COLONEL PATRICK GRAEME

Previous to this he received an appointment as Lieutenant and then Captain of the Town Guard in Edinburgh. He married before the year 1663, Annas, or Arnot Smythe of Braco. This lady was the daughter of the Patrick Smythe who had been so beloved by the Bishop of Orkney (George Graeme). Mr Smythe had married the Bishop's daughter, but on her death had married again, his second wife being Margaret Stewart, widow of Hugh Halcro of Halcro, by whom also he had several children, Annas being the eldest girl ; and in the Methven Charter Chest are papers showing that in 1663, she and her " husband were principalls to a band," and Patrick Smythe younger "paid to his sister, Mr Pat Graeme's wife, £30."

Colonel Graeme and Annas Smythe had four sons; Patrick, James, Robert and William. A discharge in 1675 for 2000 marks from his eldest brother George Grahame, "fiar" of Inchbrakie, shows us Colonel Graeme's handwriting. It is part of a debt of 5000 marks which George owes of May 1673.

"Witness my hand at Edin. 23rd Novr 1675 before these witnesses Mr James Graeme Advocat and Matthew Colville, Pat. Graeme."


Patrick Graeme is given his important appointment in May 1682, as Captain of the Edinburgh Town Guard; this was a novel institution, meaning fresh taxation, which caused a considerable stir; we will quote from Sir John Lauder's MSS.:

"13 Mai 1682," The Town of Edinburgh because of the late uproar, are ordered by Privy Council to levy and pay a company of 108 men to serve as constant guard for the Town on all emergencies, and the Duke to name
the Captain and other officers.

"This was a clear breach of the liberties and privileges of the Town, yet the magistrates were prevailed to send up the Petition to H.M.   So it was raised by an Act and the inhabitants forced to pay, some a groat, some 5d. and the highest 6d. a week for their pay.

"Patrick Graeme (Inchbrakie's sone) is Captain of this Town Watch, and so has more power of the town than the Provost has.  The Magistrates might have power over the Commissions, but seeing the persons are named to them by others, and that they are neither burgesses or townsmen, it is still a great Invasion."

Evidently Sir John took the side of the townsmen who, though unable to prevent an uproar in their city, resented the supervision thus placed over them. The Guard House was erected purposely for the new Guard; it must have been a horrible and unhealthy place, for its "Black Hole" or "Water Cell" underground was often filled with water, and it contained the dreaded Wooden Mare.

This building was situated 200 feet east of where the " Mercat Cross " stood in the principal or High Street which ran from the foot of the Castle Hill to the head of the Canongate; it stood midway between the Iron Church and the modern police office. The space occupied was seventy by forty feet, and the building had a mean and rather clumsy appearance, being one storey high covered with a slate roof. It contained four apartments; in the south and south-west corner was Patrick Graeme's room, and adjoining it on the north was the prisoner's, "vulgarly called the
burglar's room"; in the centre stood the common hall, and on the east was the apartment for the city sweeps, who went by the name of "the Iron men."


This guard house was vaulted below, and in this vaulted cell was found summer and winter water, hence its name "Water Hole," or "Black Hole."

In the west end of the guard house was kept the sharp-backed wooden mare, on which unruly offenders against good discipline were made to " ryd with stoppis and muskettis tyed to their leggis and feit; a paper on their breist."

Patrick Graeme brought his wife and children to a house in the immediate neighbourhood of Edinburgh, called Rostourne Castle, and here his two youngest children, Robert and William, were born, the former about 1687.  Mrs Patrick Graeme continued to reside here, or in Edinburgh, after her husband had followed King James to France.

His power as guardian of the more important class of prisoners is shown by the following quotation from the Hon. John Erskine's Journal:

"Nov. 29th, 1683. I was seeing Mr Thomas Hogg in the prison and I saw Blackwood also, when I was in the Tolbooth: I saw Earlston brought down the stairs; he had a very raised and unsettled look ; he was this night committed prisoner to the castle of Edinburgh, Captain Graham kept the key of his door, and for ten days he had taken no meat as Mr Hogg told me."

In 1684, on January 1st, the first steps were being taken by the Privy Council which led, in 1685, to the retribution for Montrose's death, by the execution of the ninth Earl of Argyll, son of the first Marquis, and the turn of Fortune's wheel so willed it that the son of Black Pate (whose strong devotion to Montrose is a matter of history) was to be the
commander of the guard which conducted Argyll to his execution!

The Privy Council summon Patrick Graeme, and desire that as Lord Maitland's son is in London, he is to accompany Lord Lauderdale and Sir William Patterson, the Clerk to the Privy Council, to young Maitland's house, and desire that they "scale up his papers, truncks and cabinets till they should sight them."


Six months later Sir John Lauder also relates how one of Captain Graeme's ensigns, a young Gordon, is nearly turned out of his position in the town guard. Gordon and Sir Adam Blair of Carberry have a "scuffle," and Gordon is accused of being the offender ; the social position of the young men does not allow the matter to drop, and the affair is taken notice of by "the bretherne" of the Privy Council. Sir Adam is proved to have been drunk, and there was no occasion to turn young Gordon out of the guard.

Later on, in January 26th, 1685, Patrick is again mentioned in the MSS. of Mr Erskine of Dun.  James, Earl of Perth, issues an order to the Laird of Haming, that he is to apprehend a certain James Nichol in Buccleugh, and keep him safely or send him with a strong guard to the charge of Patrick Graeme. Now comes the first of the two historical occasions in which Patrick took a somewhat prominent part (that of the execution of Argyll and the storming of Edinburgh). Like his father, he was a warm royalist, and separation from his family all weighed light in the scale, if the cause of his royal master was in the other side.

We see him conducting a sad procession; for the second time an Argyll plots against his King, and the Earl, lately escaped from prison, has been taken in an attempt to invade Scotland; this has failed, and under Captain Graeme's escort he is conducted from the Watergate to the Tolbooth.

What memories this must recall of his early boyhood and the Great Troubles, hardening his heart towards the fallen Earl whom he places in the prison above which the head of the Great Marquis of Montrose had so long kept guard!

An incident recorded in Lord Fountainhall's Diary shows Patrick was not only a commander, but a friend to his soldiers of the guard. 

