Sketch XVI

GEORGE GRAEME

1686-1706)

(son of Black Pate 5^TH Baron)

George Graeme has been alluded to in the sketch of that valiant adherent of the King of the Great Marquis, his father Black Pate, and it was mentioned that George appeared either from force of circumstances, or inclination, to have adopted a different line politically from that of his father and brothers.

He went to Edinburgh early in life and engaged with several other young men of his rank and age in the profession of a merchant. At this period in Edinburgh were to be found cadets of the principal families in many offices of the merchant princes of the day, especially in those of the Goldsmiths, and in the lists of other Guelds there might be read the names of many of the noblesse. It is quite probable that if George did not lean towards the life of a soldier, or that his sympathies leant towards the Covenanters, that he would choose this career. In 1662 we find several "gentlemen" called on to pay an indemnity for the "King’s Pardon". In Edinburgh "George Graham", merchant, pays "600 punds" and in Perthshire Oliphant of Gask "6000 punds" to reinstate themselves as loyal men. In the account of the second Obsequisies of Montrose given in Wishart held on 11 May 1661 it states, "the great mourning Banner carried by George Graham of Inchbrakie younger, whose youthhead only excused him from running the risks of his father." George was certainly very young at the time of the Montrose troubles.

Certainly it is that George’s future father-in-law was a wealthy merchant, and the year after George Graeme paid his indemnity to the King, Patrick Nicholl "Merchant Burgess" of Edinburgh becomes the owner in June 1663 of the Barony of Royston, lying within two or three miles of Edinburgh; and five years later Patrick Nicholl now styled "of Royston" purchases on September 29^th, 1668, the lands of Easter Grantown, lying contiguous to his first purchase 3¼ miles N.N.W. of Edinburgh and 1½ miles from Newhaven.

The family of Patrick Nicholl consisted of two daughters who ultimately divided his various lands between them as heirs portioners; Margaret became the wife of George Graeme, "fiar" of Inchbrakie, and their marriage is registered on the 16^th March 1665.

At the time of this marriage with the co-heiress of Patrick Nicholl, Black Pate makes a settlement on his son George "and his spouse", of several of the large Aberuthven farms; we find Beldhill and Strathie Chalmer are specially mentioned, while Margaret Nicholl is to receive an annual rental off the lands of Inchbrakie. George Graeme at Patrick Nicholl’s decease (1676) is granted a charter of the lands of Granton, they having belonged to Patrick Nicholl for life, and "to his lawful daughter Margaret Nicholl in fee her aires and assignees therein specified". Ultimately, in 1685, when our sixth baron was spending his money royally, and bit by bit the old Barony of Inchbrakie was being mortgaged to one person and another, Royston and Granton had to be sold, and George Graeme finds a purchaser for them in George Viscount Tarbet. Amongst other lands mentioned is that specially of Easter Grantoun and Granton Manor, and burn, as being "included in the Barony of Royston".

King James VII ratifies this charter to George Viscount Tarbet, Lord MacLeod and Castleham, Lord Clerk Register, and to his spouse Anna Sinclair, the dove cots, coal heughs and quarries are all alluded to. We leave that old Grantoun Manor House was sometimes called Royston Castle, and "now Carolina Park".  In 1851 a drawing of the old gateway shows it was then standing, but the edifice was 'a foofless ruin.' 

But previously to this period in 1671 we find matters very prosperous with George ; instead of parting with his lands he is adding to them ; no doubt his success is aided by his being son-in-law to the wealthy Patrick Nicholl and husband of his daughter and co-heiress. So George Graeme " fiar " of Inchbrakie enforces some claims he has on the purse of Lord Mordington and obtains sasine on precept from Chancery of the lands of Mordington and other lands in the Sheriffdome of Berwick' in September 1671.

