Hello fellow diggers, I have been searching for information regarding the 19th century coffee plantation known as ROSENEATH ESTATE in Sri Lanka and the interests that the MCNAUGHT (MCNAUGHTAN) and TURNER familes, both of Dunbartonshire, had in it. There has been some progress thanks to wonderful subscribers. Here is a snapshop of what I have: Hello Fazli, Let me try to set as straight, as I am able, the Turners. William Turner married 12 October 1815 at Roseneath, Scotland, Elizabeth McLellan; died prior to 15 October 1881 Children: William born 22 October 1815 Roseneath Marion married 28 November 1845 John Campbell Roseneath Margaret married 24 August 1846 Dumbarton Patrick McNaughtan (aka Peter McNaught) Peter McNaught's first wife was Margaret Christie Peter McNaught's second wife was Margaret Turner Child: John McNaught born 20 August 1851 Dumbarton Quoting from correspondence addressed to his daughter and son-in-law in America by Peter Mcnaught 5 December 1864, 5 High Street, Dumbarton, "I am still keeping in pretty good health and have not much to complain of otherwise as throw the death of little John's (his son by Margaret Turner) uncle William Turner who left him about £500 .... There is also a probability that John may get some more money through time as the Law agent in Glasgow informs me that there is still a Coffee Estate in Ceylon to be disposed of which is at present drawing large rents." Quoting from correspondence addressed to the Trustees of the late Wm. Turner by Mr. John Walker 15 October 1881, "I do not want to trouble you now with a long story, or go back more than necessary. I would remind you however, that from 1859 till now, either as administrator of the late G. Uquhart or as attorney for his heirs, or as your tenant, I have paid the rent of the estate as it became due. And since the Estate came into my hands, it has been left in as as a high state of cultivation as well as cared for had it been my own property. I laid out a great deal of money on buildings , roads and surface drains, and six(?) head of sheep, 3 carts for bringing cattle manure from Kandy, as Mr. Wm. Turner did", etc.". There is the placement...Kandy. I have family (Peter McNaught & William Turner) connections with a 19th century coffee plantation known then as the Roseneath Estate. It failed in the 1880's and the myth prevails that it was purchased by Thomas Lipton. Correspondence that I have refers to anonther nearby estate as the Hermitage. Both families were of the Dumbarton/Roseneath/Rhu, Scotland area. I have little information as to how these families were connected to the plantation and as to others that may have been; a co-operative perhaps. A bit of, perhaps unrelated, information; there was a "Provident Dumbarton Society 1817" with which they may have been associated. There are more details that I have, but for now I am looking for a starting point with my research there and would appreciate any assistance. Here is a copy of a posting I have made in Sri Lanka: "I have family (Peter McNaught & William Turner) connections with a 19th century coffee plantation known then as the Roseneath Estate. It failed in the 1880's and the myth prevails that it was purchased by Thomas Lipton. Correspondence that I have refers to anonther nearby estate as the Hermitage. Both families were of the Dumbarton/Roseneath/Rhu, Scotland area. I have little information as to how these families were connected to the plantation and as to others that may have been; a co-operative perhaps. A bit of, perhaps unrelated, information; there was a "Provident Dumbarton Society 1817" with which they may have been associated. There are more details that I have, but for now I am looking for a starting point with my research there and would appreciate any assistance." > Information oobtained from the PLANTER'S ASSOCIATION: > > Ref. Ferguson's Directory: > > In 1880, William J. Turner was the Superintendent of Craigie Lea > Estate in > Dimbula. The estate owner was F. W. Neats and Co. > > During the same period: 1871-1880 > W. Turner was the Superintendent of Rosneath Estate, and the > Managing > Agent was John Walker & Co. - Manager - J.L. Dewar Hello Fazli, William Turner married 12 October 1815 at Roseneath, Scotland, Elizabeth McLellan; died prior to 15 October 1881 Children: William born 22 October 1815 Roseneath Marion married 28 November 1845 John Campbell Roseneath Margaret married 24 August 1846 Dumbarton Patrick McNaughtan (aka Peter McNaught) Peter McNaught's first wife was Margaret Christie Peter McNaught's second wife was Margaret Turner Child: John McNaught born 20 August 1851 Dumbarton Quoting from correspondence addressed to his daughter and son-in-law in America by Peter Mcnaught 5 December 1864, 5 High Street, Dumbarton, "I am still keeping in pretty good health and have not much to complain of otherwise as throw the death of little John's (his son by Margaret Turner) uncle William Turner who left him about £500 .... There is also a probability that John may get some more money through time as the Law agent in Glasgow informs me that there is still a Coffee Estate in Ceylon to be disposed of which is at present drawing large rents." Quoting from correspondence addressed to the Trustees of the late Wm. Turner by Mr. John Walker 15 October 1881, "I do not want to trouble you now with a long story, or go back more than necessary. I would remind you however, that from 1859 till now, either as administrator of the late G. Uquhart or as attorney for his heirs, or as your tenant, I have paid the rent of the estate as it became due. And since the Estate came into my hands, it has been left in as as a high state of cultivation as well as cared for had it been my own property. I laid out a great deal of money on buildings , roads and surface drains, and six(?) head of sheep, 3 carts for bringing cattle manure from Kandy, as Mr. Wm. Turner did", etc.". There is the placement...Kandy. ousins only: There were some connections between the McNaught Family and the Turner family. Look in your McNaught book for RIN #'s 250, 254 and 444. The Taits (Oban, Scotland) and the Dewars (Prince Edward Island, Canada) both are hosts of Roseneath B&B's who are interested in Roseneath. To all: I have a document that is addressed to the heirs of the estate of William Turner...or words to that effect (I do not want to open the old document again). It is apparent that the McNaughts had a commercial interest with the Turners known as the Roseneath (Rosneath) Estate in Ceylon. It was a coffee plantation that failed. Much of the coffee was destroyed by a 19th Century disease; that and poor management practices. An unconfirmed assumption is that Thomas Lipton came in control of the estate and converted it to tea plantings. Rosneath is a small town to the west of Dumbarton and was at one time a part of the Duke of Argyll's holdings. The Duke of Argyll is the chief of the Campbell Clan and has been for centuries. The Castle Inveraray is the home of the Duke (just across Loch Fyne from Castle Dunderave - a former McNaughton holding). The Campbell's, over the centuries, came to control much of what had been McNaughton lands including Dunderave. There is other speculative information that would be interesting to confirm. I have opened communication with a librarian in Dumbarton and with an individual in Sri Lanka to learn more about Roseneath Estate. Whether anything comes of this; who knows? If I learn anything, I will let you know. have family (Peter McNaught & William Turner) connections with a 19th century coffee plantation known then as the Roseneath Estate. It failed in the 1880's and the myth prevails that it was purchased by Thomas Lipton. Correspondence that I have refers to anonther nearby estate as the Hermitage. Both families were of the Dumbarton/Roseneath/Rhu, Scotland area. I have little information as to how these families were connected to the plantation and as to others that may have been; a co-operative perhaps. A bit of, perhaps unrelated, information; there was a "Provident Dumbarton Society 1817" with which they may have been associated. There are more details that I have, but for now I am looking for a starting point with my research there and would appreciate any assistance. Thank y Bob > -- Robert H. & Doris A. Ferree P.O. Box 116 Grizzly Flats California 95636 U.S.A. robertf@innercite.com