POSTMASTER GENERAL OF SCOTLAND

THIRD SON OF BLACK PATE OF INCHBRAKIE AND HIS FAMILY

The earliest mention of Mr John Graeme, third son of Black Pate the fifth Baron of Inchbrakie and Aberuthven, and Mistress Jean Drummond his wife, daughter to the second Lord Maddertie, has already been alluded to in Sketch XI, when he acted page to your Lord Napier (nephew of the Great Marquis at the siege of Kincardine Castle in 1646.

His first wife was his cousin the Honourable Margaret Drummond (daughter of the third Lord Maddertie; she was his mother’s niece and niece also to the Great Marquis.

The Drummonds and Lord Maddertie had suffered much from adherence to the Royal Cause. The first Lord James had been styled Lord Inchaffray on becoming Commendator of that Abbey and its lands, with which his father (second Lord Drummond) endowed him. Like the Inchbrakie’s, the Balgowans and David Lord Scone, he had been present at the Gowrie Conspiracy; and was a Gentleman of the Bedchamber. His death, which hitherto had been placed about 1620, occurred in 1627, as shown by his will, which, however, must have lain for many years among the family documents without being formally proved; it is in the Register House, Edinburgh, as the will of –

James Lord Madderty and Inerpeffry, who died in the

Parish of Monzie (?) in the year 1627, given up by

David, now Lord Madderty on 24^th Dec. 1663.

At the earlier date Monzie had passed, by the marriage of its heiress Miss Scott (widow of Drummond of Carnock) from the hands of the Drummonds to those of the Inchbrakie Graemes. Lord Madderty may have been visiting Monzie or had some interst there at the time of his death.

So much for the grandfather of Black Pate’s wife, and great grandfather of the Honourable Margaret Drummond, wife to the future Postmaster General of Scotland; his son John (the second Lord Maddertie), who thus succeeded in 1627, was the Royalist Lord who joined Montrose, and was obliged not to oppose the Parliaments under the penalty of 50,000 pounds.

His son, David, third Lord Maddertie, was taken prisoner as "the Master of Maddertie" in 1644 previous to the Battle of Tibbermuir, when he rode under a flag of truce to confer with the enemy; he was kept a prisoner until about the time of Montrose’s departure from the country, and was the Lord Maddertie who proved his grandfather’s will in 1663; he signed the Commission appointment Montrose in 1639 to be Colonel of Perthshire, in the war for maintenance of the purity of religion.

A man of literary tastes, he founded the Library of Innerpeffray which contains many valuable books; he married Beatrix, sister to the great Marquis, and his estate of Maddertie fell to his nephew William, second Viscount Strathallan, also a cousin to all Black Pate’s children.

The marriage of John Graeme to Jean again brought the ties of relationship with the Montroses closer, for his wife was first cousin to the second Marquis. As already mentioned, owning to the loss and scattering of the Inchbrakie papers during the Civil War, there has occasionally been some difficulty in showing a legal proof of various incidents, which were known to the immediate families from private sources; amongst others I remember that this first marriage of the Postmaster General had considerable doubt thrown on it, by some very experienced and able record searchers during enquiries made on a side issue. Of course the marriage had been mentioned in Crawford and Douglas Peerages, and the MS. Of the House of Drummond, but these old authorities are not always accepted, owing to one or two discrepancies discovered in them. I have been fortunate in finding the will of the Postmaster Genera’s daughter, and in it is incontrovertible proof of his marriage with Lord Maddertie’s daughter, Margaret, as shown in this sketch.

John Graeme combined a soldier’s life with his official duties, to which he succeeded on his father’s relinquishing them about the middle of the seventies.

Amongst the Abercairny Papers is a paper endorsed "note of the Muster in August 1684". It states "the Regt. Of Horsemen commanded by Collonell Graeme consists of 250 horsemen"; a second document entitled "A list of all his Majestie’s Forces in Scotland," states that Colonel Graeme’s regiment consisted of six troops, each were composed of fifty horse besides officers.

