Sketch XXXI

KATHERINE GRAEME

ELDEST DAUGHTER OF GEORGE GRAEME, BISHOP OF DUNBLANE AND ORKNEY

WIFE OF PATRICK SMYTHE OF BRACO AND METHVEN;

AND THE YOUNGER CHILDREN OF THE BISHOP'S

In 1618, the joy bells were ringing at the Cathedral, Orkney, for the Bishop was giving his eldest daughter in marriage to the son of his adoption, Patrick Smythe of Braco, his late ward. The name of Smythe appears on these pages as often as any of the Bishop’s children; this first link with the Inchbrakie Graemes is renewed again, and yet again.

Katherine was the eldest child of George Graeme and Marian Crichton his wife, and may have been a little over twenty when she married. The Smythes of Braco claim their descent from the Clan Chattan, so Patrick and Katherine both bore Celtic blood in their veins.

The sketches in this volume give various incidents of the Smythe family; in the space available it would be out of place to attempt the history of so important a house, but a slight sketch in relation to Katherine Graeme’s marriage with Patrick sixth of Braco, who founded the present family of Smythe of Methven Castle, cannot be omitted.

The two brothers Patrick and Andrew, left to the governorship of the Bishop, acquired many lands in Orkney when they went north with George Graeme from Dunblane in 1615. Patrick lived there for the greater part of his life, his brother, Andrew Smythe of Rapness, eventually settled in Orkney.

Their father had died in 1603 (one year before their grandfather), and as his wife, Miss Oliver of Pitfogo, was also dead, the brothers went in 1604 to live with the Bishop at Dunblane.

It is not certain where Katherine and her husband lived immediately after their marriage, though in family records he is called "of Meall and Braco"; there is no question that Meall (afterwards Graemeshall) was their home later on, his letters dated from there to the day of his death, and his wife Katherine died there and was buried in Holm Churchyard.

Quickly round Patrick Smythe and his wife spring their family of 14 children.

Katherine Graeme must have spent little time outside those nursery doors, and the old house of Meall or "Plenty" (which after 1627 appears to be their own) was indeed well named as far as children went; we will take the group as they came, giving to each the few words of history which we know.

Children:

I. George, the Bishop’s godson, on the 24th March making Katherine a proud and happy mother, and we see the cheery Bishop dandling his first grandson in his arms while the laughing eyes of the girl mother watch them, soon to be clouded by the loss of this first baby who is taken from her in June 1621, just after the birth of:

II. Henry, on June 4th, 1621; the boy became a soldier and was a Royalist; this grandson of the House of Graeme was one of the first to lose his life for King Charles I; he died fighting on Marston Moor in 1644, aged 23 years. His mother did not live to know this sorrow.

III. Margaret, born on 23rd April 1623, lived but 18 months, and died on 2nd November 1624.

IV. Katherine, born 18th June 1624, and takes the place of Margaret who dies in the late autumn. Katherine grew up and after her mother’s death visits her uncle David at Gorthie; there matters are concluded for her marriage with John Cowan of Tailortown, and in her 19th year the marriage contract is signed; he sees to it that she is well dowered, 7000 merks are settled on her with 21 bolls of victual yearly during her lifetime from the lands of Airth. This is a peaceful little picture from Gorthie, which is in 5 months to be in all the tumult and stir of the "Great Troubles."

We are not certain where Tailortown lay, nor do we know more of Mr Cowan than his name; Katherine Smythe had a daughter Mary, and lost her first husband about 1652; by August 1656 Mr David Drummond of the family of Colquhalzie writes to Robert Smythe (a younger brother of Katherine’s) and speaks of Katherine as his wife. With them is living the daughter of Katherine by her first marriage, Mary Cowan, who is at this date about 20 years of age, she is much admired by Sir William Graeme of Braco; some opposition must have been offered to the marriage for they elope! Their son John becomes Sir John of Braco. Mary was a widow in 1681, and in 1697 had one of the daughters of Smythe of Methven living with her in Edinburgh. She is to give her young cousin Margaret Smythe a "season" and a long and interesting account is rendered of the many expenses, all of which are repaid to "Dame Mary Brekko"; one was a tailor’s bill for "making and mounting a gown of silk stuff, trimmed with fine ribbons and five ounces of silver fringe and five drops of silver cord"; it cost 155 pounds of the money of theperiod; this was probably the debutante’s ball dress.

