An ethereal 18th-century Scottish Highlands countryside at the break of dawn. The sun, a fiery orb of gold, is just peeking over the distant, craggy peaks, casting a warm glow that slowly unfurls across the undulating landscape. In the foreground, a solitary stone cottage, with a thatched roof and a wisp of smoke curling from its chimney, stands sentinel against the vibrant backdrop of purple heather and emerald-green rolling hills. A narrow dirt path, flanked by ancient standing stones, snakes its way through the tranquil scene, leading the viewer's eye to a shimmering loch in the mid-distance. (Jeffrey Campbell, Scottish Highlands, 2024. Artist's rendition created with Perchance AI Image Generator)
Colonel Fraser's Request for Levying Assistance, 1757
Letters from the Treasury Board concerning the raising of troops in the Scottish Highlands, and those estates fortified in 1747 as well as those relating to fortified estates that were annexed to the Crown in 1752 and managed by the Board of Commissioners for the Fortified Estates, at the request of Lieutenant-Colonel Simon Fraser and a copy letter to the factors ordering their assistance.
Commissioners Office for the Annexed Estates
Edinr. 7th January 1757
Sir,
By a minute of the Board of this date I am ordered to acquaint you; That His Majesty having directed a Body of Forces to be raised in the Highlands of Scotland; And Application having been made by Lieut Colonel Fraser To The Lords Commissioners of his Majestys Treasury, That the Factors & other officers upon the Annexed Estates might have orders from this Board, for each of them to give their utmost aid & assistance to the military officers who shall be employed in raising the said Troops. The Commissioners therefore, In pursuance of Instructions from the Lords of the Treasury for that effect, Have ordered that you do give your utmost aid and assistance towards the raising of the said troops; But that this is not to be understood to Supercede the orders you formerly had from this board for giving your Assistance in Levying the Quotas to be furnished by each County for Compleating the additional Battalions.
I am
Sir
your most Humble Servt.
Cover sheet:
Copy Letter to the
Factors on the Annexed Estates
Directing them to give their
assistance for raising the Highland Battalions
Letter of Samuel Martin
My Lords and Gentlemen,
His Majesty having directed a Body of Forces to be raised in the Highlands of Scotland; And application having been made by Lieutenant Colonel Fraser, to the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury that the Factors and other officers on the Annexed Estates under your management may have directions for each of them to give their utmost aid and assistance to the Military Officers who shall be employed in raising the said Troops; And My Lords thinking the same may be for his Majesty's Service, They desire you will imediately transmit to your officers the necessary orders for that purpose. I am
My Lords and Gentlemen
your most obedient Servt.
Saml: Martin
Treasury Chambers
26 January 1757
Cover sheet:
Letter from the Treasury
To The Commissioners for
managing the Annexed Estates
in Scotland.
26th Janry. 1757
Letter from the Treasury directing orders to be given for assisting Lieut Coll. Fraser in Levying Forces for his Majesty on the Annexed Estates.
Read 7th Febry. 1757.
Members of the Board for the Fortified Annexed Estates
Year of Appointment: 1755
Commissioners
Archibald, 3rd Duke of Argyll, 1682-1761.
John Hay, 4th Marquis of Tweedale, 1695-1762.
James Douglas, 14th Earl of Morton, c.1702-1768.
James Olgivie, 5th Earl of Findlaster and 2nd Earl of Seafield, c.1689-1764.
Hugh Hume, 3rd Earl of Marchmont, 1708-1781.
John Hope, 2nd Earl of Hopetoun, 1704-1781.
James Olgivie, Lord Deskford, 1714?-1770.
Charles Shaw, 9th Lord Cathcart, 1721-1776.
James, 12th Lord Somerville, 1697/8-1765.
Charles Hope Weir of Craigiehall, 1710-1791.
Andrew Fletcher, Lord Milton, 1692-1766.
Edward Edlin, d.1760.
John Maule of Inverkeillor, 1706-1781.
William Grant, Lord Prestongrange, 1701-1764.
Robert Dundas of Arniston, 1713-1787.
James Oswald of Dunnikier, 1715-1769.
Andrew Mitchell of Thainston, 1708-1771.
Gilbert Elliot of Minto, 1722-1777.
William Alexander, 1690-1761.
George Drummond, 1687-1766.
Lieutenant-Colonel David Watson, c.1713-1761.
Mansfeldt Cardonnel, 1697-1780.
Alexander Le Grand, 1682-1766.
Joseph Tudor, d.1774.
Sources:
"Commissioners for the Annexed Estates: Miscellaneous Letters." 1757-1782. NRS, E727/61.
Smith, Annette M. The Fortified Estate Papers, 1745: a study of the work of the Commissioners for the Fortified Annexed Estates, 1755-1784, with particular reference to their contribution to the development of communications in Scotland in the eighteenth century. Thesis, PhD, University of St. Andrews, Scotland. 1975. http://hdl.handle.net/10023/2923. [Accessed 13 August 2019].
© Jeffrey Campbell, Fraser's 78th Regiment of Foot, 2020.