Laurence, third Lord Oliphant, succeeded his grandfather before 18 November 1516. He was still under age 10 July 1526; his tutor was Walter Oliphant, probably of Archellie. He was of age before 30 March 1526. He was one of the prisoners taken at the inglorious battle of Solway Moss; but he did not sign the 'secret articles' designed to make Henry VIII King of Scotland. His yearly revenue at that time was reckoned at 2000 merks Scots, and his personal property at a like amount. In 1543 he was released for a ransom of 800 merks sterling, and took part in the parliamentary and other public proceedings of the time, being reckoned among those least pliable in the hands of English agents. In the reforming Parliament of 1560 he did not sit. His acquisitions of Berriedale and of Kellie raised the family possesions to their maximum. He died 29 March 1566.
He married before 10 July 1525, Margaret, daughter of Sir James Sandilands of Calder, by Margaret Ker his second wife, afterwards Countess of Erroll. They had a charter under the Great Seal of the lands of Dunbarney and others 25 May 1526. Issue:-
1) Laurence, fourt Lord Oliphant.
2) Peter, of Turin; of which lands he had a grant from his father, upon which he granted letters of reversion 23 November 1559. In April 1573 he was sent to England as a hostage for his brother the fourth Lord; being then described as Lord Oliphant's eldest brother, and aged thirty six or thereby. He died 24 October 1594.
3) William, who was concerned, along with his brother Peter and others, in the slaughter of James Ross in September 1571; for which they obtained a remission under the Great Seal, 5 May 1576. He is styled in Arniston; and he died without lawful issue.
4) Katherine, married first (contract dated 8 July 1551), to Sir Alexander Oliphant of Kelllie, by whom she had two daughters; secondly to George Dundas of that Ilk, by whom she was the mother of Sir James Dundas, first of Arniston. She died 12 December 1602.
5)Margaret, married, first (contract dated 13 May 1553), to William Moray of Abercairney, without issue: secondly to James Clephane of Hilcairnie, by whom she had three sons and three daughters; thirdly, to Ninian Bonar, younger of Keltie, without issue. She died 17 August 1580.
6) Jean, married (contract 1 May 1550) to William Moncreiff, younger of that Ilk, and had issue.
7) Lilias, married (contract 8, 19 and 20 April 1561) to David Lundie of Balgonie, and had issue five sons and eight daughters. She died before 7 September 1588. |
