JacobitesThe McHardy Family of Corryhoul Website
JacobitesWere the Corryhoul McHardy family directly involved in the 1715 and 1745 Jacobite Uprisings ? The landowners of the upper glens of Donside and Deeside certainly were, and as feudal vassals to the The Earls of Mar, the Erskine family whose seat was in Aalloa, Clackmannanshire, there certainly was inducement to be so. A Jacobite map in the possession of the National Library of Scotland (reference Z3/41 a&b) dated 1741 shows Forbes of Strathdon as able to muster 250 men for the cause, and Farquharson of Invercauld 300 men. Obviously not all of these bore the name Forbes or Farquharson, but would have included mainly their tenants.
I have collected the following materials which mention McHardys and their landlords during the Jacobite period. To date I have seen little mention of the surname connected with the known lists of Jacobites already in print. I am sure further research could quite easily be undertaken by someone with an interest in this period. However, it has recently been come to my attention that my great great great great great grandfather William McHardy of Corryhoul was out in the 1745 with Forbes of Skellater as a private in Glenbuchat's regiment.
 John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar, 1672 - 1732 with his son Thomas Lord Erskine. |
Click on to hyperlinks below
to go to the following on this page :-
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Historical Papers 1699-1750 Relating to the Jacobite Period, Edited by Colonel James Allardyce, LL.D., Volume First, Aberdeen. Printed by the New Spalding Club MDCCCXCV.
The 1696 list mentions the following place names within the Strathdon and Corgarff area - Culquhany, Belnaboch, Ledmacoy, Invernochtie, Skellater, Candacraig, Deskry, Knockaspack, Belabeg, or Old Lerg. However it lists no McHardys for Corgarff, Strathdon, Towie, or Glenkindie. At this time Corriehoul was on the Earl of Mar's free lands in Corgarff. These were purchased in 1738 by Forbes of Skellater. At p8. the McHardys over the hill in upper Deeside do however appear.
List of the tenants dwelling upon the
Earle of Marrs free rent in Braemar.
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John ffarquharson of Invercauld his men
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John Mchardie of Crathie his men (19 in
total only one Mchardie)
[The lands of Crathie were disponed to a John in liferent by John Farquharson of Allargue on 25th August 1665, Allargue is in Corgarff. John Farquharson was of the Achriachan Farquharson family. Auchriachan is near Tomintoul and that house was burn by the Hanovarian army after the '45.] |
| Charles Mchardie of Micras his men (2 in total, non were McHardies). |
James ffarquson in Tullichoy his men
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ffindlay ffarqrson of Cults his men
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The Corgarff landlords were Jacobites; the Forbes family of Skellater were unlike the rest of that Whig clan and came out for the Stuart's. The Farquharson's were also Jacobites.
The first Forbes of Inverernan was "Black Jock", who was the Baillie for the Earl of Mar in 1715 [See him mentioned in the Testament of Edward McHardie of Corryhoul on the "Testaments and Testamenters" page]. Black Jock was born into the Skellater family. Based on the letter below it would not be too difficult to imagine that a lot of the men of the area became involved in this failed attempt to put the Stuarts back on the throne of Great Britain. The son of James VII of Scotland and II of Great Britain, the old Pretender as he was to become known by his enemies, had arrived at Peterhead north of Aberdeen in December. Prior to this on the 6th of September 1715, John Erskine 39th Earl of Mar, at a great gathering of clansmen, planted the Chevalier de St.George on a mound at Invercauld on upper Deeside. Earlier he had proclaimed James as King James VIII in Glenlivet and had camped at Corgarff Castle on route to Invercauld. The 1715 Jacobite uprising was on. |
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Donside, by Alex Inkson McConnochie, Aberdeenshire Classics, Reprinted from the original 1900 edition by James G. Bisset, Aberdeen, 1985. ISBN 0-948246-01-04.
