THE JACOBITE YEARS Easily Managed, and Who Posed No Great Threat to Where Were the Macfarlanes? British Financial Investments
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Pages extracted from: MacFarlane's Lantern No. 127 September 2013 that a succeeding monarch would be one who was THE JACOBITE YEARS easily managed, and who posed no great threat to Where were the MacFarlanes? British financial investments. Thus, the selection By Malcolm Lobban of German, George I., Elector of Hanover, fitted the bill perfectly. He was a Whig at heart, spoke THE 18th century was of little English, but more importantly he was a particular importance to Protestant, and thereby satisfied the terms of the Scotland as a whole, during Union, which effectively barred Roman Catholics the first decade of which the from the British throne. Scots lost the power to James VIII, in exile, is reputed to have sent govern themselves. Indeed, word to his British supporters, including several many still argue that the Act clan chiefs, that they should affirm their loyalty to of Union in 1707 was the new King George I. As a result, we see that a inflicted on the majority of written declaration, dated 1714, was prepared and Scots by an influential and signed by no less than 102 (sic) “Chief heritors very wealthy minority that and heads of the clans in the Highlands of Scotland,” offering their allegiance to the new constituted the then ruling 1 establishments on both sides king. However, we are told that, due to the of the Border. degree of intrigue in court circles, ‘German Certainly there is ample Geordie’ did not receive the pledge which, in turn, evidence to suggest that many acts of chicanery, caused considerable upset among the signatories bribery and various shades of corruption were rife and may have resulted in many of them becoming among politicians during the run up to the event. ardent Jacobites (supporters of James VIII). The final Scottish parliament to be convened was, Resentment to the Hanoverian king and, indeed, by all accounts, a lively affair, with many the act of Union was now strong, not only in the arguments being hotly pursued for and against Highlands but also across the Lowlands and union with England. Border areas of Scotland. There were also some Of course it has to be remembered that Scotland, Jacobite supporters in England during this time; England, Wales and Ireland were already united especially in the northern counties. The Whig under one monarch, and had been since 1603 ‘aristocracy’ had now become detached and aloof when King James VI of Scotland inherited the from ordinary society and, like today; the social English crown. However, Britain as a whole was gap between rich and poor was ever-widening. becoming more influenced by the dictates of a Not all the clans supported the Jacobite cause. Whig oligarchy that dominated parliament more Those who opposed the idea of a return to rule by than any direct rule of a monarch. The autocratic the House of Stewart included the pro-Whig power of the Crown was steadily being Munros, with their long and distinguished history undermined and weakened by an ever-increasing of soldiering in Europe. Sir Robert Munro (6th urgency over matters of vested interests -- pretty Baronet) garrisoned Foulis Castle, whilst his son much as it is today in our capitalist society. George Munro of Culcairn was captain in the pro- In 1702 King William III (‘King Billy’) died as Hanoverian force under John Gordon, Earl of a result of a riding accident. Few mourned his Sutherland. passing -- many actually rejoiced. There was little Sutherland was at this time King George’s sympathy among the majority of Highlanders. Lieutenant in the North. He mustered a force of After all, it was he who underlined the infamous some 300 of his own tenants, which was massacre of Glencoe, with the aid of his Scottish substantially augmented by around 1200 of Lord Secretary, Dalrymple. Reay’s MacKays, Munros, and some Rosses He was succeeded by his cousin (and sister-in- under Ross of Pitcalnie; Ross of Easter Fearn; and law), who became Queen Anne; destined to be the Ross of Tolly, the last-named commanded a last of the ancient House of Stewart to sit on a company of men from the burgh of Tain -- in total British throne. But she, too, by all accounts was some 700 Rosses. very much a ‘puppet’ queen. Nevertheless, her The overall force under Sutherland did not presence on the throne seems to have placated however reflect the true military potential of the most of the Highlanders for a while. pro-government clans of the northern Highlands. A threat to the tranquility came with the death of It would appear that many, reneged, deserted or Queen Anne in 1714. Almost immediately, the joined Jacobite forces under different banners. Whig government at Westminster manipulated the Likewise, in