Flora MacDonald: The Most Loyal Rebel"On 28 June 1746 Flora MacDonald, with her 'maid' Betty Burke sailed over the sea to Skye. The 'maid' was Prince Charles Edward Stuart, a desperate fugitive from the forces of King George who were hunting him in the Hebrides following his flight after the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Culloden. Although reluctant at first to help him, Flora nevertheless ensured the Prince's escape." "'Her name will be mentioned in History' wrote Dr Johnson in 1773, and two centuries later it is for this one act that Flora MacDonald is remembered. Yet Flora's legendary part in Prince Charles Edward Stuart's attempt to win back the British crown is just one facet of this remarkable woman. She was not a simple Highland girl for whom this was her sole moment of courage and triumph, but unusually independent, intelligent and resourceful. Having suffered for helping the Jacobite prince in the Highlands, she travelled to London to order her finances, and when she and her husband decided to emigrate to America, it was she who made the arrangements for their children. In North Carolina she found herself caught up in the American War of Independence, facing hardship and turmoil again." "Based on new research in Scotland, North Carolina and Nova Scotia, as well as other sources, Hugh Douglas has built up a lively portrait of this engaging woman which sets Flora within the context of the cataclysmic events which engulfed her and the Highlanders in 1746 and America in the 1770s. In particular he has recovered those 'lost' years in America, building up from contemporary accounts and an examination of what has been written about other members of Flora's family, a meticulous and vivid portrait of her during those terrible years. A final chapter examines the legacy of the Flora MacDonald legend today and her current place within her clan and the people of Scotland and America." "The first biography of Flora MacDonald for a quarter of a century, illustrated with a wealth of contemporary paintings, documents and engravings, this highly readable and well-told account will be welcomed and enjoyed by the general reader, as well as being of interest to eighteenth century historians."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved |
Contents
Meeting at Midnight | 18 |
Flora Innocent or Guilty? | 51 |
Confessions and Accusations | 63 |
Copyright | |
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Alexander Alexander MacDonald Allan MacDonald America Armadale army arrived asked became Betty Burke boat brought called Campbell Captain Cause Charles chief claim Clan Clanranald colony Creek Cross daughter died Donald Edinburgh emigration escape father Fear Flora MacDonald Forbes forced friends gave give given hand held Highland hope Hugh husband Ibid island Jacobite James John join journey July King Kingsburgh knew known Lady Margaret land later leave Letter lived Loch London MacKenzie MacLeod March Martin miles militia Miss months Neil never North Carolina Nova Scotia officer Prince Prince's prisoners Ranald Records remained returned River sailed Scotland Scottish sent ship side Skye Sleat soon South Uist stayed story taken tell told took turned wife wrote young