Catherine Oliphant, James' mother, bequeathed to her son James, an ancient Venetian goblet, with an instruction to preserve it carefully, as upon its integrity should depend the continued prosperity of the famous house of Arniston. This talisman was nearly destroyed about 1800 by the malice of an eccentric peeress on a visit to the family, who intentionally threw it to the ground in order to break it, but fortunately her wilful design was frustrated.

Knighted by Charles 1st 1641.

Sir James Dundas was a member of Parliament for the county of Edinburgh and in 1662 was elevated to the bench as Lord Arniston. When required to sign a declaration renouncing the Solemn League and Covenant, he refused unless allowed to add "except in so far as such leagues might lead to deeds of actual rebellion." For this misdemeanour, he forfeited his gown and retired to Arniston.

From Memorials of His Time, Henry Cockburn: The mother of the first Sir David Dundas, the introducer of our German system of military manoeuvres and at one time commander in chief of the British Army. We used to go to her house in Bunker's Hill when boys, on Sundays between the morning and afternoon sermons, were we were cherished with Scotch broth and cakes and many a joke from the old lady. Age had made her incapable of walking even across the room; so, clad in a plain black silk gown and a pure muslin cap, she sat, half encircled by a high backed leather chair, reading; with silver spectacles stuck on her thin nose; and interspersing her studies and her days with much laughter and not a little sarcasm. What a spirit! There was more fun round that chair than in the theatre or the church. I remember one of her granddaughters stumbling, in the course of reading the newspapers to her, on a paragraph which stated that a lady's reputation had suffered from some indiscreet talk on the part of the Prince of Wales. Up she of fourscore sat, and said with an indignant shake of her shrivelled fist and a keen voice- "The dammed villain! does he kiss and tell!"

Sir David Dundas

James Dundas

Marion Boyd

1650

1726

Senator of the College of Justice

M.P. for Midlothian 1689-1726.

Resident in Holland until 1689

Solicitor-General for Scotland.

Lord Advocate.

Member of Parliament for the county of Edinburgh.

From The Reformers' Gazette, 1831;

"MAJOR PHILIP DUNDAS, 7тн Hussars.

It does not seem to be generally known that this fellow, who was tried and convicted the other day in Dublin for seducing the daughter of the Dean of Cashel, is the brother of that hopeful youth, Robert Adam Dundas, M. P. for the City of Edinburgh. We find, too, that he is the son of Robert Dundas of Arniston—that same Robert Dundas who was Lord Advocate of Scotland in 1793, and who persecuted and hunted to death every Reformer he could lay his hands on. His Lordship, it is said, left upwards of £90,000 to his sons—to be spent, we suppose, in Corruption and Debauchery.—But we should like to know how much of that sum was originally taken out of the pockets of the People ? We have still a few words to say to this Major.—From the report of his trial it appears that he left his barracks under cloud of night, to accomplish his unhallowed purpose. Now, we desire to know how many privates, corporals, and Serjeants, belonging to his Regiment, have been sent by him to the " black hole," or perhaps to the halberts, for staying out only a few minutes after the tattoo ? We are sure there are many of them. And yet this Major himself positively escapes all kind or degree of military punishment. It is true he has been sentenced by the Civil Court to pay a sum of £3500 of damages to the young Lady. But his conduct is so abominable, that we think he ought instantly to be cashiered, or dismissed the Army.—Public disgrace is hardly sufficient to meet the enormity of his crime".

2. Henry Dundas, Vice Admiral, Royal Navy. Married 17/11/1836, Robina Mary Dundas, daughter of Sir Robert Dundas of Beechwood. Died without issue 11/9/1866.

The Rev. Dundas secured a valuable collection of North American Indian artefacts in the 1860s. He died 19/2/1904 leaving issue:

Arniston House was left to May in trust by her father.

The title subsequently fell to Henry's uncle, James Durham Dundas who died in 1967.

The title then went to James' brother, Thomas Calderwood Dundas who died in 1970. As there were no remaining male heirs the title died out on the death of Thomas.

May Dundas who had Arniston House left to her in trust by her father in 1910, died in 1970 and Althea Dundas inherited Arniston and set about restoring the property to its former glory.