Friday 27 March 2015

(161) Carnegy-Arbuthnott of Findowrie and Balnamoon

Carnegy-Arbuthnott of Balnamoon
This post traces the intertwined stories of the Arbuthnotts of Findowrie House in the parish of Brechin (Angus) and their neighbours, the Carnegys of Balnamoon in the adjacent parish of Menmuir (Angus). The Arbuthnotts arrived first, when Robert Arbuthnott (c.1508-79) of Arbuthnott (Kincardineshire) bought the estate in the mid 16th century and settled it on his son, David Arbuthnot (d. 1602). It then descended in the male line to Alexander Arbuthnott (1685-1745), who had no son to inherit the estate. His daughter, Margaret Arbuthnott (c.1715-76), married James Carnegy (1712-91) of Balnamoon, so uniting the two estates.

Sir Alexander Carnegy (d. 1657) (or Carnegie - the spellings seem to be used interchangeably in the records, although Carnegy has been used consistently in this post) bought Balnamoon in the early 17th century, as one of a series of estate purchases between 1595 and 1642. Balnamoon at this time was a small tower house and very much a secondary seat to his much grander Careston Castle nearby. However, in the next generation the spendthrift habits of Sir John Carnegy (d. 1662) obliged him to sell Careston and Balnamoon was extended shortly afterwards by James Carnegy MP (d. 1700) to become the family's main seat.  James's son, Alexander Carnegy (1683-c.1748) took an active part in the first Jacobite uprising in 1715 and the Balnamoon estate was sequestrated, but he was able to buy it back when it was sold off in 1728.

In about 1748 the estate descended to James Carnegy (1712-91), whose wife had inherited Findowrie in 1745, leading him to change his name to Carnegy-Arbuthnott. James, who became known as the "Rebel Laird", followed in his father's footsteps by joining the Jacobite army in 1745-46. He fought at Culloden but escaped from the battlefield and evaded capture for a year. When he was arrested and taken to London for trial he escaped punishment because there was confusion about his identity arising from his change of name. He was able to succeed to Balnamoon, and is the ancestor of the present owners, who are still called Carnegy-Arbuthnott, although the estate has passed through the female line no less than three times in the last 250 years.

Balnamoon House owes much of its present form to James Knox (later Carnegy-Arbuthnott) (c.1788-1871), who remodelled and greatly enlarged it in stages between 1812 and 1828, using William Burn as his architect for the last phase of works in 1825-28.  Having made Balnamoon quite a grand house, he proceeded to demolish Findowrie completely and to use the materials to build a substantial but ungentrified farmhouse on the site, perhaps in the 1830s or 1840s.  In the mid 20th century Balnamoon was let and fell into some disrepair, but it was restored in 1975-76 apart from a rear wing which was demolished.

Findowrie House, Brechin, Angus

Nothing is known of the appearance of Findowrie House, the ancient seat of the Arbuthnotts, which according to a guidebook published in 1856 was demolished "some years ago, and a neat farm-house built near its site, and of part of its materials". Demolition probably took place in the 1820s or 1830s, after the family had improved Balnamoon.

Descent: David Arbuthnot (d. 1602); to son, Robert Arbuthnot (d. by 1681); to son, Robert Arbuthnot (c.1618-93); to grandson, Alexander Arbuthnot (1685-1745); to daughter, Margaret (c.1715-76), wife of James Carnegy (later Carnegy-Arbuthnott) (1712-91); to son, James Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1740-1810); to nephew, James Knox (later Carnegy-Arbuthnott) (c.1788-1871), who demolished the house.


Balnamoon, Menmuir, Angus

Balnamoon from the south: the projecting block at the west end represents the 16th century tower.  Image: Cerys Carnegy-Arbuthnott.
The earliest part of the house is a 16th century tower which probably stood originally at the south-west corner of a walled enclosure and which was built for the Collaces of Balnamoon, perhaps in 1584 - a date which appears on a stone built into a later rear wing.  A harled north wing was added to the tower in the 17th century, probably soon after the house became the main seat of the Carnegys in about 1660.  The wing has a three-bay front with a large staircase window in the centre which is an 18th or early 19th century alteration. The house was remodelled and extended in stages between 1812 and 1828, the last part of the work being designed by William Burn in 1825. This made the 16th century tower one end of a new south range. A north-east wing, built at the same time, was demolished in the 1970s.