V. George, son of Patrick and Katherine Smythe, was born August 1626; he died without leaving any heirs; among the family letters are two which tell the end of his story; that of June 25th, 1647, speaks of "your eldest son’s stait"; a letter from his father, Patrick Smythe of August 1652 says, "my umquhill son George." After the death of the eldest son Henry on Marston Moor, George had become "fiar" (heir) of Braco and Meall; his death must have been a sad blow to this poor father.

VI. Patrick was born on the 15th July 1627; prior to his father’s death he married Ann Keith in Benholm, her father was Sheriff of Orkney and uncle to the Earl Marischal; there is an interesting letter from David Graeme of Gorthie praising this young lady, who was married on 28th September 1652 when (owing to the death of his brother George of Strowie), Patrick had just become "fiar" (heir) of Braco, he is a merchant in Edinburgh, very busy and very active in his father’s and his own affairs. Before his marriage in 1647 he goes over to Dantzic on business and from thence to France; he does not spend much time with the "gud wyffe," and one of his sisters is asked to visit her and keep her company.

A boy, Patrick is born to him and Ann Keith on Monday, 7th May 1655; a sad accident happened to this only child in 1677. He is spoken of as having a "tutor"; at that date this term did not bear the same meaning as now, but referred to a "guardian" or "governor"; however that may be, the poor young fellow was accidentally shot by his tutor early in 1677, on the loch (probably out duck shooting). Sir James Johnstone of Elphinstone speaks of the matter with great regret, "for he was a worthy, hopeful young man." But to return to his father, Patrick now the eldest surviving son of Patrick Smythe and Katherine Graeme.

His father writes from Meall to him on 10th November 1654, a long letter full of business, tells him also that Ann Keith’s (his wife’s) jewels are discovered, they have been "hidden in a box in Orkney, it has been broken open and inventories" taken by Lord Dunferendin, etc, but a decreet to obtain them must be procured.

Patrick succeeded his father Patrick in April 1665, who was lost at sea either by accident or illness, and his son enters the note in the family bible. November 1655 finds the new Patrick Smythe of Braco in Orkney, but no longer of Meall, having sold the greater part of his lands to his uncle Patrick of Rothiesholme and Graemeshall. Orkney had no attraction for him as it had his father!

On his return to Perthshire, he bought in 1664 the lands of Methven near Perth. These lands prior to 1323 belonged to the Mowbrays, who’s ancestor Roger, came over with William the Conqueror. A branch of the family settled in Scotland, owning the baronies of Kelly, Eckford, Dalmeny and Methven. After a time they passed to the Crown. Robert II granted them to Walter Stewart, Earl of Atholl; again they fell in 1437 to the Crown, and became part of the dower land of the queens of Scotland. Margaret, eldest daughter of Henry VII of England, widow of James IV, of Scotland, procured a peerage for her third husband under the title of Lord Methven, 1528. Queen Margaret died at Methven Castle in 1540, and was buried at Perth.

Lord Methven then married Janet Stewart, daughter of Earl of Atholl, by whom he had issue, but his grandson d.s.p., and again the lands passed to the Crown, until conferred on Ludovic, Duke of Lennox by Patrick Smythe of Braco, grandson of Bishop George Graeme of Dunblane and Orkney.

In 1671, October, Patrick has sasine "of the Cuming Park Lyand in Lo. And Parish of Scone," disposed to him by Viscount Stormont; and the same date sasine to Anna Keith his spouse "in lands of Braco, Warkland in Holl, and ane Tenement in Land of Braco called St Catherine’s and ane other St Catherine’s Croft lyand in Scone" disponed in lyferent by her husband.

In 1676 Patrick Smythe is trustee with six other gentlemen (amongst them Haldane of Gleneagles, Stewart of Ballechin, Murray of Keillour), all trustees appointed to look after the Marquis of Atholl’s affairs and rebuilding Dunkeld House. They write asking for more money and Patrick adds a little postscript signed

"May it pleas yor Lordship we Presume to Beg your most humble service and dewty with your Blessings may be Presented to my Lady Marchioness."

