Baronage Text

[Transcription Notes 1. Marginal notes have been incorporated into the text - shown in this colour. 2. Several cases of spelling and lettering have been brought up to date. 3. Where names are omitted in the original, Yyy has been inserted to represent a male and Xxx a female. 4. The two XVIIIs are an error in the original! ACG]

Entry for Grant in "Baronage of Scotland"
by Sir Robert Douglas (1798)

The sirname of GRANT is of great antiquity in Scotland, but historians do not exactly agree about their origin.

Van Basan, the Norwegian genealogist, brings them from Denmark into this country in the fifth century; Sir George Mackenzie is of opinion that they came from England, because Holinshed and other English authors mention some of the name of Grant in that kingdom in very early times. But Mr. Nisbet thinks that the Grants in Scotland and England had no connection with one another, because their armorial bearings were quite different, viz. The Grants in Scotland carried gules, three antique crowns or, with a burning hill proper for crest, supported by two savages or naked men proper; motto, Stand fast. The Grants in England carried three lions rampart, and a chief azure, &c.. There are others who allege that they came to this country originally from France; and indeed the opinion is supported with some very reasonable conjectures too tedious to be here inserted.

Though we cannot with any certainty fix the precise time of their settlement here, yet we have incontestable proof from our histories and records, that they were a powerful family, and made a considerable figure in Scotland about 500 years ago. We shall therefore pass over the traditional part of their history, and proceed to deduce their descent from:

I. GREGORIUS, or GREGORY de GRANT. He is by our historians Dr Geo Mackenzie's hist p169 said to have been sheriff of Inverness in the reign of king Alexander II who succeeded to the crown of Scotland anno 1214, and died in 1249. He married Mary Bizet, a daughter of the family of Lovat, with whom he got the lands of Stratherrick, &c. ibid. and by her he had two sons: (1) Sir Laurence, his heir; (2) Robert, who is instructed by an authentic document hereafter mentioned. Gregory died in the beginning of the reign of king Alexander III and was succeeded by his eldest son,

II. Sir LAURENCE de GRANT. In a competition between Archibald bishop of Murray and John Bizet of Lovat, Chartulary of Murray this dominus Laurentius de Grant is particularly mentioned as a friend and kinsman of the said Bizet, and to which deed Robert dc Grant, brother to the said sir Laurence, is a witness, anno1258. Sir Laurence had two sons: (1) Sir John his heir (2) Rodulphus de Grant, who being firmly attached to the interest of the Bruce against the Baliol, was carried to London a prisoner by king Edward I. of England, anno 1296. Rymer's Foed Angl. tome II p. 776

There lived at this time also Robert de Grant, who was compelled to swear fealty to king Edward I when he had overrun Scotland anno1296. Prynne, vol. III p. 657 Whether he was brother or son of Sir Laurence, we cannot determine.

III. Sir JOHN de GRANT succeeded. He was a great hero and patriot, and joined the brave Sir William Wallace in defence of the liberties of his country. But was at last apprehended by the said king Edward I and he and his brother Ralph were carried prisoners to London, from whence they were liberated upon bail, anno 1297. Rymer's foedera Angl. tome lI.p.776.

He married Bigla, a daughter of one of the great and opulent families of the Cumings, MS history of this family with whom he got the lands and baronies of. Glenchernock, Dullenside, &c. and by her had three sons: (1) Sir John, his heir; (2) Sir Allan, who is instructed by a good author hereafter mentioned, and was progenitor of the tribe of the Grants called the clan Allan, of whom the Grants of Auchernick are the head; (3) Thomas de Grant, who was one of an assize upon a perambulation of some marches in the diocese of Aberdeen, anno 1333, of whom some families of the Grants are descended. Chartulary of Aberdeen . Sir John died in the end of the reign of King Robert Bruce, and was succeeded by his eldest son.

