by John Prebble
MACDONALD of Glencoe, Alasdair Og. Second son of MacIain above. A captain under Buchan at Cromdale. Fought at Killiecrankie and Dunkeld. Married to Sarah Campbell, Glenlyon's niece. Escaped from the massacre.
MACDONALD of Glencoe, John, 13th Chief of Clan Iain Abrach. First son of MacIain above. Escaped from the massacre, later submitted and took the oath on behalf of his clan. Received John Hill's protection.
MACDONALD of Achtriachtan, John. Tacksman of Glencoe and brother-in-law of John MacDonald, 13th of Glencoe. Accused with MacIain the 12th of the slaughter of several MacDonalds. Took John Hill's protection in 1691, but killed by Sergeant Barber's men during the massacre.
MACDONALD of Keppoch, Coll (b. 1670?). 15th Chief of Keppoch. Leader of the Lochaber Men with MacIain. Bitter feud with Mackintoshes. Fought at Killiecrankie and Dunkeld, raided Glen Lyon with the Glencoe men in 1689. Submitted and took the oath, January 1692. Asked for a Commission in William's army. ‘Coll of the Cows.’*
MACDONALD, Iain Lom, the Bard of Keppoch (1624?-1710?). One of the most famous Highland poets. Champion of Clan Donald, and violent opponent of William. Wrote a poem on the massacre.
MACDONALD, Ranald, of Achtriachtan. ‘Ranald of the Shield.’ Glencoe Bard. Fought at Inverlochy and Worcester. Believed to have been killed in the massacre, but there is no evidence that he was still alive then.
MACKAY of Scourie, General Hugh (1640–92). Commanded the Scots Division which landed with William 1688. Commander-in-Chief in Scotland 1689–90. Defeated by Dundee at Killiecrankie. Rebuilt the fort at Inverlochy 1690. Killed at Steinkirk 1692.
MACKENZIE, George, 1st Viscount Tarbat, 1st Earl of Cromarty (1630–1714). Statesman. Founder member of the Royal Society, writer on literature, science and philosophy. James II's chief minister in Scotland. Dismissed at the Revolution. Joined with Melville in a scheme for treating with the Rebels and buying off the chiefs. Scheme later adopted by Breadalbane. Became Secretary 1702, strong supporter of the Union.
MACPHAIL, Big Archibald, one of MacIain's clansmen. Legendary figure long remembered. Stories of his exploits preserved in the Dewar Manuscripts. May have been dead by the year of the massacre, but no evidence.
MATHESON, Murdoch (1677?-1757), Bhard Mhathanach, the Matheson Bard. Believed to have been in Glencoe as a guest of MacIain on the night of the massacre. Was probably the author of a long poem on the event usually attributed to the Bhard Mhucanach, the Muck Bard, about whom little or nothing is known.
MELVILLE, George, 4th Baron, 1st Earl of Melville (1634?-1707). Staunch Presbyterian, fled to Holland during reign of Charles II and returned with William in 1688. Appointed Secretary of State for Scotland with task of pacifying the Highlands. Worked with Tarbat. Was joined in the Secretaryship by Stair, and later unseated by him. Deprived of all offices 1702.
MENZIES, of Fornooth, Major Duncan. Jacobite officer. Led some of his clan to join Dundee against the wishes of his chief, who supported William. Was present at the Achallader Meeting in June 1691. Went to France with Barclay to secure James II's discharge for the chiefs. Returned just before Christmas 1691. In January 1692 unsuccessfully appealed for time to persuade the chiefs to come in.
STEWART of Appin, Robert (1667?–1730?), 9th Chief of Appin. Hastened from college to join his clan in 1689, when it was led by his Tutor, John Stewart of Ardshiel. Said to have been present at Killiecrankie. Involved with Alasdair Og MacDonald in an assault on troops from the garrison at Fort William. Came in to take the oath after the massacre, but did not finally submit until two years later.
