John Grant of Freuchie (died 1585)

John Grant of Freuchie (died 1585) was a Scottish landowner.

He was a son of James Grant of Freuchie (died 1553), and Elizabeth Forbes, a daughter of John Forbes, 6th Lord Forbes, or Christina Barclay.^{[1]: 122–3}

His home was Freuchie, sometimes called Ballachastel, and now known as Castle Grant. He became the laird in 1553.^[2] John Grant fought at the battle of Glasgow in 1544.^[3] He is said to have jousted with Hugh Fraser, Lord Lovat, at Inverness Castle and lost.^[4]

Mary, Queen of Scots came to the north of Scotland on progress. The Earl of Huntly and the Gordon family were defeated at the battle of Corrichie. On 4 November, Mary ordered John Grant to take Drumin Castle, and he took possession on 3 December 1562.^[5]

As Laird of Grant or Freuchie, his estates included Urquhart and Glenmoriston, from which he was obliged to pay a "feu-duty" which contributed to the household and food expenses of Mary, Queen of Scots.^[6] In 1569, Regent Moray asked Grant to pay the money to William Douglas as a contribution to costs of keeping the deposed queen at Lochleven Castle.^[7]

He died in 1585 and was buried at Duthil Old Parish Church and Churchyard.^[8]

He married Margaret Stewart (died 1555), a daughter of John Stewart, 3rd Earl of Atholl. His second wife was Janet Leslie (died 1591), a daughter of George Leslie, 4th Earl of Rothes. His children included:

• Duncan Grant (1566–1582),^[9] his eldest son by Margaret Stewart, who died in his lifetime. Duncan married Margaret Mackintosh. Their son, John Grant, became Laird of Freuchie.^[10]
• Patrick Grant of Rothiemurchus, to whom he passed the Muckrach estate
• Elizabeth, Elspeth, or Isobel. She was betrothed to William Fraser of Stowie, married and divorced John Leslie of Balquhain,^[11] and married William Cuming of Inverallochy
• Grissel Grant, who married Patrick Grant, younger of Ballindalloch
• Margaret Grant, who married Alexander Gordon of Beldornie
• Katherine Grant
• Marjory Grant
• Barbara Grant, betrothed to Robert Munro, younger of Fowlis, married Colin Mackenzie of Kintail
• Helen Grant, betrothed to Donald McAngus McAlester younger of Glengarry.^[12]

After his death on 3 June 1585, his widow Janet Leslie was required to surrender various items to John Grant, his grandson. These included a chain of gold, gold bracelets, a cloak of French black with velvet facings, a black satin doublet, a pair of silk breeches, and a gilt clock.^[13] Janet Leslie later married James Elphinstone, a son of Alexander Elphinstone, 2nd Lord Elphinstone. She was known as Janet Leslie, Lady Naughton from her first marriage.^[14]