Donald McLaren of Easter Invernenty

By Leo Gillich with permission, 2025

Introduction by Peter Lawrie

For some time I have been interested in the claims of the late Donald MacLaren that, among other issues, Donald Maclaren from Balquhidder was an officer in the Appin regiment in the Jacobite army in the 1745/46 Rising,

In my webpage on the Clans of Balquhidder I wrote:
"There was no MacLaren regiment in the ‘45. Donald dubh MacLaren of Invernentie (Balquhidder) has been listed as a Captain in the Appin Stewart regiment in the “Muster Roll”. It has been suggested that this was an error and he should have been listed in the Atholl Brigade.Other than him, despite MacLaren claims of significant involvement with the Appin Stewarts, in an extensive list of the regiment including “other ranks”, there was only the regimental doctor Lachlan McLaren and his brother Hugh, both from Appin.

"There is no record of any other MacLarens from Balquhidder in the Appin regiment. Indeed Donald dubh was reported to have passed Finlarg Castle “wounded” with the rest of the Atholl men. The substantial list in the “Muster Roll” of members of the Atholl Brigade included lieutenant Duncan McLaren of Wester Invernentie and two other lieutenants from elsewhere in Atholl. There were five MacLarens listed among “other ranks”, none of whom have Balquhidder locations against their names. The Duke of Perth’s regiment included a Peter MacLaren from Muthil.

The following analysis by Leo Gillich was brought to my attention by Hilton McLaurin and I have been given permission to present it here.

Leo Gillich writes:

For the past 3-4 years I have been researching Donald McLaren of Easter Invernenty. I have copies of over three dozen books specific to the MacLarens, the rebellion of 1745 and the battle of Culloden, alone. I have done in depth research into multiple facets of Donald McLaren of Easter Invernenty’s life which resulted in me writing a series of six papers on him. It all started with the challenge to find out which regiment Donald McLaren served in. Where I landed wasn’t as important as doing a thorough search and following the evidence.

I reviewed a lot of material (and I mean a lot!), books, thesis, letters, manuscripts, chronicles, etc. Despite a very in depth search (including discussions with several experts on the Jacobite rebellion), in the end, I did not find the ‘silver bullet’ which clearly identified which regiment Donald McLaren served in, Atholl or Appin. If one looks solely at sources from the 19th, 20th or 21st centuries, you could be convinced that Donald MacLaren, drover in Easter Invernenty, was part of the Appin regiment. None of the sources from this time period are considered primary source documents. They are at best secondary and third hand sources. Unless they can be vetted with credible references, secondary and third hand sources diminish in value and lack credibility. When I reviewed all the primary source records, it was very evident that the majority of evidence supported Donald McLaren of Easter Invernenty, to be part of a Perthshire regiment most probably the Atholl brigade.

What I have found during my research was, there was a definitive change around the mid 1800’s in the status of which regiment Donald MacLaren of Invernenty was to have belonged to. After 1850/1860 Donald McLaren, drover in Invernenty, started showing up in the literature as being in the Appin regiment. Prior to 1850/1860, I was not able to find any evidence to support Donald McLaren of Easter Invernenty being in the Appin regiment. Here is the Executive Summary of my research based on the evidence:

1. There definitely were MacLarens/MacLaurins who served in the Appin Regiment however they were all Appin MacLarens, loyal to Appin Estates such as Aird, Ardsheal, Baron of Annat, Ballachulish, Fasnacloich, Invernahyle, Auchnacon and Appin.

2. There are six Donald McLarens, (of various spellings), from the Appin estates, who served in the Appin Regiment. Donald MacLaren, the drover from Invernenty is not listed in any of the original source documents.

3. There were both McLarens and Stewarts from Balquhidder who joined the rebellion under the Duke of Atholl. Both families were vassals of the Duke, therefore, as per the customs of the day, were obligated to their feudal lords. Whether by force or voluntary, it was expected of them to support and be faithful to their Lord. In the case of the Balquhidder men, their Lord was the Duke of Atholl.

