We hear that Mr. John Grant is charged w^{th} reading and explaining
to his Congregation and Parishioners in Irish the Pretenders Manifesto
from the Pulpit and in other places. This is as false as the Charge
is Malicious. I thank God for it I was never reckoned a Bedlamite or
a madman, and truly if this Charge were well founded I think that all
the Punishment that the Law can conflict [_sic_] is but to little. How
soon ever I had certain information that the Pretenders son was landed
I wrote a letter to Lochaber to Mr. John Stewart for intelligence as
it was reported the Rebel Army was to besiege Fortaugustus[581] and
Inverness. This I did in presence of the Laird of Grants Baillie. I
gave a Copy of the return to my letter to the Baillie that he might let
the Governor of Inverness and the Laird of Grant see it. The Baillie
told me that the Governor own’d that piece of Intelligence to be of
vast consequence to the North and that the Laird of Grant was likewise
informed of it--the letter inform’d that they were to march directly
south.
In Nov^r when the M‘Donalds and Frasers came to the country in order
to raise the men I preach’d publickly ag^{st} it and exhorted my
congregation to live peaceably.
This rais’d the Wrath of most of my Parishioners who were in the
Rebellion ag^{st} me insomuch that I was daily insulted even by the
meanest of the Parish particularly towards the close of Dec^r last I
was after sermon attacted by above 20 men and threatned to be drowned
in a Loch near by for my praying for his Majesty King George. I and
some other gentlemen went to a woman in Distress. Immediately there
came into the House 2 fellows with drawn durks to kill me and were
it not for some Gentlemen then present I wou’d have suffered for the
stroak that was leveld at me cutt an Iron Crook. I was the object of
the M‘Donald’s hatred because of my attachment to the present happy
Establishment, in so much that in Feb^y last when the M‘Donalds to the
number of 400 or 500 men came to the Country my house was attacked by 8
or 9 of them; they first rapp’d at the doors and windows and then they
were to set fire to the house were it not that the Gentlemen with whom
they lodged and whose house was close by mine hindered it for fear of
his own house.
My wife spoke to them next day they swore that they wou’d knock me
down with butts of their Guns because they’d scorn to give me a
better death. My wife was so frighten’d that she sicken’d abhorted
and was verie like to have lost her life being confined for 6 weeks
to her Bed. I was then obliged to give up preaching. After I was for
2 Sabbaths without preaching my Parishioners cry’d out ag^{st} me for
their wanting of sermon, then I ventured to preach and prayed for his
Majesty King George. But the second Sunday I preached I was mobb’d
in the Churchyard and had my Cloaths torn. A fellow who was for some
time my officer and whom I turn’d off for his having gone to the North
after the Rebels proclaimed publickly in the Churchyard that I should
no more pray for King George and that I should have no stipend pay’d
me this year, which last hold but to true for I did not receive 40s.
of the last years stipends as yet. I was then a 2^d time obliged to
give up preaching as I had not the Protection of the Law. The Sunday
immediately before the Battle of Culloden I was attacted by 4 of the
Rebels and very rudely dealt by for my Praying for King George and for
having given up preaching they swore that if I would not preach next
Sunday and pray for the Pretenders son whom they call’d Prince Charles,
They or some of their Corps would attend and shoot me thro’ the head.
But blessed be God their power was soon broken and I then preach’d
and pray’d w^{th}out distraction or fear. Towards the beginning of May
when Mr. Grant of Grant had with his men left the country of Urquhart
and gone to Inverness with the People of Glenmoriston and Urquhart
who had surrendered Mr. John Grant was surpris’d to hear of Alex^r
Grant of Sheugly and his son’s confinement at Inverness. Mr. Grant
of Grant wrote to his Bailie to acquaint me to repair to Inverness
without loss of time as he had particular business with me in relation
to the surrenderers in the Parish of Urquhart. Accordingly I went to
Inverness without delay and waited of Mr. Grant, was by him keept for 6
or 7 days living still in the Town on my own Charges without any other
business but giving the Characters of the Men who had surrendered in
Urquhart. Mr. Grant likewise challeng’d me for asserting Alex^r Grant
of Sheugly and his son as peaceable subjects and told me that he would
put me on my marrow bones for that sometime. After I answer’d Mr.
Grant that I attested nothing but what I was conscious was truth; this
Conference happen’d in Mr. Grant of Grant’s room on the 9^{th} of May.
Sunday thereafter, being the 11^{th} of May, Mr. Grant of Grant sent
a Gentleman of his name to my Quarters desiring that I shou’d repair
to his Room immediately. I was not within in the meantime but how
soon I got notice of it I immediately went to Grants Lodgings where I
was made prisoner. I was surprised at this as I suffered in my Person
and Means for my attachment to the Government. But upon Reflection my
surprise soon evanish’d. I have been minister at Urquhart for near 6
years without legal Gleib, Manse or any of those advantages which the
Law allows. I several times apply’d to Mr. Grant of Grant as Patron
and principal Heritor in the Parish for redress either by giving me a
piece of Land which my Predecessors allways had in farm by the Lairds
of Grant or then by consenting to my having Legal Gleib and Manse as
the Law directs I was put off with fair promises but no performance.
I could not live with any comfort as I was situated, Mr. Grant having
settled a Brother-in-Law of his Bailie’s in the Kitching w^{ch}
my Predecessors had and all the other houses of the Town excepting
one brocken house. This neighbour I got was Bankrupt and his wife
a notorious scold. Last year I wrote to Mr. Grant to grant me my
conveniences for my own money otherwise to excuse me to ask for them
in a legal manner. When Mr. Grant received this letter he rampaged,
burnt my Letter, and swore revenge ag^{st} me; besides there is near
two years stipends due me out of Mr. Grant’s Estate in Urquhart w^{ch}
w^{th} some mony he has of my Fathers per Bond and to w^{ch} I am
expressly provided in the Bond makes a pretty good sum and as Mr. Grant
likes money very well this is a verie easie Method of paying his debt
and being revenged of me at the same time. As the above are all matters
of fact I know no other reason for my suffering and confinement to the
present Royal Family or that I might be of use to the Government in
something which might be very disagreeable both to Mr. Grant and his
Bailie.
(Signed) JOHN GRANTT.
_Castle Street, Sixth July 1746._