STUART, James, James II of England and VII of Scotland (1633-1701). As Duke of York was High Commissioner in Scotland for his brother Charles II, and was responsible for repressive measures against the clans. Became King, 1685. Fled to France when William landed, December 1688. Defeated by William at the Boyne in Ireland, 1690. Retired to Saint-Germain in France. Devoted himself to religious studies.
WILLIAM, Prince of Orange, Stadholder of the United Provinces, William III of England and II of Scotland (1650–1702). Son-in-law of James II. Accepted invitation to undertake an armed invasion of England 1688. Offered thrones of England and Scotland. His anxiety for the pacification of the Highlands, and the release of troops there, made him a party to Stair's plan for the slaughter of the Glencoe men. Reigned jointly with his wife Mary.
CHRONOLOGY
1645
Dec.
The MacDonalds of Glencoe and Keppoch raid Breadalbane on their way home from Montrose's army.
1646
June
The young men of Glencoe and Keppoch again raid Breadalbane and fight the Campbells at Sron a' Chlachain. Thirty-six Campbells killed.
1655
Glencoe men and Keppoch MacDonalds raid Glen Lyon and Breadalbane in strength. The raid of ‘Colin's Cows’.
1674
MacIain a prisoner in the Tolbooth at Inveraray. He is charged, with John MacDonald of Achtriachtan, with the slaughter of several people named MacDonald. MacIain escapes.
1678
The Highland Host is quartered on the Western Lowlands of Scotland.
1683
A Special Commission for Pacifying the Highlands goes on tour. Establishes itself at Achallader and is invited to visit MacIain at his house in Glencoe.
1685
The Marquis of Atholl leads the clans into Argyllshire after the failure of the 9th Earl of Argyll's Rising against James II. The Glencoe men ravage Kilbride, Cowal and Rosneath.
1688
Nov.
5
William of Orange lands at Torbay.
Dec.
22/25
James II flees to France.
1689
Mar.
James lands in Ireland.
Apr.
Convention of Estates in Edinburgh resolves that James has forfeited the Crown. William and Mary proclaimed King and Queen of Scotland.
May
11
The 10th Earl of Argyll and the Master of Stair offer William the Crown of Scotland in the Banqueting Hall at Whitehall.
13
The Earl of Melville appointed Secretary of State for Scotland.
18
The Jacobite clans, Glencoe among them, gather at Dalcomera under John Graham, Viscount Dundee.
July
27
The Battle of Killiecrankie. The Jacobites victorious over General Hugh Mackay of Scourie, but Dundee is killed.
Aug.
18
Sunday. The Jacobite clans are held at Dunkeld by the Cameronian Regiment commanded by William Cleland.
24
Muster of the first companies of the Earl of Argyll's Regiment of Foot.
The Jacobite chiefs enter into a bond for their mutual protection and to support James II. They then depart for their homes.
On their way home the Glencoe men and the Keppoch MacDonalds strip Glen Lyon from one end to the other.
1690
Mar.
Colonel John Hill arrives in Edinburgh from Belfast, offers his services in the pacification of the clans. The Earl of Breadalbane is given a commission to treat with the chiefs.
May
Thomas Livingstone routs Major-General Thomas Buchan's Jacobite forces at Cromdale. Hugh Mackay sends Captain Scipio Hill to the King at Chester, with plans for his fort at Inverlochy. Breadalbane also leaves for Chester to urge his proposals upon the King.
William authorizes the building of a fort at Inverlochy, John Hill to be its Governor.
June
18
Mackay marches north with an army to establish the garrison at Inverlochy.
July
1
James's Irish army defeated by William on the River Boyne.
3
Mackay and Hill arrive at Inverlochy. Work on the fort commences.
18
Mackay marches his army south, leaving Hill in command
Dec.
6
Fir
st mustering of Hill's Regiment of Foot.
1691
Jan.
The Master of Stair appointed Joint Secretary of State for Scotland with the Earl of Melville.
Apr.
