Robert Grahame of Whitehill

From Biographical Sketches of the Hon. the Lord Provosts of Glasgow by John Tweed Published 1883 Pages 12-23

Robert Grahame, Lord Provost, 1833-34.

Robert Grahame of Whitehill was born in Glasgow on the 19 September 1759, and died at Hatton Hall, Northamptonshire, to which place he had gone some years previously for retirement and change of air, on the 28 December 1851, in the ninety-third year of his age. He was the eldest son of Thomas Grahame, an eminent and respected writer (or solicitor) in Glasgow, by his wife Jean Robertson, daughter of John Robertson, writer there, and grand daughter of Robert Robertson, commissary depute of the diocese of Glasgow, by his wife Helen Hill of Lambhill. Elizabeth Robertson, Mrs Grahame's sister, married Mr. Thomas Grahame's cousin, James Hill of Cathcart, writer in Glasgow, — these sisters being (through the Brysons of Craigallian) also cousins to their respective husbands. Of these two marriages were born the families of "Grahames and Hills, "alluded to so often and with so much regard and attachment in the published correspondence of the immortal author of "The Pleasure of Hope" by whom the following beautiful lines are written to commemorate the happy hours he spent at Mr. Hill's at Cathcart, in the company of the Messrs Grahame: —

"Oh! scenes of my childhood, and dear to my heart, / Ye green waving woods on the margin of Cart, / How blest in the morning of life I have stray'd, / By the stream of the vale and the grass-cover'd glade!

Then, then every rapture was young and sincere, / Ere the sunshine of bliss was bedimm'd by a tear, / And a sweeter delight every scene seem'd to lend, / That the mansion of peace was the home of a friend."

Mr. [ERROR Robert CORRECTION Thomas] Grahame left three sons and two daughters: Robert Grahame, the subject of this notice; James Grahame, advocate in Edinburgh, afterwards incumbent of Sedgefield in England, author of "The Sabbath" and other poems; Thomas Grahame, manufacturer in Glasgow; Margaret Grahame, who died unmarried; and Jane Grahame (née Grahame), married to Archibald Grahame of Dalmarnock, a partner and cashier of the Thistle Bank, who had previously been partner with his father-in-law as a writer.

[Page 13] Of this family Robert Grahame, the eldest, at an early period of life joined his father in the business, which he afterwards conducted with so much ability and success for many years, in conjunction with Mr. Andrew Mitchell, afterwards of Maulside, under the well-known firm of Grahame & Mitchell.

The whole of Mr. Thomas Grahame's family were endowed with brilliant talents, and generous and amiable dispositions. Their parents, who were eminently and sincerely pious, cultivating the minds and the hearts of their children with the utmost anxiety and tenderness, were richly rewarded by the devoted attachment and high and honourable principles of one and all of them. To the personal worth and talents of their son James Grahame, a graceful tribute has been paid by his kindred spirits, Joanna Baillie, Walter Scott, Thomas Campbell, and John Wilson; by the latter in a beautiful monody, worthy of himself and of his subject. All the sons were distinguished at college for classical and scientific attainments, — Robert peculiarly so; and in after years, amidst the harassing and incessant toils of a laborious profession, his taste for literature never left him, and he was always able to find time for varied and extensive reading on all subjects of scientific interest.

The office of old Mr Grahame, the father, was originally in the Gallowgate. It was afterwards removed to the Trongate, at the north-east corner of Stockwell Street, above his brother-in-law, where it is indicated in 1783 in John Tait's first Glasgow Directory. At this time almost all the writers' offices in Glasgow were clustered round the Cross — in the Gallowgate, the Saltmarket, and Trongate. Old Mr. Grahame's office, when he removed from the Gallowgate to the corner of Stockwell Street) was the farthest west in the city. This was emphatically a move from the east to the west and more fashionable end. We find, however, that, in 1789, the office of Thomas and Robert Grahame (for father and son were now in partnership) had moved still farther west, and was located on the east side of Virginia Street. This appears from the Directory for that year, published by old Nathaniel Jones. We have reason to believe that the office of the future firm was carried from that to its site in Miller Street (a little farther west still) about 1812.