Watson, a violer, was serenading in the night with his fiddle, contrary to the law, and when ordered by Acheson, a soldier of the Town Guard to cease, he became contumacious, and Acheson, losing his temper stabbed him, which caused Watson's death. Acheson was at once apprehended for murder, and confessed to the stabbing, pleading provocation from the fiddler who had refused to obey him, called him a rascal, and would not allow himself to be conducted before the commissioned officer. The High Constable, the Earl of Errol, insisted on judging the prisoner, though the Magistrates also claimed the privilege, but Errol showed his right to do so within four miles of where Parliament should be sitting, by Act in the reign of Robert the Bruce. The Lord High Commissioner and the Chancellor confirmed Lord Errol, who condemned Acheson; his captain Patrick Graeme used every interest in his power to qualify the severity of the sentence, and offered money to the violer's wife not to press her suit; the poor soldier was shot to death in the college churchyard on the 17th June 1686.

Graeme's hands were full of work; he had to apprehend every person acting contrary to the most trivial requirement of the law up to treason itself; vide the Violer and the Marquis of Argyll; and thus about 1671 he is apprehending Mr James Young, son of the Writer to the Signet of that name, for copying and dispersing a paper, showing reasons why Parliament should not consent to dispensing with penal laws against Catholics. 

Graeme releases him on his giving the names of the authors.

In 1688 the town became restive at paying the œ800 a year necessary to maintain the 120 men who composed the Guard and Act of Privy Council reduces it to fifty men ; Patrick Graeme retaining the command.

In 1688 Scotland once more is distracted by opposing parties; James the Second is deposed, William of Orange placed on the throne of Britain by right of his wife Queen Mary; the Distaff side is never welcome to a Scotsman while the sword is still there, and once more the Graemes and Grahams are rallying round the Stuart, led this time by Claverhouse, Lord Dundee.

Once again religious convictions mix with those of civil justice and aggravate the bitterness of strife!

Edinburgh was besieged by William and Mary's troops; the castle held by the Duke of Gordon for the King, and Captain Wallace placed with the Guard at "King's Palace." A number of young roughs assembled in a field outside the city and set on the Guard; Wallace threw hand grenades and wounded some, while two or three were killed, and the crowd dispersed. Here, says the author, the matter would probably have ended, but a quorum of the Privy Council (antagonistic to the King), sent a written order to Captain Graeme of the Town Guard to take his men and the trained bands of the city and bear Wallace off from guarding the Palace; this Graeme did.

But it was the last act he undertook for the city with its Guard.  At his refusal to act against the King in future, the Guard was at once disbanded in 1689, and though the Estates plead it is because since their raising in 1682 the Town's Common prison, and private men's shops have been more broken into than before it, their disbanding was really owing to political faction, as immediately after, we find the meeting of Estates "do give order and warrant to Argyll to call for seventy firelocks from Lord Maitland and seventy-five from Patrick, Captain Graeme to be
placed in the hands of the Regiment Argyll is raising in his Shire, to maintain the peace and security of the Kingdom !

Patrick had attained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel on 17th July and 26th September 1688, when granted command of the Militia Regiment  in addition to that of the Town Guard, and on the disbanding of the latter force, he at once obtained the command of a Regiment of Dragoons in the service of King James II..  In the meantime four sons were the result of his marriage with Miss Annas Smythe of Methven, and before we record Colonel Graeme's departure for France, we will briefly sketch their histories here.

The Grandsons of Black Pate of Inchbrakie

James Graeme, son of Colonel Patrick Graeme of a regiment of Dragoons and Captain of the Town Guard, and Annas Smythe, and grandson of Black Pate of Inchbrakie.

His existence is proved by the family tree, drawn up by his brother the "Capuchin Father," and by his will, in which he is described as Midshipman in the Darien Company. From the date of his parents' marriage circa 1663, their eldest son might have been about forty years of age at the time of his death, which appears elderly for a midshipman!

However, promotion moved slowly then, and it must be observed that James Graeme was not in His Majesty's navy, but is styled a "sailor trading to Africa and the Indies " in the Company of Scotland. In other words, the Darien Company, that South Sea Bubble of Scotland, in which every man or woman who could scrape pounds or even shillings invested them, never to touch their money again. His great-uncle John (Black Pate's brother) in later life was a member of it, with hundreds of his kith and kin, and the MS. records of the Company show how, partly denied the promised assistance from the State, and partly through despatching over-crowded vessels to unhealthy coasts, the members (who, unable to give money gave themselves to start the colony), weakened by the voyage in the small and ill-ventilated ships, landed, to be decimated by disease and death.

Pitiable is the record, and one of its victims was this eldest son of Colonel Patrick , (who bore the name of his uncle James the Solicitor-General,) as is shown by the following statement regarding the imprisonment of himself and Captain Pinkerton, second in command of the Dolphin, one of the Company's ships and a Councillor of the Company."The Company's Shipp Dolphin (on 5 Feb. 1698/9) having unfortunatly struck on a rock and not able to keep her above by baling and pomping rann ashore att Carthagena. The Governour Souldiers and men of the town came to the Marine (wher the ship was) and sent on board a canoe desiring us ashoar, a little after we had gott ashoar we were returning on board in order to save the Dolphin's cargoe, etc., we were hindered and carryed into the town with a strong guard of Souldiers.

"Part of the Dolphin's cargoe I saw Spaniards bring ashoar and carry away.
"The shipp's acutriments I see carryed up on carts.
"As to my particular usage I was carryed before the Governour and searched (as they pretended for papers).
"To what money I had they gave it to the Governour, who seeing some Spanish money amongst it, said to his officers (as interpreted to me by Jhno Wilson) their was money of the King of Spain and so put it up.
"I earnestly requested my money but the souldiers drove me away.
"My stuffs green linning, a box of small dutch ware, my books, instruments, which I bought att the best hand att London, my cloaths of all sorts, acutriments, etc. etc. were unto them a lawful prize ; a great part of them I see Spaniards carry away. I claimed my own in vain.
" So that in all I saved one cap, one wescoat, one pair drawrs, one shift, one pair shoes. Being carried by a strong guard to prison, we were searched by the Marshall and his officers and so sent into a dungeon.  Some days therafter the men were carryed out with their slaves to build their walls and clean the streets; and for hunger we were oblidged to begg and cry for charity from all that passed along.  And in September Captain Robert Pincarton, John Malloch and I were sent prisoners to Savana, wher we kept in irons and prison twentie days or therabouts.
"Then sent prisoners to Cadiz, wher kept in irons till our countrymen brought them off.  Our imprisonment ther was about 14 Dec. 1699 till latter end of March 1700.
"Then sent prisoners in irons to Seville in a small boat.  Had the boat oversett we could make no help to save our lives. And on the10 June or therabouts we were condemned as pirrates and invaders, and were continually in irons without any intermission until providentia Divina we were liberated, which was about 20 Sept. 1700.

