DESCENDED OF MONTROSE THROUGH PATRICK GRAME THIRD GREAT BARON OF INCHBRAKIE AND ABERUTHVEN

James Graeme of Monzie, was the son of Patrick, Third Baron of Inchbrakie and his second wife, Margaret Scot of Monzie, "Lady Carnock", for Margaret Scot was a widow when Patrick Graeme married her, previous to 1597.  She was the daughter of Patrick Scot of Monzie; he gives confirmation of certain lands in 1554; her first husband had been Patrick Drummond, sixth of Carnock, whose father, Sir Robert Drummond, fifth of Carnock, was famous for being Master and Surveyor of all the King’s works to James V. He married for a second time the Honourable Mary Elphinstone, daughter of the second baron, slain at Pinkie, Patrick Drummond was their eldest son and Sir John the first of Hawthornden their second son; a daughter, Margaret, became Lady Seafield.

Patrick Drummond and his wife, the heiress of Monzie, had Sir Alexander, seventh of Carnock, James and Patrick; their daughter married Pierson of Kippenross. Their grandson married Margaret, daughter of the first Lord Rollo, and their son ended the line of Drummond of Carnock.

Lady Carnock and Patrick Graeme had an only son James, and in 1613 his father buys Monzie from Sir Alexander Drummond (his stepson), with the consent of his elder son George, the future fourth Baron of Inchbrakie, settles it fully on his second son James in 1613.

It must always be borne in mind that the Campbells of Glenurchy owned the quarter land of Monzie, or Ibert lands as they were called previous to this date. It was Sir Duncan Campbell’s son, Sir Archibald (who also bore for a time the designation of Lagvinshoch), who married Katherine, daughter of Marion Rollo, spouse to John Grahame of Balgowan, and he leaves his said spouse in "All and Haill the mains of Lagvinshoch," and "fourt part of Monzie," etc. By 1609 Archibald Campbell and Katherine Grahame have a son Duncan, to whom his grandfather, Sir Duncan of Glenurchy, confirms the lands of the said quarter of Monzie of which the little Duncan’s father (Archibald) is granting him a charter; by 1633 this boy Duncan Campbell marries Ann or Agnes Murray; she was a daughter of the seventh Laird of Ochtertyre by Mary Moray of Abercairny, they were married on February 9^th, 1614, and their eldest child Agnes was born at Abercairny on 30^th November 1614; she married Duncan Campbell on 7^th July 1633, and their children were Colin born in Coige, 3^rd November 1635, married Ann Oliphant daughter to Sir Lawrence Oliphant of Gask, and three sons and four daughters.

It will be confusing to carry on the line further; so far it shows the connection in 1666 when Monzie was agin sold, between the disposer and buyer of Monzie; this Colin, the great grandson of George second of Inchbrakie through the distaff, was the purchaser of Monzie from George the second Inchbrakie’s great grandson through the scabbard.

The Campbell’s of Monzie then became owners of a great barony, and for the first time in the Monzie papers Colin’s wife is consequently styled "Lady Monzie".

Margaret Scott owned the three quarter lands of Monzie, and Patrick Graeme of Inchbrakie added other lands to it and erected Monzie and Anchnachrie into the one barony which is granted to young James Graeme their son, on the 26^th August 1619.

This James married Marjory Graeme about 1634. She was possibly the daughter of a younger son of David or Mungo Graeme the first and second of Gorthie, her monogram, etc, is found among the carvings on the face of the old Castle of Monzie. James Graeme of Monzie gives her a provision off the lands of Borland in 1634.

James Graeme had three sons, George Graeme, second of Monzie and first of Pitcairns, and James, who buying Buchlyvie from Graham of Fintry, settled and founded a family there; and Ninian. No greater Royalist, except perhaps Black Pate, existed in the Inchbrakie family than James the first Graeme of Monzie; he shared with his half-brother George, the fourth of Inchbrakie, and Black Pate his nephew, a warm admiration for Montrose and gave his life as pledge for it; he fell at the Battle of Philiphaugh, and how impoverished his family were by the raiding of the enemy’s troops is shown in the petition sent up by Black Pate to Charles II. His son is mentioned in the funeral obsequies of the Great Marquis as

"carrying the corslet on the point of a lance, a brave young gentleman whose father fell in His Majesty’s service under the Defunct."

His will, a dative one, is not given up until 1659, 15 years after his death, a common occurrence at this period owing to the troublous state of the country, and states his death occurred in September 1645; it is given up by his son Ninian. What became of Ninian has not been traced.

