Wedderburn book > History

266 THE WEDDERBURN BOOK.
Part in. In two of his letters (Bl. 50, 54) he denies having been at Dudiston (sic for Dnddingston), 1
Chap. vn. w i iere t ne Pri uce was two days before Gladsmuir, or worn arms at Gladsmuir, but speaks
of having " rode in a chaise" there. He certainly was in or near Edinburgh at one time
during the campaign, as in another letter ( Bl. 44) written on his capture to Mr. Thomas Kyd,
merchant at Leith, he says " you'l no doubt reckon I by this time will be wishing I had
taken your advice. I had not left you 8 days when I found the mistake but too late," — ■
a passage which seems quite inconsistent with his having been forced to join the Prince.
We must hope that the mistake, of which he speaks, refers not to his principles but to the
chances of the Prince's success.
But, whilst his movements at this time are left in doubt, it is clear that he was acting
as collector of excise on behalf of the Jacobites from .Nov. 1745 to .Ian. 1746, being, as
he himself says, employed by the Prince "to collect the ale and malt arrears in the
counties of Angus and Perth" (Bl. 55). In the volume entitled The Jacobite Lairds of
Gask, and already referred to, are given the account's of the Jacobite treasurer, Oliphant
of Gask, from 3 Oct. 1745 to 15 April 1746, and these include nine items of moneys
received from Sir John Wedderburn, amounting in all to £4'25. 4s. stg. The items are : —
£ s. d.
1745 Nov 1 ' From Sir John Wedderburn, Coll r of Excise ... 127 - -
>» >!,,), 1, t) II ■■■ Dt - -
Dec. From Sir J° Wedderburn of Excise ... 22 - -
■ ■• ' 108 - -
36 4 -
1716 Jan. From M r Moncreif for Sir J° Wedderburn ... iJS
12 - -
From Sir Jo. Wedderburn of Excise ... 20 - -
) > »> )5 )> ■ '■ J - -
Apparently he was at home in February 1746, in which case he must have either
joined the retreating army on its way north or followed it to Culloden. Evidence was
given at his trial in his defence to the effect that he was taken away again from home early
in February, when the Prince was passing northwards through Perth and portions of his
army went by Newtyle and through Dundee. But, whenever Sir John joined the northward
army, it is clear that he was at Culloden, either in arms or as an adherent of the Prince.
Although in one letter after his capture (Bl. 49) he says that he "was neither in aims,
travelling with any party of the army or haveing any concern in it thtre " (the last word
is eloquent as to earlier occasions), he, in his own words, " happened to be taken prisoner at
Culloden," and was thus " carted up " to London (Bl. 55). Accordingly a " Return of
Rebel Officers now prisoners in Inverness," 2 dated 19 April 1746, includes among the
1st Lifeguards Sir John Wedderburn, and in a "List of Rebels " 3 we find "Sir John
Wedderburn, late of Blackness. Abode, Mains of Nevay, Newtyle, Forfar," with the
statement that he " collected excise in Perth for behoof of the Rebels, carried arms in their
army and was at the battle of Culloden, where he was taken prisoner." A note is added
that he is " now in England, prisoner." 4
From this date we have clear documentary evidence as to Sir John. Soon after his
arrest he wrote the letter (Bl. 44) to his cousin, Thomas Kyd in Leith,"' which has been
already referred to. It is as follows : —
Dear Sir,
This serves to acquaint you that I am Prisoner here and understand am to go on
Board a Ship this Day or to-morrow ; it's thought for Carlisle, where I shall be without
money or acquaintance. If I was certain that was the place I woud desire you woud
procure me Letters of Recommendation to some body or other and likewas give me credit
for as much money as woud be convenient for you, for one can scarce tell how much may
1 Sir John, in his letters, says that at his trial it was evidenced that he was in arms at Duddingston, but
I do not find it so stated in the report.
- Hist. MSS. Commission 1885. Underwood of Sornerby papers, p. 147. See also George Charles' History
of Scotland, 1715-16, 1745-46, where "Sir John Wedderburn from Angus, first life-guards under
Lord Elcho " is named in Cumberland's official list of prisoners taken at Culloden (J.W. 120 b).
3 Scottish history Society, 1890. List of Rebels, p. 238-39.
4 See also Gentleman's Magazine, vol. xvi. (1746), p. 209, quoting London Gazette of April 23, with an account
of Culloden on April 16: — "The Earl of Kilmarnock, Sir John Wedderburn, the person called by
the rebels the French Ambassador, with many others, are taken prisoners."
5 Sir John had already had monetary transactions with Thomas Kyd (K.A.D. 169). As to their cousinship
see ante, 1 p. 213.