Hon. Simon J. Fraser, Sr., 6th Lord Lovat

Simon Fraser, Lord Fraser of Lovat (C. 1569 – 1633)

Simon Fraser was the son and heir of Hugh 5th Lord Fraser of Lovat and was the sixth to bear the peerage title. He was born in about 1569. Simon Fraser also served as Sheriff of Inverness and participated in the many interclan conflicts so characteristic of the Highlands of Scotland. Throughout his long life, he faithfully served King James VI. As the chief of the Frasers of Lovat, Simon also served several distinguished terms in the Scottish Parliament. He was a power broker as well as a dominant land baron in Inverness-shire.

In 1589, Simon married his first wife Katherine Mackenzie, daughter of Colin Mackenzie of Kintail, and Barbara, daughter of John Grant of Grant and Freuchie. They had two sons and one daughter. The first son, Simon, died young. The second son, Hugh, his heir became the 7th Lord Fraser of Lovat upon his death. Daughter Elizabeth Fraser was born in 1591 and married John Dunbar, Sheriff of Morayshire. Katherine is reported to have died in childbirth in 1593.

Following Katherine's death, Simon remarried twice. In 1596 he wed Jean Stewart (also spelled Stuart), daughter of James Stewart, 1st Lord Doune, by Margaret daughter of Archibald Campbell, 4th Earl of Argyll. She apparently overcame her reluctance to marry him (she did not consider him ‘bonny,’) due to the King’s persuasiveness and because of Simon’s immense wealth. With Jean, Simon had as many as seven children though accounts in the sources vary: Simon Fraser, 1st of Inverallochy; Thomas Fraser who disappeared in 1613; James Fraser of Brea (Brae); James Fraser of Inverallochy; Anne Fraser who died at age 8; Margaret Fraser, who married Sir Robert Arbuthnot, and Jean Fraser, who died young.

Simon's third wife was Catherine Grant. She was the widow of James Grant of Logie and daughter of William Rose, 11th of Kilravock.