Robert appears to have served his apprenticeship with his father; but, according to the custom of that time, his legal education was completed [Page 14] in Edinburgh, where he was further initiated in the routine of business in the office of his cousin, Mr. Laurence Hill, W.S., father of Mr. Laurence Hill, of this city. Mr. Grahame became a member of the Faculty of Procurators in 1782.

Having carried on business with his father till the death of the old gentleman, in 1801, he then took into partnership, Mr. Andrew Mitchell, son of the Rev. Mr. Andrew Mitchell of Beith — Mr. Mitchell had previously, faithfully served his apprenticeship with Mr. Grahame, and was ever held by him in the greatest esteem. Under the firm of Messrs. Grahame & Mitchell, they enjoyed as we have already stated, a most extensive business and stood at the top of the profession in Glasgow as conveyancers for many a year.

This was the most active and energetic period of Mr. Grahame's life. He had married a Miss Geddes, of Cupar, Fife, a lady of great beauty, whom he met for the first time in the house of Mr. Scott Moncrieff, then manager of the Royal Bank in Glasgow. Miss Geddes was most respectably connected, and by her he had two sons and two daughters. His habits, which were always regular, had now settled down into a strict and undeviating uniformity. His attention to business was unremitting, and the steady inflexible tenor of his life strongly contrasted with the somewhat roving practices for which the learned members of the Faculty were famous in these jovial days. The early reminiscences of some of our oldest surviving Procurators will probably recall the time when they were wont to attend the Commissary and other courts in the old Consistory House at the Town-head on Wednesday mornings, and seldom found their way home, notwithstanding the facilis descensus of the journey back, till Saturday night. In these days, as we have stated, the lawyer's offices were all congregated down about the Gallowgate, Saltmarket, and Trongate, and when the collective legal wisdom of our ancestors went up to the Town-head on Wednesday, they had each, like the Roman Patricians, their cluster and clients at their heel; they then adjourned to the public-houses till the Friday court, and afterwards finished the week gloriously with a gaudeamus according to their several tastes and the refined habits of the day.

Mr. Grahame was quite an exception to this then general rule. He was always distinguished by the regularity and strict sobriety of his habits, amounting almost to abstemiousness. About the beginning [Page 15] of this century he purchased the property of Whitehill, near Glasgow. Whitehill House, near 35 Finlay Drive, Glasgow G31 2QY 55.860043, -4.218424 From this favourite residence of Whitehill it was Mr. Grahame's regular habit to walk a distance of nearly a mile and a half, and to make his appearance in the office so early as 8 o'clock in the morning. He breakfasted in the office, and generally dined there also about 4 o'clock. The office hours were at that time as follows — from 8 to 9 , business; breakfast at 9; resume business at 10; the interval for dinner was at first from 3 to 5, but was afterwards from 4 to 6. Business was again resumed at 6, and he regularly walked home in the evening at 8 o'clock.

This was the uniform tenor of Mr. Grahame's life from 1800 to 1820. He was very seldom seen at the Tontine Reading Room Town Hall and Tontine Building, 14 Trongate, Glasgow G1 5ES 55.85667, -4.24417 — the then fashionable resort of merchants, lawyers, and clergymen — and rarely attended any meetings of the Faculty. He might have been elected Dean, had he so chosen; but having so much business of his own to attend to, he waived that honour in favour of his cousin, Mr. James Hill of Busby, who was then in charge of the Sasine Office in Glasgow.

