ACCORDING to the Scotch historians, this illustrious family is as ancient as the restoration of the monarchy of Scotland by Fergus II. and derive their origin from the renowned GREME, who governing Scotland during the minority of his grandchild, Eugene II. (whose reign began A. D. 419), had divers engagements with the Britons, and, by forcing that mighty rampart they had reared up between the rivers of Forth and Clyde, immortalized his name so much, as to this day that trench is called Graham'sDyke.

It is certain the family is as ancient as any in Scotland now on record; for WILLIAM de Greme is one of the witnesses to the foundation of Holy-Rood-House Abbey, by David I. in 1125; and after, at the special instance of the said King, he gave to the Monks of Hadington, the lands of Clerkingtoun, when Adda, Countess of Northumberland, founded that convent.

Sir DAVID Græme, Knight, Pater, the direct ancestor of the illustrious family of Montrose, obtained a grant of the lands of Charltoun, and Burrowfield, infra Vic. de Forfar cum Dominiis &Tenendariis Thanagi de Kinaber,b from King William, who was styled the Lion, and reigned from 1165 to 1214. He also, in the beginning of the reign of Alexander II. who succeeded King William, obtained a charter of the land of Clifton, and Clifton-Holl, in Mid-Lothian (the superiority of which is still in the family of Montrose), from Henry de Græme, who is designed his cousin, and was the ancestor of the Græmes of Aber

VOL. IV.

a See Dr. Abercrombie, Vol. I. p. 549.

b Charta penes Ducem de Montrose.

P

corn, from whom the Grahams of Torbolton, Weilston, &c. are descended. He left issue three sons; Sir Patrick, Sir Thomas, William, besides

Sir DAVID, his heir, who had a grant from Maldwin Earl of Lenox, of the lands of Strathblane and Mugdock; and from Patrick Earl of Dunbar, he got two lofts of Melekston, &c. and the lands of Dundaff and Strathcaron, quod fuit Forestum Regis, in exchange for his lands of Gartonquhar, in Galloway. By Agnes his wife, he had

Sir DAVID, the third of that name, who obtained distinct charters of his whole lands, which were ratified to him under the Great Seal of Alexander III. This Sir David, the third, also got the barony of Kincardine, in the county of Perth, from Malise Earl of Strathern, whose sister, Anabella, he married,d and by her had three sons; Sir Patrick, the heir of the family; Sir John, who was the faithful companion of Sir William Wallace, and was killed at Falkirk, July 22d, 1298, and was buried in a chapel there, with the following inscription on his tomb, which is yet to

be seen,

Mente Manuque potens, et Vallæ fidus Achates,

Conditur hic Gramus, bello interfectus ab Anglis.

and Sir David, one of the arbiters for John Baliol, in his competition for the Scottish crown, A. D. 1292.

Which Sir PATRICK executed the Office of Sheriff of the county of Stirling in the time of the said Alexander III. and in 1284, was one of the Magnates Scotia, who in a most solemn manner bound themselves by their oaths and seals, in case that King should die without heirs of his own body, to receive and acknowledge the Princess Margaret, the Maid of Norway, his Majesty's grandchild, as their lawful Queen. He was after killed at the battle of Dunbar, against the English, in 1296, strenuously asserting the honour and independency of his country, leaving issue Sir David his successor, and Sir John Graham, Knight, who, in 1317, granted the patronage of the church of Newlands to the abbey of Dunfermline, and a daughter- married to Sir Malcolm Drummond, ancestor of the family of Perth.

e

Sir DAVID Graham, eldest son of Sir Patrick, was also a great patron of the liberties of his country, after the abdication of John

• Douglas's Peerage of Scotland.

d Ibidem.

• Abercrombie's Martial Achievements of the Scots' Nation.

Baliol, and a strenuous opposer of King Edward I. of England; for which, when that Prince offered an indemnity to such of the Scottish nation as would submit to him, Sir David was one of those few who were particularly excepted. As he was a great patriot for his country, so he was a very zealous loyalist in behalf of King Robert Bruce; upon whose accession to the throne he had divers grants of lands, in consideration of his good and faithful services before that time performed. He exchanged his lands of Cardross, in Dunbartonshire, with the said King, for the lands of Old Montrose, in the county of Forfar. This Sir David was also one of those Barons, who, in 1320, wrote that letter to Pope John XXII. asserting the independency of Scotland, wherein they highly extol their sovereign, Robert Bruce, as the nation's glorious deliverer, and the preserver of the liberties of the people; in which famous record the seal of this noble person is still entire. He died soon after 1327, the year in which the said King Robert departed this life, and was succeeded by his son,

Sir DAVID Graham, who, inheriting the patriotism and bravery of his ancestors, was a steady friend to King David, the son of Robert Bruce; and accompanying that Prince at the battle of Durham, October 17th, 1346, was there taken prisoner with him: but was released before the year 1354; for then he was one of the Scottish grandees employed to negociate the ransom of their Sovereign. He died after the year 1360, and left issue Sir Patrick, his son and heir, and a daughter, married to William Earl of Ross.

