Frasers of Philorth > Volume 1

132 THE FRASERS OF COWIE, DURRIS, AND PHILORTH.
entail of 1464, is also remarkable, for they were then an important family. It
shows that they were not so nearly related to the Lord of Philorth as to be
particularised as cousins, and this affords support to the belief that they were
older cadets of the race, and were descended from the Sir Alexander Fraser
who held that estate in 1306. 1
Sir Alexander Fraser bought the lands of Scatterty and Byth, in the
barony of Kinedwart, from Thomas de Grayme in 1470, and the charter
of sale was confirmed by the superior, John Lord of the Isles, and Baron
of Kinedwart, who also, in 1471, gave him a second charter, upon the resig-
nation of Thomas de Grayme ; and in both of these documents the Lord of the
Isles terms him " dilecto consanguineo nostro." 2 This cousinship arose from
Euphemia, Countess of Boss, great-grandmother of the Lord of the Isles, and Sir
Alexander Fraser's grandmother, Lady Johanna de Boss, having been sisters.
An attempt was made by Sir Alexander Dunbar of Westfield to set aside
this transaction, upon the ground of his pre-emption of these lands from
Thomas de Grayme; and the Lord of the Isles being in rebellion at the time,
he obtained a charter of them from James in. But Thomas de Grayme
having made a declaration, and sworn that he had sold them to Sir Alexander
Fraser three years and a half before he had any dealings respecting them
with Sir Alexander Dunbar, the latter failed to make good his claim, and they
remained in possession of the family of Philorth. 3
On the 25th of June 1470, Sir Alexander Fraser of Philorth, and William
Meldrum of Fy vie, became bound, as securities, before Alexander Irvine of Drum,
Sheriff- depute of Aberdeen, that the Provost, Bailies, Council, and community
of Aberdeen, and the tenants of their freedom, should be unharmed by Thomas
Fraser of Stonywood, and Andrew Fraser, his son and heir, and their people. 4
John Lord of the Isles was also Earl of Boss. That dignity descended
from Euphemia, Countess of Boss, and Sir Walter de Leslie, Lord of Boss, to
their son Alexander de Leslie, upon whose decease, without male issue, it
passed to his daughter Euphemia, but was also claimed by Margaret de
Leslie, his sister, the wife of Donald Lord of the Isles, and the battle of
1 See Appendix. 3 Antiquities of Aberdeenshire, vol. iii. p.
2 Philorth Charter-room. Antiquities of 52S.
Aberdeenshire, vol. ii. p. 360 ; vol. iii. p. 526. 4 Council Register of Aberdeen, vol. i. p. 56.