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Invercauld (Sept. 9 (at night) 1715 Jocke, Ye was right not to come to me with the hundred men ye sent up tonight, when I expected four times that number. It is a pretty thing, when all the Highlands of Scotland are now rising upon the King and the country's account, as I have accounts from them since they were with me, and the gentlemen of the neighbouring Lowlands expecting us down to join them, that my men should only be refractory. Is not this the thing we are now about which they have been wishing these twenty-six years ? And now, when it is come, and the King and the country's cause is at stake, will they for ever sit and see all perish ? I have used gentle means too long, and shall be forced to put other means into execution. I have sent you enclosed an order for the Lordship of Kildrummy, which you are immediately to intimate to all my vassals; if they give ready obedience, it will make some amends, and if not, ye may tell them from me, it will not be in my power to save them (were I willing) from being treated as enemies by those who are ready soon to join me; and they may depend on it that I will be the first to propose and order their being so. Particularly let my own tenants in Kildrummy know that if they come not forth with their best arms, that I shall send a party immediately to burn what they shall miss taking from them. And they may believe this only a threat, but by all that's sacred, I'll put it into execution, let my loss be what it will, that it may be an example to others. You are to tell the gentlemen that I expect them in their best accoutrements, on horseback, and no excuse to be accepted of. Go about this with diligence, and come yourself, and let me know your having done so. All this is not only as ye will be answerable to me, but to your King and country. Your assured friend and servant MAR. To John Forbes of Inverernan, Baillie of Kildrummy |
John Forbes of Inverernan was taken prisoner after the battle of Sheriffmuir and died in Carlisle the night previous to the day fixed for his execution. For his part in the 1715 Jacobite uprising MAR had his lands confiscated and died on the Continent in 1732. The fate of his estates were not settled until sometime after 1716. In 1724 the Government allowed his brothers James Erskine, Lord Grange, and David Erskine of Dun, a Lord of Session, to purchase the estates on behalf of Thomas, the only son of the Earl. The trustees held the estates for several years and then with the lands encumbered by debt proceeded to sell all the Aberdeenshire lands. The greater part went to William Duff of Braco, the first Lord Fife, in 1731. It is probably through this purchase that McHardys migrated to certain parts of the Braco lands in the north of Aberdeenshire and Banffshire at a later period. In 1738 George Forbes, 5th of Skellater purchased the lands of Corgarff. The residue of the Mar estates past to Thomas in 1739.
George Forbes, 5th of Skellater, married a daughter of John Gordon of Glenbucket the famous Jacobite. (Although referred to as Glenbuchet; John Gordon had sold the castle and lands prior to this. He was in their possession only a short time). George had been much trusted by his redoubtable father-in-law. Skellater had received orders from Mar and Glenbucket to raise all fencible men between 16 and 60 for the Jacobite cause, and one month later his father-in-law wrote the following letter. It bears similar sentiment to that from Mar to John Forbes of Inverernan at the start of the 1715 Jacobite uprising.
St.Bridget, September 15th 1745. [St. Bridget is another name for Mains of Camdell in Strathavon] Dear George I am concerned to see your country so backward to relieve yourselves from slavery and poverty. Though no pleasure to force, yet necessite obliges. Get your own men ready, march down amongst those your order obliges you to raise. Since Cushing his health will not allow of his going, he'll concur to oblige his tennants and give arms. If Glenkindie is gone, you'll raise tennents and take his arms and so goe accordingly with the whole. I march from this to Glenlivet this day qhr, you'll acquaint me qht your doing. No tyme to be lost. I am glad yr uncle is come. How soon this came to yr hand acquaint Blelack that I marched and that he may acquaint Monaltrie and all our friends to make all possible despatch to joyn without loss of time. If absolute necessite, I shall send one party over yr ladder on ye Strathbogie and Enzie gentrie. I hope they'll be ready, or I can reach them, If I am forced to send a partie, it must be Highlanders who, I am afraid will not, away from myself, be so agreeable nor so regular to the countrie. But since they deserve be made exaples of, blame yourselves. Your orders are full, therefore pray goe dilligently about ym. In all haist, for tomorrow night I design to be the length of Auchindoun, in order to raise that country. My service to yr uncle, Christiane and the Bairns. John Gordon. |
A Muster Roll of Prince Charles Edward Stuart's Army 1745-46, Editors Alistair Livingstone of Bachuil, Christian W H Aikman, and Betty Stuart Hart, Aberdeen University Press 1984.