Mr. Grahame from his earliest days was distinguished as an unflinching Reformer and Liberal, in the most extended sense of these epithets. Times have now changed, and many Tories, under the alias of Liberal Conservatives, now acquiesce in much that earned opprobrium among the political bigots of former days; and from his share of this species of injustice, Mr. Grahame did not escape. Hence the current of his public life did not always run smooth. According to popular adage, the lineage of Grahame is reputed to be somewhat "warm and hasty of mood;" and, unquestionably the subject of this notice was not without some tendency of that nature when roused by an oppression of the poor or helpless, or any outrage against the liberty or rights of his fellow-creatures; but his warmth was always qualified by the greatest innate kindness and generosity of disposition — the highest honour and integrity — and strongest sense of justice and equity. He was, of course, with such a temperament, no silent disapprover of the American war; nor of the foolish, tyrannical, and oppressive misgovernment which cost Britain her finest provinces. His well-known opinions on these points, and on the question of Reform, appear to have made him, in the year 1793, the object of one of the rash and frantic freaks of the panic-stricken Lord Advocate of that date, who is said to have gone so far as to transmit to the Provost of Glasgow a warrant for Mr. Grahame's apprehension.

[Page 16]

This piece of folly served, however, only to procure for him the honest and honourable testimony of the Provost to his unsullied honour and integrity, coupled with a distinct warning that the peace of the city could not be answered for, were the warrant enforced — so highly was Mr. Grahame held in respect and estimation by the citizens. This unexpected response, followed probably by further enquiries appears to have saved the authorities from what might have proved a more serious prank than some others, equally absurd, which were performed by the same functionary. It may, however, be remarked that the Lord Advocate's hostile, but futile, demonstration, did not deter Mr. Grahame from subsequently acting, with the utmost zeal and energy, as one of the agents in defence of Thomas Muir and other political martyrs of 1794.

The political friends and companions of Mr. Grahame at this early and perilous period in Glasgow, were the late Alexander Oswald of Shieldhall (father of Mr. James Oswald), Mr. Dugald Bannatyne (afterwards Postmaster, father of Mr. Andrew Bannatyne), Mr. Alexander McGrigor, Mr. Alexander Stevenson, and Mr. Robert Thomson, junior, of the Adelphi Works, and afterwards of Camphill. Mr. Grahame used also to relate with great glee that he was in the dancing school with Sir John Moore, the hero of Corunna, in Fraser's Hall, King Street, once a place of great note in Glasgow, and that he had often as his partner at the dance Mrs. Murray, the mother of James Murray, Esq. of Monkland.

Even in subsequent years, and when more advanced in life, his constant attention to business did not prevent him from giving his personal exertions when any occasion required them, in the cause of humanity. In 1819-20 he took a deep interest, and exerted himself with the Hon. Mr. Stuart Wortley (afterwards Lord Wharncliffe) in trying to get a reprieve for those misguided men, Hardy and Baird, who were executed at Stirling on a charge of conspiracy and treason. He and his partner, Mr. Andrew Mitchell, likewise exerted themselves greatly in favour of James Wilson — another unfortunate and weak-minded man, more a dupe than a criminal — who, on the 20 August 1820, was hanged and beheaded in Glasgow for his share in the so-called "Radical insurrection." On this occasion Messrs. Grahame & Mitchell specially engaged Mr. James Harmer, afterwards Alderman Harmer, an eminent London solicitor, to come down to Glasgow to attend the trial, the proceedings, [Page 17] on a charge for high treason, being chiefly regulated by English law. The expenses of the case, amounting to four or five hundred pounds, were paid by Messrs. Grahame and Mitchell, out of their own pockets.

During Mr. Grahame's term of office as Lord Provost there was formed in this city "The Glasgow Emancipation Society" having for its object "the abolition of slavery throughout the world." Mr. Grahame was elected President and held this office for many years, taking a warm and active interest in promoting the great and philanthropic aim of the Association. This Society was one of the most — if not the most enterprising and energetic in the country in carrying on the agitation against slavery in the West Indian Colonies and latterly in the United States of America. Under its auspices the late Mr. George Thompson, the powerful champion of abolition visited America to aid the cause in that country by his words of burning eloquence, and many were the crowded and enthusiastic meetings held in this city to further the cause of the oppressed slave.

Associated with Mr. Grahame in this Society were many other excellent and highly esteemed citizens; among its Vice-Presidents were the names of the late Rev. Drs. Wardlaw, Heugh, Kidston, and William Anderson; while as Secretaries it had the unwearied and valuable services of the late Mr. John Murray and Mr. William Smeal.

