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JOHN CAMPBELL of Glenlyon took such a conspicuous
part in the rebellion of 1716, that on the collapse thereof
he had to leave the country. With Struan and other acquaintances he
succeeded in escaping to France. He remained for some years in the
neighbourhood of Bordeaux, where he lived under the name of "John
Smith." Had he been caught red-handed after the battle of Dunblane,
he would, no doubt, have been put to death, as he was the man who
first took up arms and invaded the loyal county of Argyle; but when
the fear and vindictiveness of the Hanoverian dynasty had time to
diminish, influences were brought to bear on the Ministry and on the
Court in favour of the escaped rebels, which in most instances
proved successful. The Duke of Argyle used all his power to get
Glenlyon and his neighbour, the "Elector" of Struan, free pardons.
The Breadalbane influence also was now strong, and it was strongly
used on Glenlyon's behalf. "Pale John," the first Earl of
Breadalbane, was by this time dead. He was succeeded by his second
son, John, Lord Glenorchy, who was a strong Hanoverian. His eldest
son, Duncan, Lord Ormelie, was set aside because of his imbecility.
They were both the sons of the first earl, by his first wife, Mary
Rich, daughter of the Earl of Holland, who lost his life for his
loyalty to Charles I. Duncan's weakness was so
apparent, that when the title of earl was conferred on his father by
Charles II., the patent itself contained a
clause for setting him aside. He lived for many long years, after
his brother's succession to estates and titles, in the care of a man
of the name of M'Intyre, at Killin, where he said many sharp things,
and did many foolish acts. M'Intyre himself was a character in his
way. He was nick-named Curam-an-t-saoghail or "
Care-of-the-world." The estate of Breadalbane was at this time under
trust to save it from forfeiture, as well as to pay creditors. The
new earl was therefore poor enough, but being loyal to the Whig
Government, he exercised considerable influence in his own region,
and his son, Lord Glenorchy, by his marriage with the heiress of the
Duke of Kent, obtained a footing at Court, and among the English
nobility, which he kept to the end of his long life, although he
quickly lost his heiress wife, who died in giving birth to a
daughter, afterwards the Marchioness of Grey. Thanks to the efforts
of his powerful clansmen, John Campbell of Glenlyon was allowed, in
the course of a few years, to return to his home, as if he had not
rebelled at all. During his exile his wife and family were not
interfered with. He constituted Duncan M'Gregor of Roro, who called
himself "Duncan Campbell," his negotiorum gestor, or factor,
during absence. Money was regularly remitted to him, and his wife
managed matters so well at home, that he had really on his return
great cause to be thankful. It is, however, by quarrels between
himself and Duncan M'Gregor his factor, that we can prove he
returned home before 1722. On his coming back he proceeded forthwith
to build Glenlyon House, for which he got timber from the sawmill at
Roro. The estate
of Roro is now bare enough of timber.
But it had then so much of it that it kept a sawmill going. The
superiority of Roro had by this time been acquired by the Earl of
Breadalbane, who also had a mortgage upon the lands of the vassal
M'Gregors of Roro. The M'Gregors opposed the delivery of the timber
to Glenlyon; and so we find the Breadalbane Trustees thus writing
"to John Campbell, younger, of Roro," who was of course the younger
M'Gregor:—
"Sir—the delivery of
the sawmill cut stocks and made deals at Roro to Glenlyon, has been
verrie long, and we apprehend, unecessarly delay'd. This is to
desire you forthwith to deliver all these things above mentioned to
Glenlyon, and let his men of skill be brought to the sawmill who
shall make inventory of the mill and its appurtenances and
appretiate them all, mentioning the condition in which the mill was
and what it now is. The rule, in case of woods, with regard to the
grass, is, that what's before the ox belongs to the cutter. We
recommend to you to accomodate Glenlyon in that particular as well
as the place will allow, without making any difficulties. And we
recommend to your father and you to use the best means you can to
restrain the tenants of the Wadsett lands from cutting or carreing
away any of the fir and timber; for we agree that if any of these
are faulty or criminal in that behalf, that Glenlyon use them with
the utmost rigour and severity. Again we insist upon it that you
make all this matter easy to Glenlyon. We are pretty sure 'twill be
doing yourself a service as it shall be agreeable to
Your Humble Servants,
PAT. CAMPBELL.
COLIN CAMPBELL.
Monzie, 25th May,
1725.
The young M'Gregors
resisted Glenlyon's men after this warning, and had to be again
sharply threatened by the Breadalbane Trustees, who finally forced
them to yield. But Duncan M'Gregor, alias Campbell, their
father, hampered Glenlyon on his return from France in another way.