Colonel John Graeme received 13s. od. Per diem

Lieutenant Colonel Earl of Drumlanrig, 8s.od.per diem

Major Lord Ross, 6s. od. Per diem

Captain Colin, the Earl of Balcarres )

Captain James, the Earl of Airlie) each 10s.od.per diem

Captain Lord William Douglas)

With two horses each at 2s. od. Per diem. Black Pate is the full Colonel; under him in command is his third son Colonel John Graeme.

The paper states the total of His Majesty’s forces in Scotland is under 3500 horse; it is remarkable that under no Colonel was there the number of Peers which Black Pate’s regiment contained; he still retained the confidence which the flower of Perthshire had given him in 1661.

In 1685 an unfortunate episode of mistaken identity occurred, for Cameron of Lochiel, than whom no greater loyalist existed, and who also commanded a troop of the King’s Horse, came unexpectedly on those of Colonel John Graeme and "through mistake fell on a partie of the gentrie of Perth, commanded by John Graeme, Post Master General, and killed five of them, viz, Pearson of Kippon Ross, Dog of Ballengrew, Linten of Pitendriech, etc. etc.

Colonel John and his wife the Honourable Margaret Drummond had two children, a son named David, and a daughter christened Amelia. The only record of the son is his will; he died abroad, and was a captain in the regiment of the deceased John Marquis of Tullibardine; it is stated in the will that he was the eldest son to the deceased John Graeme, Postmaster General of Scotland, and that his death occurred abroad in September 1709.

The will is "given up" by Mr David Drummond, the treasurer of the Bank of Scotland, who acts as Factor of Captain William Drummond of aforesaid regiment, and by John Hamilaton, W.S. factor for Captain John McQueen of the Earl of Orkney’s regiment, the above are executors dative, being creditors to the said David Graeme.

Captain Robert Stewart, Lieutenant William Weems, Adjt. And Ensign Abercromby, all of the aforesaid regiment, declare that on 28^th December 1709 they examined the books of the deceased David Graeme, captain, which were very regular and exact, and show that during Captain Graeme received for him 188 guelders, 4 stivers and a quart, besides the proceeds from the sale of 14 horses sold for him; 11 pistols in specie which amount to 116 guelders 5 stivers; in all 304 guelders, 9 stivers and a quart, Holland. Also that debts of a regimental nature were owing to Captain J. Macqueen for 600 guelders, and they two are the only creditors.

David Graeme’s debtors are the Earl of Strathmore and Thomas Milne of Mylneford to a bond dated February 1709, whereby they were bound to pay Mrs Alison Fletcher, relict of the Postmaster-General, and failing her to the said David Graeme, the sum of 1000 pounds.

Further debts were due to him on a principal sum of 10,000 merks by the Laird of Innergelly and John Lumsden, W.S.

The sum of 100 pounds Scots on half a year’s rent of the lands of Gilkerstown, East Lothian, and a sum of 607 pounds by Mr Patrick Campbell of Monzie.

Thus the male line of the Postmaster General ended with the life of his son David, who died, like so many of his compatriots, in the service of the States of Holland.

Aemilie Graeme was the only daughter of John Graeme and the Hon. Margaret Drummond; her identity and marriage is also proved by her will, which I give at length, as it is interesting not only in showing the place of her burial, but distinctly proving the marriage of her father and mother, as well as her own.

Testament of decased Aemilia Graeme, relict of the deceased Sir Niel Campbell of Island Greig, who lived and died at Milne of Ochterardour, "died month of last yearly." Is given up by her children, Archibald, Beatrice and Bernella Campbell. A band is held by John Taylor in Edinburgh, by which Sir Niell Campbell in 1702 assigned him all the arrears of the said Sir Niell’s pay as Major and Captain in the Duke of Argyll’s Regiment.

Part of this sum is owed to the Lady Island Greig, by John Taylor.

The Nomination or Letter Will runs as follows:

"By these presents Dame Emily Graeme relict of the deceased Sir Neill Campbell of Island Greig. I am sick in body but whole in spirit; perfect in memory and in judgement and do hereby order my affairs as follows:

"In first I command my soul to God and ordains my body to be decently buried conform to my degree, in the Chapel of Inerpeffray in my Lord Madertie’s burial place, my grandfather.