4. There is evidence to show the Stewarts from Balquhidder joined the Appin regiment. John Glas Stewart of Benmore, who acquired Glenbucky was a Captain in the Stewarts of Appin. He was killed with his two nephews at Culloden. I found no evidence to support the MacLarens from Balquhidder joined the Appin regiment.

5. No relatives or known acquaintances of Donald McLaren, are shown to be affiliated with the Appin Regiment. They are all affiliated with Regiments from Perthshire. If Donald McLaren led a contingent of McLarens from Balquhidder and joined with the Appin Regiment, I could not find any documentation to support this.

6. All of Donald McLaren of Easter Invernenty’s brothers and brother-in-laws (thirteen men in total), were members of Companies from Perthshire. Not one of his relatives were found to have joined the Appin Regiment. Records confirm all of them to be part of the Atholl brigade.

7. All of Donald McLaren of Easter Invernenty’s closest neighbours were members of Companies from Perthshire. On September 2, 1745 William, Duke of Atholl sends a message to Alexander Stewart, 10th of Glenbuckie and Robert MacGregor of Glencarnaig, authorizing them to raise the men of Balqhidder. Of note in this message is, Duke William is asking the two Chiefs, to raise the vassals and tenants “upon my property”.

8. On or about September 8, 1745, the head of the families from Balquhidder, with their men, began to muster at Kirkton of Balquhidder. The Kirkton Muster took place barely an hour’s ride from Donald McLaren’s farm at Easter Invernenty, possibly less. It is highly probable that Donald McLaren of Easter Invernenty was at the muster of September 8th. Robert MacGregor of Glencarnaig and Alexander Stewart of Glenbuckie were close neighbours of Donald McLaren, each leasing a part of Invernenty. Gregor MacGregor of Glengyle was at Inverlochlarig, near Wester Invernenty and Ronald MacGregor was at Kirkton, not that far from Invernenty. Also of note, Alexander Stewart of Glenbuckie and Ronald MacGregor of Kirkton were also distant cousins of Donald McLaren. Given that it was his close neighbours and relatives who were mustering, and his status in the area as a cattle dealer, there is a strong likelihood that Donald McLaren of Easter Invernenty was present at this muster and marched to Callander with his neighbours.

9. There are letters written in 1745 and 1746 which show Donald McLaren in Invernenty communicating with other Atholl officers. One observation that can be made from these letters, is that, all the Officers named in the letters, Captain Allan Stewart, Captain James Stewart and Captain Grigor Murray (MacGregor) are Officers affiliated with regiments from Perthshire. The evidence supports these men are all from Perthshire, all are tenants of the Duke of Atholl: Captain Allan Stewart is Donald McLaren’s brother-in-law; Captain James Stewart of Clunes, was commissioned by order of William the Duke of Atholl, “to raise all men in the country of Bawlwhidder”; Captain Gregor Murray is in the Atholl regiment. These letters link Donald McLaren of Easter Invernenty with Officers from a Perthshire regiment.

10. Another observation that can be made from these letters, is that it is the Duke of Atholl who is asking Captain Donald McLaren to raise men for him. It is not Dougal Stewart of Appin, nor Charles Stuart of Ardsheal (who was the one who raised and commanded the Appin regiment) asking Donald to raise men for Appin. If Donald McLaren was in the Appin regiment, would it not be more logical that he would be raising men for Appin. I could not find any evidence that showed Donald McLaren communicating with Dougal Stewart of Appin, Charles Stuart of Ardsheal or other Officers from the Appin regiment.

11. The manuscript of Alexander Stewart, 8th of Invernahyle survived. It shows seventeen MacLarens listed with the Appin regiment, thirteen killed and four wounded. They have been identified as MacLarens of various spellings, all loyal to Appin Estates. There are no McLarens from Balquhidder in this manuscript. These are the MacLaurins that President Duncan Forbes was referring to and William Anderson, speaks to in his book ‘The Scottish Nation’;

12. The manuscript of John Homes contained a list of men killed and wounded in the Stewart of Appin regiment in 1745 & 1746. Three Captains are shown in this book as being wounded at Culloden. All are Officers in the Appin regiment. Captain Donald McLaren of Easter Invernenty, who was wounded at the Battle of Culloden, is not one of the Captains mentioned in this book;

