Abt 1720 - Yes, date unknown
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Name |
Donald (of Eastern Invernenty) Captain Maclaren |
Birth |
Abt 1720 |
Gender |
Male |
Death |
Yes, date unknown |
Person ID |
I125061 |
My Genealogy |
Last Modified |
19 Aug 2013 |
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Notes |
- Information from:
Margaret Maclaren of Maclaren. "The Maclarens. A History of ClanLabhran". 1976 & 1984. ISBN 0 946270 10 4. Copyright Donald Maclaren ofMaclaren. The Pentland Press, Edinburgh. Printed & bound by McCorquodale(Scotland) Ltd.
Page 102
Below from "James Maclaren & Burdenell Pioneers" web page athttp://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/3235/page5.html
"It is Donald MacLaren's involvement in the Jacobite Rising of 1745 thathas recorded his name in history. His adventures have also been portrayedin Walter (Sir) Scott's novel "Redgauntlet". It is said that CaptainDonald MacLaren had been injured during the battle of Culloden, althoughhe managed to evade capture for quite some time. When he was captured inthe Braes of Leny, he was wounded again, being shot in the leg with amusket ball.
Donald was held in the prisons of Stirling and Cannongate in Edinburgh.In August of 1746 he was escorted by guards to Carlisle for his trial andprobable execution. During the trip, he somehow had managed to freehimself from the straps that held him. While passing Devil's Beef Tub(Errickstane Brae, near Moffat) he managed to hurl himself over the edgeand into the mist making his way to the bottom. This place would later beknown by the locals as MacLaren's Leap. Donald was chased into the mistby the guards, who discharged their muskets randomly into the unknown.
It is at this point that there are differing versions of the story. Oraltradition from James MacLaren's descendants says that he had remained ina morass, covered with turf and remained there until nightfall. Under thecover of darkness, he safely made his way to an old acquaintance whoprovided him food and until his death a few weeks later. Another version,recorded by Bishop Forbes in 1769, has Donald staying at George Black'shouse for the night, about twelve miles north before making his way backto Balquihidder. According to the Scottish Historical Society's"Prisoner's of the '45", Donald returned to Balquihidder after his daringescape in August 1746, and lived there disguised as a woman until an actof amnesty was passed.
Donald accumulated substantial debt in the cattle trade, which was oftenconsidered a risky business. At one point, Donald made a financialagreement with a relative of his wife, Dugald Stewart. Dugald wouldassist in settling the debts Donald had accrued while holding
Invernentie as collateral. This arrangement fell apart years later, overconfusion about which debts were covered. The arrangement was battledout in the courts for many years. The court ruling was finally made longafter Dugald and Donald had passed away, leaving
Donald's son James MacLaren as the sole legal heir.
After settling all debts and disposing of the remaining holdings, JamesMacLaren and his family began their journey to North America. "
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