Chapter XIV: Part 14

Being asked whether he was privy to the Neutrality signed by some Gentlemen amongst the Grants, whilst the Rebels were at Aberdeen, He saith, he was not privy to it in any shape, nor doth he know who were the conductors of that Neutrality.

After the Battle of Culloden some of the Grants remaining in arms for the Pretender’s Son the Exam^t and his Father were sent to by the Laird of Grant (who had never sent to the Exam^t or his Father during the Rebellion before) to go to the said People and persuade them to surrender: He saith, that he and his Father accordingly went to the said men, and with the assistance of the Rev^d Mr. John Grant prevailed with them to surrender, and marched with them for that purpose to Inverness, where to his great surprise the Exam^t, His Father, and the said Rev^d Mr. Grant were made Prisoners with the aforesaid Rebels, and sent up hither for he does not know what.

He saith, that he verily believes that the ill-usage his Father met with, served in a great degree to shorten his father’s life. He saith, that all his and his Father’s Cattle were taken from them for some time for not joining the Rebels: that he never held any correspondences with the Rebels in any shape, nor ever was instrumental in serving them at all, and that if he behaved civilly to them whilst they remained in the Country where the Exam^t was it was out of Fear and not the effect of Inclination.

Being asked whether it be his opinion that if the Laird of Grant had wrote to the People in the Country to rise for the Government the said People would have taken up arms for the Government, he saith, that he verily believes if the laird of Grant had done so, the Country would have joined the Kings Troops, and done all the service in their Power, but this was neglected by the said Laird of Grant till the Battle of Culloden was over, when the Exam^t joined the said Laird at his request with 50 or 60 men, being all who were capable of bearing arms in the Country, and that being the first and only Request which the Laird of Grant ever made to the Exam^t upon occasion of the Rebellion.

(Signed) JAMES GRANTT.

_Whitehall, August 14, 1746._
Taken before me, THOS. WAITE.

To HIS GRACE the DUKE OF NEWCASTLE, one of his Majesty’s
Principal Secretarys of State, the PETITION of ALEXANDER GRANT
of SHEWGLY, Esq., JAMES GRANT his son, and the Rev. Mr. JOHN
GRANT, minister of the Gospel at URQUHART, prisoners in Tilbury
fort.[583]

Humbly sheweth, that Lewis Grant of Grant, Esq^r, son of Sir James Grant, Bar^t, having with his men, some days after the Battle of Culloden, joyned his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland did by his Royal Highness’s Permission march with them to the Country of Urquhart near Inverness, to seize and bring in such Rebels as should be found in arms against the Government, That finding none he apply’d to your Petitioners who were then (as they had been ever since this unhappy rebellion) quiet and peaceable at their respective Homes entreating them as persons of Rank and Figure in that Country to use their best endeavours with such Rebels as might be still in Arms, to lay them down and surrender to the said Mr. Grant, with assurances that he would intercede with his Royal Highness in their behalf, and that after such surrender they should be permitted to return to their respective Places of Abode.

That your Petitioners were so successful as to prevail upon 84 Rebels of the name of Grant to surrender themselves and their arms to the said Mr. Grant, which he then thankfully and gratefully acknowledged as an event that would entitle him to some merit in his Royal Highnesses eye, and desired your Petitioners to accompany him and the said Rebel prisoners to Inverness, which they did.

That your Petitioners to their own, as well as the Neighbourhoods great surprise, were upon their Arrival at Inverness represented as Rebels and corresponding with those in open arms and as prisoners taken by him, and upon such false Information confined by his Royal Highness and have since been sent up prisoners without the least ground or charge but the false Information given by the said Mr. Grant.

That your Petitioners tho’ conscious of their own Innocence, and free from any guilt, have upon the said false Information been sent from Inverness to England and have in the course of the voyage been in no shape distinguished from those in open Rebellion, that from the great Hardships they have suffer’d, one of your Petitioners Alexander Grant near 70 years old, and a creditor by Mortgage for large sums of money upon the said Mr. Lewis Grant’s Estate, has been seized with and still lies ill of a Malignant Fever, and being, by Reason of his close confinement deprived of any assistance, is in danger of losing his Life whereby the said Mr. Lewis Grant’s sordid ends would be answered should this Petitioner die while under so heavy a charge as that of Treason.

Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray your Grace to take this their very hard case into consideration and admit them to liberty upon reasonable Bail to answer such charges as shall be brought against them, or, at least, to change their present Confinement into a more comfortable one with Liberty to an Agent to repair to them at seasonable Times, the better to enable them to manifest their Innocence, and the Falsehood and Malice of the Charge against them, when called to an open trial.

And your Petitioners shall ever Pray

LETTER from SIR DUDLEY RYDER,[584] Attorney-General and the Hon.
WILLIAM MURRAY,[585] Solicitor-General to the Secretary of State.

To His Grace the Duke of Newcastle

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR GRACE,--In obedience to his Majesty’s Commands signified to us by your Grace in your Letter of the 18^{th} instant with which your Grace sent us the inclosed Examinations of James Grant and John Grant brought up Prisoners on suspition of having joined with or been assisting to the Rebells in Scotland and who are now in custody of a Messenger, together with several Petitions, Certificates and other Papers herewith also inclosed; and directing us to take the said papers into Consideration, and Report our Opinion what proceedings may be proper thereupon.