13. The Ballachulish Stewart’s document from 1760\1770 showing a record of those killed and wounded in the Appin Regiment. It does not list Donald MacLaren nor are any Balquhidder MacLarens in the Appin Regiment;

14. The Stonefield list, filed with the Stonefield Papers in the Scottish Record Office, lists the names of 96 persons. On page 77 it states: “The Stonefield list challenges the notion that the MacLarens who fought under the Appin banner were all Balquhidder men motivated by a centuries old bond between the clans: the MacLarens in the Stonefield list are local tenants and retainers of Appin”.

15. The Muster Roll, dated May 3, 1746, is a list of the men who fought in the Appin regiment. The authors of this article, Flora Stewart and Angus Stewart stated: “The Appin List and the Stonefield list together with Invernahyle’s list of casualties and what survives as the order book of the Appin Regiment made the Stewarts of Appin probably the best documented clan of the Forty-five”. Donald MacLaren, Drover in Invernenty, is not listed in any of these documents nor are any Balquhidder MacLarens shown as being in the Appin Regiment;

16. ‘The Order Book of the Stewart of Appin Clan Regiment’ from October 11, 1745 to January 18, 1746’ from the National War Museum of Scotland. The Order Book does not list individual names therefore Donald MacLaren cannot be listed as many sources have stated.

17. The letters found in the Atholl Chronicles, written by ‘Commissary’ Bisset, the spy, to James, the Hanoverian Duke of Atholl, at the time of the Rebellion, describe in great detail, the names of the men from Balquhidder who joined in the Rebellion regardless of the size of the contingent. A company of McLarens leaving Balquhidder to join with the Appin regiment would be considered a big event and would have been known to Bisset. That this is never mentioned in any of Commissary Bisset’s letters strongly suggests that it never happened. Donald McLaren, “a man of influence and importance” as he has been described, is never mentioned in any of Bisset’s letters;

18. The letters found in the Atholl Chronicles written by Reverend Robert Robertson to James the Hanoverian Duke of Atholl in the Atholl Chronicles, describing in detail the Jacobite army, which Clans/Gentlemen have recently joined, their movements, the size of the Jacobite army, etc. Albeit Robertson (like Bisset above) describes the organization and activities of Companies/Regiments from Balquhidder, there is no mention of a contingent of McLarens from Balquhidder. None of his letters describe any Balquhidder McLarens joining with the Stewarts of Appin;

19. ‘The Culloden Papers’ is a collection of correspondence that was in the possession of Duncan Forbes, 5th of Culloden, Lord President of the Court of Session. Despite being referred to as a “secret Jacobite”, Forbes was an extinguished and well respected man in the British Government. He also held the respect of many of the Highland Chiefs, convincing several to support the British and convincing others not to join in on the rebellion at all. There are many letters in this collection that describe Lord President Forbes either receiving or passing on details of the Highland Clans strength and movements to the leaders of the Hanoverian government/army. Despite a comprehensive listing of Highland Clans in one of his correspondence, a contingent made up of Clan McLaren men from Balquhidder is never mentioned in any of his letters. The book, ‘Historical Papers Relating to the Jacobite Period 1699-1750’, pages 167-173, contains the original document, a ‘Memorial anent the true state of the Highlands’, written by Duncan Forbes of Culloden. This ‘memorial anent’ provides numerous examples in which President Forbes states the MacLarens were followers of the Duke of Atholl.

20. There is some evidence to suggest that Donald McLaren may have been with Colonel John Roy Stewart’s regiment. Colonel John Roy Stewart’s regiment was part of the Atholl brigade. There are several instances in which Donald is with men from Colonel Stewart’s regiment. In the first or second week of January 1746, Captain Donald MacLaren was at Touch (about 2.5 miles from Stirling), along with his brother Malcolm McLaren from Invernenty and Peter McLaren of Muthill. Malcolm and Peter are both with a Company under Colonel John Roy Stewart. At the end of January 1746 Donald is with his brother-in-law Captain Allan Stewart who is with Colonel John Roy Stewart’s regiment. That he is simply “with men” in this regiment is not the strongest argument however it is what the available evidence suggests.

