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Fraser
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The Frasers of
Lovat descend from Sir Simon Fraser, brother of Sir
Alexander, chamberlain of Robert the Bruce. The
first record linking the lands of Lovat to the
Frasers is in 1367 when Hugh Fraser is styled "Lord
of Lovat and portioner of Ard". The Gaelic
patronymic of the Lovat Frasers is "MacShimi"meaning "son of Simon"and was used at the beginning
of the fifteenth century.
Around 1422, the Frasers acquired lands at
Stratherrick by Loch Ness, together with part of
Glenelg. Sometime between 1456 and 1464, Hugh Fraser
was raised to the peerage as Lord Lovat or Lord
Fraser of Lovat. Around 1511, the chiefs established
their seat at Beaufort Castle. The present castle is
relatively modern on the site of previous
strongholds that were destroyed in the 13th and 18th
centuries.
The Lovat Frasers had their fair share of clan feuds
and battles but amongst the most memorable was with
the Mac Donalds of Clanrannald in 1544. Despite
early success, the Fraser men were outnumbered when
the Frasers and the Huntly forces split to return
home. Lovat, his son and heir, plus hundreds of his
men were killed and buried at the priory at Beauly.
The family established many cadet branches,
including the Frasers of Reelig with their castle at
Moniack, Inverallochy, Fingask and many others.
Simon, eleventh Lord Lovat, mustered the Frasers to
support Prince Charles Edward Stuart in 1745. At
least one battalion fought at the Battle of
Culloden. They suffered heavy losses, and the whole
Fraser Country was ravaged. MacShimi was beheaded
and his title and estates forfeit. However, his son,
Simon, was pardoned and when George II raised
Highland regiments, Lovat formed in 1757, the 78th
Fraser Highlanders, who later fought with Wolfe at
Quebec and later the 71st Fraser Highlanders who
served faithfully in the American War of
Independence.
In 1837 the peerage was restored to a cousin, Thomas
Fraser of Strichen, a descendent of the fourth Lord
Lovat. When he died in 1995, after tragically losing
two of his sons. he was succeeded by his 18-year-old
grandson, Simon Fraser. The great Lovat estates,
including Beaufort Castle, have been sold. |
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