Balnamoon from the south-east, from an early 20th century postcard. The demolished north-east wing can be seen on the right.



The work of 1812-28 gave the house a new south front with a seven-bay centre and projecting ends, but the design is not symmetrical as the two bays representing the 16th century tower are balanced at the east end only by a single projecting bay. There is a semi-basement with small windows and the ground floor is treated as a piano nobile with architraves to the large windows.  In the centre, and rather masking the asymmetry of the facade, is an enormous balustraded two-storey porch added in 1860, with a screen of Roman Doric columns framing the upper floor. The porch is offset from the front door to increase the external symmetry.  


Balnamoon from the Ordnance Survey 6" map of 1863.

The early 19th century entrance hall which forms a half-octagon, with round-headed niches in the canted walls.  This in turn leads into the staircase hall, where the stair has a cast-iron balustrade decorated with acanthus scrolls. From this hall passages run east and west from which the principal rooms are accessed. To the right of the hall is a dining room and beyond it a small library; these rooms have been stripped of their decorative plasterwork. West of the hall is the early 19th century drawing room, part of which is now used as a dining room.  The drawing room proper is formed from the first floor hall of the 16th century tower, and has early 19th century decoration re-created when the house was restored in 1975-76.

Descent: Sir Alexander Carnegy (d. 1657); to son, Sir John Carnegy (d. 1662); to son, James Carnegy (d. 1700); to son, James Carnegy (d. 1704); to brother, Alexander Carnegy (1683-c.1748); to son, James Carnegy (later Carnegy-Arbuthnott) (1712-91); to son, James Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1740-1810); to nephew, James Knox (later Carnegy-Arbuthnott) (c.1788-1871); to daughter, Anne Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1817-72); to sister, Helen Carnegy-Arbuthnot (1819-92); to sister, Mary Anne Jemima (1823-1906), wife of Arthur Risden Capel (later Capel-Carnegy-Arbuthnott) (1822-99); to son, James Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1864-1921); to daughter, Enid (1898-1986), wife of Wilmot Boys-Adams (later Carnegy-Arbuthnott) (1891-1973); to son, Col. David Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1925-2008); to son, James David Carnegy-Arbuthnott (b. 1953).


Arbuthnot(t) family of Findowrie 



Arbuthnot, David (d. 1602), of Findowrie. Only child of Robert Arbuthnott (c.1508-79) of Arbuthnott and his third wife, Helen, daughter of George Clephane of Carslogie, born about 1555. He married 1st, Elizabeth (d. 1595), daughter of [forename unknown] Rait of Halgreen, and 2nd, [forename unknown], daughter of [forename unknown] Stuart of Inchbreck, and had issue:
(1.1) Robert Arbuthnot (d. by 1681) (q.v.);
(1.2) Margaret Arbuthnot;
(1.3) Christian Arbuthnot;
(1.4) Elizabeth Arbuthnot;
(1.5) Isobel Arbuthnot; married Sir James Young of Easter Seton;
(2.1) David Arbuthnot (fl. 1615);
(2.2) A daughter.
His father settled on him the estate of Findowrie which he had purchased in the mid 16th century.
He died in 1602. His first wife died in 1595. His widow's date of death is unknown.

Arbuthnot, Robert (d. by 1681), of Findowrie. Only son of David Arbuthnot (d. 1602) of Findowrie and his first wife, Elizabeth Rait of Halgreen. He married, 1616, Margaret, daughter of Sir William Grahame of Claverhouse and widow of George Symmer of Balzeordie (Angus), and had issue, probably among others:
(1) Robert Arbuthnot (c.1618-93) (q.v.);
(2) David Arbuthnot (b. 1626), baptised at Brechin, 5 December 1626;
(3) Alexander Arbuthnot (b. 1629), baptised at Brechin, 8 October 1629; married and had issue one son
(4) Margaret Arbuthnot (fl. 1642); married James Ogilvie of Balfour.
He inherited the Findowrie estate from his father in 1602.
His date of death is unknown. His wife's date of death is unknown.

