Despite a lack of discussion on the topic, there is some controversy among scholars and historians surrounding the facts and circumstances of this young Earl.
[1] His mother, Margaret, began an unsuccessful action in the courts for custody of John Graham, away from the care of George Buchanan.
It was later written down as history that the young earl was aware of his mother being in Kelwode, and therefore "was required to find caution that she should suffer no injury".
[6] On 6 March 1597, Earl John Graham entered into a rare legal agreement called a mutual bond of maintenance, with Malcom MacFarlane, Feuar of Gartavertane.
Mutual bonds of maintenance can be for a multitude of purposes, but are usually extended when one particular clan needed protection from the other, either from famine, or intruders, or to defend and supply one another in a small wars, battles, or sieges.