| The Regimets, p120 - Gordon of
Glenbuchat (shortened) The first man in the counties of Aberdeen and Banff that joined the rising was John Gordon of Glenbuchat already an old man in his 70's. On 18th August 1745 he met the Prince at Kinlochmoidart and delivered up to him Captain Swettenham of General Guise's regiment captured on the way. On 28th August he returned with King Jame's commission as Major General confirmed and with some money to raise the men of Strathavon, Glenbuchat, Strathbogie and the Cabrach. By the 25th September Glenbuchat had collected about 400 men, some brought by his son-in-law Forbes of Skellater from his Corps at Strathdon (This should say Corgarff), and was marching to join the Highland Army in the Lothians. With his regiment he joined the prince at Edinburgh on the 14th October and was made a member of the Prince's Council and given arms captured from Cope at Prestonpans. The Glenbuchat Regiment took part in the advance into England and the return from Derby. One Company of the Regiment formed part of the garrison which was left behind at Carlisle. The regiment played it's part in the Skirmish of Clifton on 18th December and the Battle of Falkirk on 17th January 1746. Shortly before Falkirk with the Highland Army under Lord George Murray drawn up near Bannockburn and expecting an attack from Hawley's superior force, about 1000 - 1200 men were left under the command of the Duke of Perth and Gordon of Glenbuchat to continue the seige of Stirling Castle. In March 1746 Glenbuchat was again in Strathbogie levying money and forcing men out to the cause. At Culloden Glenbuchat's Regiment was in the column on the left of the Second Line, flanked by the Perthshire Horse under Lord Strathallan and Pitsligo. After the disastrous defeat Glenbuchat became a hunted man. He escaped on a Sweedish sloop on 25th November and was exempted from the Act of Indemnity of June 1747. He died in Bolougne on 16th June 1750. George Forbes of Skellater appears as a Lieut. Colonel of Glenbuchat's Regiment. There are approximately 106 named members of the Regiment. None of those named are McHardys. By David Lumsden of Cushnie, Tillycairn Castle. |
In 1745 Gordon of Glenbuchat joined the Pretender with 400 men raised in Strathdon, Glenlivet, &c. The Corgarff Forbes families of Skellater, Inverernan, and Edinglassie joined the cause of the Pretender. In the book "Memoir of the Life and Services of Admiral J. B. B. McHardy" it states that the McHardys of Corgarff were at Culloden under Forbes of Skellater who was Captain of that party.
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Forbes of Inverernan and his tenants were joined to those of Skellater. Sixty men went from Corgarff to Culloden and many of these were McHardys. After the battle the Corgarff men were pursued from the field by a party of English cavalry. On turning an abrupt curve of the road they came to a stone bridge, under whose arches they concealed themselves; they heard the tramp of the horses crossing the bridge, and remained in hiding till the pursuing party advanced some distance ahead, the Corgarff men then betook themselves to the mountains and eluded further pursuit. |
Another version of this story relates to Farquharson men making their way home after the battle. There cannot have been any bridges so large that they were capable of hiding so many men in the area between Culloden and Corgarff.
How many men did George Forbes, 5th of Skellater raise for Glenbuchat's Regiment ? An interesting letter in the Cumberland papers gives the number of men; it is reproduced at p.446 of The House of Forbes, edited by Alister & Henrietta Tayler, 3rd Spalding Club, Aberdeen MCMXXXVII; the letter also gives some indication of the welfare of the men on the long road south into England.
The letter is signed by Skellater's relatives John Forbes of Belnaboddach and Benjamin Forbes of the Edinglassie line.
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"Leith 9 Oct 1745. Unto Major Patrick Gordon of Gordonhouse. The representation of Capt. Lieut. John Forbes of Belnabodach and Ensign Benjamin Forbes of Colonel George Forbes of Skellater his Company. That the men of the said company and of the next Lt. his company all formerly belonging to Skellater, being in number 48, are very badly lodged in a part of the open straw lofts in Leith, wherein there's no convenience for having fire to sitt at, and dress their victuals, nor any sort of clothes to cover them, by which means the greatest part of the said men are rendered sickly so yt they are neither fitt for duty or marching. and as we have gott information of empty lodgings wherein yers fire-rooms where they may be weel accomodated. Such as Charles Lydall, Gairdner his upper Story or William Putton's land, being all wast, Therefore entreats you order Robert McKilen, Moderator-Constable to lodge them in either of these places and provide ym Coal and Candles etc. John Forbes |
Again in the book "A Muster Roll of Prince Charles Edward Stuart's Army 1745-46"
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p201. (Shortened) The Farquharsons did not join the Prince's Army until the siege of Stirling Castle when 150 of them were in action at the Battle of Falkirk on 17th January 1746 where Balmoral was wounded. A force of 250 Farquharsons took to the field at Culloden under Monaltrie and were attached to the Mackintosh Regiment. Their station was on the right centre of the front line of battle, and were the first to make the attack. Monaltrie was captured and shipped to the Tower of London where he was condemmed and then reprieved on the day set for his execution. He was a prisoner for 16 years before being allowed home. Again the muster roll of Prince Charles Edward Stuart's Army for Monaltrie's and Balmoral's men (Francis Farquharson of Monaltrie, and James Farquharson of Balmoral, both Lieutenant Colonels from the upper Dee Valley), does not mention any McHardys. |
But what of the Corgarff Farquharson's ?
