The Early History of Clan Ogilvie

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According to Douglas, the Ogilvies are descended from a certain Gilbert, second son of Gilibred, an Earl of Angus in the days of William the Lion, who witnessed many charters to the Abbey of Arbroath, and assumed the name of Ogilvie from his lands and barony so called. Patrick of Ogilvie, his grandson, was forced to swear fealty to the invader, Edward of England, for his lands in Forfar in 1296. In 1309 Robert the first granted a charter to Patrick of Ogilvie of the Barony of Kettenes in Forfar. Walter Ogilvie of Wester Pourie was Hereditary Sheriff of Forfar, and in 1385 obtained from Robert the second a money grant from the thanedom of Kinalty, Forfarshire. His son, Walter Ogilvie, was also High Sheriff of Forfar, and lost his life in 1391, in a conflict with Duncan Stewart, a natural son of the Earl of Buehan, who invaded the county to burn and pillage. The Sheriff overtook them at a place called Glenberrith, and in the fight that ensued he fell with his brother and sixty of his clan. The line of Sir Alexander, eldest son of Sir Walter Auchterhouse, ending in a daughter, who became Countess of Buehan, Sir Walter Ogilvie of Lintrathen, second son of Sir Walter of Auchterhouse, became the head of the family. He was Lord High Treasurer under James the first in 1425, and a Commissioner for renewing the truce with England in 1431. He married Isobel Durward, the heiress of Lintrathen, by which his posterity were designed till raised to the Peerage, which was the fortune of his grandson, Sir James, who after guaranteeing a Treaty of Peace with England in 1484, was made a Lord of Parliament in 1491 by James the forth, as Lord Ogilvie of Airlie. He died in 1504. James, sixth Lord Ogilvie of Airlie, was a loyal subject to Queen Mary, for which he suffered long imprisonment, but was released by James the sixth in 1590, and sent Ambassador to the Court of Denmark to assist at the coronation of Christian the forth. He died in 1506, and was succeeded by his son James, who married a daughter of William, Earl of Gowrie. James, eighth Lord Ogilvie, for his loyal and gallant services to Charles the first, was created Earl of Airlie in 1639, and became as a Royalist very obnoxious to the Scottish Parliament, against whom his second son, Sir Thomas, levied a regiment, at the head of which he fell at the battle of Inverlochy. James, second Earl of Airlie, by his valour contributed to the defeat of the Covenanters on more than one occasion, but was taken prisoner at Philiphaugh, and sentenced to death. He effected his escape from the Castle of St. Andrews in his sister's clothes, and was afterwards pardoned. James, Lord Ogilvie, was " out " for King James in 1715, and, dying without issue, was succeeded by his brother John, as fourth Earl of Airlie. His son, afterwards fifth Earl, was a devoted adherent of the Royal family, and joined Prince Charles at Edinburgh in 1745, with 600 men, principally of the Ogilvie clan. He marched to Derby, fought at Falkirk and Culloden, after which he retired to Norway, where he was made prisoner, but escaped to Sweden, and became an officer in the French service. He returned to Scotland in 1783. Walter Ogilvie of Airlie assumed the title in 1812, but the Earldom was not restored by law till 1826. The next Earl and Chief is the ninth Earl. The first ancestor of the Ogilvies, Earls of Findlater, was Walter, a son of Sir Walter Ogilvie, who, as stated, married Isobel Durward, the heiress of Lintrathen. He obtained charters under the Great Seal of the baronies of Deskford and Findlater in 1440. James, his heir, was knighted by James the third, and his second son was Sir Walter of Boyne, from whom the Lords Banff and Ogilvie of Strathearn, Lord High Treasurer of Scotland in 1516 were descended. Sir Walter Ogilvie, seventh of Findlater and Deskford, was created by James the sixth in 1616 Lord Ogilvie of Ueskford, and his son was raised to the Earldom of Findlater by Charles the first in 1638. Having no male heir, he obtained a new patent conferring the title of Findlater after his death on his eldest daughter, Lady Elizabeth, and her husband, Sir Patrick Ogilvie, of Inchmartin, descended from an old branch of the family. Sir Patrick left a son, Sir Walter Ogilvie, who married the heiress of Sir John Glen, whose ancestor got that estate by marriage with the daughter of Sir Patrick Inchmartin of that Ilk who was secretary to Robert the first, and was killed at the battle of Dupplin in 1332. James, fourth Earl of Findlater, born in 1664, was appointed Secretary of State by King William in 1695, and in 1701 was created Earl of Seatield. In 1704 he was Chancellor and a promoter of the Union. He sold his vote for 100 pounds. James, fifth Earl of Seafield and Findlater, was Vice Admiral of Scotland in 1737.