Alexander Fraser, 11th Lord Saltoun
Encyclopedia
Alexander Fraser, 11th Lord Saltoun (1604-1693), was a Scottish peer and the 10th Laird
of Philorth.
in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. His father was Sir Alexander Fraser (1570-1636) and his mother was Lady Margaret Abernethy, daughter of Sir John Abernethy, 8th Lord Saltoun of Abernethy. Upon the death of his father in 1636, he inherited the lands of Philorth as its 10th Laird.
' like most Buchan Lairds, Fraser supported the Royalist Armies first against the Scottish Presbyterian Forces, and then against Oliver Cromwell
. After King Charles I
was executed, Alexander Fraser took to battle with the aim of restoring the King's son to the throne.
Unfortunately, his cause was struck a fatal blow at the Battle of Worcester
in 1651. Alexander Fraser was badly wounded at the battle and would most likely have been slain or died of his wounds were it not for his manservant, James Cardno. It is written that the Laird's loyal servant saved him from the battlefield on horseback and nursed him back to health. He then returned the Laird to the safety of the Castle of Kinnairds Head on the outskirts of Fraserburgh.
(or Seaton) of Meldrum
, who eventually produced his heir, named Alexander, who predeceased him in 1682 with issue.
In 1669 Fraser inherited the title Lord Saltoun
of Abernethy through the line of his mother. This gave the Fraser family great influence in Scotland. At the time of succession, it was thought that he succeeded his cousin Alexander, 9th Lord Saltoun of Abernethy. Instead, he succeeded Margaret, the sister of the 9th Lord, who outlived her brother only by six weeks. It was recently determined that Margaret inherited the lordship from her brother by Scottish law, making her the 10th Lady — and thus Fraser was the 11th Lord. It must be noted that in old literature, Fraser is still titled as the 10th Lord, which has caused much confusion over the years.
Alexander Fraser, the 11th Lord Saltoun of Abernethy, died on 11 August 1693 in his 89th year. His grandson Sir William Fraser succeeded him as the 12th Lord Saltoun of Abernethy.
Laird
A Laird is a member of the gentry and is a heritable title in Scotland. In the non-peerage table of precedence, a Laird ranks below a Baron and above an Esquire.-Etymology:...
of Philorth.
Early years
Fraser was born in 1604 in the young town of FraserburghFraserburgh
Fraserburgh is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland with a population recorded in the 2001 Census at 12,454 and estimated at 12,630 in 2006. It lies at the extreme northeast corner of Aberdeenshire, around north of Aberdeen, and north of Peterhead...
in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. His father was Sir Alexander Fraser (1570-1636) and his mother was Lady Margaret Abernethy, daughter of Sir John Abernethy, 8th Lord Saltoun of Abernethy. Upon the death of his father in 1636, he inherited the lands of Philorth as its 10th Laird.
Battle of Worcester
During the 'Wars of the Three KingdomsWars of the Three Kingdoms
The Wars of the Three Kingdoms formed an intertwined series of conflicts that took place in England, Ireland, and Scotland between 1639 and 1651 after these three countries had come under the "Personal Rule" of the same monarch...
' like most Buchan Lairds, Fraser supported the Royalist Armies first against the Scottish Presbyterian Forces, and then against Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
. After King Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
was executed, Alexander Fraser took to battle with the aim of restoring the King's son to the throne.
Unfortunately, his cause was struck a fatal blow at the Battle of Worcester
Battle of Worcester
The Battle of Worcester took place on 3 September 1651 at Worcester, England and was the final battle of the English Civil War. Oliver Cromwell and the Parliamentarians defeated the Royalist, predominantly Scottish, forces of King Charles II...
in 1651. Alexander Fraser was badly wounded at the battle and would most likely have been slain or died of his wounds were it not for his manservant, James Cardno. It is written that the Laird's loyal servant saved him from the battlefield on horseback and nursed him back to health. He then returned the Laird to the safety of the Castle of Kinnairds Head on the outskirts of Fraserburgh.
Family, Succession, Death
Fraser married multiple times in his life. His first wife was Isobel Forbes of Tolquhorn, who bore him one daughter and died within a year of the child's birth. His second wife was Elizabeth SetonSeton (surname)
Seton is the surname of a prominent Scottish Lowlands family, and may refer to:Hereditary Titles:* The Baronet of Olivestob* The Baronet of Windygoul* The Baronets of Abercorn* The Baronets of Garleton* The Baronets of Pitmedden* The Lords Seton...
(or Seaton) of Meldrum
Meldrum
Meldrum is a multi-national Heavy Metal band formed by ex-Phantom Blue guitarist Michelle Meldrum.-History:American guitarist Michelle Meldrum started her first band Wargod with Strapping Young Lad drummer Gene Hoglan, later going on to form Phantom Blue, with whom she released two albums and an EP...
, who eventually produced his heir, named Alexander, who predeceased him in 1682 with issue.
In 1669 Fraser inherited the title Lord Saltoun
Lord Saltoun
Lord Saltoun, of Abernethy, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1445 for Sir Lawrence Abernethy. The title remained in the Abernethy family until the death in 1669 of his great-great-great-great-great-great-granddaughter, the tenth Lady Saltoun. She was succeeded by her cousin...
of Abernethy through the line of his mother. This gave the Fraser family great influence in Scotland. At the time of succession, it was thought that he succeeded his cousin Alexander, 9th Lord Saltoun of Abernethy. Instead, he succeeded Margaret, the sister of the 9th Lord, who outlived her brother only by six weeks. It was recently determined that Margaret inherited the lordship from her brother by Scottish law, making her the 10th Lady — and thus Fraser was the 11th Lord. It must be noted that in old literature, Fraser is still titled as the 10th Lord, which has caused much confusion over the years.
Alexander Fraser, the 11th Lord Saltoun of Abernethy, died on 11 August 1693 in his 89th year. His grandson Sir William Fraser succeeded him as the 12th Lord Saltoun of Abernethy.