Sir William Oliphant Lord of Aberdalgie and Dupplin ¹

  General Notes:

Oliphant fought at the Battle of Dunbar in 1296, where the Scots, under their king John Balliol, were defeated by the invading English.[1] Following the battle he was captured and taken to Rochester Castle in England where he was imprisoned.[2] He was released after agreeing to serve King Edward I of England overseas.[2] He returned to Scotland where he was second in command of Stirling Castle under his cousin of the same name, Sir William Oliphant.[b][3] During the siege of 1304, when the castle was attacked by the forces of Edward I of England, the garrison eventually surrendered to the English.[4] He was captured once again, this time being imprisoned at Wallingford Castle[2] while his cousin the commander was imprisoned in the Tower of London.[5] In this same year all of Scotland with the exception of William Wallace had sworn fealty to Edward I.[6]

For 110 shillings, as "William Olyfaunt, Knight",[c] he was bonded by Hugh le Despenser, the elder and remained in England until 1313.[2] He had a safe conduct to return to Scotland on 21 October of that year and was a witness to a charter of King Robert the Bruce in February 1314-15.[7] He was one of the signatories to the Declaration of Arbroath on 6 April 1320 and his seal is still visible.[d][8]


The grave of Sir William Oliphant, Aberdalgie (restored 1905)
Sir William's tomb is in Aberdalgie Churchyard, in Perthshire, within the site of the original church.[9] The effigy is made from "Tournai marble" from northern France or Flanders.[10] The grave lies at the furthest corner of the churchyard close to a small stream.

He left his estates to his son Walter. These included Dupplin, Hedderwick and Cranshaws which he inherited from his Oliphant predecessors; Aberdalgie, Turin, Glensaugh, Pitkerie and Gallery which apparently came into the family from a Wishart heiress; Gasknes, Newtyle, Kinpurnie, Auchtertyre, Balcrais, Muirhouse and Hazelhead acquired as gifts from the King.[11] ²

William married Isabel Douglas.