NUMBERS GAME
Frasers could be accused of not knowing how to count. There has long been
confusion about the numbering of the Lords Lovat. The 11th Lord Lovat [c1668-1747], Simon
"The Fox" has been called the 11th, 12th or 13th Lord Lovat, depending on where
an author began the count and, thanks to the attainder of the Lovat title in 1747, the
12th and 13th designations were never used. So, when Thomas Alexander Fraser, 10th of
Strichen [1802-1875] proved his claim to the title and matriculated arms of Lovat and
Strichen in 1857, he became the 14th Lord Lovat (but for the attainder).
The famous Fraser Highlanders, raised in 1757 by LCol. Simon Fraser of Lovat [1726-1782], were originally assigned the regimental designation of 63rd of Foot, but renumbered as the 78th following the capture of Louisbourg in 1758. To add to the confusion, in 1775 Simon Fraser, by then a MGen., raised another regiment for service in the American Revolution, with the regimental designation as 71st of Foot.
More recently, information has come to light that the 20th Lady Saltoun is
really the 21st. On the death of Alexander Abernethy, 9th Lord Saltoun [1611-1668], his
sister Margaret succeeded him as 10th Lady Saltoun, according to the old Highland
tradition of Tanistry, but she only survived him by 2 ½ months. Thereafter, the title
passed to the Frasers. The 9th Lord Saltoun's aunt, also Margaret Abernethy (daughter of
George Abernethy, 7th Lord Saltoun), in 1595 had married Alexander Fraser, 9th of Philorth
[c1570-1636], and their son Alexander Fraser, 10th of Philorth [1604-1693] in 1668 became
11th Lord Saltoun.
Alexander Fraser 10th [now 11th] Lord Saltoun
How would you feel if you had to renumber all of those portraits at Cairnbulg Castle?
Reprinted from CFSC Canadian Explorer, December 1999
So, what does this mean?
When Alexander Abernethy, 9th Lord Saltoun, was succeeded by his younger sister
Margaret Abernethy, 10th Lady Saltoun, albeit for only 2 ½ months, it affected the
numbering system for each successive heir to the title. Unfortunately, it also means that
it will likely take some time before the revised numbers are reflected in published
accounts of Fraser history. For the benefit of those who have acquired a copy of
Clan Fraser, A history celebrating over 800 years of the Family in Scotland by Flora
Marjory Fraser, 20th [now 21st] Lady Saltoun, the following is a summary of the chiefly
line from the time that the title passed from the Abernethies to the Frasers:
Frasers of Philorth - Lords Saltoun
Alexander Fraser, 10th of Philorth & 10th [now 11th] Lord Saltoun
[1604-1693]
Alexander Fraser, Master of Saltoun [1630-1682]
William Fraser, 11th [now 12th] Lord Saltoun [1654-1715] - succeeded his grandfather
Alexander Fraser, 12th [now 13th] Lord Saltoun [1685-1748]
Alexander Fraser, 13th [now 14th] Lord Saltoun [1710-1751sp]
George Fraser, 14th [now 15th] Lord Saltoun [1720-1781] - succeeded his older brother
Alexander Fraser, 15th [now 16th] Lord Saltoun [1758-1793]
Alexander Fraser, 16th [now 17th] Lord Saltoun [1785-1853sp] - "Waterloo
Saltoun"
Alexander Fraser, 17th [now 18th] Lord Saltoun [1820-1886] - succeeded his uncle
Alexander Fraser, 18th [now 19th] Lord Saltoun [1851-1933]
Alexander Fraser, 19th [now 20th] Lord Saltoun [1886-1979]
Alexander Fraser, Master of Saltoun [1921-1944sp]
Flora Marjory Fraser, 20th [now 21st] Lady Saltoun [b. 1930]
Frasers of Lovat - Lords Lovat
Refer to Clan Fraser, A history celebrating over 800 years of the Family in
Scotland by Flora Marjory Fraser, 20th [now 21st] Lady Saltoun, published 1997 by
Scottish Cultural Press, Edinburgh, reprinted 2005.
Reviewed and
approved by The Lady Saltoun, Chief of Clan Fraser.
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