Some two or three years after these events, Mr. Grahame took an active and successful part in procuring the liberty of a slave. We have not learned the precise particulars of this event; but we believe it was a negro boy who was brought as a slave to the Broomielaw in some foreign vessel, and being informed by someone that as soon as he landed in this country he was free, the boy refused to return on board the vessel. An attempt was made to smuggle him off; but the affair having come to the ears of Messrs. Murray and Smeal, the late philanthropic Secretaries of the Glasgow Emancipation Society, they immediately proceeded to Whitehill and informed Mr. Grahame of the circumstances. Not a moment was lost, and the result of Mr. Grahame's exertions was the lad's emancipation from bondage. Mr. Grahame had afterwards a black servant, but whether it was this lad, or another emancipated slave whom he had got into his service we have not been able to ascertain. From an early period of his life he had taken an active interest in utterly abolishing the slave trade and slavery; in this cause he cooperated [Page 18] personally and powerfully with Messrs. Clarkson and Wilberforce, and indeed with all the most celebrated abolitionists of the last generation, and more fortunate than some of them he lived to see the great work accomplished in the British dominions, and steadily advancing throughout the world. For many long years he was President of the Glasgow Emancipation Society, and filled that honourable honorary office up to the time of his death.

One who knew him well about the period of his life to which these events relate, thus writes : — "Old Mr. Grahame I recollect from my earliest days. Many, many times when I was going to College, in my red gown, at the age of eleven, with a brother two years younger than myself, Mr. Grahame would get hold of us on the road, ask us (particularly my little brother of nine) the books we were reading with Professor Richardson and Young, and make him pull out one of the books and translate a passage to try him, for though so little, he was the best scholar of the two. He always spoke kindly and encouragingly to us, and bidding us be 'diligent scholars' (I remember well his very words), used to leave us at the corner of Duke Street and High Street on his way to business. He was a fine gentlemanly-looking man: always wore a white neckcloth, with the ends hanging out like bands, and our people used to say he very much resembled the prints of Washington."

We have seen that Mr. Grahame had always been a keen reformer, or rather decided liberal. He attended the meetings of the Fox Club, which was established to commemorate the anniversary of the death of the Right Hon. Charles James Fox. This club consisted of all the leading Reformers of the day, such as the late James Dennistoun, Esq. of Golfhill, Charles Tennant, Esq. of St. Rollox, Colin Dunlop, Esq. of Tolcross, Robert Thomson, Esq. of Camphill, Alexander McGrigor, Esq. of Kermack, James Oswald, Esq., John Douglas, Esq., Aeneas Morrison, Esq., Dr. Richard Miller, William Stirling, Esq. of Cordale, the late Professor Mylne, Sir John Maxwell, of Shieldhall, Archibald Spiers of Elderslie, the late Lord Archibald Hamilton, etc.

In Glasgow, as in other parts of the kingdom, great excitement was occasioned by the trial of Queen Caroline, wife of George IV in 1820. In this trial Mr. Grahame took a deep interest.

[Page 19]

After Mr. Grahame's retirement from business in 1824 he continued to take a prominent part in the Reform Bill agitation, which was then at its height, but he was never much accustomed or disposed to address public meetings. A brother-procurator who knew him well says, he was a great conveyancer, but no great public speaker. He had always, however, given the weight of his name, and of his high character and position, as well as his active services to the cause; and on the passing of the measure for which he had so long struggled, he was elected to the Town Council, and by that body unanimously chosen Lord Provost, being the first chief Magistrate of Glasgow, elected under the Municipal Reform Act. He did not continue in office, however, during the usual term of three years. Having held it fully a twelve month, and finding the duties onerous at his advanced age, he resigned, and Mr. William Mills merchant, was then elected in his place.

Not long after this event he removed to Weymouth, on the south coast of England, for the benefit of his health, taking with him his daughter, Mrs. Donald, and her son, as also his own son, Mr. Thomas Grahame, who had previously married a daughter of the late Mr. Kirkman Finlay, of Castle Toward, and was then a widower. Some years before his death he sold the property of Whitehill to Mr. John Reid, of Annfield.

