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Oliphants on the Net Clan Oliphant Discussion Area Clan Oliphant Contacts |
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Oliphants on the Net Clan Oliphant Discussion Area Clan Oliphant Contacts |
The Oliphants were a Norman family that hailed from England. David de Olifard travelled north and was granted lands is Roxburghshire. The name appears on the Ragman Roll in 1296.
The Oliphants defended Stirling Castle for the cause of Scottish independence. Oliphant was captured at the fall of the fortress and was sent to the Tower of London. After his release, his name appeared as one of the nobles on the Declaration of Arbroath. The family then received lands in Perthshire which became a barony.
Robert II knighted Sir John Oliphant, and John's son was made a Lord or Parliament by James II in 1458. He was also ambassador to France and keeper of Edinburgh Castle.
The fourth Lord Oliphant supported Mary, Queen of Scots. He attented the queen's wedding and fought at the Battle of Langside for her. His son was exiled in 1582 because he was implicated in the conspiracy to kidnap Jame VI. His ship he left on was lost at sea. His brother who had the title after him, dwindled away alot of the lands but some were saved when one of his cousins purchased them. When he died, the title was passed to Patrick Oliphant, his cousin.
The tenth, and last, Lord Oliphant played an active roll with Bonnie Prince Charlie in the Forty-five. He went to Sweden, then to France and retured to Scotland in 1763.
The principal seat of the family is now at Ardblair Castle near Blairgowrie in Perthshire.
