Alexander Forbes, 4th Lord Pitsligo, actively supported the Jacobite rebellions of 1715 and 1745, thereby losing the substantial Pitsligo estates, forfeiting his title, and allowing Pitsligo Caste to slide into ruin.

Alexander Forbes was born in 1678 to Alexander Forbes, 3rd Lord Pitsligo (circa 1655 – 1690), and Sophia, third daughter of John Erskine, 4th Earl of Mar. He was educated in France where he met François de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon, a French Catholic archbishop, theologian, poet and writer. He was also introduced him to Jeanne-Marie Bouvier de La Motte Guyon or simply “Madame Guyon,” an advocate of religious contemplative practices known as Quietism. This prompted his lifelong study of religion and philosophy, especially within the Episcopal Church of Scotland.

In 1691 at the age of 21, he returned to Scotland and became 4th Lord Pitsligo upon the death of his father. Lord Pitsligo took his seat in the Scottish Parliament in May 1700. He opposed the Union with Scotland Act 1706 that was passed by the Parliament of England. When the Union with England Act came up before the Scottish Parliament the next year, he left Parliament in protest. The Act passed and the two parliaments were "United into One Kingdom by the Name of Great Britain".

At that time, his first cousin John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar, was actively involved with the government. He was a Commissioner for the Union, became Scottish Secretary of State, Keeper of the Signet, a Privy Counsellor, and in 1713 was appointed the British Secretary of State. However, he was removed from this office in 1714 with the coronation of George I. Embittered, Mar then became a Jacobite (based on the Latin “Jacobus” for James), committed to establishing the monarchy of James Francis Edward Stuart (1688 –1766), son of the deposed King James VII and II.

On September 6, 1715, he proclaimed that Stuart was the rightful King of Scotland, England, France and Ireland. Even though Mar claimed the support of Stuart, he did not receive official approval until October 3, 1715.

Pitsligo joined his cousin in Perth in October 1715, with a small troop. He fought under Mar in the Battle of Sheriffmuir on November 13, 1715, against the royalist forces under the command of General John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll, 1st Duke of Greenwich. Even though Mar’s forces outnumbered Argyll’s, both sides experienced great losses and the battle as a draw. The rebellion was quelled by soon after, with the Battle of Preston which ended the next day, November 14, 1715.

After Sherriffmuir, Pitsligo travelled to London and then throughout Europe: Leyden, Holland; Vienna, Austria; Rome, Italy; and then Paris, France. He returned to Scotland in June 1720, first to Castle Forbes to visit his sister Mary who had married James, 15th Lord Forbes, and second to his home at Pitsligo Castle. He contented himself with country affairs and cultivated the great goodwill of his tenants and neighbors.
He also devoted himself to religious and philosophical matters. In 1730, he wrote “Essays Moral and Philosophical” which was published in 1734. In 1732, he also wrote “Thoughts concerning Man's Condition” which was not published until 1763.

During this time, the Catholic countries of France and Spain were building an alliance through three “Pacto de Familia.” Under the third agreement, the 1743 Treaty of Fontainebleau, King Louis XV of France and his uncle, Philip V of Spain, agreed to co-operate in attempting to restore the Catholic Stuarts to the throne of Great Britain. They planned to use Charles Edward Louis John Casimir Sylvester Severino Maria Stuart (popularly own as “Bonnie Prince Charlie”) to destabilize the government of Great Britain and install a client Catholic monarchy. Stuart was born in Rome, Italy, to James Francis Edward Stuart who had failed in his rebellion of 1715. He named his son the “Prince Regent” in December 1743, with authority to act in his name.

On July 23, 1745, Stuart landed at Eriskay in the Outer Hebrides but received a cool response from the clan leaders. He continued on to the bay of Loch nan Uamh in Lochaber where he had hoped to be joined by a French fleet. However, the fleet was almost destroyed by storms. He sent letters to many of Scottish leaders, including Pitsligo. He finally gained the support of Donald Cameron of Lochiel and, on August 19, he officially raised his father's standard at Glenfinnan.

