DESCENDED OF MONTROSE FROM THE SECOND EARL AND THE GRAEMES OF PITCAIRNS AND ORCHILLDESCENDED OF MONTROSE FROM THE FIRST EARL

The Barony of Orchill dates back to the period 1560 when the second Earl of Montrose (Inchbrakie’s brother) settled the lands of Orchill and Rothearnes on his third son Mungo Graeme.

Mungo’s mother was Lady Janet Keith, daughter of the third Earl Marischal, one of the greatest men of his age, as well as one of the wealthiest; he married Margaret Keith, a cousin, the heiress of several baronies, and amongst other children they had a daughter Janet who became second Countess of Montrose and the mother of Mungo of Orchill and Rothearnes.

Mungo’s charter of Rothearnes, Burke’s Peerage states, is dated 1547, - a second charter is dated 1560 (the lands or Orchill and Garvock), this latter was only a retour charter. The same volume tells us that Mungo married "Janet Keith"; the late Mr Guthrie Smith, the noted antiquarian, shows that Sir William Edmonstone had married previously to 1545 Margaret, daughter of Sir James Campbell of Lawers, and that their daughter Marjory, after marrying Sir John Maxwell of Pollock, became on his death, the wife of Mungo Graeme of Orchill.

Mungo had a large number of brothers and sisters; his eldest brother was slain at Pinkie; his second, a prisoner of Cambuskenneth, and his youngest was William of Killearn. He had five sisters; the only one of whom I wish to make special mention is the Lady Agnes who married Sir William Murray, Knight of Tullibardine; their son was created first Earl of Tullibardine tempo James VI.

The reason I draw attention to Lady Agnes is that an autograph letter from her gives incontrovertible proof of the spelling of the name with the diphthong, amongst the family of the Earls of Montrose in 1579. Her husband had broken his sword over the face of Argyll in the heat of his passion, forgetful of the presence of King James VI, and was obliged to leave the Kingdom. The King missed his high-spirited courtier and when his dues were not collected, explained, "Oh, if I had Will Murray again, he would soon get my mails and slaughter cows."

Lady Agnes writes an interesting and somewhat pathetic letter to her brother Montrose, asserting her innocence of political accusations against her, which her brother Mungo has brought to her notice; at the time she is residing at Tullibardine and signs herself "Your affectionate sister Agnes Graem."

In February 1587 Mungo’s signature appears as cautioner under the designation of "Rathearnes," and again in November of that year a back bond acknowledging an annual payment of 200 merks due by him to Laurence, Lord Oliphant, out of the lands of Clathy on Mungo’s receiving 2000 merks from the lord, the witnesses are James Edmonstone of Newton, Archibald his brother, "George Graeme my son", Laurence Oliphant of Williamston, Laurence Oliphant "writer" in Perth, Dame Rollock, etc. The bond is signed in a fine hand by

"Mungoh Grohame of Rethernes

"wt my hand 8 Nov. 1587"

This son George must have predeceased him, for in October 1589 he dies, and his will is given up by his widow Marjorie Edmonstone on behalf of his children John, Annabel,Marjorie, and Elspeth Graeme. His estate was valued at £512  and a further sum of £1059  was due to him. (Confirmed March 1593).

This will confirms Mr Guthrie Smith’s statement as to his wife’s lineage.

JOHN, SECOND LAIRD OF ORCHILL,  GRANDSON OF SECOND EARL OF MONTROSE

The aforementioned John, second laird of Orchill, appears first to us on oath after the Gowrie conspiracy, when as young laird (called of Urquill) he states before the Duke of Lennox and Earl of Mars that, while seated at dinner in the hall with them, he saw the King and Maister Alex. Ruthven pass through the hall "up the turnpike" toward the gallery, and when Orchill, Hamilton and othrs rose to follow, Alex. Ruthven called back, "Gentlemen, stay for sua it is his hienis will." He was thus present with his first coursins, the young Inchbrakies, at that historic scene. No other record is known to me of him, except what a receipt in the Gask Charter Chest tells, where "John Lindsay, with consent of John Graham of Orchill, son and heir of Mungo Graham of Roternes," signs a discharge. From this is seems that it was not until John, the second laird’s day that the designation "of Orchill" or of Urquill" was used.