When 55 years of age Patrick Smythe of Braco and now of Methven Castle, married a second time Janet Haldane, only daughter of Mungo Haldane of Gleneagles; four sons and two daughters were the result of this marriage; just before it he was very troubled with fever and ague, as his old friend and cousin, Black Pate of Inchbrakie, was a few years previously.

Black Pate’s son, the Postmaster General, advises him on 19th December 1680, to try and cure it by keeping very warm.

Patrick also writes a long letter to the Marchioness of Atholl in 1685, dated from Inverary; he begs her to send for his "wyff" she is not a little afflicted at my being hier."

This was Miss Haldane of Gleneagles, whom he had married three years previously; their son –

DAVID SMYTHE, SECOND OF METHVEN CASTLE

Carries on the line of Smythe, marrying a granddaughter of James, second Marquis of Montrose, he died in 1732. Their son –

DAVID SMYTHE, THIRD OF METHVEN CASTLE & NINTH OF BRACO

again seeks his wife among the Graemes, and chooses Mary, daughter of Sir James Graeme of Braco Castle in Stirlingshire, descended from Gorthie. (His second wife had no children, she was Elizabeth Campbell, daughter to the Lord of Session, Lord Monzie, who is mentioned so often as "Mons" in Sketch XX)

His son, David, by Miss Graeme, becomes Lord Methven as a senator of the College of Justice, and is tenth of Braco and fourth of Methven Castle. He marries twice; first, a daughter of Sir Robert Murray of Hilhead; and secondly, a daughter of Mungo Murray of Lintrose, and emulating his ancestor of Braco and Meall has a family of fifteen sons and daughters. He died in 1806. Robert his eldest son, succeeds but dies s.p. and his brother-

WILLIAM SMYTHE TWELFTH OF BRACO AND SIXTH OF METHVEN CASTLE, M.A., D.L., AND CONVENOR OF PERTHSHIRE

becomes the owner; he marries Margaret, eldest daughter of James Walker, Descendants of Patrick Esq., F.R.S. Their only daughter, Margaret, married James, Viscount Strathallan. William Smythe married for the second time, Emily, daughter of Sir John Oswald, G.C.B., of Dunnikier. Four sons and a daughter were the issue of this marriage which took place in 1849. Their eldest son David we will speak of presently; their second son Charles J. was born on the 21st April 1852; and on the 17th August 1876 he married the daughter of John King, Esq., of Lynedoch, Natal, and settling down in that colony, his children are constantly reminded of the old Scotch county by the name of his residence " Strathearn."

There a family have sprung up which will take strong root in our colony's soil and which have the best blood of Scotland in their veins; already Mr and Mrs Charles Smythe's first-born has proved it, for young David Smythe served in the defence of Ladysmith when only twenty-one years of age all through those weary weeks of bombardment and privation, with his corps the Natal Carabineers.

Mr Charles Smythe is a distinguished member of the colony, Speaker of the Natal Legislation Assembly, he now holds the appointment of Colonial Secretary to that Colony.

Francis Henry Smythe, the third son of Mr Smythe twelfth of Braco and sixth of Methven, resides also at Strathearn, Natal; he was born on the 8th December 1853.

Mr William Smythe and Miss Oswald's youngest son, born on the 7th January 1854, lives in England at Newcastle-on-Tyne; and their only daughter Emily Beatrice is unmarried.

COLONEL DAVID MURRAY SMYTHE, THIRTEENTH OF BRACO AND SEVENTH OF METHVEN CASTLE

The present owner of these estates was born on 17th November 1850; he served in the Cameron Highlanders and in the Zulu War 1878-1879 and commanded the 3rd Battalion of the Black Watch until 1897.

Col. Smythe is Deputy-Lieutenant and Justice of the Peace for Perthshire; he married on 17th September 1898 Katherine, fourth daughter of William, third Lord Bagot. They had a daughter Barbara.