Questions and replies to the judges of Seville are also given with a former letter of the prisoners to the directors of the Company, written in May 1700 and signed by James Graeme with others. The sentence of the Spanish judges passed on the above unfortunate men, condemning them to die, is sent home to the Lords and Gentry of the Privy Council of the Darien Company at their office of Mill's Square, Edinburgh; mercifully the sentence was not allowed to be carried out, for Pincartone and James Graeme arrive in Edinburgh and sign a paper of further enquiries there on 4th January 1701.  And on 10th February 1701 the directors mention that John Graham, a volunteer (query Black Pate's brother, Sketch X.), is put ashore with others to try and retain the colony after its desertion.

James is still in that service when he dies; we do not know the exact date, it is a blank in the will which is proved by Colonel Graeme, his father, in 1707  in it he is styled "Midshipman and sailor aboard the ship St Andrews, belonging to the `Company of Scotland,' trading to Africa and the Indies ; the time of his decease, who deceased abroad, in month  and year (blank), made and given up be Colonel Patrick Graeme, sometime Captain in the Town Guard of Edin., and ffather to the said Umqle James Graeme and only executor dative, discerned as nearest of kin to deceased, Oct. 8th, 1707.

"Debts due to the deceist, his pay on board the St Andrews due by said Company."

PATRICK, CAPUCHIN MONK, SECOND SON OF COLONEL AND MRS PATRICK GRAEME;
AND GRANDSON OF BLACK PATE OF INCHBRAKIE.

A grandson "of Black Pate who is represented as having been an officer in James Second's army, afterwards became a monk of the Mendicant order of the Capuchins at Boulogne in France. This change of profession is mentioned by Smollett in his travels through France and Italy as having been caused by a desire to atone by voluntary penance for the sin of having killed his friend in a duel. . . . This monastic lived for a long course of years at Boulogne; he conformed to all the austerities of his order with the most rigorous exactness, arose to eminence in the
institution, and he died at a very advanced age, the Superior of the Convent.

There is a portrait of him at Abercairny and Inchbrakie; together with a family tree which he had drawn, exhibiting his pedigree for several generations."

This brief record is now supplemented by a few family details, by a reference to Smollett's work, and by one or two letters from the Capuchin Superior himself.

Father Graeme was a man of letters. He is the author of a scarce French book entitled " Relation de la vie et de la mort du FrŠre Alexis nomm‚ dans le monde Robert Graeme, Gentilhomme Ecossais," and printed in Paris 1703.  This volume is in the possession of a member Patrick's of the family, by whose kindness, in placing it at my disposal, I am book enabled to translate that which relates to the life of Robert Graeme, the younger brother of the Capuchin monk, who was a monk of La Trappe.

The two brothers are also alluded to with their father in a work entitled "Duke of Manchester's Court and Society," but as many of the statements and names are inaccurate or exaggerated, I do not quote from it.

At present I will confine myself to Patrick the Capuchin. Smollett mentions him as follows:

"In the Lower Town of Boulonge there are several religious houses, particularly a seminary, a convent of Corddeliers, and another of Capuchin.  This last having fallen to decay, was some years ago repaired, chiefly by the charity of British travellers, collected by Father Graeme, a native of North Britain, who had been an officer in the army of King James the Second, and is said to have turned monk of this Mendicant Order, by way of voluntary penance for having killed his friend in a duel. Be that as itmay, he was a well-bred, sensible man, of a very exemplary life and conversation, and his memory is much revered in this place.  Being Superior of the Convent, he caused the British arms to be put up in the Church as a mark of gratitude for the benefaction received from our nation."

Four very interesting autograph letters have also been lent for the purpose of transcribing them in this volume; all are addressed to Mr Alexander Seymour, or Symmer, as Father Graeme generally spells it. Mr Seymour was Governor to the Earl of Dundonald and was the son of "Somer, parson of Duffus," as Sir Walter Scott styles him, who cheered the Marquis of Montrose when on his way to Edinburgh a prisoner.  The letters run over the period from 1727 to 1739; Alexander Seymour is on terms of close intimacy with the Capuchin Father Graeme.


The first is written in 1727, when PŠre Archange was fifty-eight years of age; a short letter and of no particular interest beyond being one of a series; in it is mentioned the names of Mr Sinclaire, a cousin of Seymour's, for whom Father Graeme had advanced money, and that of General Gordon, to whom the money is to be paid.

Addressed to Mr Alexander Seymour.

My dear Sir, I am ashamed to importune you so offten for the hunder and fifty Livers I advanced Mr Sinclaire by your order, but its mear necessity forces me to't.   I ow General Gordon the bearer of this about four hunder livers, so not having wherwith to repay him I give him this note upon you for that smal summe you ow me, with which he's so good as to be contented because he knowes I can do no more. Therefor I pray you, Dear Sir, don't fail to pay to the General that hunder and fifty livers and you'l oblige very much.

My dear Sir
Your most affectionat
Cousing and humble servant
F. Archange Graeme Capucin.

Boulonge sur mer July ye 23rd 1721.

The second is longer and dated three years later and refers to some packets he is holding for Mr Seymour and also to Father Graeme's own coat of arms ; the bearer has not called for them and he is puzzled to convey them home. He alludes with regret to the fact of recalling the debt spoken of in the previous letter and says it would not have been necessary had " certain great folks " dealt by him fairly and for whom he had laid out large sums; he also refers to the great love and affection shown for him by the Bishop of Boulogne, which prevents his leaving that place, but is a source of great gratification to him ; urges Mr Seymour to come over, and ends with minute directions for address of letters, not without a broad hint that the postage to London should be paid.

Addressed to Mr Alexander Symmer [at Mr Symmer's Bookseller in the Parliement Close, Edinburgh. Free T. Erskine].  (The part within square brackets in the same handwriting as the signature "T. Erskine").  Indorced in two places. 

Cus: Pat: Graham & Cusique
Peter 1730.
Graham Arch.