21. April 22, 1746, after the Battle of Culloden, a witness sees Donald travelling with other men from the Atholl Brigade. July 15, 1746, Donald is captured with other men from the Atholl Regiment. It cannot be mere “coincidence” that Donald is with other men from the Atholl brigade. Being injured during the battle, it seems only logical, he was most likely taken off the battlefield by men who were fighting beside him, very possibly the same men he was travelling with six days later and perhaps even captured with – men from the Atholl brigade;

22. Donald’s arrest records (from 1746) do not show him in the Appin Regiment. While these records exist, they do not say he was in the Appin regiment as has been suggested. In all my years of research I have not found an arrest record that says Donald was in the Appin regiment. If such an arrest record exists I’d like to see it;

23. All the men captured with Donald on July 15, 1746 were from the Atholl Regiment. For someone to suggest that they were from a mix of regiments or from the Appin Regiment is simply not true. I have copies of newspaper accounts written in 1746 and a letter dated July 1746 that say all the men captured were from the Atholl brigade;

24. Three days after the Jacobite troops were dispersed, after gathering at Ruthven, Donald is seen travelling back to Balquhidder with men from a regiment from Perthshire;

25. Based on my research, Donald MacLaren, himself, has no direct “blood ties” to Dugald Stewart. Donald is a distant cousin, of Dugald Stewart 10th of Appin, through his marriage to Elizabeth Stewart. One has to be very suspect, why one McLaren from Balquhidder, would abandon his blood relatives, his neighbours, his feudal lord the Duke of Atholl and join with a Regiment that he has no ‘blood ties’;

26. What I have found after years of research and the review of dozens of books, there was a definitive change around the mid 1800’s in the status of which regiment Donald MacLaren of Invernenty was to have belonged to. After 1850/1860 Donald McLaren, drover in Invernenty, started showing up in the literature as being in the Appin regiment. Prior to 1800, I was not able to find any evidence to support Donald McLaren of Easter Invernenty being in the Appin regiment (despite the Stewarts of Appin being the best documented clan of the Forty-five). At the end of the 1800’s and into the 1900’s there was a proliferation of books written regarding the Rebellion. The credibility and accuracy of the history written in some of these books became questionable. Sir Walter Scott referred to some historical accounts as "catchpenny publication"—a "pretended History".

27. Even if the lists shown in the 20th century sources are assumed to be correct, Donald appears to be the only MacLaren from Balquhidder to have joined the Appin regiment. His nephew, his cousins, his brother-in-laws, his neighbours and other Balquhidder MacLarens, all are listed as having joined the Duke of Atholl or Duke of Perth regiments. Known as a “man of influence” in the area, it doesn’t seem logical that Donald would abandon the Duke of Atholl, his family and neighbours and go join up with the Appin regiment by himself.

I have sent emails to some of the stronger advocates of Donald McLaren being in the Appin regiment (incuding the MacLaren Clan Historian), and asked they share their evidence that Donald McLaren of Easter Invernenty or any other Balquhidder McLaren serving in the Appin Regiment that they may have. To this day, everyone that I asked have not been able to produce one single primary source record. They have all used sources from the late 19th century, 20th or 21st century.

The two articles, the MacLaren Clan Historian posted on her blog, re: Donald McLaren, uses early 20th century sources to support an event in the 1700’s. She does not list one primary source document as evidence. Her articles reference the ‘Order Book of the Appin Regiment, from 11th October 1745 to 18th January 1746’ as giving “an interesting summary of Donald’s escape”. I have a copy of the original Order Book from 1746. The original copy of ‘The Order Book’ does not name names and definitely does not describe Donald’s escape. Any mention of Clan MacLaren or Donald MacLaren, drover in Invernenty, as coming from the ‘Order Book’ is pure fiction. The two sources quoted by the Clan Historian, C. Stewart Henderson and A. McKannand, also use the ‘Order Book’ to support their narrative. As mentioned the Order Book does not speak to Donald McLaren so their narratives lack credibility. Also, in the case of Henderson, it turns out he created his own regimental list, put it in his book and called it “Officers in the Regiment” under the header of “Order Book of the Appin Regiment”. He makes it appear that his “list” came from the original Order Book. The Clan Historian quotes this as evidence that shows Donald McLaren was in the Appin regiment. Pretty sneaky on Henderson’s part but outright balderdash.