Here we must retrace our steps back to Katherine Graeme an Patrick Smythe’s other children and resume at their 7th child:

VII. Marion, was born 17th July 1628, she married Patrick Monteith of Egilshay and died the day after Christmas 1649 in her 21st year.

Patrick Smythe felt her death much: he writes a letter to :

"to my loving sone,

Patrick Smyth, Merchant

Burgess of Edinburgh or

In his absence to my loving

Cussing John Smyth, Merchant

Burgess of the same, dwelling

In the West Bow."

Telling him of this sad event, and that his sister Marian has died.

Sheriff Blair (that good friend of the Smythe family) and his lady were present, also Magnus Taylour and John Balvaird and "his bed-fellow"with himself were present. They all had great comfort in seeing her "go the Lord so holy and religiously"; if her husband was present his name is not mentioned; he may have been absent on business. On Monday, December 31st, they bore her "in great hazard of their lives to Kirkwall" and laid her as she wished beside her "guid dame;" so the grandmother Marion Crichton, and grandchild Marion Smythe lie side by side in Orkney Cathedral. At that season it was indeed at great peril they brought her from that northern island out into the North Sea and round to Kirkwall.

Patrick her father goes on to relate that "the child" was baptized the day of its birth, 23rd December, but "is waik"; he knows it will be sad news to "good Balgowan, your sister and yourself," but begs them all to bear patiently what cannot be remedied, and beseeches "God to sanctify their hearts to make good use of their sorrows."

The "waik child" has been a son, and married for fifty years later, we read in "Mr Thomas" (who has been so helpful in elucidating so many relationships) that on "the 29th June 1679 at midnight Margerat Monteath ane of the coaairis of Egilshay depairted this lyfe and intered in St Magnus Kirk in Kirkwall ye second of July nixt yr after being Wednesday."

VIII. William born 11th June 1630 he died unmarried.

IX. Barbara follows on l0th May 1631; she is not the daughter chosen to join her sister-in-law Anna Keith at Scone during the long and varied journeys of her husband young Patrick, for she is far from well, and in the summer of 1553 shy goes to Edinburgh and "if Ann Keith's treatment (!) fails," her father writes she is to be placed under some "honest skilful man quhar has knowledge therein to do her good giff it please the Lord be this instrument to grant her health and cuer hir off hir seeknes ye will heast her bak to me again for she hes haid the haill charge of my house this long tyme begone and I fear now in hir absence it be not so richtlie done as neid requires." Barbara is cured and returns home again, but her father must promote Jean his only unmarried daughter to take "haill charge," for Barbara marries in the autumn of 1656 Mr John Gibson, minister of Holme. Her brother Patrick writes: "Barbara has married very well to our usefull friend in this place. Ane honest youth."

This was not Barbara's first choice; her cousin David Graeme, Patrick Smythe's chamberlain, had won her heart when she went south in 1653, but her father would not hear of it.

Barbara had no children; her husband, Mr Gibson, died in 1681 when she went to reside with her cousin James at Graemeshall. In August 1689 she writes: "Truly, brother, I am growing weaker and weaker," and on 1690, October, "For now I am growing vere tender." She is but fifty-nine, but her days seem drawing to a close.

Between the year of Barbara's birth (1631) and that of her next sister in 1635, many things occupied Katherine Graeme. In 1632 to 1633 her brother David of Gorthy was married and perhaps Patrick Smythe and his wife took a holiday and went "South" to the wedding; her mother's death occurred in April 1633, and Katherine must have been sadly cast down, though trying her best to comfort her beloved father the Bishop.

Breckness House was now finished, and when the first load of sorrow was lightened in 1634 the house warming occurred and the older house of the "Palace yairds" was vacated. During these four years also, twins came to the House of Meall.

X. Robert, died unmarried.

XI. Andrew, married Miss Stewart of Brugh; interesting records of this family are given by "Mr Thomas" ; the entry giving the death of Andrew's sister-in-law is specially exciting, though it does not appear to have any direct association with the Stewarts; for it the reader must refer to the volume itself.

