IRVINE, Alexander 11th of Drum ^{4 5}

  General Notes:

"The eleventh laird's first wife had apparently been somewhat aristocratically aloof but, after she died, he spotted a young shepherdess on his estates, some forty-seven years his junior. Sixteen-year -old Mary Coutts was not one to sell her virtue short so, despite general disapproval, the two were married and the old laird enjoyed six years of bliss before dying not long before his seventieth birthday in 1687. This story is recorded in the traditional ballad 'The Laird of Drum'."

from The Irvine Family

"This Alexander Irvine died on the 18th September, 1687, leaving by his first wife, Lady Mary Gordon, one son and four daughters. Two sons had died in youth. By his second wife, Margaret Coutts, he left one son and three daughters. By his first marriage he had:-(1) Alexander, who succeeded him; (2) and (3) Robert and Charles, who died young; (4) Mary, married to
Patrick, Count Leslie, of Balquhain; (5) Margaret, married to Gilbert Menzies of Pitfoddels; (6) Jean, who, some years after her father's death, was married to Alexander Irvine of Murthill, afterwards of Drum; (7) Henrietta, married to Alexander Leslie of Pitcaple. By the second marriage he had:-(1) Charles, who died a minor in 1693; (2) Catherine, married to John Grey of Gallowhills; (3) and (4) Anne and Elizabeth, who died in their minority, unmarried."

from The Irvines of Drum

Note: This author notes two different daughters named Margaret who married 'Gilbert Menzies of Pitfoddels', one daughter of the 8th Laird, and one of the 11th Laird. Only the first seems to fit the dates. ^{4 6}

Alexander married Marie GORDON, daughter of George GORDON 2nd Marquess of Huntly and Earl of Enzie and Anne CAMPBELL, 7 or 8 December 1643.^{1 2 3 4} (Marie GORDON was born about 1625 and died before 1682 ⁴.)

Alexander next married Margaret COUTTS about 1681-1682.⁴ (Margaret COUTTS was born about 1666.)

  Marriage Notes:

"Having lost his first wife, Lady Mary Gordon, the laird of Drum married, about the year 1681 or 1682, a pretty and youthful country girl, Margaret Coutts, who, according to the old ballad of 'The Laird of Drum,' was the daughter of a shepherd. At the time of the marriage he must have been about sixty-three years of age, and she about sixteen. His relations, it would appear, were annoyed at this union, and took no pains to conceal their feelings; and it is not
improbable that their conduct, resented by him then, was revenged on them afterwards, when he altered the old destination of the lands, and excluded the heirs male and their descendants who stood next in succession to the family then in possession."

from The Irvines of Drum ⁴