to my Quarters, its about Eleven at night. + God, and You. I cannot go to Bed until Entire but when I am with you. ore Down can Lye in your Arms. I shall Comfort, than my Conscrince & mind I have. And for the Gracious on. Our Engagements are such, that we "; I do think that Indifferency, if ever ould foon tarn to Hute. You do give the pleaper that a Wife I Love can give, that allirituous Companion canproduce It is in your Sower, to make beyond Expression, it is more than fates prid of the Pruth and strength_ and only with Life itself. In the firstest I ask wholly yours. котору டா me more not if ever I shall Sleep; or if I do _ - Awake, it may be the Sleep of Death. I beg a loutermance of them. I _ em. This is a serious Subject; but не поради , of we die as we would wish, not Food Lord deliver it. ᏢᎪᎡᎢ III. CHAPTER X. THOMAS WEDDERBURN OF CANTRA (THIRD SON OF SIR ALEXANDER, FOURTH BARONET), (See pedigrees at p. 339 and at pp. 529-31 of vol. ii.) Thomas Wedderburn [1710-1771], seventh but third surviving son of Sir Part III. Alexander Wedderburn, fourth baronet of Blackness (ante, p. 261), was born 2 April and Chap. X. baptized at Dundee 5 April 17102 (Bl. 11; D.B. 61). He is next named, 5 Sept. 1727, as "merchant in Dundee" in a sasine to which he acts as bailie (F.S. 99). J.W. does not allude, either in his printed memoir or in his MS., to his having been engaged in commerce in Dundee, but says, vaguely, that he went to the north country between 1730-40. It is clear, however, that, like many of the younger sons of the Scottish gentry, he was at one time intended for a mercantile career, and, I think, continued to trade in Dundee until about 1736. There is a decree for him, dated at Dundee 6 Sept. 1732, which probably refers to his mercantile dealings (D.Dec. 84) and 26 Nov. 1733 he gives evidence as to a sale of goods by one George Dempster, in whose service he had been at the time of the sale (ib. 87). He is also named as witnessing baptisms at Dundee 25 Jan. 1736 and 4 Sept. 1740 (D.B. orig. record, s. dd.), but as he married just after the latter date and his wife was from the north, it is probable that he had already gone there, and so met the lady of his choice. Either somewhat before or immediately after his marriage he became collector of excise at Inverness. I have not ascertained the exact date of his appointment nor precisely when he ceased to hold it, but he was certainly collector from 1741 to 1759. Thus he is so designed in a bill protested against him 8 July 1741 (R.D. 344); in a bond by him and his two elder brothers to his uncle of Idvies and his brother-in-law of Birkhill, 24 Sept. 1744 (S.W. 576);3 while in two other bonds, 9 May 1745, he is described as collector at Forres, now of Fortrose (R. D. 359). From the registers of the baptisms of his children it would appear that he resided first at Grange, and later at Forres 1742-43, at Rosemarkie or Fortrose 1744-50, at Merknish 1751, and finally at Cantra, to which (says J.W.) he removed in 1753. "While at Rosemarkie in 1744 he compiled a Genealogical account of the surname of Dunbar, which is yet preserved in MS., and affords ample proof of the writer's assiduity and research in that species of reading" (J.W.'s MS.). In 1745-46, but at what precise date I have no memorandum, he joined Prince Charles Edward, and was in quarters with his royal highness's troops in Inverness just before the battle of Culloden (ib.). There is among J.W.'s papers (J.W. 70) a beautiful letter addressed by him to his wife, and written on his arrival at his quarters in Inverness, 11 April 1746. This letter, of which a facsimile is given opposite and which is well worth preservation, is as follows: My Dear I am just now come to my Quarters, its about Eleven at night. There is nothing in my mind, but God, and you. I cannot go to Bed until I tell you, that I never think myself entire but when I am with you. I would be very happy if I could now Lye Down in your Arms. I shall Lye down with regret: With no more Comfort, than my Conscience 1 Synopsis of References :-S. W. 576, 598, 683; Bl. 11; J.W. 66-69, 71, 73; D.Dec. 84; G.S.R. 142; * In entering up his pedigree at the Heralds' College, London, in 1799 (H.C. R. iii.) his son John says that to his father till 1718, and the year is an error for 1710. 