I have transcribed the following
item from the papers of the Maxwell family of Munshes etc held within the Ewart
Library, Dumfries. The original is in manuscript form without detail of
author. It is dated 1825. References are made in the manuscript to other
documents which were used for research and are not available on this web site.
An account of the family of Maxwell of Munshes
The late family of Maxwells of Munshes, it is believed, spring from a
younger son of Maxwell of Logan. George Maxwell the first of Munshes was at one
time designed of Slognaw � on 3rd May 1637 he acquired a wadset
right to the lands of Munshes from Robert, Earl of Nithsdale. He appears to have
been first married to a Margaret McQueen (see sasine of Little Dalbeattie in
their favour - 1652) He had a natural son John (see disposition George Maxwell
to his son George (John?) 8th
May 1660). It does not appear that there was any issue of the marriage with
Margaret McQueen, it is likely that there was no son as the son of the second
marriage aftermentioned, succeeded to the estate, but there might have been
daughters � this is to be enquired into.
George Maxwell the first of Munshes married secondly Miss Barbara Maxwell,
daughter of the then deceased James Maxwell of Tinwald, and Agnes Maxwell,
Heiress of Dinwiddie, his wife (see Contract of Marriage dated at Tinwald the 9th
of June 1655). Of this marriage there were at least two children � George, who
succeeded his father (see the titles of the estate) and Barbara. Of the
existence of this Barbara there has as yet been no written evidence recovered,
but there can be no doubt that she did exist and that she married Robert Maxwell
of Gelston, who in the year 1719 on the death of his uncle, succeeded to the
Estate and title of Orchardton. Of this marriage between Gelston and Barbara
Maxwell there were at least five children, George, afterwards Sir George; his
heir, William, James, Mary and Jean.
It is not known what became of William and James. Mary it is said married
James Herries, merchant in Edinburgh, issue unknown. This marriage should be
enquired into and proof of it as well as of the issue of the marriage, if any,
should be sought for. In a letter from William Maxwell to the late Sir Thomas
Maxwell of Orchardton, dated 29th November 1745, he says �Mr
Herries, Brother from Holland, was in Edinburgh when my sister left it�.
Probably these Herries were children or grandchildren of the marriage. Jean
Maxwell, Gelston�s youngest daughter by Barbara Maxwell married James graham
Esquire of Longbottom, and had issue two sons and three daughters � Robert,
John, Betty, Agnes and ------. Robert married Nicholas Chalmers, daughter of
James Chalmers of Bishopcleugh, John married ------ Bell, daughter of Samuel
Bell in Rockleflat, Betty married a James Durham, and Agnes married a James
Wilson. It is likely that there are at present in existence descendents of all
these marriages.
There is as yet no real evidence of the marriage with Longbottom, or nothing
to authenticate the above statement with respect to the issue, but it is
believed that the tree of the family of Graham of Thornock & Longbottom and
the titles of these estates would establish these points, along the records of
several parishes in Annandale. The Grahams of Thornock, it is suspected, became
or was a Lanarkshire family, the records at Lanark should be looked into and
enquiry should be made after John Carmichael, Sheriff Clark in Lanark, or his
descendents who it is suspected was agent for the family within these 40 years.
George, the eldest son of Gelston, afterwards Sir George Maxwell of
Orchardton, succeeded his father Sir Robert about the year ----. It is not as
yet ascertained who he married. It is said he made a low marriage � it is
clear however that he was legally married from the circumstances of his son, Sir
Thomas having succeeded to his estates and title (he died in January 1747) and
it is further said that he left issue, two sons and either one or two daughters
viz. Sir Thomas, his eldest son and heir, William, Barbara, and it is believed
also a Mary. Sir Thomas the heir
married Miss Henrietta Brown, only daughter of the second marriage of Samuel
Brown of Mollance, but there was no issue of the marriage. Sir Thomas died 3
February 1761. William, Sir George�s other son, it is said died at Dublin �
there are no traces of him or his descendents, but it is believed he acquired
property in Ireland � the Ballycastle Estate � and there came afterwards to
be some dispute with respect to the succession of that property between the
Nithsdale and Orchardton family. Some papers at Terregles, and particularly a
letter from the late Mr Syme W.S. it is supposed would throw some light on this
individual.
It is unnecessary at present to trace Sir George Maxwell�s daughters,
Barbara and Mary, further than that it may be here stated that at least one of
them married and left issue, some of whom it is believed are still in life.
These observations seem to account all that at present can be stated
respecting the descendents of the younger children of George Maxwell the first
of Munshes � he died about the year 1683 or 1684 and was succeeded by his son
George.
George Maxwell � the second of Munshes � who was married in October 1686
to Agnes Maxwell, second daughter of James Maxwell of Conheath. Of this marriage
there were five children; William, George, James, Mary and Barbara. It is not
known what became of George, he is said to have died in France. James, the
youngest son, was Maxwell of KirtleBride and it is believed also proprietor of
Kirkennan (see assignation Herries to Maxwell 10 April 1734 wherein he is styles
�James Maxwell of Kirkennan"). He died September 1755 and it is believed
he was never married and left no issue.
Mary, the eldest daughter, was married at Dinwiddie in 1727 (see contract
dated 20 January) to Mr James Brown, gentleman, resident in Edinburgh � of
this marriage it is believed there was an only daughter who married Gavin Brown
of Bishopton and of that marriage again there was an only son who it is said was
killed by a fall from his horse on his way from Dumfries to Milnhead � he died
without issue, unmarried. Barbara, the youngest daughter of George Maxwell the 2nd
of Munshes married Captain William Maxwell afterwards of Carruchan, son of
Alexander Maxwell of Terraughtie and of this marriage there was an only
daughter, Ann, who died at Dumfries in 1820 at an advanced age.
This exhausts the descendents of the younger family of George Maxwell the
second of Munshes � e died about the year 1728 and was succeeded by his eldest
son William.
William Maxwell of Munshes, who married Miss Agnes Brown, eldest daughter of
the then deceased Robert Brown of Bishopton (see contract of marriage 24 July
& 1 August 1921) of this marriage there were two sons and three daughters;
Robert, George, Agnes, Ann and Betty. Robert, the eldest son, died at Edinburgh
in 1747 (see account of his death bed and funeral expenses by Alex, Goldie W.S.).
He left no issue and died unmarried. Ann retired to the nunnery at York and died
there subsequent to 1777. Betty, the youngest daughter, is said to have died at
Munshes, unmarried. William, the father, it is believed, married secondly Miss
Maxwell, daughter of ------ Maxwell of Kirkconnell, but of this marriage there
was no issue. He died at Munshes 6 January 1765 and was succeeded by his only
surviving son George.
George Maxwell of Munshes, who married 28 August 1776, Miss Lucy Gage,
daughter of Sir Thomas Gage of Goldham in the County of Suffolk, Baronet, but
there was no issue of the marriage and George Maxwell died at Fairgirth on
Sunday the 8th of September 1793 in consequence of a fall from his
horse on the Friday proceeding. He was succeeded by his eldest, and then only
surviving sister Agnes.
Mrs. Agnes Maxwell of Munshes, then spouse of John Maxwell of Terraughtie,
died without leaving issue in May 1809.
Box 5, Bundle 80.
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