Frasers of Philorth facts for kids

The Frasers of Philorth are a Scottish family with a long history. They originally came from a region in France called Anjou. Their main family home, called Castle Fraser, is located in Sauchen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

For a long time, the leaders of the Philorth family have held the special title of Lord Saltoun. The current head of the Frasers of Philorth is Flora Fraser, 21st Lady Saltoun. She has been recognized as the Chief of the Name and Arms of Clan Fraser since 1984.

The family's special symbol, called their "arms" or "coat of arms," is a blue shield with three silver strawberry flowers. These flowers are a special kind of five-pointed leaf used in heraldry (the study of coats of arms). Only the Lady or Lord Saltoun is allowed to show these arms exactly as they are.

A Family's Journey: From France to Scotland

The Frasers of Philorth started their journey in France. Over time, they became an important family in Scotland. Their story is full of changes, new homes, and the creation of a busy town.

Building a New Home in Buchan

A long time ago, a man named Alexander Fraser married a daughter of the Earl of Ross. Through this marriage, the family gained lands in a place called Buchan. They also got Cairnbulg Castle, which became the main home for the Fraser chiefs.

The Birth of Fraserburgh

In 1504, the Fraser family bought a small fishing village called Faithlie. It was located near Kinnaird Head. In 1569, a man named Sir Alexander, who was the 8th Lord of Philorth, decided to build a "large and beautiful town" there. He started building a tower, which is now part of Fraserburgh Castle, and also built a church.

The family helped Faithlie grow into a busy place. In 1592, King James VI gave Alexander a special document for the town. Alexander improved the harbour, which is a safe place for boats. This made the area a very successful town. Soon, it became a free port (meaning ships could trade easily) and a burgh (a self-governing town) called Fraserburgh. It even became a competitor to the larger city of Aberdeen.

Around 1596, the family also built another castle nearby called Pittulie Castle.

Challenges and Changes

Fraserburgh was meant to have its own university, but this plan didn't work out. There were religious problems at the time, and Aberdeen was already a big city with its own university.

Building Fraserburgh Castle was a very expensive project for Sir Alexander. It cost so much money that he went bankrupt. This meant he had to sell Philorth Castle. The castle was out of the family's hands for more than 300 years. But in 1934, Alexander Fraser, 19th Lord Saltoun, bought it back!

Another important event happened when Alexander, the 9th Lord of Philorth, married Margaret Abernethy, 10th Lady Saltoun. She was the heiress (the person who inherits) to the title of Lord Saltoun. Since then, the chiefs of Clan Fraser have held this title.

A Disputed Title

For a while, there was a disagreement about who should be the true Chief of the Clan Fraser. This dispute was between the Frasers of Philorth and another branch of the family called the Frasers of Muchalls.

During the time of King Charles I, a title called "Lord Fraser" ended. The fourth Lord Fraser died in 1716 while he was on the run. This was because he had taken part in a rebellion called The Fifteen. Two of the sons of the second Lord Fraser were not seen in Scotland after a battle in 1650. One of them, James Fraser, ended up in Massachusetts in the United States. He lived there, got married, had children, and passed away in 1717.