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ITS OLD POSSESSORS AND
DIVISIONS.
THE whole of this
parish, formerly called Durris, was included in the grant of the
Earldom of Moray to Sir Thomas Randolph and, probably forming a
Barony, continued in great part with the family until the forfeiture
and death of Archibald Douglas, who had married the heiress of the
Dunbars. Prior to this period, 1454, no subsidiary grant, except
that to Lovat of the barony of Stratherrick, which lay partly in
Dores and partly in Boleskine, has been noted. The widowed Countess
of Moray lived to a great age, and her brother, Sir Alexander Dunbar
of Westfield, hereditary Sheriff of Moray, whom some consider to
have been properly heir, received in 1468, inter alia, a large part
of the parish thereafter styled the barony of Durris. Sir Alexander
Dunbar gave Durris to his fifth son David, who was succeeded by
Alexander, and he in turn by Robert, father of David Dunbar, who was
proprietor of Durris in 1569. David was succeeded by Mark Dunbar,
who in 1608, with consent of Ninian Dunbar his son, sold parts of
the barony of Durris, and specially Lopan, Balblair, Drummond,
Little Ballichernoch, and Tirchurachan to Sir John Campbell of
Calder.
The Mackintoshes had
their eye upon Durris as far back as 1492, but a promising agreement
then entered into between the Dunbars and Mackintoshes fell to the
ground.
Another part of the
parish was granted in 1507 to Alexander Ogilvie, styled of Far, by
whom it was incorporated into the barony of Cardale. Alexander
Ogilvie was succeeded by his son, James Ogilvie, whose title, made
up in 1534, was confirmed in 1557. James Ogilvie sold his part of
Durris to the Regent Moray, whose grandson, James Earl of Moray,
disponed Borlum, Cullairds and Kinchyle to Calder on 31st October,
1608. Calder also acquired the Church lands of Dores, including
Daars and others from the then lay holder of the Priory lands of
Urquhart. Calder thus became proprietor of all the lands of Dores
fronting Loch Ness and the river Ness, from Holme to Inverfarigaig,
with the exception of Erchitt and Meikie Ballichernoch, acquired by
the Lovats under a title different from the barony of Stratherrick.
A third portion of
Dores, consisting of Bunachton, the three Duntelchaigs, and
Bochrubin, were included in the grant of the Castle lands to the
Earl of Huntly.
The remainder of the
parish belonged to Lovat. It may be said that in 1610 the whole
parish belonged to Calder and Lord Lovat, with the exception of
Bunachton, belonging to the Marquis of Huntly, and the Dunteichaigs
and Bachrubin, acquired in 1568 by the Mackintoshes in part
assythment for the murder of William Mackintosh of Mackintosh by
Huntly in 1550. Feuing on the part of Calder proceeded rapidly,
chiefly with the Clan Chattan. In 1610, William Mackintosh, second
son of Lachlan Mor Mackintosh of Mackintosh, feued Borlum ; and in
the same year Angus Macphail vie Phoil vie Gillies Macbean feued
Kinchyle and, in 1614, the Church lands of Daars and others.
Alexander Mackintosh, son of Kellachie, feued Aldourie, including
Balblair and Drummond. Alexander Mackintosh of the Kellachie family
feued one half of Holme within the parish of Inverness; Kellachie
feued Dalmigavie; and Dunmaglass was feued by Ferquhar vie Allister.
All these grants flowed from Calder, so that the influence of the
Clan Chattan in the parishes of Inverness, Dores, Dunlichity and
Dalarossie, practically at one and the same period, was greatly
extended. The Frasers also flourished in Dares, Farraline, Balnain,
Gortuleg, Leadclune, Errogie, and others starting up—good shoots of
active frame and warlike spirit.