Jacobites of Aberdeenshire and Banffshire in the 45, by Alister & Henrietta Taylor, Milne & Hutcheon, Aberdeen 1928. With thanks to Bill McHardy of Peterculter, Aberdeen, for sending some photocopied pages from this volume to myself.
John Farquharson of Alderg (Allargue) was a captain in the regiment of his cousin Farquharson of Monaltrie. He was taken prisoner at Culloden appearing in Butcher Cumberland's own list of prisoners. He was conveyed to London in a Hanoverian vessel, the conditions in which he later gave a blood curdling description to Bishop Forbes, the compiler of the "Lyon in Mourning". Before his trial set for 23rd August 1746 he busied himself and friends in collecting evidence to prove that he had been unwillingly forced to serve in the Prince's army [as was the norm at the time of trial]. John Farquharson employed Thomas Forbes of Castle Street in the Parish of St. Martin, London, to go to several places in Scotland in order to subpoena witnesses, viz., Alexander Grant, Angus Stuart, John McHardy, John Forbes and Robert Cattanach. The tow first "being of great age", were allowed to give their evidence on commission. The other three were reported to have arrived in Edinburgh on the 29th September 1746, and from their hired horses to take them to Newcastle, where being exhausted, they took ship for London, and "have not since been heard of". John McHardy's own letter from Edinburgh to John Farquharson is as follows:-
| Sept 29th 1746 Dear Sir I received yours upon which I took my journey immediately. I find it is a long trobelsome and very expensive voge just now, and I thought it proper to write you by the London post that I safely arrived att Leith att nine o'clock att night instant and John Forbes and Robert attenach along with me, and we are informe that we are not able to make out our journey against the day appointed. Butt we hired horses at Edinburrow the length of New Castel and we are advised be men to ship at New Castel, but are afraid for fear of beinge hindred by the way and if God spare us health we shall run a risk of our lives to be here if money don't fail us. and we are to be excused, for we've got no time to advance money and thought no ways that our journey was so long. All is from your assured friend
P.S. - And we are not fully resolved to take sea, if we do not find ourselves safe, and I hope in God Almighty that we shall not fail. Adue. |
The above letter is preserved in the Baga de Secretis, at the Record office.
Who was John McHardy, and what became of him and his fellow travellers ?
John Farquharson eventually escaped his captivity and lived out his days as a physician in Dunkirk, France.
As mentioned previously I have so far come across nothing specifically published on the role of the Corgarff McHardys in the Jacobite period. However, I am indebted to Sigridur Oladottir of West Tornahaish, who sent me the following which was uncovered in The National Library, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh. The tenants of George Forbes, 5th of Skellater, had been summoned to give testament to his involvement in the '45. Subsequent correspondence with the Alan Bell at the Library provided additional information on the sources.
William McHardy of Corryhoul is my great great great great great grandfather.
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MSS 17517, f. 74-5 (MSS 17515-17517 Informations, precognitions, certificates, and similar papers concerning prisoners and others suspected of having participated in the Rising, 1745-55, nd). Eodem die compear'd Finla McArdy in Caftletown of Curgarff who being interrogate declared that upon the Twenty Seventh of March 17 hundred and forty Six, he saw George Forbes of Skellatar at Elgin in company with Glenbucket and seven others; that at that time Skellatar was drefsed in Highland Cloaths and in Arms, and declares he cannot write. [signed] David Dalrymple Eodem die compeared Finla M'Ardy in Little Corihoul, who being Interrogate declar'd, that about twenty days before the battle of Culloden, he Saw George Forbes of Skellatar at Elgin in Company with Glenbucket, and Several Others, at which time the Said Skellatar was dref'd in Highland Cloaths, and in Arms and the Declarant Served as a private Sogier in Glenbucket's Regiment, and declares he cannot write. Eodem die, Compear'd Duincan Michie in Corihoul who being interrogate, declar'd that he Saw Skellatar only once during the Rebellion in company of Glenbucket at Edinburgh, when the Rebells were in pofsefsion of that place, and that he Saw him drefsd in Highland Cloaths, and in Arms, and being further Interrogate, further declares that he saw him at Elgin in Company with Several Rebells but does not Remember any of their Names, but that Glenbucket was in the Street within a few paces, and declares he cannot write. Eodem die Compeared William McArdy in Corihoul, who being Interrogate declar'd that he serv'd as a privat Man in Glenbuckets Regiment and frequently Saw George Forbes of Skellatar in Company with Glenbucket, and others, who had joined in the late Rebellion, particularly at Leith before the Rebells marched into England, and when they were there, he Saw him frequently in and about Carlifle, and at Stirline after their return in Scotland, that at all thefe different times he was dref'd in Highland Cloaths and in Arms, and declares he cannot write. MSS 16660, f. 86 (1748) (MSS 16501-17880 SALTOUN PAPERS. The papers of the family of Fletcher of Saltoun (previously of Innerpeffer), with some of Abernethy, Lords Saltoun). (letter to David Dalrymple, advocate at Edinburgh): At Glenkindy the eighteenth day of May 1700 and forty eight years in Presence of Alexander Leith of Glenkindie one of his Majestees Justices of the Peace for the County of Aberdeen Compeared Finla Mchardie in Corryhowl, who being interrogate Declar'd that during the Rebellion he has seen George Forbes of Skellatar along with the Rebells in the Town of Stirling and does not know when he went out of the Country. Alexander Leith J.P. Compeared Norman Mchardie in Wester Corryhowl Declares that he was in the Rebellion and that he has seen George Forbes of Skellatar Several times march with the Rebell army when they were in England, and at Stirling, and that the Said George Forbes Joined the Rebells in August IMvii & fourty five years and declares he cannot write. |
Other McHardy Jacobite mentions - this time the Glengairn faction.
