GRANT, John of Easter Elchies (2nd family), Captain ^{1 2}

   User ID: G688.

  General Notes:

"The church-yard of Elchies, or Macalen, is situated upon the north bank of the Spey, and is still used for interments. It is near the house of Easter Elchies, surrounded by a substantial stone dyke, and shaded by some good old trees... In the east wall is a handsome monument of Elgin stone, with a tablet (flanked by two Corinthian pillars),
thus inscribed : \emdash
Sub hoc marmore in Christi adventum conduntur cineres Joannis Grant de Elchies, viri sternum lugendi, qui, dum inter vivos, nunquam adeo sibi suisq, quam aliis officia praestare solicitus fuit; amicum certissimum amicis, egenis levamen promptum, singulis hospitem liberalissimum ubicq se praestitit; de patria vero, propter operam ei in bello posteriore civili non minus lideliter quam felioiter navatam, optima meritus, et postquam tarn in sacris quam negotiis secularibus omnium cujuscunq generis virtutum constanti exercitio verte nobilitatis characteristicon adeptus esset, a virtutis Auctore vocatus, fatis cessit Martii IVto, anno salutis humanae MDCCXV, aetatis LVIto, hoc unicum, rediticium in debitae filialis observantiae justiq, doloris tesseram, Patricio, filio unico, extruendum relinquens.

[Under this marble, until the advent of Christ, lie the ashes of John Grant of Elchies, an ever-to-be lamented man, who, while among the living, was never so anxious to promote the interests of himself and his family, as those of others; to his friends he ever showed himself a very sure friend, to the needy a ready benefactor, to all a very liberal host; by the not less loyal than successful services which he rendered to his native land during the late Civil War, he earned a just title to the deepest gratitude of his countrymen; and, after he had by the constant practice of every kind of excellence in sacred as well as in secular affairs, acquired the distinctive mark of true nobility, being summoned by the Author of virtue, he departed this life 4th March 1715, in his 56th year, leaving this unique structureto be erected by his only son, Patrick, in token of
due filial respect and just regret.]"

"Lord Elchies' father was a captain in the royal army, and fought at the skirmish in Cromdale, under Sir Thomas Livingstone, in 1690."

from Epitaphs and Inscriptions ³

John married Elizabeth GRANT, daughter of John GRANT 6th of Ballindalloch and Margaret LESLIE.^{1 2} (Elizabeth GRANT was born about 1659.)

  Marriage Notes:

"Captain John Grant of Easter Elchies. So designed in a document dated 19th December 1696, to which he was a witness, and so in other documents later. On 5th September 1688 he received from his brother Patrick a disposition of the lands of Edinvillie, which was confirmed by charter from Alexander Duff of Braco on 30th September 1697. In 1711 he purchased the barony of Rothes from John, ninth Earl of Rothes. Captain John Grant is mentioned as a cautioner for the executors of the deceased Ludovick Grant of Dalvey in 1712, when the testament of that gentleman was recorded. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Grant of Ballindalloch, and died before 21st June 1718."

from Chiefs of Grant




"Captain John Grant, born c. 1659, succeeded his brother Patrick in the estate of Easter Elchies, but when is not altogether certain. On 5th September 1688, he received from Patrick a disposition of the lands of Edinville, part of the Lordship of Balvenie, in the parish of Aberlour, which was confirmed by charter from Alexander Duff of Bracco on 30th September 1697. When Ludovick, Chief of the Grants, raised the Grant regiment in April 1689, in the interests of King William, John Grant, then designed of Easter Elchies, was appointed captain of a company. Captain Grant was in command of the garrison of Ballachastell (Castle Grant), and materially assisted General Livingstone in his victory over the Jacobites under General Buchan at Cromdale near by, on 1st May 1690. Later that year he and his company of sixtie sentinels, two serjants, three corporalls and a drummer garrisoned the house of Ballindalloch, Inveraven. The company, under a lieutenant, was in Glasgow when, late in January 1691, it was ordered to join the remaining companies of the regiment, then in garrison at Inverlochy, with the view of the disbandment of the whole regiment there.

On 6th October 1702, he appeared at the election in Banff of James Ogilvie younger of Boyne and of Alexander Duff of Bracco as Commissioners to Parliament, and voted as fiar of Edinvillie. In the minute of the election meeting he is designed of Elchies, which is in Moray. At the Pasch head court of 1703 his name was added to the suite roll for Edenvillie, and he continued on the roll until 1710. On 5th August 1704 he was appointed one of the Commissioners of Supply of Banffshire, and qualified at Banff on 12th September following. In 1711 he purchased the barony of Rothes from John, ninth Earl of Rothes. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Grant, and sister of John Roy Grant, respectively Vlth. and Vllth. lairds of Ballindalloch. He died on 4th March 1715, and was buried in the kirkyard of Elchies, Knockando. He was succeeded by his only son Patrick, a Scots advocate, who sat on the bench as Lord Elchies."

from Records of the County of Banff ^{1 2}