NOTE: I have no plans to resume research for this entry and it is published here as an incomplete work in progress.
FRASER
of KNOCK
William Fraser of Knock, is the first for whom there is evidence and was in possession of the lands of Knock, in the parish of Largs, by 20 July 1433, when he witnessed a charter by Janet of Cairns, Lady Busby, granting the lands of Handanhouth and others, to Thomas Scott of Baillieland.[1] He died in 1459/60 and was father of,
- Alexander Fraser of Knock, (see below).
- William Fraser, was provided by his father to the lands of Flatt and which were confirmed to him by charter expede under the Great Seal on 7 July 1450.[2]
Alexander Fraser of Knock, succeeded his father and had Sasine for the lands of Knock in 1460.[3] He was father of,
John Fraser of Knock, had succeeded his father by 26 February 1508, when he witnessed a Sasine in favour of Cuthbert Montgomery.[4] He died soon after and was father of,
Alexander Fraser of Knock, succeeded his father about 1510 and was killed at the battle of Flodden in September 1513 having had issue;
John Fraser of Knock, succeeded on his father’s death and was infeft in the lands of Knock as heir to him by Sasine of 12 November 1513.[5] He died by November 1537 and was father of,
John Fraser of Knock, succeeded his father and had Sasine for the lands of Knock as heir to him on 11 November 1532[6]. He also received the gift on 3 June 1540, of the nonentries of the lands of Greenyards from the time of his late grandfather, Alexander Fraser of Knock’s death,[7] and was infeft in those lands by Sasine dated 28 August 1553.[8] He married by 11 November 1537, to Margaret, daughter of John Stewart of Glanderston, when, on his own resignation, they had a conjunct charter for the lands of Rottenburn,[9] and died about 1585. He was father of,
- An eldest son, for whom there is no evidence other than that he died v.p. before November 1572 having had issue;
1a} John Fraser of Knock, (see below).
- Agnes Fraser, married firstly, in 1549, to John Boyle of Kelburne and as relict of whom she granted a renunciation to her father on 29 October 1583[10], and secondly, by 13 September 1573, to Patrick Crawford of Auchinames.[11]
John Fraser of Knock, in favour of whom his grandfather, John Fraser of Knock, made a resignation of the lands of Knock which were confirmed to him by charter under the Great Seal on 13 September 1571[12]. He married Jean, daughter of John Brisbane of Bishopton, (marriage contract 17 November 1572, by the terms of which he would marry her or else one of her sisters upon reaching the age of fourteen. She died in April 1612[13]), and whom he infeft, as his future wife, in a liferent of his lands in 1583. He was father of,
- James Fraser of Knock, married at Edinburgh, on 19 February 1628, to Mary Ramsay,[14] and was provided by his father to the lands of Over and Nether Grassyards, Quarter, Rottenburn, Glenhead and Hill by charter dated 6 March 1628.[15] He resigned those lands in favour of his younger brother, Alexander, in 1652.
- Alexander Fraser of Knock, (see below).
Alexander Fraser of Knock, who, on his brother James’s resignation, had a conjunct charter to himself and Jean Crawford, his wife, for the lands of Knock on 11 November 1652.[16] He died in September 1657 and had issue;
- James Fraser of Knock, succeeded his father and died s.p. in January 1667.[17]
- Jean Fraser,
- Grisel Fraser,
- Janet Fraser, all of whom had service as heirs general to their late father on 19 February 1674 and following which, they were infeft in the lands of Knock by Sasine dated 23 April following.[18]
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[1] Ayr Burgh Charters, No. 47.
[2] C2/4/40.
[3] Ex. Rolls. Vol. 9, p.673.
[4] GD3/1/7/1/3.
[5] GD3/1/10/94/1.
[6] GD3/1/10/94/2.
[7] PS1/13/88.
[8] Ex. Rolls. Vol. 18, p. 558. The lands were then stated have been in nonentry for a period of forty-one years or so,
[9] C2/26/100.
[10] GD3/1/18/82/3.
[11] GD21/1.
[12] C2/33/127.
[13] CC9/7/9/pp.172-175.
[14] OPR – Edinburgh.
[15] GD3/1/10/94/8.
[16] GD3/1/10/94/13
[17] CC9/7/36/701.
[18] GD3/1/10/94/21.