Jacobites of Aberdeenshire and Banffshire in the Rising of 1715, by Alister & Henrietta Taylor, Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh and London 1934.
McHardy, John, in Glengairn (the
glen is partly on the route from the Dee Valley to the
Don Valley)
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Directory of Scots Banished to the American Plantations 1650 - 1775, by David Dobson, Geneological Publishing Company Inc., Baltimore, USA, 1984.
MacHardy, John
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Potted History: -
Corgarff Castle is reputed to have been built about 1530 by the Elphinstone family; they held the Barony of Invernochty and later the Barony of Kildrummy; which when combined became the Lordship of Elphinstone. The Earls of Mar acquired the property in 1626, and it was used as a mustering point by the Marquis of Montrose for his campaign of 1645 (William Forbes, 2nd of Skellater was out with Montrose and commanded 200 hundred men at the Battle of Alford 1646).
Corgarff was burnt by Jacobites in 1689 to deny its use to the government, and once more in 1716. Jacobites used it during the rising of 1745 but it fell into Hanoravian hands in 1746. At this time it was a single tower house. In 1748 the Hanovarian government bought Corgarff and altered the buildings, with the addition of the star shaped curtain wall.
The Castle in it's later life became inhabited by the people of Corgarff until about 1890. It was ruinous for many years until taken in hand by Historic Scotland and is now open to the public in season.
The 1745: -
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The 1745 Jacobite Uprising foundered at the Battle of Culloden near Inverness on the 16th of April 1746. The forces of the Duke of Cumberland (later to become known as Butcher Cumberland for the horrific and cruel penalty he extracted from the Highlanders) had arrived in Aberdeen on the 25th of February. Their sights were set on the "rebel" garrison at Corgarff Castle. There exists a letter written by Captain Alexander Stuart of the Hanovarian army of his journey to take Corgarff Castle for the government. The extract of this letter appears in Colonel Allardyce's Historic Papers 1699-1750 printed by the New Spalding Club. |
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Corgarff Castle lies at the western end of the Glen
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6th of March 1746 .............I returned on Wednesday from an expedition to the Highlands of Aberdeenshire, fifty miles from hence, to destroy a Magazine of the Rebels at Corgarff, which lies near the head of the Don. Three hundred foot commanded by Major Morris, and one hundred dragoons commanded by me - the whole under the command of Lord Ancrum, were ordered for that duty. We marched from this on Friday, 28th February, in a snowy day to Monimuss (Monymusk), Sir Archibald Grant's house. Next day over mountains and moors almost impassable at any time of the year, but much more so when covered by snow, to a place called Tarland. As soon as they saw us directing our march hither, they suspected our design on the magazine there, and some Rebels who lived there sent away an Express immediately to aquaint the Garrison, and to Glenbucket, who was with some men at Glenlivet above Strathdon, about ten miles above the castle. On Saturday morning we marched from Tarland, a most terrible march, to the castle, which stands on the side of the Don, where I daresay never were Dragoons before, nor ever will be again, nor foot either unless Highlanders ! Though we marched early in the morning it was past four before we arrived there. We found it abandoned by the Garrison, but so lately, that the fire was burning, and no living creature in the house but a poor cat sitting by the fire. They had thrown the barrels of powder down the bank into the river in order I suppose to destroy it, but had not time - and had conveyed the arms up and down the hills near it in different directions, and hid the bayonets under a dung hill. However we found all out, and brought away 367 firelocks, 370 bayonets. There were some more arms destroyed which we could not carry. Ten thousand musket balls we threw into the river and amongst the heather, etc, etc., and it being impossible to convey away the powder for want of country