Margaret Simpson 

Margaret Simpson was captured by the Duke of Cumberland’s forces following the skirmish at Clifton Moor on the 17th December 1745. She was  described as a 33 year old from Haddington, East Lothian.

Margaret, together with her fellow prisoners, suffered the gruelling march from Albany Gaol in Westmorland, through the winter snows, to York Castle, arriving on the 31 December 1745.

Already held in York Castle was another Jacobite prisoner, Captain George Hamilton, of Baggot’s Hussars, an aide to Prince Charles Edward Stuart. George had also been captured at the skirmish at Clifton Moor  in Westmorland, and had been severely wounded. The Archbishop of York, Thomas Herring, recorded that instructions had been given that George Hamilton “was to be civilly treated”.

On her arrival at York Castle, Margaret is stated to have attended to George Hamilton’s wounds. She is referred to in official records as “Captain Hamilton’s Lady” although it is unclear whether she was married to, or was the mistress of George. 

Margaret and George obviously had influential friends outside the prison. The Reverend Richard Horn of Marske, wrote a letter dated 31 March 1746, in which he states:- “….pray give my humble service to your Papa who I hope we shall shortly see at Marske and if you please you may let him know that I saw his Ensign, Mr Brown on Friday evening last, he told me that he took an opportunity when he was at the Assizes at York to take a turn into the Castle to enquire for Captain Hamilton, or to see if he could meet with any of the Rebels who were conducted from Bowes to Richmond at Christmas, and to his great surprise he immediately met with one of the Rebel women who goes by the name of Mrs Simpson, walking upon the pavement in the Castle yard. He says she was transformed into so different a dress and appears so much like a person of quality having on an exceeding good silk gown and all other things so suitable that he did not know her. She ask’d Mr Brown to go into her Apartment where she immediately sent for Captain Hamilton who came dressed in a very gentle manner and insisted on treating Mr Brown with wine and punch: he says further that Mrs Simpson insisted upon his going to Breakfast with her before he left York, and which he accordingly did, where they had Jacolate, Coffee and Tea, such is the fare of Rebels, who as far as I can learn talk in a very brisk strain and are in high Spirits, tho’, I hope in a little time we shall hear different accounts of them……”

On the 1st November 1746 George Hamilton was one of the ten prisoners from York who were executed at the Tyburn on York’s Knavesmire. His head was removed and placed in a box, to be sent to Carlisle for display.

Margaret was put down for transportation to Antigua and the Leeward Islands, but unlike the other women captured with her, must have had very influential friends in high places, since she was reprieved and released in 1747 under the King’s Act of Grace (1747 Act of Indemnity. Unfortunately there are no further accounts of Margaret’s fate following her release from York.

Ref:-  “Damn Rebel Bitches: women of the ‘45” by Maggie Craig