"The Chiefs of Grant" (1883) by Sir William Fraser
Volume I, Chapter 3(ii)

ii SIR JOHN LE GRANT, KNIGHT, CASTELLAN OF DARNAWAY, ELIZABETH HIS WIFE. 1333 - c1370

[36] The subject of this memoir is accepted as a member of the Family of Grant in all hitherto published pedigrees, and it seems probable that from him is descended the present Chief of the Grants. But though he was a man of considerable activity in his day, and one who appears frequently on record, his parentage is uncertain, and it can at the most only be surmised that he was nearly related to the Grants of Stratherrick and Inverallan; while, having regard to the limited number of persons of the name of Grant then in the north, it is possible that tradition may be correct. From the authentic testimony already given, it will be evident that Stratherrick and Inverallan both passed from the Grants through the failure of male heirs, and the probability is that neither John le Grant nor his children could succeed to Patrick le Grant, Lord of Stratherrick, in preference to the heirs-female of Patrick. This, however, in the absence of complete proof, cannot be asserted, for, as already stated, the direct line of the Grant descent cannot at this period be traced with accuracy.

In the hitherto received pedigrees of the Grant family, Sir John le Grant is usually alleged to be the eldest son of the John le Grant, who, as has been shown, was the first Grant of Inverallan; but this is disproved by the facts narrated in the preceding memoir as to Patrick le Grant of Stratherrick, and no proof has been found of a filial relationship betwixt the two John le Grants. It is possible that the younger John le Grant may have been a son of the elder, but no evidence of the fact is known to exist. In these circumstances the family historian can only sum up the evidence which has been discovered bearing upon this Grant knight, and assign to him such a place in the family pedigree as he is supposed to have held according to the most probable import of the evidence.

That such uncertainty should exist as to the true descent of an [37] ancient family at so remote a period is not surprising. In this case the elder, or at least more prominent line, failed of male heirs at an early date, while the cadets of the name of Grant bestirred themselves so actively in public life as not to possess, or at least not to be known by any territorial designation. Add to this the fact, already well known, that the Records of Scotland, which might have given valuable information, are at that period sadly deficient, and the marvel then is, not that so much is certain, but that so much should be known regarding a family who have usually preferred to dwell among their own people.

One link which may tend to connect the subject of this memoir with John le Grant of Inverallan consists in the fact that the first appearance of the younger John 1e Grant is in the train of the Earl of Moray, who was overlord of Inverallan. As already indicated in a previous memoir, there is evidence on the testimony of English historians that a John and Alan (or Andrew) Grant were present in the Earl of Moray's division of the army at the battle of Halidon, on 14th July 1333. That Earl of Moray was John, the second son of the famous Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray, the nephew and comrade of King Robert Bruce. The first Earl of Moray died at Musselburgh on 20th July 1332, and was succeeded by his elder son Thomas, who was killed at Dupplin on 12th August in the same year. He was succeeded by his brother John, who thus became third Earl of Moray, in whose train at Halidon were John and Alan Grant.

After the battle of Halidon, John, Earl of Moray, escaped to France, where lie remained for a year, and then returned to Scotland. In 1335 lie was taken captive and conveyed to England, but obtained his liberty in 1 342. By that time Scotland had become more tranquil, and was recovering from the disorders which followed the defeat at Halidon Hill, while King David the Second had returned from his sojourn in France. The Earl of Moray, therefore, being less required in the public service, had more leisure to attend to his own affairs, and was in the north for some time between 1342 and the month of October 1346. At the latter date lie again followed King David into England, and fell at the battle of Durham. During his stay in the north the Earl granted to Robert of Chisholm the charter already referred to in a previous memoir, to which [38] Patrick le Grant was a witness; and on 1st April 1346, he bestowed upon his "beloved and faithful John le Graunt and his heirs," the whole land of Dovely (the valley of the Divie, or Dunphail), together with the custody of the tower and manor place of Darnaway. To these was added the keepership of the Earl's whole forest beyond the park, to be held by John le Grant and his heirs, of the Earl and his heirs, in perpetuity. Vol. iii of this work, p. 8

