Robert Taylor

Robert Taylor was an Edinburgh shoemaker of thirty years of age.  He was officially described as "a Captain in Rebel Army, active in enlisting soldiers, and forced James Wilson, a sheriff-officer, to read one of the Pretender's Proclamations at the Cross of Edinburgh.‟ He pleaded guilty at Carlisle, and was condemned to death. The judges in reviewing, as was their wont, the sentences passed by them, thus expressed themselves to the Duke of Newcastle on 22nd September 1746: "There is one of these prisoners, Robert Taylor, whose petition with the affidavits thereto annexed, we herewith transmit to your Grace, hoping he may be found an object of clemency.‟

The fact that the judges recommended him to mercy gave him some hope in approaching the Crown. He accordingly sued for pardon, and his petition, with its accompanying affidavits, tells how the wounded Royalists fared at the battle of Prestonpans, and the kindly aid which they received from both Royalist and Jacobite surgeons.

The readiness of Royalist military men to save the lives of their quondam enemies is very noticeable. On Taylor's behalf, Mr. Alex. Monro, Professor of Anatomy, Edinburgh University, testified on oath, and was the more able to do so that he was employed, he said, "all the day of the unfortunate battle of Preston tending the wounded officers and soldiers who were put into the late Colonel Gardiner‟s house and courtyard.‟

No food, or drink save water, could be procured for them in the neighbourhood. On Sunday evening, when returning to Edinburgh for the second time after visiting the wounded, he met Taylor at Musselburgh, four miles from Edinburgh, guarding some hampers of wine, spirits, cold meat, etc., in a cart for the use of the wounded, and which he had forced and kept from the rebels, who had tried to take the wine from him. He had also begged bread and cold meat on the Sunday morning for the same purpose.

Mr. James Drummond, surgeon to Hon. Colonel Lascelles' regiment, and others who had continued at Preston to take care of the wounded, had thankfully acknowledged the seasonable relief. The Professor also stated that he had visited Captain Disney, of Colonel Murray's regiment, who was "very ill wounded". Taylor procured a pass for the latter and his servant for Edinburgh, secured his money and effects, hired a chaise for him, and procured a guard to protect him in going to Edinburgh, hired lodgings for him there, and secured his servant, who had run off with his pass and money.

Captain Disney wrote to General Guest (commanding Edinburgh Castle) on his behalf. The deponent was informed that Taylor had saved the lives of a considerable number of his Majesty's soldiers whom the rebels were about to cut in pieces at the battle of Preston. The above was sworn at Carlisle on 12th September 1746.

Leonard Hewetson, lieutenant of H.M. Regiment of Foot (the Hon. Colonel Lee), deponed that on 21st September 1745 he had the misfortune to be wounded and taken prisoner at the battle of Preston. He testified to the attention to the wounded by Taylor, who distributed wine and other necessaries, getting lodgings for them and chaises into Edinburgh, with protection for those unable to walk, and particularly to his care of Captain Disney, of the Hon. Colonel Murray's regiment, who had his hand cut off.

The following letter was written on Taylor's behalf to General Guest:—

‟Perth, 12 October 1745.

—Sir, I am glad to have the honour of sending my duty to you and good Mrs. Guest. It was recommended to me by last post to present you with Colonel Whitefoord's, Colonel Halket's, and the other field officers' compliments, and to acquaint you from them that they and most of the officers had taken particular notice of the remarkable care Mr. Taylour (now a prisoner in the Castle)[York] took of our wounded prisoners at Colonel Gardiner's house and by his tender good offices and great assiduity in getting surgeons, providing refreshments, etc. This they thought a piece of justice to the gentleman to acquaint you of, that you may have an opportunity to give such orders about his confinement as you shall think proper.

Eagle Griffith."

This, it must be admitted, was a testimonial highly creditable to the humanity of the officers who authorised its transmission to General Guest.

Morton M'Pherson, late servant to Richard Walker, vintner in Edinburgh, stated that "on the 22nd September 1745 (the day after the battle) Taylor applied to Mrs. Walker (in her husband's absence) for wine, spirits, oil, bread, cold butcher meat, and poultry, to a considerable value, to be sent to Colonel Gardiner's house in Preston for the use of his Majesty's officers and prisoners and wounded there. These were sent, and what was left was placed in the hands of Mr. Drummond, chirurgeon to the Hon. Colonel Lascelles' regiment, and that the wines, etc., were paid for by the said Robert Taylor, and that the deponent was called upon by the latter to assist him to raise from the ground a soldier of the King's army who was lying near the field of battle very ill wounded, and that they carried him into a room in Colonel Gardiner‟s house hard by, and that he saw Taylor give the soldier some glasses of wine, and heard him give orders to take care of him.‟

Miss Christian Sandilands, daughter of Lord Sandilands, testified that she was living at Colonel Gardiner's house in Preston, attending her brother, the Master of Torphichen, a lieutenant in Colonel Lascelles' Regiment of Foot, who was wounded and a prisoner. She saw Robert Taylor distributing wine, etc.

Anne Denoon, wife of Richard Walker, vintner in Edinburgh, said that on 22nd September 1745 Taylor applied for wines, spirits, also bread and butchery for prisoners to be sent to Colonel Gardiner's house. These were sent accordingly in hampers by two servants who went along with the horses: the cost was paid by Taylor.

Jean Bea, late servant to Robert Menzies, W.S., said she was sent out to attend the Master of Torphichen in Edinburgh, along with her mistress (Miss Sandilands). Her brother saw Taylor distributing the wines, etc., to the soldiers and officers, who seemed to be starving and distressed.

While in Carlisle prison, Taylor seems to have suffered from the close confinement. He next appears as one who is about to be forced to enter into military service abroad, for a war official (H. Fox) writes thus to J. Eamsden on 3rd November 1747 in regard to Taylor's petition against having to serve his Majesty in scarlet: "Admiral Boscawen represents Taylor as the ringleader of those who refused to enlist, which made me name and threaten him in my letter. I know nothing of the facts mentioned in his petition; if true, he should not have suffered himself to be brought from Carlisle, where he would have been left if he had there declared his mind about enlisting. If he is not of the lowest class of people as he seems to insinuate, and was of use to the wounded people taken by the rebels, it is a pity it was not known before; for to let the rest see that the man esteemed the worst met with favour may have bad consequences. He must stay where he is until Admiral Boscawen examines into it. If left, he must remain in prison.‟

Taylor thus narrowly escaped transportation as a soldier and severe fighting in India.

(Ref: “Jacobite Gleanings: from state manuscripts” by J. Macbeth Forbes. Page 44-45)