Richey Family Tree » Sir Simon III "The Patriot Laird of Oliver Castle and Neidpath Castle" Fraser (1226-1306)

Données personnelles Sir Simon III "The Patriot Laird of Oliver Castle and Neidpath Castle" Fraser 

• Autre nom: Lord Simon Fraser of Lovat
• Le surnom est The Patriot Laird of Oliver Castle and Neidpath Castle.
• Il est né en l'an 1226 dans Tweedsmuir, Scottish Borders, Scotland.
• Professions:
• Sheriff of Traquair and of Peebles, Keeper of the Forests of Traquair and Selkirk.
• Sheriff of Traquair.
• Sheriff of Peebles.
• Keeper of the Forests of Traquair and Selkirk.
• Résidant en l'an 1266: Brotherton Scotland.
• (Cause of Death) : Drawn and Quartered.
• (Life Sketch) : https://www.ajbhope.net/frasers-of-oliver/Simon III Fraser of Oliver is known as the Patriot for good reason. Initially he was with Edward 1 and was in his army at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298 and was at the seige of Caerlaverock Castle and also at a skirmish at Cree River, both in 1300. However with the strengthening resistance of the Scots and the rise of the nationalist cause he changed sides and joined William Wallace, who he had fought against at Falkirk. This cause is now known as the First Scottish War of Independence. After the battle of Falkirk William Wallace was hunted by English troops and spies, and more than once traced to the company of "Sir Simon Fraser and other Scots, enemies of the King", from other incidental allusions it may be gathered that the strongholds and territories of the Frasers were always open to him and used for his protection (See Bain,s Calendar, iv., pp474-7) (19).Simon Fraser became a thorn in the side of Edward and accompanied Wallace in some of his escapades. In one notable event the pair of them engaged some English Knights at Happrew in Tweeddale a few miles west of Neidpath near Peebles. The location of the skirmish I think is important as Neidpath was part of the Barony of Oliver Castle. There was a castle on the site built by Gilbert Fraser that could have been used by Wallace as a refuge. We do know is that there was on the site a particular type of yew tree – taxus baccata neidpathensis - this had a stiff growth and had excellent wood for bows. This would have been an attraction as Wallace was a skilled archer and the short bow was an essential weapon in his succesful guerilla tactics. For more about the yews see page 5.1. Yew Trees of Neidpath Castle and Frasers of Neidpath.There is a notion that Simon Fraser and William Wallace were distant kinsman. This does seem unlikely considering their very different backgrounds. We also have very little verifiable information on the Wallace family and their background. However I have found a reference to a family connection in a footnote from the Historical Account of the Family of Frizel or Fraser(21) that states Sir Simon Fraser of Oliver Castle, from whom maternally descended the famous Sir William Wallace. Simon is also recorded in 1303 at Roslin, of Da Vinci Code fame, of engaging and defeating three different parts of the English army on the same day. He with Sinclair of Roslin and Lord Badenoch - known as the Red Comyn - were the commanders of the Scottish army that day. There is a memorial at the battle site at Dryden near to Roslyn - image on left. Were the battles at Roslin about the Templars and not about the Realm? See page Fraser and the Templars.Robert the Bruce was crowned King at Scone on 25-03-1306. At the battle of Methven - June 1306 - against the English it is recorded that Fraser saved The life of King Robert the Bruce three times by his courageous actions. Allegedely, the three red antique crowns on the heraldry of the Frasers of Lovat refer to these incidents - see page Fraser Family Heraldry. Unfortunately the gallant Sir Simon Fraser fell into the hands of Edward 1 and was "hung, drawn and quartered for his country's freedom on 8th September 1306 a year after his leader, Wallace."(13) “His head smyten off and placed upon London brig on a sper”. This event was recorded in England as "Also, this year - 1306 - the Earl of Ascesles, the Lord Simon Freysell, and the Countess of Carrick, the pretended Queen of Scotland, daughter to the Earl of Ulster, were taken prisoner. The Earl of Ascesles and Lord Simon Freysell were torn into pieces "(20). The Ascesles must surely be Lascelles but who was this Earl? The Lascelles and the Frasers were related through the marriage of Gilbert Fraser and Christian Lascelles - see chart above. The Countess of Carrick was of course the first wife of King Robert the Bruce and luckily was spared by King Edward as her future grandson was King Robert 11 the first of the Stewart monarch dynasty.Sir Simon left two daughter heiresses. Joan who married Patrick Fleming whose descendants are Lord Fleming and the Earls of Wigton. Mary who married Gilbert Hay whose descendants are the Hays of Yester, the Marquis of Tweeddale. The Barony of Oliver lands were divided between the Flemings and Hays – the precise territorial boundaries are not recorded but the Neidpath site went to the Hays. It would appear that the lands of Fruid Castle were not included in the division. However, the Fraser of Oliver heritage lives on as the heraldic arms of both the Flemings and the Hays of Yester include five cinquefoils for Fraser.(4) The quartering of the arms gives a reduced space for the cinquefoils, particularly for the lower quadrants - hence only 5 and not 6 cinquefoils as one would have expected. The number of cinquefoils eventually being reduced to only three but larger cinquefoils - see Fleming and Hay armorials on page Frasers and the Templars..
• Il est décédé en l'an 1306 dans London, England, il avait 80 ans.
• Il est enterré apres 8 septembre 1306 dans London, England.
• Un enfant de Simon Fraser et Grizzle Flava
• Cette information a été mise à jour pour la dernière fois le 2 juillet 2025.

Famille de Sir Simon III "The Patriot Laird of Oliver Castle and Neidpath Castle" Fraser

Il est marié à Mary Bisset of Oliver Castle.

Ils se sont mariés avant le 1265.

Enfant(s):

1. Margaret Fraser  1271-1383 

Avez-vous des renseignements supplémentaires, des corrections ou des questions concernant Sir Simon III "The Patriot Laird of Oliver Castle and Neidpath Castle" Fraser?
L'auteur de cette publication aimerait avoir de vos nouvelles!

Barre chronologique Sir Simon III "The Patriot Laird of Oliver Castle and Neidpath Castle" Fraser

Cliquez sur le nom pour plus d'information. Symboles utilisés:  grand-parents    parents    frères/soeurs    enfants