Mr Francis Stewart's Account of some Hardships and Cruelties in and about Inverness after Culloden Battle
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Mr Francis Stewart's Account of some Hard-
                     ships & Cruelties in & about Inverness af-
                        ter Culloden Battle
Forbes
Mr. Francis Stewart's Account of some hardships & cruelties in & about Inverness after Culloden Battle
Paton
Visit of Mr. Francis Stewart to Leith
Pages
Forbes
Vol. 5, 1086—1094Paton
Vol. 2, 188—191Credits
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| Date | 04 Oct 1748 | 
| Time | Tuesday morning | 
| Occasion | |
| Person (main) | Francis Stewart | 
| Person (participant) | Robert Forbes | 
| Place | 
original medium
remediation
in Forbes
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Transcription
Tuesday’s Morning, OctrOctober 4th, 1748,
			
I was favoured with a Visit of
			
Mr Francis✝ Stewart (Son of
			
Baillie John Stewart in Inver-
ness) whom formerly I had begged
			
the Favour of to write down
			
all he knew to be well vouch-
ed of the HardshipsX &and Cruel-
ties committed in &and about In-
nerness upon &and after the 16th
			
of April, 1746. Accordingly he
			
delivered into my Hands a Pa-
per, consisting of four 8vooctavo
			
Leaves, all in his own Hand-
writing, an exact
				
				
					Copy of which is as
					
follows.1
				
			
To Recollect and Enumerate all
			
the Hardships endured and Cruelties
committed, in and about Inverness,
on and after the 16th of April 1746,
is what I cannot pretend to do; And
I am certain many things were done,
that very few, if any, can give any
Account of. The following Facts you
have as I either saw them my self
			
			1087
			(1087)
				
self, or was informed of them by
others.
			the Hardships endured and Cruelties
committed, in and about Inverness,
on and after the 16th of April 1746,
is what I cannot pretend to do; And
I am certain many things were done,
that very few, if any, can give any
Account of. The following Facts you
have as I either saw them my self
[
self, or was informed of them by
others.
It is a Fact undeniable and 
			
known almost to every bodyeverybody, that
upon Friday the 18th of April
which was the 2dsecond day after the
Battle, a Party was regularly
detached to put to death all the
wounded men that were found
in and about the Field of Battle.
That such men were accordingly
put to death is also✝ undeniable,
for it is declared by creditable Peo-
ple, who were Eye-Witnesses to
that most miserable and bloody
Scene. I my selfmyself was told by Wil-
liam Rose, who was then Greeve2
to my Lord President, that 12 wound-
ed men were carried out of his
house, and shot in a Hollow,
which is within very short distance
of the place of Action; William
Rose’s Wife told this Fact to cre-
ditable People, from whom I had
it, more circumstantialycircumstantially, She said
that the Party came to her house,
and told the wounded men to get up that
			
			1088
			(1088)
			
that they might bring them to Sur-
geons to have their wounds dress’tdressed,
upon which she said, the poor men,
whom she thought in so miserable a
Way, that it was impossible they cou’dcould
stir, made a Shift to get up, and
she said they went along with the
Party with an Air of CheerfullnessCheerfulness
and Joy, being full of the thought,
that their Wounds were to be dres-
sed, but she said when the Party had
brought them the length of the Hol-
low abovemend.abovementioned, which is at a very
short distance from her house, she
being then within the House heard
the firing of several Guns, and
coming out, immediately to know
the Cause, saw all those brought
out of her house, under the
pretence of being carried to Sur-
geons, were dead men.
			known almost to every bodyeverybody, that
upon Friday the 18th of April
which was the 2dsecond day after the
Battle, a Party was regularly
detached to put to death all the
wounded men that were found
in and about the Field of Battle.
That such men were accordingly
put to death is also✝ undeniable,
for it is declared by creditable Peo-
ple, who were Eye-Witnesses to
that most miserable and bloody
Scene. I my selfmyself was told by Wil-
liam Rose, who was then Greeve2
to my Lord President, that 12 wound-
ed men were carried out of his
house, and shot in a Hollow,
which is within very short distance
of the place of Action; William
Rose’s Wife told this Fact to cre-
ditable People, from whom I had
it, more circumstantialycircumstantially, She said
that the Party came to her house,
and told the wounded men to get up that
that they might bring them to Sur-
geons to have their wounds dress’tdressed,
upon which she said, the poor men,
whom she thought in so miserable a
Way, that it was impossible they cou’dcould
stir, made a Shift to get up, and
she said they went along with the
Party with an Air of CheerfullnessCheerfulness
and Joy, being full of the thought,
that their Wounds were to be dres-
sed, but she said when the Party had
brought them the length of the Hol-
low abovemend.abovementioned, which is at a very
short distance from her house, she
being then within the House heard
the firing of several Guns, and
coming out, immediately to know
the Cause, saw all those brought
out of her house, under the
pretence of being carried to Sur-
geons, were dead men.
Upon the same day, the Party was 
			
