Graemes and Grahams of Drynie, Black Isle, county of Cromarty, Scotland

Francis Graham, (1778-1820)

Francis Graham was born on ‘23 October 1778’ – and died in Jamaica on ‘1 February 1820’.

Francis Graham was ‘son of Alexander Graham of Drynie, British Consul at Fayal’, Azores.

I don’t know when Alexander Graham was born or when he died – on 1 February 1820 he was ‘the late Alexander Graham’.

GEORGE GRAHAM

SIXTH OF DRYNIE

Married Anne, daughter of Monro of Basimore, and had issue:-

Charles.

IV. Alexander Graham, Mr Graham was British Consul at Hayal (?) and married Donna Ighaive of Hayal, they had issue, Francis married (he was her second husband) Jemima, his distant cousin, daughter of Colin Dundas Graham, Lt.Col. K.H. They had two children, Colin and Agus, both died young.

V. Charles Graham, who entered the profession of a merchant in London; his three elder brothers leaving no male issue, he was in November 1799 retoured heir to his brother, Colin Graham of Drynie, and became owner of the property as –

CHARLES GRAHAM

EIGHTH OF DRYNIE

He married a daughter of Mackenzie of Haiburn and had issue an only son.

GEORGE GRAHAM

NINTH OF DRYNIE

Note – above –

- ‘Hayal’ (?)’ = Fayal, Azores.

- ‘Jemima’ = Jamima Charlotte Graham, a daughter of Lieutenant Colonel Colin Dundas Graham and Mary Magdalene, nee de Jenatsch – (or ? de Teustych).

- Francis Graham was Jamima Charlotte’s first husband – (not ‘second husband’) – she married second Major

(later Sir) George Gun Munro of Poyntzfield, Black Isle, Scotland.

- ‘Agus’ = Agnes, daughter of Francis Graham and Jamima Charlotte

- d. s. p. = decessit sine prole – died without issue

- I. General Colin Graham

- IV. Alexander Graham

- V. Charles Graham

were alive in 1783 –

Poyntzfield Estate in Resolis was originally named Ardoch (the high place) but was renamed Poyntzfield by George Munro around 1760 in honour of his wife.

Register of Tailzies. National Archives of Scotland RT 1/22 F169R-187.

Deed of Entail to Heirs Male executed by Sir George Gun Munro and Lady Mary in London on 8.7.1783. 22 pages.

At Edinburgh the Eighteenth day of December one thousand Seven hundred and eighty three years.

Anent the Petition given in and presented to the Lords of Council and Session for and in name of Sir George Munro of Pointzfield Humbly Shewing That the petitioner has of date the Eighth day of July one thousand Seven hundred and eighty three with Consent of Mary Lady Munro his Wife execute a Deed of Entail whereby he Gives Grants Alienates and Dispones in favours ofthe heirs male procreate or to be procreate of his body in his present Marriage with the said Lady Munro and the heirs male of their bodies; whom failing to the other heirs male to be procreated of his body in any Subsequent Marriage and the heirs male of their Bodies, whom failing to my Nephew Colin Graham of Drynie Esquire and the heirs male of his body, whom failing to my Nephew Alexander Graham Brother of the said Colin Graham and the heirs male of his Body whom failing to my Nephew Charles Graham younger Brother of the said Colin Graham and the heirs male of his body,

Francis Graham, (son of Alexander Graham of Drynie, British Consul at Fayal), was a Jamaica planter.

Francis Graham first arrived in Jamaica in April 1797 aged about eighteen years and a half –

Further Proceedings of the Honourable House of Assembly of Jamaica relative to a Bill introduced into the House of Commons, for effectually preventing the unlawful importation of slaves and holding free persons in slavery in the British Colonies. To which are annexed Examinations, taken upon oath before a Committee of that House, for the purpose of disproving the allegations of the said Bill. 1816.

Note –

- Thirty-five people were examined. Occupations included Naval sea captain, judge and barrister, H M customs officer, magistrate, practitioner in physics and surgery, planter, proprietor, attorney and receiver, merchant, rector, Member of the Council of Jamaica, H M’s attorney-general, Member of the Assembly.