By this date their eldest son Patrick, the future seventh laird, had been born ; George Graeme and his wife lived principally in Edinburgh and at Royston, and in 1673 a second son, George, appears on the scene; this boy's baptism is celebrated in Edinburgh and is marked by the attendance as witnesses of some of George Graeme's relations, John, Earl of Atholl, at this time Lord Privy Seal and suitor in the name of his son, for George Graeme 's little first cousin, the future Baroness Nairne in her own right, heads the list.

The baby's uncle, Lord Nairne, himself is present with Sir John Drummond of Logie, Lieutenant-General Sir William Drummond, afterwards Lord Strathallan, and Sir Alexander Keith of Ludquhairn, George Graeme's cousin through his aunt Annas, as well as through his grandmother (who was a daughter of that house, and that of the Earl Marischal of Scotland), wife of the fourth Baron of Inchbrakie; the list is brought to a close by the name of Sir John Moncrieff of that Ilk, and we see George Graeme's relations and friends have forgiven (if they had ever objected to) his money-making pursuits, and the neutral part he took in the affairs of the kingdom. This gathering must have been graced by the presence of their respective ladies, and we can picture the little daughter of Charlotte de Tremonille and the Earl of Derby, now grown into a stately Countess, the Earl of Atholl's wife; then George's sister Lady Nairne, with the lines of her three years' imprisonment for loyalty still marking in some degree her face, while adding character to it. Sir William Drummond's wife, Miss Johnstone of Warristoun, mother of the second Viscount of Strathallan, might complete the group of ladies. Sir John Moncrieff the eminent physician was there probably in his professional role, as having ushered the baby into the world, and the scene must have been a happy one to the young mother, who could not foresee the tiny stranger a gallant rider in Lord Carmichael's regiment of Dragoons!

George was acting godfather at this time to the offspring of many companions; a wealthy man in his position has many calls of the kind which seem to have met with a cheery response.  Patrick Smyth, Advocate of (a blank), and his wife, Lilias Aitken, have already had a son Patrick, 1670, to whom Robert, Lord Nairne, has acted sponsor, and in 1672 they call another gathering to witness to the birth of their little girl called Lilias; Archibald, Lord Rutherford, George Graeme of Inchbrakie, James Edmonston, James Scott and James Stangfield, the two latter designated merchants, are present with Mr Archibald Turner the minister.

Again in June 1673, he is present when Mr James Graham "Writter," and his wife, Margaret Henderson, baptize their son James; his colleagues on this occasion being George Dollas, "Writter to H.M. Signet," Mr Nathaine Fyffe, Advocate, and Mr Patrick Smith, Advocate.

George Graeme's reckless expenditure was beginning to draw its net closely round him, and heavy troubles were on the horizon; for a moment Inchbrakie and Aberuthven lands hung in the balance; neither a faithful husband or a careful father for the future of his children, George Graeme was destined to be the laird of whom we have little that is worthy to record. A reckless man, he lavished his wealth and the lands his wife brought him, as well as those that his father Black Pate had preserved (in spite of the losses his devotion to the early Stuart kings had caused), George cared for none of these things ; he borrowed and spent as he liked, and ran deeper each year into debt. He pledged some of the best parts of the Aberuthven property which he " sold wadset and disponed to Robert Swinton, Maltman at Leith, and his heirs, 1675, these lands were those of "Beldhill, alias Pernie," and thus for a space of fifty years they passed from the owners of Inchbrakie ; during that time they were owned in succession by five groups of owners, as will be related in the history of George's eldest son and heir who finally redeemed them from David Graeme of Pitcairns and his wife Beatrice of Orchill.

About this period, 1773-1775, Inchbrakie also for about a year passed nominally from George (1773-1775), who had got into hot water with his brother-in-law Sir Robert Moray of Abercairny for not paying his wife Annas’ jointure. Annas Graeme or Moray was the daughter of Black Pate, and it will be remembered that she was dowered handsomely at the time of her marriage by the annual interest of a bond granted by her father, and her uncle, David Lord Maddertie. In this and the following century it became the common practice owing to the impossibility of containing ready money for lands to be granted to sons and other persons by owners, on condition that they took up certain bonds on cautions due by the granter.