Arbuthnot, Robert (c.1618-93), of Findowrie. Eldest son of Robert Arbuthnot (d. by 1681) and his wife Margaret, daughter of Sir William Grahame of Claverhouse and widow of George Symmer of Balzeordie, born about 1618.  He married, 4 November 1641 at Bervie (Kincardineshire), Elizabeth, daughter of William Rait of Halgreen, and had issue:
(1) Marjorie Arbuthnot (b. 1642), baptised at Brechin, 27 August 1642; married Francis Farquharson of Finzean;
(2) Margaret Arbuthnot (b. 1643), baptised at Brechin, 24 September 1643 but died young;
(3) Magdalen Arbuthnot (b. 1645), baptised at Brechin, 7 May 1645;
(4) Robert Arbuthnot (b. 1646), baptised at Brechin, 25 September 1646 but died in infancy;
(5) Robert Arbuthnot (b. 1648), baptised at Brechin, 8 April 1648;
(6) David Arbuthnot (b. 1649), baptised at Brechin, 23 August 1649;
(7) Elizabeth Arbuthnot (b. 1650), baptised at Brechin, 11 December 1650;
(8) George Arbuthnot (b. 1652), baptised at Brechin, 23 June 1652;
(9) Isobel Arbuthnot (b. 1654), baptised at Brechin, 21 March 1654;
(10) Marie Arbuthnot (b. 1655), baptised at Brechin, 1 October 1655;
(11) Margaret Arbuthnot (b. 1657), baptised at Brechin, 13 January 1657;
(12) Alexander Arbuthnot (1658-88) (q.v.);
(13) John Arbuthnot (b. 1660), baptised at Brechin, 20 October 1660.
He inherited the Findowrie estate from his father.
He died in 1693; his will is said to have been proved in 1745. His wife's date of death is unknown.

Arbuthnot, Alexander (1658-88), of Findowrie. Fifth son of Robert Arbuthnot (c.1618-93) of Findowrie and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of William Rait of Halgreen, baptised at Brechin, 12 April 1658. He married, 5 June 1679 at Kilspindie (Perths), Margaret (b. 1659), daughter of Sir Alexander Lindsay bt., of Evelick, and had issue:
(1) Robert Arbuthnot (b. 1680), baptised at Brechin, 3 November 1680; died in infancy;
(2) Alexander Arbuthnot (1685-1745) (q.v.);
(3) John Arbuthnot (b. 1687), baptised at Brechin, 14 July 1687.
He died in the lifetime of his father in 1688. His widow's date of death is unknown.

Arbuthnot, Alexander (1685-1745), of Findowrie. Elder surviving son of Alexander Arbuthnot (1658-88) of Findowrie and his wife Margaret, daughter of Sir Alexander Lindsay bt. of Evelick, baptised at Brechin, 26 May 1685. He married, c.1713/14, Margaret Ochterlony (d. 1749?), and had issue including:
(1) Margaret Arbuthnott (later Carnegy-Arbuthnott) (c.1715-76) (q.v.);
(2) Jean Arbuthnott (d. 1786); married, 1749 (contract 4 July), John Arbuthnott (1703-91), 6th Viscount of Arbuthnott and had issue three sons and two daughters, for whom see my post on the Viscounts of Arbuthnott; died 18 March 1786;
(3) Mary Arbuthnott (fl. 1754); married, 20 December 1754 in Montrose, Capt. William Ochterlony;
(4) Arthur Arbuthnott (b. c.1718); died young;
(5) Anne Arbuthnott (fl. 1764); married, 7 January 1764 in Montrose, David Molison of Brechin.
He inherited the Findowrie estate from his grandfather in 1693.
He died 27 April 1745. His widow was perhaps the Margaret Arbuthnot buried in Edinburgh, 10 March 1749.