detached to put to death all the woun-
ded men in &and about the Field of Bat-
tle, there was another Party de-
tached under the command of Coll.Colonel
Cockeen to bring in the Lady McIntosh Pri-soner1089(1089)
soner, from her House at Moy; Tho’Though
Cockeen himself was reckoned a
most discreet civilecivil man, yet he
found it impossible to restrain
the Barbarity of many of his
Party, who, straggling before, spared
neither Sex nor Age they met with;
So that the Lady has told many,
that she her selfherself counted above
14 dead bodies of men, Women
and Children, ‘twixt Moy and
Inverness; There is one Woman
still alive who is a sufficient
Document of the Barbarity of
Cockeen’s Party, for she, after
receiving many Cuts of swords
on the Face &and many StabbsStabs of
Bayonets in other Parts of her
body, was left for dead on the
high wayhighway, however, it has pleas-
ed Providence that she still lives,
to set forth to the World, the mon-
struousmonstrous Cruelty of those Miscreants,
by a face quite deformed, and many
other conspicuous Marks of their
Barbarity.
 detached to put to death all the woun-
ded men in &and about the Field of Bat-
tle, there was another Party de-
tached under the command of Coll.Colonel
Cockeen to bring in the Lady McIntosh Pri-soner1089(1089)
soner, from her House at Moy; Tho’Though
Cockeen himself was reckoned a
most discreet civilecivil man, yet he
found it impossible to restrain
the Barbarity of many of his
Party, who, straggling before, spared
neither Sex nor Age they met with;
So that the Lady has told many,
that she her selfherself counted above
14 dead bodies of men, Women
and Children, ‘twixt Moy and
Inverness; There is one Woman
still alive who is a sufficient
Document of the Barbarity of
Cockeen’s Party, for she, after
receiving many Cuts of swords
on the Face &and many StabbsStabs of
Bayonets in other Parts of her
body, was left for dead on the
high wayhighway, however, it has pleas-
ed Providence that she still lives,
to set forth to the World, the mon-
struousmonstrous Cruelty of those Miscreants,
by a face quite deformed, and many
other conspicuous Marks of their
Barbarity.
Vol: 6. p: 1332.
I had almost forgot to tell you,
			
of a most monstruousmonstrous Act of Cruelty
committed by the Party beforementd.beforementioned,
which was detached to the field of
Action, that is, the burning of a
house ✝ near the field in which there
were above 18 wounded men, this
fact is well vouched by many cre-
ditable people. I my selfmyself heard
one Mrs Taylor, a Wright’s Wife at
Inverness, tell, that she went up
the day thereafter to the Field, to
search for the body of a Brother in
Law of her’shers, who was killed, and
that she saw in the RubishRubbish, the
bodies of severals of those, that
had been scorched to death, in a
mostX miserable mangled way.
			of a most monstruousmonstrous Act of Cruelty
committed by the Party beforementd.beforementioned,
which was detached to the field of
Action, that is, the burning of a
house ✝ near the field in which there
were above 18 wounded men, this
fact is well vouched by many cre-
ditable people. I my selfmyself heard
one Mrs Taylor, a Wright’s Wife at
Inverness, tell, that she went up
the day thereafter to the Field, to
search for the body of a Brother in
Law of her’shers, who was killed, and
that she saw in the RubishRubbish, the
bodies of severals of those, that
had been scorched to death, in a
mostX miserable mangled way.
The Cruelties committed, the day 
			