horses, all gone to the hills with the country folk who had run away, being told by the rebels that we were to burn and destroy the whole country. We staved 32 barrels of exceeding fine Spanish powder equal to sixty-nine of our barrels, and threw it all into the river - and afterwards, for want of horses were obliged to burn and destroy so many of the firelocks, that we brought but 131 to Aberdeen. We returned on Wednesday from such a country that a hundred men might beat a thousand from the hills above them - and had it snowed another night when we were there, it had been impossible to have returned. We were obliged to be two night in open fields - and sit on horseback all night. However, we happily executed what we were sent upon - and, thank God, returned safe, with only the lose of one horse. Captain Alexander Stuart |
At p.446 of The House of Forbes, edited by Alister & Henrietta Tayler, 3rd Spalding Club, Aberdeen MCMXXXVII
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"In 1748 General Humphrey Bland, then commanding in Scotland, wrote to the Lord advocate to announce that he was about to put a garrison into Corgarff Castle..........."The owner, Mr Forbes of Skellater having forfeited his estate to the Crown, by accepting a Captain's Commission in the French service in Ogilvy's Regt". But the Lord Advocate, Sir William Grant of Prestongrange, a hard headed Scot, replied that........"though Forbes was a very notorious rebel, he being neither attainted by Act of Parliament nor upon trial, by due course of law, his estate or his castle is certainly not forfeited actually, or vested in the Crown; and is therefore not, at this day, liable to be seized or taken possession of that as such". |
In April 1748 work began on strengthening Corgarff Castle which was to become a garrison for the Red Coat army in occupation while disarming of the Highlands went apace. The castle remained in government use until around 1831. In 1750 it is recorded that the castle was garrisoned by 24 Hanoverian troops, with outlying posts at Inchrory (9 men) and Riballachlaeon (6 men). There was also a moving patrol between a post at the Braes of Abernethy and Inchrory comprising 6 men. The grip of the German King in London was being felt in the Glens.
The following is a somewhat arrogant and condescending account by the Hanoverian General of his view of the peoples and lands of the upper Dee and Don valleys in the aftermath of strengthening the castles. It is reproduced in Aberdeen Journals Notes and Queries, Vol. IV, 1911, Aberdeen Daily Journal.
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............A very interesting and little known reference to the transformation of Braemar and Corgarff into blockhouses is to be found in a letter written on the 13th April 1754 by General Humphrey Bland to Lord Holdernesse, Secretary of State. (Scotland Letters and Papers, P.R.O., 2nd Series, bundle 44, No.3), Brae Mar and Corgarff were taken from Mr Farqrson of Invercauld, where we have now two small barracks erected, the good effect of which is [sic] now plainly felt by bringing in the people of that barbarous and mountainous country into a peaceable and orderly state, and they are now become honest and industrious and live with great friendship and amity with His Majesty's troops quartered there. The leases it is stated in the letter were arranged by Colonel, afterwards Major General, David Watson, who surveyed Scotland about that time. |
Little seems to have been researched on this issue to date. However, one must assume that they represented times of great uncertainty and fear for the tenants of the glen.
After the re-establishment of Presbyterianism in 1690, many ministers attached to the Episcopacy were allowed to remain in their parishes as "Episcopal Incumbents'. Some of these had Jacobite leanings. The Alford Presbytery at this time included the parishes of Alford, Auchindoir, Cabrach, Clatt, Cushnie, Forbes, Glenbuchat, Kearn, Keig, Kennethmont, Kildrummy, Leochel, Strathdon, Tough, Towie, and Tullynessle. Following the 1715 uprising the ministers in Alford, Keig, Kildrummy and Strathdon were deposed. Mr Robertson was Minister in Strathdon from 1681 until his removal in 1717. This may in part explain why births and marriages are less ordered in the parish records of this time.