We have considered the same, and as some of the Papers mention the name of Ludovick Grant, Esq^r, the Laird of Grant, as the person by whose means they were seized and Imprisoned, he being in Town, we thought it proper to give him notice of our Meeting to take the Papers into consideration. He was pleased to attend us and laid several matters of a Treasonable nature to their Charge. But as all those matters came to the knowledge of Mr. Ludovick Grant by Information from others only; and none of them fell within his own personal knowledge, and as it is a considerable time since the Prisoners have applied to be discharged; and no Information has yet been given against either of them upon oath; and neither Mr. Sharpe,[586] of whom we have inquired, nor Mr. Ludovick Grant know of any witnesses now here who can charge them upon oath; and the Prisoners are not yet committed either for Treason or suspition of Treason, and most of the things objected to them are only triable in Scotland. We beg leave humbly to submit it as our Opinion, that it may be advisable to admit them to Bail for their Appearance, before the Court of Justiciary in Edinburgh, at the first sitting of the said Court, after the first of December next, there to answer such things as may be then laid to their charge; when there Will be an opportunity of Committing and trying them in case evidence shall appear sufficient for that purpose. We proposed to Mr. Ludovick Grant, the only person who has appeared before us as their Accuser that they should be Bailed for their appearance at Edinburgh, and he has told us that he has no objection to it but thought it might be proper.

All which is most humbly submitted to your Grace’s Consideration.

(Signed) D. RYDER.
W. MURRAY.

_29th August 1746._

A NARRATIVE OF SUNDRY SERVICES PERFORMED, TOGETHER WITH AN ACCOUNT OF MONEY DISPOSED IN THE SERVICE OF GOVERNMENT DURING THE LATE REBELLION BY WALTER GROSSETT

To the Right Honourable LORD COMMISSIONERS of His MAJESTY’S
TREASURY, THE MEMORIAL of WALTER GROSSETT, ESQR.

HUMBLY SHEWETH--

That as your Lordships have been pleased to appoint the Report of S^r Everard Fawkener and Mr. Sharpe,[587] relating to the account of your Memorialist Services to the Government during the late Rebellion, to be read to-morrow, he humbly begs leave to refer thereto and to observe:--

That the Account above mentioned is Certify’d by the Lord Justice Clerk and all the Generals who Commanded in Scotland; and as several of the Services therein set forth were performed, by verbal as well as by written Orders he had the honour to receive from His Royal Highness the Duke while in Scotland, it was by his Royal Highness’s Directions that the said Account was above three years ago laid before your Lordships by S^r Everard Fawkener, and that the Report relating thereto is now signed by him.

That your Memorialist has not in that or any other Account charged anything for his Trouble or Loss of Time for upwards of four years, he has been employed in the Service of the Government as aforesaid and finding out and collecting the Evidences for the Crown against the Rebells assisting in carrying on the Prosecutions against them at London, York, and Carlisle, attending the Tryal of Provost Stuart at Edinburgh, finding Bills in Scotland against those who were excepted out of the Act of Indemnity and other Services.

That before the Rebellion your Memorialist as an officer of the Revenue rendered greater service thereto than ever was done by any officer thereof in Scotland.

That your Memorialists share of the Profits arising from the Condemnation of prohibited and uncustomed Goods seized by him the three years immediately preceding the Rebellion amounted to above £4000 and the Crowns to above double that sum; that the remarkable Part reacted for the Service of the Government, from the first Breaking out of the Rebellion, made the Rebells lay hold upon everything that belonged to him and amongst other Things upon the greatest part of the Goods so condemned as aforesaid, and by which he was (exclusive of his other losses by the Rebellion) a most considerable sufferer.

That more Goods have been run in Scotland since the Rebellion than ever was done before in that Country in the same space of time.

That your Memorialist had several Informations relating thereto, but could not Profit thereby, by reason of the manner in which he has these four years past been employed, in the more Important Services to the Government before mentioned.

That few would have undertaken these services by reason of the apparent Hazard and other fatal Consequences, with which they were likely to be attended, and which he has in many Instances felt.

That your Memorialists wife who died of the Cruel usage she met with from the Rebells, certfy’d as above, has left him four Children to provide for.

That your Memorialists younger brother Captain Grosset who was barbarously murdered by the Rebells,[588] and whose remarkable services during the Rebellion are well known to all the Generals who commanded in Scotland, as well as to his Royal Highness the Duke, has left a widow and five children to whose support your Memorialist is obliged to contribute.

That the Insults and insufferable ill usage which they as well as his own Children daily met with in Scotland, has obliged him to bring them all to England, and who are thereby in effect banished their Country for their Father’s faithful Services to the Government.

That the Expenses your Memorialist has been and is thereby put to, and by false and scandalous Libells and groundless and vexatious Lawsuits, on account of the Services before mentioned, not only far exceeds the one half of the Profits of the Commission in which he is joined with Sir John Shaw[589] (and which is the only mark of favour he has met with for his services, losses, and sufferings as aforesaid) but of his estate which is considerably lessened thereby and his other Losses by the Rebellion.

Upon the whole if your Memorialist is turned out of the Employment above mentioned, before he is other wise suitably provided for, it will in place of rewarding the important services certified as above, be punishing him in the severest manner Especially as by the wording of the Warrant by which he is to be turned out of that Commission (if that Warrant is allowed to take place) your Memorialist must unjustly be recorded as one unworthy to be continued in that Employment, which is doing all that can be done to ruin him and his Family, and must be attended with worse consequences to them, than if the Rebells had succeeded in the many attempts they made to deprive him of his Life, as they did in taking away his Brothers; or if he had suffered along with the Rebell Peers and others, who could not have been condemned if it had not been for the Evidences he procured against them; Many of whose families and even those who were most active in the Rebellion, enjoy at this Time more of their Estates and Fortunes than he does of his, in proportion to the respective amounts thereof, before the Rebellion, and are themselves caressed and esteemed, whilst your Memorialist and his Family, and that of his unfortunate Brother, are daily harassed, affronted and cruelly persecuted by the Influence of that Party without being Protected, supported, or properly Countenanced by that Government to whom we rendered so many real services, and on which account we are so great sufferers.

All which is humbly submitted, etc., etc.

[Endorsed.--Mr. Grossetts Memorial relating to the Report of S^r
Everard Fawkener and Mr. Sharpe upon the account of his Services
to the Government.]