of the Action are so many that I
cannot pretend at all to enume-
rate them, that no quarter was
given is a thing certain. There is
one instance of this, that I cannot
ommittomit. A very honest old Gentle-
man of the name of McLeod, was
pursued by two of the light Horse, from the
			
			1091
			(1091)
			
the place of Action to the hill near
Inverness called the Barnhill, and
when he came there and found it
impossible to save his life any
further by flight, he went on
his knees and beg’dbegged Quarters
of the two that pursued him;
but both of them refused his
request, and shot him through the
head, several of the Inhabitants
of Inverness were Witnesses to
this Fact. There was another
poor man shot by a Soldier, at the
door of one Widow McLean, who
lives in the bridge Street of In-
nerness, as he was making his
way for the Bridge. – There
was a most✝ monstruousmonstrous Act co-
mittedcommitted, in the house of one Wi-
dow Davidson in the Afternoon
after the Action. AX Gentleman
falling sick in Town took a
Room at her house, being a re-
tired place, he was in a violent
Fever the day of the Action and unable
			
			1092
			(1092)
			
unable to make his Escape when he
was told the Prince &and his Army were
defeat; Several Soldiers coming up
in the Afternoon to this Widow Da-
vidson's, the Maid of the house told
them there was a RebellRebel above
Stairs, upon which they went im-
mediately, rushed into the Room
wherein the poor Gentleman lay,
and cut his throat from ear to ear;
this I was told by an honest Woman
a Neighboūr of Mrs Davidson’s, who
went to the Room and saw the Gen-
tleman after his throat was cut.
			of the Action are so many that I
cannot pretend at all to enume-
rate them, that no quarter was
given is a thing certain. There is
one instance of this, that I cannot
ommittomit. A very honest old Gentle-
man of the name of McLeod, was
pursued by two of the light Horse, from the
the place of Action to the hill near
Inverness called the Barnhill, and
when he came there and found it
impossible to save his life any
further by flight, he went on
his knees and beg’dbegged Quarters
of the two that pursued him;
but both of them refused his
request, and shot him through the
head, several of the Inhabitants
of Inverness were Witnesses to
this Fact. There was another
poor man shot by a Soldier, at the
door of one Widow McLean, who
lives in the bridge Street of In-
nerness, as he was making his
way for the Bridge. – There
was a most✝ monstruousmonstrous Act co-
mittedcommitted, in the house of one Wi-
dow Davidson in the Afternoon
after the Action. AX Gentleman
falling sick in Town took a
Room at her house, being a re-
tired place, he was in a violent
Fever the day of the Action and unable
unable to make his Escape when he
was told the Prince &and his Army were
defeat; Several Soldiers coming up
in the Afternoon to this Widow Da-
vidson's, the Maid of the house told
them there was a RebellRebel above
Stairs, upon which they went im-
mediately, rushed into the Room
wherein the poor Gentleman lay,
and cut his throat from ear to ear;
this I was told by an honest Woman
a Neighboūr of Mrs Davidson’s, who
went to the Room and saw the Gen-
tleman after his throat was cut.
The Proceedings after his
			
