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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: marthe53 on Monday 11 December 17 15:43 GMT (UK)
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I'm looking for information about Captain Macpherson. Born in 1791 Clune Invernesshire Scotland. His father, grandfather and 3 older brothers all served in the military. Much information has been derived from the article Macpherson's of South Canterbury, NZ but as always I need more information especially about his family in Scotland.
1810 Aeneas joined the 59 Regiment (Lily Whites) as an ensign. Fought at Victoria, St Sebastian, Nivell and Bidart where he received his almost mortal wound. Received a promotion to captain.
Retired to Scotland and tenant farmed at Nuide. Served as a deputy lieutenant and magistrate for the county. Married Ann Helen Clark. Had 4 daughters and 2 sons.
Moved to Victoria in 1837, Australia in 1849 and finally to Canterbury New Zealand in 1861 where he died in 1875.
ANY help will be appreciated! :)
Marthe53
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Marthe, you might try the Macpherson Museum.
www.clan-macpherson.org/museum
Also there is a new book about Badenoch, "The Wild Black Region!" by David Taylor covering the period 1750-1800. The Macpherson tacksmen were buying commissions in British regiments for their sons, using the French gold which arrived too late for the '45 Rebellion & Cluny Macpherson had the control of, which explains his reluctance to join the other Jacobites in France!
The tacksman of Nuidemore at the end of the 18th cent' was a lieutenant Duncan Macpherson who fought in the Seven Years War.
Very scholarly work, published by John Donald, a good read!
Skoosh.
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Skoosh,
I've been checking out the Scottish Museum and "The Wild Black Region". This has given me new leads!
Appreciate your help!
Marthe :)
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Marthe, despite the losses sustained by the '45, the Macpherson tacksmen bounced back due to the boom in the cattle trade & French Louis D'Ors ;D. Their laird the profligate Duke of Gordon was heavily in their debt.
Skoosh.
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Moved to Victoria in 1837
Looking at the 1841 Census transcription on FreeCEN It would appear that he is still in Scotland :-\
Nuidemore , Kingussie , Inverness-shire.(all born Inverness-shire)
(Captn) McPherson 45 Army half pay
Ann McPherson 30
Andrew McPherson 8
Alexr McPherson 6
Ann McPherson 4
Margaret McPherson 2
Catherine McPherson 3m
ev
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Yes! Those are his children and his wife. His age would be a little off. That would put him at being born in 1796 rather than 1791. But all the family members match up! That is probably him!
Marthe
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Most ages of adults were rounded down on the 1841 Census , although that was not always the case-
https://genealogy-specialists.com/threads/1841-census-age-rounding-uk.901/
ev
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I guess the census doesn't mention his father or any other family members?
Marthe
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Checking Nuide in David Taylor's book, it was part of Cluny Macpherson's estate & the tacksman was the opulent Donald Macpherson of Cullinlean one of the clan elite, Cluny being forfeit his estate was administered by the Commissioners. Donald was also the tacksman of Ballachroan across the Spey from Nuide & on the Duke of Gordon's estate, the duke's factor claimed that he was a very difficult tenant & had him evicted in 1770, the sub-tenants at Nuide had previously tried to have him removed by the Commissioners. Duncan Macpherson was evicting the tenants at Nuidebeg on his return from the wars.
Skoosh.
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Sorry, I've been busy for a bit!
I appreciate all the info you are giving me but a lot of it goes over my head! This is because I am just starting to study the history of Scotland. So here is a question for you:
What is a tacksman? They seem to have a position of authority. Are they over the tenants? Also who are the commissioners? Are they made up of the English or Scottish or both?
Thanks so much!
Marthe53
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The Commissioners of the Forfeit Estates were Scottish factors for the Government. Tacksmen held leases (tacks) from the laird, paid the rent & charged their subtenants rent & lived off the difference! Most of Badenoch was the property of the duke of Gordon so not forfeit & controlled by the Commissioners who in many cases were better to the subtenants than the native tacksmen.
In the case of Badenoch the tack included shielings in the hills for the Summering of cattle, the young & old folk spent their time there from May to October making butter & cheese while the parents stayed at the farm tending the crops. Although rents were generally paid in meal then, those in Badenoch were paid in cattle as the region was an importer of grain due to insufficient arable land.
Skoosh.
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Thanks so much for all this great information! Now here come the questions!
When you talk about the Forfeit Estates is that referring to estates that were forfeited to the English government? And the Commissioners' duties were to manage them?
Second question: Aeneas had three older brothers who fought in the 59th Regiment and other military units. Their names were Alexander, Evan and Duncan. The oldest, Alexander, first began military life as an officer in the Gordon Fencibles. From there he joined the 59th Infantry Regiment and served at the Cape of Good Hope in Spain. While still in Spain, his regiment being included in the corps of Sir John Moore, he took part in the famous retreat upon and battle of Coruna, he at that time holding the rank of major. On arriving in England he was gazetted lieut-colonel; and subsequently held the post of inspecting field officer for the northern counties of Scotland.
It seems I should be able to find more information about Alexander since he was an inspecting field officer.
The other two brothers, Evan and Duncan, both were killed in India. Evan was killed at the attack on Fort Cornelius and Duncan killed on the 18th of June as part of the many skirmishes of that day.
Any information is welcomed!
Thanks!
Marthe53
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Estates forfeit by the "British!" Government. The Commissioners acted as factors, the profits raised were used for public projects & the subtenants generally had leases for the first time. The return of these estates to the former owners sons at the time of the French wars was generally a backward step. Rack-renting & clearance of the tenants followed.
Skoosh.
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Thanks!