Historical Account of the Family of Frisel

f\. illf./b: U. National Library of Scotland llillllililiiililiilliliiii •B000032643* Digitized by tine Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from National Library of Scotland http://www.archive.org/details/historicalaccoun1825ande ,*^.T .,/' /7i.' f,i,'j/Ji\- ,'f' i/h/'f'tt^t-v. /^(^*^ -——^ o HISTORICAL ACCOUNT THE FAMILY OF FRISEL OR FRASER, PARTICULARLY ERASER OF LOVAT, EMBRACING VARIOUS NOTICES, ILLUSTRATIVE OF NATIONAL CUSTOMS AND MANNERS, WITH ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE OF SIMON, LORD LOVAT, &c. JOHN ANDERSON, WRITER TO THE SIGNET. WILLIAM BLACKWOOD, EDINBURGH, AND T. CADELL, STRAND, LONDOxV. MDCCCXXV. ."5jhuai<\ •') THOMAS ALEXANDER ERASER, Esq. LOVAT AND STRICKEN, HEIR MALE AND REPRESENTATIVE LORDS FRASER, or of LOVAT, THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED. PREFACE, Some explanation may be looked for, on giving a work of this nature to the world. My attention was first directed to the descent of the Clan Fraser, by a professional enquiry into that of their leading branch. In addition to the genealogical notices then col- lected, I was insensibly led, fiuiii meelliig wIcK iimiiy sui- gular incidents relating to the family, to undertake an account of them from the earliest times. The essay was made, partly for amusement, partly in the hope of becoming more intimate with Scottish history. I had advanced a short way in the arrangement of my materials, when it was suggested to me, that by occasionally introducing events of a public cha- racter, I might form a sketch possessed of some attractions to those who feel an interest in whatever regards the history and manners of our Highlanders. By acceding to the proposal, I found I had imposed upon myself a task, the execution of which, I am too well aware, has fallen short of the design. VI PREFACE. The object of genealogical investigations, is commonly of a nature too confined to obtain for them general regard ; nor am I vain enough to suppose, that, with the mass of readers, the present will form an exception. If it contain errors, (inseparable, per- haps, from such a work,) I would fain trust they may be found to be neither numerous nor important. An apology is due for the assumption of a title which may go the length of implying pretensions to a regular history. With better abilities, and more extended means of information, I might have yielded to the flattering hope of making such an attempt. As it is, I beg to be understood as preferring no other claim for this, as an historical work, than its being simply the depository of the connected details of my subject ; occupying a space too extended for mere annals, and yet too confined in every sense for a history. As I have flvailcJ iiij-aclf of ocvfcral manuacripta and works relating expressly to the subject of which I treat, a brief account of these may be necessary^ I have frequently quoted an authenticated transcript of a MS. regarding the Bissets and Erasers of Lovat, written by Mr James Fraser, minister of Wardlaw, under the title of the " Wardlaw MS." The labours of the Reverend Author comprise a period extending from the reign of Alexander I. to the earlier part of the 18th century. Another MS. which I have been permitted to consult, is to be found in the Advocates' Library, en- titled, " History of the most Ancient, most Noble, and Illustrious Family of Fraser, particularly Freser of Lovat, and intended for PREFACE. VII publication, 1749." It brings down their history to the time of Simon, Lord Lovat, who made so remarkable a figure in 1715 and 1745; and the Author seems to have had an intention of dedicating another volume to the Life of that Nobleman. Of the transcripts of two other MSS. which I have once or twice noticed, when I found them supported by other evidence, viz. of one in the hands of Mr Fraser of Culduthel, and of another of the Erasers of Saltoun, I need hardly speak. The first is miserably deficient in information, hurrying over a generation in a line or two. It begins in 1330 and closes in 1641, In point of pretensions to antiquity^ the second is sufficiently vene- rable ; for its author ascends to Charlemagne and his peers. Such of the MSS. of the other Highland clans as are referred to, are in the possession of Alexander M'Kenzie, Esq. of Inverness. With regard to published authorities, I have occasionally had recourse to ^* The Annals of the Frasers," edited by the Honourable Colonel A. Frasei of Lovat, In doing so, I was not aware tiiat I was insensibly making reference to the pre- ceding MS., intended for the press in 1749, of the existence of which I was but lately apprised. I have, however, since then, found, on comparison, that the printed work is little else than a literal copy of an inconsiderable portion of