NOTE.--In the Record Office there are two documents, one
entitled, ‘A NARRATIVE of Sundry Services performed by Walter
Grossett, Esqr., during the course of the Rebellion, etc.’ which
is countersigned as true by the Earl of Home and Generals Hawley,
Handasyde, Guest, and Cope. The other is entitled ‘An ACCOUNT
of Money,’ etc., and is certified by Andrew Fletcher, Lord
Justice-Clerk. The Narrative’ is repeated in the ‘Account’ with
only slight variations, so that there is no necessity to print
both documents, and the ‘Account’ only is given here. Passages
which appear in the ‘Narrative’ but have been omitted in the
‘Account’ are replaced here within square brackets.

An ACCOUNT of Money disposed by WALTER GROSETT, Esqr., in the Service of the GOVERNMENT during the late REBELLION, upon Particular Occasions and by Directions hereafter mentioned.

The Rebells upon their arrival at Perth, having
formed a Scheme of surprizing the Town of
Edingburgh by crossing the River Forth in Boats
and Vessells as they had done in the year 1715:
Mr. Grosett as a Justice of the Peace, did by
direction of the Lord Advocate[590] of the 3rd
and 9th September 1745 with the assistance of
the Constables and Tide Surveyors, Kings Boats
and Crews stationed at Dunbar, Kirkaldy, Leith,
Queens Ferry, Borrostouness and Alloa, who by
order of the Board of Customs were put under Mr.
Grosett’s Directions, Remove all Ships, Boats
and vessells from the North side of the Forth to
the Harbours of Dunbar, Leith, Queen’s Ferry,
and Borrostouness, on the south side of the said
River [in so effectual a manner that the Rebells
after various attempts, finding themselves
disappointed in their Designs were obliged to
march their army from Perth round the Heads
of the Forth and cross that River at a Ford
some Miles above Stirling which gave time to
the Kings Troops under Sir John Cope to return
from Inverness to the Relief of Edinburgh, had
not that Town been shamefully given up to the
Rebells.]

[Sidenote: No. 1]

Expended on this Service to the Crews of £ s. d.
the King’s Boats and others who were employed
Night and Day therein for ten Days
and for Intelligence of the Motions of the
Rebells and other Expences 29 10 0

The Rebells having upon the 13th of Septemr.
crossed the Forth at a Ford some miles above
Sterling; Mr. Grosett by Direction of Lord
Justice Clarke removed the Ships and Vessells
from the Harbours of Borristounness and Queen’s
Ferry, on the south side of the River, to
prevent the Cannon, Arms and Amunition on Board
of these Sloops and Vessells from falling into
the hands of the Rebells to prevent their having
any communication with the North side of the
River Forth otherwise than by going round the
Way they came, and which Mr. Grosett did, though
the Rebells had at this time by an advance party
taken Possession of the Town of Borristouness,
about 12 miles to the West of Edinburgh; Upon
Mr. Grosett’s return to Edinburgh, upon Sunday
the 15th in the Evening he found General
Fowke,[591] who was just arrived from England
with Lord Justice Clarke, together with General
Guest, and who approved of what Mr. Grosett
had done, and sent him with Orders to Colonel
Gardiner, to remain that Night with the Troops
at Coltbridge, about a Mile to the West of the
Town.

[Sidenote: No. 2]

Expended in this service 7 12 0

Upon the 16th of September Mr. Grosett was sent
out twice in the morning to get Intelligence of
the Motions of the Rebells, and to let General
Fowkes, who was then posted at Coltbridge, know
their Motions, and the last Account he brought
was that the Rebells had lain down upon their
Arms, about Twelve that Day near Kirklisten,
about 6 Miles to the West of Edinburgh, that the
Dragoons having soon after this upon the motion
of the Rebells towards them quit their Post at
Coltbridge and retired in some haste by the
North side of the Town about 3 that afternoon,
without sending the Party of Dragoons into the
Town as had been conserted in the morning of
that Day, and Lord Justice Clarke observing
that this might give a Handle for justifying
the Provest to give up the Town to the Rebells,
he sent Mr. Grosett to the Provest, to press
the Defence of the Town, and to assure him,
that as many of the Dragoons as he pleased to
desire should forthwith be sent in, to assist
in the Defence thereof, till Sir John Cope, who
was then hourly expected by sea from Aberdeen,
should come with the Troops to their Relief. But
the Provost, declining to defend the Town upon
Pretence of the Uncertainty of Sir John Cope’s
coming in time to their Assistance, Mr. Grosett
returned and acquainted Lord Chief Justice
Clarke thereof; and as by this time an Express
was arrived from Dunbar with Letters for Lord
Justice Clarke, giving an Account of the Arrival
of the Troops under Sir John Cope off Dunbar;
Mr. Grosett was the only Person who would
undertake to go back into the Town with these
Letters; but not being able to prevail with the
Provost to agree to the Defence thereof, he
left it about One in the Morning, and brought
Lord Justice Clarke an Account of what had past
[narrowly escaped falling into the Hands of
the Rebells, who by 5 in the Morning were in
full Possession of the Town, the Gates having
been opened to them; But the Particulars of
Mr. Grosetts Transactions, and the Provosts
Behaviour at this Juncture, will more fully
appear from a Narrative relating thereto,
formerly delivered by Mr. Grosett to His Grace
the Duke of Newcastle.[592]]

[Sidenote: No. 3]

Expended and Lost in this Service, Mr. Grosett
in his speedy Return to Edinburgh having lost
both his Hatt and Wig and killed one of his
Horses 16 17 0

[Sidenote: Sept. 1745]

