Series 2 > Seafield correspondence from 1685 to 1708

FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD
55
1689]
of Fife, held Keithmore in wadset of the Duke of Gordon. During
the Commonwealth he began to acquire land in Banffshire, thus
laying the foundation of the extensive Fife estates. In 1650 he
bought Succoth, in 1657 Lettoch and Alldachlaggan, and in 1660
Pittyvaich and Fittie, all in Banffshire. Later he acquired part
of the lordship of Balvenie and the estate of Braco. For long he
was Baron Bailie to the Duke of Gordon in Auchindoun. His
wife Helen Grant was daughter of Alexander Grant of Allachie
of the Ballintomb Grants, cadets of the Chiefs of Grant. He
first appears in the suite roll of the barons and freeholders of
Banffshire at the Michaelmas court of 1675, where he is entered
for the lands of ‘ Lettach and Auldachlagane.’ At the Pasch
court of 1678 he appears also as superior of Buchrom and Millne-
towne of Balvenie, which had formerly been held by his father-
in-law. Additional light is thrown on Cannon’s treatment of
Keithmore in the records of the Scots Parliament of 1695, where
it is related that in August 1689, old Keithmore then seventy
years of age was taken by the rebels out of his house of Keith¬
more, which was plundered and destroyed, and was kept in a
starving condition until he was e necessitat to pay a ransome for
his relief.’1
For THE RIGHT HONOURABL THE EARL OF
FINDLTUR
Pittuly, Siptem. 2, 1689.
My Lord,—It is a very great trubl to me that you are
in so great a fere in the Boyn. I wish the Lord may
disconfit all them which is the occation of it, that we all
may injoy our formar peace agan. I belive my father
will wat on your Lo. the end of this week, but as for me,
my parans will not let me stir from Pittuly till Mr. James
return, which I wish may be very shortly. I shall add
no mor but that I am, My Lord, Your most obedant
daght and devoted servant to dath,
Anna Ogilvie.
In November, with the re-opening of the Court of Session, Sir
James Ogilvie resumed his practice at the bar.
1 The Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland, vol. ix. p. 447.