Arbuthnott (later Carnegy-Arbuthnott), Margaret (c.1715-76) of Findowrie. Eldest surviving child of Alexander Arbuthnot (1685-1745) of Findowrie, and his wife Margaret Ochterlony, born about 1715. She married, 30 April 1734 (contract 26 April), James Carnegy (1712-91) of Balnamoon (q.v.) and they took the surname Carnegy-Arbuthnott when she inherited the Findowrie estate in 1745.  For their issue see below.
She inherited the Findowrie estate from her father in 1745.
She died 25 April 1776.  Her husband died in 1791.


Carnegy and Carnegy-Arbuthnott families of Balnamoon (Angus)



Carnegy, Sir Alexander (d. 1657). Fourth son of David Carnegy (d. 1598) of Panbride and Colluthie and his second wife, Euphame, daughter of Sir John Wemyss of Wemyss. He married Giles, daughter of Alexander Blair of Balthayock and had issue:
(1) David Carnegy; died in the lifetime of his father;
(2) Sir John Carnegy (d. 1662), kt. (q.v.).
He acquired estates in Angus including the Careston and Balnamoon estates, between 1595 and 1642.
He died in October 1657; his will was proved at Brechin, 10 December 1658. His wife's date of death is unknown.

Carnegy, Sir John (d. 1662). Only surviving son of Sir Alexander Carnegy (d. 1657) and his wife Giles, daughter of Alexander Blair of Balthayock. He married 1st, 1642 (contract 23 November), Lady Helen, daughter of James Ogilvie, 1st Earl of Airlie, and 2nd, [forename unknown], daughter of George Graham of Claverhouse, and had issue:
(1.1) John Carnegy (d. 1700) (q.v.);
(2.1) Capt. Alexander Carnegy (d. 1691); a soldier in Lord George Douglas' regiment in France and later sheriff of Angus, 1684-87; married Lady Jean, daughter of James Erskine, Earl of Buchan and had issue two sons and two daughters; died 1691;
(2.2) Elizabeth Carnegy; married John Guthrie of that ilk;
(2.3) Cecil Carnegy; died unmarried [but some sources say she married John Guthrie];
He inherited the Balnamoon and Careston estates from his father in 1657, but was obliged to sell Careston to Sir John Stewart of Grandtully.
He died in September 1662. His widow's date of death is unknown.

Carnegy, James (d. 1700). Only son of Sir John Carnegy (d. 1662) and his first wife, Helen or Elizabeth, daughter of James Ogilvie, 1st Earl of Airlie. Admitted a burgess of Dundee, 1668. MP for Angus in the Scottish Parliament, 1669-74, 1681-82, 1685-86. He married 1st, Margaret, daughter of Sir Alexander Carnegy of Pitarrow, and 2nd, Jean (d. 1705), daughter of David Fotheringham of Powrie and widow of John Carnegy of Boysack, and had issue:
(1.1) James Carnegy (d. 1704); died unmarried and without issue, 5 April 1704;
(2.1) Alexander Carnegy (1683-c.1748) (q.v.);
(2.2) Elizabeth Carnegy (b. 1684), born 10 November 1684; married, 1702, John Graham (d. 1749) of Balgowan;
(2.3) A daughter.
He inherited the Balnamoon estate from his father in 1662
He died 25 April 1700. His widow died in 1705.