The Clan Historian also uses the regimental list from Volume 3 of the Atholl Chronicles as proof that Donald McLaren was in the Appin regiment. The ‘Atholl Chronicles’ are a credible source and I have used them a lot in my writings. I have Volumes 1-4 plus a couple of supplementary versions. While all the letters contained in Volume III of the Chronicles are from the Duke of Atholl’s collection, the Regimental lists, from pages 298 to 308, included in Volume 3 (which suggest that Donald MacLaren was an officer in the Appin Regiment) are NOT from the Duke of Atholl’s records/archives. They are from a variety of sources that the author of Volume III, John Murray, 7th Duke of Atholl, included in his book as a “supplement” to his family papers. My analysis could not find a folio and reference for his regimental lists anywhere in the book to confirm which sources John Murray used to put together his list. It begs the question where John Murray got his information for his supplementary “regimental list”. Given this list was compiled in 1906 and it is similar to many others from the early 1900’s, one can only assume it was copied from other 20th century sources of the day. Once again no primary source documents to support to it. Based on the preponderance of evidence listed above, Donald McLaren of Easter Invernenty was most probably in a company that was part of the Atholl brigade and was definitely not a part of the Appin regiment.

THE THREE LETTERS THAT CONNECT DONALD MCLAREN TO ATHOLL OFFICERS

Leo Gillich emailed me in August 2025, as follows:
"Hi Peter: I’ve been to your site several times and always have enjoyed reading your postings. I have no problem with you posting that summary of my research to your site."
"I’m attaching one of the papers I did on the three letters from 1746 that support Donald being in the Atholl regiment. I make reference to these letters in my summary. Thought you might be interested in reading it as well."

Original letters written in 1746 by Captain Donald McLaren, William Murray Duke of Atholl and Captain Gregor Murray, exist. These letters are related to each other and portray an ongoing communication between Captain Donald McLaren, William Murray Duke of Atholl and Captain Gregor Murray. They should not be looked at in isolation of each other. The letters show Captain Donald McLaren, William Duke of Atholl and other Atholl Officers communicating to recruit Atholl men on behalf of the Jacobite cause. I have included copies of the complete original letters at the end of this paper. (Source: Jacobite Correspondence of the Atholl Family during the Rebellion 1745-1746 from the originals in the possession of James Erskine of Aberdona, Esq.)

The first letter that survived is dated January 26, 1746 and was written by Captain Donald McLaren while his was in Touch, to Captain James Stewart of Clunes. As per Captain Donald McLaren’s letter, he has just spent the night with Captain Allan Stewart, who is in Colonel John Roy Stewart’s regiment. Colonel John Roy Stewart’s regiment was at Stirling only 2.5 miles from Touch. Captain Allan Stewart (aka 2nd of Innerhadden), is Captain Donald McLaren’s brother-in-law, (brother of Elizabeth Stewart, Donald McLaren’s wife). Captain Stewart tells Captain McLaren, he is under orders from his Royal Highness, to raise the Earle of Murray's (William Duke of Atholl’s) tenants to join in the rebellion. Donald says he will be going to Balquhidder to join up with James Stewart of Clunes where they will be assisting each other to raise men. Of note, James Stewart of Clunes, was commissioned by order of William the Duke of Atholl, “to raise all men in the country of Bawlwhidder, holden to us”. My research has found, Captain James Stewart of Clunes, was in charge of a Company in the Atholl Brigade.

