[Patrick Tonyn, Governor of East Florida during American War of Independence.] Autograph Letter Signed from W. H. Sands of Edinburgh, W.S., to wife of Admiral Charles William Paterson, regarding Marchmont Estate and town of Greenlaw. ,

See the entries on Tonyn and Paterson in the Oxford DNB, the latter stating of the recipient of this letter: ‘On 28 December 1799 he married, at St Pancras chapel, London, Jane Ellen Yeats (1771/2–1846), daughter of David Yeats, formerly registrar of East Florida, and sister of his first cousin, the physician Grant David Yeats.’ Paterson’s mother was a Tonyn, and he was also related to the Marchmont family, the Earl having been his early patron. The present item is 3pp, 4to, and a bifolium. It is in fair condition, with the customary loss from the breaking of the red wax seal, which is present with an impression of a head. The letter has been folded for postage and filing, and is minuted: ‘1830 / To Adml Paterson [sic] relating to Marchmont family’. In pencil, presumably by Lady Paterson: ‘To be kept E: J: P.’ Addressed, with three postmarks, to ‘Mrs. Admiral Paterson / East Cosham / Portsmouth’. Signed ‘Warren H Sands’. The letter begins: ‘Madam / Major General Patrick Tonyn late Governor of East Florida, the Revd Charles Tonyn Parson of Radnage, John Tonyn Commander of Cavalry in the East India Company Service & Lieut George Home of his Majestys Navy son of the deceased Mr John Home of Abbey St Balhans & sometime minister of the Gospel at Greenlaw & the heirs male of their respective Bodies, are called as Heir of Entail in the destination of the Entail of the Estate of Marchmont. It is the intention of Sir W P Hume Campbell the present proprietor of that Estate immediately to Petition Parliament for an Act of Parliament to [ffee?] out the portion of the Estate in and around the Town of Greenlaw for the purpose of extending the Town, to obtain this Act of Parliament he requires the consent of the Heirs of Entail in existence.’ As Sands understands Lady Paterson is ‘a near connection of the four heirs of Entail’, he asks if she can confirm that ‘the three first died unmarried, & that Mr Home tho’ married left no family’, and who succeeded to any of their property. He is writing to her after having ‘applied to my friend Miss Wauchope of Niddrie on the same subject’.