James Graham of Kilmanan, Lord Easdale

JAMES GRAHAM OF KILLMANNAN Lord Easdale

Advocate: Senator of the College of Justice; Burgess and Guild Brother of Glasgow

James Graham of Killmannan is the son of John Graham of Dougalstoun and his wife Margaret Nisbet. He was born before 26 March 1696, the daye upon which his baptism was registered at Glasgow in Lanarkshire, Scotland. [National Records of Scotland, Glasgow Baptisms, reference OPR.644/1/7]

James Graham of Killmannan was enrolled as a burgess and guild brother of Glasgow on 13 October 1719. He was admitted in right of him being the second son of the deceased John Graham of Dougalstoun. Glasgow Burgesses, 1573-1750, p. 346

Biographical Summary

Second son of John Graham of Dougalston, passed as advocate 9th February 1723. He succeeded, at the promotion of Robert Dundas of Arniston, to a seat on the bench, and was received by the title of Lord Easdale on the 3d June 1749. His career, as a judge, was of very short duration having died at Edinburgh on the 15th of August 1750, in the 54th year of his age.

SOURCE: An Historical Account of the Senators of the College of Justice: From Its Institution in MDXXXII by George Brunton, David Haig; 1832; Page 515

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

15 December 1715: Minute of sale between James Graham of Kilmannan and Andrew Din, eldest lawful son of the deceased James Din in Lurg of Fintry whereby the said Andrew Din obliges himself to make up titles in his person as heir to the deceased James Din, his father, in half of the lands of Wester Crinzet and to purge the same of all incumbrances and dispone them to the said James Graham. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Graham Family, Dukes of Montrose, reference GD220/1/K/3/3/8

                   2

16 December 1724: Decreet of certification before the Lords of Session in the reduction and improbation at the instance of James, Duke of Montrose, and His Majesty's Advocate, against James Graham of Kilmannan, reducing all the writs called for in the said process and not produced, and decerning them to be null and void for all time coming except for this decreet, and declaring that the same shall not strike against any of the writs of the lands of Kilmannan and others held by James Graham of the Duke nor against a tack of the commonside granted by the Duke to the said James Graham. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Graham Family, Dukes of Montrose, reference GD220/1/J/4/3/2

                   3

27 July 1732: Creditors on estate of Kilmannan vs Creditors of James Graham of Kilmannan : Act appointing Roup and Sale. National Records of Scotland, Court of Session: Carmichael & Elliot processes, James Finlayson, extractor, reference CS129/168

                   4

22 November 1733: Decreet of declarator of extinction before the Lords of Session at the instance of James, Duke of Montrose against James Graham of Kilmannan, finding that the sum of 6000 merks contained in a bond by the Duke of Montrose in favour of James Graham of Kilmannan in 1706 is compensated by the articles mentioned in the decreet owed by James Graham to the Duke and therefore extinguishing the bond. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Graham Family, Dukes of Montrose, reference GD220/1/J/7/3/1

                   5

28 August 1745: Note by David Graeme of Orchill, on memorial, 1736, for Richard Graham, merchant in Glasgow, narrating contract, 9 Oct. 1719, between Montrose's commissioners and John Smith of Donegal in Ireland, whereby the latter bought timber of woods of Culgartmore and others, for ten years; whereupon, on 14 October 1719, said John contracted with James Graham of Kilmannan for carrying on an iron mill and forge; this project proving abortive, said Richard advanced money to said James, his brother, and now claims the value of the wood disponed to said John. Orchill declares that the duke is advised by his friends that there is no ground for the claim. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Graham Family, Dukes of Montrose, reference GD220/6/1659