Andrew seems to have caused his father considerable anxiety for a time, owing to his extravagance, and much correspondence is carried on regarding his affairs between his father and his twin brother Robert, but he reformed in after years as the following extract from a letter shows:

"I have no reason to complain upon yr brother Andrew since he came last home and I think you and his uncle Gorthie have principaled him something right, I desire you would wreat to him and approve of his taking my Lord Caithness for his debtor, he being Major, saens it prudens, it is more fit he be seeking his owne as I troubled therewith."

This is part of a letter dated 16th February 1657 by the eldest brother Patrick, to his younger brother Robert, twin with Andrew, who is now past his majority.

XII. Jean is born the 1st of June 1635. Her husband is Richard, brother to James Murray of Pennyland, Caithness; in 1656 Patrick Smythe of Braco, her brother, writes to Robert Smythe their brother on this marriage; he appears to be in Orkney concluding affairs after his father's death:

"Your sister Jean is Lyk to tak a spring of her own fiddle and marry R. Murray who is merchant; " again he writes Robert in January 1657, "your sister Jean is to marry herself to Richard Murray in March, I pray God bliss them beyond my expectations I have made the best of a il game;" again in 16th February 1657, "Direct with the bearer to Richard Murray who is contracted with your sister jean and is to be married the middel of March next, Lasses must have their owne wills tho' the Lord knows my sadd heart wher with I doe things, seeming willingly, which utherwayes would be whether I wod or not."

Jean is a determined young lady and her brother is making the best of a marriage which he cannot approve of.

XIII. Margaret, born 16th May 1636, the namesake of the daughter lost in 1624 (set III.). It seems as if this Margaret was the daughter sent in her seventeenth year at her brother's request to be with his wife Anne Keith during his many and varied absences from home; for she finds her husband in what Orkney people call "the South"; she married James Drummond of Drummondernoch, Comrie (lineally descended from Sir Malcolm Drummond of Stobhall, brother to Sir Malcolm Earl of Marr). Their grandson, Patrick, was obliged to sell the property.

His son James was representative of the Drummonds of Drummondernoch and Comrie and adopted the profession of Writer to the Signet, and entirely remodelled the village of Comrie; in 1800 the estate was sold to the son of Viscount Melville. The property is well known as one of the most beautiful in the neighbourhood; Duneira Castle by Comrie, Perth.

XIV. David birth on the 17th July 1637 brings a sad record with it; the baby dies a month after his birth, and on November 18th, Katherine Graeme follows him.

Happy Katherine! She escapes much sorrow by her death in the prime of her life, wifehood and motherhood. The Bishop’s deposition – the death of her two sons, George of Stronzie; and Henry slain at Marston Moor; both in the full flush of early manhood – Katherine is not called upon to bear; they lay her to rest in the churchyard at Holm where her tombstone still stands carved with the Graeme arms; surely her father the Bishop had a hand in that carving!

Patrick Smythe gives up her will in the names of most of their children and a long list of lands is given, for which I refer those interested to the original in the Register House, Edinburgh. We cannot conclude this short account of Katherine Graeme without relating shortly her husband’s after life.

He married as his second wife at place of Burray 1639, Margaret Stewart, the widow of Hugh Halcro, younger of that ilk, daughter of Harie Stewart of Killiemay, by whom he had three sons and five daughters; the third daughter was Anna, wife to Graeme of the Town Guard (son to Black Pate of Inchbrakie) and the mother of Frere Archange and Frere Alexis. Patrick left to this daughter her mother’s diamond ring. One of Margaret Stewart’s sons was called John of Houp. Patrick Graeme of Rothiesholme was his curator.

Margaret Stewart, his second wife, predeceases Patrick Smythe, and for the third time he marries. The new wife is Isabella Anderson, and a son and two daughters complete a family of twenty-five children to this marvellous man. A severe illness attacks Patrick Smythe in the winter of 1653, and again in 1655; in November 1654 his letters make no mention of his health, but he writes in 1655 to "The Richt Honable and my speciall friend, The Laird of Balgowan." Meall, 13 Ap. 1655. that he is recovering from a long and dangerous illness and gives praise to God for his recovery, and is still "very unable and sicklie," but prays God to grant him patience to bear it. The letter is unlike him, there is none of the interest in men and things his letters usually display, and worry about Barbara who wishes to marry David Graeme, "her servant(!)" occupy its pages. He may have left Orkney early in May, to go South about this matter, and was lost at sea on the 7th. Barbara did not marry David Graeme, her first cousin.