Dear Cousing,
Since ye 25th of May last that I received your letter by Mr Boyle I have lying ready by me the three Different packets you intrusted me with in the very same condition you gave them me; they are sealed up all in one packet with the Coat of Armes of our family, but Mr Boyle not having called for them as he promised at his return to England I am in paine how to forward them to you. But in caise you don't send me soon positive orders how to send them, I shall do my best to contrive some way or other to gett them conveighed to you. No living soul knows I have any such depot of yours, that's what I can assure you of. I am sorry I was forced to give the Gnal (General) the note upon you for your cousing Mr Sinclar's debt, but as I had no other way left me to repay him wt I ow'd him, I hope you'l be so good as to pardon me for't. Had certain great folks  for whom I layd out money dealt with me so as you have done you shou'd never have seen any such note of mine, nor have had it to say that  I drew upon you for a debt was not properly yours. My place of residence is still here and is like to be so while ye Bishop of this towne lives for he loves me as if I was his ow sone and is never easy but when I am with him, so I have only one thing more to wish for in this world, and that is that you may soon have your heart's desire. I am overjoyed to think you have gott your affaires settled, so as you may live comfortably in your old dayes.  May you be happy both in this world and in ye next is the earnest prayer of,

Dear Cousing
Your most affectionat friend
and truly humble servant
F. Archange D'Ecosse Cap. Jud.

You have but to address your letters for me as follows and they will come safe-

Au Reverend
de Rd PŠre Archange D'Ecosse Capucin,
Aux a Boulogne sur mer, but remember to cross thus yr superscription
and pay yr postage to London.

The third letter is written after a lapse of seven or eight years; by this time PŠre Archange has been advanced to being the Father Superior of the Order of Capuchins at Boulogne, and expresses pleasure at the thought of seeing his friend, who had written his intention of visiting Boulogne, urges him to lose no time in doing so, telling him he exemplifies the old proverb " That every time you putt on your bootes you don't ride!" He mentions Abercairny, David Graeme of Newton's "sone" (his father's first cousin), also a Dr Hay who had the misfortune to fall and
"break the only good leg he had!" Sir Alexander Murray and David Nairne send home messages, Lochzell'and Charles Smith also; Robin Arbuthnot has left for Paris and lives with his son and Lady Brigett Osbourn.

The Father Superior promises to raise Seymour's drooping spirits with good burgundy and claret, which, for his own part he thanks God for!  He is well and doing all in his power to renew "this House of ours" and leave behind him a monument of what a Scots Superior can do. Smollett has told us more particularly what he accomplished.

Addressed to
Mr Alexander Symmer,
At Edinburgh.

Dr. Sir,
The last letter I had from you was dated ye 22 of March and ever since I have been expecting ye pleasure of seeing you here; but it seems you don't ride, as the saying is, every time you putt on your bootes, and that I must een be content with saluting you at this distance till you think fitt to draw nearer ; for you know I can't advance one step further towards you as matters stand. Mr Bell who brought your letter to Boulogne, did not come to see me, but gave it to Mr Smith who delivered it to me. The accounts you give me of my Cousings Abercairny and David Graeme Newton's sone are very agreeable to me, for tho' I am as yet unacquainted with either of them I am charmed to hear of their wellfaire &ca when you see them please make my compliments agreable to both them and their Ladyes, and tell them I wish them much Joy in one another, with such ane offspring of fine children as may doe them both honour and pleasure. Your old friend Dr Hay had the misfortune some time agoe to fall and break the only good leg he had, but he recovered of it and is again as well as ever; he is just now come back from the Spa where he has been a drinking ye watters; he gives his service to you, as does likewayes Sr Alexander Murray, David Nairne, Lochyell and Charles Smith. Robin Arbuthnott left us a year agoe; he lives now at Paris with his sone and Lady Brigett Osborne. I am heartily sorry to hear you are turned so very infirme, but I do believe the aire of Boulogne would do you a great dale of good, and therefor would advise you to take a trip hither, where you'l find friend enough to divert you and raise your drooping spirits with good burgundy and claret. For my own part, I bless God for it, I am very well and doing all I can to leave a monument behind me of what a Scot's Superior could do for the Improvement of this house of ours, which I have in a manner quite renewed. I need say no more at present but that I am, wishing you health and happiness, with sincerity

Dr Sir
Your most affectionat cousing and humble servant
F. Archange D'Ecosse Guardien des Capucins.
a Boulogne sur mer Ce 15 7bre 1739.

The fourth and last letter is dated eighteen months later in May 1739; and he is still hoping to welcome his old friend to Boulogne. The Bishop of Boulogne, Father Graeme's old friend, must be dead, for he speaks of spending September and October in Paris. He alludes to a message from a certain Mr Smith who had been the means of sending wine over to Seymour, and, adds the reverend Father, he supplies the Convent from time to time with good wine, otherwise they would be obliged "to drink only watter, for which I hope God will bless and prosper him." Mr Smith is going to Edinburgh shortly, but via London. Lochyell and Dudwick again send messages to Seymour. Father Graeme in this letter mentions "my brother," so Dr William Graeme must have been alive at this date, and is paying a visit to the Capuchin Superior.

Addressed to Mr Alexander Symmer
At Edinburgh.

My dear Sir,
Yours of the 30th March I receiv'd as usual by Captn Ogilvie and am truly glad to find by't that you are upon the mending hand and have still thoughts of coming to see your old friends amongst whom I'1 be ever proud of being reckoned and do my best to deserve it, by being alwayes ready to give proof of the real value and affection I have for you. I am to goe to Paris in September next, if God spaires me life, and will not be back again before the end of October, so I hope if you come to this town, you'l take care it be not during my absence for I want prodigsously to have a long chat with you. I told Mr Smith how acknowleging you are for the good wine he sent you ; He's a man I am extreamly obliged to, for was it not for him I should be forced, with my community, to drink only watter, whereas he supplys us from time to time with good wine,  for which I hope God will bless and prosper him ; you'l have the pleasure of seeing him soon with you, but he intends to goe by the way of London.

Lochyell and Dudwick returne you a thousand thanks for your kind remembrance of them and so does my Brother who is very much your humble servant, wishing you health and happiness I am for ever with heart and soul

My dear-Sir
Your `nost affectionat cousing
and most obedient humble servant
L'Archange D'Ecosse Gardieu des Cap.
a Boulogne sur mer
ce 14 May 1739.


