Marion Ogilvy (died 1575) was a Scottish noblewoman and landowner.
Born in about 1495, she was the last daughter of James Ogilvy, 1st Lord Ogilvy of Airlie, and his fourth wife, Janet Lyle. Her father died in 1504 and her mother in or before 1525, leaving her as an unmarried woman of around 30.
It was probably then that she became the mistress of David Bethune, at the time Abbot of Arbroath and already an influential figure in both ecclesiastical and political circles of Scotland. Together they had eight children: Margaret, Elizabeth, George, David, James, Alexander, John, and Agnes.
David passed to her landholdings in and around Arbroath, which as an unmarried woman she held in her own name and was able to pass on to their children. Initially she lived with their children at Ethie near Arbroath, but when in 1539 David became Archbishop of St Andrews, he could also pass to her and their children lands belonging to the archbishopric. The family home then became the castle of Melgund near Brechin.
She spent the night of 28 May 1546 with David in his castle of St Andrews, leaving early next morning just before rebels burst in and murdered him. Groups of rebels also attacked her houses of Ethie and Melgund. Needing protection, shortly after 15 May 1547 she married a man named William Douglas whose family and lands are unknown. He however died before 18 Sep 1547 and she remained his widow for the rest of her life, selling Ethie and living at Melgund.
When Queen Mary was deposed in 1568, Marion and her children remained supporters of the Catholic former queen and of alliance with the Catholic kings of France, with some being prosecuted for their recusancy.
She died at Melgund between 22 and 30 June 1575, making her sons David and Alexander her executors, and asked to be buried with her father at Kinnell, about 15km or 9 miles by road from Melgund.
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Categories: Scotland, Notables | Notables
edited by [Living Flower]