Mr. Grosett having retired with Lord Justice
Clarke to Dunbar, and his Lordship having
upon the 18th Septemr. received Information
that the young Pretender was to be that Night
with some of the Chiefs of his Party at the
Dutchess of Gordon’s house,[593] about 7 miles
to the South-East of Edinburgh on their Road to
England, and that the First Column of the Rebell
Army was to march that way, Mr. Grosett was sent
by Lord Justice Clarke with proper Guides and
Assistants in the Night to reconnoitre and
send certain Intelligence of their Motions
and number; But receiving Information near
the Dutchess of Gordon’s House, that they
had changed their Resolution he returned and
acquainted Lord Justice Clarke thereof; From
this time to the Battle of Preston, Mr. Grosett
was employed in reconnoitering and procuring
Intelligence of the Motions and Designs of the
Rebells [narrowly escaped being killed the Night
before the Battle, by a Party of the Rebells who
lay in ambuscade in a Thicket of Wood on the
side of a hollow way, Mr. Grosett had to pass
through in going by the Directions of Sir John
Cope to observe their motions and numbers, as
they were drawing up in front of our army from
whence they fired close upon him, as he went
along, and from which Place they were drove by
our Cañon after Mr. Grosett’s return with an
Account of their Situation]; and the Day of the
Battle he Lost a Horse and all his Baggage,
the servant who had charge thereof being made
Prisoner by the Rebells.

[Sidenote: No. 4]

Expended and lost in this Service 33 6 0

[Sidenote: Sept. and Oct. 1745]

After the Battle of Preston Mr. Grosett went
from place to place to receive Information and
Intelligence of the Motions and Proceedings of
the Rebells and so soon as he heard of General
Handasyde’s commanding at Berwick sent his
brother Captain Grosett, who was Aid-de-Camp to
the General, the Intelligence he from time
to time procured of the Motions, and Designs
of the Rebells, and amongst other services
brought Prisoner to Edinburgh Castle with the
assistance of Mr. Brown and some Farmers,
Spalding of Whitefield[594] one of the Chiefs of
the Rebells, with Two others, who were secured
as they were returning, thro’ the West of
Scotland from the Rebell Army near Carlisle to
the North, in order to bring up about 3000 men
more from that Country, and for which purpose
he had written Orders from Mr. Murray, the
young Pretenders Secretary, Duke of Perth, Lord
George Murray, and others of the Rebell chiefs:
As also the particular Route they were to take
with these men until they should join the Rebell
Army, who were to halt for them at Carlisle. All
which Orders, Route and other Letters and Papers
found upon Whitefield and his servant were
delivered over with them to General Guest, then
in the Castle of Edinburgh.

[Sidenote: No. 5]

Expended in this Service 24 8 0

[Sidenote: Nov.]

Upon the 13th Novemr. Mr. Grosett met
Lord Justice Clarke at Musselburrow, and
returned with his Lordship to Edinburgh,[595]
and the Day after General Handasyde[596]
arrived there with two Regiments of Foot
and the Remains of Hamilton’s and Gardiner’s
Dragoons; That the Castle of Edinburgh
being at this time in great want of Provisions
of all sorts Mr. Grosett by order of
General Handasyde of the 16th Novemr.
procured and laid in a sufficient supply
thereof not only for the Garrison but for the
Troops, that should be employd in the
Defence of the Town.

[Sidenote: No. 6]

Expended in this Service 5 11 0

About this time the Rebells at Perth who
were about 3000 in number being reinforced
by the Landing of Troops in the North, with
Cannon and Stores from France; Therefore
in order to prevent the Kings Troops from
being surprized, and the Town of Edinburgh
falling again into the hands of the Rebells,
Mr. Grosett by Direction of Lord Justice
Clarke, and Orders from General Handasyde
of the 26th and 27th November 1745,[597] went
with proper Assistance and removed all the
Boats and Vessells that were at that time to
be found at the different Ports and Creeks
on the Northside of the River Forth,
between Kinghorn and Aloa, to the Southside
thereof.

[Sidenote: No. 7]

Expended in this Service 11 10 0

[Mr. Grosett at this time recovered seized
Goods to the value of £1800 which the Rebells
had carry’d off from the Kings Warehouse
at Leith, and in which he was greatly assisted
by Genl. Handasyde.]

When the Rebells came to Edinburgh there
were of seized and condemned Goods, in the
King’s Warehouse at Leith, to the Value of
about Ten Thousand Pounds, and as these
Goods were all carry’d off by the assistance
of the Rebells, and Mr. Legrand Collector at
Leith having upon their approach left Scotland,
Mr. Grosett at this time saved no
Labour or Expense to get Information by
whom these Goods had been carried off, and
where lodged, found out and secured with
the assistance of a Company of the Military
which he procured from General Handasyde,
as many of these Goods as were sold for
about £1500 and procured Information of
the Names of the Persons who with the
assistance of the Rebells carried these and
the greatest part of the other Goods from
the Kings Warehouse, and who are now
under Prosecution for that offence, as well
as for the value of the Goods, that Mr.
Grosett did not recover.

[Sidenote: No. 8]

Expended in this Service 68 14 0

[Sidenote: Dec.
1745]

That after the Removal of the Boats and
Vessells as above others having arrived, and
some of those that had been removed gone
back, and that it was found absolutely
necessary for the Service, that all Boats,
Ships, and Vessells whatsoever on the North
Coast betwixt Kinghorn and St. Andrews
down the River as well as those formerly
ordered to be removed betwixt Kinghorn
and Alloa up the River should be removed
to prevent the Rebells from getting across
with their Cannon, and as this cou’d not be
done without the assistance of some Ship of
Force to secure a Retreat in case of being
surprized by the Rebells who were in possession
of that Part of the Country; and as
the Captain of the _Milford_ Man of War was
ordered to concert proper measures with and
assist Mr. Grosett therein; Mr. Grosett by
Order of Lord Justice Clarke and General
Guest the 8th Decemr. 1745 went with the
Custom House Boats and other proper
Assistance and performed what was required
above.

