SECOND GREAT BARON OF THE BARONY OF

INCHBRAKIE AND ABERUTHVEN

1538-1575

The first and second Lairds of Inchbrakie were conspicuous by their early marriages, and very soon after his father’s death we find George our second laird contemplating matrimony, or perhaps we should say, having it contemplated for him! Probably it was hastened to suit his mother the Lady Margaret Stewart, who was anxious to betake herself to her new home in Argyleshire; but it must remain an open question whether his marriage really occurred at the time the following Frank is dated, for he cannot have been much more than fourteen years of age.

King James V. gave a letter or Frank dated 1538 to Robert master of Montrose of the ward of the lands of "Strathie-bowie" (which had belonged to the deceased Patrick Graeme of Inchbrakie) on the marriage of George Graeme "sone and are of the said umquhile Patrick".

Such a grant shows that George was still a ward when the marriage was contemplated.

These lands of Strathiebowie and Nether Pernzie in the Stewartry of Strathearn became in this generation as in the previous one, the subject of a special retour; in 1555 (3 October) we find George retoured heir to his father Patrick in them, just as in 1516 that same Patrick the first baron, had been retoured heir to his father the Earl of Montrose. This pointedly corroborates the descent of the older Inchbrakies, though curiously enough (says Mr Riddle) it was never adduced at the noted service in 1770 when the Inchbrakie of that day was served heir male to Patrick first of Inchbrakie. It appears more probable that this retour of 1555 was made with regard to marriage settlements as it occurred so long after his succession and when he was not more than about twenty four years of age.

We also find another retour to our Laird at this date, of the lands of Crago –

This paper is docketed Nota Andrew of Fawdouryd (?) gift of Maintenance of lands of Crago to George Graeme of Inchbrakie.

The tenour of this document is, that Andrew Ker son and Heir of the late Margaret Haliburton one of the ladies of Dirleton, assigns to his cousin George Graeme of Inchbrakie son to the late Patrick Graeme of Inchbrakie "brother to my said Mother" the power to uptake and intromit to his own use and profit all rents etc, of the farms and lands of Crago.

What I should like to draw attention to is the statement in the document that, Margaret Dirleton and Patrick Graeme the first laird are spoken of as brother and sister; if they were so, then Cristane Wavane Lady Haliburton and Countess of Montrose must have been the mother of Margaret as well as of Patrick, hitherto there has been no mention of her having any children while Lady Haliburton.

George’s wife was Marion Rollo or Rollock, daughter of the Laird of Duncrub, which property marches with the Graeme land at Aberuthven and as she afterwards married a second time (and could not have done so until twenty one years later) when she became the mother of the Laird of Balgowan, we may safely fix upon this latter date 1555 as about the period of the marriage of George and Marion Rollo.

George Graeme’s name is rarely recorded in the public archives. Apparently of a retiring character and gentle dispostion, in strong contrast to that of the forcible Archdeacon of Ross, his brother, he led a somewhat uneventful life.

Many of his earlier days must have been spent with his mother at her new home in Glenurchy, and later on he lived the quiet, busy life of a country gentleman of that period with large estates to manage, but without means of locomotion the present day affords for reaching the outlying parts.

Now, and for many a year after, money was almost an unknown commodity in the country, just as it is in the present day in many parts of the Highlands.

Proprietors had to look for their rents not in coin, but in so many bolls of "meall" and "beir" in "heads" of oxen, sheep and poultry. The greater the supervision exercised over the many farms, the more likely were these commodities to come in punctually and in prime condition; and nin broad miles separated Inchbrakie from Aberuthven.

Since the foundation of the barony Scotland had been recovering from the disastrous effects of Flodden, which had so long paralysed the whole country, and a quieter era had settled down on the cultivated and more populous straths, and though the death of the studious and artistic James V. brought to light again the many points of dispute between the Catholic and reformed Churches, as between the English and Scotch kingdoms which resulted in the battle of Pinkie in 1547, yet the country was not devasted in the same manner as in 1513, and rapidly regained its position during the earlier years of Queen Mary.

George Graeme was at first too young, and then either too wise or too indifferent, to mix himself up in the discussions of this period. His sister Nichola’s father-in-law, the Laird of Ochtertyre, and his first cousin, the young Master of Montrose, had both fallen at Pinkie. When the country had quieted down sufficiently to permit private interests to resume their sway, George married, and he and Marion Rollock, daughter of the Baron of Duncrub, settling down at Inchbrakie Castle, tried to forget the continual discord and clashing of Church and State which occurred from time to time, while they devoted themselves to rearing the large family that sprung up around them of two sons and four daughters, who grew p within the moat of Inchbrakie’s Castle, playing many a game with their cousins the young Abercairny’s running across the park which separated their homes by little more than a stone’s throw, while George and Marion could walk over discreetly to benefit from the matronly and experienced counsels of their aunt, the Lady Nichola Moray, who at this period was sadly mourning the loss of her husband and her young nephew at Pinkie.