"I nominate and appoint Archibald Campbell my second son, Beatrix and Bernella Campbell my two daughters, to be heirs and executors as heirs to all, and to money due by John Campbell of Island Greig, my eldest son on my contract of marriage 5^th December 1689.

"To my said daughter Beatrix my Cabinet and books therein, to my second son allowing a guinea of gold out of sums before division, and to my younger daughter in place of the said cabinet.

"My habilement equally between my daughters". Lady Campbell goes on to charge her executors with the payment of all debts, "and to do therinent as I might or could have done in my lifetime."

The expenses of her "sickness and burriall conform to her degree and quality" are first to be discharged. For attention to her affairs Lady Campbell appoints Mr William Carmichael, advocate, Mr Mungo Haldane of Gleneagles, David Graeme of Pitcairn and Robert moray, brother german to Abercairny. The will is dated 4^th May 1727, and signed before witnesses in Lady Campbell’s beautiful handwriting, Amilie Graeme.

Aemilie’s marriage took place the same year as that in which her father died. We find in "Chronicles of the Atholl Family", Island Greig is mentioned once or twice. First, an unsigned letter from Glenderwell, in the handwriting of Murray of Dollerie, speaks of further movements against Argyll, and says the King’s ships were coming up so near "Iland Grage where the rebel ships and boats lay, that it is impossible for them to make any more use of them.

Secondly, an account by J. Haldane of thePerthshire Horse states that Argyll left his ships at "Ilan Grig", and was lying at Alan Greig.

Third, we find Colin Campbell of Island Greig, is examined on his great oath by the Lord depute, appointed to take all depositions on the conduct of Argyll on this matter in 1685, and Duncan Campbell, son to Ilandgreg is also examined. Neither Colin nor Duncan are styled "Sir" though called of Island Greig; they were therefore the uncles or younger brothers of Sir Niell, future husband of Aemilie Graeme.

The Postmaster General had been a widower for some time, and previous to his daughter’s marriage, he himself embarked a second time on matrimony; his choice fell on Alison Fletcher, the daughter of Sir John Fletcher of Newcranstoune, Knight.

The lady’s origin is proved by a charger under the Great Seal to "John Graeme, General (postmaster) of Scotland, and Eliza Fletcher, his spouse, of the lands of Gilchristoune in the Constabulary of Hadingtoune, Edinburgh, 13^th Jan 1682. This date no doubt followed closely on that of the second marriage, if not immediately previous to it.

John Graeme had been appointed Postmaster General in 1674, as his father, Black Pate, had been granted the appointment for life, and had begun to fail in health, he very likely transferred it by some arrangment to his son John.

Mr Lewin tells us that his salary doubled that of his father at 1000 pounds and states that the new Chief began at once with great spirit to reorganize the postal arrangements. In consequence of the necessary traveling for observing defects in the service, and the cost of setting up a number of local posts, his expenses soon far exceeded his salary.

John Graeme died sometime in the year 1689, and during the early winter of that year the proceedings of the Town Council of Perth have many reference to his name. Vide volume 1675 and 1680-93.

John appears to have wished to resign or to be unable to retain so expensive an office, and arrangements are in prospect to give him yearly 100 pounds and a dozen of chiverons; and in return, Graeme was to give a letter of substitution to any one the town pleased to appoint for his life, etc. etc.

The death of John Graeme stopped the arrangement and the Town Council delayed rouping the Postmastership on account of his death.

It should be understood that the Perth office was only a small portion of the whole, and it appears that for some time the Perth Postmaster had been Mr John Blair. Alison Fletcher puts in her claim as widow, for much of the money that has been spent in the service of the post, and also for certain dues, and on the 6^th July 1689 the Town issue an order to every one owing payments to the deceased John Graeme, "lait Postmaster General to make payment to Alisone Fletcher, his relict of the byegone rents of the said office, and to dispose of all things belonging thereto to the best advantage for her own proper use," until the following Martinmas. Some of these dues consisted of "chevrons, half for me and half for women."

Mrs John Graeme also obtains sassine August 1689 of the lands of Gilchristoun, which had been settled on her by her husband in 1682.

Of John Graeme’s burial place there is no record but his widow, Madame Graham was buried in the Abbey of Holyrood House on 13^th December 1707.

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