Hi mjbecker,
I’m sad to hear of the death of Anna Elizabeth. And thank you for joining rootschat to tells us.
I’m sure you are also correct about David Baird (Rose)
This is taken from my rootwebs page......
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=heedrapper&id=I3473Heir-line versus Heir-male.
An important question of succession now arose. There was no doubt that issue of the last Baron having failed, the nearest male heir of line was Dr Rose of Broadley, whilst it was equally clear that Mrs Elizabeth was the nearest heir whatsoever, and the question the courts had to decide was whether it was Dr Rose's first born son James by Margaret Russell or his second wife Elizabeth Rose and her son who were entitled to the estates. Litigation was at once entered upon. It was the great 'causa celebre' of the time. The Rev. James Rose of Oakham, near Ripley, in Surrey, as uncle and tutor to the children of the first marriage, took up their cause, and Mr Francis Russell, of Westfield, Advocate, as tutor dative, pursued it still more actively. Poor Mrs Elizabeth records that she entered on the contest to maintain her rights of succession, "without friends or means against a powerful opposition." She was a brave woman, and was animated and sustained all through the prolonged litigation by the feeling that she was seeking to preserve the ancient heritage to the rightful heir. In 1783 the Court of Session decided practically in her favour, to the great joy of the district. When the tidings of the decision arrived, there were bonfires, dancing, and general rejoicing at Nairn and Kilravock. The case was appealed to the House of Lords, but four years later the decision in her favour was confirmed. The old lands and barony of Kilravock became hers, but Geddes, which stood on a different footing, fell to James Rose, as nearest heir male. It turned out that in creating a faggot vote on Kilravock Barony for his brother Lewis, the old Laird, her father, had whether intentional or not is not clear made the property to revert on his brother's death to himself, "or his nearest heirs whatsoever in fee." The fortunate clause enabled Mrs Elizabeth, with her son and her mother, to return to the home of her forefathers, where for the remainder of her life she ruled and reigned, not only as mistress of Kilravock, but as Queen of Nairnshire.
Bill Rose