There is a curious resemblance in the turns of the sentences and quaint  language which the Father Superior of the Capuchin Convent uses, to those in the series of letters written just one century earlier by his greatgreat-grand-uncle the Rev. Father in God the Bishop of Orkney and Zetland ; the same enthusiasm seems to have animated both in the services of their religion, and in the beautifying of the houses of God entrusted to their charge ; while the love of old friends and of their country, and the cheery spirit to enjoy the blessings of life stimulated them ; both, too, were artists in their way, the Scotch Bishop of the early seventeenth century showing it in the rich oak carvings, silver plate and restoration of buildings ; the touch of heraldry appearing in the carving of his coats on stone and oak ; while his kinsman of a century later also builds and beautifies his convent and church, possibly to a greater extent than mentioned, could we but trace it ; while a strong love of  heraldry is shown by the coats in the stained glass window he erected, and in a large illuminated tree of his descent which was presented by him in 1747 to Stuart Thriepland in consequence of their relationship through the monk's mother, Miss Anna Smyth. This tree is elaborately drawn out and shows twenty-two quarterings on either side; here and there some blanks are left ; it is illuminated on parchment folded into a red  morocco leather cover,  and was drawn up to show his descent, a necessary qualification ere being made Father Superior of the Capuchins. This tree is later on proved of some use in the "service" of the eighth
laird to the Earldom of Montrose in 1770. On the left of the tree Father Graeme traces his descent back to Graeme the father-in-law of King Eugene, son of King Fergus, whose storming of the Roman wall in 407 A.D. has given the place near Falkirk the name of Graeme's Dyke, which it holds to this day. The right hand tablet states the descent of the Smythes of Methven from Ifoar, a Norwegian by birth, who was created a baron in the field, 1006, for his great services to Trigosson, the second Christian King of Norway, and was progenitor of the Smiths in Norway and Scotland and (effaced). The centre tablet states that "This is the five and fourty branches of the stems of which those four brothers James,  Patrick, Robert and William Graeme are all heritably descended both from the father's
and mother's side." 

This is the last information we have of Father Graeme; the interview between him and Stuart Thriepland having taken place in 1747, he was then alive and about seventy-eight years of age.

ROBERT, MONK OF THE SILENT ORDER OF LA TRAPPE, THIRD SON OF COLONEL PATRICK GRAEME AND ANNAS SMYTHE HIS WIFE, AND GRANDSON OF BLACK PATE OF INCHBRAKIE.

Robert adopted, like his brother the Capuchin, a religious life at a very early age. Allusion has already been made to the publication in French of a small volume entitled " Relation de la Vie & de la mort du FrŠre Alexis nomm‚ dans le monde Robert Graeme, Gentilhomme Ecossais." It is a one-sided relation of the means taken to prevent Robert becoming a Roman Catholic, and gives an exaggerated view of what was probably the thoughtless career of the ordinary young man of the day. It ends with a very " uplifted " view of the means he took for repentance ; means
which were so exaggerated as to induce his Superiors to try and abate them ; this they failed in accomplishing, and Robert, proceeding in his mistaken method, died of a rapid decline in May 1701, at the age of twenty-two years. The book states it has been supplied with its incidents by the Capuchin brother (Patrick Graeme) of the deceased, and that it is published by the authority of King Louis in 1705, and printed for the good of the public; any person infringing on the rights of the publisher within the space of twelve years will be prosecuted, and a copy is to be placed in the King's library, another in that of the Louvre.

An approbation at the end of the book runs as follows: " I have read by order of the Chancellor, a MS. entitled ` Relation de la Vie, etc.' It is one of the most powerful efforts and one of the miraculous actions of the Grace of Jesus Christ on the greatest of sinners, and one which it appears to me most desirable to place in the hands of the public. A Paris, ce huit Juin 1703.  Signe La Marque Tilladet."

An abridged translation runs as follows:

Little Robert Graeme, born in the Castle of Rostourne, a league or so from Edinburgh, was the scion of one of the most important families in Scotland. Whilst his mother's relations were even more illustrious, as shown in the piety which caused Lord Perth  to lose his office of Lord Chancellor of Scotland and Governor of the Prince of Wales now (1705) King of England, rather than abjure his religion. Robert's mother, a zealous Protestant, and as " pious as she could be, in errors of a false religion " conducted his education ; but at ten years of age (circe 1689)  he was present at the celebration of Mass in the Royal Palace at Edinburgh, and from that time he ardently attached himself to the Roman Catholic faith; in spite of mother and tutor, he weekly presented himself at the celebration ; but when her elder son Patrick told her he had observed Robert use the Holy water for the sign of the Cross, she had him severely chastened by his tutor, to no effect.Lord Perth, who had just abjured the Anglican religion, was charmed at his constancy, and on the strength of his title of kinsman asked his father's permission to educate Robert with his children; Colonel Graeme embarrassed by the request (and being on service at the time) excused himself on the score of his wife having sole charge of the child, and on Lord Perth applying to Madam Graeme (Anna Smythe) she, foreseeing the troubles soon to fall on Scotland, consented, hoping in the future to claim her child again and easily efface erroneous ideas from so young a mind.

The Lord Chancellor soon obtained the influence he wished, but the Revolution was looming over the Kingdom, and he returned him to his mother, not without many exhortations with tears to him to continue in the course of the true church. No sooner had Robert taken up his abode with his mother under the roof of one of her brothers, a Protestant minister, than her caresses soon made him forget the true faith, and his uncle leaving him entirely to her care at the most dangerous period of a young man's life, Robert was free to keep company with those of his own age,  and entered into their pleasures, refusing nothing to his lively passions; he joined in all sorts of debauchery and impurity; he accustomed himself to blaspheme, surpassing his friends in this detestable habit; impiety soon gave place to Atheism, and his insolence and pride made him looked on as a refractory young fellow, not to be suffered in society.

His uncle was the first to feel the effects of this temper (a strong characteristic of Robert's even after his admittance to La Trappe) as he comported himself with all the licence of a soldier in the house of a bourgeoise! He illtreated the servants, he insulted his cousins germane and also his uncle in the presence of guests, and though his uncle repeatedly pressed his ungrateful nephew to make amends, once even, when Robert was in want of money, offering him a pistole (8s. 4d.) if he would do so, the boy preferred to refuse it and leave the house rather than reform.

Robert went to London, where, consorting with others like himself, he reached the height of his excesses. But the seeds of virtue implanted by Lord Perth were not wholly smothered, and did not fail from time to time to inspire remorse; in these sane intervals of virtue he would visit the sick in hospitals, succouring them with his deeds as well as alms. 

