New Spalding Club > Thanage of Fermartyn including the district commonly called Formartine

24 Tlie Tlianage of Fermartyn.
\\'illiam Meldrum died before 1577, and was succeeded by his son,
V. George Meldrum of Fy vie.
He was served heir to his father William Meldrum of Fivy, i October, 1577, in two parts
of the barony of Ouchterless. Upon the inquest are James Gordon of Methlick, Patrick
Mowat, Robert Lumsden of Clovath, Andrew Meldrum of Dumbreck. There is also a
general retour of him to his grandfather Sir George Meldrum of Fivy, dated 17 January,
1577-78, of the lands and barony of Fivy." This George Meldrum is mentioned in a bond
of caution by Patrick Barclay of Towie for William Barclay of Mylesleggat that George
Meldrum of Fivy shall be harmless of such persons under the pains and penalties con-
tained in the King's letters of lawburrows raised thereanent by the said George
Meldrum of Fivy and others.
In this bond we find almost the whole fraternity of the Meldrums, viz, : — George
Meldrum of Fivy, William Meldrum of Montcoffer, Andrew Meldrum of Dumbreck,
George Meldrum younger thereof, Andrew Meldrum his brother, Alex. Meldrum of
Bogheids, Robert Meldrum of Cowhill, George Meldrum of Logie Auldtown, and John
Meldrum of TuUiecarne. Of all these there are no known descendants at the present
day."
The Meldrums of Fivy were getting into pecuniary and other difficulties, and the
estate of Fivy is parted with by George Meldrum to his relative Andrew Meldrum of
Dumbreck, who may be called the last Meldrum of Fivy.
VI. Andrew Meldrum of Fy vie and Dumbreck.
In 1592-93, January 31, there is a charter by George Meldrum of Fivy to an honour
able man Andrew Meldrum of Dumbreck for the redemption and reversion of the lands of
Tiftie, Muirfoundland, Camaloune, &c.,^ and on Feb. 26 of the same year, Andrew
Meldrum is infeft in the lands and barony of Fivy.
In 1593-94, January 31, there is a reversion by Andrew Meldrum of Dumbreck of the
lands of Fivy in favour of his sons Andrew and John Meldrum. There is evidently still
much pecuniary difficulty,and the property of Fivy or Fermartyn, after it had been for about
one hundred and sixty years in the possession of the Meldrums, now passes away from
them to the family of Seton. It was sold in 1596 to Lady Seton and her son Lord
Urquhart, afterwards Lord Fyvie and Earl of Dunfermline — to the former in life-rent
and the latter in fee. The deed of sasine is dated July 26, 1596.^
I Fyvie Charters. 3 Fy\-ie Charters.
I Privy Council Records. 4 Id