3 This bill is signed by him at Inverness 25 May 1748. He is also called "collector of the customs at Inverness" in the inscription on his wife's tomb (post, p. 341 n. 6). This MS. was in J. W.'s possession and descended to the late Colonel Wedderburn at Marfield, but some years since was unaccountably lost. Part III. can affoord. I Bless God for the peace of mind I have. And for the gracious assistance Chap. X. he has given me, by you. Our engagements are such, that we must be Happy, or not, in Excess; I do think that Indifferency, if ever we allow it to Enter our Minds, would soon turn to Hate. You do give me, and can continue to me, all the pleasure that a Wife I Love can give; you affoord me all the Happiness that a Virtuous Companion can produce in a mind already full of you. It is in your power, to make me more miserable than I can tell you, it is beyond Expression, it is more than possibly you can Imagine. I am satisfied of the Truth and Strength of our Affection, and hope it shall end only with Life itself. In the strictest Truth of my Heart, I assure you, I am wholly yours. Now I am just going to Bed. I know not if ever I shall Sleep; or if I do Sleep, I know not if I shall ever Awake, it may be the Sleep of Death. I thank God for his past Mercies. I beg a Continuance of them. I cannot Breath, once, without them. This is a serious Subject, but it is what one will reflect upon, if we Die as we would wish, not a sudden Death. From which Good Lord deliver us. Another and earlier letter from him in connection with the affairs of the time is printed in The Sutherland Book by Sir William Fraser (Edin. 1892, vol. ii., pp. 255-57). It is addressed to William, (16th) Earl of Sutherland, and gives an account of the battle of Prestonpans, on Sept. 21. The Earl was an adherent of the Hanoverian government, so that it is clear that at this date Thomas Wedderburn had not joined the Prince. Probably he did not do so until just before Culloden, but that he was present at that battle and on the side of Prince Charles is clear from the letter to his wife being addressed from his quarters at Inverness, where the Prince and his followers were assembled, as well as from the statement of his grandson, J.W., who, no doubt, had it from his father. letter to the Earl of Sutherland is as follows: My Lord, The I have no better paper. Your lordships letter I received by my servant at Inverness, August the 26th. In obedience to your request I wrote from Nairn, August 28th, what news I heard handed about at that time. I was then upon my collection going eastward. When I had return'd, and was some days at home, which was the second week of September, I wrote your lordship a long letter, just what I heard then. Since that time I heard nothing worth writting, but what was so late e'er I had it, that 'twas needless then to trouble your lordship with it. I was in Inverness yesterday, when I heard some speaking of a person of distinction in the north of Scotland, who was judged too foreward in writting news; and a friend told me, without giving any other satisfaction, “that I was discreet enough in my way of adviseing news, but that if I had not, by any instance he knew of, I would have heard of it and had cause to repent it." From this I suppose my last letter to your lordship has been opened, for I have not wrote a scrape on the subject but to your lordship, and one letter to Doctor Wedderburn at Dundee, which was by ane express from Elgin. Yesterday it was said at Inverness that upon Saturday last the forces that were north with Sir John Cope, being join'd with five companys of foot from Berwick and those at Edinburgh, making in all three regiments of foot and two regiments of dragoons, drew up for batle near Cockenie by Prestonpans. The Highland army, consisting of five thousand, and one thousand from Edinburgh, attacked them, first with artillery, wherewith they were better provided than the regular forces, and observing the advantage of the ground against them, Lochail and Kaputh, with a thousand good men, were ordered to turn about towards the south-east and attack them in the rear. This made the other leave their ground and advance. The Highland army, when the dragoons advanced, opened and let them pass foreward, then faced about and had great advantage. The Highlanders fired their muskets but once, and then run in sword in hand. In short, its said they gaind a compleat victory, having killed and wounded 6 or eight hundred, and taken the rest prisoners, excepting three troop of dragoons, who went off with Sir John Cope. He Pedigree showing descent from Thomas Wedderburn of Cantra, third surviving son of 1 See also the pedigrees, vol. ii., pp. 529-31, in both of which, however, the name of