John Graham, 6th Earl of Menteith facts for kids

John Graham, the 6th Earl of Menteith, was a Scottish nobleman who lived from about 1571 to 1598. He became an Earl when he was still a boy. This meant he was involved in several legal disagreements during his life.

A Young Earl's Story

Early Life and Challenges

John Graham was born around 1571 or 1574. He was just a child when his father, William Graham, 5th Earl of Menteith, died in 1578. Before his death, his father reportedly wrote a will. This will placed young John in the care of his uncle, George Buchanan.

A Custody Battle

John's mother, Margaret Graham, tried to get custody of him. She wanted him to live with her instead of George Buchanan. Her case went to court in 1578, but it was never finished. The records of this case are either lost or were never completed. Soon after, George Buchanan died. Young John Graham then went to live with John Graham of Fintry in northern Menteith.

Becoming an Earl

In 1583, James VI of Scotland officially recognized John Graham as the new Earl of Menteith. If he was born in 1571, he would have been 12 years old. If he was born in 1575, he would have been 8.

Inheriting the Lands

Even though he was still young, John officially received his family's lands in 1587. He asked the king for special permission to inherit his land before he was an adult. The king granted this permission on October 7, 1587. A few weeks later, on October 22, 1587, he married Mary. She was the third daughter of Sir Colin Campbell of Glen Orchy.

Family and Later Life

The same year he became an Earl and got married, John Graham faced another legal issue. This time, it was with his own mother. She claimed certain lands were given to her by her late husband, the 5th Earl. However, John Graham of Fintry, who was still helping the young Earl, now demanded these lands.

A Family Dispute

After this legal disagreement, a small fight broke out in the lands of Kelwode (Kolwod). This was where Margaret Graham, John's mother, lived. The young Earl John Graham and John Graham of Fintry, along with members of the Clan MacFarlane, were involved in this clash. At the time, John would have been between 11 and 16 years old. It was later recorded that the young Earl knew his mother was in Kelwode. Because of this, he was told to make sure she would not be harmed. In 1587, the same year he married, some records still said he was "scarcely 15 years old." This shows there was still confusion about his exact birth year.

Last Years

By 1593, John Graham was said to be around 20 years old. He planned a trip to England to meet Queen Elizabeth and the Earl of Oxford. He believed the Earl of Oxford was a relative.

On March 6, 1597, Earl John Graham made a special legal agreement. It was called a mutual bond of maintenance with Malcom MacFarlane. These agreements were often made when one group needed protection from another. This could be for things like food shortages, intruders, or to help each other in small battles. John Graham died shortly after this, in December 1598.

He had two children who survived him:

• William Graham, 7th Earl of Menteith
• Christian Graham, who married Sir John Blackadder of Tulliallan.