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.

 

Click to email me  with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright original material and this selection � 1998-2003 James Bell. Much material however is out of copyright.
Last modified: December 03, 1999