Katharine Dunbar's father is wrongly given as Robert. Part III. Part III. went off in a boat, and was put on board the man of war who brought him from Aberdeen, Chap. X. and they march'd for Berwick. The military chest and all the baggage fell to the Highlanders. One odd piece is that three troops of Hamilton's dragoons took the Highland side, and three troops that were making their way for Berwick were pursued by Barsdale and one hundred and fifty men, who all stript to their shirts, on foot, who overtook the dragoons. I suppose by turning a hill and gaining ground that way, and made them prisoners, for which Barsdale was made a knight bannarett. Part of them return'd to Edinburgh that night. Major Cawlfield got into the castle of Edinburgh, having come off early. He had no rank there. It was not said that the president had accounts of this. I believe he had not yesterday at 12 o'clock. Twas by express to Lord Lovat, who past thro Inverness yesterday in his coach, going to dine at Culloden, and some people spoke with him a little in the street, and he confirmed all. I won't say every particular I mention was asked at him, for there was not time; but what I said is allowed by most to be truth, most that I spoke with, and that way I give it your lordship. I doubt there's too much of it true, whether it be all true or not. There's 100 or a hundred and twenty on the Highland side killed or wounded. I got not a right account of officers killed, or taken, but Colonel Gardner is said to be dead. I heard of no troops landed for or against the government. Every body will take their own reflection what may be the consequence of this both in the north and south. I cannot find there has been any difference betwixt the two great men your lordship mentioned. My wife and I offer our dutyfull respects to your lordship, the countess, and Lady Betty, and I am, most respectfully, Fortrose, 26th September 1745. My lord, Your lordships most humble and most obedient servant, Thomas Wedderburn. P.S.-Some say Glenbuket is gone south, some say not. Yesterday morning I found no centinell upon the bridge at Inverness, but much about the time that Lord Lovat came in there was one of one of the Highland companys placed upon the bridge. When I left Inverness all was quiet there, and we continue so here as yet. After Culloden he seems to have escaped, and continued to act as collector of excise.1 Thus he is so designed, at Fortrose, 3 Oct. 1752, when he takes one John Miller as his apprentice for four years (R.D. 389). Soon after he moved, as has been said, to Cantra, where a bill was protested against him, "collector of excise," 21 July 1755 (ib. 377). I think his affairs must have become involved, as there are other protested bills, 15 April 1757, 11 Sept. 1758, and 26 Sept. 1759 (ib. 387, 390, 394), as well as one accepted by him, 14 Nov. 1759 (S.W. 598). ↑ Probably this accounts for the fact that in the entail of Idvies in 1766 his name is omitted although his sons are called to the succession (G.S.R. 142; F.S. 125). That at one time he was in great difficulties is clear from a decreet,2 dated 9 Aug. 1768, which recites that in about 1753 he fell "into a dropsy, rendering him incapable of business, . . . . the attempted cure of which at Edinburgh and elsewhere also involved him in much expense" so that he was driven into debt. It further recites that his creditors, including his brother-in-law, David Scrymgeour, not only proceeded against him, but, on 12 Dec. 1767 "cruelly and in a barbarous manner dragged him from his home at Gallacantry" and imprisoned him in the tolbooth at Nairn, and it is in respect of these proceedings that he now obtains a decreet for his discharge from the tolbooth upon his assigning all his goods for his creditors' benefit (R.A.D. 181). He died soon after, but at what precise date is not quite clear. His widow in one place (post, p. 352) and his son John, in his record of 1799 (H.C.R. III.),3 give Jan. 1771 as the date, and this is followed by J.W. in his printed memoir. But in another memorandum by Thomas Wedderburn's wife (J.W. 66, 67) the date is given as Dec. 1766, and this is adopted by J. W. in his MS., while lastly a copy (J.W. 71) of the inscription on his tomb gives the date as Dec. 1769. It is clear, however, from the above decreet that he was ' J. W. in his MS. says that "in 1755 he settled in the town of Inverness, where he was appointed Collector 3 In my own record at the Heralds' College I followed the error of J.W.'s MS. and gave 1766 as the |