An example of this is given in the sketch of Orchill, where it is shown that David Graeme of Pitcairns became owner of Orchill by marriage with its heiress, and also by redeeming large bonds due by her father and uncle. Another is the one previously mentioned and more detailed further on, where the charters of Beldhill or Pernie lands are tossed from hand to hand until recovered again by the Inchbrakie of the day. And this matter between George Graeme and Robert moray of Abercairny was another of the same kind, the bond which granted her dower had been due by her father to Lord Maddertie, who "out of the love and favor he bore his grand-daughter Annas, made a gift to her of its annual interest as her portion on her first marriage to Smythe of Rapness: this portion was also assigned to her second husband Sir Robert Moray, and George being owner now (1674) of those lands which are burdened with the interest is bound to pay the dower; this he has failed to do. Sir Robert Moray of Abercairny in July 1674 summoned him to pay the money due with expenses. George, heedless of his obligations continues his extravagant career, shoes his riding horses with silver and proceeds to ride to – the loss of his lands! Sir Robert issues a pound of horning, and if in fifteen days the money is not paid, both the principal and interest the lands of George Graeme will be seized.

This apparently is carried out, for one record states Sir Robert "owned" Inchbrakie, but in the next year, 1675, there is dated a full receipt and discharge, signed by Sir Robert Moray to George Graeme, for the whole sum (notwithstanding the horning mentioned) and George is reinstated in those lands.

The money borrowed in 1675 from Swinton, which I have mentioned was probably for payment to Sir Robert.

In 1676 he and his wife are living at their Perthshire estates, for that year on July 1^st a child is born to them, and again in October 1678 a daughter named Amelia to "George Graeme of Inchbrakie and Lady Margaret Nicholl his spouse."

In 1683 George is engaged in various business transactions, mostly connected with the lands; various renunciations occur of debts on smaller or larger portions of them, either to or from George and following the usual custom he gives a charter of lands of Strathiechalmer, Strathie-bonar, a third part of the lands of Strathiebyreis, Smiddyhaugh, and lands of Beldhill, and Pyrnie within the Barony of Kincardine to his eldest son Patrick. It is in this year also that a sasine to young Patrick mentions the niece of his mother; her father, Patrick Nicholl of Royston is dead, and young Patrick has sasine on lands of Hunting Tower with his cousin Isobel Rochheid only child of the late Patrick Nicholl’s other daughter, and her husband Robert Rochheid, merchant burgess of Edinburgh. The death occurring in 1687 of Black Pate his father, George Graeme enters into the possession of the whole of the Barony of Inchbrakie. A full service as heir not only to his father, but to his great grandfather took place.

A large gathering of officials met on the 3^rd June 1687, at Perth, a "Jury of Magistrates" as it was called, under the Presidency of Mr Nathaniell Fyffe,Advocate (fourteen years since he and the new laird had been godfathers together!) and swore on their honor and truth that they hereby do shew that George Graeme, now of Inchbrakie, is served heir to his great-grandfather Patrick Graeme (this Patrick was third baron) in all the lands of the Barony of Invermay, lying by the water of the Earn the Landis of Kier and Little Cardene, and that the said Patrick Graeme had been installed in that Barony by consent of John Duke of Atholl, Lord of Invermay, on payment of an annual fee of 2 pounds Scots on 8^th October 1604.

They also attest that the said George Graeme is the lawful and nearest heir to the said Patrick Graeme of Inchbrakie.