John Murray of Broughton, the Secretary to Stuart, wrote to Pitsligo on September 2, 1745, “It is now some time since the Prince did you the honour to write you with an account of his arrival, which letter, tho’ there was not an occasion found to send it so soon as I inclined, is I hope never the less come to hand.” He then relays Stuart’s orders to Pitsligo: “But as there is a quantity of arms from Hamburgh expected dayly to land at Petterhead and a report already spread of a landing there, his royal Highness requires you will be upon your guard to receive them and after distributing to the gentlemen of that country what number will be necessary for them, lett the remainder be escorted to the Camp by them with all expedition.” (Tayler, Alistair and Henrietta, editors. Jacobite Letters to Lord Pitsligo 1745-1746. 1930. Aberdeen: Milne & Hutchison.)
After the Jacobite victory at the 30-minute Battle of Prestonpans, Murray again wrote to Pitsligo on behalf of Stuart on September 29, 1745: “His Royal Highness has sent orders to all his friends to join furthwith, being determined to march Into England as soon as possible and to beg you may use all the Diligence possible, especially as our horse are not numerous.” (Ibid.) Pitsligo left a few days later and arrived in Edinburgh on October 9, 1745, with a troop of horse and 100 men on foot.

Nine days later, Pitsligo received his Commission as Colonel of his own Troop of Horse. “We reposing especiall trust and confidence in your courage, Loyalty and good conduct do hereby constitute and appoint you to be a Collonell of his majesty’s forces and to take your rank in the army as such from the date hereof.” It was signed “Given at our palace of Holyrood House the 18th Oct. 1745.” (Ibid.)

In a letter dated February 5, 1746, Lord George Murray, commander in chief of Stuart’s forces, urged Pitsligo, then in Aberdeen, to acquire “some good horses and harnase, cartes, etc.” and “as much course tartan as can be got for me.” He also notes that “there are few men whos friendship & aprobation I would value so much as your Lop’s. (Lordship’s)” (Ibid.)

Murray writes to Pitsligo at Banff on February 19, that “His Royal Highness’ Army took possession of the Town of Inverness yesterday, the troops that were in the Town haveing ferryed over to Rosshire.” Stuart then commandeered Culloden House, on the estate of Duncan Forbes, 5th Laird of Culloden and Lord President of the Court of Sessions. By the next day, Pitsligo had moved to Elgin, where he was appointed by Stuart as the “Governor of Elgin.” (Ibid.)

On February 21, 1746, Murray relayed to Pitsligo his additional orders: “In the meantime, as your Lordship knows everything that is most usefull for the common cause, His Royal Highness desires you will take the joint command (of the army at Elgin) with (William Drummond) the Viscount of Strathallan so as everything may be ordered for the best…” (Ibid.)

The affairs of the Jacobite slowly began unravelling over the next few weeks. Stuart was ill in Elgin and Drummond had taken Gordon Castle until 19th March, when he crossed the Spey and made the Manse of Speymouth their headquarters.

Mismanagement of provisions and support is detailed in a letter from Sir Thomas Sheridan to Pitsligo on April 4, 1746: “Now it happens that horses, i.e., the best and strongest kind of them that the country affords, as well as proper carts, are what is most wanted for the carrying the Artillery and Princes Baggage. These Mr. Murray had directions to provide when he went from hence and wou’d have done it had he not fallen sick. Upon which Peter Smith was sent to do it. But he, having given some orders about it, came away, and now the same commission is entrusted to Col. Maclachlane who must see it done at any case. This makes it impossible to return the horses already sent hither on that score (of wich many were carried back by their drivers).” (Ibid.)

Pitsligo responded to Sheridan two days later: “I do assure you of one thing—there never came any orders to me but what I instantly intimated to the proper persons for putting them in execution and partys were allways ordered out as occasion required.” Sheridan placated Pitsligo the next day by writing “H.R.H. dos not in ye least doubt but yr. Ldp. has allways complied punctually with the orders signified to you, and if he has not hitherto reaped the benefit he expected from them, he is persuaded the fault will not be laid at yr. door.” (Ibid.)

Cumberland inexorably moved his troops toward the Jacobite army as indicated by a flurry of letters over the next few days. Major Hale write to Pitsligo on April 11: “The Enemy instead of coming to Focubirs are gone to Cullene to make, as we supose, a junction with those who came to Bamf, so that his Grace the Duke of Perth desires that the soldiers at Elgin may return to their former quarters, but they must be ready at a moment’s warning.”