In his confession on the presbytery's libel he states ( at p541 New Statistical Account of Scotland);
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"That during the time of the late rebellion he prayed for the Pretender; but with these limitations, that God would incline his heart to be a true Protestant; and if it were God's will he would bring him to the throne who was lawfull heir to our native kings; and if not, that God would be pleased to incline him to set his heart uon ane heavenly kingdome. That he prayed God would preserve the Earl of Marr and his own parochiners from sin and wrath, and every mark of God's displeasure, and bring them safe home again. That he observed the fast day lybelled, and prayed for the Pretender, the Earl of Marr, and his own parochiners, and that God would reconcile disagreeing parties. That he did read the proclamation for the thanksgiving from pulpit, but did not observe the thanksgiving because his people were out on parties, and therefor he had non to keep it with him. That he did not pray for King George in the time of the Rebellion, but prayed for him before and since that time nominatim". |
In the aftermath of the '45 there were no known confiscations, nor known prosecutions by the Government in Strathdon and Corgarff. Even though the population seem to have been pretty generally implicated in the 1745 uprising. William the eldest son of Skellater was not prevented from inheriting his father's lands and became the 6th Laird of Skellater [William sold the lands of Skellater to his first cousin William Forbes of Balbaithan, and resided in Aberdeen until his death]. It has been suggested that the lack of retribution by the Hanoverian forces was due to the fact that the people of the glen were forced to join the rebellion. Gordon of Glenbuchat was notorious for his means of forcing people to join the cause.
Legend has it that after the defeat at Culloden in April 1746, George Forbes, 5th of Skellater, concealed himself in a birch wood on the hill of Delhandy on the south side of the river Don in full view of his home Skellater House. It is reported that he witnessed the arrival of Lord Ancrum's force at his home on it's march to Corgarff Castle, but that was in March 1746. Like so much of history the dates do not quite ring true. Did he witness a later arrival of Hanoverian troops searching for himself ? Most probably. The estate escaped confiscation and he died in Bologne in October 1767, his wife remaining in Strathdon and dying at Delhandy in 1784. George like many Scots had joined the French army after fleeing Scotland. However he is again mentioned in connection with a Jacobite plot in 1752. The notorious spy "Pickle" reported to the Hanovarian Government that Skellater, Lochgarry, Dr. Cameron and other Jacobite leaders were to cross to Scotland and concert measures with the Highland chiefs at the great cattle fair at Crieff. Whether Skellater made the journey is unknown; however the fate of Dr. Cameron is well documented.
Over the hill in Cromar things seem to have been very different due to the behaviour of one Captain MacHardy.
Who was this man "of very uncertain temperament" made famous for his adherence to duty in the aftermath of the '45 uprising ? (I'm glad that who ever wrote this added what I call the Saxon induced "a" to the Mc of his surname). Anyone reading this like to claim him in their family tree ? He appears to be the very Mungo Campbell of MacHardys.
Royal Valley - The Story of the Aberdeenshire Dee, by Fenton Wyness, Alex P. Reid & Son, Market Street, Aberdeen, 1968.
| Chapter 35 "The cause forlorn",
p.168 onwards. Just over a month after Culloden, Government troops swept into Deeside to begin the campaign of retribution, plundering and burning the homes of all those believed to have participated in the rising. Among the many places subsequently destroyed were the mansion houses of Auchindryne, Auchinhove, Blelack, Campfield, Mill of Kincardine, and Monaltrie. A reprehensible feature of these burnings is the Order to execute them was given before their owners had stood trial. How many humble dwellings suffered a like disaster is not known. Only two Deeside houses visited by Government troops appear to have escaped destruction - Balmoral Castle, the home of James Farquharson, "Balmoral the Brave", which is described in records as very bad and was apparently unworthy of their attentions, and Balnacraig, saved from ruin by a clever piece of subterfuge by it's lady, Catherine Gordon, wife of James Innes of Balnacraig (a Jacobite). ....On a very warm afternoon in August, 1746, a party of Hanoverian troops under Captain MacHardy - the officer responsible for the burning of several Deeside mansions - arrived at Balnacraig (Balnacraig stands on an elevated site within a picturesque loop of the River Dee opposite the village of Kincardine o' Neill). It seems certain the lady of the house - Catherine Innes - was forewarned of the soldiers approach and appreciating that an army marches on it's stomach, she prepared a great reception for the visitors, unwelcome as they were. Exhausted by the heat and thirsty after their march, the Red Coats halted before the house. Captain MacHardy then addressed himself to Catherine Innes saying he had come for her husband, reported to be disaffected against His Majesty King George II. He demanded