JOHN, THIRD LAIRD OF ORCHILL

John, third laird, succeeded. He married Jean, daughter of Sir James Chisholme of Cromlix in 1620. He is mentioned in old Perthshire rental of 1649 as holding lands to the value of 333 pounds in Aberuthven.

Apparently, this John Graham did not take a very active part with Montrose; if so, he thought it wiser to make the depostion his kinsman Graham of Braco did in 1644, after the Battle of Tibbermuir, which testified that he saw Montrose commanding the "rebel Irish troops" and by which many lairds preserved their lands from raid and foray, while their inclinations really went with Montrose. He was 41 years old at this time.

John of Orchill lends money to Nairne of Muckersie at Perth, 1656, and we find him gathered to the fathers in 1658. His will is proved by Bailie Chisholme of Dundee in 1666, probably his wife’s brother. It is lengthy owing to the mention of numerous bonds; the only child mentioned in it is John, his natural son, though we prove an heir, James Graeme of Orchill, and two daughters, Isobel, married in 1661 to William Auchinlek, and Anne, who married James Graham of Gartur. The Gartur’s eldest son is present at the death, in 1694, of the Earl of Menteith, to whom it is state he was heir.

JAMES, FOURTH LAIRD OF ORCHILL

In 1668, on the 3rd November, the contract of marriage of James Graeme, fourth laird of Orchill, signed at Williamstoun. The bride is Lilias, daughter of Sir Laurence Oliphant of Gask. Her mother was Lilias, daughter of Lord Oliphant, who is therefore her grandfather, and she bears the name not only of her mother, but of her grandmother Lilias Graeme of Inchbrakie.

The contract is an important document, bearing the names of many neighbouring barons as witness. Probably the marriage had been postponed until after young Graeme of Orchill was safely retoured to his father’s lands (1666)

He and his father-in-law of Gask are on very good terms, and the intercourse between Orchill, Gask and Monzie are frequent. The latter barony has been sold by the Graemes to Colin Campbell, who is another son-in-law of Gask’s, having married Anna Oliphant, and James of Orchill signs an instrument for sasine of lands to his young sister-in-law 1672.

When Sir Laurence dies in 1679 his will contains two handsome bequests of 1000 merks each, to his grandsons, young James of Orchill and young Colin of Monzie, to be employed to assist in defraying their "charges of prentis fies" should they go to any well qualified "wreater" to the signet when they become capable of "learning that Craft".

In 1672, when his brother-in-law Laurence, "fiar" of Gask, died, James Graeme of Orchill is appointed in his will as a governor to his fatherless children.

In 1673 James Graeme of Orchill receives a fresh sasine of Rothearnes from the Maquis of Montrose, probably on account of its being in temporary possession of his father’s son John; he is also served heir to Orchill in the same year in these terms: "James Graeme of Orchill heir of John Graeme of Orchill his father."

Meantime his natural brother John (the only child named in his father’s will) has held the lands of Rothearnes, for in 1684 a John Graham of Rothearnes, within the parish of Dunblane, is dead. His will is given up by William Graham of Rothearnes, his son, proving debts considerably exceeding his assets."

Inquisitione de Tutela No. 1106, 16th March 1688, serves James Graeme of Orchill son and heir of John Graeme of Orchill, who was the son and heir of Sir John Graeme of Orchill, who was son and heir of Quentigern (Mungo) Graeme of Orchill who was son of William Earl of Montrose.

It is difficult to account for this retour unless James his son is dead, and his second son is a minor; everything else except the above entry appears to point to James, husband of Lilias Oliphant, being the only James of Orchill at this period; otherwise it would have been easy to suppose that the young James mentioned in Laurence Oliphant’s will in a previous page had succeeded. As it is, the boy is dead, for a son William succeeds on James, his father’s death, and his name appears as an executor to the will of Sir William Graeme of Braco 1678.

In 1688 the deceased Marquis of Montrose’s heir (third Marquis) is under age; his father had, previous to his death, appointed ten "tutors" to look after his interests. His mother, the Marchioness, has married again, and now offers to entertain her young son at her new home with consent of her husband, Sir John Bruce of Kinross, free of all expense till he is ten years of age, when she will allow him 2000 merks annually from her jointure.