Carnegy, Alexander (1683-c.1748). Younger son of James Carnegy (d. 1700) and his second wife, Jean, daughter of David Fotheringham of Powrie and widow of John Carnegy of Boysack, born 24 October 1683. He participated in the 1715 Jacobite rising. He married, 1711 (contract 28 July), Margaret (fl. 1750), daughter of David Graham of Fintry and had issue:
(1) James Carnegy (later Carnegy-Arbuthnott) (1712-91) (q.v.);
(2) Margaret Carnegy (b. 1714), born 6 July 1714; died unmarried after 1746;
(3) John Carnegy (b. 1715), born 24 December 1715; died young;
(4) David Carnegy (b. 1717), born 15 November 1717;
(5) Thomas Carnegy (b. 1718), born 10 December 1718;
(6) Alexander Carnegy (b. 1720), born 17 March 1720; died young;
(7) Charles Carnegy (b. 1722), born 8 January 1722; living abroad in 1747;
(8) Anne Carnegy (b. 1723), born 3 August 1723; married James Knox of Markhouse and had issue including Andrew Knox who married Helen Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1758-1837) (q.v.);
(9) Elizabeth Carnegy (b. 1725), born 12 November 1725; died unmarried after 1746;
(10) John Carnegy (b. 1728), born 6 August 1728;
(11) Robert Carnegy (b. 1730), born 24 November 1730; living in 1746
(12) Alexander Carnegy (b. 1734), born 25 July 1734.
He inherited the Balnamoon estate from his father in 1700, but the estate was sequestered after 1715 and repurchased in 1728.
He died between 1746 and 1750. His wife died sometime after 10 October 1750.


James Carnegy-Arbuthnott
Carnegy-Arbuthnott, James (1712-91). Only surviving son of Alexander Carnegy (1683-c.1748) and his wife Margaret, daughter of David Graham of Fintry, born 6 August 1712. He married 30 April 1734 (contract 26 April), Margaret Arbuthnott (c.1715-76) of Findowrie, and they took the surname Carnegy-Arbuthnott when she inherited the Findowrie estate in 1745. He was a Jacobite who participated in the 1745 rebellion as an officer in Lord Ogilvy's Angus regiment, but he escaped after the Battle of Culloden in 1746 and and fled to Glen Esk where he was harboured by locals. While outlawed, Balnamoon was actively sought by soldiers of the crown, as well as hired Highlanders. At times of greatest danger, when his pursuers were in the Angus glens, he hid out in a remote cave high in Glen Mark now known as "Balnamoon's Cave". The loyalty of the locals, the remote location and the difficulty in locating the small cave entrance among the rock strewn mountain sides, kept Balnamoon from being discovered and captured for a year. When he was eventually betrayed by the local Presbyterian minister he was imprisoned in the Tower of London, but at his trial he escaped punishment because of confusion about his identity arising from his name change. He became known as "the Rebel Laird". He and his wife had issue:
(1) Margaret Carnegy-Arbuthnott (b. 1735; fl. 1774), born 26 February 1735; died unmarried;
(2) Alexander Carnegy (b. & d. 1736)
(3) Jean Carnegy-Arbuthnott (b. 1738; fl. 1774), born 16 September 1738; died unmarried;
(4) James Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1740-1810) (q.v.);
(5) Elizabeth Carnegy-Arbuthnott (b. 1742; fl. 1774), born 24 June 1742; died unmarried;
(6) Alexander Carnegy-Arbuthnott (b. 1744), born 4 November 1744; qualified as a surgeon and emigrated to East Indies but died unmarried before 1810;
(7) Anne Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1749-1828) of Findowrie, born 23 May 1749; died unmarried, 10 December 1828;
(8) Charles Carnegy-Arbuthnott (b. 1751), born 7 November 1751; emigrated to East Indies where he became a merchant, but died unmarried before 1810;
(9) John Carnegy-Arbuthnott (b. 1755), born 21 July 1755; died unmarried in Jamaica before 1810;
(10) Helen Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1758-1837) (q.v.).
He inherited the Balnamoon estate from his father in 1750. His wife inherited the Findowrie estate in 1745.
He died in 1791. His wife died 25 April 1776.

Carnegy-Arbuthnott, James (1740-1810), of Findowrie and Balnamoon. Only surviving son of James Carnegy-Arbuthnott (d. 1791) and his wife Margaret, daughter of Alexander Arbuthnot of Findowrie, born 26 June 1740. He worked as a merchant in Gothenburg (Sweden) with George Carnegie, whose family founded the Carnegie Bank, Carnegie Brewery and other businesses. He was unmarried and without issue.
He inherited the Findowrie and Balnamoon estates on the death of his father in 1791. At his death Findowrie passed to his elder sister and Balnamoon to his nephew.
He died in 1810.

