John Graham, of Hallyards

Biographical Summary

"Spotswood says that this individual was a man but meanly born, and descended of that unhappy race which had a hand in the murder of king James the First, another contemporary writer however states him to have been a cousin of the earl of Montrose. He appears as justice-depute to the Earl of Argyll on the 12th January 1579, and in that character presided at the trial of Morton in June 1581. He was named Justice by special commission for the trial of Gowrie in May 1584; and on the 23d of that month was appointed an ordinary lord in place of Robert Pont, who being a minister, was incapacitated by an act of parliament passed only two days before. In 1587, he was appointed one of the commissioners then nominated for satisfaction to the clergy of their life rents..."

SOURCE: An Historical Account of the Senators of the College of Justice: From Its Institution in MDXXXII; by George Brunton, David Haig; 1832; Page 191