Simon Fraser (d. 1306)

Sir Simon Fraser of Oliver and Neidpath, Knight Banneret fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence.

Early life
Simon Fraser was born in Peebleshire (now Tweeddale), where the Clan Fraser was dominant and held power as the Lords of Oliver Castle.

Wars of Independence
For a time he fought alongside Andrew Moray, and after that man's death, William Wallace. He led the Scottish victory at the Battle of Roslin alongside John III Comyn, Lord of Badenoch (also known as "Red Comyn"). Consequently the English King, Edward I, marched north through Stirling taking Perth. As Edward approached Dunfermline, the Bishop of St Andrews and the bishop of Glasgow along with Red Comyn met his army and submitted. Simon refused to swear fealty to the English King and did not attend. This defiance would later lead to his execution.

In 1304, Fraser fought with William Wallace at Happrew and was defeated.

Later Fraser fought for King Robert I of Scotland. He escaped from the King's defeat at the Battle of Methven, but was captured in 1306 at a subsequent engagement at Kirkencliff near Stirling by Sir Thomas de Multon and Sir John Jose. Fraser was sent to London, and hanged, drawn and quartered in September 1306. His head was impaled on a spike on London Bridge, as were those of his brother, John Fraser, and William Wallace.

Lands
Sir Simon Fraser of Oliver acquired the Bisset Lands around Beauly when he won the hand of its heiress, a young Bissett. King Alexander III granted the right of the "Lordship of Loveth, vulgo Morich," in the Aird, in 1253, and the corresponding lands, to Simon Fraser of Lovat, either his son or cousin, from whom the Clan Fraser claims descent. Sir Simon held other lands in Kincardineshire, which were given to his eldest son (or cousin), Sir Alexander Fraser of Cowie. It is from Alexander that the Frasers of Philorth descend. The next century in 1336, Thomas Fraser of the Frasers of Muchalls, gained the estates of Stonywood and Muchalls in Kincardineshire, and soon erected a towerhouse stronghold overlooking the North Sea; it is not clear whether this towerhouse was an expansion of an earlier structure on the site. This towerhouse was further greatly expanded in the early 17th century, and became known as Muchalls Castle.