- Tulloch sugar-estate was in the parish of St Thomas in the Vale (now part of the parish of St Catherine), and Farm pen was in the parish of St Catherine.

- Francis Graham was in the UK in 1812-13.

November 15, 1815.

The examination, upon oath, of Francis Graham, esquire, before the committee appointed "to take into consideration the copy of a bill, which appears to have been introduced into the House of Commons in Great Britain, and printed by its order, entitled, ‘A Bill for effectually preventing the unlawful importation of slaves, and the holding free persons in slavery, in the British Colonies;’ the information which has been transmitted by the agent of the subject of the said bill; and to report their opinion of the measures which ought to be adopted by the house to prevent the said bill passed into law.

Question. What is your present situation, and the nature of your connection with the island of Jamaica?

Answer. Examinant saith, that he represents solely and in part forty-nine sugar-estates, nineteen pens, and ten other plantations, on which there are about thirteen thousand negroes; that he possesses a sugar-estate, called Tulloch, with about four hundred and fifty negroes, and holds jointly with Lord Carrington the Farm pen, with about two hundred and fifty negroes.

Q……?

A. Examinant saith, he has resided in this island since the month of April, 1797, being about eighteen years and a half, of which time he was off the island about eleven months; that the line in life he has followed has enabled him to make himself acquainted with the parishes of St Thomas in the Vale, St Mary, St John, St Dorothy, Vere, Clarendon, Westmorland, Trelawny, St Catherine, Kingston, Port-Royal, St David, St Thomas in the East, and St Andrew.

Q……?

A. Examinant saith that the situation of the slaves, when he first arrived in the island, in respect of food, was much the same as it now is, with this difference, that he thinks the negroes have more fish; but a considerable number of sugar-estates have purchased new lands to replace negro-grounds that were then in use, which, with the labour of one negro one day in a fortnight, will give him an abundance, and enable him to sell provisions: With regard to clothing, he believes that negroes now in general get more than they did when he first came to this island; those under his care he is satisfied get considerably more, and of better quality than they did: With regard to the hours of labour, those of able people are much the same as they were when he came to this island, that is, from daylight, which in this climate is generally from five to six in the morning, until eight or nine o’clock, when they get half an hour for their breakfast; they draw off about twelve o’clock; they go to work at two, and draw off at sunset; the weakly people and children are indulged both as to the time in going to work in the morning, after dinner, and in leaving off work in the evening; the average time the able people work will therefore be about ten hours in the twenty four; that examinant sees very clearly a great difference in the severity of enforcing labour, and is happy to say that he does not think there is one half made use of that there was when he first came to this country; he thinks that the situation of the slaves in every way has been made more comfortable than in former times; that the amelioration has been regular and progressive, and he attributes the same to the overseers and white people of the present day being a better informed race of men in general, of humane dispositions, and attending to the instructions given them by their employers, as to the comfort of the slaves, more strictly than was done in former days: The disposition of the slaves, and their progressive civilized state, having had for years no new negroes brought among them, has tended much to their being more comfortable than was formerly the case.

Q.……?

A. Examinant saith, for some years past he has observed that the slaves have shewn a contented and quiet disposition, and a very considerable number of those under his care have at their own request been made Christians; that in every application of the kind, he has forwarded their wishes; he does not know of one instance that the aggrieved slave has not been protected by the laws, and justice done them; with regards to the comforts of life, the well-disposed industrious slave has more comforts about him than thousands and thousands of cultivators of land that he knew in Europe; that the class of slaves examinant has mentioned he has known at all times perfectly satisfied, having only a certain duty to perform, which they understand and do with ease to themselves; very little more rests on their minds, having no pay-day to think of, or family to provide for in case of death; that is left for the master to do, who provides land and habitations without rent, medicines, doctors’ bills, taxes, nourishment, hospital, fish, and all other kinds of provisions, when necessary, clothing and every other necessary of life.

Q.….. ?

