Glenbuchat Heritage

85 Sketch of 'Old Glenbucket' about 1745

The above is a sketch of Old Glenbucket on his grey Highland pony during the1745 rebellion. The sketch was part of a collection of sketches known as the Penicuik Sketches. (apologies, it does not enlarge well)

Click for details about 'Old Glenbucket'


The Penicuik Sketches
“An unknown artist near Penicuik (just outside Edinburgh) did a series of remarkable sketches of both the Government militia prior to the Jacobite arrival, the Jacobite occupation 1745-6, and the Government troops (particularly the Hessians!) which arrived later. These are the only known contemporary illustrations taken during the ’45 itself, and of the 29 illustrations of Highland troops, 17 are shown carrying broadswords of various descriptions (including two with curved Turkish blades), 10 are with muskets, and 2 with Lochaber Axes.”

These sketches were contained in a book “Witness To Rebellion” and some may be seen at the following site: xmarksthescot.com

A descriptive note stated :
“John Gordon of Glenbucket. The sketch corresponds with other eyewitness accounts describing him as bent over with rheumatism and riding a grey Highland pony”

However his poor posture may not have been due to illness but to injuries received in an attempted murder attack in 1724, as noted in the text below:

“Old Glenbucket, born in 1672, had been out in 1715, took part in the Rising of 1745, and his appearance, from the effects of the savage attack nearly 30 years before, is described as incapacitating him to sit erect on horseback”.