I have noticed that a general confusion exists in relation to the family of Meldrum of Laithers, particularly the marriages and issue of Peter Meldrum of Laithers. Below is my research as it pertains to the issue and descendants of the founder of the branch, John Meldrum of Laithers. I will deal with John of Laither’s parentage and ancestry at a later date but in the meantime, I thought this particular aspect of the genealogy would be useful to those with an interest in the family.
John Meldrum of Laithers, married Margaret, daughter of John Duff of Muldavit,[1] and was father of,
- Peter Meldrum of Laithers, (see below).
- Mr. George Meldrum of Crombie and Laithers, born in 1616 and was educated for the ministry. He was presented in minister of Glass in November 1643, and ordained, 24 April 1644. He took the oath of allegiance on 16 December 1662,[2] but was suspended on 25 May 1664, for refusing to acknowledge Episcopacy. He was served heir of tailie to his nephew, John Meldrum, in the lands of Laithers on 1 March 1688[3] and died in November 1692.[4] He married in January 1680, to Jean, daughter of Alexander Duff of Keithmore,[5] who survived him. He was father of,
2a} Jean Meldrum, she and her two sisters became heirs to their father and had service as heirs portioners to him on 18 December 1707.[6] She married by May 1707, to James Duff,[7] son of William Duff, Provost of Inverness, and had issue.
2a} Elizabeth Meldrum, married by December 1707, to Archibald Ogilvy of Rothiemay,[8] (he died at his seat at Rothiemay, on 2 May 1735[9]), and died at Edinburgh, on Thursday 30 October 1760.[10] They had issue.
2a} Helen Meldrum, married in 1703, to Alexander Abercromby, 3rd of Glasshaugh,[11] (he died in December 1728[12]), whom she survived.[13] They and had issue.
- Margaret Meldrum, married James Ramsay of Melross, with whom she was infeft in the lands of Melross with the mill on 2 April 1659.[14] They had issue,
3a} John Ramsay of Melross and Laithers, was infeft in the fee of the lands of Melross on 2 April 1659[15] and was served heir of tailie and provision to George Meldrum of Crombie in the lands of Laithers on 9 June 1693.[16]
Peter Meldrum of Laithers, succeeded his father by 3 December 1663, when he and other heritors of the parish of Turreff became bound to pay their proportions of the stipend to Mr. John Milne, minister at Fetteresso,[17] and was appointed one of the Commissioners of Excise for Banffshire on 4 January 1666.[18] He died in 1677 and after 22 September of that when he drew up his Testament by which he appointed James Gordon of Ardmellie tutor testamentar to his children, John, Janet and Jean, by his second wife, Mary Ogilvy, James Gordon brought a complaint against her on 8 December 1681, for having “for these fours years past detained the said pupils from him, though he has often desired them to be delivered to him that he might see to their education.”[19] He married, firstly, to the sister and heir of Mr. John Hay of Logie, by whom he had issue:
- Elspeth Meldrum. She and her sisters, Isobel and Elspeth, were served heirs portioners to their maternal uncle, Mr. John Hay of Logie, in the lands of Netherton of Crimondgorth on 16 January 1674.[20] She had married by then, to Mr. David Cuming of Edinkely, whom she survived.[21]
- Mary Meldrum, married by 16 January 1674, to David Stewart of Newton, (he died s.p. in 1705), and died without issue before 2 July 1708, when her sisters Isobel and Elspeth had special service as heir to her in an annualrent of 5000 merks secured over the lands of Leuchars and others.[22]
- Isobel Meldrum, married by 16 January 1674, to James Gordon of Ardmellie.
He married secondly, to Mary, daughter of John Ogilvy of Milton, (marriage contract 8 July 1672.[23] She survived him and married secondly, by marriage contract dated 17 October 1678, to Charles, 7th Lord Oliphant,[24] by whom she had further issue), and had further issue by her:
- John Meldrum of Laithers, succeeded his father and was served heir general to him on 21 January 1686.[25] He died s.p. and his sister Janet had service as heir general to him on 8 November 1688.[26]
- Janet Meldrum, was served heir general to her brother, John, on 8 November 1688. She married, firstly, to Laurence Oliphant of Condie, (marriage contract 29 October 1689[27]), by whom she had issue; and secondly, at Forgandenny, on 4 June 1699, to David Drummond of Innermay,[28] (he died in December 1718[29]). She also survived him and married, thirdly, to Thomas Oliphant, second son of James Oliphant, 3rd of Gask, (he died s.p. on 6 September 1740[30]).
- Jean Meldrum, married firstly, by 24 December 1692, to Sir Alexander Innes of Cockston, when she discharged her mother, Mary Ogilvy, for payment of a certain sum and is then styled her second daughter.[31] She survived that husband and married secondly, at Edinburgh on 19 February 1710, to George Ogilvy, younger of Forglen.[32]
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[1] See Baronage of Scotland, p. 138 (Sir Robert Douglas published post mortem Edinburgh, 1798),
[2] RPC Third Series, Vol. 1, p. 306.
[3] C22/40/90.
[4] C22/43/347. John Ramsay of Melross was served heir special to him in the lands of Laithers on 9 June 1693.
[5] RS17/3/278.
[6] Services of Heirs.
[7] RS17/5/307.
[8] RS17/5/307.
[9] Caledonian Mercury, 12th May 1735, edition.
[10] Caledonian Mercury, 5th November 1760, edition.
[11] RS17/5/186.
[12] CC1/6/11. See also service of his son and heir, James, in October 1739.
[13] RS17/6/456.
[14] RS16/9/71.
[15] RS16/9/73.
[16] C22/43/347.
[17] RPC Third Series, Vol. 1, p. 469.
[18] RPC Third Series, Vol. 2, p. 128.
[19] RPC Third Series, Vol. 7, p. 277.
[20] C22/31/311.
[21] RS29/4/88.
[22] Services of Heirs.
[23] GD248/3439/3/misc.
[24] GD248/3439/3/misc.
[25] C22/38/201.
[26] C22/40/290.
[27] RS52/10/f.427v
[28] OPR – Forgandenny.
[29] Dunkeld Tests.
[30] Woodend Bible.
[31] GD248/3439/5/misc.
[32] OPR – Edinburgh.