The second letter is dated February 7th , 1746. This letter is from William Duke of Atholl to Captain Grigor Murray. In his letter, Duke William makes specific reference to Donald McLaren’s January 26th letter from Touch and of James Stewart of Clunes. The Duke’s letter requests Grigor Murray to send the ‘Crosstarie Order’ to ‘Donald Macklairane’, drover in Balquhidder. The ‘crosstarie’ or ‘crosh-tairie’, was a method used to notify and rally the men in the country. A man is sent (usually at full speed), with what they call the ‘Fiery Cross’, which is a stick with a cross at the top, burnt at one end and bloody at the other end. They carry with it a written paper directing them where to assemble (aka the Order). Simply put, William the Duke of Atholl is asking Captain Donald McLaren to raise men for him.

The ‘Crosstarie Order’, dated February 8, 1746 at Blair Castle, was a separate document that was attached to the letter dated February 7, 1746 above. The ‘Crosstarie Order’, was written by the William Duke of Atholl “Commander-in-Chief of his Majestie’s Forces”, addressed “to all the worthy Gentlemen and people of Atholl” to “set everywhere about the Crosstarie, that all of you may be sufficiently warned, to come here directly and join me in the defence of your houses, wives, children and Country.”

Note by PJL - "Crosstarie" is an anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic, crois-tara, referring to the traditional symbol used to summon clan members to arms or to a meeting

The third letter that survived is dated February 8th, 1746 and is Captain Grigor Murray’s response to Duke William’s letter of February 7th. Captain Grigor Murray tells the Duke, he has received ‘his Graces orders’ to send the ‘Crosstarie Order’ to Donald McLaren in Balquhidder. Grigor Murray goes on to say, he immediately sent a messenger to the Officer (as referenced in the Duke of Atholl’s February 7th letter above, as ‘Donald Macklairane’, drover in Balqhidder). Grigor Murray points out that they dare not use the Crosstaire Order as the enemy were too close and they may see it. Captain Grigor Murray and Captain Donald McLaren will bring the men they raise, to Blair Atholl or wherever the Duke may be.

As one can see, all three of the above letters are connected to each other. The Duke’s letter of February 7 the references Donald McLaren’s letter of January 26th and Grigor Murray’s letter of February 8th is a response to the Duke’s letter of February 7th. There have been challenges by the MacLaren Clan Historian as to who the “Officer” is (that Grigor Murray sent the messenger to). There should be no doubt, the ‘Officer’ referred to by Grigor Murray in his letter was, Donald Macklairane, drover in Balquhidder (as per the Duke of Atholl’s order in his letter of February 7th for Grigor Murray to send the ‘Crosstarie Order’ to “Donald Macklairane, drover in Balquhidder”). I don’t think Grigor Murray would disobey the Duke’s order and send it to a different Officer. I don’t believe there is any dispute that Donald McLaren is an Officer, commissioned as Captain. The majority of Historians that I shared my analysis with, agree that the ‘Officer’, Grigor Murray is referring to, is the “Donald Macklairane, Drover in Balqhidder”, mentioned in the Duke of Atholl’s February 7th letter. For someone to analyze only one of these letters, in isolation of the other two, distorts the entire narrative and does not portray the true story being told by these letters.

One observation that can be made from these letters, is that, all the Officers named in the letters, Captain Allan Stewart, Captain James Stewart and Captain Grigor Murray (MacGregor) are Officers affiliated with regiments from Perthshire. The evidence supports these men are all from Perthshire, all are tenants of the Duke of Atholl: Captain Allan Stewart is Donald McLaren’s brother-in-law; Captain James Stewart of Clunes, was commissioned by order of William the Duke of Atholl, “to raise all men in the country of Bawlwhidder”; Captain Gregor Murray is in the Atholl regiment. These letters link Donald McLaren of Easter Invernenty with Officers from a Perthshire regiment.

It is also important to note, it is William the Duke of Atholl who is asking Donald McLaren of Easter Invernenty to raise Atholl men in support of the rebellion. It is not Dougal Stewart of Appin, nor Charles Stuart of Ardsheal (who was the one who raised and commanded the Appin regiment) asking Donald to raise men for Appin. If Donald McLaren was in the Appin regiment, would it not be more logical that he would be communicating with Charles Stuart of Ardsheal or other Officers from the Appin regiment. Despite my indepth research, I could not find any evidence that showed Donald McLaren communicating with Charles Stuart of Ardsheal or other Officers from the Appin regiment.

