Lot 46
A mid/late 18th century fob seal
£750
Auction: Day One: 07 December 2021 | From 10:00
Description
the bronze matrix with simple loop attachment, engraved with armorial of Alexander MacDonald of Sleat
Dimensions
Footnote
Heraldry:
Arms of Alexander MacDonald of Sleat
Quarterly 1st and 4th Argent a lion rampant gules 2nd Or a dexter arm in armour couped in fess proper the hand holding a cross crosslet fitchy gules 3rd Or a lymphad oars and sails sable flags flying gules 4th Vert a salmon naiant proper
Crest: A dexter arm in armour couped in fess proper the hand holding a cross crosslet fitchy gules
Supporters: Two leopards proper
Note:
This fob seal appears to have belonged to perhaps one of the most traitorous family’s of the ‘45. While it may be fair to say they, as with many families, were stuck between both camps it does seem that the Macdonald’s of Sleat (also commonly known as MacDonald of Monkstadt) along with the Macleod’s of Dunvegan not only let down their Prince whom they had promised support of men, arms and money but let down the clansmen they lead who were prepared, and indeed ready, to follow the Jacobite army.
Both the MacDonald’s and MacLeod’s of Skye had promised their support to Prince Charles should he arrive. On his arrival at Glenfinnan, he was surely disappointed not to receive this. Both conveyed they would not be coming, falling back on the excuse that the men, arms and money from the French which they had trusted their support on had not been forthcoming. This disappointment from the lack of support was compounded as they were actively being portrayed as anti-Jacobite and indeed supporters of the Hanoverians and spies of Cumberland, a bitter layer of deceit to further the Hanoverian cause and besmirch their Clan name.
Various theories have been discussed around their failure to come out but it seems highly likely that pressure had been placed on both MacDonald and MacLeod by Lord President Forbes of Culloden obliging that their support should not materialise. This pressure was placed upon them for their apparent (although at this point unproven) part in the infamous 'Soitheach nan Daoine' ('The Ship of the People') in 1739.
As has been variously written in 1739, around the coast of Skye 'a sort of pirate ship frequented the creeks and bays of the Long Island, by means of which many persons of both sexes were cajoled on board, made prisoners and deprived of their liberty. At this wicked proceeding the natives of Lews, Harris, Uist, Benbecula, and Skye became exceedingly alarmed, and it created much anxiety and confusion among all ranks and classes of the natives’.
This kidnapped cargo was bound to be sold into slavery in the Southern states of America and had made sail for their shore. Thankfully they only reached the coast of Ireland where the ship ran aground and ‘totally wrecked and splintered into fragments’, remarkably all the natives of the western isles were saved. Sheltered by the Irish they were cared for and eventually returned home. This diabolical plot was later discovered to have been perpetrated by Donald MacLeod of Berneray who was a close companion of both McLeod of Dunvegan and MacDonald of Sleat who it seems highly likely were involved in or at least turning a blind eye to this. However, by 1745 the case had still not come to court or been privately resolved. It is this power over these men that seems to have been President Forbes' leverage over such previously strong Jacobite’s, meaning they did not turn out for their Prince.
Previously the Macdonald’s of Sleat’s support for the Stuart cause could not have been questioned and at heart the family were undoubtedly staunch Jacobite’s. Under the leadership of Sir Donald Macdonald (11th Baron and 4th Baronet) they played a leading role in the ’15. Indeed he was one of King James commanders at Sherrifmuir and other battles throughout the campaign. This involvement meant that the lands were lost and the family paid the price with rising debts.
Upon the defeat and seeing there was likely no chance of continued campaigning Sir Donald returned to Skye with his 1000 men and would remain head of the clan and in his lands for some time. This however came to an abrupt end when the Hanoverian Colonel Clayton came to make reparations for his defiant acts. Not finding the terms for safety suitable he escaped to Uist and hid among his kin till he escaped to France, where he would die in 1718.
While Sir Alexander’s failure to support Prince Charles is well recorded it appears not to have been such a simple case as this. While he publicly did not support the Prince nor is recorded in his presence in Edinburgh (although Alexander spent much of 1745 in the city) he seems to have vicariously supported throughout the ‘45.
It is well noted that many of his Clansmen actively supported Charles and were in his armies throughout the campaigns, particularly in the later stages of the ’45 and at Culloden. With the strength and structure of the clan system on the west coast and isles, it seems impossible to believe this support was not known or indeed supported by their leader.
This veiled support is more obviously seen in the actions of Sir Alexander’s wife Lady Margaret and their niece and charge Flora MacDonald. These two heroines of the Uprising are remembered to this day with great emotion. It must be asked again, could such staunch and active supporters as Margaret and Flora have done so without the knowledge and or encouragement of Sir Alexander, it seems highly unlikely. During Prince Charles’s protracted escape from Scotland he was sheltered by many on the isles of Skye, Uist and Benbecula. This network centred around the clan and kin of MacDonald’s and throughout this time Lady Margaret sent parcels to the Prince, often containing the loyal newspapers reporting his fate and cause.
However it must be Flora’s part in his escape which cements the Clans support for the Prince and is still to this day immortalised and undoubtedly one of the most romantically viewed parts of the whole campaign.
