| 2nd of Freuchie, called "the Red Bard" (Am Bard Ruadh). On 8 June 1483, on a precept from William Crawford of Federeth, he was infeft in the lands of Inverallan. On 16 September 1483 he received a gift from George, Earl of Huntly, of the lands of Kinrara and others, in the lordship of Badenoch, in liferent for man-rent service. On 4 January 1493-94 he had a confirmation of his lands, which were erected into the barony of Freuchie. John Grant, as early as 1488, must have acquired an interest in Urquhart, as in a dispute between the Laird of Freuchie and Alexander, Lord Gordon, the rents (270 merks) of the lands of Urquhart and Glenmoriston are stated, 28 January 1492-93, to be four years in arrear. He subsequently accepted from the Crown a lease of the lordship of Urquhart and Glenmoriston for five years from Whitsunday 1502 at the old rent of £100, of which, however, £20 a year was allowed to himself as his fee for keeping the castle. On 4 February 1498-99 the King bestowed on him the lands of Glencarnie and Ballindalloch, with the mills of the same. He purchased the lands of Nether Auchroisk in 1505 from John Nairn, the Baron of Cromdale. On 8 December 1509 he received a charter from King James IV of the barony of Urquhart. On 10 January 1512-13 he had a charter of sale from Alexander Gaderar, a burgess of Elgin, of the lands oi Auldcash, in the shire of Elgin. On All Saints' Day, 1513, Sir Donald Macdonald of Lochalsh, who had been proclaimed Lord of the Isles, invaded Urquhart, seized the castle, plundered the neighbourhood, and held the lands for three years. John Grant died on 1 May 1528, having married (contract 16 September 1484), Margaret, 4th daughter of Sir James Ogilvy of Deskford. |