the central and southern Highlands, situation to their own best interest, by ensuring other clans were taking sides and gathering. The great MacCailean Mor, John Campbell, 2nd Duke 4 The Clan MacFarlane Society, Australia Inc. Pages extracted from: MacFarlane's Lantern No. 127 September 2013 of Argyll called upon the gentry of Argyll and than anything that came later. The failure to win elsewhere to rally support for King George I. In the initiative rests mainly with the quality of part of his rallying spiel (written in London, leadership enjoyed by the Jacobites. John Erskine, August 1715) he recalls his own family’s loyalty Earl of Mar, sometime styled ‘Bobbin John’ due as: “famed in the worst of times for supporting to his lack of constancy, was not the man for the the Protestant Religion and the resisting of job. By this time the main Jacobite army had Tyranny.” 2 moved from Braemar to Perth where Mar Some clans had divided loyalties. Even the summoned the Earl of Seaforth to follow suit. powerful Campbell chief did not have the full In November, at Sheriffmuir, near Dunblane, the support of his clan. Campbell of Glendaruel and Jacobite army faced up to a similar force led by Campbell of Glenlyon, along with numerous Argyll. Figures quoted state that the Jacobite Breadalbane men came out for King James, and it losses accredited to Sheriffmuir totalled 250, of was the same across the country. which around fifty are claimed by Clan Macrae. In 1715, our own Clan MacFarlane might also The government forces are said to have lost a total be listed among those torn by divided loyalties. of 600 men. Walter, 20th Chief (1705-1767) appears not to As to which side actually won the day, has been have openly declared which side he favoured, yet long argued over. It could be claimed that Argyll it seems more likely he chose not to become too was successful, in that he prevented the Highland involved and remained passive – or in modern Jacobites from joining up with those in the parlance, ‘he maintained a low profile!’ Lowlands and Borders, which seems to have been However, given the high degree social unrest at his main objective. However, it could be said that the time, it is hard to accept that all MacFarlanes ineffective leadership among the Jacobites ruined followed their Chief’s example, more so the the best chance that Scotland ever had of breaking younger clansmen, and those who were settled in loose from the 1707 Union. As it turned out, very Buchanan parish along the eastern little English support rallied to the shores of Loch Lomond and who lived Stewart banner, of which only the cheek by jowl with ardent Jacobite resolute efforts of James Radcliff, Earl MacGregors, I cannot help thinking of Derwentwater must rate strong that some MacFarlanes may have commendation. joined up with Rob Roy MacGregor’s In Lancashire, only some 200 ill- contingent during 1715, when the bold equipped tenants gave assistance to ‘Gregalach’ clansmen terrorized much those Scots who reached as far as of Dunbartonshire as far south as the Preston, under the leadership of Vale of Leven, then captured all the Colonel Mackintosh of Borlum. But boats on Loch Lomond and towed them back to this force was surrounded, and many Highlanders, Inversnaid. including Borlum, were captured and taken Thereafter, a motley force of local gentry and prisoner. Some of them were later Transported to military personnel was mustered in Dumbarton, the American colonies and to Bermuda: records part of which sailed in naval pinnaces or marched show that one John MacFarlin from Perth was to Inversnaid to teach the MacGregors a lesson – among them. but on arrival all they found were a few women The arrival at Christmas time of the gaunt, and children; Rob Roy and his clansmen were uninspiring figure of the Chevalier de St. George, already marching eastwards to join the main Scotland’s uncrowned King James VIII, also Jacobite army. This event became known as the styled the ‘Old Pretender’, did nothing to increase ‘Loch Lomond Expedition’, it being probably the the earlier zeal of his supporters. Indeed, John first (bloodless) open display of arms in the Sinclair, Master of Sinclair, underlined the general ’Fifteen Jacobite Rising! feeling: “When we saw the man whom they Other MacFarlanes who had earlier moved called our king, we found ourselves not at all from the old clan lands and had settled in other animated by his presence; and if he was counties, such as Argyll, Perth and further north, disappointed in us, we were tenfold more so in would almost certainly find themselves obliged to him!” support the respective chiefs or overlords in their In January 1716 King James disbanded his army adopted territory. Thus, throughout the country and departed for France, accompanied by several many a reluctant tenant would be dragged from chiefs.