R.Royal H.Highness came in to Town were, I’m
certain, unprecedented; Many Gen-
tlemen were taken up &and confined
amongst the common Prisoners, with-
out any reason given them, for
their being so used, And after be-
ing confined they were for some
time denied the use of both Bed-
ing and Provisions, so that some of
them have not to this day recover-
ed the Cold they contracted &and the
bad usage they met with at that time: 1093 (1093)
time: The Women of Inverness
did not escape his R.Royal H.Highness his not-
ice, severals of them were made
Prisoners and confined to the com-
mon GaurdGuard, amongst whom was
the Lady Dowager Mackintosh
who was confined for the space
of 14 days and contracted so vio-
lent a Cold, during that time,
that she had almost died of it.–
The usage the Prisoners in gene-
ral met with was so monstruousmonstrous,
that I’m certain there are few,
if any, Histories can parallel
the like of it, the allowance
of Provision for gentle and sim-
ple, was ½ Pound meal each
PPer day, and very often, not so much
✝watterwater given them as wou’dwould help
them to swallow it: I my selfmyself
have gone often by the Prison at
that melancholy time, when I heard
the Prisoners crying for WatterWater in
the most pitifullpitiful manner: Many
died at that time of their wounds,
that were never dressedX nor look’tlooked
to, in the utmost Agony, And as none of
			
			1094
			(1094)
			
of the Inhabitants durst take the
least Concern in them dead or a-
live, I have several times seen,
3 or 4 dead bodies in a day, car-
ried out of the Prisons by the Beg-
gars and brought all naked thro’through
the Streets to be buried in the
Church yard.
R.Royal H.Highness came in to Town were, I’m
certain, unprecedented; Many Gen-
tlemen were taken up &and confined
amongst the common Prisoners, with-
out any reason given them, for
their being so used, And after be-
ing confined they were for some
time denied the use of both Bed-
ing and Provisions, so that some of
them have not to this day recover-
ed the Cold they contracted &and the
bad usage they met with at that time: 1093 (1093)
time: The Women of Inverness
did not escape his R.Royal H.Highness his not-
ice, severals of them were made
Prisoners and confined to the com-
mon GaurdGuard, amongst whom was
the Lady Dowager Mackintosh
who was confined for the space
of 14 days and contracted so vio-
lent a Cold, during that time,
that she had almost died of it.–
The usage the Prisoners in gene-
ral met with was so monstruousmonstrous,
that I’m certain there are few,
if any, Histories can parallel
the like of it, the allowance
of Provision for gentle and sim-
ple, was ½ Pound meal each
PPer day, and very often, not so much
✝watterwater given them as wou’dwould help
them to swallow it: I my selfmyself
have gone often by the Prison at
that melancholy time, when I heard
the Prisoners crying for WatterWater in
the most pitifullpitiful manner: Many
died at that time of their wounds,
that were never dressedX nor look’tlooked
to, in the utmost Agony, And as none of
of the Inhabitants durst take the
least Concern in them dead or a-
live, I have several times seen,
3 or 4 dead bodies in a day, car-
ried out of the Prisons by the Beg-
gars and brought all naked thro’through
the Streets to be buried in the
Church yard.
x
N: B:
      	The Original of the Above in
			
the Hand-writing of Mr Fran-
cis Stewart is to be found a-
mong my Papers. The said Mr
Stewart is betwixt nineteen &and
twenty Years of Age, &and is a
modest, sober, sensible Youth.
the Hand-writing of Mr Fran-
cis Stewart is to be found a-
mong my Papers. The said Mr
Stewart is betwixt nineteen &and
twenty Years of Age, &and is a
modest, sober, sensible Youth.
Robert Forbes, A: M
]
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Citation
Forbes, Robert. “Mr. Francis Stewart's Account of some hardships & cruelties in & about Inverness after Culloden Battle.” The Lyon in Mourning, 
                    vol. 5, 
                    Adv.MS.32.6.20, fol. 111v–115v. The Lyon in Mourning Project, 
                    edited by Leith Davis, https://lyoninmourning.dhil.lib.sfu.ca/ v05.1086.01.html.
Appendix
As elsewhere in the Lyon in Mourning, but especially in this item, Forbes reproduces the "cup mark" above the letter "u" (to make it distinct from the letter "n"), which is a distinguishing feature of early eighteenth-century Scottish handwriting (Regional Ethnology Scotland).
I.e., the overseer of farming on Forbes's estate.