William Fraser of Culbokie

William Fraser of Culbokie, eldest son of William Fraser of Guisachan and Culbokie (1723-1797) and Margaret Stuart of Achnilly (1731-1797), married his cousin Sarah Fraser and was connected by marriage to a number of other Highland families with interests throughout the Caribbean. Co-owner of Plantation Union estate in British Guiana and judgement creditor of the late Major Charles Grant of Adelphi Estate in St Vincent. 

1. Born 15/10/1763 to William Fraser of Guisachan and Culbokie and Margaret Stuart of Achnilly, he joined the army and made money in St Vincent before investing in Berbice. In 1797 he married Sarah Fraser, third daughter of Colonel James Fraser of Belladrum, a cousin of Hugh Duncan Baillie (q.v.) and James Evan Baillie (q.v.). Sarah's sister Emilia Fraser married Colin Mackenzie of Mountgerald and their son, also Colin Mackenzie (q.v.), was co-owner of Plantation Union estate in British Guiana with William Fraser. 'He was on his way back to St Vincent [in 1798] when his father died. Writing on the 8th June, 1798, from that place he says- "You may be sure I have the utmost anxiety to bid this part of the world adieu. I have now every inducement to incline me to return home, yet, I am sorry to say, I canot make this out so soon as I expected, without making a sacrifice which my circumstances cannot afford, and which my best friends might censure." A friend of his, Thomas Fraser of St Vincent, writing home to his cousin Simon Fraser, on the 24th April, 1801, says that Culbokie took about £10,000 out of the island when he left it. Mr Fraser-Mackintosh says that "this Culbokie was, perhaps, the best known and had the greatest influence of the family. He was a capital man of business, of active and energetic habits, and I think for some time Convenor of the county."' Both his sons predeceased him and he was suceeded by his grandson William Fraser (1829-). 

2. Grandson William Fraser sold Guisachan House to Dudley Coutts Marjoribanks, first Lord Tweedmouth, in 1854 for £52,000 and bought Kilmuir estate on Skye from the trustees of Lord Macdonald of Sleat for £85,000.

3. J. T. and A. Douglas & Co., of Glasgow, filed a counterclaim for Plantation Union estate based on mortgages of £4698 18s 6d and £1723 19s 0d; William Fraser and the executors of Colin Mackenzie agreed to pay three installments of £2333 6s 8d in 1832-34. 

4. Sarah Fraser's brothers James, Simon and Evan were active in British Guiana in the late C18, managing the estates of their father James Fraser of Belladrum. William Fraser of Culbokie was the residuary legatee and presumably kinsman of William Fraser of St Vincent, whose will was proved 03/09/1802 and who left legacies among others to Col. James Fraser of Belladrum.

T71/885 British Guiana claim no. 476 (Plntn Union); T71/892 St Vincent claim no. 456A & B (Adelphi Estate). 

1. Alexander Mackenzie, History of the Frasers of Lovat, with genealogies of the principal families of the name: to which is added those of Dunballoch and Phopachy (Inverness, A. & W. Mackenzie, 1896) pp. 623-625, pp.632-633.

2. Alexander Mackenzie, History of the Frasers of Lovat, with genealogies of the principal families of the name: to which is added those of Dunballoch and Phopachy (Inverness, A. & W. Mackenzie, 1896) pp. 625-626. 

3. T71/1255. 

4. See http://www.spanglefish.com/slavesandhighlanders/index.asp?pageid=164845 [accessed 02/10/2011]; PROB 11/1380/74.