Walter Graham of Netherby was the great-grandson of the ‘original’ border reiver Graham, Lang Will, and the head of the Netherby bunch at the end of the 16th century.
He features in one list of ‘ill week offenders’ (the period in March 1603 between Elizabeth I dying and James IVI being crowned, when the reivers went on the rampage). And was among those deported in the ‘ethnic cleansing’ of the Grahams that was to follow.
He – along with William Graham of Rosetrees and six others – was locked up in Carlisle Castle in 1605, upon suspicion of giving “recett” to their friends. ‘Recet’ being refuge or shelter.
A deportation document, in 1606, says:
Certificate concerning ninety Grahams and their families dwelling upon Esk and Leven. Twenty-three are worth £20 a year and upwards, and are declared fit to be transplanted. Among these are:- Walter Graham of Netherby, his wife and eight children, of whom the eldest is an outlaw, and the second a disorderly person…
Walter Graham in 1602
Rewind to 1602, and another document lists the men Walter Graham of Netherbie answered for:
Walter Graham himself, and
- Richie his son
- Arthur his son
- William his brother
- John, Archibald his ?uncles
- John his brother
- John G of S-land (doesn’t look like Scotland)
- Fergie, Dirk?, Thomas, Arthur, Andrew, his brothers
- Their tenants:
- Thos Talie?
- Alexander Graham
- John Gibson
- Richard Graham
- Richard Armstrong
- Herbert Johnson
- Willie Bailie
- Andrew Little
- Christopher Culbert?
- John Baylie
- John Armstrong
- John Gibson
- Mathew Watby
- John Graham of Peartree
- Willie his brother
- Richie Graham of the Crosth-adie
Richie Graham his son
Richard Graham of Netherby was the eldest son, recorded in 1606 as an outlaw.
He was banished to Ireland, with many others, that year. And his land given to the despicable Earl of Cumberland, whose brother and heir the 4th earl sold it back to the Grahams in 1629.
But, again rewind. Before being banished to Ireland, Richard Graham was among those in the first mass deportation of Grahams – that to Flushing (Vlissingen) and Brill (Brielle), in the Netherlands.
The Treaty of Nonsuch
Back 1585, the Netherlands were fighting a war of independence against Spain. England’s Queen Elizabeth I agreed to supply 6,400 foot soldiers and 1,000 cavalry to the Dutch, to help their struggle. In a treaty signed at Nonsuch Palace, in Surrey, the Dutch agreed in return that Brielle, Vlissingen, would become English possessions. English garrisons were stationed in these ‘Cautionary Towns’ until 1617 (when they returned to the Netherlands).
And in 1605, when looking to get rid of the Grahams, King James I’s Privy Council hit on the idea of shipping them off to serve in Cautionary Town garrisons.
Transported
It was resolved that Sir Wilfred Lawson (head of the English border commissioners) would select 149 Grahams for immediate banishment.
His list started with:
William of Mote, his brother Arthur; Richard of Netherby; Jock’s Ritchie; All our Eames (John) Graham; Young Hutchin; George; Geordy’s Sandie; Long Ritchie; Thos of Easton aka Richie’s Will’s Thom…
The commissioners note:
‘Many of the said Grahams appear to be poor labourers and undertenants to the rest.’
They were summonsed to Carlisle, most went, and they were put in the common jail.
Transporting 100 to Flushing and 50 to Brill was claimed by King James as a ‘kindness,’ being better than the squalid, overcrowding of the jail. Despite none of them having been tried/convicted of anything.
The only charge put was one from ill week, that should have come under the general pardon.
Some escaped, some died, and the initial 100 was reduced to 72.
They were removed to Flushing with just two shillings each for their ‘future’, and all their property was confiscated, leaving wives and children helpless and hungry in Eskdale. A further 50 followed.
(Some 61 not only survived being dumped in Holland with no money/anywhere to go, they found their way back to the UK, but that’s another story).
Back to Richard Graham
Richard Graham, son of Walter Graham of Netherby, was on the list. But there was an effort to save him.
It came from John Graham, Earl of Montrose. As I explained in this post, the Grahams of Montrose and Menteith considered the reiver Grahams to be part of their clan
June 25, 1605. John Graham, Earl of Montrose to the English commissioners.
“Although you have determined to transport certain of my cousins to Newcastle on Saturday night, there to remain in ward, I entreat you to permit Richard Graham, son of Walter of Netherby, to remain with me. I will be answerable for him to the King, to the Council, and to you.“
It was a nice try, but the English commissioners were having none of it.
June 30, 1605. Carlisle. The English Commissioners to the Earl of Montrose. We may in no way alter the list of those who are to be sent over to the Low Countries, and the name of Richard Graham is on the list sent to us by the Privy Council of England.”
They did, however, grant a sort of concession.
Pacification document 24a
The reivers website includes images of Pacification of The Borders documents, from The Pennington Archive.
Here is my transcription of document 24a:
For Richard Graham
Whereas this ?boarder Richard Grayme eldest son to Walter Grayme of Netherby
the chief of all the Graymes dwelling betwixt Leven and Sarke, a young gentleman and
now appointed to you to Flushing, among others of this surname, and he minding to show
his forwardness in his majesty’s service hath desired to give testimony of his birth and place
and that upon his due ?desert, he may receive such favour as to his demerit shall appertain
which we thinking reasonable, have thereunto condescended, as also that for his better
encouragement to go forward to his highness’ service, we have entreated the conductor
of the rest to place him as ?anncient of that company, so we comytt you to God.
Carlisle 4th of July 1605
Ro: Wilf Lawson
To: Pennington. Ed: Gray
The league of the English commissioners to my lord of Salisburie, 7/7/1605
Right honourable, may it please you, that whereas by ou- -s- the last of June we certified
your lordship that we had sent away 50 of the Grahams to Brill and now in good hope
to send the 100 for Flushing, within four or five days, but – it is fated out that we having
but 72 of the 100, we have thought it best to send them away to Newcastle, where to
moven?, they are appointed to be. There is one Hutchin Grayme of the Gardes, and one
John Graham alias Jock of the Peartree, that hath much hindered this s-d, as your honour, by
all our – to all your lordship of his majesty’s Privy Council may further perceive?, we trust
your honour will not think theire offences must so be ?quashed out, but rather that they may
by this their bad ?dealings be made an example to others, to commit the like disobedience
thereafter. There be many that have been ?inured to blood, and theft here bese? the
Grahams dwelling among them, more meet to serve his majesty elsewhere, than for
the good of the country so remain still hear?, the which we have to your lordship’s wisdom
so craving pardon we humbly take our ?leaves fro Carlisle, this the 7th of July
1605 and will rest
Your honour’s most humble to command
Ro: Wilf Lawson
To: Pennington. Ed: Gray