IV. Sir JOHN de GRANT, who with his brother Alan de Grant are mentioned by historians as knights of valour and renown (valentes milites) in the army raised by the Scots for the relief of the town of Berwick, when besieged by king Edward Ill. anno 1333. W Hemingford chronic Edwardi III p276. He had a son and successor,

V. Sir JOHN de GRANT, a man of extraordinary parts and singular merit, often employed in negotiations of state, and always acquitted himself with fidelity and honour. This Sir John, with Sir Robert Erskine progenitor of the earls of Mar, and Norman Leslie ancestor of the earls of Rothes, were appointed ambassadors extraordinary to the court of France, to renew the antient league anno 1359. There is a safe conduct from king Edward III of England domino Johanni Grant, militi, et Elizabethae sponsae &c. to travel into that kingdom, with ten servants to attend them, anno 1363. He afterwards got another safe conduct to repair to the court of England upon affairs of state anno 1366. He died in the end of the reign of King David II and by the said Elizabeth (but of what family we know not) left issue: a son, Sir Robert, his heir, and a daughter, Agnes, married to Sir Richard Cuming, progenitor of Altyr, &c. He was succeeded by his son.

VI. Sir ROBERT, who was a man of remarkable fortitude and resolution. He fought and vanquished an English champion of undaunted courage and great strength of body, in the beginning of the reign of King Robert II. Soon thereafter the king of France remitted to Scotland 40000 franks, to be divided amongst the nobility and principal gentry of the kingdom, whereof this Sir Robert had his share as chief of the family, and is then designed dominus Robertus de Grant, &c. anno 1385. He died in the beginning of the reign of King Robert III and was succeeded by

VII. MALCOLM de GRANT, who began to make a figure, as head of the clan Grant, soon after Sir Robert's death, though then but a young man. He was one of those gentlemen of rank and distinction mentioned in a convention for settling some differences between Thomas Dunbar earl of Murray and Alexander de insulis dominus de Lochaber, anno 1394. He died in the end of the reign of king James I. or beginning of that of king James II, leaving issue a son.

VIII. Sir DUNCAN de GRANT, who succeeded him, and is the first we find designed dominus de eodem et de Freuchie,in a charter under the great seal, anno 1442. He was a man of parts and prudence, and was an arbiter in a submission between Duncan Macintosh captain of the clan Chattan and Hutcheon or Hugh Rose of Kilravock, anno 1479. He died soon thereafter, having married Muriel, writs of the family a daughter of Malcolm laird of Macintosh, by whom he had two sons and one daughter: (1) John his heir; (2) Patrick de Grant, who had two sons (i) John , progenitor of the Grants of Ballindallach Tamnavallan, Tulloch, &c. are descended, (ii) Peter Leslie Grant, now of Balquhain, being representative of the family of Ballendallach Chartulary of Moray (iii) his other son, Patrick, was ancestor of the Grants of Dunlugas in Bannfshire. This appears from a charter, Johanni Grant de Ballendallach et Patricio Grant de Dalvey, fratri ejus germano, dated in 1546, and is further instructed under the titles, Grant of Ballendallach, Grant of Dalvey, &c. Sir Duncan's daughter, Catherine, was married to Duncan Macintosh of that ilk. He was succeeded by his eldest son.

IX. JOHN GRANT of that ilk and of Freuchy, a man of great honour and integrity. He raised a battalion of his clan, Abercrombie vol ii p.475 and joined the earls of Huntly, Errol, Marshall, and other loyalists who were upon their march to the assistance of King James III anno 1488, but came too late. He afterwards got a charter under the great seal from King James IV Johanni Grant de Freuchy, terrarum et baronie de Freuchy, &c. &c. dated 4th January 1493. Chart in pub. archiv. He got another charter of the lands of Glencherich and Ballendallach, dated 4th February 1498. Ibid

He married Margaret, daughter of sir James Ogilvie of Deskford, ancestor of the earl of Findlater. Contract ad anno 1468; Peerage p. 260. Which marriage is further instructed by a charter under the great seal from king James IV Johanni Grant de Freuchy, et Margaret Ogilvie ejus sponsae of the lands of Mulben, Meikle Balnabroth, &c, dated 30th August 1505. Cat. in pub archiv.

