The
infomation below was supplied by Mrs Anita Walker.
From Mt Gambier in South Australia.
No.2 MEMORIAL of the Losses & Sufferings of John Walker Junr, Farmer in Beanston in the Rebellion of the year 1745, when General Cope's Army marched from Dunbar to the battle of Preston, & when attending same etc.-----------
When General Cope's Army landed at Dunbar, for the purpose of intercepting the Rebels in their march to England, a great scarcity of forage & provisions prevailed among them, wherefore Commissaries were sent before to Beanston to bespeak the articles wanted, as the Army was to stop there, in its march west to take a Refreshment both men & horses: Accordingly, provisions wine & spirits of all kind were provided for the men, & forage for the horses were provided by Mr Walker. The Commissaries telling him that everything they took would be paid for by Government.
Accordingly, when the Army came over the hill of Pencraik where the farm of Beanston begins, the horses of all descriptions were let loose to feed on the farm, as they had been almost famished at Dunbar before. Great numbers of clergy came from all parts of Scotland, & numbers of loyalists from Edinburgh were also there, whose horses joined with these conveying the baggage, increased the demand for forage to a great extent. In the first place a field of oats ready to be carried to the barnyard, consisting of 9 acres, was swept away in a moment, then a field of oats of 18 acres & 20 acres of beans was also carried away. Then 24 acres of beans all in sheaves, also was taken away. Then 24 acres of barley in the like state was also carried away. Then 14 acres of oats in the like state then 30 acres of oats all completely carried away, being in stooks. All these were carried away or eaten upon the spot, for every baggage cart took as many as they could carry away, & also all the cavalry - many of the Gentlemen who followed the Army were seen loading their horses with one hand & sheaves of oats etc. in the other, to all of which Mr Walker made no opposition, being assured by these Commissaries that he would be refunded.
These
transactions were all done in one day, & having struck their tents next
morning, march west for Preston. Ten of Mr Walker's horses were sent
along with the baggage under the care of Mr Archibald Campbell, Excise
Officer in Linton. It was taken to a Woodyard belonging to Mr Caddel
of Cockenzie & there the horses remained in the yoke while Mr Campbell
went to the battle. In the morning when the Rebels began the attack
& were like to gain the battle Mr Campbell ran off to Cockenzie to take
away the horses & try to save them for being taken, & having unyoked
them was proceeding home to Beanston. When he was come to the length
of Seton three of the horses were desperately wounded & were obliged
to be left.
He there met two of Mr Walker's sons, John & William, with guns on their
shoulders who had run away from home at 1o'clock in the morning to go
to the battle. He immediately put one of them behind one of the men
on horseback & the other behind another.
At
this time a party of the rebels consisting of about ten or twelve men
who had been despatched after them, were very near, however at length
they gave all up the pursuit, but one who continued it until he came
up with them at Mr Anderson's gate at St Germain's Entry where he made
a stroke at John's head, one of Mr Walker's sons who was behind the
man on the hindermost horse, but having made a long stretch & missed
him his sword only wounded the horse & he fell among its feet.
By this circumstance they gained about two bullet through in the pursuit
when Mr Campbell took the gun from John & shot the rebel dead. They
then dismounted from the wounded horse who bled to death that night
& got home to Beanston with great difficulty.
Thus
it will be seen Mr Walker lost 71 acres of oats, 44 of beans & 24 of
barley, already to be taken to the barn, besides the innumerable quantity
of provisions wine, spirits of all kinds & other articles. Articles
taken away by the Army & also four horses & five good carts for all
of which he did not receive a farthing.
Lord Milton who was then Lord Justice Clerk got an account of these
losses from Mr Walker, & was to get him refunded, but he died a few
weeks after it was given in.