It is almost needless to add that the Bishop had placed Patrick's Arms in St Magnus; they were carved in oak on a panel of the Bishop's Throne, St Magnus Cathedral, Orkney. Azure, a burning cup between a chess rook and an escallop in fess. They are a mixture of Smythe and Graeme, and must have been placed there to commemorate Patrick's marriage with Katherine Graeme.

Patrick Smythe's will is interesting; it leaves a "furnished" bed and 500 merks to most of his children; to Anna, her mother's diamond ring; to his step-daughter, Jean Halcro, her mother's diamond ring and two bracelets, and to her and her sister Sibilla, a " furnished " bed.

Mr Patrick Smythe’s third wife married again after his death and was again a widow in 1691, when her second husband dies. He is David Moncrieffe brother to Sir Thomas Moncrieffe of that ilk.

BISHOP GEORGE GRAEME’S SONS AND DAUGHTERS

We have already mentioned:

I. David of Gorthie, his eldest son (Sketch XXVIII.), now represented by Sir G. Graeme Hamond-Graeme.

II. Patrick of Rothiesholme and Graemeshall (Sketch XXIX.), now represented by Alexander Malcolm Sutherland-Graeme, Esq.

III. Mungo we only know of in the Inventory of 1615, when the Bishop calls him his third son, and leaves his 3000 merks to the Tutori of my Lord Piltoune and the Laird of Inchbrakie; and by his death which occurred on June 24th, 1645, his brother Patrick was his heir.

IV. John of Breckness, now represented by W. G. T. Watt, Esq., of Breckness and Skaill (Sketch XXX.).

V. James was a merchant in Edinburgh in 1649; he married Mary Harts.

VI. Robert is described on 21st April 1655 as "in Bolshan" son of George Bishop of Orkney, and "in Montrose," on 12th November 1668. He had five sons.

1. David, lawful son to the unql Robert Grahame in Montrose; this David was "Charnberlayne" to Patrick Smythe of Methven whom his daughter Barbara wished to marry; he must have been a poor man, but his birth was as good as Barbara's own! David died in 1698; his name is invariably spelt with the diphthong.

2. Robert, a merchant burgess in Edinburgh on November 20th, 1668; described 21st June 1673 as brother to David, son lawful to the unql Robert Grahame in Montrose. In 1653 a Robert Graeme is described as servitor to Alexander Johnston, Merchant in Edinburgh. Robert Graeme of Bolshan's three youngest sons were Henry, James and John.

The Bishop's daughters were six in number

I. Katherine, who occupies the first portion of this sketch.

II. Elspeth; there is mention of her name as his second daughter in the Bishop's inventories; he leaves her 3000 merks and to the education of Dame Agnes and Sr Mungo.

III. Agnes, mentioned in "the Inventories," 2500 merks is her portion and to be left to the care of her mother. She married Adam Ballanden of Stennes, Orkney, and had issue.

IV. Meriory (2000 merks), her mother is her guardian. This daughter of the Bishop and Marian Crichton had a long line of descendants who are represented by Blair Drummond and Abercairny. She married first, George Drummond, fourth Laird of Blair, on 17th August 1633; their son,

GEORGE DRUMMOND,

FIFTH OF BLAIR, FIRST OF BLAIR-DRUMMOND,

was born at Blair in Stormount on November 29th, 1638; he succeeded his father and sold Blair in Stormount in 1682, buying in 1684 from James, third Earl of Perth, the lands of Kincardine in Monteith. On these lands he built a house, to which he gave the name of Blair-Drummond, this afterwards became the designation of the family and the estate.

This George (the Bishop's grandson) married Elizabeth, daughter to Sir Gilbert Ramsay of Banff; he died June 24th, 1717, leaving seven sons and one daughter. The sons all died without surviving issue, except the eldest,

JAMES DRUMMOND OF BLAIR-DRUMMOND,

born September 2nd, 1673; he married Jean, daughter of John Carre of Cavers; died March 1739, and was succeeded by

GEORGE, LAIRD OF BLAIR-DRUMMOND.

