David Graham

BMDB data

     David Graham was born cir. Mar 1741 Fauld, nr Longtown the baptism entry reading: "David son of Stephen & Abigail Graham of Fauld bapt" Par. of Arthuret CUL ENG.^2,5
     David Graham died bet. Mar 1810 - Jul 1812 Fauld, nr Longtown, Par. of Arthuret, CUL, ENG; ie he wrote a will in Mar 1810 and it was proved in Carlisle in Jul 1812.^6,7,4,8

Wills/bequests

     Mary, David, Richard, Stephen, Grimston, William and Jane were beneficiaries in the 8 Jun 1757 will of their father Stephen Graham Fauld, nr Longtown, Par. of Arthuret, CUL, ENG.³
     David Graham witnessed the will of John Corry on 11 May 1799 Fauld, nr Longtown, Par. of Arthuret, CUL, ( I am assuming this is the older David Graham around at the time, particularly as Grimston is also mentioned in the will, and both lived at Fauld.)⁹
     David and Grimston were named as beneficiaries in the 9 Apr 1804 will of their brother Richard Graham Turnmill Street, Par. of Saint James, Clerkenwell, MDX, ENG.¹⁰ David Graham was named as an executor of the will of Grimston Graham on 18 Nov 1808 Fauld, nr Longtown, Par. of Arthuret, CUL, and also received the balance of his brother's estate.¹¹ David Graham was confirmed as executor of the estate of Grimston Graham on 6 Jan 1810 at the Court of Carlisle, CUL, ENG; the court documents showing Grimston Graham late of Fauld in the Parish of Arthuret in the Cty of Cumbld farmer dec'd, effects under £200. Beneficiaries: niece Abigail Scaife received £50 to be paid after death of Excr; and brother David "all the rest of his real & personal Estate" and appoints him sole Excr. Executor David Graham "of same" dead no further application can be made 29 Jul '24. I assume that the reduced list of beneficiaries in the Carlisle Court document is because this latter document is only concerned with the financial transactions involved and the executor. Given the absence of any mention of Grimston's brother Richard's widow, she may also be assumed to have died (as the legacy from Richard wasn't going to be paid until both she and David had died.)⁴
     David Graham left a will on 2 Mar 1810 Fauld, nr Longtown, Par. of Arthuret, CUL, In the name of God Amen. This is the last will & testament of David Graham in fauld farmer in the parish of Arthuret and County of Cumberland who being of perfect sound ?? mind and body And understanding and calling to mind the uncertainty of all human affairs do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say after paying all my just debts and funeral expenses I give and bequeath all my estate or estates real & personal whatsoever the same consists of or wheresoever the same can be found unto the hands of William Scaife and Francis his wife who I hereby nominate and appoint my sole hairs and executors of this my last will and testament. This I declare to be my last will and testament hereby revoking and annulling and making void all former will or wills by me heretofore made In witness where of I David Graham the testator have hitherto set my hand and seal at fauld this second day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ten david Graham his mark (LS) Signed sealed and published and declared by the said David Graham the testator as and for his last will and testaament who at his request and in his presence & in the presence of each other have hitherto subscribed our names as witnesses to the said will witnesses Will Beaty Jnr Andrew Beaty Proved July 4th 1812.⁸

All the other info

     David Graham and Jane Little were in a de facto relationship cir. 1775 in the Par. of Arthuret, CUL, ENG, obviously a long standing arrangement as there's a 1775 son buried and a 1779 baptism.^12,13
     I originally had this David married off to a Bridget Armstrong, on the basis of the baptism of a Frances of the right age to be the one who married William Scaife. However this Frances also looked like she died soon thereafter, which gave me a bit of a problem! A living Bridget, expert in things Graham of Cumberland, has found me another Frances which fits better, and along with her, another illegitimate child of David G. of Fauld, and Jane Little of Lairdstown, so wife Bridget Armstrong disappears off the scene for now.¹⁴