This charter helps to a solution of the question as to whether it was the elder or the younger John Grant who was present at Halidon. Further evidence on the point is obtained from a charter by King Robert the Second, dated 10th November 1371, bestowing upon Thomas le Grant the lands of Dollynduff and Dovely (Dounduff and Dunphail), with the offices of forester of the royal park and custodier of the manor of Darnaway (then in the hands of the Crown), and other privileges. The king's charter narrates that these lands and others were conferred for the faithful and praiseworthy service of the late John le Grant, father of Thomas le Grant, formerly rendered, carefully and faithfully, to Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray, and Thomas and John Randolph, his sons, Earls of Moray, and a also for the faithful and careful labours which the same deceased John le Grant manfully and stoutly undertook in the defence of the kingdom, both within and without the realm, in the time of Robert (Bruce) and David, grandfather and uncle of the King. For these reasons, and also for his own services, the charter is given to Thomas le Grant of the subjects in question, which had formerly been his, but had been held by Richard Comyn on a gift from the late king [of date 6th January 1369]. Registrum Magni Sigilli, vol. L p. 60. This gift had caused disputes betwixt Comyn and Grant; but these having been amicably arranged, and a formal resignation made in the king's hands, he bestowed the lands on Thomas le Grant. Registrum Moraviense, pp. 473, 474.

This narrative is very important, as indicating that it was the subject of the present memoir, and not John le Grant of Inverallan, who was present under the Earl of Moray's banner at Halidon. This charter leaves no room for doubt that the John le Grant who is there spoken of was the same who received, in 1346, the office of keeper of [39] Darnaway Castle, as the trustworthy follower not only of John, Earl of Moray, who bestowed that office, but of the first Earl of Moray, who died in 1332, and that his services extended back to the days of King Robert the Bruce. John, Earl of Moray, having been so long a prisoner in England, had no means of showing the value he set upon John le Grant's services, but that the charter of 1346 was intended as a reward to the Earl's "beloved and faithful" follower can scarcely be doubted. That the charter of 1371 traces back John le Grant's services to a date antecedent to the battle of Halidon Hill, renders it most probable that the John Grant who is named as present in that engagement, and the newly appointed custodier of Darnaway way, were the same person; while the statement that his services to the Earls of Moray were followed by labours within and without the kingdom during the reign of King David the Second, militates against any probability that the custodier of Darnaway might be identical with John le Grant of Inverallan.

On the other hand, though no filial relationship between John le (rant of Inverallan and his namesake has been established, yet the younger John le Grant may readily be claimed as a collateral relative if not a direct descendant of the Laird of Inverallan. This statement might he assumed on the ground of mere probability, as the number of Grants in Moray was then so limited that they might all be considered as related to each other, but there is more substantial evidence. In the memoir of Sir Laurence le Grant, it has been shown that Sir Robert le Grant, who is named along with Sir Laurence in 1258, received, about the same date, a charter from John Prat, knight, of the lands of Cloumanach. The same John Prat then, or a few years later, bestowed upon his sister Marjory and her husband Gilbert of Glencarnie, younger, the lands of Daltely, in Moray. 1 Vol. iii. of this work, pp. 5, 6. Cloumanach has been identified with Coulmony on the Findhorn, while Daltely or Daltulich adjoins it on the north, lying between it and the lands of Dounduff.

John Prat narrates in his charter that the lands of Cloumanach or Coulmony had been in dispute between his father and Robert le Grant. The date of John Prat's charter is somewhat doubtful, but a William Prat [40] appears in a charter of John Byset's so early as 1226, Registrum Moraviense, pp. 77. 78. and also as witness to a charter of King Alexander the Second in 1 1235 Ibid. p. 126. He was apparently Sheriff of Nairn (Invernairn). If, therefore, he were the father of John Prat, the fact that Sir Robert le Grant had a contention with him about Coulmony, seems to imply that the Grants had been resident in Moray for some time before 1258. There is, however, a total want of evidence on the point, and if, as has been suggested, the Grants came from England with Walter Byset in 1249, they would, in 1258, have completed a ten years' residence in the north.