The new road formed
by General Wade from Inverness to Fort-Augustus opened up Strath
Dores greatly. The old road for wheel traffic stopped at Milton of Holme, the main road to the West and South going by Drummond Brae,
of old the Gaick Roy, and thence until it divided, one road going by
Essich and Achnabat—"Rathadan-Druim;" and the other by Torbreck,
passing by the front of the old house. This was found very
inconvenient, and Alexander Fraser of Torbreck, whom Bishop Forbes,
a frequent guest, styles "honest Phopachie," made the present
divergence, starting at the entry of the avenue, and joining the old
road, behind the present Torbreck house. Thence the road passed
through the woods, emerging at Cullairds, and from thence to
Scaniport. At Scaniport the road again divided; one led to the
Castle of Borlum, and from thence through the woods of Ballindarroch
to Bona Ferry, and from thence past the house of Aldourie, until it
came to the Church of Dores; the other road kept the valley,
passing by Balnafroig, the house of Kinchyle, Antfield, and Daars,
to the Church, where it met with the other road, above mentioned, by
Borlum, Bona, and Aldourie. The present road is much shorter, but
has the inconvenience of a sharp rise beyond Milton. Another after
leaving Scaniport went with a more rapid descent by the Crask of
Durris to Alt Duarak.
The parish of Dores
has gained a small portion of land at the expense of the parish of
Inverness, beyond Milton of Holme. Between the Dores Road and the
River Ness there is a pendicle of land, called of old "Easter
Dowinsche," now the property of Mr C. Walker of Ness Castle. The
original charter describes the land as "that piece of waste land of
Easter Dowinsche, a part and pertinent of the lands of Torbreck
lying within the castle lands of Inverness," and it is well-known
that Torbreck lies within the parish of Inverness. Why the Dunain
family did not take possession of it cannot be accounted for, but it
is clear they did not, and in 1523 it would seem as if it were
vacant. William Mackintosh of Borlum had, as above stated, feued
Borlum and Cullairds from Calder in 1610, his North march at the
river being "Wester Dowinsche." By charter dated at Inverness, 30th
April, 1623, George Earl of Enzie, feued the lands described as
above to Borlum, the feu being 35 4d Scots, on the narrative that
Barium had paid a price, and the lands were convenient to Wester
Dowinsche belonging to him. Infeftment followed on the 24th of June,
1627, one of his witnesses being William Vic Angus Vic Phoil in
Kinchyle, and another Barium's son, Robert Mackintosh.
Probably because all
Barium's lands, with this small exception, lay in Dares, it came in
course of time to be held and considered as part of that parish.
Thus instead of the march between the two parishes being as now from
a point where a dyke running westward towards the river joins the
present Dares road, then follows the road in a northerly direction
until the lands of Milltown are met, when the westerly direction
towards the river is resumed, the old and real boundary between
Inverness and Dares at this point is by superintending and
continuing the dyke before referred to straight to the river.
The handsome trees on
Dowinsche, the beginning of the fine garden, and of the cottage,
afterwards burnt about the year 1837, were all laid down by Mr John
Young of the "Inverness Journal," under a lease which inadequately
protected his great expenditure. Mr Young was removed and complained
with reason of his harsh treatment by the then owner.
There is a fine
Druidical circle in a wood a little to the left of the Dores road
beyond Scaniport, and before the road to Ballindarroch is reached.
It was by the Dores road that Dr Johnson travelled in 1773 from
Inverness to the West coast, and it is recorded that Boswell and he
halted to examine this circle.
THE MACBEANS OF
KINCHYLE.
According to Shaw the
first of the Macbeans of Kinchyle, by origin a Macgillonie, came
from Lochaber with Eva, the heiress of Clan Chattan, and settled
near Inverness. According to the Mackintosh History in the time of
Angus, sixth of Mackintosh, "Bean Vic Coil Mar (of whom the Clan
Vean had their denomination) lived in Lochaber, and was a faithful
servant to Mackintosh against the Red Cumming who possessed
Inverlochie and at that time was a professed enemy of Mackintosh ;"
and again in the time of the next Mackintosh it is said that "
Mulmoire or Myles Vic Bean Vic Coil Mor, and his four sons Paul,
Gillies, Myles, and Ferquhar, after they had slain the Red Cumming's
steward, and his two servants Paten and Kissen, came to William
Mackintosh, seventh of Mackintosh, in Connage in Pettie, where he
then dwelt, and for themselves and their posterity took protection
and dependence of him and his as their chief." This would have been
about 1334, and establishes the Macbeans as one of the oldest
branches of the historic Clan Chattan. The Clan Vean suffered
severely, it is said, at the battle of Harlaw. There is no authentic
deduction however until 1500, when Gillies Macbean may have lived,
succeeded by William, he by Paul, and he by Angus in 1609, when we
arrive on firm historical ground. In 1609.
I. ANGUS MACBEAN, for
himself and his race, signed the Bond of Union amongst the Clan
Chattan. There were three other heritors in the county of the name,
at Faillie, Tomatin, and Drummond, but all writers who treat of the
matter place Kinchyle at the head of the tribe.
