AT HAMILTON IN THE FORTY-FIVE.
(To the Editor of the Hamilton Advertiser.)
(27th June 1874.)
The article below was printed in the Hamilton Herald on the 27th June 1874 and was sent to the paper by a local man called W.N. Hamilton. The letter was explaining the demands of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s army and it documents the names of the Farmers & business owners of the time. The farmers were given no choice and they had to supply Charles Edward Stuart’s army with forage and grain that they demanded, or else! Charlie’s army did not pay for what they had demanded, It was easy to persuade people to part with their goods when you are pointing a gun at them.
Today there is still a working farm that was mentioned in the 1745 document and with grateful thanks to the farmer Billy Brownlie, was kind enough to share a picture with Wilma Bolton who transcribed the 1874 newspaper article from the Hamilton Herald.
Dear Sir, I enclose a copy of a document in my possession, the minute of a meeting held at Hamilton on the last day of 1745, to consider a demand made on the parish for supplies of forage and corn for the use of Charles Edwards’s army, then occupying Glasgow. Should you be able at any time to find a space for it in your columns, it may be interesting to some of your readers.
Besides giving a glimpse of a state of things to which, within her own borders, our country has happily been long a stranger, it possesses, in its record of the sederunt, considerable local interest.
The largeness of the attendance, and the extreme promptitude with which the whole business was gone about, are significant of the light in which the “military execution” threatened was regarded. Fortunately for our fathers, the pressure put upon them was of short continuance, the Pretender having remained but a few days at Glasgow. “from which city.” Smollett says, ” he exacted severe contributions on account of its attachment to the Government.” I do not know whether John Murray who had signed the order referred to in the minute may have been Lord John Murray, who commanded part of the rear-guard of the Highland army in the retreat from Derby. And, who near Penrith. some twelve or thirteen days before the date of our meeting, had at the head of the Macphersons attacked and repulsed two regiments of dragoons sent to harass his march. The spelling is in all their variations, have been transcribed exactly as in the original document. I am Yours truly W.N. Hamilton, June 1874. HAMILTON 31st December 1745.
In consequence on ane order Delivered yesterday to the Baillies of Hamilton & James Naismith of Ravenscraig anent the providing of Forrage* & Corn for the use of the Cavalry while lying at Glasgow intimation is being made by Expresses to the whole heritor and tennants in the paroch of Hamilton who reside therein to meet at Hamilton this day in order to Consider of what should be proper to be Done in Consequence thereof.. *(Hay, fodder etc) Convened.
THOMAS HUTTON of Smiddie Croft for PENEAITLAND & himself
JOHN HENDERSON for Earnock
JAMES STRANG, your*(younger) of Meikle Earnock.
Mr Ret. HAMILTON of Burnbank.
DAVID MARSHALL your, of Neilsland for himself and Jno. CORBET in Mirrietoun.
THOMAS BORLAND of Udston.
JAMES BAILLIE of Woodside.
JOHN SOMERVILLE son to Rbt, SOMERVILLE of Silvertonhill.
JOHN ALSTON of Mains.
JOHN BORELAND of Allinshaw.
JAMES CUNNISON of Whitehill & Sunnyside.
ARCHD. CUNNISON one of the present Baillies of Hamilton
WILLIAM SMITH of Devonhill.
R0T*. WILSON, wright in Hamilton for Fairholm, Baillie JOHN SYME and himself. (*Robert)
VM. BOGLE of Top.
JAMES NAISMITH of Ravenscraig for JOHN AIKMAN of Ross, ARTHUR NAISMITH of High Auchingraymont and himself.
JOHN CLARK in Welshaw for Welshaw and Clark’ part of Little Udston.
THOS. ROBERTOUN of Kennedys, Earnock.
JAMES KEDDER for Eddlewood.
JOHN HENDERSON por* of Meikle Earnock. (*Portioner. Owner of land, previously divided amongst co-heirs.)
JOHN CORBET in Sunnyside for JOHN CORBET in Meikle Earnock.
WM. JACKSON. for ROT. BUCHANAN’S part of Little Udston.
JOHN McGHEE of Highstonehall.
ALEX. EDGAR of Netherhouse.
THOMAS SMITH for Earnock Muir.
MR JAMES MILLER
ANDREW CARNDUFF in Bent.* (* Bent farm stood at the corner of Arden Rd and 17 Bridge Street.) WB
WILLM. CALDER in Hollinbush.
JAMES WILSON. Simpsonland.
JAMES GOLDER in Thornyhill.
JAMES RENWICK in Blackbog.
JAMES HAMILTON in Garscall.
JAMES WILSON yr.
JOHN WILSON yr.
Wm. WILSON, in Quarter
ANDREW HADDOW yr.
JAMES WILSON yr.
JOHN HAMILTON in Laigh Quarter
THOMAS ALSTON in Thinnacker Mils.
THOMAS LOWDOUN in Thinnackers
ARCHD. BURN yr.
JEAN HADDOW. yr.
JOHN PATERSON yr.
JOHN CLARK yr.