Mr. Grahame had two sons and two daughters. James Grahame, the eldest, was twice married, and died many years ago: by his first wife he had a son and a daughter — the latter was married to a gentlemen of the name of Stewart. Mr. Grahame's second son, Thomas Grahame, married first as already stated, the eldest daughter of Kirkman Finlay, Esq., by whom he had three daughters, and afterwards the widow of General Limond, E.C.S. Mr. Grahame's eldest daughter, Ann Grahame, married in 1822, James Donald, Esq., formerly Captain and Paymaster of the 94th Regiment, and brother to C. D. Donald, Esq., Commissary clerk of Lanarkshire. Captain James Donald died in 1831, leaving one son and a daughter; the latter was married to William Somerset, Esq., second son of Lord William Somerset, uncle of the Duke of Beaufort; she died in 1850, leaving three children. Mrs. Donald died in 1847. Mr. Grahame's youngest daughter, Jane Grahame, married Sir John Robison, (son of Illuminati Robison), both are dead, leaving two daughters.

[Page 20]

Mr. Grahame lived in the time of five principal Sheriffs of Lanarkshire, viz: — Robert Sinclair, Esq., William Honeyman, Esq., afterwards Lord of Session, as Lord Armadale; Robert Hamilton, Esq.; William Rose Robinson, Esq., and Sir Archibald Alison.

By the death of this venerable patriarch, another of the living links was broken which connected the Glasgow of the present with the Glasgow of the last generation and the last century. When Mr. Grahame was born in 1759, the Rebellion of 1745 had only lately been quelled; George II was still seated on the throne; Mr. Olive was cutting out with his sword the beginnings of that mighty empire which we now possess in the East; the Duke of Marlborough was burning the French ships at St. Malo; the British and French were struggling for the sovereignty of North America; and General Wolfe, who had lately been stationed in Glasgow, and also at a fort on the banks of Loch Lomond, was just on the point of proceeding to America on that memorable expedition which terminated in his own death on the heights of Abraham, but not until he had wrested Quebec, with its almost impregnable fortress, from the French Arms.

The vicissitudes which Mr. Grahame lived to see in the history of his own country, and of the world in general — embracing the reigns of five sovereigns, from George II to Victoria — the rise of our Indian empire; the American war of independence, resulting in the severance of the United States from this country; the growth of the United States from a thinly peopled colony into one of the leading powers of the world; the first French Revolution with all its terrors; the rise, greatness, and overthrow of Napoleon; the subsequent revolutions in France, and finally, another Napoleon seated on the throne of the Bourbons — these were events of such magnitude that many volumes, of many separate histories, are now required to relate them; and, in short, they embrace the whole extent and duration of what may be considered the most important century in the civilized world.

But perhaps the most wonderful and striking of all the changes which happened in the long lifetime of the late venerable gentleman, was the miraculous progress and expansion of his own native city. When Mr. Grahame was living in his father's house at the north-east corner of Stockwell Street, that locality which now occupies the very centre of the city, was nearly at its western extremity; a line of houses might stretch [Page 21] a little beyond it along the site of Argyle Street, but still it is beyond doubt that there was little to be seen in that direction but green fields and gardens; the population of the city and suburbs was little more than 50,000; the noble harbour of the Broomielaw was at that time little other than what its name implies, and the depth of the river at Pointhouse ford, about two miles below Glasgow, was only one foot three inches at low water, and three feet eight inches at high water. The improvements on the river had not even commenced. The celebrated engineer, Mr. Smeaton, had indeed been employed to survey and report upon it in 1755, and the fruit of his survey and engineering wisdom was, a recommendation that a lock and weir should be erected about 4 miles below the city, to secure a depth in the harbour of four-and-a-half feet. An Act of Parliament — the first for improving the river — was actually obtained to carry out this suggestion in the very year that Mr. Grahame was born; but fortunately better counsels prevailed, and the Act was permitted to remain a dead letter, till Mr. Golborne of Chester, was called in about ten years afterwards, and recommended the narrowing and deepening process, which is still pursued, and by which results have been produced so important to the commerce and general prosperity of this city,

We have only to add that Mr. Grahame's great talents and industry were crowned with merited success in life. In addition to his professional avocations, he was one of the original partners of Charles Tennant & Co.; an early and extensive holder of Forth and Clyde, and Union Canal stock, and promoter of various thriving mineral railways; and ultimately retired from business with an ample and well-won fortune, bearing with him into retirement the esteem and grateful admiration of his fellow-citizens, and of all who knew him well. Of him, indeed, may be truly said, that he never belied the lineage of "the gallant Grahames," but, like the worthiest of his race, lived and died "Sans peur et sans reproche."