Major Robert Duncanson appointed to the Earl of Argyll's Regiment at Crieff.
Robert Campbell of Glenlyon and Thomas Drummond receive commissions in the Argyll Regiment. Their companies mustered at Stirling.
May
Hill is given orders to reduce the rebel clans by force. Does nothing. Order later withdrawn. The Chiefs agree to treat with Breadalbane.
June
The Achallader Meeting between Breadalbane and the chiefs. His quarrel with MacIain. Treaty signed on 30th, also Private Articles.
23
In an order from Flanders, William gives Mary full power to ratify the treaty between Breadalbane and the chiefs.
July
Alasdair Og MacDonald of Glencoe, Robert Stewart of Appin, and others, raid two supply-boats on Loch Linnhe. Are imprisoned in Fort William and later released on the Queen's orders.
Aug.
Duncan Menzies of Fornooth and Sir George Barclay leave for France to obtain James II's permission for the chiefs to take the oath to William.
17
William offers pardon and indemnity to all those who take the oath provided they do so by 1 January 1692.
Those who do not are threatened with ‘the utmost extremity of the law’.
20
MacIain of Glencoe and his tacksman MacDonald of Achtriachtan are freely acquitted of the ‘slaughter’ charged against them (the killing of several persons named MacDonald).
26
The Privy Council issues a Proclamation declaring the King's offer of pardon and indemnity provided the oath is taken before 1 January.
28
Major John Forbes delivers a letter to Thomas Living-stone from John Hill, in which the Governor gives details of the Private Articles between Breadalbane and the chiefs.
Sept.
18
Stair writes to Breadalbane from Flanders, assuring him of the King's favour and that he does not believe the gossip against Breadalbane.
Dec.
The Earl of Melville is removed from the Secretaryship. The office is now held by Stair alone.
Stair writes to Breadalbane and to Lieutenant-Colonel James Hamilton at Fort William, exposing his intention to make an example of some of the clans, particularly the MacDonalds.
15
Orders issued for troops to march from the Lowlands to Inverness and Fort William.
Breadalbane arrives in London from the Highlands.
21
Duncan Menzies of Fornooth arrives in Edinburgh, carrying James's permission for the chiefs to do as they think best. He is too exhausted to travel farther, sends word to the Highlands. It reaches Lochiel some seven or eight days later.
29
Four hundred men of the Argyll Regiment under Major Duncanson march to Dunstaffnage and there take boats for Fort William.
30
Sir Ewen Cameron of Lochiel travels to Inveraray to take the oath to William, and probably leaves word at Ballachulish for MacIain.
30/31
MacIain comes to Fort William to take the oath before John Hill, who tells him that he must go to Inveraray.
He leaves at once, is arrested and held at Barcaldine Castle for twenty-four hours by Captain Thomas Drummond.
1692
Jan.
2
MacIain arrives in Inveraray and discovers that the Sheriff is away.
5/6
MacIain takes the oath of allegiance to William.
7
Stair writes to Livingstone, saying that he will soon be ordered to ravage the lands of Lochiel, Keppoch, Glengarry, Appin and Glencoe, and orders him not to trouble the Government with prisoners.
Stair and Argyll dine at Breadalbane's lodgings.
9
Stair hears a false report that MacIain has taken the oath in the time set, and says he is sorry to hear it.
11
Stair sends Livingstone the King's orders to proceed against those who have not taken the oath. He has now heard that MacIain has not taken the oath by 1 January, ‘at which I rejoice’. He says it will be a great work of charity ‘in rooting out that damnable sept’.
The King's order to Livingstone is ‘to cut off these obstinate rebels’.
16
Stair sends Livingstone the King's Additional Instructions, with particular orders to extirpate the MacDonalds of Glencoe. He writes also of this to Colonel Hill.
21/22
Major John Forbes, in Edinburgh, opens and reads Stair's letters and orders of 16 January, with their instructions to extirpate the MacDonalds of Glencoe. He sends them on to Fort William, and leaves for Inverlochy himself a day or so later.