It is, however, a fact worthy of consideration that Coulmony, the first possession of the Grants in Moray, according to charter evidence, lies close to the lands given in 1346 to John le Grant. Doubtless the lands of Dovely and others were allotted to the castellan of Darnaway as his fee. This suggests that John le Grant may have been selected as castellan not only because of his services, but because of the near neighbourhood of his own lands, and that, though belonging to the family of Grant, he was descended not from Sir Laurence but from Sir Robert le Grant of Coulmony. If so, he would be a collateral relative of the Grants of Inverallan, but not sufficiently near to admit of his lawful male heirs succeeding to their estates in preference to females. At the same time, if he were Laird of Coulmony, he would be bound in military service to the Earl of Moray as overlord.

How long John le Grant enjoyed the office of castellan of Darnaway thus bestowed upon him, there is no evidence to show, as a few months after wards the earldom of Moray and castle of Darnaway fell into the hands of the Crown by the death of the Earl, who was slain at the battle of Durham on 17th October 1346. King David the Second, on 6th January 1368-9, granted the same lands of Dovely Tradition relates that the fortalice of Dunphail was taken from the Comyns by Randolph, Earl of Moray, under circumstances of special barbarity. - [The Bruces and the Comyns, p. 443.] There is, however, no authentic evidence of its existence during this time, as it is not named in any charter of the lands around it. to one of his favourites, Richard Comyn, with the office of forester of the forest of Darnaway. but it would appear that they were out of the hands of John le Grant previous to that date.

[41] There is no trace of John le Grant's history between the years 1346 and 1357, but he seems to have attached himself chiefly to the Earl of Mar, though there is also evidence of a connection with the family of Gordon, who had obtained the lands of Strathbogie, on the east side of the Spey, and at no great distance from Inverallan. At some period also between these dates, or it may have been before 1346, John Grant obtained a gift of a pension of £40, Robertson's index, p. 45. but owing to the loss of the Exchequer Rolls, except a fragment, for that period, there is no evidence for how long a term the money was paid.

Before October 1357, John le Grant had the honour of knighthood conferred upon him. On the 24th of that month, as John le Grant, miles, lie received a safe-conduct from King Edward the Third, for himself and three domestics, to endure until the following midsummer. The safe-con duct is said to be granted that the bearer may pass beyond seas, but the purpose of the journey is not stated. Rotuli Scotiae, vol. i. p. 815. It is not improbable, however, that it was made on behalf of or at the instance of Thomas, Earl of Mar, by whose precept a payment was made in the same year to Sir John le G rant of the sum of £13, 6s. 8d. The Earl of Mar was then Chamber lain of Scotland, and became responsible for that sum to the Sheriff of Banff who had paid the money. Exchequer Rolls, vol. i. p. 550. Sir John le Grant was certainly engaged in the service of the Earl of Mar about that time, as on 24th March 1358-9 he received another safe-conduct, authorising him to pass, with six horsemen of his train, from England to Scotland, there to further certain affairs of the Earl of Mar, and afterwards to return to England.

Some historians, notably Dr. Abercromby in his "Martial Atchievements of the Scots Nation," assert that Sir John le Grant was in 1359 appointed ambassador to France, along with Sir Robert Erskine and Norman Leslie, and that he was associated with them in the treaty signed in the new hail of the Palais Royal on 29th June 1359. Dr. Abercromby's "Martial Atchievements," etc., edit. 1715, vol. ii. p. 124.But there is a deficiency of proof for this assertion. In a French catalogue of treaties between France and Scotland, Sir Robert Erskine and Norman Leslie alone are named as the ambassadors, Report on Foedera, Appendix D, p. 126 [42] to them only are expenses paid by the Scotch Exchequer; Exchequer Rolls, vol. ii. p. 50. and Fordun names them only as appointed by the king of Scots. Fordun, edit. 1872, vol. i. p. 378 Norman Leslie received a safe-conduct to pass through England to the Continent on 24th March 1359, while, as has been shown, Sir John le Grant was at that (late on the eve of a journey to Scotland on the Earl of Mar's affairs. The balance of evidence is therefore against Sir John's taking any part in the embassy to France. It is probable that an event in the history of Robert Grant, the subject of the next memoir, who certainly was an ambassador to France, has been erroneously transferred to the traditional account of Sir John le Grant.

