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Auction: 17020 - Autographs, Historical Documents, Ephemera and Postal History
Lot: 829

Autographs
Charles II
1660 (c.) a long document granting the return of the barony estate of New Abbey to Alexander Spottiswoode and noting the extent of all to be returned. Signed at top "Charles R". The lower fragment of this document is missing and there is some wear around the centre fold. An unusual and detailed Scottish document relating to the long lasting dispute between King Charles I and Robert Spottiswoode. Photo

In 1624, the last of the monks died at New Abbey (or Sweetheart Abbey) and the abbey buildings and land passed into the hands of Sir Robert Spottiswoode, son of the Archbishop of St Andrews, who assumed the title of Lord of New Abbey. When, in 1633, King Charles I established the Diocese of Edinburgh, he pleaded with Spottiswoode to relinquish the lands of New Abbey, which he wanted to grant to the new diocese. Though Spottiswoode agreed, he was not paid for the lands, and when the royal grant to the diocese was cancelled, the King restored the estate back to Spottiswoode in 1641. However, the repayment of the £3000 was never made and the matter lay over until the year 1660 when Mr Alexander Spottiswood, the second son of Sir Robert, procured a new signature from King Charles II narrating the grounds above deduced and re-conveying to him the lands of new, by virtue whereof he also possessed them, both for dues resting by the tenants. The Abbey is about 8 miles south of Dumfries in Scotland

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Sold for
£520