Glenbuchat Heritage

185 Prince Charlie's Prayer Book Glenbucket Link

Prince Charlie Prayer Book Glenbucket connection

I am grateful to Christina Mary Smith for the above pictures and the information below.

The pictures are:

1 Prince Charlie’s Prayer Book displayed in the West Highland Museum
2 Detail of the Prayer Book
3 Text accompanying the Prayer Book
4 John Gordon ‘Old Glenbucket’, Prince Charlie’s Major General
5 Obituary of Mrs. J McDonald great great granddaughter of Old Glenbucket

Christina wrote:
“At present I am in the Highlands of Scotland visiting Fort William where there is a museum with a lot of Jacobite artefacts, including a prayer book that was given to John Gordon of Glenbucket from Bonnie Prince Charlie. This was in the hands of our family for centuries. It was eventually donated to the museum by my Great, great uncle. A reverend Carmichael brother to my great grandmother. The text explains the prayer book, which was passed down into our family. At the Highland Museum Fort William.”

Click for link to The West Highland Museum

The text accompanying the display reads:
“Prayer Book

Prayer Book titled ‘Manual of a Christian" said to have been used by Prince
Charles Edward Stuart at Culloden Moor.

An Inscription the fly leaf states "This Book was presented by Prince
Charles Stuart to Capt. James MacDonell of Glengarry. It was transferred by
him to his sister, Lady Glenbucket, and afterwards became the property
of her son, James Charles Gordon”.

The inscription was added in the early 19th Century, when the book was
Rebound by the above-named James Charles Gordon, whose own father,
Grandfather and Great Grandfather had all been at Culloden.

The very Revd. Canon Donald Carmichael inherited the book in the 19th
Century. In May 1888 he wrote a memorandum on a discussion with
His sister Jessie MacDonald. According to their testimony, the prince gifted
the prayer book to Capt. James MacDonell of Glengarry, a captain in the prince’s
army, who was only 16 at the time of Culloden.”

In fact, it seems that Capt. James MacDonell of Glengarry, who was 16 at the time of Culloden (1745) was the son of Lady Helen Gordon of Glenbucket, daughter of Old Glenbucket. John Gordon ‘Old Glenbucket’ was Prince Edward Stuart’s major General and fought alongside him at Culloden.

Click for more details about the Carmichael family and Glenbucket connection

Click for more details of the grave of James Stuart Gordon and the Snow Kirk


Family of John Gordon ‘Old Glenbucket’

John Gordon, Major General of Glenbucket aka Old Glenbucket
Birth 1675 Strathbogie (now Huntly), Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Death 16 Jun 1750 Boulogne Sur Mer, France
Parents
Captain John Gordon of Knockespock 1654–1704
Mary Gordon 1658–1737
Spouse
Jean Forbes 1680–1732
Children
David Gordon (JACOBITE) of Kirkhill 1697–1746
Alexander Gordon, Russian Naval Officer 1699–1739
John Gordon 1703–1753 "younger of Glenbucket"; married Ann Lindsay; "Jacobite Colonel";
Dr. George Gordon (JACOBITE) in Jamaica 1704–1757
Lady Hélène Helen Gordonof Glenbucket, 1705–1748 2nd wife of Macdonnell of Glengarry
James Gordon 1706–
David Gordon De Glenbucket of Kirkhill1709–1746; married Isobel Gordon; Jacobite Lt;
William "of Glen Buchat" Gordon 1710–1782
Isabel Gordon of Glenbucket 1710–
Christian Gordon of Skellater 1711–1784
Jean Gordon 1712–1746
Alexandre Gordon De Glenbucket 1713–1740 served in the Russian Navy; 2nd Lt "Speedwell" galley;
Georges Gordon De Glenbucket 1715– Jamaican Doctor; Jacobite Lieutenant
John Gordon De Glenbucket 1717–1753 "younger of Glenbucket"; married Ann Lindsay; "Jacobite Colonel";
Clementina Gordon De Glenbucket 1719–
Cécile Gordon De Glenbucket 1721–
Henriette Gordon De Glenbucket 1725–1757

Helen Gordon of Glenbucket, 2nd wife of Macdonnell of Glengarry
Birth 12 Nov 1705 Aberdeen St. Nicholas, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom
Death 2 Jun 1748 Banffshire, Scotland
Parents
John Gordon 6th Laird of Glenbucket; 1676–1750 of Kirkhill; Major General; the famous Jacobite; "The General"; married Jean Forbes;
Jean Forbes 1680–married John Gordon Laird of Glenbucket
Spouse
John MacDonell1700–1754
Children
James MacDonell 1730–
Charles MacDonell 1732–1762
Anne MacDonell 1735–1793