Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 5

362 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
"William Fedderet, who married Christina Moravia, helonged to Aber-
deen, and had his residence in the Castle of Fedderet, in the parish of
ITew Deer. But lie and his wife seem to have disappeared without much
further notice of them having been taken.
On the death of Sir Reginald, Auldwick fell into the possession of the
Sutherlands by the marriage of Marjory with Nicholas Sutherland, and
little or notliing is known of Auldwick Castle while in their possession,
For many years afterwards no trace can be discovered regarding it ; but it
would seem that " between the years 1390 and 1406, King llobert III,
granted in heritage to Neill Sutherland the town of Auldwick in Caith-
ness, with a burgh of barony." This JSTeill must have been a descendant
of Nicholas Sutherland. Henry Sutherland of Duffus succeeded his fa-
ther Nicholas Sutherland, and in turn Henry Sutherland was succeeded
by his own son, Alexander Sutherland. Alexander increased the wealth
of the family by marrying the daughter of Chisholm of that Ilk, who was
Proprietor of Quarrellwood. The Earl of Sutherland also granted in the
year 1444 a Charter in favour of this Alexander Sutherland of the lands
of Torboll. He was succeeded by Alexander, who had an only daughter
who was married to WiUiam Oliphant of Eerriedale. She was named
Christma, and they had a son called George Oliphant, who succeeded them,
for we find that in 1497 King James IV. granted the lands of Beredaill
and Aldwick in heritage to the son, George Oliphant, who was the son
and apparent heir of ViUiam Oliphant, and his wife Christina Sutherland,
lady of Duflus, with remainder to Charles Oliphant the brother of George,
and Ho the heirs whomsoever of William and George. It appears that
Ans&ew Oliphant of Beridaill was the heir and successor of the deceased
Christina Sutherland, and that he had three daughters, named ]\Iargaret,
Catherine, and Helen Oliphant. In 15 20 Andrew Oliphant sold some
lands to his uncle Laurence, Lord Olii^hant, and King James the V. af-
terwards granted a Crown Cliarter of the same in his favour. From what
we learn of the history of the Olijihants during these troublous times, it
is evident enough that their lines were not in pleasant places. Andrew
Oliphant of Berriedale purchased from the King the marriage of Christina
Sutherland witli his second son, William, for a considerable sum of money
for the purpose of advancing him in honour and dignity. But after the
marriage had taken place " the deceased William Sutherland of Querrel-
wood at the time of the serving of the briefs of inquest in favour of the
said Clmstina, tiie mother of Andrew 01ii)hant" took ''the exception of
illegitimacy against her before the Sheriff." This plea, urged so strongly
before the Sheriff, was remitted to the Court of Eome, where it was liti-
gated for several years, and the greater portion of the expenses connected
with it, was borne by Laurence, Lord Oliphant, who likewise maintained |
in his own house Christina Sutherland and her husband William, It
likewise appears that William Sutherland and his friends cruelly murdered
Charles Oliphant, and attempted by every means in their power to get
from the heirs of William and Christina the lands which had been given
to the latter. Andrew therefore, knowing that his life was very unsafe,
from repeated plots against him while he had no male heir, and for
various other causes, as weU as the consideration of certain sums which
wore to be paid when his daughters married, sold to his uncle Laurence,
then Lord Oliphant, " the lands of Berredale and Auldwik, in Caithness,