PARK, James Shipmaster, Peterhead, Jacobite 1715, Captain ^{1 3}

   User ID: P87.

  General Notes:

"On December 22nd 1715 James Francis Stewart, 'The Old Pretender', landed in Peterhead from France.

Unfortunately it was all too late as the uprising had fizzled out after Mar's inability to press forward after Sherrifmuir, so we shall take a look at where James Stuart came ashore, the loyal town of Peterhead. Much of this is taken directly from testimony taken around the time of the Uprising. [....]

James Stuart was 27 years old, and this was the first time he had set foot in Britain since his father was driven into exile in 1688 (when James was six months old). He had lived at the Scots Court at Saint-Germain-en-Laye near Paris under the protection of the French King Louis XIV.

At first the small boat crept along the shore and attempted to enter the River Ugie, presumably to get as near as possible to Inverugie Castle, but 'the night was wet and late the tide', so they instead landed at the old pier of Port Henry Haven. The unexpected visitors were graciously received at the harbour by the Earl Marischal's representative \endash the Baron Bailie Thomas Arbuthnot.

According to contemporary accounts they were 'all habited like sea-officers, and passed for friends of the Pretender, going to Perth for his Service'. The vessel was despatched back to France with the news of James's safe arrival.

They stayed the night at what is now Park Lane, near the Longate \endash at the house of the Baron Bailie's brother-in-law, Captain James Park, merchant and ship owner. Here James wrote a short letter, dated 'Peterhead, December 22nd, 1715' to say 'I am, at last, thank God, in my own ancient kingdom as the bearer will tell you with all the particulars of my passage. I am weary and won't delay a moment the bearer.' "

from Scotianostra ⁴

James married Janet ARBUTHNOTT, daughter of Nathaniel ARBUTHNOTT 3rd in Rora, and of Auchlee and Elspet DUNCAN, on 17 June 1714 in Longside parish, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.^{1 2} (Janet ARBUTHNOTT was born about 1691.)

  Marriage Notes:

"ARBUTHNOT
JANNET
JAMES PARK/
17/06/1714
218
20 / 23
Longside"

from Index of Marriages


Old Parish Registers
Longside parish Aberdeenshire
Marriages

"1714
June 17^th Thursday.
Park & Arbuthnot

James Park in the parish of Peterhead & Jannet Arbuthnot in this Parish were ordely married"




"PARK, James (c1680-1739). Captain and Shipmaster, Peterhead. James (Stuart, the 'Old Pretender') slept in his house his first night in Scotland, 22 December 1715. M. (1714) Janet Arbuthnot, daughter of a Peterhead dyer and widow of John Dalgarno of Mill or Rora. They had a daughter Ann, and a son Rev Charles Cordiner, Episcopalian minister at Banff. Classification: Naval."

from Officers of the Jacobite Armies< ^{1 2 3}