John Murray of Broughton - Jacobite Rebellion

Jacobite Rebellion

Around 1739 he became the conduit between the exiled Prince Charles in Rome and the Jacobites in Scotland. He traveled to Paris in March 1743 on behalf of a number of Highland Jacobites to sound out French support for the Stuart cause - and appears to have been duped by false French assurances, whilst at the same time presenting an exaggerated picture to the French of the support in Scotland. He was in Peeblesshire in August 1745, when Prince Charles arrived in Moidart and raised the Jacobite standard. His first response was to attempt to dissuade Charles from staying, but was subsequently persuaded of his duty to support the Prince. On 25 August he was appointed secretary to Charles, and apparently from that point insisted on being addressed as 'Mr. Secretary Murray'. One of his roles as Secretary was to collect, extort and borrow money for the Prince. But he was also involved in the military endeavor. He was present at the Battle of Prestonpans and, when the Jacobite forces invaded England, he was sent by the Prince to negotiate the surrender of Carlisle. However, he was later among those who fatefully persuaded Charles to halt his march south at Derby, and return to Scotland.

During March 1746, when things had started going awry for the Jacobites, Murray apparently fell ill, and later went into hiding to avoid arrest causing some to accuse him of desertion. On the day of the Battle of Culloden he had to be carried across Loch Ness to Glenmoriston, from where he learned of the disastrous Jacobite defeat. Shortly afterwards, Murray went to meet French ships which were belatedly bringing money to the Jacobites, and he took possession of the gold that became known as the Loch Arkaig treasure. Murray then traveled back to Peeblesshire, apparently with a view to escaping to Holland. However, on June 27, at the home of his sister, Veronica Murray Hunter of Polmood, he was captured.