Laurence, fifth Lord Oliphant, was born 25 March 1583. After his predecessor's death he was under the care of his maternal grandfather William, Earl of Morton. On 9 December 1598 he is described as on his way to France, and seven days later he had licence to travel for five years. On 15 February 1604 he executed a revocation of deeds done in his minority. In 1602 he is described as 'catholique, of good expectation,' which latter he disappointed. The family papers speak of him as 'ane base and unworthy man' - a spendthrift he certainly was, and he dissipated the family estates, which came down to him entire, though not unencumbered. Muirhouse was sold in 1605, Caithness estates and Glensaugh in 1606, Gallery in 1609, Turin in 1611, Kellie in 1613, Newtyle and Auchtertyre in 1617. Some attempt seems to have been made to save the Strathearn estates for his heir-male and eventual successor in the title; but it did not succeed, and they aso were finally disposed of in 1625 and 1626. Gask alone, having been acquired by an Oliphant of a cadent branch, remained with the surname till 1908. Beyond attending a Convention of Estates in 1605, this Lord Oliphant took no part in public affairs; but his feuds and his debts bulk largely in the Register of the Privy Council. Of the former the only one worth recording was with his heir-male, who in 1617 he nearly succeeded in slaying; yet endeavoured to make him his successor in preference to his daughter. He died before October 1630. He married, 29 October 1603, Lilias Drummond, eldest daughter of James, first Lord Maderty; on 28 January 1607, they had a Great Seal charter of the Oliphant estates so far as then still unsold. Be her, who survived him and was alive 23 January 1636, he had only daughter: -
1) Anna, married in 1624 to James Douglas, second son of Wililam, tenth Earl of Angus. John Fyfe, minister of Gask, was found guilty by the Presbytery of Perth of having performed the ceremony in the church of Aberdalgie without banns and without a testimonial from the minister of the parish, and was handed over to the Bishop of Dunblane to be dealt with for the offence. She was served heir of line in general to her father, 18 January 1631; and her husband was created Lord Mordington 13 March 1640. |