There seems to be agreement amongst experienced researchers that these letters are strong evidence that Donald MacLaren was supporting the Duke of Atholl and was an Officer in one of Atholl’s companies.

COPIES OF LETTERS FROM 1746

Letter from Captain Donald McLaren to Captain James Stewart of Clunes dated January 26, 1746:
Jacobite Correspondence of the Atholl Family during the Rebellion 1745-1746 from the originals in the possession of James Erskine of Aberdona, Esq., page 159:

DONALD MCLAREN, BALQUHIDDER, TO CAPT"' JAMES STEWART OF CLUNES.
Dr SIR,
I was laft night in company with Captn- Allan Stewart, of Collonell John Roy Stewart's Regiment, by whom I underftand that he goes by the order of His Royal Highnefs, to raife the Earle of Murray's tenants in a day or two, which would be a proper tyme for you to fee us, as the one would be affifting to the other ; lhall wifh you lofe as little tyme as poflible. How foon you come to the Kirktown of Balquidder I fhall expect to fee you. Meantyme I am fincerely,
Dr SIR,
Your moft humble Servt
DO: .MCLAREN.

TOUCH, Jany 26th, 1746.
P. S. After perufall of the above, deftroy fame. Adiew.

Letter from William Duke of Atholl to Captain Grigor Murray dated February 7, 1746 -
Jacobite Correspondence of the Atholl Family during the Rebellion 1745-1746 from the originals in the possession of James Erskine of Aberdona, Esq., page 191 & 19:

DUKE OF ATHOLL TO GRIGOR MURRAY.
SIR,
Herewith is fent a general Crofftarie order for raifing all the able bodied men in Glenamond : this order is executing through all Atholl with ye outmoft exactnefs & Expedition ; and providing you have a mind to efface ye three different times you have forfook me, you'll, without lofs of time, come here, & bring at leaft fifty good men with you. I am well affured there are arms for that number in the Country, fo that I fhall reckon you greatly wanting in your Duty if you do not bring them all arm'd.

The Bearer being chofe out as a trufty expeditious perfon, this is earneftly requiring of you to get inftantly all the Accounts & Intelligence you can of ye Enemies motions, & without lofs of time fend it me by this Exprefs, which fhall ever be remembered to your advantage.

After you have made ufe of ye Crofftarie order, if you can find a trufty Perfon, pray fend it directly to Donald Macklairane, Drover in Balqhidder, as an anfwer from me to what Jas Steuart of Clunes heard of his hearty Difpofition towards our prefent honeft Concerns from Tuch, dated Jany 26th, it will alfo be a valuable fervice rendered our King & Country at this critical Juncture. If you intend to oblige me in earneft, you will no lefs faithfully than diligently execute what is here required, & juftly expected of you by one who fhall ever accordingly be found in the moft agreeable manner,

SIR,
Your affectionate humble Servant.
BLAIR, 7th February, 1746.

NOTES:
This letter, was one of many, that was found amongst Gregor's papers when he was arrested by order of Duke' James, February 22, 1746.
Donald Macklairane, Drover in Balqhidder in Innernenty (Source: Chronicles of the Atholl and Tullibardine families Volume III, page 191)

Letter from Captain Grigor Murray to Mungo Murray, Secretary to Duke William dated February 8, 1746
Jacobite Correspondence of the Atholl Family during the Rebellion 1745-1746 from the originals in the possession of James Erskine of Aberdona, Esq., page 198 & 199:

MR. GRIGOR MURRAY TO MR. MUNGO MURRAY.
SR,
I received his Grace's orders and immediately fent ane exprefs for the officer, who lives four miles diftance from this place, and on his way fpoke to fo many of the tennents, for we durft not make ufe of the Crofftarie for alarming the enemie, for there is above two hundred of them laying at Crieff and Monzie, and a trup of horfe at Drummond Caftle, befides a partie of the Campbels, who comes up the King's road every day for information. By all the accounts, the enemey who marched to Perth on Thurfday laft is reckend to be twelve thoufand men, foot and horte, and I hade fertain information this evening that a part of the enimie was to be at Dunkeld this night.