29/30
Duncanson's troops arrive at Fort William.
Stair's letters and the King's Additional Instructions reach John Hill. Hamilton and Duncanson plan details of the massacre.
In London the news that MacIain has taken the oath, five days late, is now known. Stair writes to Living-stone saying he is glad that the chief did not come in
within the time prescribed. He writes to Hill telling him he can expect no more instructions than those of 16 January.
Feb.
1
Two companies of Argyll's Regiment are seen at Ballachulish by John Forbes.
Under Campbell of Glenlyon they march to Glencoe, where they ask for quarters, and are welcomed.
11/12
Stair's letter of 30 January, telling Hill there can be no further instructions, arrives at Fort William.
12
Hill orders Hamilton to carry out the instructions he has received from the Commander-in-Chief. Hamilton writes to Duncanson, now at Ballachulish, telling him to begin the killing at seven o'clock the next morning.
Duncanson writes to Glenlyon in Glencoe, ordering him to begin the massacre at five o'clock the next morning, and to spare none under seventy.
13
THE MASSACRE OF GLENCOE is begun at five o'clock in the morning. At seven, approximately, Duncanson arrives with his command from Ballachulish, and at eleven James Hamilton comes over the Devil's Staircase with four hundred men of Hill's Regiment.
14
John Hill writes to the Earl of Tweeddale. ‘I have ruined Glencoe.’
27
News of the massacre reaches London.
Mar.
Argyll's Regiment now quartered on Leith. In Edin-burgh, Glenlyon's boasting makes it public knowledge. Copies of Duncanson's order are circulated in the coffee-houses.
James Johnston of Warriston is now Joint Secretary with the Master of Stair, and begins his intriguing against his colleague.
Apr.
12
Copies of the Paris Gazette, containing a brief report of the massacre, have reached London and Edinburgh.
May
Charles Leslie publishes A Letter from a Gentleman in Scotland, a long account of the massacre.
June
Argyll's Regiment is quartered on Brentford. Leslie interviews some of the soldiers.
Aug.
John MacDonald of Glencoe brings his people down from the hills, and takes the oath to William.
The Argyll Regiment arrives in Flanders to reinforce William's army after the battle of Steinkirk.
1693
The Duke of Hamilton, as Royal Commissioner to Scotland, is ordered to inquire into the circumstances of the massacre. His orders are found to be inadequate, and little is done. He dies the next year.
1695
Apr.
The Marquis of Tweeddale tells the Scots Parliament that the King had ordered a Commission of Inquiry into the Massacre of Glencoe.
June
20
The Commission of Inquiry sends its Report to William.
‘MAJOR DUNCANSON'S CHRISTIAN ORDER’
THE order which Robert Duncanson wrote to Glenlyon from Ballachulish on 12 February 1692 was not given in evidence before the Commission of Inquiry in 1695. Members of the Scots Parliament, debating the Report of the Inquiry and the Massacre, complained that they had not seen it. Although many copies were circulated in Edinburgh during the spring of 1692, and were still available in 1695, it was never officially recognized. It was first published by Charles Leslie in the summer of 1692, and many times later in frequent accounts of the Massacre. Its wording varied with each reprinting, but the substance remained the same. What Glenlyon did with the order remains a mystery, but he did not place it with other regimental papers. It seems to have been in the possession of the Breadalbane family until some time in the nineteenth century. It then passed through several hands before being offered for sale at Christie's in June 1925. It was bought by James Ramsay MacDonald who presented it to the Advocate's Library, prior to its nationalization. Thus the order is now in the possession of the National Library of Scotland. At the time of its sale, its authenticity was questioned, but the signature was compared with others of Duncanson in the Scottish Record Office, and was declared to be genuine. It is my belief that the Glenlyon family jealously preserved this letter as evidence that Robert Campbell had done no more than obey orders given him, and that with the extinction of the family it was kept by the Breadalbane Campbells for the same reason.