The annulling the tutorie was believed to be a Popish device, but Sir John Lauder says this could not be, as the tutors in law were willing to serve, and though "Graham of Brekoe, his nearest Agnate", is under age, Graeme of Orchill, his next agnate, "will embrace it," and is a Protestant.

Another court on this matter is held 1695, and some amusing incidents occur respecting the admission of ladies to the hearing of the case. The marquis’s mother and some other ladies were rejected by the Lords; not being Duchesses they were not entitled to enter the inner bar.

Mention is made of James in some notes (taken at Methven Castle) being a cousin of Smythe of Methven in 1687. James of Orchill was a Commissioner for Perthshire in 1689 and he lends money to various friends in 1692 to 1694. When he and his son William are both Commissioners, a memorandum in the Montrose Charter Chest dated Isle of Menteith 29, 1694, shows that several gentlemen were taking possession of the last Earl of Menteith’s papers. James Graeme of Orchill, tutor of the Marquis of Montrose, takes duplicates of several.

In 1701 James Graeme and his sons have sasine from Montrose, with royalty to him of lands of Rothearnes.

In 1703 Patrick Maxtone in Ferntower hands over the Isobel Martin, his wife, and their only daughter Catherine, several bonds of money, amongst them 100 pounds owed him by James Graeme of Orchill.

In 1704, his second son David, is called "of Rohallock" when described as Commissioner.

In a discharge amongst the Inchbrakie papers it appears that James of Orchill was still alive in 1707 and sold certain rights on his lands to his son and heir William Graeme, on condition that his just debts are paid by William.

In 1704 James is on the bench and in 1707 we have the last notice of him in his will; he died in June, and it is sworn to by Mr Duncan Comrie, Minister at Buchanan Castle.

His wife Lilias Oliphant survives him and four of their six children are living.

William, who succeeds.David, called "of Rohalloch" in 1704 when CommissionerCristane, married to Patrick Murray of Dollerie

Lilias (namesack in the fourth generation of Lilias Graeme of Inchbrakie her great grandmother) she is wife of John Drummond of Colquhalzie, who endows her with the lands of Blacklans, its house, Milne and Coal yairds in the Parish of Bendochie.Jean, married to John Drummond, the 10th Laird of Pitkellony; they had a large family (see Muthill Register and Malcolm’s "House of Drummond".)

WILLIAM, FIFTH LAIRD OF ORCHILL

William Graeme of Orchill succeeds to the lands of Orchill, Rothearnes and Rohalloch in 1702, we find him a Commissioner for Perthshire, and in 1707 he marries Isabella, daughter of the deceased Thomas Oliphant of Rossie, by whom he has two daughters, Lilias and Beatrice.

William witnesses Catherine and Anna Oliphant's (his sisters-in-law) receipts for their dowry, the former marries Hugh Paterson, a Surgeon Burgess of Edinburgh.

The years previous to his death, he was acting as Bailie to the Duke of Montrose, and a curious circumstance occurred in Aberuthven Churchyard, when he and Lord Rollo were present at the funeral of a neighbour at which an Episcopalian clergyman was officiating. Auchterarder roughs turned out to obstruct the ceremony and as the burial service was being read rushed at the clergyman, chased him from the ground and the interment was hastily concluded.

William Graeme died in 1712, he held his lands scarcely 5 years; his will is given up by his brother David, on whom certain of the lands devolve as heir male.

Isabella Oliphant has predeceased her husband, for their two little girls, Lilias and Beatrice, are taken in by their grandmothers, Lilias Oliphant (of Gask) Lady Orchill and "Leddy" Oliphant of Rossie.

DAVID OF ROHALLOCH,  BROTHER TO WILLIAM FIFTH OF ORCHILL

David Graeme, the uncle of William’s two little daughters, was a bachelor, and died on 14th March 1726 when his will was given in by his sisters Lilias, widow of John Drummond of Colquhalzie, and Cristane spouse of Patrick Murray of Dollerie; it proves his large personal possessions and his still larger debts owed by numerous bands.

