[32] Sir Ludovick Grant of Grant, bt. (1747-1773)
SIR LUDOVICK was born in 1707 and lived to the age of sixty-six. He married first Marion Dalrymple of North Berwick, and, second, Lady Margaret Ogilvie of Findlater. His first wife, Marion, whom he married in 1727, died in 1735, and was buried in Holyrood chapel. During the intervening years, he qualified as an advocate of the Scottish Court.
In 1735 an event happened which would have far-reaching effects upon the Chiefs of Grant. Ludovick married Lady Margaret Ogilvie, the eldest daughter of the fifth Earl of Findlater and Seafield. The Findlater title could only pass in the male line, but the Seafield title could pass through the female line, and this is how the Earldom of Seafield and the Seafield Estate came to the Grants and their surname became Ogilvie-Grant of Grant.
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Perhaps this is the right point at which to give a brief resumé of the Ogilvie-Findlater-Seafield family. They were an important family, from the 12th century, and secured a number of titles during the Middle Ages. They appear to have been more of a family than a clan, but then they were living in a Lowland, coastal area. We have read before how the Grants married into their family. One of their castles was Boyne; the ruins of this large building can be seen today in Banffshire, near the coast. The family's principal residence, however, was Findlater Castle, on a rocky promontory at Cullen, a marvellous defensive position. They then removed to the magnificent Cullen House, which will be described later.
James, the fourth Earl of Findlater, who was born in 1664, was a man of extraordinary ability, an eminent lawyer and well respected by King William. In 1695 at the age of 31 he was made Secretary of State for Scotland, and in 1698 he became President of Parliament and was created Viscount Seafield. In 1701 he was elevated to the Earldom of Seafield. In 1702 he was made [33] Chancellor to the Scottish parliament. He was in this office when, in 1704, the Act of Union was made law. Subsequently, he became a Privy Councillor in England as well as being one of the Scottish Representative peers at Westminster.
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On his accession, Ludovick gave up his law practice and applied himself to the management of the Grant estates, although he remained M.P. for Morayshire until 1761. Ludovick gave strong support to George II against the Jacobite Prince Charles Edward and the Young Pretender in 1745. He was able to give King George the support of the whole of his clan except the Glenmoristons, who opted out for the prince. It is unfortunate to have to record that King George showed little çonfidence in the loyalty of any of the clans, and this hampered loyal clans to a large extent.
Ludovick had information from the Lord Advocate in August 1745 that the prince was embarking for Scotland, but, in fact, he was already in Scotland at the time this letter was written, investigating the possible sympathy for his cause. Ludovick was in charge of the Clan, as Sir James was at Westminster, and he called for a list of military hardware available. The Disarming Act of 1725 had removed many weapons, even from disaffected clans. Sir John Cope came north with troops, but he ignored Ludovick's offer of help. Strathspey was exposed to attack by the insurgent clans who were all around. Nevertheless, Ludovick had the hills and passes patrolled, and guides ready to assist the government troops. He also sent orders for his tenants at Glenurquart to remain at home, which they did, except for Glenmoriston, who had joined the rebels. There was very considerable rebel pressure on Loch Ness side from Macdonalds, Glenmoriston and Frasers. Ludovick was much concerned over the safety of his people at Urquart, so he mustered 600 friends and marched to assist them, but near Inverness he learned from James Grant of Dell that the rebels had marched away north. Ludovick therefore disbanded his forces. Meanwhile, instructions had been received from Lord Loudoun (whose charming and able successor the Countess of Loudoun is a regular attender in the Palace of Westminster, and whose Loudoun Castle in Ayrshire is now more or less derelict), and from the President of the Council, Forbes, for companies of 'fencibles' to be raised by disaffected clans.
In November, Ludovick sent his company to join Loudoun, who wrote to Ludovick, much praising his company for the standard of the men's clothing, arms, and general appearance. But the Grants were, in fact, annoyed and offended, because they had only been asked to raise one company. Some others, like the MacLeods, had been asked to raise four. However, Ludovick was then pressed to provide a second Grant company of 100 men and officers; but he told Loudoun that the gentlemen of his clan were averse to raising [34] another company. Highland pride, you see! He did, however, assure Loudoun that his whole Clan would be ready for duty if required. The government's object was to favour clans whose loyalty was in doubt. There was no doubt about the Grants.
Meanwhile, Loudoun's army marched down to Fort Augustus to relieve the district. Lord Findlater asked Ludovick for assistance as his estate was being harried, and around 600 Grants marched to Keith. It is said that the rebels were much afraid of the Strathspey men. The rebels (numbering 300) withdrew to Fochabers, under the command of Lord Lewis Gordon. One hundred Grants were sent off to Boat of Bridge, to guard that Spey crossing against the rebel boats. On 15 December 1745 Ludovick marched his men to Fochabers. The rebels retired, but word was received that a small party was at Cullen House. A Grant party was despatched to Cullen, and Ludovick went to billets in Keith. It is of interest to note that there are grooves in the stonework of a little old bridge over the Cullenburn below Cullen House, now known as 'Charlie's Bridge', which it is said were made by the rebels sharpening their swords on the balustrade. Meantime the MacLeods (four companies strong) had linked up with the Grants at Cullen. The rebels then moved off to Aberdeen, and, with the concurrence of Loudoun and MacLeod, Ludovick posted notices that any rebels surrendering and giving up their arms would be treated favourably, whilst those not doing so would be treated as traitors. Then word came from Loudoun that there were no monies or arms to supply the Grants, that existing regular forces under MacLeod and Culcairn were deemed adequate, and that the Grants should return to Strathspey.
