Graham (No. 1.) family genealogy

Of Ireland

In Northern Notes and Queries (Vol. I., No. 6, p. 119; September, 1887. Edited by the Rev. A. W. Cornelius Hallen, M.A.; and Published at Edinburgh by David Douglas), we read:

“It will be seen that the Grahams at an early date were troublesome inhabitants of the Borders. Nothing is said[1] to show whether they were descended from the Scottish family of the name, or whether—which seems just as likely—the Scottish house was of Border origin … It is certain that during the sixteenth century the Grahams were both numerous and warlike … The branch of the family to which attention will, however, be chiefly drawn in these Notes is that of Mote. The first Graham of Mote we have been able to trace is Fergus, to whom a grant of arms was made in 1583.” Again, ibid., p. 152, Vol. I., No. 7, we read:

“We have consulted Mr. W. Bruce Armstrong’s History of Liddisdale, Mr. Stoddart’s Scottish Arms, 10th Rep. of Hist. MS. Com., and such volumes of the Calendar of State Papers as are likely to throw any light on the history of the Grahams of Mote. Nothing can be learned of the Grahams of the Border prior to 1527; Mr. Stoddart’s conjecture is that they came from the Dryfe in Dumfriesshire. In 1528 they were amongst the most troublesome of the Liddisdale Borderers. William Graham of Stuble, called ‘Lang Willie,’ was most probably from Arthuret. (Hist. Lid., p. 247, n.) Stuble seems to have been in the Armstrong country; but with most of the Armstrongs the Grahams were at constant strife. Richard Graham of Esk, eldest son of ‘Lang Willie,’ however, married an Armstrong, and was imprisoned in Carlisle Castle on a charge of giving information to the family of an attack on them planned by Lord Dacre, Warden of the West Marches. He succeeded in clearing himself of the charge, and proving it against a member of the family of Storie of Netherby and Mote. On his release from Carlisle Castle, he, with Fergus, his brother next in age, and five younger ones (all, however, then old enough to bear arms), expelled the Stories from their lands, which they shared amongst themselves …

“In 1606 the descendants of Richard of Netherby were banished to Ireland. Their land was forfeited, and was sold in 1629 to Richard Graham, second son of Richard Graham, of Plomp, son of Matthew Graham of Springhill, beyond which it is impossible to trace the present family of Graham of Esk and Netherby. Stoddart rejects as untenable the tradition that this Border family was descended from John Graham ‘of the bright sword,’ grandson of Malise, Earl of Strathearn, for it has been clearly proved that he died without legitimate male issue.[2] Returning to the family of Mote, Fergus had at least two sons: Roger or Richard, who went to Ireland, where in 1565 he had a grant of the advowson of Whitechurch, co. Kildare, which was in 1633 in the possession of William Graham, a son of his nephew Sir Richard; and Arthur Graham of Mote, probably the other brother, who had several children. Of these Fergus went to Ireland before the general break-up of the houses of Netherby and Mote. In 1602 he was in receipt of a yearly pension of £30, being described as ‘an old servitor’ of the Crown. His two sons, Richard and George, had by this time distinguished themselves as valiant soldiers, and the eldest had already received knighthood (10th March, 1600), an honour which was soon after (25th July, 1603) conferred on the younger brother. In 1606 (Carew Papers) we find a list of Grahams who arrived in Dublin, part of the great body of the clan removed by James VI. to Ireland (or James I. of England), and who settled in various parts of the country. A comparison of this list with an incomplete one of those sent from Cumberland given (Hist. MS. Rep. 1885) enables me to present a tentative pedigree, brought down to A.D. 1606), of the descendants of the two elder sons of ‘Lang Willie’ Graham of Stuble.

“From the History of Liddisdale it is evident that the Grahams of Netherby and Mote were regarded as chief men in the clan, and the removal of all the members of these two houses in 1606 doubtless proved a most effectual cure for the troubles that had existed. The union of the Crowns of England and Scotland had brought the Borders into a closer grip of the law than they had ever felt. On north and south their neighbours were no longer subjects of two kings, often at war with each other, but of one who most wisely determined to root out a state of things intolerable in the middle of his kingdom, however convenient it might at times have proved when on the borders of it.”

THE FIRST GRAHAMS OF NETHERBY.[3]

William Graham of Stuble, who was called “Lang Willie,” came to Netherby from Arthuret, county Cumberland. He married and had eight sons:—1. Richard; 2. Fergus, of Mote; 3. Thomas; 4. William; 5. John; 6. Hugh; 7 and 8—names unknown. These were all of full age in 1528:

1. Richard, of Esk and of Netherby, of whom presently.
2. Fergus, of Mote, soon after 1528. (See “Graham,” No. 2.)
3. Thomas: third son of “Lang Willie;” alive in 1564.
4. William: the fourth son; alive in 1564; m. a dau. of Carruthers, of Holmains, and had: Robt. Graham of Faulds, who was alive in 1564.
5. John, the “Braid;” alive in 1564: the fifth son.
6. Hugh: the sixth son.
7. and VIII., names not known.

2. Richard, of Esk and of Netherby, soon after 1528; alive in 1564; eldest son of “Lang Willie.” He m. — Armstrong, and had:

3. Richard, of Netherby, who m. and had:

4. Walter, of Netherby, who was banished to Ireland in 1606. He m. and had three sons: 1. Richard, of whom presently; 2. Arthur; 3. Thomas. This Arthur was banished to Ireland in 1606; and his younger brother, Thomas, was also banished to Ireland in 1606.

5. Richard Graham, of Netherby: eldest son of Walter; was styled “Principal of the Clan.” He was banished to Ireland in 1606, and his property given to the Earl of Cumberland.

Notes

[1] Said: Nothing on this subject is said in the Calendar of State Papers (Scotland), or in the 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Com., 1885.

[2] Issue: See also The Debateable Land, by T. J. Carlyle, 1868.

[3] Netherby: Nothing is known as to the Arms (if any) borne by the elder line of Netherby, the coat (see “Graham,” No. 2) granted to Fergus Graham of Mote, in 1553, was Barry of six arg. and gu., over all in bend a branch of an oak root within a bordure engrailed sa. On the first bar gu. a boar’s head couped arg. Crest: An arm bendy of four gules and arg. holding in the hand a branch of the bend. This was borne by his descendants. The younger line of Netherby was but distantly connected with the elder. They used the Arms of the Scottish Grahams quartered with Stewart of Strathearn; but their right to do this is not known. They also adopted as a Crest the crown valley, which belonged to the Irish branch of the family. This has now very properly been discontinued.