The jury who sign are:

Lieutenant Viccecomitatus, Patrick Oliphant of Bacheltoune, Patrick Murray of Keillour, Patrick Anderson of Tullielum, Magistruim, Robert Murray, junr of Livelands, Alex. Blair of Corbs, John Stewart (late Baillie of Perth), George Blair (late Baillie of Perth), .Patrick Davidson, Merchant, do, Thomas Blair de Pockmilne,  Davidson Monteath, late Dean of Guild, 
John Christie, lately Dean Sartorum,  Matthew Gibson, Polentarium ibed, James Oliphant and John Amot, Writers.

Other documents prove his succession to the lands of Inchbrakie and Pittencleroch, the lands of Bulland with houses in the town and seats in the Kirk of Foullis, but most of the lands of Aberuthven George has sold and mortgaged to James Graeme, Laird of Orchill, from whom his son, the seventh Laird Patrick will redeem them.

In 1690 George borrows from his tailor in Perth, Adam Christie, a burgess, 120 pounds, on the other hand in 1692, the much honoured George Graeme of Inchbrakie lends Sir George Oliphant money.

In 1691, Mr William Cunningham of Coull has the factorship of Inchbrakie lands; as has been explained, a great part of these lands had been settled on Patrick, our sixth baron’s eldest son, and at this period he is married and living at Ryecroft, one of the Graeme’s residences on the Aberuthven property, he signs a receipt for the factorship, for the years 1686 to 1689, which is witnessed by his father George and his younger brother also a George, at this time a young officer of Carmichael’s Dragoons.

During the latter years of this century and beginning of the next, little meets the eye with regard to our great baron with one exception; he appears to be settling down now, tacks of various lands to his tenants; hornings on some of them for their rents are what we principally come across; in all these he signs with the diphthong spelling, notwithstanding that in all public documents, registers, etc., he and his children are styled Graham, as Sir Robert Moray of Abercairny is persistently written Murray!

In 1693 he gives a bond for over 135 pounds to John Thriepland, merchant, late bailie, burgess of Perth; Robert Graham after of Damside, and Town Clerk of Perth is a witness.

In 1600 the exception occurred; sorrow much have fallen on George Graeme, for there is great trouble concerning a duel between Patrick Graeme his eldest son and the young Master of Rollo; the story is told in Sketch XVIII. (from the date of its occurrence), George was destined to lose his son from Scotland, and it is not likely they met again, for the Rollos’ sorrow was deep and sore, and it took the form of enforcing to the utmost the rigours of the law, which meant extradition to the young Laird of Inchbrakie; it was ignored after a little, but for some years a very quiet life (if he was in the country) was the fate of young Patrick Graeme.

A curious feature of the day in trying to encourage education is shown about 1697. A certain schoolmaster in the parish of Foulis at that period failed in receiving his full annual fee between the years 1697 and 1700, when he retired; from a claim he made no less than thirty years afterwards, it appears that in the latter half of the seventeenth century the heritors, ministers and elders of Foulis parish, for encouraging the "commons" to put their children the more frequently to school, did make an Act, appointing the payment for each child per quarter to be only half a merk so long as he was learning to read English, and because this was too small a sum to requite the schoolmaster, they appointed twenty merks to be paid yearly to him out of the box; besides what he received there from as Precentor and Session Clerk, which sometimes six pounds and finally 4 pounds 10s yearly as the old session books show.

Mr Archibald had been schoolmaster at Foulis from 1692 to 1700, but for the last three years the twenty merks from the box has never reached his hands, about which time (1697) the deceased Mr William Hepburn had been admitted minister there.

It is 32 years (being 1732) since the money was due, and if the sum was now paid with interest he would be content; the great dearth and famine that waged in the land at the time of his domission until now, has prevented hitherto his applying for it; he now however "expects Justice after so long patience," and to ensure it he observes that the two old Session books (which with great pains and trouble he had recovered from the Highlands "where for many years they had been carried away and absconded") he will still detain until he has been paid those sixty merks! Mr A Drummond is a man of patient endurance and we should like to know whether he obtained the money.