The inventory is very interesting, describing many articles of furniture and ornaments of the period.  David was a collector, and much of his possessions are stored in the large and rambling house of Orchill, indeed, from the list it would appear that the greater part of the furniture belonged to him.  Chairs, tables and mirrors are in the list; embroidered bed-hangings, a couple of cabinets, one with drawers under it, oak chest and four pictures.  The silver list is unusual for the period, though the Jacobite rising has not yet drained every home of its valuables; thirty silver spoons and forks, two salvers and four salts being the weight 12 lbs. 6 ozs. 6 drs. equalling œ3 Scots an oz.

The candlesticks, eleven brass and two metal ones with "two flowers of such material" are valued œ8. A logger and copper kettle weighs l06 lbs. and values œ53. "Lying in Edinburgh" he has furniture, seven "face pictures," thirty-four engravings and pewter trenchers to the value of œ280, besides a ring set with seven diamonds, silver watch, a "kane," two snuff boxes and a silver "sugar hatchet" ;  there is a cabinet, brought sealed from Glasgow and a very long list of books, the total value of the inventory is œ4268.

BEATRICE, DAUGHTER OF FIFTH LAIRD & 6TH OF ORCHILL

Thus Orchill ceased to be nearest agnate of the Earldom of Montrose, and David’s eldest brother William is succeeded by the younger of his two daughters, Beatrice; the elder, Lilias, has predeceased her.

The note of a "memorial" among the Orchill papers proves that William Graeme and his wife Miss Oliphant of Rossie had two daughters, Lilias and Beatrice; by the contract of their parents’ marriage these girls were dowered each with 5000 merks, which however bore no interst until their respective marriages, or their arrival at the age of 18 years. On their father’s death in 1713, their two grandmothers, Lilias Oliphant (Lady Orchill) on their fathers side, and Beatrice Oliphant, (Lady Rossie) on their mother’s side, bound themselves by an obligation on 17th March 1713 to maintain, entertain and educate each one of their grandchildren in all things suitable to their degree and quality till their portions are paid. This "memorial" touches on the settlement of their late mother, Isabella Oliphant of Rossie.

Lilias was taken by Lady Orchill, and Beatrice by Lady Rossie. Orchill was probably the home of their uncle David, which may account for his will naming so much of the furniture etc, in that house.

Beatrice the younger, owing to Lilias’ death, is served heir of line and Provision General to her grandfather James, and her father William in 1730 and 1731, when her marriage to David, son and heir of George Graeme of Pitcairns occurs.

It will be observed that with Beatrice the direct male line with the Montrose family is cut, but is presently renewed by Orchill becoming the property of David Graeme of Pitcairns.  To trace it we refer to Sketch VII., where is related the story of Patrick, probably the most powerful of our Inchbrakie barons, and also to Sketch XXIX.

Patrick of Inchbrakie had by his second wife, Miss Scott, heiress of Monzie, a son James, for whom he purchased the estate of Monzie near Crieff; this James had a son George, who on his father's death sold Monzie to Colin Campbell, and buying the barony of Pitcairns across the Strath adjoining the Inchbrakie lands of Aberuthven, and Rollos of Duncrub, married a daughter of this latter house, and settled there. He was succeeded by his son George, who marrying Margaret Graeme of Inchbrakie in 1693 had, with other children, a son and heir, David Graeme, born 19th August 1698.   For the histories of the two Georges of Pitcairns and James of Monzie I must refer to Sketch XXVI. and take up the thread of the Orchill sketch with young Beatrice, sole child and heiress of the house of Orchill in 1730.

The "Memorial" alluded to which has been brought forward in 1732 by her husband David Graeme states that her grandmother, Mrs Oliphant, sadly neglected the education of Beatrice, that she was kept close in the country at her grandmother’s house and was never sent to town for education and little money was spent on her. Whereas her sister Lilias, was liberally educated till her death by Lady Orchill and kept at all the schools that were proper for her.

We cannot defend or blame either of these ladies, but had Beatrice been at all the schools "proper to her" she also might not have lived to become Lady Orchill!

This year David Graeme, son of Pitcairns, wins Beatrice the heiress of Orchill for his bride, and a son is born in the following year 1731, as the register of his baptism shows us: 1731, James, son to David Graeme of Orchill and Mrs Bettie Graeme his lady, born August 10th.

