Too spooky

It is the Sabbath and I said I would avoid my computer etc today, so instead had a haircut, did all my washing, hoovered up stink bugs, went shopping to the mall and took an improving walk in the hills etc.

However, was looking for something in the library collection online in Charlottesville to order up to have ready when I go in tomorrow - swot that I am - when I came across a book - The Birds of Scotland and other poems by James Grahame. Sounds a cracker I grant you.

Didn't take me long to find out that James Grahame is part of the Grahames of Whitehill and indeed actually died at Whitehill:


James Grahame, the second son of Thomas Grahame, was born in 1765, and started in life in 1791 as a W.S. He soon, however, abandoned this profession, and in 1795 was admitted advocate. But his heart was not in the law, and in 1809 he was ordained by the Bishop of Norwich deacon in the Church of England. He acted as curate in one or two parishes, but his health, never good, soon began to fail, and in 1811 he died at Whitehill when on a visit there along with his wife. He was a pleasing writer, and "The Sabbath," which was published in 1804, went rapidly through a number of editions. By his wife, a daughter of James Graham of Blattwood, he left two sons and a daughter.


Whitehill was the house of Captain James Donald at the time James Grahame died there. James Donald had married Anne Grahame. James is the one whose portrait I have at home. You know the one I mean. 


But here is the spooky part, no really - the bookplate of the edition they have in the library here in UVA is James Donald's. It actually belonged to the Captain. 


So who was giving all our books and letters to UVA's library? And what else do they have in there? I am off to the Special Collections library tomorrow to see the book and try and find out how on earth they got hold of it. 


Surely that is quite a weird coincidence? That James Donald's book of obscure Scottish poetry is three miles from where I am sitting at the moment? Do they have his medals and Tipu Sultan's betel nut box as well? And indeed the bullets that injured him - they were all mentioned in previous wills.


Makes me think that if Grant has a book with Alexander Donald's bookplate, then really I am in the Twilight Zone. 


Anyway, an excuse to put in a portrait of the Captain - his son Thomas is the one who had that house in Bournemouth that I have been working next to recently - and James's relict Anne, nee Grahame, died in Weymouth. 

Here are my notes on the Captain: 



James Donald, 1775-1831. Captain in the 94th Regt at the storming of Seringapatam in 1799 and was severely wounded at the battle of Argaum in 1803. Paymaster of the 94th 1808, retired 1810. Died from the effects of his wounds Whitehill in April 1831, 28 years afterwards. His son Thomas Donald inherited the bullets which wounded him, the sash he was wearing, his medals and Tipu Sultan’s Betel Nut box and left them to General George Colin Donald and Archibald Hamilton Donald. The Duke of Wellington wrote to his brother CDD I when he died - Wellington, as Wellesley, fought at Seringapatam although apparently without valour.

From James's death notice - he was buried in Thomas Grahame's lair - so I presume has ended up next to the poet for evermore, quoting Grahame's poems to each other. 

Here's an extract from the James Grahame's poem, the Poor Man's Funeral: 

The coffin is borne out; the humble pomp 
Moves slowly on; the orphan mourner's hand
(Poor helpless child!) just reaches to the pall.
And now they pass into the field of graves,
And now around the narrow house they stand,
And view the plain black board sink from the sight.
Hollow the mansion of the dead resounds,
As falls each spadeful of the bone-mix'd mould.
The turf is spread; uncover'd is each head, —
A last farewell: all turn their several ways.

Pleasing writer indeed!

Do we know where the Grahame lair is? Put it on the tour Colin - we can check the poet is still in there.

And whilst I am here - here is Whitehill - where both James and the poet died:

So did the General sell everything? Or was it AHD? Not to be confused with Zander who is AHJD.

The plot thickens if you ask me.

2018 UPDATE: Booklet on the life and times of Captain James Donald.