Gradually the young sinner was shaken by religious influences. A Higher Power gave him the wish to go to France; Robert at once acted on the still small voice that prompted him to put himself under the austerities of a  religious life ; he went to Bruge, where he was confirmed by the Bishop. From there to Flanders, where he became acquainted with a very austere Order, and abandoning the desire of reaching France, he entered this Convent, of which the members being all English left no stone unturned to induce him to remain ; Robert, however, felt unable to endure their austerities; leaving them he remained in the town falling into all his former temptations, forming intimate friendships with the English officers of the garrison, which all the authority of his father and Lord Perth (both then in France) were unable to break off.  The latter wrote touching letters full of appeal.

At last fear of the displeasure of the Queen, with which Lord Perth threatened him, made Robert do what fear
God had not, and he presented himself at the Court of St Germains, where he lived much in the same manner, but professing the Catholic religion.  On whichever side he cast his eyes, he saw virtue dwelling on the Throne of the Court, and being eyed askance for his behaviour he reformed, and retiring to the seminary of Meaux he stayed there ten months, studying the French language and the duties of Christianity, spending the pension the English Queen granted him on the sick and poor. Deciding finally on a religious life, Providence directed him to an inn, and while they were preparing his food his eyes fell on a crucifix which was on the sideboard: in an instant, as if Jesus Christ Himself had in person reproached him, grace fell on him, and he wept in so poignant a manner that the landlady, alarmed, rushed to the room and found him fallen backwards over a bench, his eyes fixed on the crucifix in excessive grief. Robert, who often confounded his own inclinations with religious conviction, believed he had received a special call to Italy and was to embrace the life of a hermit, all the while feeling a strong leaning to a life of independent action. Imparting this idea of a hermit's life to a friend, a monk, that gentleman promised to accompany him, but suggested that instead they should enter the Order of La Trappe.

After five days' severe walking they arrived at that monastery, and from the moment of his entrance into the convent (we are told) the grace of God fell on him, he saw the errors of his previous life, and his one wish was to sanctify himself by religious devotion and obedience to the rules of the strictest order in the Roman Catholic Church.  The friend who had induced Robert to join the order left, completely prostrated by the severity of its rules. He urged Robert to leave also, warning him that in the few days he had become like a skeleton, and that death was painted on his face. The "Relation" states that this but added to the young saint's determination; and he clamoured to obtain the garb of a monk, which would entail further rigours on him. The Superior rightly refused this unless Robert obtained the sanction of Lord Perth, which was refused; he knew the weakness of Robert's constitution, and "that four regular repasts  a day at St Meaux Seminary had not prevented frequent fainting fits"; also his love of luxury, which when in Scotland had reached such a pitch that having slept at the house of a friend, a person of quality, where his bed was furnished with several down mattresses, he had yet complained that his couch had proved uncomfortable !

This refusal sent Robert into one of his ungovernable passions. The Master of the Novices reproved him severely, and told him such language would not be tolerated another hour in the convent; so Robert wrote to Lord Perth his frank opinion (in English) of that gentleman! This letter, translated by the "Master," was of so shocking nature in his opinion as to preclude its being forwarded, or Robert entering the Order: but the " PŠre Abb‚" took a different view and believed it was his duty to admit him, and though the Master of the Novices used every method to humiliate Robert publicly and privately, it had not the desired effect of driving him from the convent; on the contrary, Robert became an altered being, showing sweetness and docility of temper instead of arrogance and pride, and the PŠre Abb‚ making this change known to Lord Perth, that nobleman gave his consent to his taking the vows. On the eve of Robert's entering the Order, erysipelas showing, they took the opportunity of putting him to a further test by leaving him in his cell for twelve days without human consolation.

At last, after two months of rigorous treatment, he received the garb of this ancient Order (Ville de la tous saints) in 1699, with the name of. FrŠre Alexis.  From this time he subdued the natural pride in his heart, he no longer "walked with his head in the air, speaking with hauteur and viewing all men with disdain," but became so humble a penitent "that the late King of England who honoured Robert by speaking to him during his last visit to La Trappe" was, with the nobles of his suite surprised and touched.

The history continues to give minute details of the ascetic tests FrŠre Alexis put himself to, in spite of the advice of the Father Superior.  It is almost heartrending to read the tortures the zeal of the poor lad imposed, and was permitted to impose, on his weakened body, though, it should be added, he was often remonstrated with. Robert, impetus as ever, continued his exaggerated course; if he prayed he prayed more continuously; if he fasted, it was with rigour amounting to starvation ; if manual labour was his task he dug in a given time double the space of any other monk; this, in spite of his fragility!

At last a rapid decline brought him to so weakened a condition that prayer was his only exercise ; he would lie for hours singing the praises of God with the tears of penitence streaming from his eyes ; yet in spite of all this the natural gaiety of his disposition asserted itself to the last moment of his life. Nothing now lay more near his heart than the conversion of his father and mother. The latter was still in Scotland, and the history tells us that after her son's death she joined the Roman Catholic on her arrival in France.

 
The "Relation" informs us that the conversion of Robert's father (the late Captain of the Edinburgh Town Guard) was of a miraculous nature, owing to the prayers of his son. Colonel Graeme had never seemed further from the Catholic religion, as he held it a matter of honour to remain in the faith in which he had been reared ; but at this period he was impelled by an inspiration of grace to visit his young son with a letter of introduction from Lord Perth ; he went to the convent, was overwhelmed by what the Roman Catholic religion had effected in converting a young and impious Libertine, vain, immodest and a blasphemer, into a penitent, chaste, sweet and pious, and Colonel Graeme left La Trappe determined to embrace a faith which not even the attachment he felt for his Prince had induced him to adopt.  FrŠre Alexis' father selected as a suitable time for the abjuration of his old faith, the day that his son six months hence was to be received at the hands of the Rev. PŠre Ancien Abb‚; accordingly, accompanied by Lord Perth, he set out on the appointed day, having also been joined by two PŠres Capuchins, one of whom was his elder son, Patrick, now Archange : his abjuration was made at the end of the Mass at which FrŠre Alexis had taken his vows in the presence of the whole community before Lord Perth and many other persons.

That noble Earl reached this day the summit of his ambitions which were clouded by the death two days later of the Abb‚ who finished his career amongst the ashes in as saintly a manner as he had commenced it ; the conversion of his cousin, Colonel Graeme, greatly consoling Lord Perth for the loss of so old a friend.

