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Country code |
GB |
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Repository code |
234 |
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Organisation |
NAS |
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Repository |
National Records of Scotland |
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Reference |
GD170/1213 |
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Title |
Letter from James Erskine, (son of Charles Erskine of Tinwald, Lord Justice Clerk , sheriff depute for Perthshire from 1748, created Lord Barjarg 1761,) to Duncan Campbell of Glenure (later of Barcaldine), his sheriff substitute of Perthshire at Killin. |
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Dates |
1748-1758 |
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Access status |
Open |
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Description |
1748-53, 1758. Dated at Perth, Edinburgh.
Sheriff court business, including the following letters:
22 November 1748. Act prohibiting use of plaid and philibeg to be intimated at church doors, in Erse; 'You may take all the opportunities you can of letting it be known that tartan may still be worne in cloaks westcoats, breeches or trews, but that if they use loose plaids they may (be) of tartan but either all of one colour, or strip'd with other colours than those formerly used, and if they have a mind to use their old plaids, I don't see but they may make them into the shape of a cloak and so wear them in that way, which tho' button'd or tied about the neck, if long enough, may be taken up at one side and throwne over the other shoulder by which it will answere most of the purposes of the loose plain. And if the(y) could come in to the way of wearing wide trowsers like the sailors' breeches it would answere all the conveniences of the kilt and philibeg for walking or climbing the hills
7 February 1749. On prohibition of the highland dress after 1st August.
1 July 1749. Re court martial of a sergeant and one McPhaill for having beaten James Campbell, dyer in Killin.
28 October 1749. Re items stolen from Lord Findlater when Cullen House was plundered by the rebels, 'he (Lord F.) has been att a good deall of pains and expence to enquire about them and has learn'd a good many particulars amongst others that a great part of them came in to Perth-shire with the Roys and some others of the Duke of Perth's regiment and it is more than probable that there are still many of them in the possession of the McGrigors'.
29 March 1750. Regrets the escape of three prisoners, and suggests that when recaptured, they should be paid the compliment of the stocks.
16 February 1751. 'As for the difficulty you are under with regard to an Executioner in Mr. Robertson's case, I think the Common Beggar you have in custody for the Highland Dress might easily purchase his liberty by performing in that capacity'.
1751. Re attempts to capture the three brothers Roy, by sending a party of soldiers to occupy their habitations, and the deposition of Mrs. Wight before Lords of Justiciary; 21 May, Erskine complains that Glenure should have told him that the brothers and the woman stayed a whole night at Killen in the very public house where Glenure held his Court, 'now I must submitt to you what a figure this will make in the Justiciary Court'.
25 December 1751. Approves of the measures Glenure has taken to apprehend some theives, suggests, that if enought evidence cannot be found, 'it would be worth while to let one or two of them escape by making them evidences, in order to make sure of hanging the rest'.
Does not know when trial of James Roy will come up, but thinks he now feels himself in greater jeopardy that he expected; urges Glenure to learn something from the thieves themselves that will prove that James or Robert Roy had any knowledge or concern in stealing Bandallach's cattle.
31 August 1753. Bearer of this letter has come to look for workmen to help repair Lord Tinwald's house at Alva, he, 'being under an absolute necessity of making some reparations has got his finger at least into the mortar tub'; assures Glenure that three or four sturdy young fellows are assured of work for six or eight months at least, and may be paid in meal if they do not chose money. |
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Level |
File |
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Extent |
46 letters, 4 scroll answers and some enclosures |
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