Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria to coincide with the OMRS Convention

A rare Commission document of the Jacobite Rising of 1745 signed by Bonny Prince Charles, Commission by Prince Charles Edward Stuart appointing Thomas Robertson of Mucklie Esquire a Cornet in the Perthshire Squadron commanded by William Viscount of Strathallan. Signed and sealed at the Palace of Holyrood House 2nd October 1745.Signed twice, C P R and Charles P R, his red wax seal with hairline cracks but intact, some minor spotting and holing at folds, otherwise in good state, framed and glazed, 15 1/2 x 18 ins. overall. Sold together with an unsigned and undated letter detailing the family connections of Thomas Robertson and his involvement in the Risings of 1715 and 1745 (this partly torn along a fold and contained in a wallet attached to the back of the frame) and an album containing various notes and copies of Jacobite correspondence £1,200-1,500

See Colour Plate XV

After the rout of Sir John Cope’s Army at Prestonpans on 21st September 1745, at which the regiment was present, Prince Charles lodged at Holyrood House whilst a recruiting drive was undertaken at Edinburgh. Thomas Robertson of Mucklie responded and served in the Troop commanded by Captain Laurence Oliphant (the younger) of Gask. The regiment remained in Scotland when the Prince marched into England, Strathallan having been given command of all forces north of the Forth during the course of it. It was present at the battles of Falkirk and Culloden where it fought a gallant rearguard action. Viscount Strathallan was slain as he spurred into the enemy and was the only nobleman killed on the field. The Muster Roll of Prince Charles Edward’s Army 1745-6 (A.U.P., 1984) does not record what befell Cornet Thomas Robertson of Mucklie but the letter with the commission indicates that he survived the battle and went into hiding until the Act of Indemnity was passed.

PROVENANCE: from the collection of the late Noel Woolf, author of The Medallic Record of the Jacobite Movement (Spink and Son Ltd, 1988) and bought at Christies 5th July 1975.