Carnegy-Arbuthnott, Helen (1758-1837). Younger daughter of James Carnegy-Arbuthnott (d. 1791) and his wife Margaret, daughter of Alexander Arbuthnot of Findowrie, born 28 March 1758. She married her cousin, Andrew Knox of Keithock (which he bought in 1809 and sold in 1821), and had issue:
(1) James Carnegy Knox (later Carnegy-Arbuthnott) (c.1788-1871) (q.v.);
(2) Mary Knox (b. 1790), born April and baptised 26 June 1790; married, 22 June 1821, William Hunter, son of David? Hunter of Blackness and had issue two sons and two daughters; date of death unknown;
(3) Helen Knox (1794-1873), baptised 30 November 1794; married, 24 October 1824, Capt. Campbell Lock RN, and had issue nine sons; died Jan-Mar 1873.
She died 23 January 1837 and was buried at St Cuthberts, Edinburgh. Her husband's date of death is unknown.

Knox (later Carnegy-Arbuthnott), James Carnegy (c.1788-1871) of Findowrie and Balnamoon. Only son of Andrew Knox of Keithock and Markhouse and his wife Helen, daughter of James Carnegy-Arbuthnott of Findowrie and Balnamoon, born about 1788.  He took the name of Carnegy-Arbuthnott on succeeding to the Balnamoon estate in 1810. He married, 10 August 1812, Mary Anne (c.1787-1854), daughter of David Hunter of Blackness (Angus) and had issue:
(1) Elizabeth Gibson Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1813-31), born 21 August 1813; died unmarried, 16 May 1831;
(2) James Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1815-32), born 23 January 1815; died unmarried at Ventnor (Isle of Wight), 18 October 1832;
(3) Andrew Knox Carnegy-Arbuthnott (c.1816-32); died unmarried, 9 June 1832 and was buried at Menmuir (Angus);
(4) Anne Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1817-72); a formidable spinster, who once put a young and effervescent R.L. Stevenson in his place; she succeeded her father as owner of Findowrie and Balnamoon, 12 April 1871 but died unmarried, 16 November 1872;
(5) Helen Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1819-92), born 15 August 1819; succeeded her elder sister as owner of Findowrie and Balnamoon, 16 November 1872, but died unmarried, 1892;
(6) David Carnegy-Arbuthnott (d. 1852); died unmarried at Port Natal, 18 March 1852;
(7) Mary Anne Jemima Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1823-1906) (q.v.);
(8) Thomas Hunter Carnegy-Arbuthnott (d. 1858); emigrated to Australia, where he died unmarried, February 1858;
(9) Matilda Elisabeth Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1830-83), baptised 28 July 1830; married, 26 April 1866, Rev. Frederick Pigott Johnson (1826-82), vicar of Oaksey (Wilts) and had issue one son; died 12 March 1883.
He inherited the Balmanoon estate from his uncle in 1810 and Findowrie from his aunt in 1828. He was responsible for enlarging Balnamoon in 1812-28 and for demolishing Findowrie and replacing it with a farmhouse built from some of the materials.
He died 12 April 1871. His wife died 12 November 1854.