[Sidenote: No. 9]

Expended in this Service for Intelligence 6 10 0

[Sidenote: Dec. 1745]

Mr. Grosett by Warrant of Lord Justice Clarke
and General Guest[598] of the 16th Decemr. 1745
removed with the Assistance of the Kings Boats
and _Happy Janet_ armed Vessell, all the Boats
and Vessells at the Creeks on the South side of
the Forth betwixt Borristouness and Sterling to
the Harbour of Borristouness to prevent their
being forced from these Places by the Rebells.
As also from Alloa a Quantity of large Loggs
of Wood and long Planks to prevent the Rebells
making Floats thereof to cross with their Cannon
at Alloa, with which they proposed to attack
Sterling Castle.

[Sidenote: No. 10]

Expended in this Service 22 9 0

[Sidenote: Dec. 1745]

Lord Justice Clarke having received Intelligence
that the Rebells from the North were to force
their Passage across the River Forth at Haigens
and Carsy Nooks in flat bottomed Boats they were
bringing over Land from the Water of Earn, to
prevent which Mr. Grosett by Directions of his
Lordship the 19th Decemr. 1745[599] went and
got that Part of Sterling Shire which lies next
to the River put in arms to defend the Banks
thereof, and by Order of General Guest of the
same Date engaged and stationed the _Pretty
Janet_ armed Vessell with proper Hands, which he
procured at Borristouness to defend the Passage
at Haigen’s Nook and the _Jean_ armed Sloop that
at Carsey Nook which effectually prevented the
Designs of the Rebells at this Juncture.

[Sidenote: No. 11]

Expended in this Service 17 4 0

[Sidenote: Dec. 1745]

To prevent the Rebells, upon their crossing
the River Esk in their Return from England into
Scotland, having it in their Power to secure
a ready communication between them and their
friends in the North, and to get from thence the
Cannon and other Military Stores that had been
landed there by the French; Mr. Grosett by order
of Lord Justice Clarke and General Guest of the
21st December 1745[600] was directed instantly
to remove all Vessells and Boats of whatever
Size out of the Harbours of Borristouness,
Queens Ferry or any where else upon the South
Coast of the Forth to such Places as he should
think most proper for his Majesty’s Service
at so critical a juncture and who accordingly
removed all Boats and Vessells whatever that
could be floated [to the Roads of Queens Ferry
and Borristouness under the command of the
armed vessells lying there, which effectually
frustrated the Designs of the Rebells.]

Expended in this Service 8 6 0

Expended in forwarding from Borristouness
Powder, Ball, Grape Shot, and other
ammunition sent thither from the Castle of
Edinburgh for the use of the Castle of
Sterling: _Pretty Janet_ armed Vessell stationed
at Haigens Nook and the _Jean_ armed
Sloop at Carsy Nook to prevent the Rebells
crossing at these Ferries by order of General
Guest of 22nd Decemr 1745[601] 3 12 0

Upon the Return of the Rebells from England
to Scotland Orders being given to the two
Regiments of Foot Prices and Ligoniers, and
to the Glasgow Regiment and three Paisly
Companies,[602] to march from Sterling to
Edinburgh for the Defence of that Place,
Intelligence being then received that the
Rebells were at Moffat, in their Road to
Edinburgh which City was at this time (by the
Retreat of the two Regiments of Dragoons from
thence to Haddington in their way to Berwick)
left without any other Force but the Edinburgh
Regiment[603] and as it was probable, that
the Rebells might in this situation attempt
to intercept the Troops in their March from
Sterling to Edinburgh; Mr. Grosett was
Dispatched, with Orders from Lord Justice Clarke
and General Guest[604] for hireing and pressing
a number of Boats and Ships, for embarking
if necessary the Troops at Borristouness, at
which place they were expected from Sterling
that night; that Provisions should be laid in
for Berwick but that they should stop at Leith
Road for Orders. Mr. Grosett having agreeable
to these Directions saved no Expense and Labour
in a service of so much Importance had Ships
and Boats at Borristouness for embarking and
transporting the Troops by the time they came
there which was about Twelve at Night. By these
means the Troops and the Glasgow and Paisly
Militia, about a Thousand in Number, who unable
to continue their march being embarked at
Borristouness with the Baggage belonging to the
whole. They arrived on the morning of the 24th
Decemr. in the Road of Leith much about the Time
that the other Troops, who were forwarded by
Horses from Linlithgow, arrived at Edinburgh;
and who upon their Arrival at Leith were ordered
to disembark there, and by that Means and the
Number of Volunteers One Thousand and upwards
whom Lord Justice Clarke got to take up Arms
in the Neighbourhood of Edinburgh, and march
immediately into the Town. The Rebells being
deterred from coming forward to Edinburgh took
the Road to Glasgow, where they arrived the 25th
Decemr. 1745.

To forward this Service Mr. Grosett got
from General Guest 100 gunners and expended
therein 74 8 0

To Charges sending from Borrostownness and
destroying two Boats by Order of Lord Home 23d
Decemr. 1745[605] which the Friends of the
Rebells had got privately concealed, and made
use of for carrying Intelligence, and Dispatches
to and from their friends on the opposite side
of the Forth the one at Newton Pow and the other
at Carron Water 2 16 0

[Sidenote: Dec. 1745]

The Castle of Edinburgh being at this time
crowded with a great Number of Prisoners, and
particularly with those taken by Captain Hanway
of the _Milford_ Man of War, near Montrose,
on Board the _Lewis_ a French Transport from
Dunkirk;[606] and as the keeping them there was
looked upon to be at this time dangerous Mr.
Grosett by Order of Lord Justice Clarke and
General Guest hired to Transports and shipt off
these with other Prisoners at Leith for Berwick
the 26th Decemr. 1745 with a Company of Foot on
Board each Transport as a Guard.