James V’s encouragement of the graces and culture of life was telling on this generation, and it is quite possible that George Graeme was of a studious turn of mind, which kept him thus quietly at home surrounded by his children. It was at this period Sir Phillip Sydney in England was writing his MSS. With the refined grace which hereafter was to charm the world, and the Book of Common Prayer, the Geneva Bible, the Bishop’s Bible, all saw the light during George’s life.

The University of Leyden was being founded, and the arts were not neglected. Enamelled and Venetian glass was invented in Germany and England, and (with Bernard Palissy’s ceramic art) were beautifying the houses of the rich; while the Escurial was being designed in Spain, and Italy and Holland were flooded with the glorious canvases and colours of some of the world’s most famous painters.

Thus, while the whole of Europe was awakening, may not some of the light have reached our northern island, and filtered into the lives of those of its sons who were scholars before they were soldiers!

A manuscript in the French language, being the "book of Sir J. Ogilvie, Master of the household to Queen Mary of Scots", gives us an interesting record of the journey of that queen through Perthshire. It is dated 1^st August 1562. On the 12^th August the Queen and part of her train dined at Callendar and slept at Stirling, where she was joined by the rest of her train, who had dined at Lithgow. She continued at Stirling till the 18^th August, when she set out from thence with part of her train and dined and supped at Kincardine (Castle). On the 19^th she left Kincardine after dinner, sleeping that night at St Johnstone (Perth), where she remained until the 21^st.

High revelry would be held at the castle of the Earl of Montrose to welcome his Queen, and his cousin George and his wife would be among the guests. The Rollos must have added to the throng of courtiers who paid homage to the most beautiful woman of her day within the walls of the old keep.

Another cousin of George Graeme’s was living near him at Madertie, the beautiful and fascinating Lilias Ruthven, daughter of his step-aunt Lady Janet Dirleton, and Lord Ruthven, and wife of David, second Lord Drummond.

The connection between the Inchbrakies and Dirletons had not been forgotten, though the kinship was not of blood; and as Patrick Graeme, the first laird, witnessed the charter at the marriage of Elizabeth Ruthven, so George his son is witness to the precept of settlement for Lilias Ruthven’s daughter, while George’s daughter was Lady Drummond’s god-daughter.

This settlement that George witnessed was in 1562, when Lord Drummond’s daughter Jean marries John, now Master of Graham (heir to the earldom of Montrose through the death of his father at Pinkie) and her father bestows the handsome dower of 6000 merks on his fifth daughter.

The settlement bears the names of William Murray of Tullibardine, Alexander, William, and Mungo Graeme; of Cambuskenneth, Killearn, and Rotearnes respectively, (sons to the Earl of Montrose and uncles to the bridegroom), followed by the names of George Graeme of Inchbrakie, Malcolm Drummond of Borland, and John Drummond of Pityallonie.

The other (and I believe only) instance of George’s signature is found just before his marriage (ten years earlier), when he witnesses a deed of confirmation of lands between Andro and William Murray of Arngask on 10^th December 1553.

The autumn of 1565 was notably troublous in the county with which we are concerned. In Strathearn and Glenalmond specially, great "heirships" and oppression took place; the men of Athol and the Stuarts of Lorn slew many in their combats in Strathardle; and the dry summer of 1567 brought its attendant scarcity and misery in the ensuing winter. In spite of Regent Moray’s endeavour to repress crime by justice dealt out with no niggard hand, lawless vengeance and outrage broke loose and held strong sway, and we find the bonnie woods of Ochtertyre a scene of wild disorder when "mad Andrew Murray", having shot Touran Murray, brother to the Laird of Tullibardine, holds Ochtertyre for several days, slaying any person who attempted his capture, and finally, with his followers, making his escape. A curious note in the Privy Council Records show, the calls of the State to which landed proprietors were subject in a form of taxation.

The King and Queen (Francis and Mary) order "divers noble men" to surrender to John Chisholme, "Controller of artillery", as much Tymmer (Timber) as he may require, and it goes on to state, "As certain tymmer had been cut, at Kincardine, Aberuthven, Abirdagy, and Moncrieff, that William Earle of Montrose, and David Lord Drummond, are ordained to divide the labour of conveying it to the mouth of the water of the Earn" by the oxen of their tenantry; whilst that previously cut at Aberuthven, and transported to the Tay was to be sent to Leith and then conveyed to Edinburgh Castle.