[Page 22]

The following letter is calculated to throw light on the political principles of Mr. Grahame and also upon the nature of his hopes and aspirations for his native city: —

To the Magistrates and Town Council of Glasgow,

L'Eperonniere, near Nantes, 8 October 1834.

Gentlemen. — I beg leave to intimate to you my resignation of the honourable and important functions confided to me by you and a large portion of my fellow-citizens, by whom I was last year appointed to the offices of Town Councillor and Chief Magistrate of the City of Glasgow, under the first free election of a Reformed Burgh Constituency.

My advanced age and declining strength might suffice as reasons for this step. But a reason less controvertible presents itself. For as I find that my health requires a residence abroad during the ensuing winter, it can no longer be in my power to discharge the duties which you entrusted to me.

In taking leave of you, my colleagues and associates, I cannot refrain from expressing my earnest expectation and wish that it may always be kept in mind by your successors in office, as well as by yourselves, that the measure of reform granted to the Scottish Burghs (large as it may be, and doubtless is) should be considered as merely preliminary; and the great object of the real friends of reform should still be the extension of that degree of education and moral attainment among all our fellow citizens, which will render a farther and corresponding extension of the elective franchise not merely desirable but indispensable.

Among the most intelligent and honourable men differences of opinion will exist; but I trust there is not one of you who would not consider that day as the proudest in his life on which he could, without fear of contradiction, declare that there was not a householder of our native city who was not by his education and intelligence qualified to have a voice in the election of its Magistracy and of its Representatives in Parliament. In the present state of society in Glasgow, such a thorough application of the principle of reform, may perhaps, by many persons, be regarded as far distant. But let us not forget that discouraging opinions on this subject are generally the result of a secret wish, on the part of those who profess them, to retain in their own hands a disproportionate and unjust share of political power and influence. I cherish, however, [Page 23] a confident hope that the promotion and progress of improvement will ever be the prevailing object of the Reformed Magistracy and Town Council of Glasgow.

Though I had, and still have, doubts of the propriety of my conduct in accepting, at so late a period of my life, the honourable offices which I now resign, you, I hope, will accept, as my sole apology, the proud and flattering gratification of finding myself the first choice of a free and reformed constituency.

I have only to add that I feel truly grateful to you, Gentlemen, and to all my fellow-citizens, for the kind and indulgent acceptance which my official services, or rather my feeble efforts to be serviceable, have received whilst I had the honour of being your Chief Magistrate. To the last moment of my life, our civic motto — "Let Glasgow Flourish," will be one of the warmest wishes of my heart.

And now, Gentlemen, I bid you farewell. That God may bless you and all the good people of Glasgow, is the sincere desire and prayer of your and their obliged Servant and faithful Friend,

[Signed] Robert Grahame

From Scotland's People Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms

• 26 September 1759 birth or baptism of Robert Graham, son of Thomas Graham and Jean Robertson [child 1], in the parish of Glasgow

From Scotland's People: Old Parish Records - Marriages and Banns

• 23 April 1786 marriage or banns of Robert Grahame to Helen Geddie, in the parish of Glasgow

From Scotland's People - Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms

Possible list of 7 children of Robert Grahame and Helen Geddie from first: 8 February 1787 Anne Grahame to last: 26 March 1794 Robert Grahame