[Sidenote: No. 16]

Expended in this Service 6 4 0

[Sidenote: Jan. 7, 1745-6]

Lord Justice Clarke having received Intelligence
that the Rebells at Glasgow, being reinforced
by their Friends from the North were preparing
to March from that to attack Edinburgh Mr.
Grosett was thereupon sent with a Warrant from
his Lordship and from General Guest of the 1st
Janry.[607] to take and bring from Borristowness
or from on Board the Shipping lying in the
Road of that Place all the Cannon he could
meet with to be placed upon the Walls of the
City of Edinburgh for the Defence thereof. The
Rebells upon their going into England, having
carried off or destroyed all the Cannon that
were formerly placed there for that purpose: Mr.
Grosett went accordingly and provided them,
and brought them in a vessell to Leith; But the
Troops under General Hawley[608] arriving by
this time at Edinburgh, it was then not thought
necessary to bring them to that Place.

[Sidenote: No. 17]

Expended in this Service 12 13 0

[Sidenote: Jan. 1745-6]

Lord Justice Clarke having received certain
Intelligence,[609] that the Rebells were
erecting considerable Magazines at Alloa and
that they proposed bringing their Cannon to
that Place, as the most convenient for getting
them across the River Forth, in order to their
laying siege to Sterling Castle; His Lordship
acquainted Generals Hawley and Husk thereof
and Scheme was thereupon formed for getting
Possession of their Cannon or at least retarding
their getting them across the River, till the
General should be ready to march with the Army
to the Relief of Sterling; In Order thereto
two Sloops of War were sent up the River, and
Transports got ready by Mr. Grosett, to take on
Board Troops at Leith, [where a Regiment lay
ready to be embarked upon an hours warning].
Matters having been thus prepared, and Lord
Justice Clarke having saved no expence in
procuring Intelligence had twice a day at least
certain Accounts from Alloa and other Places in
that Neighbourhood giving the whole Proceedings
of the Rebells and having early in the
Morning upon the 8th of Janry. ‘received sure
Information that Lord John Drummond and Lord
George Murray with the whole of the Cannon, with
which the Rebells proposed to attack Sterling
Castle were to be that Night at Alloa escorted
only by about 200[610] of the Rebells they
being under no apprehensions of meeting with
any Disturbance on that side of the River, the
Bridge of Sterling being Cut and the Rebell Army
betwixt them and the Kings Troops; His Lordship
and General Husk came thereupon to Leith and got
300 of the Troops that lay there immediately
embarked on this Expedition to be commanded by
Colonel Leighton,[611] and conducted by Mr.
Grosett. As the Rebells at Alloa could have
no Intelligence of their Designs, the Passage
across the Forth, being for some time before
this stopt everywhere, and as the Wind when they
sailed proved favourable they thought themselves
sure of surprizing the Rebells that Night at
Alloa. But as by the time they had got one third
of the way thither, the Wind turned flat against
them it was one o’clock next Day before they
got to Hegins Nook three Miles below Alloa and
where they were stopt from proceeding farther
by the Ebbing of the Tide. Upon their Arrival
there Mr. Grosett having received Intelligence
from Alloa that the Rebells were shipping their
cannon on Board of a Vessell, with a Design to
proceed in the Night, and to land them on the
opposite side of the River about two Miles above
that Place so soon as the Tide would admitt of
the Vessell’s floating and Sailing from that
Harbour; and as Mr. Grosett was perfectly well
acquainted with the River and every Corner of
the Country, to prevent this, Fifty Soldiers
and as many armed Sailors were put on board
one large and two smaller Boats with orders
to pass privately in the Night to the Rebells
Batteries at Elphinstone and Alloa and lye at a
Place appointed about a mile above Alloa, where
the Vessell with the Cannon was to pass, and
where they could not be observed, either from
Alloa, or even from the Vessells on Board of
which they had shipped their Cannon ’till they
were just upon them, by reason of the windings
and Turnings of that River and as Mr. Grosett
had procured proper Pilots for that purpose,
they got to the Place appointed, without being
observed either from Elphingstone or from Alloa;
and as the same Flood Tide and Depth of Water,
that would have carry’d the Vessell with the
Cannon from Alloa could have carried the Sloops
of War there, they could not in this situation
have failed, in securing the Vessell and Cannon:
But the Commander of the largest Boat, being
seized with an unreasonable Pannick, could
not be prevailed with to stay at the place
appointed tho’ there was much less Danger in
remaining there than in returning: For as in
their Return they alarmed the Rebells at Alloa
by one of the Boats taking the Ground near that
Place, they had a continued Fire to get thro’
as they past Alloa and Elphingstone Batteries;
But Mr. Grosett having by order of Lord Justice
Clarke taken 200 Matts of Flax from on Board
a Dutch ship in the Road of Leith,[612] and
placed these along the sides of the Boats there
was only one man killed and another wounded on
this Expedition, and which answered the end so
far as to keep the Vessell from Sailing, and
the Rebells from getting their Cannon at this
time across the River, as they had projected;
Mr. Grosett receiving at this Juncture
Information from Alloa that the Rebells there
were not even at this time above 200 strong:
they upon the Return of the Boats landed the
Troops at Kincairdin about three miles below
Alloa, with a Design to attack them by Land.
But Mr. Grosett being soon after acquainted
by different Expresses from Alloa that the
Rebells had just received a Reinforcement of
300 men they returned and reimbarked the Troops
without any Loss. That Day the Vessell with
the Cannon sailed from Alloa; But Mr. Grosett
having fallen upon a method to get one of the
Sailors who knew the River, and whom they had
forced out to assist in the conducting of this
Vessell persuaded to run her on Ground on
some of the Banks in her Passage up the River;
Upon receiving Information that the Vessell was
accordingly grounded, and that the Rebells had
thereupon dismounted their Battery at Alloa,
and were transporting all the Cannon they had
there by Land two miles above Alloa in order to
cross them there. It was thereupon resolved to
attack their Battery at Elphingstone, and after
silencing the Cannon there to proceed with small
Vessells and Boats, and set Fire to the Vessell
that lay a Ground, with the Cannon and other
Military Stores: The Battery at Elphingstone was
accordingly attacked with great Resolution and
Bravery by the Captains of the _Vulture_ and
_Pearl_ Sloops of War, assisted by the _Pretty
Janet_ armed Vessell and _Jean_ armed sloop:
And after about three hours close cannonading
within less than Musquet Shot of the Battery,
all their Cannon but one were silenced: But the
_Pearl_ having her cable cut asunder by a Cannon
ball, she was forced from her Station by the
strength of the Ebb-Tide, and the Two Pilots
of the _Vulture_ (one of them a Shipmaster at
Elphinstone who at Mr Grosett’s Request came
to his assistance in this Expedition) having
each of them at this Time Lost a leg by another
Cannon ball, and by which Accident they both
Dyed; They were obliged to quit the Battery;
This attack however so far answered the End
as to prevent the Rebells from crossing with
their Cannon; For upon making this Attack
they brought back their Cannon to Alloa, and
placed them upon the Battery, there to prevent
the Kings Ships and Troops from procedeing
farther up the River, and getting Possession of
the Vessell that lay aground above that Place
with the Cannon and Ammunition. In this whole
affair Two men were killed, Two lost a leg each
by which they died and one an Arm by the Cannon
from the Batteries, Ten others were wounded, but
not disabled; the Chief Engineer and several
others of the Rebells were killed and many
wounded. Mr. Grosett having on the 11th January
received a letter from Lord Justice Clarke with
an Order inclosed from General Hawley to Colonel
Layton to return with the Troops to join the
Army who were then ready to march to the Relief
of Sterling Castle, they thereupon returned
accordingly; But Mr. Grosett having before he
left that country concerted Measures for getting
the Vessell burnt that was grounded as above in
which the Cannon had been transported from Alloa
it was done accordingly without the Rebells
knowing how it came about.

