Dear Patricia While waiting for the College of Arms reply, I have been looking further into the elements of the letter. Again, it we find everything in Aberdeenshire. There is a place, New Aberdour, to the west of Fraserburgh, on the Buchan coast. Near New Aberdour is Old Aberdour Church, said to be one of the oldest churches in the North East of Scotland. Close by is Dundargue Castle and Fort. The North East has a strong Pictish heritage. New Aberdour is about 35 miles from Huntly. Aberdour is also the parish name. Further information can be found at "http://www.urie.demon.co.uk/genuki/ABD/Aberdour/description.html". There is also an active parish map at "http://www.urie.demon.co.uk/genuki/ABD/parishmap1.html" which will give you a better idea of the area. I have also found a story describing support for the Crown in the area, which has resonance to some of the Laird stories, in Buchan, some 14 miles from New Aberdour in a Buchan website: Fedderate Castle The gaunt remains of the once massive Fedderate Castle stand two miles to the north-west of Maud, reached by the road leading on from Castle Road. Fedderate was build by William Crawford who held the barony between 1474 and 1519. The four-storey L-plan tower originally stood within a courtyard, with defensive towers on the outer walls. A drawbridge spanned the moat to give access. The surrounding land consisted mainly of bog and the original castle must have seemed a very safe refuge indeed. The present state of the castle is a legacy of the revolutionary times of James the Second and the struggle for crown and power. The castle was reported to have been the last strongholds of James II's supporters. The castle was besieged for four weeks and finally destroyed by the forces of King William III (William of Orange) in 1690, during the civil strife of that period. There are many legends relating to Fedderate and, as might be expected, the ruins are said to be haunted. The URL is "http://www.buchan.org.uk/" By James II, they mean James VII. He was James II of England but the VII of Scotland! There is a further description and picture of Fedderate Castle in another local site: "http://www.buchanweb.demon.co.uk/his-mau.htm". I think we are on to something here! Yours aye Iain