The said Sir PATRICK, styled in his father's time Lord of Dundaff and Kincardine, was one of the hostages for the ransom of King David, when the terms of his redemption were concerted by the commissioners of both kingdoms, in 1357. On the accession of King Robert II. to the crown, when the two great entails were made in favour of the King's eldest son, the Earl of Carrick, A. D. 1371, Sir Patrick's name is inserted in the one, and bis seal is appended to the other. He had, by his first wife, Maud, Sir William, Lord of Graham, his successor, and a daughter, Maud, married to Sir John Drummond, of Concraig.

And by his second wife, Eupham, daughter to Sir John Stewart, brother to King Robert II. and sister to Walter Stewart, Lord of Railston, he had issue Sir Patrick Graham, of Elieston,

f Charta in Publ. Arch. Scot. Chart. penes Ducem de Montrose.

progenitor of the Earls of Menteith. 2. Robert. 3. David. 4. Alexander.

Which Sir WILLIAM, Lord of Graham, was Lord of Kincardine, in 1404,. and joined in commission, with other Lords and. Barons, to treat with the English concerning a peace and amity betwixt the two realms; and two years after was sent on an embassy to England, with the Earls of Crawford and Mar; which negociation they performed with honour and success. He married, first, Mariota, daughter of Sir John Oliphant, of Aberdalgy, by whom he had

1. ALEXANDER, his eldest son, who died in the lifetime of his father.

And, 2. John.

10 He married, secondly, the Lady Mariot Stewart, daughter of Robert III. widow of George Earl of Angus, and of Sir James Kennedy, of Dunure, and by her had, 1. Sir Robert Graham, of Strathcarron, first of the branch of the Grahams of Fintrie, and Claverhouse. 2. Patrick; who, entering into orders, was first promoted to the episcopal see of Breechin, and translated thence to the bishoprick of St. Andrew's in 1466. 3. William, of whom descended the Grahams of Garvock and Balgowan. 4. Harry. 5. Walter Graham, of Wallacetown, who was the ancestor of the Grahams of Knockdolian, and its cadets.

The said Sir William departing this life in 1424,' his estate and honour devolved on

PATRICK, his grandson and heir (son and heir of Alexander, who died in his lifetime), who was appointed one of the Lords of the Regency in the minority of James II. and prudently and faithfully discharged that trust for several years after; in consideration whereof, and having been one of the hostages for the ransom of King James I. he was made a LORD OF PARLIAMENT about the year 1445. He died in January 1467, leaving issue, by Elizabeth his wife,

WILLIAM Second Lord Graham, his son and heir, appointed Ambassador Extraordinary to the court of England, 1496, who married Jane, daughter of George Earl of Angus, and dying in 1472, left issue, 1. William, his successor.

2. George, of whom is the branch of the Grahams of Calendar.

h Chart. penes Ducem de Montrose.

k Chart, in Pub. Arch.

i Rymer's Fœd. Angliæ. 1 Charta penes Ducem de Montrose.

And two daughters; Jane, married to John second Lord Ogilvie of Airly; and Christian, married to James Halden, of Gleneagles, and after to Sir Thomas Maul, of Panmure.

Which WILLIAM, third Lord Graham, adhered firmly to James III. in the time of his greatest distress; and when that unfortunate Prince was, in 1488, forced to take the field, and raise an army in his own defence, the Lord Graham resorted to him, and cheerfully took a command in the army, in which he continued till the death of the King on June 11th. He was also in great favour with James IV. who by Letters of Creation, raised him to the dignity of Earl of Montrose, March 3d, 1504.m

He married, first, Annabella, daughter of John Lord Drummond, by whom he had William, the heir of the family; secondly, Janet, daughter of Sir Archibald Edmonston, of Duntreath,° by whom he had Lady Margaret, espoused to William master of Lenox; and, secondly, to Sir John Somerville, of Cambusnethan; Lady Elizabeth, to Walter Drummond, grandson and heir of John first Lord Drummond; Lady Nicholas, to Sir William Murray, of Abercairny.

This William, first Earl of Montrose, by his third wife, Christian Wavane, had two sons; Patrick, first of the family seated at Inchbraco, out of which branched the Grahams of Gorthie, and Bucklivie; and Andrew, who was the first Protestant Bishop of Dunblain, promoted thereto on the deprivation of Bishop Chisolme, 1575.

This Earl was slain at the battle of Flodden with King James IV. September 9th, 1513.

WILLIAM, the second Earl of Montrose, was one of the Peers to whom John Duke of Albany, Regent of Scotland in the minority of James V. committed the tuition of the young King, when the Duke went over to France in 1523, to secure that crown in the interest of Scotland. He married Janet, daughter of William Keith, Earl Marshal, by whom he had

1. ROBERT, Master of Montrose, who was slain at the battle of Pinkey, September 10th, 1547. He married Margaret, daughter of Malcolm Lord Fleming.

2. Alexander, Pensioner of Cambuskenneth. 3. William. And, 4. Mungo, of whom the families of Orchil and Killern are descended: likewise five daughters; Lady Margaret, married to

m Charta penes Ducem de Montrose.

n Ibidem.

• Charta penes Dominum de Duntreath.