Lord Justice Clarke in his letter, dated the
10th Janry. 1745/6,[613] having sent Mr.
Grosett a Letter from General Hawley to General
Blackeney[614] who at that time commanded
in the Castle of Sterling with Directions to
use all methods possible to get it delivered
and answered, as on it depended Matters of the
greatest Consequence; Mr. Grosett not only got
the Letter safely delivered, but an answer
thereto, tho’ the Rebells were at that time in
Possession of Sterling and suffered none they
could observe to go near the Castle and upon
which they kept the strictest Guard.

[Sidenote: No. 18]

Expended in all these Services, for Provisions,
Intelligence, Boats, Pilots, etc. 39 4 0

Upon the 12th January 1745/6 Mr. Grosett
returned to Edinburgh from this Expedition, and
upon the 13th was sent early next morning by
Lord Justice Clarke to procure Intelligence of
the motions of the Rebells for General Husk, who
was that Day to march with the First Division
of the Army from Edinburgh for Linlithgow;[615]
Upon Mr. Grosett’s coming near that place,
being informed by some Country People he had
sent into the Town, for Intelligence that
about Twelve hundred of the Rebells had that
Morning taken Possession thereof and given
out that they were resolved to dispute their
Quarters with the Kings Troops. Mr. Grosett
returned and acquainted the General thereof who
thereupon made the proper Dispositions. The
Town of Linlithgow lying in a Hollow upon the
South side of a large Lake which cuts off all
Communication with or access to the Town from
the North and Mr. Grosett having acquainted the
General of this and of the situation of the
country The General in order to surprize and
cut off the retreat of the Rebells to Falkirk
where the Main body of their Army lay sent a
strong advance Party forward with orders to
halt, and remain upon a rising Ground upon the
Road about a mile from the East Gate of the
Town, and within Sight thereof, and marched the
Main Body round another way; which Mr. Grosett
conducted them by the South side of the Town
where they could not be observed by the Rebells,
till they came near the West Gate thereof; and
the Rebells having no suspicion of the Main
Body’s advancing upon them, while the Advance
Guard stood still in sight, their communication
with the Main Body of their Army, would by these
means have been cut off, if one of their Friends
upon accidentally seeing the King’s Troops
marching under cover of a Rising Ground by the
South side of the Town, had not rode into the
Place and given the Alarm to the Rebells who
thereupon fled with such Precipitation that the
Troops could not come up with them.[616] Lord
[George Murray, Lord Elcho, and others of their
Chiefs left their Dinner just as it was going
to be set upon the Table. The Dragoons pursued,
but not being able to come up with them they
took Possession of the Bridge of Linlithgow,
over the water Avon, about a mile to the West
of that Place, left a sufficient Guard there,
and then went into the Town, and eat the Dinner
the Rebells had provided, and got ready for
themselves.] The Person who gave the alarm was
apprehended together with one of the Rebells,
and sent Prisoners to Edinburgh, and Mr. Grosett
after General Husk appointed proper Places for
Out Guards returned to Lord Justice Clarke
and General Hawley with an Account of these
proceedings.

[Sidenote: No. 19]

Expended in this Service 4 5 0

The Army being in great want of Gunners and
other proper persons for the Artillery which was
to march the 15th; but could not get forward
’till these were provided Mr. Grosett by order
of Lord Justice Clarke and General Hawley went
to Borristownness, and brought from thence nine
or Ten Sailors for that purpose who had been
Gunners on Board of Men of War.