The will states that value of the house plenishing is given, such at least as was "not plundered and carried away by men at arms! The only silver left was six silver spoons and tua silver cuppies."

In 1634 great alterations seem to have been made at Monzie Castle; this was the period of his marriage to Marjory Graeme. A series of carved stone gables are erected over the windows and many initials and mottoes in Latin are carved also; they are now very worn, but when the photograph was taken were sufficiently shown to be reproduced here. Only part of them are given: the three escallops and roses, a stag lodged with fleur-de-lis above, the Fintry arms in one quarter, a heart in the other. On one of the coats appear a broken wall (granted to Inchbrakie in 1662) and finally the Bishop’s (or the Smythe’s) chess rook! The initials are: J.G; M.G; G.S.M; a motto QUAER – QUEM – COLO. Another which is placed below, the figure of a man dressed in armour, who holds a sheaf of corn in one hand and a book in the other, with initials

   M

I.     G

above, signify that James Graeme, the hero of Philiphaugh was a soldier, scholar and landlord. Underneath the figure are the letters ΟΔΟΙΜΑΙΤΟΙΟΗ.

In the gateway of Monzie Castle there are many interesting stones built in, probably removed from an older building. They bear the arms and letters signifying Scotts and Campbells and McNabs. James Graeme of Buchlyvie ultimately bore the stag "current" on his coat, and "lodged" for his crest.

George Graeme, second of Monzie, succeeded his father in the barony. We find mention of him in various sasines and retours, and in the Charter of Buchlyvie to James Graeme, his brother-german, he is styled George Graeme of Monzie.

A gift of ward and marriage in favour of Mr James Drummond (brother-german to Innermay), he is styled "George eldest lawful son to the deceist" Mr James Graeme of Monzie in 1643.

The Barony of Monzie is disposed of by George in 1666 to his second cousin Colin Campbell. In the same year George Graeme purchases the estate of Pitcairns, near Dunning, and dies just ten years afterwards. There is no mention of any special interest in the will beyond that Annas Rollo, his relict spouse, gives it up in January 1676.

There is a romantic incident about the end of this century which would appear to belong to the daughter of George Graeme of Pitcairns. "A certain Elizabeth Grahame, daughter of George Graeme and young Somervill of Drum" were pursued for clandestine marriage, which sort of marriage had been made illegal by Act of Parliament in 1661.  They probably knew nothing about the new Act, and as some sort of opposition had been shown to the match, they took the law into their own hands in 1671 and were married.  On June 29th retribution falls on them and they are had up before the Secret Council, and the bridegroom was not only fined œ500, but was committed to prison for three months. Sir John Lauder, in his anniversary volume, "Historical Notices of Scotch Affairs," alludes to the matter.

In Elizabeth's will, dated 1692, she is styled "Elizabeth Graham relict of the deceist James Somerville, younger of Drum."  Her father-in-law, James Somerville, "elder" of Drum, proves her will as one of her principal creditors, having obtained a decree before the Counsel of Edinburgh against George Graham, merchant there in 1685, and James Somerville, her husband, nearest of kin to the now "deceist" lady.

It is proved by the will that at the time of her death she was in possession of the "House of Drom," all the plenishing and furniture of which was her own, besides various sums of money which were owed to her.

Her father-in-law was in reality the eleventh Lord Somerville, of very ancient lineage, his ancestor having come over with William the Conqueror.

The Hon. Hugh Somerville, ninth peer, never assumed the title.  He was brother of Gilbert, eighth peer, who dissipated the family estates, and his Castle of Cowthaly was jocularly called "Cowdaily" by James VI., who, when entertained there, saw a cow and ten sheep killed daily!

The seventh peer was aware of his son's extravagance, and left what property he could to his second son Hugh, including the lands of Drum, Gilmerton and Gutters, but at the death of his brother Gilbert, who had no male heir to succeed, scarcely any money was left to support the lands and title, and so it was unassumed by the ninth and tenth peers.  The latter was the father of Elizabeth Graham's husband, her imprisoned bridegroom, and their son resumed the title, which was confirmed by Parliament in 1723.

Elizabeth Graeme's husband was a man of some literary attainments and author of "The Lives of the Somervilles." The title fell into abeyance in 1870.  When the old Cross of Edinburgh was pulled down in 1756 as obstructing the High Street, the middle pillar was taken to the policy of Drum where it is still preserved.

Drum lies four miles east of Edinburgh on the road leading to Dalkeith.

The first George Graeme spelt his name with the diphthong in the minutes of sasines which bear his own writing.