Quite clearly Loudoun wished, not unreasonably, to have all troop move- ments under his personal control, as the king's general. So Ludovick and his men dispersed to Strathspey, except for a party of 60, which he left at Keith under Grant of Burnside. About the end of December, Ludovick received word from Burnside that the MacLeod companies had been defeated by the rebels at Inverurie. So much for Loudoun's high-handed action! Ludovick then secured the Spey crossing at the Boat of Bridge, and the remnant of the MacLeods escaped safely across and back to Inverness. Elgin would thus be exposed to the rebel forces, unless Ludovick sent his own troops to defend it. Ludovick thought that he himself could be attacked by rebels from Perth, Aberdeen or Strathbogie. Loudoun remained inactive at Inverness. How very frustrating for the Grants, who could still obtain neither arms nor money from Loudoun. Luckily, the rebels returned to Aberdeen.
We can quote here from Ludovick's letter to Loudoun, which he sent by his Chamberlain early in January, as it does show what an extraordinarily capable, long-suffering and loyal young leader he was:
I think it my duty to take notice to your Lordship that the rebels are exerting themselves in every corner of the north to increase their army. I therefore think it absolutely necessary that all friends of the Government should use their [35] utmost efforts to disconcert and disperse them. I had a meeting yesterday with all the gentlemen of this county, and I can assure your Lordship we wait only your orders and directions, and there is nothing in our power but we will do upon this important occasion, for the service of our King and country. I wish it was possible to assist us with some arms, and money to be sure also would be necessary, but give me leave to assure your Lordship that the last farthing I or any of my friends have, or what our credits can procure for us, shall be employed in supporting of our men upon any expedition your Lordship shall direct us to undertake for this glorious cause we are engaged in. I wish to God your Lordship and the Lord President would think of some measure of convening the whole body of the King's friends in the north together, and I would gladly hope we would form such a body as would in a great measure disconcert and strike a damp upon the army of the rebels in the south, and effectually put a stop to any further junctions they may expect before Stirling, and at the same time surely we might prevent their being masters of so much of this north coast, and also hinder many of the King's subjects from being oppressed by the exorbitant sums of money the rebels are presently levying from them.
Loudoun replied that he awaited instructions from higher authority, and that he was afraid of the rebels getting possession of the forts.
Some time later, news was received of the rebel victory at Falkirk, and then Loudoun wrote to Ludovick that Stirling Castle had been abandoned and the rebels were marching north, and asked if he would send out scouts to report on their movements, and hold his clan ready for action. Ludovick was still very short of weapons, and one must suppose that Loudoun was too, as none were received in spite of constant requests. About 16 February, the prince occupied Moy Hall, the seat of The Mackintosh. This magnificent castle was demolished some years ago now, there in the early 1930s, as a guest of The Mackintosh of Mackintosh, who was particularly but your author stayed famed for being one of the best shots, equal to King George V, and for having pink champagne always on tap. An attempt by Loudoun to capture the prince failed, at what was called the 'Rout of Moy'. The rebel army then marched to Inverness, which they occupied, together with the nearby Fort George. The Grant company were part of a small number of troops garrisoning Fort George, which withstood two days of siege. Loudoun and Forbes had to run to safety.
The Duke of Cumberland (known as the 'Butcher') then took command of troops in Scotland. He asked Ludovick to raise his clan, and was informed 600 men could be raised in addition to those already under arms, if an adequate supply of weapons could be given. Ludovick gathered his clan at Castle Grant to be ready for action against rebels reported to be marching on Strathspey. The duke was at Perth on 24 February and was marching to Aberdeen, so Ludovick with his wife and family and 150 men marched towards Aberdeen, as Castle Grant was deemed indefensible. He awaited the duke's orders at Inverurie, where he remained for some days, owing to heavy snow, and then took possession of Castle Forbes. Meantime, Castle Grant had [36] surrendered to Lord George Murray and Lord Nairn, who soon vacated it, the former going to Blair Castle, the seat of the Duke of Atholl. Ludovick, meanwhile, went on to Ballindalloch Castle. On 11 April Ludovick joined the duke's army at Cullen, and then proceeded to Elgin. The Grants had no part in the Battle of Culloden on 16 April, as they did not reach the duke's head- quarters at Inverness until some four days later, but they captured a number of prisoners on route. The duke then disbanded all the Militia Fencible Companies, including the Strathspey men.
Ludovick then went to London to resume his parliamentary work, and tried to obtain funds from the king for the great expenses he had incurred. Both he and his father, Sir James, were very short of funds. Practically no rents had been collected owing to the 'troubles'. He also passionately interceded on behalf of those Grants from Glenmoriston and Urquart who had been taken with the rebels. Unfortunately, his intervention was unsuccessful.
His father, Sir James, died in January 1747, and Ludovick then became Chief and baronet. He retired from parliament in 1761, and was succeeded there by his son, James. He died at Castle Grant on 18 March 1773, and was buried at Duthil. His heir was his only son James, born on 19 May 1738. He had seven daughters.