The above is from a document amongst the Inchbrakie family papers, their lands in Foulis making the lairds heritors, but no solution of the case is given.

From the document, however, we learn two things; firstly, that in the latter end of the seventeenth century the landed proprietors were awakening to the blessing of education for the masses, and that the heritors of Foulis parish in particular did all that was in their power to encourage it; amongst them was George Graeme, sixth Laird of Inchbrakie. Secondly, we learn that during the latter years of his life and afterwards, the misery of dearth and famine was added to the desolation, which surrounded in 1715 the first struggle to reinstate King James II in his kingdom!

In 1704, for the first and last time, we find George Graeme of Inchbrakie Commissioner with his neighbours for Perthshire, and his last act previous to his death is to give a tack of the Bishop’s old lands of Myreside in 1706 to a tenant, Thomas Gall by name.

Then comes the end; he dies in July 1706; from his will he was apparently living at Ryecroft, or with his daughter Mrs Graeme of Pitcairns, for he dies in the parish of Auchterarder; his wife had predeceased him. A certain Mr Archibald Drummond gives up the will; whether this is the gentleman of the Session books, or a surgeon, is not very clear; we incline to the latter view, as he gives up the will, being principal creditor, and among the debts is one to him of 420 pounds, expended by the said Mr A. Drummond to doctors and "chirurgeons" and others for medicines and attendants on the defunct, during the time of his illness, and upon his funeral expenses.

This gentleman appears also to have either been a collector of bills and bonds or to have obtained them from other people in payment for his services; such would most likely be the case had he been a doctor. His claim against George amounts to over a thousand pounds, on bills due to James Graeme of Orchill, Mr James Murray at Williamstoune and William Cunningham of Coul, all of whom have placed their bills at one period of another in the hands of Mr Archibald Drummond.

The will gives a long inventory, minutely and carefully valued by no less than at least seven various merchants, tradesmen and artisans:

Horses are valued at £28 each

A large oval folding table £24

A resting chair covered in carpet back, head and feet

£16

11 Russian leather chairs at £11

5 larger ones at £3 a piece (£15)

1 fine cabinet £48

1 chest of drawers £10

1 chess and checker board £6

1 lint wheel £14

1 board over the mort chess £9

1 down bed "very light" £8

Among George’s possessions are many things not easy to explain; for instance,

"a leaf of the old geal,"

"ten leaves of a seringe,"

"a stone borrow" (barrow?),"

"a large chimney and a little chimney,"

"a nanse coal bedstead with iron rods,"

"handies,"

"worstone barrels,"

"a lamp for kindling a fire,"

The inventory is a long one, and full of articles of luxury for those days:

four or five handsome beds, all with red, blue or green hangings;

brass candlesticks

hand swords,

skins,

silver plates, dishes, broth plates and askalls (?)

Like many wils compiled by creditors, all mention of wife or friends is omitted, while the inventory of "gier" enters into great detail.

In the records of the Lyon Court in Edinburgh, which (through the courtesy of the Lyon and the Lyon Clerk) I was permitted to see, is the "birth Brieve" and the "Funeral Escutcheon" of the sixth baron; these are in MSS, and state descent, and were prepared with the object of painting the hatchments formerly affixed to the house on a birth or death of a member of families of importance. These hatchments were painted with the family arms, and were in constant use at this period; it was a very important ceremonial, the heralds assembling at the house of the deceased and superintending the erection of the escutcheon.

I have given an example in Sketch XV., where the one drawn up for Annas (George’s sister), Mrs Moray of Abercairny, is depicted. It is misleading in one or two particulars, but it was the most correct one of the Graeme of Inchbrakie in the Lyon office.

Unfortunately neither the escutcheons or the brieves can be depended on. They appear to have been drawn up by underlings, rather than by the Lyon King at Arms. In many the spelling is to illiterate and in some the genealogy most misleading, otherwise they would be proofs of descent; as it is they all require confirmation.