The Angus Jacobites

Read on to find out about some more of the individuals involved in the Jacobite cause in Angus.

James Carnegie

James Carnegie of Balmachie was with the Jacobite Army fighting at the Battle of Falkirk in January 1746, and after Culloden sought shelter in the Angus Glens.

On one dark night he left the safety of the hills to visit his betrothed, Elizabeth Erskine of Kirkbuddo House. The night he arrived at the house there was a large company gathered, some of whom had taken part in the Rising. During the conversations one gentleman happened to mention Carnegie and how when he’d last seen him he was being carried off the field at Falkirk badly wounded.

It was at this precise moment that the young fugitive knocked at the door and asked for a bed Mrs Erskine replied, ‘My faith, you’ll get a bed tonight, although I sleep on the floor.’

James was eventually captured and spent some time as a prisoner in Dundee until his release in 1747. He suffered financial hardship as a result of his involvement in the Rising and was forced to sell the family estate in 1772, living the remainder of his life in poverty. Happily, he did go on to marry Miss Erskine, the young woman he risked so much to see that night at Kirkbuddo House.

Peter Logie

Peter Logie was a tailor from the hamlet of Tigerton. Despite being born with a badly deformed foot, he answered the Jacobite call to arms under the Laird of Balnamoon. After Culloden Peter was taken prisoner and interrogated.

During this interrogation he was asked which position he held in the Rebel Army, and after a lengthy gaze at his deformed foot Peter returned sarcasm:
‘I had the great honour of being his Royal Highness’s dancing master.’

Apparently, the ready wit and ludicrousness of his answer was enough for his interrogators to allow him to go free.

Alexander Low

Alexander Low, proprietor of the Swan Inn in Brechin, was a member of the town council in 1746. It is alleged he was one of those who prevented an election of magistrates and a renewal of oaths to the government at this time. After rebellion was quashed he was taken to London upon the information of the local Presbyterian minister, Mr Blair.

No particular charges were brought against him, but it was thought that he could inform on others. He was confined under the charge of one of the king’s messengers, who gave him every indulgence and took him around London to see the sights to encourage him to talk.

One day he was suddenly sent for by one of the secretaries of state: ‘You will recollect, Mr Low, on such a day, of seeing Lord Airlie and other gentlemen of the county in your house, wearing white rosettes in their bonnets?’ ‘It is not the practice, my lord,’ responded Low, ‘for gentlemen in my country to wear their bonnets in the house.’ He was imprisoned for 12 months.

Robert Lyon

Reverend Robert Lyon was the Episcopal chaplain to Lord Ogilvy’s Regiment. He was engaged to the daughter of Reverend David Rose, the Episcopal clergyman at Lethnot and Lochlee. After Culloden he was taken prisoner near Montrose and sent to Carlisle. He was executed at Penrith on 28 October 1746 alongside six others. He conducted service on the scaffold and declared his unwavering support for the Jacobite cause.

He is also said to have been author of the famous lines ‘God bless the King, I mean the Faith’s defender; God bless – there is no harm in blessing the Pretender; But who Pretender is, and who is King – God bless us all! That’s quite another thing.’

John Ogilvy

When the call came, 34-year-old Captain John Ogilvy of Inshewan raised his own company of men for the County Regiment and accompanied the Prince’s Army during its march south into England. After Culloden he left across the North Sea with Lord Ogilvy, safely disembarking at Bergen in Norway. On arrival they were immediately seized and confined in the castle there at the instigation of the London Government, but after a short while were liberated and made their way to Sweden and France.

When Lord Ogilvy raised his Regiment for the French Service, Captain John Ogilvy obtained the same rank. In 1751 on the death of Sir William Gordon of Park, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Regiment, Lord Ogilvy named his close friend and kinsman Inshewan as prime candidate for the vacancy. John died in 1781.

Thomas Ogilvy

The Angus Jacobite who paid the highest price of all was perhaps Captain Thomas Ogilvy of East Mill, Glen Isla. He was held prisoner in Edinburgh Castle after Culloden. He was, for some reason, overlooked in the general amnesty of 1747. Finally, in 1751, he attempted to escape by climbing down the Castle rock but slipped and fell to his death. On 12 July, the Castle’s governor issued a receipt for 8/- for the provision of his coffin.

John Palmer

Arbroath celebrated Prince Charles’ birthday on 20 December 1745 with much joy. A table was spread out at the market cross with plenty of wine and sweetmeats. Barrels of beer were placed at street corners for all to help themselves: ‘Arbroath never saw sic a day since, an never wull noo.’ This statement was made by John Palmer, a workman who joined Lord Ogilvy’s Regiment, and was witness to the scene, aged 22.

John Russell

22-year-old John Russell was a sail weaver by from the village of Barry. At Culloden he was wounded and held prisoner in Inverness.

John Russell’s life was spared and he was pardoned, but this meant that he was banished from the country to the colonies as an indentured slave. On the 24 February 1747 with around 88 other prisoners, he was transported from Liverpool to Virginia.

Many prisoners did not survive the voyage due to the poor conditions, rampant disease and lack of food. It is not known what became of John Russell.

William Shaw

William Shaw of Forter was a Captain in the Second Battalion of Lord Ogilvy’s Regiment, although apparently somewhat reluctant in taking up arms as Lord Ogilvy wrote from the Borders on his march into England to Sir James Kinloch, urging him to press Shaw to join them.

Reputedly, a troop of Hanoverian dragoons were in search of Shaw after Culloden in Glenshee. In order to warn him, as well as the rest of the community, Miss Rattray of Dalruzion began a conversation with the drummer, pretending not to know its use. Expressing a wish to hear the sound, the soldier politely demonstrated it for her. The countryside echoed with the warning sound of his drum.

Patrick Wallace

Patrick Wallace of Arbroath was a Town Councillor and Baillie. Being a keen Jacobite, he joined Lord Ogilvy’s Regiment and was commissioned as Captain in the Second Battalion raising two companies of men from the area for the campaign. He was also appointed Governor of Arbroath and kept possession of the town while the Prince’s Army pressed south into England.

Wallace assisted with the landing of French troops and the capture of the government sloop HMS Hazard in Montrose harbour. On the return of the Jacobite Army to Scotland Captain Wallace joined Ogilvy at Stirling and was present at the Battles of Falkirk and Culloden.

Sometime after the regiment’s disbandment in Glen Clova the week following Culloden Wallace was captured and imprisoned in the Tower of London. His wife insisted on accompanying him and, while in the Tower, she gave birth to their daughter. On his release they returned to Arbroath where he resumed his linen weaving business.

Thomas Watson

Thomas Watson was a tenant farmer at Mains of Auchmithie as well as being involved in the tobacco trade in Arbroath. He too was taken prisoner after Culloden.

He was tried in London in October 1746 where he admitted spending £100 of his own money recruiting men for the Prince’s army, a sum today of around £25,000. He was sentenced to death, but was reprieved just before the execution in the November, and sentenced to be transported instead. However, illness seemingly prevented him from being transported with the other prisoners and his ultimate fate remains unclear.

Robert Wedderburn

Robert Wedderburn of Pearsie was Sheriff Clerk at Forfar around the time of the 1745 rising. He raised a company of men for Lord Ogilvy and helped him to escape after Culloden. When a company of dragoons occupied Forfar and Cortachy Castle and began hunting down local rebels, Wedderburn hid out on the slopes of Cat Law in Glen Prosen for a time.

On 20 July 1746, he succeeded in obtaining a protection order from the Lord Justice Clerk and quietly resumed his official duties in Forfar.