Red and white book of Menzies

360 THE U RED & WHITE" BOOK OF MENZIES. [a.d. 17 19.
In 1719 another descent was made upon the Highlands by the exiles, aided
by Spain ; and Lord Tullibardine, who now signs himself Duke of Rannoch, the
leader of the new attempt, sent to his uncle Lord Nairne several commissions
(they are now at Gask) to be dealt out among the Perthshire gentry, such as
William Murray the younger of Auchtertyre, John Steuart of Kinauchin, James
Steuart of Clewns, Charles Steuart the younger of Ballechin, Alexander Menzies
of Woodend, and Duncan Robertson of Drummachin. These commissions
were sent, after the failure of the attempt of 17 19, while the leader was lurking in
the Hebrides. — Jacobite Lairds of Gask, p. 64.
Notwithstanding the confiscation of 17 16, Menzies of Woodend appears to
have recovered a considerable amount of property, as at the time of his death
he had a number of sums owing him. Those due by clansmen we give herewith
from the testament, abbreviated as follows : —
" Alexander Menzies of Woodend, his money, goods, and gear, given
up by Elizabeth Wardlaw, relict of said defunct and executrix dative, at
Dunkeld." Here follows an inventory of cattle, house furnishings, &c. &c,
forming a long list. Then a long list of monies and other debits owing to him,
among which was a bill for ".£13 10 o, 28 Ap. 1735, accepted by Robert Menzies
in Seinmore (Shianmore) ; a bond for ,£39 16 o, 1 Sept. 1734, granted by James
Menzies in Campsie ; a bond for £31 o o, 1 Feb. 1734, granted by William
Menzies in Miltoun of Bollfracks to the defunct." A long list of others follows.
" This testament was confirmed att Dunkeld, 23 Dec. 1736, and extended 11 Jan.
l 737< by Thomas Bisset, commissary, and Sir Robert Menzies of that Ilk,
Baronet, and Archibald Menzies of Shian becoming cautioners conjointly and
severally for the executrix." — Comsr. Dunkeld, 1737.
The rising of 17 19, although it had not much effect on the rest of Scotland,
affected the more remote parts of the Highlands and part of the Menzies lands of
Rannoch, where some of the tenants on the chief's lands were seized, evidently by
the insurgents, and other damage done. A letter relating these abuses was sent
to Lady Menzies by one of her reliable tenants, ^Eneas MacDonald, which runs as
follows : —
"^Eneas MacDonell to Lady Weem, Kinchlacher, 2 Nov. 1719: — Informs her
ladyship of the seizure of one of her tenants, Ewen Mac Coill Roy, alias Cameron,
and refers to the great harm done to the lieges by the Rannoch men during the
preceding summer and harvest." — Charter Room, Castle Menzies, No. 174.
To return to Chieftain Archibald Menzies of Culdares, whom they had
condemned to death and who was awaiting his time for execution, it will be remem-
bered that along with him at the battle of Preston were his two sons, Archibald
Menzies and James Menzies, who were also taken prisoners and were carried to
Carlisle and cast into the dungeons of Carlisle Castle. They, after suffering