He married secondly Frances, daughter to James Moray of Abercairny (who was grand-son to Annas Graeme, Black Pate of Inchbrakie's daughter); their son,

JOHN DRUMMOND, LAIRD OF BLAIR-DRUMMOND,

only survived his father ten months, dying while quite an infant, and Blair-Drummond reverted to his aunt,

AGATHA, MISS DRUMMOND OF BLAIR-DRUMMOND,

married 24th August 1741, Henry Home of Kames (Lord Kames as Lord of Session); he represented two baronetcies in the family of Home of Kames, which had failed in heirs male. Mrs Drummond-Home and Lord Kames were succeeded by their son,

GEORGE DRUMMOND-HOME OF BLAIR-DRUMMOND,

and tenth from Walter Drummond of Stobhall; married on 11th October 1782, Janet, daughter to the Rev. Dr Jardine (cadet of the family of Applegarth), Dean of the Chapel Royal, and had issue.

GEORGE HOME-DRUMMOND,

SIXTH OF BLAIR-DRUMMOND AND THIRTEENTH FROM SIR WALTER DRUMMOND OF STOBHALL,

married on the 11th October 1782, Janet, daughter to the Rev. Dr Jardine (cadet of the family of Applegarth), Dean to the Chapel Royal in the reign of George III. They had three children, two sons and a daughter:

Henry who succeeded -

John George of Abbotsgrange and Milleam, born in 1797. He married in 1837 Mary, daughter of Archibald Drummond of Rudgeway; they had no children; and her sister Agatha, who never married, succeeded in 1848, when her brother John died, to Abbotsgrange and Millearn.

The house at Milleam stands on one of the most picturesque bends of the Earn and in the present day belongs again to a daughter of the House.

HENRY HOME-DRUMMOND,

SEVENTH OF BLAIR-DRUMMOND,

who succeeded his father, the sixth laird, was born in 1783. He married in 1812 Christian Moray, a daughter of the House of Abercairny; it will be remembered that Sir Robert Moray, Great Baron of that house, had in the Royalist days married Annas, a daughter of Black Pate, Great Baron of Inchbrakie (she was widow of George Smythe of Rapness, a son of the younger ward of the Bishop of Orkney and cousin to Patrick Smythe of Braco and first of Methven). Christian Moray, wife in 1812 to the seventh of Blair-Drummond, was the eldest daughter of Colonel Charles Moray of Abercairny (a great-grandson of Annas Graeme and Sir Robert) and his wife Anne Stirling; this lady was daughter and heiress of Sir William Stirling of Ardoch; Anne Stirling brought the lands of Ardoch to the House of Abercairny; their daughter Christian, on succeeding to her brother Major William Stirling, who died without heirs, brought the lands of Abercaimy and Ardoch to the House of Blair-Drummond; her husband, Mr Home-Drummond, was Vice-Lieutenant and Member for Perthshire and had three children; two sons; and an only daughter who married in 1839 George, Lord Glenlyon, afterwards Duke of Atholl. The Duchess, who was greatly beloved, was Mistress of the Robes, and was honoured by the personal friendship of Her Majesty Queen Victoria.

The sons of Henry Home-Drummond and Christian Moray his wife, the elder,

GEORGE STIRLING HOME-DRUMMOND,

EIGHTH OF BLAIR-DRUMMOND AND TENTH OF ARDOCH,

married twice; his first wife was Mary, eldest daughter of William Hay of Drumelzier and of Dunse Castle; she died fifteen years after their marriage in 1855, leaving no children. In 1863, he married for his second wife, Kalitza, the eldest daughter of Robert Hay of Linplum, and the following year, Mrs Home-Drummond, his mother, died, and he succeeded to Ardoch where he resided for a time.

