Memoirs of the Jacobites of 1715 and 1745. Volume I. by Mrs. A. T. Thomson

(4 User reviews)   1017
Thomson, A. T., Mrs., 1797-1862 Thomson, A. T., Mrs., 1797-1862
English
Hey, have you ever wondered about the real people behind the Scottish rebellions you see in movies? This book is like finding a forgotten family album in an attic. It's not about kings and generals, but about regular folks—farmers, shopkeepers, wives—who risked everything for a cause they believed in. Mrs. Thomson pulls these stories from old letters and trial records, bringing them back to life. You get to see the 1715 and 1745 uprisings from the ground level: the hope, the terrible decisions, and the heartbreaking aftermath. It's history with a pulse, and it completely changed how I think about loyalty and loss.
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only the kindness of friends, but the liberality of strangers. A very interesting collection of letters, many of them written in the Earl of Mar's own hand, and others dictated by him, is interwoven with the biography of that nobleman. These letters were written, in fact, for the information of the whole body of Jacobites, to whom they were transmitted through the agent of that party, Captain Henry Straiton, residing in Edinburgh. They form almost a diary of Lord Mar's proceedings at Perth. They are continued up to within a few hours of the evacuation of that city by the Jacobite army. For these curious and characteristic letters, pourtraying as they do, in lively colours, the difficulties of the General in his council and his camp, she is indebted to the friendship and mediation of the Honourable Lord Cockburn, and to the liberality of James Gibson Craig, Esq. To the Right Honourable the Earl of Newburgh, the descendant and representative of the Radcliffe family, her sincere and respectful acknowledgments are due for his Lordship's readily imparting to her several interesting particulars of the Earl of Derwentwater and his family. She owes a similar debt of gratitude to the Viscount Strathallan, for his Lordship's communication to her respecting the House of Drummond. To the Honourable Mrs. Bellamy, the descendant of Viscount Kenmure, she has also to offer similar acknowledgments, for information respecting her unfortunate ancestor; and for an original letter of his Lordship; and she must also beg to express her obligations to William Constable Maxwell, Esq., and to Mrs. Constable Maxwell, of Terregles, the descendants of the Earl of Nithisdale, for their courteous and prompt assistance. To James Craik, Esq., of Arbigland, Dumfriesshire, she is indebted for a correspondence which continues, as it were, an account of that family during the later part of the year 1745. To Sir Fitzroy Grafton Maclean, Bart., she owes the account of his clan and family, which has been printed for private circulation. She is also grateful to a descendant of the family of Lochiel, Miss Mary Anne Cameron, for some interesting particulars of the burning of Achnacarry, the seat of her ancestors. In some of these instances the information derived has not been considerable, owing to the total wreck of fortune, the destruction of houses, and the loss of papers, which followed the ruthless steps of the conquering army of the Duke of Cumberland. Most of the hereditary memorials of those Highland families who engaged in both rebellions, perished; and their representatives are strangely destitute of letters, papers, and memorials of every kind. The practice of burying family archives and deeds which prevailed during the troubles, was adopted but with partial advantage, by those who anticipated the worst result of the contest. In recalling with pleasure the number of those to whom the Author owes sincere gratitude for kindness and aid in her undertaking, the name of Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe, Esq. renews the remembrance of that store of antiquarian information from which others, far more worthy to enjoy it than herself, have owed obligations. The Author has also most gratefully to acknowledge the very kind and valuable assistance of Archibald Macdonald, Esq., of the Register Office, Edinburgh, to whom she is indebted for several original letters; and of Robert Chambers, Esq., to whose liberality she is indebted for several of her manuscript sources, as well as some valuable advice on the subject of her work. To Dr. Irvine, Librarian of the Advocate's Library, Edinburgh, the Author offers, with the most lively pleasure, her sincere acknowledgments for a ready and persevering assistance in aid...

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Forget the sweeping battle scenes for a minute. This book is about the names on the muster rolls and the families left behind. Mrs. A. T. Thomson, writing in the 1800s, acted like a detective, piecing together the lives of the Jacobites from documents many had forgotten. She follows individuals from the early plot of 1715 to the catastrophic defeat at Culloden in 1746.

The Story

The book doesn't have a single plot. Instead, it's a collection of biographies. We meet people like the old Lord who joins the rebellion out of faded honor, the young man swept up by passion, and the wife who manages the estate while her husband is away at war. Thomson traces their journeys—why they joined, what they did, and, for most, the grim price they paid through execution, exile, or poverty.

Why You Should Read It

What got me was the sheer humanity. These aren't romantic heroes; they're complicated people making choices under immense pressure. Thomson doesn't judge; she just shows us their words and fates. You feel the weight of their decisions and the devastation of the "clearances" that followed. It makes history feel immediate and personal.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who loves character-driven stories or wants to look beyond the tartan-clad romance of Scotland. It's for readers who enjoy true stories of ordinary people in extraordinary times. Be ready—it's not a light read, but it's a powerful and memorable one that sticks with you.



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Noah Thompson
5 months ago

Honestly, the writing style is poetic but not overly flowery. This left a lasting impression on me.

Amanda Lopez
3 months ago

Honestly, the emotional weight of the story is balanced perfectly with moments of levity. This has earned a permanent place in my collection.

Jennifer Green
1 month ago

This quickly became one of those books where it manages to explain difficult concepts in plain English. Highly recommended for everyone.

Mark Walker
5 months ago

Simply put, the emotional weight of the story is balanced perfectly with moments of levity. Time very well spent.

4.5
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