Catherine Graham

LADY CATHERINE GRAHAM

Said to have eloped with Sir John Colquhoun of Luss, Baronet , her sister Lilias’ husband.

“No mention is made of Lady Katherine's circumstances during Sir John's return to Scotland in 1647 or her presence after 1647. As she is not mentioned at all, the possibility exists that Lady Katherine has died prior to his return. (Her mother, in comfort, safety and with all resources, died of natural causes at 41 years of age. Lady Katherine, a fugitive, with who knows what limited resources, privation and lack of medical care would be 37 years old in 1647).”

Evidence to support as mother of William Cahoon is lacking.

The third, and what some believe to be the most likely possibility for William's parentage, is that he was the son of Sir John Colquhoun and Lady Katherine Graham. This hypothesis is outlined in detail in a paper titled, Who Was William Cahoon? AN EXAMINATION INTO THE PARENTAGE OF WILLIAM CAHOON by Gary D. Calder.
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http://www.stephenokeson.com/genealogy/Calhoun_11.html

John became infatuated with Katherine Graham, his wife's pretty sister, sometime prior to 1632 because it was in September of that year that they suddenly eloped. Humiliated by the abandonment of one sister (Lilias) and the 'abduction' of another (Katherine), the Laird Montrose uses his favor with the king have John Colquhoun charged with Incest and Malfeasance (Sorcery). Intimate relations with the brother or sister of your spouce was considered Incest under Scotish law and the charge of Sorcery implied that the Lady Katherine would never have run off unless she had been enchanted, thus keeping the dignity and honor of the Graham family intact. Both Incest and Sorcery were capital offenses punishable by death.

When John fails to appear by January 11th, 1633, he was declared a fugitive. He was excommunicated from the church and by order of the crown forfeited his title, estate and rents; which were assigned to Sir Robert Spot, the first and last Viscount of Belhaven. John Colquhoun's brother Humphrey was able to re-purchase these properties (on November 20th, 1633) before Sir Robert was able to exercise control of them. John and Katherine were in London during this time.

There are three plausible reasons why Sir John and the Lady Katherine would have decided to elope in 1632. They could have been so infatuated with each other that John was willing to give up his land, titles, reputation and family (and she hers). Other accounts suggest that one of their romantic indescressions may have been observed and they believed they were about to be publically exposed. Or finally, the Lady Katherine may have become pregnant with John's child.

William Colquhoun (1633-1675) claimed in his later years that he was the son of Sir John Colquhoun. While there are no official records to prove this relationship, William's birth occurs not long after John and Katherine's elopement and Sir John would have had motive to keep the existance of any child he had with Katherine a secret since such offspring could have been used as proof of his 'incest' with Katherine. It should be noted that William is not a name used by the Colquhouns, but is common within the Graham family.

In April of 1647, John's brothers ask the Scottish Presbytery of Dumbarton to rescind the excommunication suffered by John. By this time the church and state had become one and the enemies of Laird Montrose had risen to power. John's confession, which occured on May 11th, contained many tears and much regret but he declined to confess any specific wrongdoing with the Lady Katherine until the conditions of his estate had been settled. While there are conflicting reports of whether John was allowed to rejoin the church, it does not appear that the church nor the state had any appetite for persecuting him further. The following year, John sees his titles, estates and rents, which had been held by his brother Humphrey during his absence, passed on to his eldest son John (also known as the Black Cock of the West) who then becomes the next Laird of Colquhoun and Luss. John never makes his promised confessions regarding his conduct with the Lady Katherine or the lost years, choosing instead to remain mute on the subject.
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http://stephenokeson.com/genealogy/Calhoun_132.html

William Colquhoun is believed to be the son of Sir John Colquhoun and the Lady Katherine Graham, although there is no known official record of William's birth or parentage. What we do have are William's own claims as to whom his father was and a plausable and compelling explanation why there would be no record kept of his birth or family.

Sir John Colquhoun, Laird of Luss, married the Lady Lilias Graham in 1620 but within 10 years had become infatuated with his wife's younger sister, Katherine. Apparently the feelings between John and Katherine were mutual, because in September of 1632 they eloped and fled to London. Katherine's brother James, the Laird Montrose, then used his influence with the king to have Sir John charged with incest and sorcery. Intimate relations with the sister or brother of your spouse was Incest under Scotish law and the additional charge of sorcery implied that Katherine would never have so mad as to have gone with John unless enchanted to do so, thus saving the honor of the Graham family. Both Incest and Sorcery were capital offenses and either one would have been punishable by death. _______________________________________________________________________

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_John_Colquhoun,_1st_Baronet

In 1620, he married Lady Lilias Graham, eldest daughter of John Graham, Fourth Earl of Montrose, and elder sister of the Great Montrose,[5] which was what her younger brother, James Graham, 5th Earl of Montrose, came to be known, in addition to being the Marquis of Montrose. In 1632 Sir John was accused of absconding his wife's sister, Lady Catherine Graham. It was alleged that he had used witchcraft and sorcery to accomplish this. As a fugitive he was excommunicated and his estates forfeited.[6] _____________________________________________________________