What a pathetic story is this of the drooping and fading of the branch of an old house; William (this the last male heir of the Montrose-Orchill line) leaves but a surviving daughter to bear the honours of his house, who does not long survive her bridal joys, she lives in the quaint old house, of Orchill, and after the birth of her son James, her health must have been very delicate. Slowly but surely the young wife, whose portrait at Gask has made us familiar with the gentle beauty of her lineaments, is passing away; no more children brighten the home at Orchill and baby James reigns supreme in his nursery. How often must his young mother’s heart have failed her at the parting that she knew was coming, and then, just as he could run and play around her, the tiny feet pattering back and forward to her couch, the busy tongue chattering its unceasing questions, she leaves him! And we read the Charter of Resignation to her baby, 12th February 1736 by King George II to James Graeme, only lawful son procreated between David Graeme of Pitcairns and the deceased Beatrice Graeme his spouse, only daughter of the late William Graeme of Orchill.

This charter included all the lands of Rothearnes in Perthshire with the fishings and mills on the water of Allan, and which by the late William Graeme's contract of marriage with Isabella Oliphant, eldest daughter of the late Thomas Oliphant of Rossie, dated 2nd and 4th June 1707, were settled on the said Beatrice at the time of her marriage, etc., etc.

Thus early in 1736 we find David Graeme of Pitcairns, grandson of the sixth baron of Inchbrakie, and nephew of the baron of that date, left a widower with his son James.

The lawsuit instituted by the Duke of Montrose circa 1726 after her uncle David's death, endeavouring to upset Beatrice in her possession of Orchill failed, though it was not until 1730 that the case was decided.  Circa 1728 the legal advisers to the Duke of Montrose fell back on a clause regarding the lands of Rohalloch disposed by Stirling of Ardoch to John second Graeme of Orchill and to his heirs male, which failing to the Montrose; but the decision is that were Montrose to claim it through a technicality he could not venture to take the lands which would then hold him responsible for the large debts of the late David Graeme, who, moreover, was apparent heir three years in succession.  Here we have explained why David had so much in possession at Orchill, etc., he must have succeeded, as male heir, to Rohalloch on his brother William's death.

There appears something still unexplained in regard to this.  Why did David own everything in Orchill House?  Why did not the Duke's advisers bring forward the matter on William's death in 1712 instead of waiting until that of his brother David's?  Why was Beatrice dowered by her father if she was to be owner of his lands? and why does she hold no retour until 1730, when she is served heir of line and Provision General?

Papers showing a retour to Beatrice as minor in 1712 (or in a lawsuit in the Duke's name prior to those mentioned) would clear the matter up.

David Graeme Beatrice’s husband, puts matters right and takes up the debts of his uncle (by marriage) David of Rohalloch in April 1734 and claims his books and the whole inventory of his goods as creditor of a large amount of money. This is the reason that David Graeme of Pitcairns was able to claim his right and title to thepart lands of Rohalloch on the death of the little James who quickly followed his mother to the grave and becomes David Graeme, first of Orchill, descended from first earl of Montrose and third of Pitcairns.

There is a contract of marriage between Mrs Eupheme Nairne and David Graeme in 1737. The lady was probably a cousin of the Lords Nairne, a daughter of the house of Nairne of Greenyards.

On April 1st, 1738, "f. 7. cir merid Easter even " twins are baptized, a son and a daughter named John and Agnes.  Nairne of Greenyards, Adam Mercer and his wife, are sponsors for John; and for the daughter.  Lady Pitcairns (David Graeme's mother), Mrs Jane Graeme and Mr Davvid Graeme, Advocate (? of Newton), per Lit.  This son d.v.p. or would have succeeded to Orchill.  Again, October 23rd, Circa merid, baptized a daughter of David Graeme of Orchill and Eupheme Nairne, named Margaret per Lit.  Doctor Robert Lewis, Janet Graeme, Margaret Nairne, and Margaret Graeme sponsors.  This wife dies early the following year.

In 1748 we find David again fast in the clutches of matrimony; this time the lady is a cousin of his own, the Honble. Louisa Nairne, eldest daughter of Margaret, second Baroness Nairne and Lord William Murray, and is possessed of a strong personality; no one looking at her picture would be at all filled with admiration of the good looks of the lady, though we may admire the very strong personality that gleams from her eyes, and is marked on the firm lower portion of her face.  However, David probably knows the sterling worth of the character of his second cousin and the nuptial knot is tied.