In 1776 Annas Rollo his widow obtains sasine in the Mains and Milne of Pitcairns and lands called Holl and Steilland, and George her son is retoured to his father George as second of Pitcairns, his signature also is Graeme, he acquires from the Rutherfords, lands called Wester Gatterclays and Borromoore.

The incident of George with Rollo troop has been given in Sketch XVIII.

George Graeme of Pitcairns married his third cousin Margaret daughter of George Graeme, sixth of Inchbrakie. A family bible presented to Henry Sullivan Graeme by his sincerely "attached and affectionate cousin James Gillespie Graham, 25^th December 1845," gives an interesting record of the following events:-

"The fourth day of June 1693, George Graeme and Margaret Graeme were married and shoe brought furth a sone the twentie first day of November 1694 and was baptized George the 28 of that instant and dyed the 6^th March 1696.

"And the 8^th of April 1696 shoe brought furth a daughter who was baptized Margaret and dyed the 9^th of June 1696.

"And again shoe brought furth an other sone the 12^th June 1697 about 4.0’clock and was baptized James the afternoone who dyed in October, year after.

"And again shoe brought furth a sone the ninteent of August 1698 about 4.0’clock in the morning who was baptized David.

"Again shoe brought furth a sone the twentie fift of August 1700 between one and tua in the afternoon who was baptized Patrick.

"And shoe brought furth a daughter the twelt of April 1702 about six att night who was baptized Mary the fourteen of the said month.

"And shoe brought furth ane other daughter the twentie day of August 1705 about nine 0’clock att night baptized Jeanet by Mr John Graeme minister of Matterdie the 23 day of ty month."

This rather breathless record which would have satisfied most people is followed by a charter under the Great Seal, 1707, to David his son of the Barony of Pitcairns, in which George Graeme carefully provides that should he marry a second time he reserves the power to endow a second wife with 4000 merks and her children with 2000 merks apiece!

However with the Inchbrakie papers lies a document proving that George predeceased his wife. David is under age and so with consent of his mother signs a receipt for 4000 merks, which Thomas Graeme of Balgowan pays him.

This 4000 merks had been lent by the deceased George Graeme of Pitcairns to Patrick Graeme of Inchbrakie in 1708 (this was Patrick Graeme of the Rollo fray and who was supposed to be an outlaw at this period); Thomas Graeme relieves his widow and David by paying them the ready money for Inchbrakie.

Margaret Graeme, the widow, signs the receipt at Edinburgh on the 19^th August 1718, witnessed by Mr James Graeme, Writer, and by Patrick Graeme, second lawful son to the deceased George Graeme of Pitcairns; David on the other hand witnesses it at Balgowan on 29^th September, where it is witnessed by William Cunningham of Coull, the Inchbrakie factor.

Rather a sad repetition of these births and deaths in the Orchill Bible took place about 90 years later when William, the grandson of George Graeme again marries a Miss Graeme of Inchbrakie and the babies come and go much in the same way.

We have now reached

THIRD OF PITCAIRNS

AFTERWARDS OF ORCHILL AND PITCAIRNS

He became a lawyer; the story of his life is found under the sketch of Orchill Graemes (XXVII); he married the heiress of Orchill in 1730 when 32 years of age. He became of Orchill after his first wife’s death when their infant son died in 1736; he married twice again and left two sons to carry on the line.

He was a good man of business and succeeded Mungo Graeme of Gorthie as chamberlain to the Duke of Montrose his chief, and lived at Stuckentagart on Loch Lomond, leaving Orchill to be occupied by an uncle of the Laird of Inchbrakie, who apparently rented it; David Graeme kept Pitcairns as well as Orchill in his possession; he was a firm friend with his cousin of Inchbrakie and with Oliphant of Condie to the Jacobite Laird of Gask, and was organizer of the scheme with his sister-in-law (Amelia Nairne) the Lady of Gask, for the Great Gask Trust, when the estate was bought in for his brother-in-law.

The lands of Pitcairns were sold by the Graemes to Mr J. Pitcairns at the end of the eighteenth century and his son sold them to Lord Rollo in 1847.