Between the years 1356 and 1362, Sir John le Grant was occasionally at Kildrummy with the Earl of Mar. This is proved by his appearing as a witness to charters by the Earl, one of which must have been executed between these dates, probably about 1357. It is a charter to John Cameron, conveying to him and Ellen de Montealto (or Mouat), his wife, in free marriage, certain lands in Strathdon. Antiquities of Aberdeen and Banff, vol. iv. p. 158. Alexander, Bishop of Aberdeen, who was promoted to that see in 1356, is one of the witnesses. Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis, vol. i. p. xxx. The other charter conveys the lands of Auchtererne, in Cromar, to Ego Ferguson. Registrum Magni Sigilli, vol. i. p. 37 To the date of this charter there is no precise clue; but as both it and the one above quoted were granted at Kildrummy, they were probably executed before 1361, when that fortress fell into the hands of the Crown. Fordun a Goodall, vol ii. p. 365; Scalacronica, p.202

It is interesting to note that among those who, along with Sir John le Grant, witnessed the two charters cited, there appears another northern knight, who, like Sir John, held lands in the earldom of Moray, and also, like him, was attached to the service of the Earl of Mar. This is proved by the very frequent occurrence of his name as witness to charters of the Earl of Mar, along with others who were local vassals of that nobleman. Antiquities of Aberdeen and Banff, passim in Charters by Earl of Mar. This knight was Sir Laurence Gelybrand; and a farther interest attaches to him, as he then possessed certain lands which after wards descended to the family of Grant.

[43] Sir Laurence Gelybrand died before 1367, as on 18th January in that year King David Second granted to Duncan Fraser and his wife Christian the lands, inter alia, of Brounmoldy, Mulben, and Ordichoys [Ordiquish], in the earldom of Moray, resigned in their favour by Christian's mother, Margaret Gelybrand, wife of the deceased Sir Laurence Gelybrand. Registrum Magni Sigilli, vol. i. p. 58 The lands of Brounmoldy (called also Burnemukty or Birmukty, now Barmuckity), were in 1134 inherited by Duncan le Grant from his mother, Matilda of Glencarnie vol. iii of this work, p. 18.and in 1493, John Grant, the grandson of Duncan, is said to be heritably possessed of Mulben, Ordiquish, and other lands in that neighbourhood which had belonged to the Glencarnie family, and which were conjoined with the lands of Freuchie, and erected into one barony, called the Barony of Freuchie. ibid p. 41

The history of these lands, as illustrated by documents in the Grant charter-chest, is interesting. Margaret Gelybrand resigned them, with others, in favour of her daughter Christian, and Duncan Fraser, the husband of' Christian. How Margaret Gelybrand acquired right to the lands does not directly appear, but Christian Fraser, who is referred to as her daughter, is named in an earlier document as an heir of entail of the lands of Glencarnie. Gilbert of Glencarnie resigned his lands into the hands of King David the Second, and received a charter, dated 18th January 1362, of the lands of the barony of Glencarnie, with a destination to himself and the heirs-male of his body whom failing, to Duncan Fraser and Christian his spouse, sister of Gilbert of Glencarnie, the longer liver of them two, and the heirs-male of their bodies; whom failing, to the heirs-of-line of Gilbert. ibid. p. 12 Registrum Magni Sigilli, vol . i p.24

On the evidence of this charter and the one quoted above, Margaret Gelybrand seems to have been the mother of Gilbert of Glencarnie, and must therefore have been the widow of a Lord of ( Glencarnie when she married Sir Laurence Gelybrand. The lands of Mulben and others were therefore probably her (lower from the family of Glencarnie, her right to which she had resigned in favour of her (laughter, who was already an heir of entail.