By the said Margaret Ogilvie, he had three sons and one daughter: (1) John, his heir; (2) Peter, said to be progenitor of the tribe Tullochgoram; (3) Duncan, progenitor of the tribe called clan Donachie. MS hist. of the family. His daughter was married to Hector son of Ferchar laird of Macintosh. He had another son also called John, ancestor of the Grants of Glenmoriston. He died anno 1508, and was succeeded by his eldest son.

X. JOHN, who was called the bard because he was a good poet. He got no less than four charters under the great seal, Chart in pub. archiv. Johanni Grant de Freuchy filio seniori quondam Johanni Grant de Freuchy, of the lands of Bordland, the lands of Urquhart of Kyle, of St Ninians &c. all united into the barony of Urquhart. Also, the lands and barony of Glenmoriston, the baronies of Corrimony, Mulben, Meikle Balnabroth, &c. all dated 3rd December 1509.

He married Elizabeth, daughter of John sixth lord Forbes, by lady Catherine Stewart his wife, Peerage p.266 daughter of John earl of Athole, by whom he had three sons and three daughters: (1) James, his heir; (2) John, of whom the Grants of Corrimony, Stroglie, &c. are descended; Hist. of the fam. (3) Yyy, progenitor of the Grants of Bonhard in Perthshire; Ibid(1st daughter) Catharine, was married to John Haliburton of Pitcur; 2ndly to Hugh fourth lord Lovat, and had issue to both; Peerage p. 430. (2) Isabel, married to hr Archibald Campbell of Calder; (3) Xxx, married to Alexander Gordon of Strathaven. He died about the year 1525, and was succeeded by his eldest son. Chart in pub. archiv.

XI. JAMES GRANT of that ilk, a man of a bold and daring disposition, of good parts, and in great favour with king James V Writs of the family from whom he obtained a charter, exempting him from attendance on any court of judicature whatsomever, for his good services done and to be done, &c. dated at Stirling, anno1535.

He afterwards got a charter under the great seal from queen Mary, Chart. in pub. archiv. Jacobo Grant de Freuchy, terrarum de Lochelsh, Lochcarron, Lochbrine, &c. in Invernessshire, dated the 4th of March 1548. He married, 1st, lady Janet Leslie, daughter of George fourth earl of Rothes, Peerage p.587 widow of YyyCrighton of Naughton, by whom he had no issue. He married, 2nd, Barbara Erskine, a daughter of the family of Mar, by whom he had two sons and two daughters: (1) John, his heir; (2) Archibald, who got a charter under the great seal, Archibaldo Grant fratri Johannis Grant de Freuchy, &c. &c. dated 8th March 1580 Chart in pub. archiv. He was progenitor of the Grants of Cullen, Monimusk, &c. (1st daughter) Anne, married to Alan Cameron of Lochyell, captain of the clan Cameron. MS hist. of the family (2) Janet, married to William Sutherland of Duffus, ancestor of lord Duffus, (which is omitted in the Peerage, page 197.). He was succeeded by his eldest son.

XII. JOHN, a man of great prudence and judgment. He got a charter under the great seal from queen Mary, Johanni Grant de Freuchy Chart in pub. archiv. of the lands of Parkhill, in the county of Fife, dated 25th October 1557.