GRAEME OF BUCKLYVIE

SECOND SON OF

JAMES OF MONZIE

We will now return to James Graeme, the first of Monzie, who married in 1634, when the carved coats were put on his castle of Monzie, full particulars of these and of his possession of the estate are found on the preceding pages. He was slain at Philiphaugh, and Monzie passed to his eldest son George, who sold it in 1666 and bought Pitcairns; probably a good deal of money had to be put down for the second son’s portion and George obtained it by the sale of Monzie, and had sufficient left to settle him comfortably at the estate of Pitcairns. The inventory of Monzie already alluded to leaves no doubt as to the marriage of James Graeme in 1634 with Marjory Graeme; the writer believes her to be the daughter of James Graeme fifth son of Bishop George Graeme of Dunblane and Orkney, and Mary Hart his wife, but time has failed for the research.

James Graeme the first of Bucklyvie bought those lands from David Graham seventh of Fintry who sold them with the consent of John and James his sons, the latter (James) was the son of Fintry who was present at the funeral of the Great Marquis, bearing his arms in mourning.

In 1661 a retour shows James Graeme to be lawful son of his father James Graeme of Monzie; it is dated November 28^th, 1661.

By the kindness of Lord Ruthven I was allowed to see several letters and documents he possessed of the Bucklyvie Graemes; amongst them is the original charter from "David of Fintries," and his two sons. The charter is given under the Great Seal from Charles II, John, Count of Rothes, Commissioner and Treasurer, and William Wallenden de Burghdam, Treasurer-Depute. The "Lands of Bochlyvie, Grahame and Milntown, the lands of Garro and Gilboyand lands of Walmenoch with those of the Land of Bochlyvie are granted by David of Ffintrie, John Grantham, feor of Ffintrie and James Graham de Monergund his sons to James Grahame, brother Germane of George Grahame of Monzie and Isobello Wallace his spouse, daughter of James Wallace of Wardram," and the charter confers these lands as a barony on the lawful heirs of the said James Graham and Isobel Wallace dated 8^th February 1666 and registered in 1667.

There is in 1670 the ratification of certain lands to Sir John Cunningham of Caldwell of which Graeme of Bucklyvie retains superiority. A registration or sasine in 1673 shows us that James Graeme and his wife Isobel have now a son John, to whom sasine is granted, and failing heirs male of this child and his father they are to go to Ninian Graeme, brother-german to Graeme of Bucklyvie; this (with the previous charter) proves that George of Monzie and Pitcairns, James of Bucklyvie and Ninian are all brothers-german; that is the sons of a father and one wife.

In 1673 Sir Charles Erskine visits Bucklyvie and grants him arms, blazoning them thus:-

"The said James of Ballchlavie for his achievement ensigne armorial Bears Or a stag current betwixt three roses, gules or a chief sable three escallops of the first, above the shield a helmet befitting his degree mantled gules doubled argent next is placed on an torse for his crest a stag lodged as the former and for his motto in ane scroll above the Crest Cubo at excubo."

In the first portion of the document he is designated as descended of Inchbrakie (he was grandson of Patrick the third laird).

In 1690 James Graeme is a Commissioner for Stirling, and in 1703 is again a Commissioner and in Parliament; he dessents to the Act of Security with the Marquis of Montrose and others, he also joins with the Marquis of Tweeddale and many others that year in protesting against the importation of foreign wines as being "dishonorable to Her Majesty and inconsistent with the grand alliance in which she is engaged and to the honor of trade in the Kingdom."

James Graeme is Commission in 1704, 1705, and 1706, and in 1705 joins with Atholl in protesting against an Act of Treaty with England. He was a man of great activity and took part in every action of the day to keep men and matters within, what he considered, their limit. In 1706 he protests with the Earl of Errol against the Foot Guards being brought in by the Privy Council to guard the town of Edinburgh as against the Earl’s office of Lord High Commissioner, which gave him alone the privilege of guarding Parliament.

It is somewhat difficult to distinguish when each James in succession becomes of Bucklyvie, but it would be only natural to suppose that the sasine we next find in 1720 refers to his son. The John mentioned as son to Isobel Wallace and the first James in the sasine of 1673 did not live, it is presumed, to succeed; besides John, he had James, and Hugh and William, and a daughter Jean given sasine of lands according to her marriage contract by David Dickson of Kirk of Mure in 1677.

In 1720 a Charter of Resignation by Alexander Leckie to James of Bucklyvie of the land of Dashers (over and middle and nether) in the Barony of Garden in liferent of Jane Wordie, relict of Mr William Leckie of Dashers, states, James elder of Bucklyvie reserves the right to wadset these lands without his son James Graeme of Leckie’s consent. James "elder" must be James second of Bucklyvie; he adopted the legal profession and was an advocate, and when the lawyers in Edinburgh raised a corps for the King’s service, James Graeme joins it as an ensign in 1679. This was the period when for the second time the Kingdom was rent between the claims of the Churchman and the protestant, and when Claverhouse took the lead for the King, as Montrose had done forty years before. James of Bucklyvie receives remission in 1717 and a hugh seal seven inches in diameter is appended to the document, which is countersigned by an Andrew Graeme.