As our frindes marched through this countray on Munday and Tuefday laft, they both plundered and carried of a great many horfes, and feverals of them is not returned as yet.

If the officer and I can gett the men raifed, we fhall come ftraight to Blair or wherever his Grace fhall be. I am,
SR,
Your moft humble & obedient Servant,
GRI: MURRAY.
CURYHUN, Febry 8th, 1746.

P.S. We are every night within four miles of the enemie in the Wafter Glen, and the Eafter Glen within two miles of them ; you may confider what fituation we are in. I fent off the exprels to Ballquidder juft as the berar went from this, be four a Clock in the morning.

CROSSTARIE ORDER ISSUED BY WILLIAM MURRAY DUKE OF ATHOLL FEBRUARY 1746

William, Duke of Atholl, Crosstarie Order dated February 8, 1746
Jacobite Correspondence of the Atholl Family during the Rebellion 1745-1746 from the originals in the possession of James Erskine of Aberdona, Esq., page 192 & 193:

WILLIAM DUKE OF ATHOLL, & CA. UNDER THE PRINCE REGENT, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF HIS MAJESTIE'S FORCES,
To all the worthy Gentlemen and people in Atholl, Health and Happinefs. Thefe many years paft, the unnatural fecond fon of my family, from a narrow felfifh difpofition has let himfelf be feduced both as to publick and private concerns, in fo much that he has moft unfairly become the creature of long declared enemies to our King and Country, whereby they make ufe of him as a tool, not only to ruin all valuable fentiments amongft many in this Country, but alfo he endeavours to root out the known principles of honour and honefty, which formerly appeared amongft thofe who were friends and wellwifhers in thefe parts, to both truth and right reafon. Such a pitiful Brother of mine amongft rebellious Britons, headed by ungenerous foreigners, is now barefacedly coming with fome of our fubtle neighbours to force me out of my juft inheritance, that you may be unworthily made fubmit to their no lefs artful than dangerous defigns, which makes me pofitively require all of you, from the age of fixteen to that of fixty, who regard true fafety, and whatever is dear to the pofterity of undaunted forefathers, without lofeing a minute to fet every where about the Crofftarie, that all of you may be fufficiently warned to come here direftly and join me for the defence of your houfes, wifes, children, and Country. All which Fafkeily

and Blairphety have trufted to your care and mine, by generoufly going North with my bold Brother George, who with our young matter the Prince, goes foon to bring up a powerful army from thence. In the meantime, with equal Courage will not brave Atholl men here ftand by me to fave yourfelves from ignominious devaftation and ruin. Let us then with firm unanimity maintain ourfelves againft all affaults may be made on us by the ufurpation of fome impofing weftern neighbours, and perjured people who ftick at nothing to obtain their ambitious proud ends. Therefore, once more I fay, without delay on fight of this my earneft requeft and order, forthwith come and join me here, as before God and man you will be anfwerable. For the doing of which, this fhall be to you and all concerned, a fufficient warrand : Given under my hand and feal, at Blair Caftle the eighth day of Febry 1746.

(Indorsed,)" M. of Tullibardine's Declaration, Feby 8, 1746."

NOTES:

1. “M. of Tullibardine” refers to William’s title ‘Marquess of Tullibardine’ which was bestowed on him after his oldest brother John's death in 1709.

2. The “unnatural second son of my family” and “pitiful brother of mine” refers to William’s brother James, 2nd Duke of Atholl; third son of John 2nd Marquess of Atholl and Katherine, daughter of William and Anne, Duke and Duchess of Hamilton (second living son);

3. The reference to “my bold brother George” refers to William’s (and James) brother Lord George Murray, sixth son of John 2nd Marquess of Atholl and Katherine, daughter of William and Anne, Duke and Duchess of Hamilton. George was the commander of the Atholl Brigade.

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