GLAUD DAVIDSON yr.
JAMES YUILL in Walboog.
THOS. WILSON in Cruketstone.
ALEX. TORRANCE yr.
JOHN TORRANCE yr.
JAMES and JOHN MACKIES yr.
JAMES TORRANCE in Burnbrae.
JAMES LANG in Brountod.
ADAM and Wm.FLEMINGS in Airybog.
JOHN and Alexr. YUILE in Cornhills.
JOHN STRUTHERS in Laighmuirhouses.
Wm. MICKLE in Highmuirhouses.
ROBERT BURNS, JAMES FORREST, JOHN BURNS in Allanton.
MARION HINDSHAW and JANET HINDSHAW in Mirreton.
ANDREW WILSON in Boig.
JOHN WATT in Dykehead.
JOHN MILLER in Motherwell.
Wm. SMAILIE yr. for himself and HUGH SMITH.
JOHN CORBET and JOHN HENDERSON in Sunnisides.
JOHN CORBET in Muirmains.
Rot. JAMESON in Little Earnock.
JOHN PIRRIE in Laighstonehall.
Alexr. CORBET in Ross.
ARTHUR FRAM in Udston
JOHN MILLER in Udston miln.
ANDREW WATSON in Little Udston.
JOHN RIVE. Tenementer in Hamilton.
JAMES JACK yr.
THOS. CUNNISON yr.
GEORGE ROBERTOUN yr. & THOS DUNING.
Rot. RALSTON. Yr.
JOHN ARCHER for Rot. MUIRHEAD’S heirs & Mr JOHN LOUDOUN.
WALTER NEILSON.
JOHN LAWSON for Mrs ALLAN & Rot. STORRY.
CHARLES WEIR for himself & THOS. YOUNG.
THOMAS HART.
DAVID CROW for himself and Raploch’s heirs.
WM. HAMILTON wright yr.
JOHN MUIR, maltman yr. & for ANDREW McDOWALL.
THOMAS BARR merch*. Yr. * merchant.
JOHN NAISMITH for himself & Rot. COUPER’S heirs & DAVID FLEMING coppersmith.
JOHN MEIKLE, barber.
JAMES BURNS by ROBERT WILSON.
Willm. STIRLING.
Mrs ANN HAMILTON by JAMES CUNISONE,
JAMES CORBETS elder and your.
CHARLES HAMILTON wright for himself & Castlehill.
JAMES NASMITH wright.
JOHN LAWSON for JOHN NASMITH, Shoemaker.
Wm. MILLER, wright
JOHN MILLER, coppersmith.
Wm. JACK, messr.
Alexr. MILLER maltman and for Jas. STEWART.
THOS ROBERTOUN.
Rot. COUPER.
JOHN WALKER for Bardykes.
ROBERT CARSS.
JAMES PATERSON for Cunninger.
JAS. HAMILTON Avonmiln’s heirs.
JOHN SEMPLE’S heirs by Alex. MILLER.
JAMES MUIR for WILLIAM STEEL’S heirs.
The meeting made Choise of Archibald Cunnisen one of the present Baillies of Hamilton to be their Preses, who intimate to the meeting, that yesterday about eleven of the Clock,
There was delivered into his hand an order of the date the twenty ninth Instant directed to the Baillies of Hamilton, Walter Gilchrist, Sheriff Dept. & Arthur & James Naismith all of the Parish of Hamilton, signed John Murray By his Highness’s Command, requiring you, upon sight to meet at the Paroch Kirk & proportion what Quantity of Forage & Corn each individual in the Paroch Heretor or Tenant could Pay, and that conform to their own knowledge of the valuation for the Support of the Cavalry. While at Glasgow, to be sent to the Fish Mercat there, and if any of the Paroch did refuse obedience to the sd. Order, Certifying them Military Execution should be used agnst. their Goods & Effects.
The meeting doe agree that James Naismaith of Ravenscraig, James Strang younger of Meikle Earnock, John Henderson in Highstonhall, Thos Borland of Udston, Robert Burns of Allantoun, John Muir & John Nasmith, Maltmen in Hamilton, Thos Alston in Thinacker Miln and Wm. Smith of Devonhill. Or any four of them, shall in name of the whole Paroch, and upon their Charge Purchase from time to time such Quantities of Forrage & Corn, and send the same to Glasgow, as shall be found necessary for answering the Demand made upon the said Paroch, and that the Expence thereof, shall be payed by the Heretors & Tenents of the Paroch, proportionally according to the valuation as the same shall be cast by Thomas Hutton of Smiddie Croft, Arthur Nasmith of Over Auchengraymont & James Semple mert. In Hamilton, and Appoint the Committee for Purchassing to attend every day at Hamilton, in order to receive orders.
(Signed) ARCHD CUNISON. Ref, Hamilton, Advertiser, 27th June 1874.
(Research by Wilma S. Bolton)
This transcription & picture of Earnock Muir Farm was sent to Historic Hamilton by Wilma Bolton.
Historic Hamilton 
Fascinating article. Thank you.
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Your welcome Elizabeth.
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