In 1741 David Graeme was acting (as his father-in-law had done in 1712) Bailie for the Duke of Montrose, for his name appears in the receipt books for the feu duties from that date until 1752, and reappears again for a year in 1756.

While holding this appointment, David resides partly in Edinburgh and partly at the House of Stuckentagart on the Duke's lands by Loch Lomond.

Some arrangement has been entered into between him and the Inchbrakies, for we find Orchill occupied by Patrick Graeme and his wife Helen Pierson, who on the return of his nephew from serving in Holland, and the 1745, left Inchbrakie where they had been living, and resided at Orchill.

David Graeme of Pitcairns and Orchill could always assert his rights and generally to some purpose.  We find him in a dispute regarding the appointment of the minister to the Parish of Strathblane; the Heritors oppose David, who adheres to his right as Provost of the Collegiate Church of Dumbarton (presented to him by the Duke of Montrose), to appoint the minister to Strathblane Church, and he then appoints Mr Grey in opposition to Mr Monteith appointed by the Heritors.  Neither party will give way.  The Presbytery decide to support Graeme, but the Heritors appeal to Civil Law; and in 1748 David is granted the right to appointment, Mr Grey entering on his duties after five years, during which the Parish duties had been unfulfilled!

David was a Jacobite, and we learn through the correspondence of the Atholl family that David Grzeme of Orchill, "Doer" for the Duke of Montrose, was generally firm.

David was not only an ardent admirer of ladies, but there was a loyal instinct of the Graeme in him which made him not only a faithful husband but a staunch kinsman; more than once or twice does his strong head and hand give their ready, practical assistance.  This is especially shown when in conjunction with Inchbrakie and Oliphant of Condie they save Gask for their kinsman Oliphant.  His lovely home with all its wide large lands is confiscated to the Crown for his adherence to his Royal Master, Charles Edward; he is exiled in France himself, and his faithful wife was about to be rendered homeless and the little ones penniless, but while Graemes live and an Oliphant cousin holds land this shall not be, and when the estates of Gask are put up for sale in Edinburgh in 1752, Laurence Oliphant of Condie bids for them empowered to do so by David Graeme of Orchill, and Inchbrakie the eighth laird, Patrick Campbell of Monzie joining them in the purchase.  Thus the famous "Trust for Gask" was formed in the eighteenth century, and history may once again repeat itself in the twentieth!

It is a large stake these gentlemen have taken on themselves, but Gask will be able to redeem it, and Louisa Graeme's sister, Amelia Nairne (Gask's lady) proves herself a splendid woman of business, though her woman's nature shows anxiety in matters of detail as the following letter addressed to her by David of Orchill demonstrates:

To the Honble. Lady Gask, care of Mr Ebenezer Oliphant, Goldsmith, at
his shop in the Parliament Close, Edinb.
Stuckentagart,
15 January 1753.

Madam, I had this night your LadyPs of Janry 9th enclosed in one from Inchbraky which he sent by express and am sorry that you should have had so much trouble or been under any apprehensions that I should make any excuse if I were able to crawl in coming to Eding at the time I appointed when last at Inchbrakey, for according to our concerns there, I propose setting out from this on Monday next the 22nd inst to be in Eding on Wed the 23rd in good time.

My disease did hang about me for some time after I returned from Perthshire with little abatement till last week, but now I thank God I am perfectly well and I hope I shall find you and Miss Oliphant to whom all here send kind compliments and join me in wishing you both many happy new years and I am, Madam,

Your ladyPs most affecte and humble Sert, 

Da. Graeme.

I hope all the rentalls and list of debts we want are now ready so that on our meeting we may be fully master of all the necessary facts.

An interesting letter as showing the man's kindly nature yet with a fine vein of sarcasm at his sister-in-law's "anxiety" regarding his "disease!" but the letter fails not one point in kindly tone and courtesy, while the postscript shows out strongly the business qualities of the keen-headed lawyer!

Three sons were born of David's marriage with Louisa Nairne; William, their son and heir who continued the line through the distaff; David, who entered the military service; and Charles, the youngest and most handsome of them all and whose descendants are the heirs male of Orchill,  Monzie, Bucklyvie and Pitcairns.

In an old Orchill Bible, now at Gask, the following is recorded:

David Graeme and Louisa Nairne married 27th April 1748, old style, 8th May, new style.