Before his exile Glenlyon owed Duncan M'Lean Ardtrasgairt 300 merks,
for which Duncan held Glenlyon's bond. M'Gregor bought, or in some
way acquired, M'Lean's bond, and no sooner did Glenlyon return than
his late factor got a charge of horning against him for the payment
of capital, interest and penalties. To say the least of it> this was
sharp practice, and Glenlyon, resisting the sort of payment
demanded, asked for a suspension of proceedings, as shown by the
following minute of what took place before the Court of Session
judge, Lord Newhall, on the 29th June, 1723, the agents for the
respective parties being Macleod and Fleming:—"Macleod accepts the
charge founded upon a bond by the suspender to Duncan M'Lean, and
assigned by him to the charger, and craves the letters may be found
orderly proceeded. Fleming repeats his reasons of suspension
Primo, that the suspender being necessarily abroad, out of the
country, that the charger during that time was his negotiorum
gestor, and as such concerned in setting his lands, uplifting of
his rents, and holding of his courts; therefore any debts of the
suspender's transacted by the charger, or to which he acquired right
in that period, ought to be subject and liable to the same
exceptions and manner of probation that they would have been liable
to, had they remained in the person of the cedent; and it is offered
to be proven that the debt charged for is paid to the cedent or to
others by his orders, scripto veljuramento of the cedent:
2do. It is presumed to have been done with the suspender's own
money and effects, at least any cause given to the
charger when he acquired the right to the foresaid debt; and
further, 3tio. The suspender alleges and offers to instruct
compensation of the sums charged for by debts due by M'Lean, the
creditor in the bond charged on, and the charger cedent, which were
paid by the suspender on his account, and partly assigned to
him—which instruction of compensation the suspender shall produce
in terminer Macleod objected on technical grounds, but Lord
Newhall on the condition that the suspender consigned into the
clerk's hands twelve pounds Scot, sustained the reasons of
suspension, and when the action came to be decided on its merits,
M'Gregor made no profit out of his sharp practices.
On his return from France, as previously
mentioned, Glenlyon began to build Glenlyon House. He and his family
had hitherto lived at Chesthill with his mother Helen Lindsay. The
farm and house of Chesthill had been settled on her at her marriage
with Robert Campbell of Glenlyon, to whom she bore a numerous family
of daughters, besides Laird John and Robert—the best swordsman of
his age, but a wild scamp—who was a lieutenant in Lord Carmichael's
Regiment of Horse. The daughters were said to be very good looking,
and although poor, were sought in marriage by neighbouring lairds.
Robert Campbell of Boreland married Janet, the eldest of the
daughters, who thus became grandmother of the first Marquis of
Breadalbane. Macnab of Macnab married another of them, and Alexander
Campbell of Ardeonaig a third. One was drowned in the Lyon, and her
body never recovered. Helen Lindsay's nephew—or perhaps a younger
brother—figured badly in the massacre of Glencoe. Popular opinion
attributed to Helen's extravagance the loss of the estate, and the
misfortunes of her husband. On her death, about 1726, Chesthill fell
in to James Menzies of Culdares, who thereupon had a tiff with his
neighbour and brother Jacobite about teind sheaves.
Glenlyon was by no means a contentious man, but
after his return from France, it seemed as if he never could get
free from contentions for the remainder of his life. The boundary of
his estate was difficult to settle, for different encroachments had
almost become rights, and the Duke of Athole had to intervene, after
swords had been drawn and blows given. But after the marches had
been "cleared," another hitch took place; for on the 13th August,
1731, His Grace James, Duke of Athole, complained to the Bailie of
his own court at Logierait "on Mr. John Menzies son to Captain James
Menzies of Comrie, that when in the month of September, 1730, His
Grace, on the one part, and John Campbell of Glenlyon, on the other
part, having cleared marches betwixt Easter Drumcharry and East-end
of Fortingall, they signed articles thereanent, and deposited them
in the defender's hands until they should be registered, that each
party should have one extract since there was but one double of the
principal; therefore the said defender should be descerned to
exhibit the said articles in the Clerk of Court's hand to be
registered as effeired." The Bailie, Alexander Murray, decerned
accordingly, and the defender promptly obeyed.
John, the Laird's eldest son, a dark, stern,
honourable, and persevering youth, who had never the slightest
sympathy with his father's Jacobite views, and who believed that
"the curse of Glencoe" lay heavy upon himself and the family to whom
he belonged, after having been attached to an Independent Company,
obtained a commission in the Black Watch, or Freiceadan Dubh.
The second son, David, became, on the 5th of July, 1738, bound
apprentice for three years to "James Smyth, chyrurgeon-apothecary in
Perth/ to learn "the art and science of pharmacy and chyrurgery."
