Lady Margaret Graham's house book for Ochtertyre and Fowlis

Lady Margaret Graham's house book for Ochtertyre and Fowlis [Castle]. Includes daily menus, February - November 1739 [possibly a continuation of the Ochtertyre House Book of Accomps published in 'Scottish History Society' 55 (1907)] and miscellaneous household expenses 1766-1772.

The Grahams were cadets of the house of Montrose, and the first Graham to be styled 'of Fintry' was influential in mediaeval Dundee, being Provost in 1466 and several later years. The family's principal residence was in Dundee, but in the mid-16th century Sir David Graham, the fifth of Fintry, moved the principal residence to Mains Castle, which had been built by the second or third Graham of Fintry. David Graham, tenth of Fintry, acquired Linlathen, Monifieth, in 1688 on which he built a house. Robert Graham, the eleventh of Fintry, married Margaret, the daughter of Sir William Murray of Ochtertyre, in 1735. By 1739 he could not afford to live on and maintain both Mains and Linlathen and was forced to take a job as factor and forester to James, second Duke of Atholl. In the same year his family moved to Fowlis Castle, about 4 miles west of Mains Castle and owned by his brother-in-law Sir Patrick Murray of Ochtertyre. Robert Graham died in 1756 and was succeeded by his son Robert (born in 1749) who moved to Linlathen, which was possibly the residence of his widowed mother. In 1785 his debts forced him to let Linlathen and move to Dundee. Mains Castle was sold in 1789 and Linlathen shortly after.

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The Grahams were cadets of the house of Montrose, and the first Graham to be styled 'of Fintry' was influential in mediaeval Dundee, being Provost in 1466 and several later years. The family's principal residence was in Dundee, but in the mid-16th century Sir David Graham, the fifth of Fintry, moved the principal residence to Mains Castle, which had been built by the second or third Graham of Fintry. David Graham, tenth of Fintry, acquired Linlathen, Monifieth, in 1688 on which he built a house. Robert Graham, the eleventh of Fintry, married Margaret, the daughter of Sir William Murray of Ochtertyre, in 1735. By 1739 he could not afford to live on and maintain both Mains and Linlathen and was forced to take a job as factor and forester to James, second Duke of Atholl. In the same year his family moved to Fowlis Castle, about 4 miles west of Mains Castle and owned by his brother-in-law Sir Patrick Murray of Ochtertyre. Robert Graham died in 1756 and was succeeded by his son Robert (born in 1749) who moved to Linlathen, which was possibly the residence of his widowed mother. In 1785 his debts forced him to let Linlathen and move to Dundee. Mains Castle was sold in 1789 and Linlathen shortly after.

Description compiled by Kenneth Baxter

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