The "Relation" goes into long and varied details of the sufferings and penances of the young Graeme. Suffice it to say that after a lingering and painful deathbed, which though watched with great admiration, had little done to relieve it, the day arrived when in anticipation of the immediate end FrŠre Alexis was laid on the bed of ashes and straw, provided when near death for all members of La Trappe; unable from weakness to make his public confession, he could only between whiles indicate his wish to be interred outside the cemetery. An English Novice attended
him and inquired what plan he should pursue for his soul's welfare ; the reply "Be faithful to God and He will be faithful to you," closes most fitly the life of young Robert Graeme, the grandson of Black Pate, who had also, though in a different light, been faithful to his God and country.

Robert, FrŠre Alexis of La Trappe, ended his troubled young life on the 21st May 1701, just seven months and nine days after his "profession," aged twenty-two years. A table of the hours of FrŠre Alexis concludes the "Relation" to which for further details we refer the reader.

An interesting account of the old monastery in Normandy is given by Mr Fellowes in 1817 when he visited the ruins, whose dark grey towers rise from the valley encircled by three lakes (connected) which formed the outer circle or moat ; a venerable grove of oak trees surrounded the buildings themselves, but this was cut down by the hands of the Revolutionists ; the name of the Community "La Trappe" arose from the difficulty of access to it for the valley is entered by a steep descent ; a rider requires to lead his horse down through the labyrinth, the sides of which are clothed with lofty woods rising one above the other. In the gateway of the outer court is a statue of St Bernard (also mutilated) holding a church in one hand and a spade in the other. This court opens into a second enclosure around which stand granaries, stable, bakehouse, and various offices, all preserved.

A lay brother received Mr Fellowes on his knees, and intimated in whispers that vespers were proceeding, after which he was conducted to the supper room where he heard them chanting grace with their heads bent to the earth enveloped in huge cowls. One of them standing, read to the community passages of Scripture, whilst another went round kissing their feet on his knees, and a third eat his repast also kneeling; these were penances for neglected duties. Each cup and trencher bore the name of the owner, "FrŠre Francois," etc. ; bread soaked in water, salt and two raw carrots composed the meal ; dinner was varied with a little cabbage (never meat or fish) sometimes cheese
and bread of the coarsest kind.

Board beds (without mattress or pillow), with a blanket and a skull, furnished their cells. So soon as an interment took place another grave was opened.

The number of monks who have taken the vows are not in proportion with the number of lay brothers and FrŠres Donnes. The Trappists or first Order are clothed in dark brown, with brown cloak and hood; the novices wore white, with brown cloak and hood; their vow of perpetual silence made it quite possible for two persons well known to each other to inhabit the convent without being aware of it, so completely did the huge cowl envelop and hide their faces, which are never shown, and their voices were rarely heard. The Trappists are distinguished by the appellation FrŠre couverts. They take new names on entering the convent, and entirely abjure the world; the fact of two standing or working close together is a violation of their vow. For fourteen years none except the Abbe knew of the death of Louis XIV.

One of their most frequent visitors was James II.; his first visit occurred in 1690, on 2oth November, when he was received by Mons. de Rance whose account of the visit is most interesting. In the centre of the cemetery is this last-named Abbe's grave; his full-length figure was removed when the old church was destroyed; it is now a complete ruin. The Monastery of La Trappe was one of the most ancient Order of Benedictines, and was established under Innocent III. in the reign of Louis VII., A.D. 1140, by Rotrou, second Count de Perche. The famous Abb‚ de Rance‚ became a monk of La Trappe in 1660; the monks at that date had degenerated into ruffians from whom their neighbours shrank in terror, not only living in sloth and luxury, but in the most abandoned excesses, subsisting by robbery, and never leaving the monastery unless they bore arms, their excursions being marked by bloodshed and pillage.

Mons. de Ranc‚ changed all this, and re-established order. Thus Mr Fellowes writes: Mons. Bonthillier de Ranc‚ was the Abb‚ who not only received the visit of King James II.in 1690, as above stated, but also his last visit when FrŠre Alexis was recognised by the Monarch, and was the Abb‚ who received Robert Graeme's vows and his father, Colonel Graeme's abjuration ; he died two days after, as we have seen in the "Relation." 

At the time of the French Revolution many of the Trappists settled, by the bounty of Mr Weld, at Lulworth, close to Weymouth, in Dorset.

This son adopted the medical profession, and lived in Perth. He was alive and giving up his father's will in 1720. In 1739 he paid a visit to his brother Patrick the Capuchin. The name of his wife is unknown to us, though Dr William Graeme married and had children; we find them mentioned as follows in the indices to the services of heirs in the Register House, Edinburgh:  Ann ,Graeme heir pro. gen. to her brother William, son of William Graeme, Doctor of Medicine, 27th July 1787, and Christina Graeme, heir pro. gen. to her brother William Graeme, son of William Graeme , Doctor of Medicine, 27th July 1787.

Thus Dr Graeme's line ended with these children (the great-grandson and daughters of Black Pate), for had he left any descendants in 1787 it is not likely his sisters would have been served heir to him. They were both elderly women and unmarried at that date.

It will be interesting should this brief record of Dr William Graeme bring any of his descendants, at present unknown, to our knowledge.

About 1692 Colonel Graeme left Scotland, after serving under Dundee, for the Court, now established at St Germains. An Act is issued for the prosecution of rebels in France, or if they are dead their heirs; among the list of names is Captain Graeme, late of the Town Guard, and his first cousin, Alexander Robertson of Strowan.

We must now turn our attention to his wife Anna, Agnes or Arnot Smythe, as the records variously call her, who has been living alone, much bereft of her husband and her sons.

A glance at the first page of this sketch will show that she was a daughter of the Bishop's beloved ward, Patrick Smythe of Braco, but not of the Bishop's daughter, for on the death of the latter Patrick Smythe had married a second and then a third time, and thus became the father of no less than twenty-one sons and daughters, of whom nearly all lived to grow up.

Agnes, born 27th April 1641, was one of the children by his second wife, Miss Stewart of Killinan; at one time we find she is possessed of 2000 merks, and Patrick  Graeme of Rothisholme, the Bishop's second son, is her curator.

In 1692 we find her in straitened circumstances and in trouble, for her husband, deprived of his company of the Town Guard and the defence for King James II. at an end, is being hustled out of the Kingdom .

One of Mrs Graeme's well-expressed letters will best record events and her brother's kindness to the family.

For the much honored the Laird of Methven,
Edinb, 31st March 1692.