[Sidenote: No. 20]

Expended in this Service being obliged to
advance money to each of them to subsist
their Families in their Absence before they
would agree to go upon this service 16 8 0

Lord Justice Clarke having on Thursday the 17th
January in the morning received Intelligence of
Importance relating to the Motions and Designs
of the Rebells; Mr. Grosett was immediately
dispatched by his Lordship, to acquaint General
Hawley thereof. After the Battle which happened
that day, Mr. Grosett was sent back to acquaint
Lord Justice Clarke what had happened but more
especially to let his Lordship know that the
Kings Troops had at last beat the Rebells from
and kept the Field of Battle ’till obliged
to leave it for want of Provision, and leave
Seven of their Cannon on the Field for want of
Horses to carry them off. This Account gave
the greater Joy to Lord Justice Clarke, and
the other good Friends of the Government at
Edinburgh, as before that time they had, by
the Flight of the Troops to that Place, been
much alarmed with the Accounts they gave of the
Defeat of the Kings Army:[617] As the Troops
in their Flight to Edinburgh occasioned those
that had been sent from theme with Provisions
for the Army to return towards that place. Mr.
Grosett therefore by Order of Lord Justice
Clarke returned immediately on fresh Horses to
force them all back to Linlithgow there not
being a Morsel of Provision to be had on any
Consideration there for the Troops, who had all
of them been obliged to retire to that Place for
want thereof, and who by that means were well
supply’d. But as the General did not think it
advisable to remain there with the Troops, he
sent Mr. Grosett back to Lord Justice Clarke to
get Quarters provided for the whole Army against
their Arrival at Edinburgh and which was done
accordingly by the time they got there which was
about Four in the afternoon.

[Sidenote: No. 21]

Expended in this Service and for Assistance
to get forward the Provisions to Linlithgow 5 14 0

[Sidenote: Jan. 1745/6]

Lord Justice Clarke having formed a Scheme
to release the Officers of the Kings Troops,
who had been made Prisoners at the Battle of
Preston, and bring them by force from the
respective places to which they were upon their
Parole confined in that Part of the Country of
which the Rebells had at that time Possession.
In order thereto (after those at Glames
were brought to Edinburgh) a Company of the
Argyleshire Highlanders were (by Order of Lord
Justice Clarke and General Hawley [to Colonel
Campbell][618] of the 20th January) put under
Mr. Grosett’s Directions who crossed the Forth
with them in the Night at Queens Ferry, and with
their assistance secured and brought safely to
Edinburgh from different Parts of the Shires
of Fyfe and Perth, Colonel Halket, Captains
Stewart, Cochrane, and Dundas who at that
time were prisoners with the Rebells in these
Countries.[619]

[Sidenote: No. 22]

Expended in this Service for Boats, Freight
Horse hire 6 11 0

[Sidenote: Jan. 1745/6]

Lord Justice Clarke having on the 25th January
about Eight at Night received Information that
the Rebells had formed a Design of surprizing
the Kings Troops that night at Edinburgh, and
in particular the Argyleshire Highlanders, who
were the Advance Guard to the Kings Army, Mr.
Grosett accompanied by Lieutenant Campbell of
the Edinburgh Regiment, went by His Lordships
Orders, and acquainted Colonel Campbell, and the
other officers thereof who commanded the advance
parties some miles from the Town, to put them
upon their Guard, and at the same time employed
proper Persons to patrole the Country the whole
of that Night, to give timely Notice of the
Motions and Approach of the Rebells, and who
finding out had got Information of their Design
came no farther than Linlithgow.

[Sidenote: No. 23]

Expended in this Service 1 10 0

Upon the 29th January 1745/6 Mr. Grosett was
sent by Lord Justice Clarke and General Hawley
to meet the Duke and acquaint His Royal Highness
that the Troops were ready to march and that
the Guards, Coaches, and Relays of Horses were
at the proper stages for forwarding His Royal
Highness in the most expeditious manner to
Edinburgh.

[Sidenote: No. 24]

... and in getting Coach 1 4 0

[Sidenote: Jan. 1745/6]

The Duke upon his arrival into Scotland[620]
found it necessary for the Service to send two
armed Vessells and 100 of the Troops along the
Coast of Fife with Sundry Warrants which were
only to be shewn and put in execution as things
Cast up; These Troops were accordingly embarked
by Mr. Grosett, and as His Royal Highness was
upon the Recommendation of Lord Justice Clarke
pleased to direct that he should have the
conducting of this Expedition, and executing
of these warrants as occasion should require:
The following Order to Captain Coren[621] the
Commanding Officer of that Party was with
the Warrants therein referred to delivered
to Mr. Grosett, viz:--

‘You are to be assisting to Walter Grosett Esq.
one of His Majesty’s Justices of the Peace in
executing divers Warrants which he will shew you
when proper.’[622]

In consequence thereof Mr. Grosett upon the 30th
January sailed in the evening from Leith, with
the said Vessell and Party, and proceeded to
different places on the North Coast betwixt St.
Andrews and Alloa, secured all the Magazines
of Provisions, which the Rebells had on that
Coast, returned the Provisions (being Oatmeal)
to the Persons from whom it had been taken by
the Rebells, as they were all of them well
affected to the Government, and secured nine of
the Rebells and sent them by Order of the Duke
prisoners to Sterling, His Royal Highness being
at this time there with the Army.

[Sidenote: No. 25]

Expended in this Service for Boats Freight, and
other Charges in embarking the Troops, Landing
and reimbarking them from time to time as
occasion required, subsistence to them and for
Information, Guides, etc. 28 4 0

[Sidenote: Feb. 1745/6]

[Sidenote: No. 26]

Expended in providing Boats at Leith and Horses
at Kinghorn for carrying with the utmost
Expedition a Quantity of Ammunition for the Army
at Perth by Order of Lord Justice Clarke of the
8th February 1 15 0

Upon the arrival of the Hessian Troops in the
River Forth the 8th February: The Prince
of Hesse having sent Colonel Steuart[623] to
Lord Justice Clarke to know where they were to
disembark; Mr. Grosett was thereupon directed
by His Lordship to proceed with the utmost
expedition to the Duke then at Perth to acquaint
His Royal Highness thereof,[624] and to know
his Pleasure, [whether they should disembark
at Leith, or be ordered to the North]; And Mr.
Grosett having by three in the morning received
his Royal Highness’s Directions to prepare
for disembarking them at Leith he immediately
returned to Lord Justice Clarke with these
Directions.

[Sidenote: No. 27]

Expended in this Service for Boats Freight
to and from Kinghorn, and for Horses from
that to and from Perth, and Coach Hire
betwixt Leith and Edinburgh 2 15 0