Campbell of Calder
had only acquired the lands of Kinchyle on 31st October, 1608, yet
as early as April, 1609, he is found contracting with Angus Macbean
for a feu. By feu contract dated at Auldearn, 18th May, 1610, Sir
John Campbell of Calder feus Kinchyle to Angus vic Phail vic William
vic Gillies, described as "in Kinchyle," the feu duty being £10
Scots, and with power to Angus to build a miln, and other
privileges, one of the witnesses being William Mackintosh of Benchar,
afterwards of Borlum, and another, Alexander Campbell, brother-german
to Calder. Infeftment duly followed upon the feu charter. By another
feu charter Calder feued to Angus Macbean styled "of Kinchyle" the
church lands of Durris, called Daars, and others lying within the
barony and regality of Urquhart (in Moray) and Sheriffdom of
Inverness. The feu was fixed at £6 2s Scots and the charter, dated
at Calder 26th May, 1614, was followed by infeftment. Upon 27th May,
1626, having lent the Earl of Enzie two thousand merks, the Earl
gave a wadset of the half davoch land of old extent of Bunachton to
Angus vic Phail of Kinchyle. Upon the ioth of November, 1631, Angus
of Kinchyle with consent of his eldest son, John, entered into an
adjustment of marches with his neighbour to the South, Alexander
Mackintosh of Aldourie. The transaction was entirely for the benefit
of A]dourie, whose house was so close to the burn of Alt Dourak (the
march), that when the burn was in spate the house was endangered,
and Aldourie desired to cut a new and straight channel a little to
the North and further away from his house. Kinchyle, who had but a
trifle of frontage to Loch Ness, lying between the above burn and
Borlum's lands at Bona, agreed to Aldourie's request, and got in
exchange a deal of hill land by Loch Ashie. Angus Macbean was
succeeded by his eldest son,
II. JOHN, who did not
make up a title to the estates. He had a brother named William,
found in 1627. John was succeeded by his son,
III. PAUL, who on
11th May, 1664, received a precept of Clare Constat from Sir Hugh
Campbell of Calder, for infeftiñg him as heir of his grandfather
Angus, dated at Invermoriston. It would appear that Calder and
Glenmoriston were great friends, for in a letter by John Forbes
second of Culloden to Calder, dated in August, 1664, Culloden begs
of Calder to use his influence to settle the serious differences
between Inshes and Glenmoriston. Upon this precept Paul Macbean was
infeft, but he seems to have fallen into such great difficulties
that he had to resign all the ]ands into the superior's hands, on
the narrative of his embarassments, by deed dated 10th of April,
1685. Upon a long preamble of the prior state of possession, Sir
Hugh Campbell of Calder feued out the whole lands to "William
Macbean in Kinchyle" (who raised money to pay off the old debts), by
charter dated 25th November, 1685. The old feu, it will be noticed,
was £10 Scots for Kinchyle and £6 2s for the Church lands, but in
the charter of 1685 the total feu is a single sum of £20 Scots. lnfeftment followed upon the charter on 19th June, 1686. Among the
witnesses were William Mackintosh, son of Donald Mackintosh of
Kellachie and also of Aldourie, Angus Macbean, writer in Inverness,
and Lachlan Macbean, brother-german to William Macbean. There was
also another brother, the well-known Mr Angus Macbean, minister of
Inverness. Paul Macbean of Kinchyle, is one of the 28 signatories to
the bond by the minor heads of the Clan Chattan to Mackintosh as
their chief, dated at Kincairne the 19th November, 1664. This bond
has the signatures of John Macpherson of Invereshie, and John
Macpherson of Pitmean, the respective heads of the important houses
known as Sliochd Gillies vic Ewen, and Sliochd lain vic Ewen.
The propinquity of
William Macbean to Paul is not stated by Calder, but there is no
doubt they were father and son, for in 1692 William is found styled
"younger of Kinchyle," though he had purchased the lands as above
mentioned in 1685. The latest date in which I observed Paul's name
was in 1691.
The Kinchylés and
Borlums at first were great allies as well as neighbours. It has
been observed that the first Barium was witness to the first charter
to Kinchyle, and when Borlum was first infeft in 1610, Angus Macbean
of Kinchyle acted as his Procurator at the taking of infeftment.
