Dexter (over cross): All my hope is in God Sinister (over crest): In God is All
Lord Saltoun, of Abernethy, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1445 for Sir Lawrence Abernethy. The title remained in the Abernethy family until the death in 1669 of his descendant the tenth Lady Saltoun. She was succeeded by her cousin Alexander Fraser, the eleventh Lord. He was the son of Alexander Fraser and Margaret Abernethy, daughter of the seventh Lord Saltoun. The title has remained in the Frasers of Philorth family ever since.[2]
In the 20th century, it was determined that Margaret Abernethy (now 10th Lady Saltoun), succeeded her brother, Alexander Abernethy, 9th Lord Saltoun, in 1668, but only survived him by about 10 weeks and had not previously been counted in the title's numbering. This new information has resulted in the ordinals in subsequent Lords Saltoun being revised. As a result, the later heirs to the title are often referenced with the incorrect numbering.
In reality this may be a point of law. Some transcripts note that Alexander Fraser (traditionally the 10th Lord) was legally recognised at the heir to his cousin, Alexander Abernethy, 9th Lord Saltoun. As such, by Act of Parliament confirmed by a charter from the King, this would make the first Fraser Lord Saltoun the legal successor of the 9th Lord, regardless of the status of Margaret Abernethy. As such there is argument that the traditional numbering should remain in use due to legal technicality. It must also be recognised that it has been known in the historiography since the 19th Century that Margaret Abernethy survived her brother. Sources from the time also confirm knowledge of her existence, yet Alexander Fraser was still confirmed as the 10th Lord, in succession to Alexander and not Margaret. As far as is known Margaret never assumed the title of Lady Saltoun in her lifetime and as such it seems bizarre to upend 300 years of history due to what could be described as a 6 week technicality.
Lords Saltoun (1445)
Lawrence Abernethy, 1st Lord Saltoun (1400–1460)
William Abernethy, 2nd Lord Saltoun (d. 1488)
James Abernethy, 3rd Lord Saltoun (d. 1505), brother of the 2nd Lord
The heir apparent is the present holder's son Alexander William Malise Fraser, Master of Saltoun (born 1990), who acted as Page of Honour to Queen Elizabeth II.[fn 1]
^ abLady Saltoun and Alexander Fraser's surnames would all not normally be "Fraser." However, because they are in line to be (or are already) the Chief of the name and arms of Fraser, their surnames have been recognized by the Lord Lyon King of Arms to be "Fraser."
