 Plans and estimates for new chapel 1833—34

IM 19: Inverness

1 Work on chapel 1834—49

2 Various, 18S2—56 and undated

IM 20: Inverurie

Building of chapel 18S0—51

 

IM 21: Keith

1 Kempcairn building accounts 1785 (sewn)

Various c. 1830—45

 

IM 22: Lennoxtown

1 Parish documents 1834—9S

2 Local saints and calendar 1878—81

IM 23: New Abbey

Kirkconnell 1805—22

 

IM 24: Paisley

1 Mission affairs 1808—42

2 Greenock railway 1836

3 Status animarum 1808 (photocopy)

IM 25: Perth

Mission affairs 1780—1830

IM 26: Peterhead

1 Mission affairs 1844—54

Accounts 1859—60

IM 27: Portsoy

1-5 New chapel and accounts 1828-49

IM 28: Preshome

1 Craigs chapel: subscriptions and seats 1788—89

2 Lists of communicants etc 1762—98

3 Seats, accounts etc 1805—25

4 Lists of communicants etc 1817—25

5 Accounts 1820—34 (notebooks)

6 Property c.1830—42

7 Lists of Catholics 1830s

8 Accounts and subscriptions 1832—45 (notebooks)

9-11 Bishop Kyle’s accounts 1846—67 (notebooks)

12 Various 1852—65

13 Devotional communions at Preshome and Buckie (bound volume)

14 Necrology 1794—1861 (bound volume)

15 Cash book 1870—75 (bound volume)

16 Work on chapel and farm buildings c.1879

17-18 Circulating library and subscriptions to chapel (bound volumes)

19-21 Priests’ library (bound volumes)

22 Devotions for Preshome and Buckie 1832 (printed)

IM 29: Tomintoul

1 Baptisms, marriages etc 1783—1818 (bound volume)

2-11 Accounts and new chapel 1835-42

12-13 Various 1780—1837

 

 

 

IM 30: Traquair

1 Property and accounts 1834—50

IM 31: Wick

1 Establishment of mission 1830—38

2 Accounts 1654—57

Various, 18-19 cent.

Plans

 

 

IM 33: Single documents

Beauly, Cabrach, Deecastle, Eskadale,Glenmoriston, Haddington, Kilmarnock, Dornie 1780—1865

IM 34: Buchan

1 Lists, petitions etc 1780—1854

2-4 Receipts etc 1809—30

IM 35: Eastlands (Blairs)

1 Property 1810—24