A. Examinant saith that the estates and other properties under his care have been cultivated by the slaves that were on them at the time of the abolition of the slave trade, their offspring, and by purchases of seasoned slaves, the titles to which were made clear to him by the records in the secretary’s office and other undoubted vouchers, shewing from their dates that they, except the offspring of some of them, were inhabitants of this island previous to the abolition of the slave trade. Examinant saith, in 1813, when in England, he was offered a large gang of slaves to be delivered in this island from the island of Exuma, but on his arrival here he did not see clearly that the abolition laws admitted of that importation; consequently he declined the purchase, and the negroes were not brought to this island; this is the only transaction with regard to importing slaves that he has had since the abolition law. Examinant declares, that he does not know that a single negro has been brought to this island as a slave, and here sold, since the abolition law; he likewise declares tht such a wish or intention has never been in his mind, and that the different persons he has and now represents never even hinted to him the carrying on their properties by illicit importations or unlawful purchases, either by word of mouth or in writing.

Q…….. ?

Q……?

A. Examinant saith that on his own property and such others as are under his care, according to the best of his judgement, he considers uncommon indulgence necessary for the rearing of children: he has, after consulting the proprietors, all of whom sanctioned his wishes, adopted the following plan: as soon as a woman informs her overseer that she is pregnant, no more work is required of her till she is delivered, and her child twelve or fifteen months old, or as circumstances may be as to the age the child fit to wean at: two duties he has imposed on the pregnant and the mothers of children; the former are to shew themselves once a day, that the overseer may see that they are at home, and the latter are to shew their children once a day clean, and well taken care of; at this time they receive from the store such nourishment as is necessary for them besides their mother’s milk, such as flour, rice, and sugar. On some estates he has paid upwards of three hundred pounds a-year in hired labour, to make up the time lost by the indulgence above mentioned; and examinant is happy to say, that only in a very few cases, in different years, he has seen the above plan fail of producing more children than was before done; those children, owing to not being during the day exposed to the sun and rain, and the mothers having nothing to do but to take care of them, are much healthier subjects than in common; the mother’s health and constitution are at the same time improved: that he has a woman on Tulloch estate, who has not done any work for the last seven years, for, before her child is fit to wean, she is again pregnant; she is now the mother of a large family, and as able a woman as any in the island: Examinant is confident, that if the above plan were in general use, the increase and decrease of the slaves in this island would, in proportion to numbers, exceed the increase of the United Kingdom of Great Britain; and is of opinion, that such a plan as he has above mentioned is very likely to be generally adopted in this island, when the advantages of it are known.

Fras Graham

December 19, 1815.

The further examination of Francis Graham, esquire, before the said committee

Q…….?

A. Examinant saith he has stated, in his former evidence before the committee, that he had under his care about thirteen thousand slaves, and he has this year imported and purchased in the island three thousand two hundred and thirty-five barrels of herrings, shads, and pilchards; he has likewise purchased two hundred and ninety-three hogshead of codfish, averaging about nine hundred weight each, which he considers equal to one thousand three hundred and eighteen barrels of herrings, making altogether four thousand five hundred and fifty-one barrels of herrings, being thirty-five barrels of fish to every one hundred negroes under his care; he has likewise purchased two hundred and seventy barrels of salted pork from Ireland for the use of the negroes, and that he has never made less allowance than at the rate of thirty-five barrels for every one hundred negroes for the last seven years, when fish could be purchased; that last year he purchased pork in part as a substitute for fish, but this year he made the purchase of two hundred and seventy barrels, as he thought it would be more agreeable to the negroes for their Christmas allowance.

Fras Graham.

Francis Graham’s sugar estate Tulloch, St Thomas in the Vale, Jamaica, was named after Tulloch Castle, Dingwall, county of Ross, Scotland.

Will dated 11 February 1806, and Codicil dated 11 February 1806.

…… I hereby release and Discharge my relation Francis Graham of St Thomas in the Island of Jamaica his Executors and Administrators from all sums of money he may owe me at my decease ………..…’

Note – in his will Charles Graham mentioned numerous relations and his relationship to these relations – except his relationship to Francis Graham.

Francis Graham sailed from Jamaica for London on 16 July 1812 –

Sailed from Port Royal 16 July – Ship John, Popplewell, for London

Passengers Sailed

In the John – Francis Graham………..….Esqrs.

