Link: Graham

The Flemings and the Graham family
Allies, 1389 - 1650

The Grahams of Kincardine, later Earls and Marquess of Montrose, were political as well as marriage allies. The connection reached its height when the 2nd Earl of Wigtown signed the Cumbernauld Bond with Montrose in 1640.

Early ties

In 1389 Sir Malcolm Fleming witnessed a charter of Patrick Graham, Lord of Kincardine, and in 1421 his son Malcolm witnessed a charter to William, Lord Graham. By 1459 Robert, 1st Lord Fleming, was the brother-in-law of Patrick, Lord Graham.

Marriages with Montrose

In 1547 Malcolm, 3rd Lord Fleming, paid a tocher of 3,500 merks for his daughter Margaret to marry Robert Graham, Master of Montrose. Robert was killed at Pinkie that year, and their son became the 3rd Earl of Montrose. In 1586 John, later 1st Earl of Wigtown, married Lilias Graham, daughter of the 3rd Earl of Montrose. Their son, the 2nd Earl of Wigtown, was therefore a first cousin of James Graham, the great Marquess of Montrose.

The Cumbernauld Bond

In August 1640 Montrose and seventeen other noblemen met at Cumbernauld, the house of John, 2nd Earl of Wigtown, and signed the Cumbernauld Bond against the growing power of the Earl of Argyll. In 1644 the 2nd Earl was named as a curator in a charter by Montrose. In 1645, after Montrose’s victory at Kilsyth, he received a pass from him. The earl’s son Sir William Fleming signed Montrose’s bond in 1644 and carried the king’s letters to him in 1650. In 1661 the 3rd Earl took part in the ceremonial burial of Montrose’s remains.