Drummond, Perth, and Pitsligo brought their troops through Elgin to Forres and Nairn. On April 12, Cumberland’s army reached Fochabers and crossed the River Spey without opposition. The forces pushed on to Elgin, Alves, and Nairn by April 14. By that time, the Jacobite forces had removed themselves to Culloden. The royalist army was celebrating Cumberland’s 25th birthday on April 15 and the Jacobites thought to surprise them with a night raid. This failed and further demoralized the troops. The next day, Cumberland defeated Stuart and his followers on the Culloden Moor in 25 minutes of battle.

After the defeat at the Battle of Culloden, Lord Forbes escaped first to Elgin “he shared concealment with his friend, the Duke of Perth, in a secret room behind a fireplace in Greyfriars townhouse.” (Taylor, James and Liz. 1992. The Vanishing Laird Lord Pitsligo. Fraserburgh: Visual Image Production.) From there, he slipped away to Pitsligo Castle where “Lady Pitsligo and her maid sewed together a beggar's disguise for him and he sat near them as they worked.” (Ibid.)

For the next three years, Pitsligo hid on his estate, mostly at Rosehearty. “Disguised as a beggar and going by the name of Sanny Brown, the noble lord stravaiged the Buchan Coast and countryside for several years, occasionally managing a flying visit to see his second wife, Elizabeth Allan, whom he had married after Rebecca’s death in 1731.” (Craig, Maggie. 2009. “Bare Arsed Banditti, Men of the ‘45.” Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing.)

Once when he was hiding in James Rainnie's barn at Smithyhill croft (now called Holland Park), a party of dragoons arrived from Fraserburgh. They burst into the barn to find Pitsligo in his beggars clothes. Not finding the “Lord Pitsligo,” they handed the “beggar” a shilling for his trouble and left. (Taylor, James and Liz. 1992. The Vanishing Laird Lord Pitsligo. Fraserburgh: Visual Image Production.)

When the search intensified, Pitsligo hid in a cave at “Reidcoo's haven,” near Ironhill farm and about one mile from Rosehearty. The entrance to what became known as “Pitsligo’s cave” was destroyed during World War II. (Ibid.)

Eventually, Pitsligo went to Auchiries, the country mansion of his son John Forbes, Master of Pitsligo. Once when the house was raided, he hid in a small recess in one of bedchambers. “An asthma attack soon followed, with a lady of the house faking a coughing fit to cover up the wheezes of Lord Pitsligo.” (Craig, Maggie. 2009. “Bare Arsed Banditti, Men of the ‘45.” Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing.)

Alexander Forbes, fourth and last Lord Pitsligo died on December 21, 1762, at the age of 84. Even though he was hunted for 16 years, he was able to save a bundle of letters dating in the critical years of 1745 and 1746. These have been passed down to his heirs and finally to Charles Hepburn-Stuart-Forbes-Trefusis, 21st Baron Clinton, the great-great-great grandson of Pitsligo’s sister Mary. He allowed the publication of the letters in 1930. as (Tayler, Alistair and Henrietta. 1930. Jacobite Letters to Lord Pitsligo 1745-1746. Aberdeen: Milne & Hutchison.)

The Pitsligo Castle and the Pitsligo estates remained in the hands of Government under the factorship of Thomas Innes of Muiryfold. In 1758, part was purchased by Alexander Gordon of Aberdour and part by John, Master of Pitsligo, who soon after sold the part of the Barony in the parish of Pitsligo to Alexander Garden of Troup, 20th February, 1760. Two months later Garden had the Castle dismantled.

Pitsligo Castle decayed for centuries until 1988 when American publishing magnate Malcolm Forbes purchased the castle ruins and its gardens of nine acres from farmer George Chalmers. Forbes, a descendant of Lord Forbes of Pitsligo, repaired the fortress enough to prevent further decay. Forbes died in February 1990. In 1995, his children gave the castle to the Pitsligo Castle Trust, a charity formed for the purpose of maintaining the both the castle and the historic laird’s loft in Pitsligo Kirk.

Images:
Top: Alexander Forbes, 4th Lord Pitsligo, National Galleries of Scotland
Middle: Aerial view of the ruined Pitsligo Castle
Bottom: Original Pitsligo tomb at the old Pitsligo Kirk