He married the Honourable Elizabeth Ruthven, or as she is styled in that retour of 10 July 1715, "Mrs Elizabeth Ruthven, spouse to James Graeme of Bucklyvie," and had a son James, on whom he has settled the lands of Leckie, and this child, in the sasine of 1720 is alluded to as James Graeme of Leckie.

In 1721 he obtains sasine of Wester Livelands in Parish of St Ninians.  In 1724 Mr James Graeme is admitted to the Royal Company of Archers. 

The document is signed by William Cunningham and witnessed in London 1740 the18th July before William Rye of New Bond Street near Hanover Square in the liberties of Westminster, Fishmonger;  Robert Dalrymple, Writer of it; and Robert Dalrymple, Surgeon; son of the deceased Sir Robert Dalrymple of Castleton; and we wonder if the young fellow in London with his couple of Scotch friends, and lodging no doubt at the great fishmonger's in Bond Street, was spared to come home again and attend to his own affairs!

We must return to James Graeme, Hugh’s eldest brother, the husband of Elizabeth Ruthven. His name appears as Commission for James, Duke of Montrose in 1729; he seems to have been a lover of books for in 1750 there was in his possession an edition of Horace (English translation with Latin text) bearing his bookplate, the date on the latter being 1715.

In 1753 James of Bucklyvie appears to have sold his estates; the first part when in 1737 to his "brother-german Hugh Graeme;" the last portion in 1753 to his "brother germane Major General Wilheim Graeme," to whom Hugh Graeme sold his potion at the same date when a Charter of Resignation under the Great Seal is given to Major-General William Graeme of the Forces of the Estates of Holland. In 1761 the place of one of the four Commissaries of Edinburgh being vacant by decease of Mr Robert Clark, "We George, King of, etc.etc., being well satisfied with the Loyalty Literature, etc. of Mr James Graeme appoints him to fill the vacancy during his life."

A year or two before his death he is the executor dative and creditor to the will of a Hugh Graeme, Esq., a naval officer at Guadaloupe, who died abroad 176-; he owed James Graeme of Bucklyvie 1775 pounds; the will does not allude to any relationship, but Hugh was probably a nephew.

His son, James Graeme, died a bachelor in Edinburgh in 1771, (while holding the appointment of one of the Commissaries of Edinburgh) on November 18^th. This James Graeme would have been third of Bucklyvie, had not the estates been sold to his uncles Hugh and Gen. William; he was called at one time during his father’s life, Graeme of Leckie.

We now revert to his uncle, William, who became possessed of the family estates in 1753; he has been already mentioned as an officer in the service of the estates of Holland which was commonly called the Dutch Brigade; we give his letter to his brother Hugh Graeme while in that service; afterwards he rose to great distinction and was made Commander-in-Chief of the Venetian forces; the first is addressed to

Mr Hugh Graeme,
Writter in Edinburgh.

Ever yours,
Wm Graeme.
Namur, 18th 7ber 1741.

The attention of his superiors is drawn to him by his increasing efficiency. (General William Graeme)

By 1753 money matters have much improved with him, he owns, as we have read, the lands of Bucklyvie, which he had bought from his brother James, and then Hugh, and in 1756 we read in the Scots magazine-

"General Graeme a Scotsman and (brother to Mr Graeme of Bucklyvie) lately appointed Commander of the land-forces of Venice is inspecting the military establishment there, in order to put the troops of the republic on a more regular footing, and to introduce the best method of discipline adopted by other powers."

So well did General Graeme accomplish his duties that when he died twelve years later the Venetian Republic sent a vote of thanks to his family, and ordered his bust to be placed in the Arsenal.

The day succeeding his death, which occurred on the 12^th January 1767, Sir J. Wright, his Britannic Majesty’s resident and the rest of the English gentlemen in Venice attended his funeral in order to show their admiration and respect for their fellow-countryman. Thus Inchbrakie can add another leaf to the laurel wreath of memory for its brave and gallant sons.

With regard to the spelling of the Bucklyvie Graemes, I have spelt the name with the ae as it is given in all private documents, such as letters of signatures of the family; almost without exception every public document and sasine spells it with the h; Monzie, Pitcairns and Orchill equally use the diphthong, but every clerk or writer spells it Graham!