William the third Barium and Paul the third Kinchyic fell out
greatly, however, about their marches and the right of casting peats,
and the matter on one occasion was settled by the sword at
considerable loss to both parties. The fight took place at Tom-na-miol-choin,
or the Greyhound's hillock, on the borders of Keanpoul and Easter
Kinchyle.
IV. WILLIAM married,
contract dated 23rd December, 1688, Jean, second daughter of Donald
Mackintosh of Keilachie, who was also proprietor of Aldourie, which
he sold to his son-in-law, John Barbour, and by her he had at least
two sons, Eneas or Angus and Gillies. The Farr Collections bear that
Jean Macbean was grandmother of the first Charles Grant, and that
"the Macdonalds of Dalness are of the Macbeans of Kinchyle." William
was succeeded by his eldest son,
V. ENEAS, who in 1711
married Isobel, eldest daughter of Roderick Mackenzie of Rcdcastle,
whose tocher was 5000 rnerks. No contract was entered into prior to
the marriage, and the defect was remedied by a post nuptial contract
between the parties dated 9th and 10th January, 1718. From its terms
there would appear to have been "a Catholic debt" of ten thousand
merks upon Kinchyle, then standing in name of John Barbour of
Aldourie, and the lady's tocher was to he imputed in part payment of
this debt. Borlum had lent old Kinchyle 2000 merks in 1708; and
Mackintosh of Culclachy 5000 merks to William and Eneas Macbean in
1718. Among the stipulations in the contract was one that if Isobel
Mackenzie survived her husband, she had right to stay at the mansion
house.
VI. GILLIES, who was
one of the witnesses to his brother's post nuptial marriage contract
in 1718. I find him described as "in Bunachton," and latterly "in
Dalmagerry," but not at any time either "at or of Kinchyle." Gillies
was a man of great note and strength, and was appointed Major of the
Clan Chattan Regiment in 1745. He greatly distinguished himself at
Culloden. Lord Archibald Campbell, in his recent work, "Notes on
Swords from the Battlefield of Culloden," does Kinchyle full
justice, but makes a woful hash of his name. "What men could do in
the days of Culloden is well illustrated, and can be judged from the
following. Guile Mac Bean, perceiving the Campbells had thrown down
a wall and were attacking the Highland army in flank, placed himself
opposite the breach formed, and killed fourteen men before he
himself fell leaving an undying name for heroism." In the Farr
Collections, it is said that Major Gillies Macbean was killed at the
first dyke vest from the field. He married one of the Misses
Macpherson of Lonnie in Petty, and was succeeded by his son,
VII. DONALD, a minor.
In 1750 the estate was in the hands of creditors, and a process of
judicial sale at the instance of William Macgillivray of Dunmaglass
and Hugh Fraser of Bochrubin was instituted. Donald Macbean was
afraid to serve heir, and an attempt to make up a title by Trust
Bond and adjudication in favour of Lieutenant Alexander Macbean,
sometime of the Regiment of Foot commanded by Lord John Murray, a
cousin of Donald's, failed. A few years later, when General Simon
Fraser of Lovät was raising his first regiment, Donald Macbean was
appointed Lieutenant, and on the narrative that he was ordered
abroad, Lieutenant Donald granted on the 5th of April, 1757, a
commission to William Macbean, Attorney at Law, London, and Captain
Lieutenant Forbes Macbean of the Royal Artillery, Sons of the late
Rev. Alexander Macbean of Inverness, Evan and Donald Macbean,
writers in Inverness, and Robert Macpherson tacksman of Lonnie, his
uncle, to manage his affairs. Donald was served heir to his uncle
Eneas, on the 16th October, 1759, describing himself as eldest son
of Gillies Macbean, sometime tacksman of Dalmagarry, second lawful
son of William Macbean of Kinchyle. A charter by Pryse Campbell,
younger of Calder, was granted on the 14th January, 1760, and the
commissioners sold the estates to Simon Fraser, sometime commissary
at Gibraltar, for £2200 sterling, with entry at Whitsunday, 1760.
Donald Macbean retired from the army, and, described as "late
Captain of the 10th Foot," married Anne, second daughter of James
Mackintosh, commonly described as of Wood End, grandfather of Sir
James Mackintosh of Kellachie. Captain and Mrs Macbean are found in
1780 living at Teary, near Forres, the last of the Macbeans of
Kinchyle who possessed that property. The distinguished military
race of "Forbes Macbeans," now in the third generation, descended
from the Rev. Alexander Macbean, of Inverness, are cadets of
Kinchyle, if not the representatives of the family.