So the lands of Aberuthven had contributed their portion, and many of George’s trees had fallen!

In 1571 the laird attends the obsequies of his first cousin and chief, the second Earl of Montrose.

The Earl’s will is not proved for five years later by his daughter the Lady Tullibardine, and his younger son, Mungo Graeme; but in it are the following directions for his burial. He desires that if he "departs" in Strathearn he may be buried at Aberuthven, but that should he "depart" at old Montrose, then his funeral is to take place at the church of St Mungo there.

In his will reference is made to his mansion of Kincardine and its plenishings.

In November 1575 George Graeme knows that his time has come and with the calm and orderly mind produced by a well spent life he proceeds to make his will, and yield up the care of his children to his wife and friends.

The inventory makes special mention of grain and cattle on the lands of Beldhill, Crago and Inchbakie. The harvest had just been gathered, and the "barne yaird" of Inchbrakie holds a full complement of stacks of oats and barley, with the fodder. The tenants of the lands of Pittenclerock, Perny, Ochterardour, all owe rent for their ingathered crops; whilst the Laird of Kinfauns, "Dene" George Spens, the Laird of Callendar, the Laird of Duncrub, Patrick Murray of Ochtertyre (his brother in law) and others, are all debtors of money.

George himself, in turn, owes to Murray of Letterbandochie and David Sutherland small sums of money, various teinds to the Abbot of Inchaffrey, to the Laird of Tullibardine, and Mr Robert Mercer (former owner) for the rest of the teinds of Inchbrakie of the crop "4 bollis mele and tua bollis beir; and to the Abbey of Inchaffry for the teing of "Streiththic nine bollis vittale," with various small bills and wages.

His letter will is made at Inchbrakie on the 1^st November 1575, and runs as follows:

- "I George Graeme of Inchebreky being in my lege pousta, veseit be the hand of God with sair infirmitie of seiknes,

makis and dispones my latter will and Testament in presens of the Almyehtie God to quhome I rander my saule, perpetualie with him to regne in eternall fruitioun etc. etc.; and I desire you all that be heir present, to assist me in my prayer and making of my confession to the eternall God saying ‘oure father’ etc."

The will goes on to constitute his "wele beloved spouse in the Lord, Mairjorie Rollok tutour testamentrix, and onlie intramissatrix with my bairns thair leving, in soumes of money etc. etc, to be governet be hir in during her wedoheid and thair minoritie; and als I constitute my honorabill and welbelovit freindis Johne Campbell of Laweris, George Rollok of Duncrub, Robert Graeme my bruther germane Archidene of Ross, and Maister Johne Stewart constable of the Castell of Striviling, Tutouris and curatoures to my foresaid spous and bairnis, and my chief John, Erle of Montroise, overman to my spous and bairnis."

In case of his wife’s "default or inabilities" he constitutes the foresaid friends in her place, providing that nothing is done for the children except, with the advice and councel of "foresaid chief overman."

The witnesses to the will are Johne Grahame, son to the Laird of Garvock, two servants belonging to the Laird of Lawers and Andro Drummond (doubtless the man who would draw up the will), notair publick, "with utheris diverse."

The will is an index of the man’s nature, still in the zenith and prime of his life, at 45 years of age. He not only has the usual religious preamble recorded, but it is a more earnest and complete one than is commonly used; and the request for the Lord’s Prayer to be said with him at the close is a somewhat singular one, showing the reverent side of his character, while his expression of love to his wife, and warm confidence in his friends and relations show an affectionate nature, which must have shone through most actions of his life.

May we not picture the grouping of that solemn scene? The central figure of the man who though still almost young, was leaving all he loved, so humbly and so patiently, going forth to meet his Redeemer, his mind at rest as to his worldly affairs, his eyes fixed on his weeping wife, the solemn little knot of witnesses, and the grey light of the November day struggling through the deep embrasures of the castle walls, the bare branches of the beeches swaying fitfully in the wintry breeze.

A few days pass of suffering and weakness, more or less prolonged, and George Graeme’s spirit had gone to its eternal home.

Thus his children will be cared for by John Campbell of Lawers (his half sister’s husband), George Rollo (his brother-in-law), Robert Graeme the "Archidene," his brother; and John Stewart, Constable of Stirling Castle, his uncle (his mother’s brother).

Strange that the chief witness to the will is John, second son of Graeme of Garvock, afterwards Graeme of Balgowan, the man who in a year or two will win the heart of George’s widow Marion, and who will faithfully care for the children of his friend.