On 24 February Francis Graham married Jamima Charlotte Graham –

24 February 1813 – Graham, Francis – married – Jamima Charlotte Graham – Edinburgh.

Marriages – At Edinburgh Castle, Francis Graham of Jamaica, to Jemima Charlotte, third daughter of Lieutenant Colonel Graham, of the Scots Brigade

COLIN GRAHAM, FIFTH OF DRYNIE

Becomes the father of a race of soldier sons, grandsons and great-grandsons; to the third and fourth generations they go forth to the ends of the earth as servants of the king; he marries Anne, daughter of Shaw of Thornbeg (or Thornley), he is Lord-Lieutenant of the County, and in spite of it is very much complaining to his Chief that his house is being continually raided, and that everything is being stolen by the Mackenzies who have already five times descended on Drynie, this letter is dated 1716.

I may mention here that the spelling of Drynie is even more varied than the spelling of the surname. Dranie, Drymme, Drym, every alteration that two or one style can be converted into appears; but undoubtedly it signifies one property, that of Drynie, in the Black Isle, Ross-shire. Colin, the Lord Lieutenant’s family is –

I. George Graham, afterwards of Drynie

a) Charles Graham

b) Abernethy Graham

c) George Graham, Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery, married Elizabeth, daughter of Rogers Esq.

d) Jean Graham

Regiment.

IV. Mungo Graeme, Colonel in the Scotch Brigade; he married Margaret of Abercrombie and of Brunstaine, widow of Seton of Meldrum (her daughter by her first marriage had married Fred Halkett).

It is to be regretted that we have nothing more on Mungo Graeme services or those of his descendants. He and his wife appear to have settled abroad. They had only one son Colin Dundas Graham With the Inchbrakie papers is an interesting letter from this officer; he is home on leave and dates his letter from:

Drumsheugh near Edinburgh; April 21, 1792

He writes to Colonel Graeme of Inchbrakie the ninth laird and reminds him of the few days they spent together at Briell just before George Graeme was leaving the Scots Brigade and adds that he himself still belongs to the forlorn corps.

Colin Dundas speaks of Colonel Graeme the eighth laird and of his early acquaintance with him and the kind notice he bestowed on himself and his father (the late Colonel Mungo Graham) while both were serving in the same corps in Holland.

If the Inchbrakie’s sent the correct information it was not added to the family pedigree.

Colonel Colin Dundas Graham married Mary Magdalene de Teustych a Dutch lady and had a large family:

3. Jemima Charlotte, married George Gunn Monro of Poyntzfield, and had: Mary, married Colonel Mackay; Anne married Henry G. Errington; George and Innes married to Emily Mason;

4. Henrietta married J. Hill

5. Alexander Gordon Graham of the Hanoverian Grenadier Guards, married his cousin Miss Nancy Graham and had:

a) Mary, married Rev. J. A. Anderson – they had 3 children – Nancy Anderson, George Anderson and Alexander C.

Anderson.

b) Jane J. Graham

e) George, born 1834, died at Cromarty on 1 August 1861 aged 18 years.

There is another son whose name is not given, their second son (for Hugh is called their third son) Alexander Gordon Graham and his wife Nancy were sadly bereaved of their five boys and we are not told whether these elder boys had any issue.

g) Nancy Graham

h) Henrietta J. Graham

i) Margaret Graham she married Bryan W. Donkin Esq. And has issue three children, Winifred, Constance, and a son Bryan Percy.

Colonel Colin Dundas Graham and his wife, Magdalene both rest in the family vault at Drynie; he obtained the appointment of Lieutenant Governor of St Maws, and was a Knight of the Royal Order of William of the Netherlands; one is glad to think that he left "that forlorn corps" to which his letter alludes, and was buried at the home of his fathers. The memorial states he died in 1828, aged 76 years deeply lamented and deplored by his family who erect it, to his endeared memory and that of his wife, Mary M. Graham, who died at Cromarty 1839, aged 76 years.

We take up the story with the Drynie family again at:

In June 1813 Francis Graham returned to Jamaica with his bride Jamima Charlotte – and with Miss Graham and Master Graham.

It appears ‘Miss Graham’ was Margaret Graham, and ‘Master Graham’ was Colin Graham – both children of Lieutenant Colonel Colin Dundas Graham of the Scots Brigade –

Arrived at Port Royal

Ship Earl of Lonsdale, Campbell, from London, Portsmouth, and Barbados

Passengers Arrived.