He came early into the reformation, Keith's history and was one of the members of the convention when popery was abolished and the protestant religion established in Scotland, anno 1560. He married, 1st, lady Marjory Stewart, Peerage p. 50,daughter of John third earl of Athole, by whom he had two sons and three daughters: (1) Duncan, his apparent heir; (2) Patrick, of whom the Grants of Rothimurchus, &c. are descended; (1st daughter) Barbara, married to Colin Mackenzie of Kintail, ancestor of the earl of Seaforth, Ibid. p. 612. which corrects a mistake in the Peerage where she is called daughter of James of Grant; (2) Lilias, married to Roderick Innes of Balvenie; (3) Elspeth, married to William Fraser of Strowie, tutor of Lovat. He married, 2ndly, Isabel, daughter of Yyy Barclay of Towie. He died, anno 1585.

XIII. DUNCAN, his eldest son, got a charter under the great seal, Duncano Grant, filio et heredi apparenti Johannis Grant de Freuchy, Chart. in pub. archiv. of the lands and barony of Corrimony, Moral, &c. in the shire of Inverness, dated 19th August 1580. Also a charter of the lands called Haughs, Kellismond, in Banffshire, dated 22nd December 1581. ibidHe married Margaret, daughter of William Macintosh captain of the clan Chattan, by whom he had issue four sons: (1) John, his heir; (2) Robert, progenitor of the family of Lurg, of whom Mr. Isaac Grant clerk to the signet is the lineal heir and representative; (3) Patrick, ancestor of the Grants of Easter Elchies; (4) James, of whom the Grants of Moyness, &c.are descended.

He died before his father, and was succeeded by his eldest son.

XIV. JOHN, who succeeded also to his grandfather, anno 1585, and was always known by the designation of John of Freuchy. He was a man of prudence and economy, and greatly improved his paternal estate. He got a charter under the great seal, ibid Johanni Grant de Freuchy, of the lands of Inverallan, Glenbog, &c. in Invernessshire, dated 4th February 1592. He joined the king's general, the earl of Argyle, MS history of the family with a battalion of his clan, commanded by John Grant of Gartenbeg, anno 1594. He afterwards got three charters under the great seal, Chart in pub. archiv. viz. of the lands and lordship of Abernethy in Elgin and Forres, the lands of Lethintie, and Over Auchrosk, Mid Auchrosk, and Nether Auchrosk, Garling, &c. in Invernessshire, all united into the barony of Cromdale. Also the lands of Auld Castle, &c. in the shire of Elgin, dated 17th, 27th, and 28th, of June 1609. It is said he was offered a patent of honour by king James, anno1610 but he declined accepting of it. He married lady Lilias Murray, daughter of John, earl of Tullibardine, ancestor of the duke of Athole, Peerage p. 54 by whom he had one son, John, his heir, and two daughters; (1) Anne, married to Sir Lauchlan Macintosh of that ilk, captain of the clan Chattan; (2) Jean , married to William Sutherland of Duffus. He was one of the jury upon Patrick Stewart earl of Orkney, anno 1614, and dying soon thereafter, was succeeded by his son.

XV. JOHN, afterwards sir John Grant of that ilk. By the following charters he appears to have been possessed of an immense estate, viz. two charters under the great seal, Chart. in pub. archiv. Johanni Grant de Freuchy et Marie Ogilvie ejus sponsae, of the lands and barony of Corrimony, the lands of Mulben, Meikle Ballenbreck, with the mill thereof, the lands of Cardney, Auldcastle and Fergie, in the shires of Inverness, Elgin and Forres, dated the last day of July 1616. And a charter of the lands and village of Glenley, Locharcraig, Glerycean, &c. dated 6th February 1621. He afterwards had the honour of knighthood conferred upon him by king James VI ibid and got a charter, domino Johanni Grant de Freuchy, militi, of the forty shilling land of Bunnleod, with the patronage of several churches in the shires of Inverness and Murray, dated 10th February 1624.