• 8 February 1787 birth or baptism of Anne Grahame, daughter of Robert Grahame and Helen Geddie [child 1], in the parish of Glasgow
• 11 March 1788 birth or baptism of Thomas Grahame, son of Robert Grahame and Helen Geddie [child 2], in the parish of Glasgow
• 5 March 1789 birth or baptism of Robert Grahame, son of Robert Grahame and Helen Geddie [child 3], in the parish of Glasgow
• 21 December 1790 birth or baptism of James Grahame, son of Robert Grahame and Helen Geddes [child 4], in the parish of Glasgow
• 30 January 1792 birth or baptism of Thomas Grahame, son of Robert Grahame and Helen Geddie [child 5], in the parish of Glasgow
• 7 April 1793 birth or baptism of Jean Grahame, daughter of Robert Grahame and Helen Geddie [child 6], in the parish of Glasgow
• 26 March 1794 birth or baptism of Robert Grahame, son of Robert Grahame and Helen Geddie [child 7], in the parish of Glasgow

From National Records of Scotland

27 May 1834: Decreet advocating the cause, altering certain interlocutors and recalling an interdict, the Hon Robert Grahame of Whitehill, Lord Provost of the City of Glasgow and preceptor of the charitable institution called Hutchesons Hospital and others versus John Pollock and Arthur Pollock

From findmypast 18410606 census Robert Graham 81 Anne Donald 54 Thomas 17 Helen 15 at 6 West Mall Clifton Gloucestershire

6 June 1841 Census for residents of [6 West Mall, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4BH 51.4552845, -2.6216838], Gloucestershire

• Robert Graham, male aged 81 [born about 1760] in Scotland
• Anne Donald, female aged 54 [born about 1787] in Scotland
• Thomas Donald, male aged 17 [born about 1824] in Scotland
• Helen Donald, female aged 15 [born about 1826] in Scotland
• 5 servants, 2 servant's relatives

From FreeBMD: Registration of death of Robert Grahame in 1852

January to March 1852: Registration of death of Robert Grahame; [no age given]; in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire (Volume 3b, Page 93)

From British Newspaper Archive: London Evening Standard Tuesday, 30 December 1851 Page 4 Deaths

Deaths: On Sunday, 28 December 1851 [inst.], at Hatton Hall, Northamptonshire, in the 93rd year of his age, Robert Grahame, Esq., late of Whitehill, Lanarkshire. [Hatton Hall, Broad Green, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN8 5UZ 52.3049395, -0.7003891]

From British Newspaper Archive: Caledonian Mercury Monday, 5 January 1852 Page 3 Death of Old Glasgow Liberal

Death of Old Glasgow Liberal. — The Glasgow Herald, in noticing the death of Mr Robert Grahame of Whitehill (announced in the obituary in our last), says: —

"Mr Grahame long occupied an active and honourable position as the leading partner of the firm of Grahame and Mitchell, writers, of that city; but he was perhaps better known for his long and consistent advocacy of liberal opinions. In this respect he was so highly esteemed by his party that they elected him the first Lord Provost of Glasgow, consequent upon the passing of the Burgh Reform Bill — an honour, however, which he was compelled to lay aside, on account of the state his health, after enjoying it for a brief period.

In the period of his active life, Mr Grahame had much intercourse with public men of kindred way of thinking; and amongst others, we believe, enjoyed the friendship and frequent correspondence of Wilberforce.

In the perilous times of 1793, when the odious principles of the French Revolution were being disseminated over land, Mr Grahame was considered one of the leading democrats of the West of Scotland, and was in consequence obnoxious to, and closely watched by, the Government. At that time the then Lord Provost of the city received communication from the Lord Advocate, inclosing a warrant for Grahame's apprehension. The Provost sent tor him, and exhibited the warrant; but at the same time he showed him the draft of a letter to the Lord Advocate, stating that, despite his political leanings, the gentleman question stood so high in the estimation of the public generally, for honour and integrity, that he (the Lord Provost) would not answerable for the peace of the city, in the event of his being apprehended. After this certificate of character from a political opponent, Mr Grahame was not further molested."

Mr Grahame died in the 93rd year of his age.

From British Newspaper Archive: Dundee, Perth, and Cupar Advertiser Tuesday, 6 January 1852 Page 3 The Late Robert Grahame, Esq.