My son William, born 1st April 1749, 6am, 12 April old style.

My son, David, born Sunday, 18th November 1750;

My son, Charles, born Saturday, 28th October 1751.

William the eldest son, during this father’s life entered the legal profession. Once again David Graeme of Orchill takes a friendly part, this time towards Inchbrakie. The young laird succeeds his grandfather (George Graeme dying the lifetime of his father) and as the nearest agnate to Montrose failed in Orchill at the death of David of Rohalloch in 1726, Inchbrakie must be now served heir to the Earldom of Montrose as nearest to those honours, so he serves on the jury of Inchbrakie’s peers 1770, who all attend to give their oath as to Patrick Graeme’s direct male descent, and the peers accept Inchbrakie as great great great great great great grandson to the first Earl of Montrose from father to son.

In 1778 William Graeme younger of Orchill succumbs to the handsome Amelia Graeme of Inchbrakie, a widow, who had been six months a wife to James Campbell of Monzie; thirteen months after Campbell’s death the marriage proceeds in due form, the contract being dated on September 23rd 1778.

The next year David Graeme ends his active life full of stir and interest for others as well as himself, and William his son, and Amelia Graeme are owners of Orchill and its lands, including Rohalloch in Blackford, together with Rothearnes in the parish of Dunblane, and the barony of Pitcairns.

It is regretted for the sake of the family, that one of William’s first acts on his succession was to present to the Masonic Lodge in Auchterarder the two-handed sword of his ancestor Sir John de Graeme, the bosom friend of Sir W. Wallace, and with it an interesting old family Bible. Both of these are of course most carefully preserved and objects of great interest; it does not appear why he should have sent them from the house of Orchill.

On these lands are placed a certain burden for David’s youngest surviving son Charles, and the usual dowry for his widow, Louisa Nairne; this did not burden her son long, for three years after her husband’s death she is laid beside him in the Kirk of Aberuthven; he was laid there the 19th August 1779 and she on 9th April 1782; but not before she has seen a little namesake of her husband’s, David (born three weeks after his death), to William and Amelia Graeme. Another boy, Patrick, is born in 1781, Laurence follows his brother’s entrance into the world in 1784 and then the girls take their turn.Louisa Henrietta Alexandrine in March 1786 Elizabeth in February 1787 come in quick succession to fill the nursery (where "little James" had reigned alone) to overflowing, but it is emptied sadly that same year, for the eldest boy David dies on August 19th 1787, and little Betty (the baby of February) follows her brother in November 1787.  In a year or two we find a  Margaret (the future heiress) takes Betty’s place, aand Henrietta Maria is born February 28th 1791.  These both live to grow up into the handsome women we find painted by Raeburn, the Scottish Rembrandt, and Watson Gordon, but all the little brothers sleep in Aberuthven Kirk; Peter, the one who lived the longest, dying November 17th 1813.

In 1815 Miss Margaret Graeme loses her heart to James Gillespie; little wonder, for he is a typical Scotchman; his portrait by Watson Gordon, full length in Highland dress, bears a place in its engraved form on almost every wall in Perthshire homes, while that by Raeburn represents even a more handsome face.

His talent as a successful young architect brought him into the notice and the Perthshire lairds went mad on building new, or enlarging their old homes. He was earning money fast, and when Margaret Graeme of Orchill met her fate, her father, William Graeme, seems to have made no objection, and the young couple were married in the year 1815.

The younger sister Henrietta Maria died unmarried. Just three years after his eldest daughter’s marriage, Mr William Graeme sold Rothearnes for £13,000; he died in July 1825, and Mrs Gillespie Graham survived her father a year, dying in June 1826, and leaving behind her two little daughters, Henrietta and Jane, the eldest of whom was heiress of Orchill and wife of James Oliphant, the Laird of Gask. There were no children by this marriage, and Mrs Graeme Oliphant sold Orchill, and thus the last acres of the land David Graeme of Pitcairns had gathered for his son passed first to the distaff, and then became the property of strangers.