to see Innes and being told he was from home, searched the house. MacHardy then read the Indictment against Innes and the Order for burning Balnacraig. In reply, Catherine Innes pointed out that her son Lewis was the owner of the property, not her husband, and if the house was burnt, the Government would be held responsible as no Indictment stood against the owner of Balnacraig. This created a problem for MacHardy and Catherine Innes suggested they have some refreshment. The Captain and his men were royally feasted and before long the cellars were emptied of their whisky, wine and beer, and when the Red Coats eventually took their leave, they staggered off, as one eye witness records - 'dredfa fu' -the rear being brought up by a very intoxicated sergeant wearing a clay pig on his head. One of the most interesting spectators of this unorthodox military display was James Innes himself. He had quietly emerged from his hide out to watch the fun. Thus Balnacraig was saved from destruction and the old house still stands although it no longer serves as a mansion house. .....Peter Duguid of Auchinhove, who escaped Culloden, lurked for a time in the Coull and Lumphanan areas and saw his home burnt by the already mentioned Captain MacHardy. Chapter 42 "The Howe o' Cromar" p206. .....Patrick Duguid, 10th of Auchinhove, usually referred to as Peter, took up arms for Prince Charles in 1745 and was most active in raising funds for the Jacobite cause. He was present at the battle of Inverourie - where he was wounded - and at Culloden. After the collapse of the rising, Duguid returned to Deeside but as his home was occupied by Hanovarian Troops under Captain MacHardy, he lurked on the neighbouring Hill of Coull. During this time Duguid's wife and children remained in Auchinhove House, living ins a state of constant anxiety as MacHardy was a man of very uncertain temperament. One day for example, the Captain suddenly dragged the five year old James Duguid from his box bed and ordered him to cry "Hurrah! for King George", but the young laird of Auchinhove was a lad of spirit and equal to the occasion. he promptly replied "Na faith sodjer, I'm a Prince's man". Eventually Captain MacHardy gave up the hunt for Patrick Duguid and one night without warning, ordered his soldiers to burn Auchinhove. Amelia Duguid and her children were fortunate to escape by a window while Patrick watched the destruction of his home from the Hill of Coull. |
It is more than likely that the McHardy men followed whomever was their feudal superior, or his representative, into battle. The family seem to have been by in large tenant farmers in the remote glens of rural Aberdeenshire. The linking if the McHardy surname to other "Clans" seems to have occurred primarily in the Victorian period. No doubt brought about by the romanticising of the Highland way of life at this time. This grouping of tenant surnames under those of their landlords continues to be reproduced in the books aimed primarily at tourists and those searching for a tartan past. I have uncovered no reason to conclude that McHardy be a sept of Clan Farquharson, McIntosh etc.
The Farquharson feud with the Gordons resulting in Alexander Gordone's decreet of Lawbroughs 1682 shows the McHardys of Corryhoul aligned with the Farquharson and McIntosh faction as were many of the Corgarff dependants of the Forbes's. [see the page Corryhoul and the McHardy Family 1].
Forbes of Skellater could provide 250 men in arms for the Jacobite cause in 1741 and that 60 men travelled from Corgarff with him to Culloden under Gordon of Glenbuchat his father-in-law. We have also seen that the McHardys of Corgarff were out in the '45 under Forbes of Skellater.
It has also been written at other places that the McHardy's of Corgarff followed Clan Chattan. Clan Chattan fought alongside the Farquharsons in the middle of the front line at the battle of Culloden in 1746. The association of the surname with Clan Chattan may have resulted from events in the 17th Century. Lady Invercauld was a daughter of William McIntosh of Torcastle. Her brother Lachlan became Chief of Clan Chattan. Her husband was Alexander Farquharson of Invercauld whom she had married sometime before 1666.
You will find hyperlinks to various "Clan" pages claiming the McHardy surname as a sept on the Links page. Below is a classic example of the harvesting of tenant surnames under a "Clan" banner.
The Clan Mackintosh and The Clan Chattan, by Margaret Mackintosh of Mackintosh, revised by Lachlan Mackintosh of Mackintosh, 30th Chief of Mackintosh, First published by W & A.K. Johnstone Ltd., 1948, Revised edition published by Macdonald Publishers, Edgefield Road, Loanhead, Midlothian EH20 9SY.
Appendix I, At p76. Septs of Clan Chattan. Clan Mackintosh: -
| Adamson | Esson | MacClerich | MacNiven |
| Ayson | Glen | MacChlery | MacRitchie |
| Aysons of N.Z. | Glennie | McConchy | Niven |
| Clark | Gollan | Macglashan | Noble |
| Clarkson | Hardie | Machardy | Shaw |
| Clerk | Hardy | Machay | Tarril |
| Crerar | MacAndrew | Mackeggie | Tosh |
| Dallas | MacAy | McKillican | Tosach |
| Elder | MacCardney | MacLerie |
Clan Farquharson
| Coutts | Grevsach | MacCardney | MacKerracher |
| Farquhar | Hardie | MacEaracher | Mackinlay |
| Findlay | Hardy | MacFarquhar | Reach |
| Finlay | Lyon | Machardie | |
| Finlayson | MacCaig | MacKerchar |