[44] The inference that Margaret Gelybrand was the widow of a Lord of Glencarnie, and mother of the Gilbert above referred to, is strengthened by proof that Sir Laurence Gelybrand had improperly intromitted with the Glencarnie lands. A year or so before his death he had, in assertion no doubt of a claim through his wife, usurped a right over the marriage of Gilbert of Glencarnie, who apparently was a minor. In the exercise of this assumed right, Sir Laurence sold the value of it to Duncan of Athole. Robert, the son of Duncan, early in the year 1366, taking advantage of this transaction, and finding probably that his claim was disputed, made a raid upon and ravaged the lands of Glencarnie. Information of these violent proceedings was at once carried to the king, who issued letters of inhibition against the marauder, commanding him to cease from disturbing the lands in question; with a proviso that if he had any claim because of the marriage, either against Gilbert of Glencarnie or Sir Laurence Gelybrand, he should bring it before the king and his council for decision, "for," the letters add, "we specially reserve this cause for our own hearing." The letters of inhibition are dated at Elgin, the 20th of April [1367]. Vol. iii. of this work, p. 13.

It is not clear to what family Duncan Fraser, the husband of Christian of Glencarnie, belonged. In "The Frasers of Philorth" he is identified with Duncan Fraser of Tulifour, mentioned in 1414 as the father of Alexander Fraser who received a grant of land from his cousin, John Fraser dominus de Ardendracht. "The Frasers of Philorth," by Lord Saltoun, vol. ii. p. 133. In that work reference is made to the charter granted in 1367 on the resignation of Margaret Gelybrand, and it is said that Duncan Fraser, dominus of Tulifour, was the grantee. He is not so designed in the charter, nor yet in the entail of Glencarnie in 1362; and the fact that some, if not the whole, of the Morayshire lands granted to him in 1367, reverted to the family of Glencarnie, to which his wife belonged, suggests the inference that Duncan Fraser and his wife Christian had no issue, or, at least, no male issue.

As already stated, in 1361 the Earl of Mar's castle of Kildrummy fell into the hands of the Crown, the Earl having incurred the royal displeasure. In consequence of this the Earl of Mar left Scotland for a time, and Sir John [45] le Grant also seems to have gone to England, for the next reference to him on record is a safe-conduct from King Edward the Third, dated at Westminster, 5th December 1363. From this document may be inferred a connection of Sir John le Grant with the Gordons of Berwickshire and Strathbogie. In the writ King Edward declares that he has taken into his protection John le Grant of Scotland, knight, and his men and tenants of the town of Easter Gordon within "les Merskes" [the Merse] in Scotland. They are permitted to come within the king's "lordship in Scotland" and kingdom of England, with their goods and provisions, to abide and traffic with the same, and thence to return with their goods and chattels. Rotuli 5cotiae, vol. i. p. 877.

Three days afterwards [8th December] there was granted a separate safe-conduct to Sir John le Grant and his wife Elizabeth, with ten persons, horsemen and footmen. The terms of the passport are not narrated in full, but it seems to have been a permit to enter England. ibid

There is no evidence to show in what way Sir John Grant came to possess these lands of Easter Gordon in Berwickshire, so far from Moray, in which he held an important office. In 1342 Patrick of Dunbar, Earl of March, confirmed to the monks of Melrose various portions of territory which he was superior. Among those was a grant made by Adam of Gordon in his land of Easter Gordon, with pasturage there. Liber de Melros, vol ii. pp 395, 396. Adam of Gordon had from King Robert Bruce a charter of the lands of Strathbogie, Robertson's Index, p. 2. which were confirmed to his grandson, John of Gordon, by King David the Second, on 20th March 1358. Original Charter quoted in Douglas' Peerage, vol. i p. 642. As Strathbogie lay contiguous to Strathspey and the territories of the Grants, Sir John le Grant may have been on such friendly terms with the new Lords of Strathbogie as to receive lands from them, which he probably held in liferent, as there is no evidence that they descended to his son.