He got also a charter from king Charles I domino Johanni Grant de eodem, militi, ibid of the lands of Rothimurchus, with the loch and mills of the lands of Logan, Ardinch, Over Finlarig, with the mill thereof, Mid Finlarig, and Nether Finlarig, &c. in the shires of Inverness and Banff, dated 26th July 1625. He died soon thereafter, and by the said Mary Ogilvie, daughter of Walter lord Ogilvie of Dcskford, Peerage p. 262 had issue eight sons and four daughters: (1) James, his heir; (2) John, who was a colonel of a regiment, but died in Holland without issue; (3) Patrick, a lieutenant-colonel in the army, was tutor of Grant, and had issue three daughters; (4) Robert of Muckroth; (5) George, who was a major in the army, and died governor of Dumbarton castle; (6) Alexander, died without, male issue. (7) Mungo , of whom the Grants of Knockandow, Ballogie, &c. are descended; (8) Thomas of Balmacown. He married and had two sons, Ludovick and Patrick Grants. (1st daughter) Lilias married to John Byres of Cotes; (2nd) Isabel married, 1st to Lewis, third marquis of Huntly, of whom the duke of Gordon is lineally descended Peerage, pages 15 and 302. She married, 2nd, James, second earl of Airly, but to him she had no issue. (3) Margaret, married to Yyy Mackenzie of Gairloch; (4) Xxx, married to Sir Robert Innes of Balvenie, baronet. Sir John had another son, Duncan , ancestor to Grant of Clairie,

He died at Edinburgh in Apr. 11 1637, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

XVI. JAMES GRANT of that ilk, a man of parts and spirit. Though he seems to have been at first engaged on the parliament's side in the troublesome reign of king Charles I Rescinded acts of parliament and was by them appointed one of the committee for trying the malignants (as the loyalists were then called) in the north, 19th of July 1644, Guthrie's memoires p159 &c yet we find his clan joined the marquis of Montrose, and appear to have been steady in the interest of the royal family. In 1640, he married lady Margaret Stewart, daughter of James fourth earl of Murray, Peerage page 503 by lady Anne Gordon his wife, daughter of George sixth earl of Huntly, by whom he had two sons and three daughters: (1) Ludovick, his heir; (2) Patrick, of whom the Grants of.Wester Elchies upon Spey side are descended; (1st daughter) Mary, married to Patrick Ogilvie of Boyne in Banffshire; (2) Xxx, married to sir Alexander Hamilton of Haggs; (3) Margaret, married to Roderick Mackenzie of Red Castle.

Sir James died at Edinburgh, anno 1663, and was buried in the Abbay church there. He was succeeded by his eldest son,

XVII. LUDOVICK GRANT of that ilk, who being a man of good understanding and knowledge, and possessed of an opulent fortune, acquired great authority and interest in the country; and as he did not approve of the court measures, neither in the reigns of king Charles II nor king James VII, he came early into the revolution, and was in great favour with king William, who appointed him colonel of a regiment of foot, anno1689; also sheriff principal of Inverness, which office many of his predecessors had before enjoyed.

In 1690, he raised a regiment of 600 of his own clan, and joined colonel Livingston, which gave such a check to the Highlanders at Cromdale, on the 1st of May that year, that they soon after laid down their arms. He got his lands erected into a regality in that year, MS History of the family and being constantly a member of the Scots parliament, was always steady in the interest of his country. He married, 1st, Janet, only daughter of Alexander Brodie of Lethen, by whom he had four sons and four daughters: (1) Alexander , his heir; (2) James, who carried on the line of the family, as will be shown hereafter; (3) George, a major in the army; (4) Ludovick , a colonel in the army; (1st daughter) Elisabeth, married to Huge Rose of Kilravock; (2) Anne, married to colonel William Grant of Balindallach, a son of the family of Rothimurchus; (3) Janet, married to sir Roderick Mackenzie of Scatwell (4) Margaret, married to Simon lord Fraser of Lovat. They all had issue.

He married, 2nd, Jean, daughter of sir John Houston of that ilk, and dying at Edinburgh in the year 1717, was buried in the church, and succeeded by his eldest son.