The old mansion
family house was a ruin in 1791, but had some fine old trees about
it, alas removed by an incoming tenant. Simon Fraser the proprietor,
writes under date of 10th December in that year from London" I was
exceedingly angry at finding the fine trees round the old ruins of
Kinchyle House cut down."
The modern mansion is
pleasantly situated, and to the late Mr Alexander Burnett is, I
believe, due the planting so judiciously of the clumps of larch,
which now give the place so much shelter and adornment.
PRESENT AND PAST
POPULATION OF THE PARISH.
Dores is a pretty and
fertile parish, and at one time - contained a large population. It
has been dwindling for many years, and poor rates have been much in
excess of the average. Any one may take up the Valuation Roll for
the year ending Whitsunday, 1894, and see for himself how few
tenants are on the larger estates. I will take Borlum as my text,
not including Kinchyle. The Mackintoshes parted with Borlum at
Whitsunday, 1759, and however unfortunate and thriftless themselves,
they were not evictors. A judicial rental was taken by the purchaser
on 20th October, 1759, when it was found that there were the
following tenants. I need not give their rents, but may observe that
in most cases they were instantly and largely increased—as, for
instance, the Mains from 44 bolls and 132 merks to 60 boils and 202
merks. In the Mains of Borlum—Robert Maclean, with sub-tenants
William Fraser, Angus Macbean, William Noble, Malcolm Mackenzie,
John Macdonald, and Alexander Maclean. Alexander Maclean was son of
Dochgarroch and father of Robert, and is described as at Ach-a-Chajsteal
of Borlum—in all in the Mains 7 heads of families. Nether Cuilairds--Alexander
Mactavish ; Upper Cullairds—Donald Maclean and James Yeaman;
Knockfrangaich—Alexander Macdonald and William Mackinnon;
Midtown—William McWillie and Donald Clark; Balroick of Qldtown—William
Macbean Oldtown—Thomas Fraser; Scaniport—William and Angus
Mackintosh; Laggan - Andrew Forbes; DruiminureAngusMacdonald;
Dowinische or Milltown of Borlum —William Gordon, corn and waulk
miller; BallindarrochJohn Mackintosh; Bona—John Maclennan, in all 23
tenants. Crofters, 1st, in and about Bona, Donald Matheson, John
Mackay, Sween Macqueen, ferryman, Neil Cameron, and Mary Macdonald
or Maclennan; and 2nd, in the Hill in Feabuie four crofters, whose
names seemed not worth mentioning, or that of 9 crofters and
mailers, the gross total being 32 heads of families, or say 150 to
200 souls.
The following list is
highly instructive. By the Act 38, George III., Chapter 27th, a
return was ordered of all the men between 15 and 6o, such was the
pressure for soldiers. At Scaniport on 26th May, 1798, the estate
representative, and Captain Thomas Fraser, of the Leadclune family,
late of the 78th, Justice of the Peace, then tenant of the Mains of Borlum, made a return for Borlum of those fit to carry arms or act
as drivers. Mains of Ness Castle—Captain Thomas Fraser, Donald
Falconer, John Macbean, James Mackintosh, Malcolm Macbean, arms,
Andrew Macpherson, cart driver—in all, 6; Ballindarroch—Francis
Macbean, John Macdonald, Alexander Macdonald, all arms, 3; Scaniport—Donald Urquhart, Duncan Fraser, James Sween, William Chisholm,
Donald Macbean, William Rose, arms; Alexander Urquhart, cattle
driver—in all, 7; Laggan—John Macdonald, George Fraser —both arms,
2; Milltown—John Dunbar—arms, 1; Lower Cullaird—John Mackintosh,
Lachlan Macqueen, Alexander Macqueen—all arms, 3; Upper Cullaird—John
Rose, Donald Grant, cattle drivers; John Fraser, William Grant,
arms—in all 4; Knockfrangaich—Andrew Macgillivray, arms, 1;
Balnieanach—William Falconer, Alexander Macgillivray, arms, Donald
Mackenzie, cattle driver—in all, 3; Tominteomar—Donald Macdonald,
arms, 1; Balnaroig - William Macbean, Alexander Fraser, James Fraser,
Robert Fraser, Angus Macbean, arms, John Macbean, James Fraser, John
Fraser, cattle drivers —8 in all; Bona—Thomas Wilson, Robert Fraser,
arms, David Sween, pioneer-3 in all; Hill—John Fraser, Donald
Fraser, John Mac Omie, Alexander Mac Omie, William Macgillivray,
arms-6. Total arms, 38. Drivers, etc., 9. "Memorandum. The estate
commands three roads of communication between the East and West sea,
has encampment grounds to any extent, and abounds with material for
erecting field fortifications for offence or defence, particularly
Fascines, Hurdles, Gabions, and Epaulment Frames, etc."
