James Moore Graham
 

	sister: Margaret Graham Davidson

From left: JMG's sister Charlotte Graham,  John Moore Graham's son (?), Dr James Moore Graham, Bessie Graham [JMG's  youngest child], Mary (Christie) Graham [JMG's wife], Liz and John Moore Graham [JMG's eldest son & wife].

James Moore GRAHAM b.13 Aug.1784 Fermanagh, Ireland; died Cupar, Fifeshire, Scotland.

Eldest son of John GRAHAM and Ann MOORE. Licentiate College of Surgeons Dublin 22 July 1806. Apprenticed to Dr George Stewart former President (1792) of Royal College of Surgeons, for 5 years from 7 Jan.1801. Asst Surgeon 31st Foot 9 July 1807. Staff Hospital Assistant, Cork (London Gazette). 9 July 1807 Commissioned Asst Surgeon 31st F. Resigned 2nd Batt. 31st Regt to Lt Col. Campbell, Limerick 31 March 1808, due to "some family arrangements that have recently taken place.... I find I cannot longer retain my situation.." [PRO CO031/251]

Mary Christie's parents were Andrew Christie and Margaret Dempster

Joined S.Down Militia - moving around Ireland and south coast of England. The surgeon of the 34th or Fifeshire Militia (Robert Menzies) died 23 June 1813, and on 25 Apr. 1814 JMG was transferred to it from the S.Down. He arrived in Cupar on his birthday 13 August 1814. G.P. in Cupar, "the Hunting Doctor" with an "immense" practice including the "principal families", and also popular with the poor "instead of accepting remuneration he actually gave money to purchase the medicines he prescribed... ..to his dying day a whole band of pensioners were in the habit of coming to his house for their weekly allowance". Obit. Fifeshire Journal 25 May 1865.

Three generations by Henrietta Keddie, John Murray, 1911, describes Cupar life, and how as a child she witnessed:

 "The chief of the revellers was an Irishman who had been an army surgeon.... brought from the brilliant Dublin of those days and from his rollicking, adventurous camp life many reminiscences of wild escapades and marvellous child's play. He stood at the moment to which I refer the centre of an admiring group of his host and hostess, their guests, and as many of their servants as could contrive to steal up and station themselves by the open dining-room door in order to have a part in the play. He was without his coat. To the back of his waistcoat was pinned a bunch of strips of paper which he had carefully cut and curled into an imitation of a lady's cluster of ringlets. My father and another man were stationed ready, a hand of each fastened behind his back, the other hand holding a tall candlestick with a lit candle. A path was cleared around the central table, and to the challenging air of a distractingly lively jig, which the performer sang with mocking emphasis in a fine brogue, he danced around the table.... The present hero was pursued frantically by the two candle-bearers, whose task it was to light the paper ringlets fluttering exasperatingly in time to the mad tune of the capering dancer. It is hardly necessary to say the feat was not accomplished, while the audience shouted with laughter, the children screamed and clapped their hands in their glee, and my mother's carpet was in danger of being converted to a sea of candle grease. God rest you merry dancer; you have lain in your grave for half a century, but while you lived you did not forget earlier ties! When more strenuous times came, you stood with loyal kindness by the children of your old friends". [pp.153-4] Dr David W.W.Hendry identifies "the reveller" as Dr James Moore Graham in his book Cupar doctors, 1992.

[The author’s childhood home was two houses away from the Grahams’:1851 census.]

 JMG retired from practice 1855, died Cupar 19 May 1865. Memorial stained glass window old Cupar church. Survived by 4 sons and 2 daughters.