| Administrative History | James Fraser, the son of William Fraser of Phopachy (Invernessshire), was born in 1634. He graduated AM at King’s College, Aberdeen in 1655. While still a student of divinity, he travelled through Scotland and England and on the Continent of Europe between June 1657 and April 1660, an account of which is given in his ‘Triennial travels’ (1670). He returned to succeed his father as wadsetter of Phopachy and to be appointed to the charge of Kirkhill and Wardlaw in 1661, where he remained until his death in 1709. Though still adhering to Episcopalian beliefs, he was allowed to remain in the charge after the Revolution of 1688. An edition of his Chronicles of the Frasers, The Wardlaw Manuscript entitled ‘Polichronicon seu Policratica Temporum, or, the true genealogy of the Frasers, 916 - 1674' by William Mackay, was issued by the Scottish History Society in 1905, and the introduction includes an account of his life and works, which are learned and directed mostly at an educated audience. |
| Custodial History | Chronicles of the Frasers, The Wardlaw Manuscript entitled ‘Polichronicon seu Policratica Temporum, or, the true genealogy of the Frasers, 916 - 1674' by William Mackay, (Scottish History Society, 1905) states that at that time the volumes were in the possession of Miss Hilda M. Paterson of Birkwood, Banchory. |
| Description | 'Triennial travels, containing a succinct and breefe narration of the journay and voyage of Master James Fraser through Scotland, England, all France, part of Spain, and over the Savoyan Alps to Italy [also in the Tyrol, Bavaria, Austria, Bohemia, Germany, Holland, Picardy, etc., and back to France, England and Scotland], 1 June 1657 - April 1660', written 1670. 3 parts. There are also a bundle of loose papers.
Part 1: June 1657 - June 1658.
Part 2: May 1658 - 26th May 1659.
Part 3: 1659 - April 1660.
The work is dedicated to Hugh Fraser, Lord Lovat (1643-1672). |