In the Earl Lonsdale – Francis Graham, Esq, Mrs Graham, Miss Graham, and Master Graham

Jamima Charlottes’ brother Colin Graham died in Jamaica on ‘21 October 1814’ – and was buried on 23 October –

1814 – Burials of White Persons

Oct 23 – Colin Graham – Age 13 – Description Gentleman

Died

In Spanish-Town on Friday sennight Master Colin Graham, brother in law of Francis Graham, Esq

Note – above ‘sennight’ – appears to be a mistake.

22 October 1814 was a Saturday. The Royal Gazette, Kingston, Jamaica was a weekly newspaper, and was published on Saturday each week.

Francis Graham and Jamima Charlotte’s son Colin Graham was born in Jamaica on ‘23 October 1814, and died on the same day’ – he was buried on 24 October

1814 – Burials of White Persons

Oct 24 – Colin Graham – Age 1 day – Description Infant

Jamima Charlotte’s sister Margaret Graham married Michael Benignus Clare, (1777-1832), of Spanish Town on 18 March 1817 –

1817 – Marriages of White Persons

March 18 – Michael Benignus Clare, M D and Margaret Graham Spinster both of this Parish by Licence

Marriages

March 18. In Jamaica, at Twickenham-park, the residence of Francis Graham, esq. Michael Benignus Clare, esq. M.D. Physician-general of that Island, to Margaret, eldest dau. of Col. C. D. Graham, Lieut.-governor of St. Mawe’s.

Note – above – Michael Benignus Clare was knighted in 1822.

Promotions

August – No. 27 – Whitehall – Michael Benignus Clare, of Spanish Town, in the Island of Jamaica, M. D. to be knight of the United Kingdom.

Died

Francis Graham and Jamima Charlotte’s daughter Agnes Graham was born in Jamaica on ‘5 October 1816, died on 30 December 1817’ – and was buried on 30 December –

1817 – Burials of White Persons

30 December – Agnes Graham – Age 1½ – Description Infant Teething

Died

At Twickenham Park, in St Catherine’s on Tuesday, Agnes, the infant daughter of Francis Graham, Esq.

Francis Graham died on 1 February 1820 –

Died

At the Villa Pen, near Spanish Town, Jamaica, on the 1st of February last, after a protracted illness, Francis Graham, Esq, formerly a Representative in the Assembly for the Parish of St Thomas in the Vale, in this Island, – a Gentleman of a very benevolent disposition, and whose death will not only be severely lamented by his disconsolate family, but by many who have experienced his kindness.

Note – the above notice of the death of Francis Graham also appeared in the Inverness Journal and Northern Advertiser, Friday April 7, 1820, 3rd side, right column near the bottom just above the Postscript.

- Francis Graham, aged about 18 years and a half in April 1797, was born in 1778 – (not 1773)

- Colin Graham, (son of Lt. Col Colin Dundas Graham), died aged 13 in 1814 – ie born circa 1801 – (not 1811)

St Catherine.

The Church Yard.

On an altar tomb

Sacred to the Memory

of

Francis Graham, Esqre *

of Tulloch Castle

in St Thomas in the Vale

and for some time Member of

the Honourable House of Assembly

son of the late

Alexander Graham of Drynie

British Consul at Fayal

born on the 17th of October 1773

died the 1st of February 1820

and of his infant son

Colin

born on the 23rd of October 1814

and died on the same day

Also of his daughter

AGNES

born on the 5th of October 1816

died the 30th of December 1817

also

COLIN GRAHAM

eldest son of

Colonel Colin Dundas Graham K. W. &c. **

born on the 31st of August 1811

died the 21st of October 1814.

* Note 96. Mr Graham was a large Planting Attorney, and a Member for St Thomas in the Vale. Tulloch is a considerable sugar-estate in that parish, which Mr Graham purchased. The name is taken from Tulloch Castle, in the county of Ross, the present residence of Duncan Davidson, Esq. There are two vessels, regular traders to the port of Kingston, named the Tulloch-Castle, one built in 1793, of 462 tons, per Register, but carries upwards of a thousand casks, (hogsheads, puncheons, and tierces,) besides smaller packages, and wood for stowage; the other built in 1827, of 502 tons, and carries also above 1000 casks. Of the elder vessel it is said that in her many voyages she never damaged a cargo, and on a recent change of property the balance of the credit of the vessel amounted to £60,000 sterling.