Of William Graeme’s brothers, the second, David, entered the army, being the first Orchill Graeme who did so, for hitherto they leant to the legal profession, not sharing their cousins the Inchbrakies’ love for the army. Perhaps his mother transmitted a warlike instinct with her blood! He joined H.M. 52nd regiment, commanded by Lieutenant General John Clavering, as ensign, 13th January 1773; promoted to Lieutenant 1775, when he was in Major F. Richmond Humphrey’s company of that regiment. His name appears in the Muster Roll dated Charleston Heights on the 27th September 1775, which states he died the previous July, and for the last time in the dispatch of H.E. General Gage to the Earl of Dartmough, dated Boston, 25th June 1775, giving an account of the battle of Charleston Heights at Boston and forwarding a list of the killed and wounded.

The battle in which he lost his life was commonly called Bunkers Hill, a formidable redoubt had to be stormed; it was defended by the best marksmen of the enemy and with many others David Graeme fell wounded on the 25th June and was carried into Charleston where he died on 3rd of July 1775. The boy, whose picture (in all the glory of his scarlet war paint, his hand clasping the help of his sword as though eager for the fray) was painted at the same period as that of his mother, the Honourable Louisa Nairne, by McLaughlin in 1772, nobly served his country three years later, adding to the famous record of his race.

The male line of Orchill from Montrose (through Inchbrakie) by Monzie, Bucklyvie and Pitcairns, is now represented by the descendants of the handsome Charles, the youngest son of David Graeme of Pitcairns and Orchill, and his wife the Honourable Louisa Nairne; he was born 1752 at Stuckentaggert House on Loch Lomond where David Graeme his father lived for 30 years, acting as agent or factor to his chief the Duke of Montrose; Charles was third son of David Graeme of Orchill. He went to India in the Civil Service and apparently on his return settled in Hampshire about the year 1785. He married Miss Elizabeth Saunders, 29th March 1773. Little is known of his Indian career, to the author, except that he was a witness on Warren Hasting’s trial; about 1789 he lived at Rotherfield, which was then an old red house belinging to the Marquis of Winchester. Charles Graeme then went to New House, Ropley, and afterwards bought Dean House, Kilmiston; he was a member of Whites.

When George IV, or Prince Regent bought the Grange in Hampshire in 1795, the "Sporting Reminiscences" says, "He (the prince) joined many parties, and was very intimate with Lord Rodney and Mr Charles Graeme, who then lived at Dean House, Kilmiston."

The same book says,"The following are some of the names of the old Kilmiston Hunt when Mr Ridge was their President in 1782 . . . Mr Charles Graeme," etc.  Owing to there being no files of the Hampshire Chronicle between 1784 and 1794 and the H.H. records commencing only in 1795, I cannot discover when the hunt races were first held.  In the Chronicle of April 7th, 1794, I find the annual H.H. Cup was run for over Worthy Down, and was won by Mr Graeme's Bruiser, got by Boxer.

In 1801 it is recorded Mr Charles Graeme again won the Hunt Cup.  In 1805 it is recorded he again won the H.H. Cup with Gammel M'Gralaham.  Mr Graeme was now appointed treasurer of the Hunt.

Charles Graeme died on March 23rd 1833, in his 81st year leaving four sons:

I.  Charles was in the R.C.S. Judge at Purneah, he married Miss Harrington Hawes (who married second Doctor Mein, and died at Purneah, 1807, leaving issue:-

i)Charles Harrington Graeme born 7th March 1805, 5th Madras Light Cavalry, became Major General he married 2nd August 1826, Sarah J. Anstruther Brice, by whom he had:

a)Charles Henry Edward, born 26th August 1827 (or 8) Lt.Col. commanded Royal Munster Fusiliers, Married Susan daughter of Mr Stanier of Madely Manor, Staffordshire. Lt.Col.Graeme And Miss Stanier had three children, Malcolm, Millicent, and Mildred; he died at Madely, 1880.

b)Robert Graeme, Lieutenant in H.M. 6th Regiment of Foot, married Miss Edith Tassel and hasissue: a daughter Rosa Anstruther.

c)Anne, married Captain Campbell and has issue.

ii)Caroline Mary, married the Rev.Charles Grant and has issue:

a)Colonel Charles Graeme Grant, 17th Leicestshire Regiment.

b)Rev. Henry Carmichael Grant, married Miss Louisa Burder, and had issue: Harry Graeme, d.s.p; H.Stanley Grant, and Emily, Beatrice,

Ethel and Edith.