Clan Graham
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Clan Graham is a Scottish clan who had territories in both the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands.
Origins of the Clan
There is a legend that says the Roman Antonine Wall was broken by Graeme, a great Caledonian chief, as he drove the Roman legions out of his country. This, unfortunately, might never be proven. From the records available, the first Graham known in Scotland was Sir William de Graham, a knight who accompanied David I, England’s premier baron, on his journey north to claim the Scottish crown.
History
The early history of the Grahams in Scotland is not easily understood. One theory is that there were similar names from the Celtic "Greamach" (grim) or the Saxon "Gram" (fierce). There is a tradition in Scotland that the daughter of a Gryme married a King of the Scots, Fergus II. The Celts and Saxons disappeared or were swallowed up by the descendants of "Lez Grames" of Norman origin. Some say that the original Grahams in Scotland were Picts, established long before the Normans came into Scotland. Solid information has established the Norman descent of the Grahams. The Normans were originally of Viking descent and a Graham lineage goes back into Scandinavia.
Listed in the Doomsday Book of William the Conqueror is a place that was known as "Graeg Ham" in the 10th Century in England, now known as Grantham.
The Normans were in Scotland in the 12th century. William De Graeme personally witnessed the signing of the charter founding the Abbey of Holyrood in 1128. From this line descended the Montrose line of Grahams, one of the most distinguished families of Scotland.
Twice the Montrose Grahams married into the royal family. From these came some notable men. First among them was Sir John Graham, right hand man to the Great Wallace, killed in the battle of Falkirk in 1298. Second was the Marquess of Montrose , James Graham, poet, but above all, the most distinguished soldier of his time. He was martyred in Edinburgh in 1650. Third was John Graham, Viscount of Claverhouse, "Bonnie Dundee", who died whilst commanding the Jacobite Royalists during their victory over the Orange Royalists at the Battle of Killiecrankie. In John Stewart's book, The Grahams, he states that "Most Scottish Clans would be proud to have one great hero. The Grahams have three." There were, of course, many more besides these three towering figures.
Stewart also wrote,
"It is remarkable that the early Grahams were one and all exceedingly capable men. In an age when the reputation of many great public figures, alas, that of most of the Scottish nobility, were sullied by deeds of violence, and often deeds of blackest treachery, it is refreshing to find that the Grahams stand out as loyal and true to the causes they espoused. Their story is not one of rapid rise to power through royal favor, or even at the expense of their peers, but rather a gradual steady rise based on their undoubted ability and worthiness which seems to have endured from one generation to another."
| Clan Graham | ||
|---|---|---|
| Motto | Ne Oublie (Never forget) | |
| Origins | Scottish | |
| Gaelic name(s) | Graham possibly originated from Graeme or Gramus | |
| Sept(s) | Airth, Allardyce, Auchinloick, Ballewen, Blair, Bonar, Bonnar, Bonner, Bontein, Bontine, Buchlyrie, Buntain, Bunting, Buntyn, Conyers, Drumaguhassle, Duchray, Dugalston, Esbank, Glenny, Graeme, Grahame, Grim, Grimes, Hadden, Haldane, Kilpatrich, Lingo, MacGibbon, MacGilvern, MacGilvernock, MacIlvern, MacShille, Menteith, Monteith, Monzie, Orchille, Pitcairn, Pyatt, Pye, Pyott, Rednock, Sirowan, Sterling. | |
| Arms | ||
| Tartans | ||
| Plant badge | Spurge Laurel | |
| Chieftain (s) | Graham Duke of Montrose & Graham of Gartmore | |
| Seat(s) | Mugdock Castle , Stirlingshire & Inchtalla Castle , Lake of Menteith | |
| Website: | www.clan-graham-association.org.uk | |
Scottish Wars of Independance
During the Wars of Scottish Independence the Clan Graham fought at the Battle of Dunbar 1296 where Sir Patrick Graham of Kincardine was killed. The Clan Graham also fought at the Battle of Falkirk (1298) where Sir John Graham, the right hand man of William Wallace was killed. The Clan Graham also fought the English at the Battle of Durham in 1346, in support of Robert the Bruce.
Clan Conflicts, Battles and Skirmishes
- The Clan Graham fought at the Battle of Sauchieburn in 1488.
- In 1504 Lord Graham, on account of his gallantry was made Earl of Montrose. He would go on to lead part of the Scottish Vanguard against the English at the Battle of Flodden Field in 1513 where he was slain.