XVIII. ALEXANDER GRANT of Grant, who having betaken himself to a military life had the command of a regiment of foot, was governor of Sheerness, and rose to the rank of a brigadier-general. He was sincerely attached to revolution principles, and did the government singular service in the year 1715, He was high sheriff of the shire of Inverness, and lord lieutenant of that county, and of Murray, and was one of the Scots members to the first five British parliaments.

He married, 1st, Elisabeth Stewart, eldest daughter of James lord Down, son and apparent heir of Alexander sixth earl of Murray. Peerage page 504 He married, 2nd, Anne, daughter of John Smith, speaker of the house of commons, and one of the maids of honour to queen Anne; but had no surviving children by either. He died at Edinburgh, anno1719, and was buried in the Abbay-church. As he left no issue, the representation devolved upon his brother James, before mentioned, to whom we now return.

XVIII. JAMES, second son of Ludovick Grant of that ilk, was first designed of Pluscardine, and was several times a member of parliament. In the year 1702, he married Anne Colquhoun, only daughter and sole heiress of Sir Humphry Colquhoun of that ilk and of Luss, baronet, who, anno1704, resigned his title of a baronet in the sovereign's hands, in favours of himself and the heirs-male of his body which failing, to the said James Grant his son-in-law, and the heirs-male of his body, procreate or to be procreate betwixt him and the said Anne Colquhoun, Patent in cancellaria &c.. This resignation was received, and a new patent expede in the above terms, with the same precedency as given by the first patent in favours of sir John Colquhoun of Luss, anno 1625, &c.

Sir Humphry died anno 1718. This James, his son-in-law, succeeded to his estate and baronetship in consequence of the above mentioned resignation and charter following thereupon and was then designed Sir James Colquhoun of Luss; but he succeeding to the estate of Grant upon the death of his brother, the brigadier-general, in 1719, he resumed his paternal sirname, retained the baronetship, it being vested in his person, and the estate of Luss went to his second surviving son, according to the settlement in the entail of his estate of Luss &c.

By the said Anne Colquhoun, he had issue five sons and five daughters: (1) Humphry, who died unmarried, anno 1732; (2) Ludovick, now sir Ludovick Grant of Grant; (3) James, now sir James Colquhoun of Luss, Vide that title; (4) Colonel Francis Grant; (5) Captain Charles Cathcart Grant, of the royal navy; (1st daughter) Jean, countess dowager of Fife; (2) Anne, married to sir Harry Innes of Innes; (3) Sophia Grant, unmarried; (4) Penuel, married to captain Alexander Grant of Balindallach; (5) Clementina married to sir William Dunbar of Durn.

Sir James died at London, January 26th anno 1747, and was succeeded in the estate of Grant by his eldest surviving son.

XIX. Sir LUDOVICK GRANT of Grant, baronet. He married, 1st, Marian, daughter of sir Hugh Dalrymple of North Berwick, lord president of the session, by whom he had only one daughter, who died young. He married, 2nd, lady Margaret Ogilvie, daughter of James, fifth earl of Finlater and Seafield, by lady Elisabeth Hay his wife, daughter of Thomas earl of Kinnoul, by whom he has issue one son, James, his apparent heir and six daughters: (1) Marian, (2) Anne-Hope, (3) Penuel, (4) Mary, (5) Helen, (6) Elisabeth.

XX. JAMES GRANT, Esq., son and apparent heir of Sir Ludovick, married Jean, only child of the late Alexander Duff of Hatton, Esq. by whom he hath two sons and one daughter: (1) Ludovick; (2) Alexander and (3) Anne.

ARMS: Gules, three antique crowns or, with the badge of a baronet in a surtout &c.
CREST: A burning hill proper.
SUPPORTERS: Two savages or naked men proper
MOTTO: Stand fast.
CHIEF SEAT: At Castle Grant in Invernessshire.