Honored dear Brother,
My husband and I are extremely sensible of yours and your lady's singular favors and great kindnesses bestowed upon us and our children, especially for yours and your Lady's late kindness to my husband, as also in giving me and the children a call to come over in the tyme of our solitude : I cannot but render your Lady and you many thanks for your naturality, but especially for what love you bestow upon my husband's accompt, surely if you were not acted by a good conscience I would not have expected so much civility, much less so great performances, the truth is before I received your letter I was enclosed betwixt terms for another year for the house I am in, however I resolved by the blessing brother. of God to make seall' of what I can for the satisfying of some creditors we are indue, and if by any means I can get free endeavour to make clear of this place as soon as I can in order to my waiting on your Lady and you, so far am I indulging myself in any design contrare to your will:  Dear Brother, on the third day my husband had been in Edinburgh to see his friends, Sir James Lossley Accomandant commanded my husband not to appear in Edng after that day : and on the morrow when he was resolving to have write to you your Lady, and other kynd friends he was ordered upon pain of being secured, he and all the gentlemen to goe aboard the vessell notwithstanding the ship was not provided nor no fair wind of goeing : Saturday and Sabbath day being so very tempestuous made him so sick and indisposed that he was not in a condition to write to you and other his friends as he resolved, only sent me word with his son that I should give you ane accompt how he was treated which made him so short of his duty : all the fortnight he was at Leith he had not the Freedom of staying one night in his own house, they being gald  to see him so much taken notice of, alledging that it did not consist with the Government to know, that he could not goe upon the Street his own length without being kneed and embraced. The ship loosed from Leith on Tuesday morning. Blest be God for what fair weather they have had since; my humble duty to your Lady and self not forgetting your sweet babies. I hope you will remember your friends in your prayers that it may please God to give us a happy and joyful meeting which will be the greatest earthly mercie that can befall

Honored dear Brother
Your obliged sister and humble servant
A. Smyth
My husband commanded me to give his entire respects to yourself and your Lady.


From the above letter Anna and her youngest son William, afterwards Dr Graeme, must have spent the remainder of the time at Methven until she joined her husband in France, and had the happy meeting with him so earnestly prayed for, but marred by the death of their rebellious boy Robert, and the loss to the world of their eldest son Patrick, who was the Capuchin Monk.

The remarks of his wife show how popular Colonel Graeme had become during his years of residence amongst the Edinburgh people, and what a source of jealousy this popularity was to the Government representing the Orange Dynasty: the thirty years that had passed since the funeral of the Great Montrose had not silenced the echoes that then reawoke to the name of "Black Pate"; his son and namesake was no less welcome to the loyal citizens.

Mrs Graeme's half-brother, to whom she writes, is, through his mother the Bishop of Orkney's daughter, her husband's second cousin; his hospitable lady was Miss Haldane, daughter of John Haldane of Gleneagles, a family of high standing, and connected by marriage with almost every county neighbour. They were a family of soldiers; and in times of peace their services were given to Parliament. The property of Gleneagles passed in the female line to the family of the Earl of Camperdown, while the male representatives are the Right Rev. J. Chinnery-Haldane, Bishop of Argyll and the Isles, and Richard Burdon Haldane, Esq., K.C., M.P., of Cloanden, Perthshire.

Between the years 1684 and 1692, Patrick Smythe had sold his lands of Braco and purchased those of Methven; in 1683 he was still styled "of Braco," for Colonel Patrick Graeme his brother-in-law writes to him from Dalgettie in that year where he is visiting their friends the Hays. The letter appears to refer to his youngest son William (cypher was barely known and not in use among private individuals, and in consequence much of the correspondence is so involved in its wording as to convey little meaning to the uninitiated for fear it falls into the hand of an enemy). News was always sent by a trusty messenger, who brought back a verbal reply, and the letters which might have told us so much, convey but little meaning.

Captain Grame has been staying with Lord Southesk at Kynnard in company with his son, who is highly honoured by Lord Southesk, and who is the bearer of Graeme's letter to Smythe of Methven. I only quote a few sentences, as much of the letter is so involved as to make it uninteresting.

Dalgetie, 26 April 1683.
"Honored loving Brother,

"The occasion of hearing from you or acquainting you with my own or my friend's conditione here occuris so seldome that I thot myself obliged not to omit the occasione of this berer." 

Graeme entreats him by "all the favors of a brother" to be friendly to him and despatch him with his blessing. He continues to speak of the "berer" in terms of high praise;  Graeme says they all stand in need of this " persounnes" council, concurrence and activity.

" Inferiour to non of his birth, educatione or age in the kingdome, let be the shire he lives in, I wish God for your comfort, you hard that report I had in secret, yea in public, also your noble honorble and loving friend my Lord Southesk gives of him."

 Graeme continues to relate that the "berer" has been staying the great part of the winter with Lord Southesk, who has therefore had much conversation with him, " with whom much of these 4 or 5 days at Kynnard he and I have been honorably and kyndly entertained and recommend to you by all the mercies of God the natural and Christian desires of a loving father."

 Graeme begs Smythe to assist him all in his power, asking him not to forget that no matter how many good points a man may have, "poverty will expose his gifts to much contempt," and trust the messenger will have occasion to prove himself the "faithful sone of a loving father."

"Your loving brother,
P. Grahame."
"Brother, my bedfellow, Dalgetic and wyf, the guidwyffe of Midletoune,  and others, your guid friends heir in Angus, has ther best respects reembered to yourself and all others our guid friends, especially (you)  my loving cusin and beloved brother Mr Patrick and his bedfellow, for health and prosperitie of wish."

This Patrick Smythe's father had been the loved adopted son of the Bishop of Orkney, George Graeme, and for several generations there continued strong ties of friendship as well as of kinsmen between the Inchbrakie and the Gorthie Graemes and the Smythes of Methven. A kindly mention is in old Smythe of Braco's will to his little daughter Annas; he leaves her 200 merks and his diamond ring which "he gat from her mother" ; it closes our record of Colonel Graeme's wife ; her father was drowned at sea on the passage to Stronsay, May 7th, 1655, and we think with regret of this man who had been the Bishop's right hand and counsellor!

Of Colonel himself little remains to add; the last years of his life must have been spent abroad, for his Estate is reckoned in "livre."  He died August 1720; his will is given up in Perth by Dr William Graeme, his youngest son, in March 1724. Little is mentioned in it beyond a balance of 720 livres at 221/2 per cent of Sterling money and 610 livres,  the sale of which are owed to him by the heirs of the deceased Captain David George of Aberdeen.