- The Clan Graham were among the clans who fought against the English at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh 1547, where the eldest son of the second Earl, Robert, Lord Graham was slain.
- James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose is victorious at the Battle of Tippermuir on 1st September 1644. Graham was fighting in support of King Charles I.
- James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose is victorious at the Battle of Aberdeen on 13th September 1644. Again commanding forces loyal to King Charles I.
- In 1645 James Graham at the head of his Royalist forces took the opportunity to lay waste to the lands of Clan Arbuthnott this was becasue the Arbuthnotts who had previously been loyal to the Royalist cause had become sympethetic to the Covenanters.
- James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose is victorious at the Battle of Inverlochy (1645). Commanding forces loyal to King Charles I.
- James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose is victorious at the Battle of Auldearn on 9th May 1645. Again commanding forces loyal to King Charles I.
- James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose is victorious at the Battle of Alford on 2nd July 1645. Again commanding forces loyal to King Charles I.
- James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose is victorious at the Battle of Kilsyth on 15th August 1645. Again commanding forces loyal to King Charles I. Here Graham was supported by the forces of Clan MacNab.
- James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose is defeated at the Battle of Philiphaugh 13th September 1645. Again commanding forces loyal to King Charles I. Here Graham was also supported by the forces of Clan Douglas who were led by Chief William Douglas, the 11th Earl of Angus.
- During the Civil War the Clan MacKenzie Chief who was still in posession of the Castle Chanonry of Ross was now known as the Earl of Seaforth. However in 1646 James Graham the 1st Marquess of Montrose laid siege to the castle and took it from the MacKenzies after a siege of four days.
- James Graham, 1st Marquees of Montrose is defeated when he led an army of German and Danish soldiers at the Battle of Carbisdale (1650). James Graham had always been loyal to the Royalist cause. Interestingly he was defeated by forces who were also loyal Royalists but were rivals to the cause. James Graham had landed an amry of foriegners in Rosshire and at the head of them he was defeated at the Battle of Carbisdale. His enemy was a combined force of Campbell Argyll, Clan Munro, Clan Ross and Clan Sutherland.
- John Graham, 1st Viscount of Dundee who led a Royalist force is defeated at the Battle of Drumclog in 1679 by a force of Covenanters.
- John Graham of Claverhouse leads the Clan and is victorious at the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1698. John Graham, Viscount of Claverhouse, "Bonnie Dundee", died whilst commanding the Jacobite Royalists during their victory over the Orange Royalists at this battle.
- The Clan Graham took no side in the Jacobite uprisings 1745-1746 and remained neutral.
Sir John Graham
Sir John the Graham, hero of the Wars of Independence, rescued Wallace at Queensberry and was killed in 1298 at the battle of Falkirk, where his name is still perpetuated in the district of Grahamston. The grave of this hero in Falkirk churchyard is still to be seen, with table stones of three successive periods above it. As an evidence of the honour in which his memory was held, it is recalled that, after the second battle of Falkirk in 1746, when the Jacobites wished to do special honour to one of their opponents, Chief of Clan Munro, Col. Sir Robert Munro who had fallen, they opened the grave of Sir John the Graham and buried Sir Robert Munro beside the dust of the hero. Sir Robert Munro had been fighting at the front at the second battle of Falkirk, when the retreat was orderd for Government troops he was surrounded by six Jacobites, he killed at least two with his pike before being shot by a Jacobite commander.
One great two-handed sword of Sir John the Graham is preserved at Buchanan Castle by the Duke of Montrose; another was long in possession of the Grahams of Orchil, and is now treasured by the Free Mason Lodge at Auchterarder.
Mugdock Castle
Mugdock Castle was a stronghold of the Grahams from the middle of the 13th century. James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose who initially supported the Covenanters later became a Royalist in the Scottish Civil War & English Civil War, and while in prison in 1641, the castle was sacked by Lord Sinclair.
In 1641 the castle was partly destroyed on orders from Parliament, but James Graham lived there until 1644. On the execution of James in 1650, the lands were forfeited to the Marquis of Argyll, Archibald Campbell. In 1655 Mugdock was returned to the Grahams and restored over a two year period. In 1682 the Grahams bought Buchanan Old House near Drymen, a dwelling more fitting the title of "Marquis", but kept the family official seat at Mugdock for a long period of time.
In the 19th century a large mansion was built in the ruins of the old castle, destroying much of the original castle. However, a tower, rising to four stories with an entrance at first floor level, still remains.
