Alexander MacGrowther of Dalchruinn

Alexander MacGrowther was a major tenant of the Drummonds of Perth, who had also participated in the 1715 rising. In 1745, he was a Lieutenant in the Duke of Perth's, and was captured at Carlisle. He was also known as Robertson, Robinson, and Robeison (Allardyce, Historical Papers, vol. 2, p. xxix). At trial, he claimed he was an unwilling participant who joined after the Jacobite Duke of Perth threatened to burn the fields and homes of his tenants (Allardyce, Historical Papers, vol. 2, pp. 384-86). The court's finding of his guilt is frequenty referred to in law (e.g. Hollander, Military Law Review 27 (1965), p. 71), as it was judged that duress may only be argued if the threat is enduring, and if it applies to person, not property. MacGrowther's sentence of death was commuted to transportation, but he was later reprieved and allowed to return to home on the grounds of old age and illness (Prisoners, p. 97). MacGrowther's son Alexander, also a lieutenant in the Duke of Perth's, died in prison (Prisoners, pp. 98-99).