The church manse and
churchyard of Dores are pleasantly situated, with beautiful
surroundings. An examination of the churchyard shows how
predominating was the name of Macbean. The parish has given birth to
many eminent men—the first Charles Grant and Sir James Mackintosh,
at Aldourie; the well-known family of Gortuleg, in whose old house
Prince Charles rested after his flight from Culloden;
Brigadier-General Simon Fraser, who fell at Saratoga, and many
others.
A STIRRING RUNAWAY
ROMANCE.
In connection with
Bona and the inn kept by the Maclennan family a bit of romance may
be narrated. Some time before the close of the last century several
Macphersons who had been dispossessed in Badenoch came to Boleskine
Parish, and amongst others Lieutenant Evan Macpherson of the Ovie
family took Cullachy. Mr Alexander Macpherson, writer, who had been
deprived of his office of Procurator-Fiscal went to Faicharn of
Glengarry. He was a son of Bailie Donald Macpherson senior, of
Inverness, who died at Drumgalvie in the parish of Kingussie in the
month of January 1802 aged 77, and who had fought for Prince Charles
in his youth. The two Macphersons, who were nearly connected, were
close allies and both impecunious. The well-known and respected
messenger-at-arms, John Mackay at Innis-na-cardoch, was entrusted
with a caption against the gallant officer. Escape, whether from an
officer or from prison entailed responsibility for the debt, and Mr
Mackay was a responsible man. From his own story, it would appear
that Mackay, upon the instructions of Alexander Stewart, writer in
Edinburgh, did
"Upon the 20th day of
March, 1795, by virtue of letters of caption dated and signeted the
24th day of December, 1793, raised at the instance of John
Archibald, and William Duff, children of the deceased Major
Alexander Duff, late of the 89th Regiment of Foot, and Robert
Donaldson, writer to the Signet, their curator, against Lieutenant
Evan Macpherson, late of the 16th Regiment of Foot, and others
therein named and designed for not making payment to the said
complainers of the principal sum of £1000 sterling, £200 like money
of liquidate or penalty incurred through failure, and the legal
interest of said principal sum from and since the 11th of November,
1792, all contained in and due by the Bond therein narrated, bearing
date the 21st and 22nd days of November, 1791, and payable against
the term of Whitsunday then next to come, he, John Mackay,
messenger-at-arms, passed to the dwelling- house of Thomas Clark,
vintner, at Fort-Augustus, having and holding iii my hands the said
letters of caption, with my blazon displayed on my breast, in His
Majesty's name and authority, I lawfully apprehended him the said
Lieutenant Evan Macpherson my prisoner, by touching him on the
shoulder with my wand of peace, and required him to obey the said
letters and go along with me as a prisoner, which apprehending the
said Lieutenant Evan Macpherson received with the greatest
satisfaction and pleasure, and told me that it was nothing but what
he looked for and that it was the only thing that detained him so
long in the country so as to give every manner of satisfaction to
his creditors, and added that he was very sorry they should have put
themselves to any expense by employing a messenger because he would
go to jail at the desire of any single creditor, and that he wished
they had ordered him to jail earlier. I hired a boat and hands to
bring us to Bona at Lochend, and a little before eight o'clock we
set sail and arrived at Bona foresaid about one o'clock next
morning, when we sat up warming ourselves till after two o'clock of
said morning, when the said Lieutenant Evan Macpherson had occasion
to go to the door, and of his own accord called my servant along
with him, and returning both in the course of a few minutes, but
while the said Lieutenant Evan Macpherson was out, his genteel
behaviour was remarked and spoken of by the boatmen and several
other passengers then present, setting forth that his learning and
education afforded him the knowledge of the laws of his country and
made him submissive thereto. This genteel behaviour, together with
the calm resignation to which he appeared from the time I
apprehended him, and Mrs Macpherson expressing herself in a similar
manner, made me satisfied in my own mind that even should I grant
him a Parole of Honour that he would deliver himself in jail. About
half-past two o'clock of the morning foresaid, he the said
Lieutenant Evan Macpherson and I went both to the said bed, putting
off our coats and shoes only. From the circumstances above expressed
I thought it very unnecessary to order a guard upon the door. He
soon fell sound asleep, and in a short time thereafter I also fell
asleep. About half-past three o'clock of said morning he got out of
bed and made his escape to the thicket of oak wood which is quite
close to the house in which we slept. I immediately pursued after
him, and made every search that I thought might be of service; but
all in vain, as he had some miles of wood on every side."