The Late Robert Grahame, Esq. — It will be observed from an obituary notice that the well-known and respected Robert Grahame of Whitehill, has departed this life in the 93d year of his age.

Mr Grahame long occupied an active and honourable position as the leading partner of the firm of Grahame and Mitchell, writers, of this city; but he was perhaps better known for his long and consistent advocacy of liberal opinions. In this respect he was so highly esteemed by his party that they elected him the first Lord Provost of Glasgow, consequent upon the passing of the Burgh Reform Bill — an honour, however, which he was compelled to lay aside, on account of the state of his health, after enjoying it for brief period.

In the period of his active life, Mr Grahame had much intercourse with public men of a kindred way of thinking; and amongst others, we believe, he enjoyed the friendship and frequent correspondence of Wilberforce. In the perilous times of 1793, when the odious principles of the French Revolution were being disseminated over the land, Mr Grahame was considered one of the leading democrats of the West of Scotland, and was in consequence obnoxious to, and closely watched by the Government. At that time the then Lord Provost of the city received a communication from the Lord Advocate, inclosing warrant for Mr Grahame's apprehension. The Lord Provost sent for him, and exhibited the warrant but at the same time he showed him the draft of a letter to the Lord Advocate, stating that, despite his political leanings, the gentleman stood so high in the estimation of the public generally, for honour and integrity, that he (the Lord Provost) would not be answerable for the peace of the city in the event of his being apprehended. After this certificate of character from a political opponent, Mr Grahame was not further molested.

He was born, we believe, in the house situated at the north-east corner of Stockwell Street [22 Stockwell Street, Glasgow G1 4RT 55.85722, -4.24972], nearly opposite Glassford's princely mansion, which was removed sixty years ago. Mr Grahame [G.] used to relate that in his early days, he had from the upper windows an unbroken view to the west of orchards, gardens, and green fields, which now form the site of miles of streets and squares. At this time his father's house stood in the western extremity of the city; the locality is now in the very heart of it. — Glasgow Herald.

From Scotland's People: Wills and Testaments

• 16 October 1852 Inventory of Robert Grahame, Esquire of Whitehill, Writer in Glasgow latterly residing at Hatton Hall in Northampton; court: Edinburgh Sheriff Court Inventories
• 16 October 1852 Will, Testament or Inventory of Robert Grahame, Writer in Glasgow; court: Edinburgh Sheriff Court Wills

From Early records of an old Glasgow family - Hill family, 1520-1901, by William Henry Hill, Published 1902 Page 74

Robert Grahame of Whitehill, Writer in Glasgow, and first Lord Provost of Glasgow under the Reform Act. [Footnote: Biographical Sketches of the Lord Provosts of Glasgow, 1833-1883, by John Tweed Pages 12-23]

From "William Henry Hill handwritten manuscript, Page 28 84 Ninian Jane Hill 85 John Millar Thomson 86 Thomas Grahame 87 Robert G of Whitehill 88 James G.jpg"

[WHH-REF:87] Robert Grahame of Whitehill which he acquired in 1797, writer in Glasgow, the eldest son of [WHH-REF:86 Thomas Grahame] was born on 19 September 1750. He married on [blank] Helen Geddes, daughter [blank] Geddes and died on [blank] 1851. He was the first Lord Provost of Glasgow under the Reform Act. His issue was James Grahame [WHH-REF:88] Thomas Grahame [WHH-REF:91] Anne Grahame [WHH-REF:94] and Jean Grahame [WHH-REF:97]

From Biographical Sketches of the Hon. the Lord Provosts of Glasgow by John Tweed Published 1883 Page 8

Mr. McGavin coincided in the remarks made by Mr. Hutchison; but as it was his constituents', and not his own judgment he had to consult, he felt inclined to give his vote for Mr. Grahame. The only fault he had to him was, that he did not hear well.

The question was then put to the vote, and Robert Grahame, Esq., of Whitehill, was elected Lord Provost, by a large majority.

From Glasgow museums art donors

Portrait by Chester Harding, on artuk

Clan MacFarlane