The Laird paid down 600 merks as apprentice fee, and bound himself
to keep the lad in clothes and pay for his washing, while the master
bound himself to give him bed and board, on conditions of perfect
obedience, and to make him carry himself discreetly and attend
divine worship on the Lord's Day. David, after learning all the
Perth master could teach him, completed his medical training, I
believe, in Edinburgh, and about 1744 went to Jamaica, where he
remained nearly thirty years ; and was a credit to his profession
and the country of his birth, although from his generous and
honourable nature he did not make much of a fortune. Dr. David had
much trouble with his next brother, Duncan, who followed him to
Jamaica, flourished for a while, took then to irregular ways, and
next engaged in the slave trade, if, indeed, he did not go the
length of piracy. Duncan finally disappeared on the Spanish coast of
South America, where according to. some reports he assumed a Spanish
name and married a Spanish lady; but it was the belief of his own
family that he came to a violent end, and not in Peru or Chili. Be
that as it may, he gave Dr. David trouble at the beginning of his
career in Jamaica. Laird John's eldest daughter before her brother
left home, married Balneaves of Edradour. She was the only one of
her father's children, male or female—and there were eight of them
who lived to good age—that ever married. Miss Kitty, Miss Molly, and
Miss Jennie, were not indeed so bonnie, nor perhaps so accomplished,
as their tocherless aunts, but they were honest, kindly women, who
in their small sphere did some good, and were respected by high and
low. Archie Roy, the youngest son, and last of the family except
Jennie, was the Laird's favourite. With stern John, his able soldier
son, who gained his captaincy amidst the thunders of Fontenoy, where
the bravery of the Black Watch astonished Europe, the Jacobite Laird
had little sympathy. That eldest son of his redeemed his debts, kept
him out of wasteful lawsuits, and was the real stay of the family,
but his father thought him a hard taskmaster, and the rebellion of
1745 severed them entirely.
"The Elector of Struan" and Glenlyon were too old
for active service in the field when Prince Charlie unfurled the
White Standard of the Stuarts for the last time on British soil.
They were not, however, too old to fan the flames of civil war and
send other men to the field. Glenlyon, it is supposed, was the man
who caused the fiery cross to be sent round Breadalbane to raise
recruits for the" Prince, in spite of Breadalbane's Earl, and of his
son Lord Glenorchy, who was actively mustering forces on King
George's side, and who, by holding the passes and old Grampian line
of defence with three thousand men, forced the Prince and his clans
after Falkirk to skirt the hills and follow the east coast
route—which proved their ruin—to fatal Culloden. The Laird sent his
own darling son, Archie Roy, to fight for the Prince, although
Archie was at the time only a sunny-faced lad of fifteen. James
Menzies of Culdares sent the Prince secretly a gift horse of dun
colour—au t-each odhar of evil fame—to mark his loyalty, by
John M'Naughtan, who subsequently was hanged at Carlisle, not as
Glenlyon, opinion would have it, because he would not tell who sent
the horse, but because he despatched Colonel Gardner with a scythe
stroke, when he lay wounded on the field of Prestonpans. Yet,
although this was the crime for which John was tried and hanged, it
may be true enough that he could save his life by betraying Culdares—which
with Highland fidelity he refused to do. As Culdares acted with more
prudence than Glenlyon, the Jacobites of Glenlyon and Fortingall
looked to Archie Roy as their only local leader, although he was
truly too young to lead.
When the rebellion collapsed, old Struan and old
Glenlyon deemed it prudent to go into hiding places. Archie Roy, who
was in real danger, spent the summer after Culloden in the sheilings
at Lochs, passing as the son of Patrick Campbell Roroyare. His
father was in no danger whatever, although very much afraid of his
own son and of Mr. Fergus Ferguson, the uncompromising minister of
Fortingall, who had, by his boldness in speech and action, prevented
many wavering people from taking the Prince's side when the sun
shone on it, and who now justified the policy of Cumberland and the
Government to handle matters in such a way as to make another Stuart
rising impossible. The Laird did not go further than the Black Wood
of Chesthill, and Patrick M'Arthur his old tenant, for a hiding
place and a safe protector. Lieutenant John, his heir, was
unfortunately sent by the Government to burn the houses of the
Bunrannoch rebels, and this made the old Laird's cup of bitterness
run over, although it was admitted that Lieutenant John, and indeed
all the officers and men of the Black Watch, carried out their
orders with exceeding reluctance, and with all possible
consideration for the rebels.
The son, whom the broken-down old Jacobite
declared iff his wrath to be no son of his, strained every nerve to
get protections for his father and young brother. His own merits and
the influence of Argyle and Breadalbane enabled him to succeed.
Before the end of the summer after Culloden, Genlyon returned to the
bosom of his family once more a free man, but he never recovered
health or spirits any more. He must have died at the beginning of
the year 1746, for we find his wife, a.sfactrix for her son
Lieutenant John, on April 30th, 1747, caused the farm stock
belonging to him to be sold by public roup. At the time of his
death, Glenlyon had not much land in his own hands. His stock
consisted of thirty-three goats which were bought by James Menzies
at the Milne of Aberfeldy, for one hundred and sixteen pounds,
twelve shillings Scots; forty sheep sold to the said James Menzies
for the-very same Sum he paid for the thirty-three goats; seventeen
cows bought by Alexander Cameron, forester of Mamlorne, at .£20
Scots, or £1 3s. 4d. Sterling per head; and a black
horse which James Campbell, dyer, Killin, bought for £61 4s.
Scots. When the old Laird died, the leading Jacobites of the
district were still in hiding, or out of the country. Still he had a
great funeral. If the gentry were not so numerous as they would have
been in other circumstances, the common people gathered from far and
near in great numbers to pay their last mark of respect to a man who
had always been popular with high and low. |
