Faith,
I would be interested in the photo you mention, although it is probably from a time after my family were connected with the estate - but you never know.
When I was at Aberdeen last year, I came across a book at the Central Library with a longer history of the estate which I give below. It appears that both the comment which led off this thread (that Tillery was named after the writer's ancestor - more likely the reverse), as well as the short version of the estate's history sent me by the Archives are incorrect. As I found in another document the estate passed, through an act of parliament, to the Forbes family in 1681 for having supported the right side during the time of Charles II.
EPITAPHS AND INSCRIPTIONS - FOVERAN 317-318
TILLERY.
This estate originally formed a portion of the barony of Foveran, and belonged to the Turings.
In 1530-40, Andrew Udny, second son of Ranald Udny of Udny, is designed as proprietor.
About the middle of the following century, the Setons of Minnes acquired the property, and erected a mansion-house upon it.
Shortly afterwards it was in the possession of Sir Samuel Forbes of Foveran, who, before 1715, erected a new mansion-house. William Forbes, a succeeding proprietor, married Elizabeth, daughter of John Urquhart of Meldrum.
About 1750, the Forbeses sold the estate to James Ligertwood, a magistrate and merchant in Aberdeen, and for some time convener of the county. He married Jean (not Marjory as inadvertently stated by numerous writers), daughter of John Robertson of Pitmillan and Foveran. Of their family, John was a physician in Aberdeen; Alexander was an officer in the army ; Margaret married (contract dated 21st November, 1775) Sir William Seton, sixth Bart. of Pitmedden; while Jean and Barbara died unmarried.
In 1788, the estate was purchased, at the price of £9500, by John Chambers, who had acquired wealth in South Carolina. He married Agnes Cooper, niece and sole heiress of James Hunter, merchant in Aberdeen, and laird of Darrahill, Middle Ardo, and Gateside. He subsequently assumed the surname of Hunter, and became proprietor of the additional estates of Coldwells, in Ellen, and Auchiries, in Rathen. His eldest son, William Chambers Hunter, succeeded. He married Rachel, daughter of James Thom, formerly merchant in Halifax, Nova Scotia; mid they had a family of four sons and four daughters, of whom John died in 1867; James died in early youth; William, who was an advocate in Aberdeen, died in 1871 ; and Alexander, who was a captain in the army, died 24th March, 1901.
On the death of the last-named, William Chambers Hunter, son of Dr Keith Jopp and of his wife, Rachel, eldest sister of Captain Alexander Chambers Hunter, succeeded, and is still the proprietor.
These notes upon Tillery and its lairds are based upon Mr A. J. Mitchell-Gill's MSS., Temple's " Thanage of Fermartyn," pp. 576-79 ; A. Dingwall Fordyce's Family Record, pp. 40, 172, etc.; and Notes from the Register House.