Carnegy-Arbuthnott, Mary Anne Jemima (1823-1906) of Findowrie and Balnamoon. Third daughter of James Carnegy-Arbuthnott (nĂ© Knox) of Findowrie and Balnamoon and his wife Mary Anne, daughter of David Hunter of Blackness (Angus), born 31 October 1823. She married, 18 April 1852, Arthur Risden Capel (1822-99), who assumed the name Capel-Carnegy-Arbuthnott (although he continued to use Capel for many purposes), and they had issue:
(1) Mary Anne Carnegy Arbuthnott Capel (1855-1916), baptised 11 December 1855; died unmarried, 5 June 1916; will proved 10 August 1916 (estate £19,264);
(2) Margaret Carnegy Arbuthnott Capel (1857-1918), born 6 December 1857 and baptised 1 January 1858; married, 15 November 1894, Arthur Griffith Layard (b. 1855), planter in Ceylon, and had issue one son and two daughters; died 9 September 1918; will proved 9 November 1918 (estate £7,588);
(3) Evelyn Frederica Capel (1860-1936), born 12 June and baptised 20 July 1860; married, 17 April 1894, Constantine Albert Ionides (1864-1916), and had issue one son and two daughters; died 29 March 1936; will proved 27 June 1936 (estate £28,472);
(4) Arthur Carnegy Capel (1862-87), born 26 September 1862; educated at Winchester and New College, Oxford (BA 1884); died unmarried, 24 December 1887; administration of goods with will annexed granted 10 February 1888 (effects £2,844);
(5) James Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1864-1921) (q.v.);
(6) Edith Alice Capel (1866-1942), born 25 January and baptised 8 March 1866; married, 12 April 1899, Malcolm William Galloway, stockbroker, eldest son of W. Galloway of Cheshunt (Herts) and had issue two children; died 5 March 1942; will proved 20 July 1942 (estate £474);
(7) Harold Carnegy Capel (1868-1936), born 11 June and baptised 11 July 1868; stockbroker; married, 28 July 1895, Eileen Kilmorey (d. 1946), daughter of Thomas Kilmorey Murphy of Lismore (Kerry) and had issue one son; died 27 May 1936.
She inherited the Findowrie and Balnamoon estates from her sister in 1892.
She died 1 February 1906 and was buried at Menmuir (Angus); her will was proved at Forfar Sheriff Court, 25 April 1906. Her husband died 19 May 1899; his will was proved at Forfar Sheriff Court, 15 August 1899.

Carnegy-Arbuthnott, James (1864-1921) of Findowrie and Balnamoon. Eldest surviving son of Arthur Risden Capel-Carnegy-Arbuthnott (né Capel) and his wife Mary Anne Jemima, daughter of James Carnegy-Arbuthnott, born 31 May 1864. He accumulated significant gambling debts and left the estate embarrassed at his death. He married, 5 April 1894, Ethel Lydia (c.1869-1948), eldest daughter of Arthur Gibson Hill, and had issue:
(1) Helen Mary Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1895-1993), born 19 January 1895; married, 1 July 1916 at St Peter, Cranley Gardens, London, Maj. Dennis Reginald Clare Dillon O'Flynn (1880-1944), son of John Dillon O'Flynn, and had issue; died in 1993 and was buried at Menmuir (Angus);
(2) Enid (alias Edith) Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1898-1986) (q.v.);
(3) Elizabeth Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1906-85), born 4 February 1906; fenced in the Olympic Games; lived at Hampton Lodge, Hampton Court (Middx); died 24 January 1985 and was buried at Menmuir; her will was proved 30 April 1985 (estate £123,942).
He inherited the Findowrie and Balnamoon estates from his mother in 1906.
He died 11 September 1921 and was buried at Menmuir (Angus); his will was proved 3 March 1923. His widow married 2nd, Oct-Dec 1922, Richard Arthur Quirk (c.1884-1954) and died 8 July 1948; her will was proved 2 December 1948 (estate £21,257).

Carnegy-Arbuthnott, Enid (alias Edith) (1898-1986) of Findowrie and Balnamoon. Second daughter of James Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1864-1921) of Findowrie and Balnamoon and his wife Ethel Lydia, daughter of Arthur Gibson Hill, born 21 May 1898. She married, 2 July 1919, Lt-Col. Wilmot Boys-Adams (1891-1973), who assumed the name of Carnegy-Arbuthnott in 1923, son of Charles Lemesle Adams of Pendeford Hall (Staffs) and his wife Margaret (née Boys), and had issue:
(1) June Mary Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1920-2015), born 24 July 1920; married, 2 April 1941, Maj. Gerald Michael Osborne MC TD of Balmadies, Guthrie (Angus), son of Maj. John Edwards Osborne, and had issue three sons and two daughters; died 2 July 2015;
(2) David Carnegy-Arbuthnott (1925-2008) (q.v.).
She inherited the Findowrie and Balnamoon estates from her father in 1921 but leased the house until after the Second World War when it was in poor condition.
She died 10 November 1986 and was buried at Menmuir (Angus). Her husband died in 1973 and was also buried at Menmuir.