** Note 97. Lieut Col Colin Dundas Graham, K. W. (ie of the Order of William of the Netherlands), and Lieut Governor of St Mawes, in Cornwall, died at Cromarty House in Scotland, 7th July, 1828, aged 76. His daughter was the wife of Francis Graham above noticed.

Francis Graham died testate, but I have not found a copy of his will –

From Jamaica Triennial Slave Registers, (1817-1832), in the National Archives, London – George William Hamilton, (1786-1857), Edward Sword, and John Gale Vidal – all of Jamaica – were Francis Graham’s Executors.

Jamima Charlotte was Francis Graham’s residuary devisee, and inherited Tulloch estate, St Thomas in the Vale.

Jamima Charlotte married second Major (later Sir) George Gun Munro of Poyntzfield, Black Isle, Scotland on 21 October 1822 –

21 October 1822 – Jemima Charlotte Graham married George Gun Munro at St Mary Magdalen, Richmond, Surrey, England.

Note – Jemimaville (formerly Jamimaville), Black Isle, Scotland was named after Jamima Charlotte.

About eight years before Francis Graham married Jamima Charlotte, he had a daughter Nancy Graham, (c.1805-

1883), born at Spanish Town, Jamaica –

Note –

- In his Will Sir M B Clare describes himself - ‘of Spanish Town, Jamaica - now resident in London’ – (not ‘of London’).

- Will made in London, dated 8 November 1828 – Sir M B Clare died at Cromarty House, Black Isle Scotland on 19 September 1832.

………………..………… to Miss Nancy Graham of Cromarty House in the County of Cromarty North Britain the daughter of my friend the late Francis Graham Esquire deceased during her natural life or until she shall receive or be paid the legacy of five thousand pounds left her by her father’s will an annuity or yearly sum of fifty pounds

Herbert Jarrett James, (brother in law of John Gale Vidal), was attorney – agent with power of attorney – of Sir Michael Benignus Clare during periods he was away from Jamaica in the second half of the 1820s and early 1830s.

From Herbert Jarrett James’ copy letters to Sir M B Clare – Miss Nancy Graham was the Ward of Sir M B Clare, and she was the only child of the late Miss Jackson of Jamaica.

Copy letters to Sir M B Clare include references to difficulties getting hold of the money in Jamaica left to Miss Nancy Graham by her father.

Copy letters also refer to Colin Graham, brother of Miss Nancy Graham. It appears Colin Graham was a half brother of Miss Nancy Graham – (but not Francis Graham and Jamima Charlotte’s son Colin Graham, died 1814).

Colin Graham, ‘brother of Miss Nancy Graham’, was living in Jamaica in the second half of the 1820s, and appears to have been older than a child.

On 25 October 1833 Miss Nancy Graham married her stepmother Jamima Charlotte’s brother – Lieutenant (later Captain) Alexander Gordon Graham of the Hanoverian Service, a son of Lieutenant Colonel Colin Dundas Graham of the Scott’s Brigade.

25 October 1833 – Nancy Graham married Alexander Gordon Graham – (copy of image not available on line).

Certified paper copy of the original page in the Register from General Register Office, New Register House, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Extracts of entries in an Old Parochial Register – 120906

Parish of Cromarty, County of Ross and Cromarty, (Scotland)

Lieutenant Alexander Gordon Graham of the Hanoverian Service and Miss Nancy Graham both at Cromarty House, were married. – 25 October 1833.

On her death certificate Nancy Graham, widow of Captain Alexander Gordon Graham, was daughter of Francis Graham, West India Sugar Planter –

1883 – Deaths in the District of Cromarty in the County of Cromarty.

No. 24 – Nancy Graham widow of Captain Alexander Gordon Graham (Hanoverian Service) – 1883, twenty second of May – Church Street, Cromarty – 78 years – Father – Francis Graham West Indian Sugar Planter (deceased) –