The Charlotte Papers in the Scott Douglas Collection
Charlotte’s diaries
The Heritage Hub holds four diaries of Hannah Charlotte Scott Douglas. These cover a number of significant events of her late teens and early twenties but finish a year before her marriage.
| Journal (Sunlaws, St Leonards & Tunbridge Wells, includes death of her mother) | 1848-1850 |
| Journal (European Tour) | 1853 |
| Journal (including Mr Kerr’s remarriage, Presentation at Court, Toll House Riots, meets Baron Hermann von Liebig) | 1854-1855 |
| Journal ( includes the family secret, engagements to Baron Hermann von Liebig and Archie Dunbar) | 1856-1857 |
Letters
There are very few letters from Charlotte in our collections but there are several that contain information about her. Many of these letters deal with her aborted engagement to Baron Hermann von Liebig.
The letter from her husband Edward Octavius gives an insight into how Charlotte and Edward looked after his nieces and nephews (they had no children of their own)
| Letter from George Henry to ‘My dear sisters’ talking of ‘Charlotte’s folly’ at becoming engaged to Baron von Liebig whom she has only known for one month. He mentions telling his stepfather Mr Kerr that he would be willing to take her to Corfu over the winter. | c.1856 |
| Letter from George Henry to Catty saying he has received both letters and is still against Charlotte’s engagement. He refers obtusely to rumours re: Charlotte’s paternity as being ‘a cruel and wicked lie by wicked people for wicked purposes’ and says they must be strangers if she speaks of again. | 27 Feb 1856 |
| Letter from Charlotte regarding her engagement to Baron Hermann von Liebig | 1856 |
| Letter which refers to Douglas not giving his consent and engagement | c.1856 |
| Letter to Catty from Charlotte forgiving Catty | |
| Three page letter regarding Charlotte’s behaviour regarding Hermann (the Baron) and the opinions of Henry from L.G. (Lisette Gregory?) | c.1856 |
| Incomplete letter possibly from Charlotte with mentions of Sholta | 4 April 1857 |
| Letter to Catty from Mary Scott-Kerr written at Torquay mentioning Charlotte and Edward’s marriage and the continuing family squabbles | c. 1859 |
| Letter from Edward Octavius Douglas to Sholta written from Bamff, Perthshire including mention of a visit to James Ramsay (husband of the late Mary Scott Kerr) & children and also contains information about his nieces and nephews who live with him and Charlotte at Killiechassie, two named as Archie and Katharine (children of Edward’s brother Henry Alexander Douglas) | 1869 |
| Letter from George Henry to Sholta saying that ‘I hope that the waters and air of Southern France have done you good.’ And describing his visit to Charlotte at Killiechassie | 5 Nov 1882 |
Papers relating to Charlotte’s will
Charlotte’s Estate was handled by her nephew Sir George Brisbane Douglas after her death in 1921. Most of her jewellery was bequeathed to her nieces.
| Bundle (regarding Hannah Charlotte Scott-Douglas Estate)Received from Sir George Douglas acting as trustee for the late Mrs H.C. Douglas, One Diamond & Enamel Neck Ornament, & one ditto locket. signed C Lilias Ramsay, Bamff, Alyth 29 June 1923Received by Agnata Butler a Marquise shaped locket, inscribed C.E.I.S.D. on back 2 Sept 19221921 receipt for jewellery received by C Lilias Ramsay from Hannah Charlotte Scott- Douglas Estate.Receipt for jewellery from E.M. Ramsay.Letter from Florence Lewis to Sir George 17 July 1921, describes clearing out the house.
Letter to George from Mary G Ainger regarding receiving Linen & c via Miss Lewis from her Aunt Charlotte and photos of Uncle Ned (Edward Octavius) Receipt from Mary H H Douglas for jewellery received from HCSD estate, 26 June 1921 Receipt from Miss Paton for bracelet 13 Jun 1922 Letter from K. H. Douglas to George thanking him for sending Uncle Ned’s picture and the linen 29 July c. 1921, Sir George has drafted the obituary for his steward Thomas Taylor on Back Receipt from Alice L Stewart for two pieces of Jewellery received. |
1921-1923 |
| Handwritten copy of H.C. Douglas will (possibly an extract) describing who Charlotte has bequeathed her jewellery to:Mary H H DouglasAgnata ButlerLilias RamsayEmily M RamsayMrs Charles Stewart
Mrs Drummond (daughter of the dowager Lady Kensington) Molly Douglas (niece of Mary H H Douglas) A bequest to Mrs Francis Douglas is omitted that was included in the original will. |
25 Sept 1906(date of original) |
| Receipt for jewellery received by Katherine Helen Douglas | 23 June 1921 |
Notes
1. C Lilias and Emily M. Ramsay and Agnata Butler were daughters of Mary (Scott-Kerr) Ramsay and the historian James Henry Ramsay of Bamff. Agnata married the master of Trinity College, Cambridge Henry Montagu Butler.
2. Mary G Ainger’s full name was Catherine Mary Grey. She was the daughter of Edward’s brother Henry Alexander Douglas. She was married to Francis Ainger, rector of Jedburgh. Katherine Helen Douglas was her sister.
3. Mary H H Douglas was the daughter of Sir George Henry Scott-Douglas.
4. Alice L Stewart was the daughter of Edward’s eldest brother Robert Johnstone Douglas. She married Charles Stewart.