Carnegy-Arbuthnott, Col. David (1925-2008) of Findowrie and Balnamoon. Only son of Lt. Col. Wilmot Carnegy-Arbuthnott (né Boys-Adams) and his wife Enid (alias Edith), daughter of James Carnegy-Arbuthnott of Findowrie and Balnamoon, born 17 July 1925. Educated at Stowe. Served in Black Watch 1944-47 and later with 4th/5th Battalion, Black Watch in Territorials (Lt. Col.); Hon. Col. of 51st Highland Volunteers; Member of Hon. Company of Archers, 1959. A chartered accountant (later managing partner) with R.C. Thompson & Murdoch (later Arthur Young McClelland Moores) in Dundee. A Trustee of the Scottish Episcopal Church, 1982. DL for Dundee 1973-89 and for Angus, 1989-2008. Hon. LLD (Dundee Univ, 1982). He married, 27 August 1949, Helen Adamson (1926-2000), daughter of David Collier Lyell MC of Kirriemuir (Angus), and had issue:
(1) Sarah Carnegy-Arbuthnott (b. 1951), born 25 June 1951; married, 5 May 1973, Hugh Yatman Gunn (b. 1949?) and had issue one son;
(2) James David Carnegy-Arbuthnott (b. 1953) (q.v.);
(3) Hugh John Carnegy-Arbuthnott (b. 1957), born 26 February 1957; educated at Stowe and Pembroke College, Oxford (MA); employed by Reuters Ltd in Bahrain; married, 26 September 1981, Victoria Zoe Katherina (b. 1956), daughter of Gosta Carlstrand and had issue two sons and one daughter;
(4) Bridget Helen Carnegy-Arbuthnott (b. 1960), born 21 November 1960; married, 25 August 1984, William James Birkbeck, son of James Birkbeck of Lima (Peru) and had issue three sons.
He inherited the Findowrie and Balnamoon estates from his mother in 1986 but took over the management of the estate after his father's death in 1973 and was responsible for restoring the house in 1975-76.
He died 20 March 2008. His wife died 3 April 2000 and was buried at Menmuir (Angus).

Carnegy-Arbuthnott, James David (b. 1953) of Findowrie and Balnamoon. Elder son of Lt-Col. David Carnegy-Arbuthnott (b. 1925) of Findowrie and Balnamoon and his wife Helen Adamson, daughter of David Collier Lyell MC of Kirriemuir (Angus), born 8 June 1953. Educated at Stowe and Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. He married, 19 January 1985, Cerys Sian, antique dealer and fine art consultant, daughter of Dr. Geoffrey J. Williams, and had issue:
(1) James Alexander Carnegy-Arbuthnott (b. 1987), born 17 September 1987; educated at Harper Adams University College, Newport (Shropshire) (BSc Hons in Agriculture 2010);
(2) Sian Cecily Carnegy-Arbuthnott (b. 1990), born 10 June 1990; educated at St Andrews University (MA in History of Art 2012).
Now living.


Sources


D.M. Peter, The Baronage of Angus and Mearns, 1856; W.. Fraser, History of the Carnegies, Earls of Southesk, and their kindred, vol. 2, 1867; J. Gifford, The buildings of Scotland: Dundee and Angus, 2012, pp. 348-50; http://www.kittybrewster.com/b.htm


Location of archives

Carnegy-Arbuthnott family of Balnamoon: deeds, estate and household papers, 15th-19th cents. [Private Collection: enquiries to National Register of Archives for Scotland]


Coat of arms


Quarterly, 1st and 4th azure, a crescent between three mullets within a bordure argent; 2nd & 3rd, or, an eagle displayed azure beaked and membered gules, within a bordure vair.


Revision and acknowledgements

This post was first published 27 March 2015 and was updated on 8 July and 14 November 2015 and 8 July 2018. I am grateful to Cerys Carnegy-Arbuthnott for supplying an excellent image of Balnamoon.

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