the written one. The confusion I should have been led into, in corrections, has induced me to retain my first reference, with this explanation,— that the MS. is only brought forward when the incidents in the annals have been exhausted. Vm PREFACE. " Les Memoires de la Vie du Lord Lovat," are to be found in a small volume, now, I believe, extremely rare, printed at Amsterdam in the year 1747, and divided into two parts,—the last of which is written in the style of an apology for his Lord- ship. The " Life and Adventures of Lord Lovat," by the Re- verend Archibald Arbuthnot, Minister of Kiltarlity, in the Pres- bytery of Inverness, edited at London in 174t>, is also alluded to. We must not confound with these volumes, " The Memoirs of the Life of Lord Lovat." They were written by Simon, Lord Lovat, himself, and published in London in 1797, as then, ibr the first time, translated from the original manuscript in the French language. It will be seen, that I have not overlooked them. In tendering my acknowledgments for the various communi- cations with which I have been favoured from most, respectable quarters, I may be permitted to express my gratitude, in an es- pecial manner, for his many and valuable suggestions, to John Riddell, Esq. Advocate, whose intimate acquaintance with the pedigrees of our Noble Families, is too well known to need any eulogium ; and to John Ewing, Esq. Advocate, Aberdeen, who kindly lent his aid in investigating the records of that city. The object and limits of a preface, preclude my particularising the numerous other individuals to whom I have been indebt- ed. Walker Street, Coates Crescent, } 60t/i June 1823. J HISTORICAL ACC OLNT OF THE FAMILY OF FRxVSER "Faimly tradition ;aidGeiiealogical Idstorv is tUe rery reverse of aiulior. ivliiiU .ilse If n valuable siibslMun-. nsiiaUviuelii Jes ' flies, sn-aws anil other trifles ; whereas these studies .be uli;,- themselves veiv iusisuiiioaiit aud bifliiij!;. do iicveilheless serve to perpeUiate a ^rcat deal of what is rare and valuable in aiicical niaiiiiers. aud to veeovd many iniuuis and umuite •I'aets which could have been preserved ;\iid eoiivi-yed lljrmm-b iio other MwAnwu: — .Vni'i-/s ,mil T,ihx nl' III, .liilhiiiii'll'nnrlv.l'nU.ii.j:.'. CONTENTS. CHAP. I. Preface, ^"So ... V From the Origin of the Family of Fraser, and their Introduction into Scotland, to the Termination of the Male Line of Oliver Castle in 1306, CHAP. II. From the Appearance of the nest Collateral Male Branch of the Name In the Northern Counties, including the Origin of the House of Lovat, and heir Descent, to the Failure of the Direct Male Line of the Lords Fraser, or of Lovat, inl696, 32 CHAP. III. From the Accession of Thomas Fraser of Beaufort, to the Decease of the Honourable Colonel Archibald Fraser of Lovat, 1815—and the Failure of the Inverallochy and Brea Branches, - - . _ 119 CHAP. IV. From Thomas Fraser of Knockieand Strichen, (1589), to Thomas Alexander Fraser, Esq., of Lovat and Strichen, - - ... 174 Index, 201 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT, ^c. S^c. S^c. CHAPTER I. Enquiries into the earlier history of a sept or kingdom, are neces- sarUy unsatisfactory. Truth disappears in the credulous narrative of kindred writers, intent on the preservation of improbable and absurd traditions. Beyond the dawn of record, we wander in error and per- plexity ; and the tales of such a period may justly be consigned to obli- vion. Events have conibiued iu a peculiar mauuu to Iiivulvo the i emote an- tiquities of Scotland in impenetrable darkness, whether our attention be directed to the first ages of the monarchy, or to the characters who figured on the national arena. This remark is strikingly exemplified in the subject of which we are now to treat. The origin of the family of Fraser,—as it is clothed in all the wUdness and extravagance of legend by their own chroniclers—must be held to be fabulous and unwortliy of regard ; and oui" investigations ought accordingly to commence ata point where facts, not theory, may guide to the research. We fii-st recognise the Frisels in the array of those adventurers who accompanied the Nonnan WiUiam to the Enghsh shores. * The precise " ^'d French ^ Roll, Apiid. asra when they extended northwards, is not so well defined. some, Le'and's Ajitiq. Col- Bv./ ' , lec. I. p. 208. Ho- the reign of William the Lion has been fixed upon as the epoch of their lingshed ii, p. 295. cates' Library, entit~ led Genealogical Collections. ' " " HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE appearance in Scottish annals ; —whilst other authors have ascended to the times of Malcolm, sirnamed Ceanmore, when Anglo-Saxon and Nor- *• Abercioniby's man Colonists transferred their allegiance to a Celtic Prince.

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