John Grant of Freuchie (d. 1622)
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John Grant of Freuchie (c. 1568 – 1622) was a Scottish landowner.
John was the fifth laird of Freuchie, now called Castle Grant, a mile north of Grantown-on-Spey. His other property was Ballachastell, near Inverness.
He was the eldest son of Duncan Grant (died 1582) and Margaret Mackintosh. John Grant became head of the family when his grandfather, also John Grant, died in 1585.[1]
Freuchie joined in a feud between the Earl of Huntly and the Earl of Moray, over the marriage of John Gordon, son of the laird of Cluny, to the widow of the Grant of Ballindalloch. One of Gordon's servants was killed by John Grant, former Tutor of Ballindaloch, the administrator of the estate. The Earl of Huntly went to Ballindalloch in November 1590 to arrest the Tutor. John Grant of Freuchie promised to deliver the Tutor and his accomplices, accused of murder and other crimes, to Huntly Castle. However, Freuchie joined with the Tutor's men and the Earl of Moray, and came to Forres and Darnaway Castle, and there shot pistols at Huntly's officers and cannon from the castle, and killed John Gordon of Birsmoir, brother of the Laird of Cluny.[2]
Freuchie was pursued in law by the Earl of Huntly for the killing of John Gordon of Birsmoir, as treason, but the Privy Council suspended the matter.[3] Freuchie then claimed Huntly was "stirred up" against him and caused "trouble and unquietness" in the north of Scotland.[4]
Wedding masque at Tullibardine
He married Lilias Murray, a daughter of Sir John Murray of Tullibardine in 1591. The marriage contract was signed on the 15 April, and James VI of Scotland and probably his wife Anne of Denmark rode from Linlithgow Palace to attend the wedding itself at Tullibardine on 21 June 1591.[5] At the wedding King James and his valet John Wemyss of Logie performed a masque in costume. The outfits were made by the Edinburgh tailor Alexander Miller.[6] Anne of Denmark went on to Perth where she made a ceremonial entry to the town a few days later.[7]