Alexander (Blair) Blair IIIrd of Balthayock (abt. 1433 - abt. 1493)

Born about 1433 in Perthshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Christian (Oliphant) Blair — married about 1455 (to about 1492) in Scotland

Descendants

Died about 1493 at about age 60 in Perthshire, Scotland [uncertain]

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Biography

Alexander was born about 1435 eldest son to Patrick Blair heir apparent of Balthayock and his wife Christain Ogilvy.^[1]

Alexander was a minor when his father died and it appears that William Murray of Tillybardine purchased the marriage of this young laird.

His father, Alexander, died about 1450 during the lifetime of his father, Thomas Blair of Balthayock. It is recorded that the heir of Thomas, recovered from ward the lands of Cults by sasine shortly before Whitsunday 1454 on payment of £76 2s 4d to the Crown.^[2] The total burden of his lands to the Exchequer was the considerable sum of £993.2s3d which presumably covered the relief from ward of all his lands held of the Crown. Although Balthayock is not mentioned, the Libri Responsionum records that in this same year of 1454, Alexander Blair had sasine of the lands of Ardler and Baldowrie in the county of Forfar. ^[3] It is assumed that Alexander had reached full age in 1454.

At Aberdalgie on 21 June 1455, Margaret Oliphant relict of Sir John Oliphant of Aberdalgie, Laurence Oliphant of Aberdalgie and Alexander Dundas of Fingask made a Bond of Relief to free William Lord Hay earl of Errol of the payment of £200 Scots for which William and Laurence were bound to William Murray of Tillybardine for the marriage of Alexander Blair of Balthayock. ^[4]

The marriage of Alexander to Christian, daughter of the deceased Sir John Oliphant was to bring Alexander close to the local power base. At Perth in 1461, Laurence Lord Oliphant discharged a dispute with the Town of Perth in the presence of "wel-beloved friendis" Henry Wardlaw of Torie, Alexander Blair of Balthayock, James Hering, John Moncreiff and others.The Moncreiffs and the Moncreiffes On 31 May 1469, Alexander made a Bond of Manrent to Lawrence, Lord Oliphant for five years when he pledged his service to "my gude brother in law". Thereafter, Thomas Blair appears frequently as a witness to Oliphant charters.

Alexander Blair and Christian Oliphant had sons:

• Thomas his heir
• David a Guild Brother of Perth.

It appears that Alexander Blair and Robert Mercer of Innerpeffray with eight attendants were in Flanders in 1460 and sought and obtained from King Henry VI of England a safe conduct through England to return to Scotland. ^[5]

An interesting Notarial Instrument dated 9 June 1483 records that at the Parish Church of Perth at the Altar of St.Monan, David Ogilvy of Inchmartin confirmed his readiness to perform his obligations to John Moncreiff of that Ilk regarding a contract. This was done in the presence of Laurence Lord Oliphant, Alexander Blair of Balthayock and others including Thomas Blair son and heir apparent of Alexander Blair.Moncreiff F., The Moncreiffs and Moncreiffes This association of the Blairs with David Ogilvy of Inchmartin was probably as a result of or to result in a marriage contract between Thomas Blair and Marjory Ogilvy about this time.

At Balthayock on 3 February 1489, Alexander sold to David Blair of Bendochy his lands of Balgillo and it would seem that this was the founding of one of the major cadets of Balthayock. ^[6]

On 13 February 1491/2, Alexander on behalf of himself and his tenants brought an action against Alexander Inglis for wrongfully grazing his cattle on the lands of Cults. ^[7] Alexander Blair probably died later that year of 1492. His widow, Christian Oliphant was conjunct fiar of the lands of Ardler and Baldowrie which she held after his decease up to the time of her death about 1515. ^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ MacGregor, Gordon, The Red Book of Scotland, Scotland, private, 2022, Ed. 3, Vol. I, p. 831
2. ↑ Exchequer Rolls Vol.v
3. ↑ Exchequer Rolls Vol.vii
4. ↑ NRS RH1/6/66 see [1]
5. ↑ Calendar of Documents relating to Scotland
6. ↑ R.M.S. vol.ii 1941see [2]
7. ↑ Acta Dominorum Auditorum
8. ↑ RSS Vol.i. 2858

Blair of Balthayock and their Cadets