History of the Johnstones, 1191-1909, with ... - Electric Scotland

THE GRAHAMS 137
Millfield who lived in credit and commendation and died a faithful Christian
in Christ 12 November 1648 of age 70 years. Blest are they that dye in the
Lord." He seems to have been a Johnstoun of Corrie. Another stone in 1771
bore the inscription, " Heir lyes ane honest memorable youth James Johnestoun
in Millfield who died a Christian in Christ April 2 165 1 of age 18." John of
Mylnfield's name and shield were added to the first stone, and other names now
illegible.
Agnes Graham was the daughter of Robert Graham, who married Rachel
Johnstoun, the daughter of Mungo of Over Howcleuch. Robert Graham was
brother to Simon of Blaatwood, a burgess of Dumfries. Robert and Rachel
acted as security for the Laird of Johnstoun in 1622, and later he was one of
the witnesses to the deed by which John of Mylnfield secured his property on
his son George. He or his son was a witness, forty-six years later, at the
marriage of Agnes's son, John, and lent money to John on the security of Galabank
before the young man inherited it. He was Provost of Dumfries in 1643,
and the younger Robert in 1670. Later the family became Grahams of Cluden.
The Grahams had made a great advance since 1603, when, in spite of the
effort to insure their orderly conduct by giving the lands of Netherby to
Arthur Graham's uncle, Ritchie, in 1548, his grandson, Ritchie, was pointed
out by the English Warden as the great offender, and " it would cause an
outcry if others were banished and he allowed to remain." " The vulgar sort,"
as they were called in the legal procedure, were always easily dealt with by
execution, but it was the sons and brothers of the lairds who were the great
obstacles to peace. "The Johnstons, Carliles, and Irvings, who were related to
them," continues the report, " protected the Grahams, who fled into Scotland,"
so Netherby and other lands they occupied in Cumberland were made over to
the Earl of that county in return for paying the expense of transporting a
number of them to Ireland, because, said King James, " they do all confess
themselves to be no meet persons to live in these countries, and that others of
good and honest conversation may take their lands." Either this Ritchie or
his son was made Master of the Horse to the King, and bought back the lands
of Netherby and Liddell. He even obtained an alteration of the Scottish
border, so that his own property in Kirkandrews upon Esk 1 might be English
ground.
Wotton relates that, when Charles I. was on his way to Spain in search of
a bride, "they could get no flesh in their inns, it being Lent. There was near
Bayonne a herd of goats with their young ; upon the sight whereof Sir Richard
Graham tells the Marquis of Buckingham that he would snap one of the kids
and make some shift to carry him away to their lodging. Which the Prince
overhearing, 'Why, Richard,' says he, 'do you think you may practice here
your old tricks upon the Borders?' Upon which they in the first place gave
the goat herd good contentment, and then while the Marquis and Richard,
being both on foot, were chasing the kid about the stock, the Prince from horseback
killed him in the head with a pistol."
1 The church was built with money given by Charles I.