In October 1366 Sir John le Grant received a safe-conduct to pass, with six horsemen, into England, and, if he so desired, to go beyond sea, the passport to last for one year. In May 1368, he was again in the train of the Earl of Mar, who, on the 23rd of that month, was at Cavers and [46] affixed his seal to a charter by Thomas Baliol, resigning certain lands of the barony of Cavers to William, Earl of Douglas, which deed was executed in presence of Sir John le Grant, and others, chiefly vassals of the Douglases. Liber de Melros, vol. ii. pp. 435, 436

This is the last appearance on record of Sir John le Grant. In King Robert the Second's charter of 10th December 1371, already referred to, John le Grant is mentioned as deceased, and his son Thomas receives his office of castellan of Darnaway. Sir John le Grant probably died between May 1368 and January 1369, when the lands of Dovely and the office of castellan were bestowed on Richard Comyn.

Of Sir John le Grant's son Thomas little is known, unless he be identical with the Thomas le Grant who, with other burgesses of Inverness, witnessed several charters there between 1361 and 1363. The first is a charter by Edua, one of the heiresses of Old Castle, near Inverness, granting two acres of land for the use of the altar of the holy cross in the parish church of Inverness, of date 4th March 1361. on 14th September 1362, Sir Robert de Chisholm granted to the same altar six acres of land near Inverness, and on 4th February 1363, Nicholas of Forays (Forres) sold one acre, also for the use of the altar in question. Charters quoted in "Invernessiana," pp 5862, 64. The witnesses to these charters are nearly the same in each case, - John Scot, Thomas le Grant, Welland de Chisholm, John de Coule, and others, described as burgesses of' Inverness.

A Thomas le Grant also, between the years 1361 and 1369, renders to Exchequer various accounts connected with the burghs of Inverness and Elgin. Thus, on 11th August 1362, the account of Thomas Byset, Thomas le Grant and another, "custumars" of Inverness and Elgin, is rendered at Perth. Exchequer Rolls, vol. ii. p 97 On 10th March 1367 and 17th January 1369, he and John Scot, as custumars of Inverness, render their accounts at Perth, Ibid pp. 269, :320. Thomas le Grant also acting on behalf of the bailies of Inverness, on 12th January 1367, and 18th January 1369. Ibid. pp. 278, 328, 338.

The last date corresponds in modern computation to January 1370. The royal charter to Thomas le Grant, appointing him castellan of [47] Darnaway is dated 10th November 1371. The names of the custumars of Inverness rendering accounts to Exchequer in 1370-1 are not given, but the custumars for the year from February 1371-2 to February 1372-3 are Alexander Williamson and Thomas Byset for Inverness and Elgin. Exchequer Rolls, vol. ii. p. 380. Alexander Williamson and Alexander Bell act as custumars for Inverness down to 1379, Ibid. pp. 408-615. and no farther mention is made in the Exchequer Rolls of Thomas le Grant after January 1370. It is not improbable, therefore, that the custumar of Inverness between January 1370 and November 1371 became castellan of Darnaway, and ceased to act in the former capacity.

The probability that such was the case is strengthened not only by the coincidence of names and dates, but also by the fact formerly referred to, that in a preceding generation, and during the captivity of John Randolph, Earl of Moray, in England, Maurice Grant had already, in 1337, intromitted with the revenues of the regality. A few years previous he acted for the Provosts of the burgh of Inverness, and in 1340, or between 1334 and that date, he was Sheriff of the county. Exchequer Rolls, vol. i. pp. 310, 417. 440, 465. It may be remembered also that William Pylche, the husband of Elizabeth le Grant, daughter of Patrick le Grant of Stratherrick, was a burgess of Inverness. He was knighted about 1370. One of his ancestors, Alexander Pylche, is described both as a burgess of Inverness and as Sheriff of the county. "Invernessiana" pp. 46, 47. These facts, with others which might be adduced, show that at that period many who possessed land in the burgh of Inverness and had burgess rights there, were also county magnates or closely related to such, and give good ground for the presumption that Thomas le Grant of Inverness and the castellan of Darnaway was the same person.

Volume 1 Chapter 3(ii)