Mackay says that it
was not easy to describe his feelings on this occasion, or the
unhappy and distressed state into which this conduct of Lieutenant
Macpherson threw him. He was led from motives of humanity to treat
him with a degree of lenity which, though upon similar occasions he
had shown to persons he considered less worthy to be entrusted,
where honour and character were at stake, he had never any reason to
repent. The apparent composure of Lieutenant Macpherson, and the
implicit resignation to his fate which he evinced, with the conduct
of his wife and his other friends, satisfied him that he had no
danger to fear; and he must indeed have had more than human
foresight upon whom the artful design and duplicity of his conduct
from the time of his apprehension until he effected his escape would
not have imposed in some degree.
The messenger used
every exertion to retake the fugitive. For that purpose he engaged
every man he could trust for fifty miles around him, and offered
very high rewards for success. He laid people in wait upon all the
avenues he suspected, and he himself along with a strong party
traversed night and day the country from Inverness to Fort-William,
but to no purpose. All his efforts were unsuccessful, nor could he
possibly obtain the least information as to Lieutenant Macpherson's
course. By this time it was intimated that some of his creditors and
their commissioners had expressed it as their opinion that Mackay
had made himself and his cautioners liable in the debt upon the
diligence on which Lieutenant Macpherson was apprehended. Though no
circumstance could occur which could increase his distress or add to
the exertion which Mackay made to remedy his misfortune, it could
not but affect him that a conduct should be imputed to him which
those acquainted with him knew he was incapable of. Writing to a
messenger in Elgin, he says under date 6th April, 1795—
"This infamous rascal
is a Lieutenant in the 100th Regiment, namely the Marquis of
Huntly's, a detachment of which is now lying in Fort-George waiting
transports to bring them to Gibraltar, and the transports is daily
expected there, but to guard this post there is a messenger employed
at Inverness, but my dread is that he will attempt to get on board
from Garmouth or some other place upon that coast, but your plan
will be to get yourself informed if he is about Gordon Castle, or
perhaps about Mr Tod, the factor's, and the only method of securing
this plan is to find out the day the transports sets off, and guard
the coast, that is to say if you cannot procure information
otherwise."
Not being able to
procure any intelligence of Macpherson in the North, Mackay
suspected that he might have formed a plan of leaving the country
entirely. Impressed with this opinion, he set out with an intention
of going to London, and if necessary to follow him to Gibraltar,
where his regiment lay, or to any other part of the world he could
trace him to, determined that he would rescue himself from every
reflection at the hands of his employers by lodging the fugitive in
jail or perish in the attempt. In prosecution of this intention
Mackay arrived in Edinburgh on the 13th of April, without obtaining
any account whatever of Lieutenant Macpherson, and while he was
preparing advertisements for the newspapers describing the runaway
and offering very large rewards for leading to his discovery, and
providing himself with the necessary warrants and information to
take with him to London, he discovered and apprehended him in the
Abbey of Holyrood House, and immediately lodged him in Edinburgh
Jail, having been advised that the Sanctuary could afford him no
protection, having been before legally made prisoner, as stated in
the execution above set forth.
Macpherson's
creditors were satisfied that Mackay had done his duty, but being
themselves heavy sufferers they were unable to reimburse him for his
great outlay. His conduct to Mackay was shabby while of no use to
himself, for being lawfully apprehended the Abbey was no Sanctuary,
and he could have been brought back even from Gibraltar. One or two
curious incidents in Mr Mackay's eventful career will be given later
on under Fort-Augustus in the combined Parishes of Boleskine and
Abertarff. |
