Scot Execution Witness Letters Discovered

A charity worker in the Midlands has found a letter describing the gruesome execution of a leading MacDonald clansman following the Scots' defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746.

William Miller discovered the document in a relative's home following their death in Northamptonshire.

It tells how leading members of the Macdonald clan were taken to London and were either beheaded or hung,drawn and quartered.

The letter chronicles the death of a Highland regiment captain,Donald Macdonald.

Mr Miller,aged 48,said the letter was written by his ancestor Stephen Wilson on September 2,1746.

He said "I think this particular letter is probably unknown - it doesn't look as if it has been read for hundreds of years."

The four-page letter was uncovered after Mr Miller's cousin died recently.

Mr Miller said the article was an important document because there was no other account of Macdonald's execution.

"I was very excited when I heard about the document because of the mention of the Macdonald name.

"I knew that this paper had been buried in the family archives and probably would not be seen again.

"When I read the details and how he was hung,draw and quartered,I felt quite sad - I'm a Scot myself.

"After the Scots lost,there was a tremendous massacre by the English.

"The Scottish economy was depressed and many Scottish people left the country and went to North America,Australia and the Caribbean."

An extract from the document,written by Stephen Wilson and dated September 2,1746 reads:

"Really it is a shocking sight....the first,which I think was Macdonald was cut down in about 10 minutes and carried to a block much about his length and not unlike a butcher's,which they cut their meat on.

"When Jack Ketch and his assistants got his clothes off and stripped him quite naked,when with all the calmness in the world whetting his knife on his steel,he ripped him up,took out his heart and bowels and throwed them into a large fire just by,then cuts off his head and puts it and his body into the cart to be carried back to prison.

"But I...thought it too shocking for man to view his own species thus mangled and destroyed...two of their heads were put upon Temple Bar which daily occasioned a vast concourse of people for several days to look to see them."

Mr Miller added today "I am really interested in the Scottish history of our family and have been researching it for most of my adult life.

"When my cousin died recently,his family allowed me to look through his personal papers,which is where I found the letter.

"It was written by one of my great,great,great uncles who was a Wilson.

"He was a Scotsman working in London and obviously went along to the execution and then sent the account back to his parents.

"As I understand it,this is one of the only personal accounts of the execution and shows just how gruesome they were."

A copy of the letter is being sent to the Macdonald clan museum in Scotland.

Margaret Macdonald,librarian at the museum,said "It's a very interesting article.

"We know that Donald MacDonald was taken to London and was hung,drawn and quartered.

"This is the first time someone has rung us with information like this."