In 1867 he succeeded to Blair-Drummond on the death of his father, and a third and fourth estate followed on the death of his aunt Agatha? those of Millearn and Abbots-grange. Mr Stirling Home-Drummond did not long survive the inheritance of his new estates; he built the new house of Blair Drummond, and died in 1876 without leaving any children. He was succeeded by

CHARLES STIRLING HOME-DRUMMOND MORAY,

NINTH OF BLAIR-DRUMMOND, NINETEENTH OF ABERCAIRNY, AND ELEVENTH OF ARDOCH.

He served in the Second Life Guards, and is remembered for peculiar charm of manner and grace of person. He married in 1845 the Lady Ann Georgina Douglas.

Those who had the privilege to join any of the many happy gatherings at Abercaimy after 1864, when Charles S. H. Drummond Moray succeeded to that estate can well realise the blank his death caused to the large circle of relations and friends whom he and Lady Anne ever loved to gather round them at Abercairny and Blair-Drummond; he succeeded to the latter estate and to Ardoch, Abbotsgrange and Milleam on the death of his brother in 1876.

Mr Charles Stirling Home-Drummond Moray purchased the estate of Inchbrakie in 1883 from Patrick Graeme, twelfth of Inchbrakie and twenty-seventh in descent from father to son from William Lord Graham, ancestor of the Dukes of Montrose.

Mr Charles S. H. D. Moray and Lady Anne, his wife, had two sons and an only daughter; Caroline Frances who married in 1881, Arthur E. W. Forbes; he was the son of Lieutenant-Colonel John Forbes, Coldstream Guards (Forbes of Callendar). Mrs Drummond Forbes succeeded to Millearn on the death of her father in 1891. Mr and Mrs Drummond Forbes have two children:?Charles William Arthur, born 1885; Mary Christian.

HENRY EDWARD STIRLING HOME-DRUMMOND,

TENTH OF BLAIR-DRUMMOND AND TWELFTH OF ARDOCH,

succeeded his father in 1891 in these estates; he served with the Scots Guards, in which regiment he was Captain and Lieutenant-Colonel. Colonel Stirling Home-Drummond who married Lady Georgina Emily Lucy, third daughter of Frances, fifth Marquis of Hertford; is D.L., and was Member of Parliament for Perthshire 1878-80, and resides on his estate of Blair-Drummond.

For particulars of Mr Charles S. H. D. Moray's second son,

WILLIAM AUGUSTUS HOME-DRUMMOND MORAY. (See Sketch XXIV.)

The above are the descendants from "Meriory" (as the Bishop called his fourth daughter) by her first husband to whom she was married but a short time.

On the death of her first husband, George Drummond, fourth of Blair, Marion Graeme married second George Drummond the sixth of Balloch; he was the son of the Bishop's sister Beatrix (or as some records call her Cristane), and was therefore her first cousin. He took an active part in the great Montrose wars; he had been previously married to the sister of Lord Napier of Merchiston and his son by her was one of the defenders of Kincardine Castle with the Master of Napier and Black Pate of Inchbrakie.

Marion Graeme his second wife had

1. David Drummond.

2. Archibald Drummond.

3. William Drummond, and

4. Jean, married to William Stewart of Kinnaird in Atholl.

It will be remembered that this Marion, Lady of Balloch, was sister to David Graeme of Gorthie and that when he writes on 29th January 1653 to Patrick Smythe of Braco he is expecting every moment to hear of Balloch's death and that his sister is a widow.

Though for a time George Drummond of Balloch was succeeded by his sons as seventh and eighth of Balloch, the line died out and became extinct; a daughter, the only surviving issue, married Graeme of Garvock. We return to the next and fifth daughter of the Bishop, Meriory's younger sister.

V. Margaret. The Bishop wills her 2000 merks to remain under the tutelage of her mother; she married William Henryson of North Ronaldshay.

VI. Jean. "I leve 3000 merk tho' scho be put last let her be payd first and in the handis of Mr Jhon Rollok," she was six years of age. This was the Bishop's youngest daughter; he lost her on September 5th, 1623, aged fourteen, and she was buried in the churchyard of Sandwick, Orkney; her flat tombstone records the fact.

All the six daughters had been born before George Graeme and his wife Marion Crichton went to Orkney in 1615, but only three of the sons: John, James and Robert, were born after that date in Orkney.