Robertson goes to France !

[Ancienne Alliance]

Searching out the fate of an ancestor of mine, Jean Reid, and trying to understand how and why he came to France circa 1690, I came up with this :

After James VII's final defeat in 1690, the Robertson estates were forfeited , and the galant and talented young poet chief Alexander Robertson joined the exiled court in France.
I can well imagine that he had a suite, followers with him.
The Reid is a sept of Robertson... Was my ancestor Jean Reid with him in France ?
This is an excellent question.

Best,

Robert

[Phil]

After James VII's final defeat in 1690

It was actually James II, defeated by William of Orange at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. Do you know where the Robertson estates were? Neither Robertson or Reid are uncommon names in Scotland and if you can place your Reid ancestor in the same area then it is a possibility.

[Ancienne Alliance]

It was actually James II, defeated by William of Orange at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. Do you know where the Robertson estates were? Neither Robertson or Reid are uncommon names in Scotland and if you can place your Reid ancestor in the same area then it is a possibility.

Thank you for the rectification.

I read somewhere that James the Second of Scotland was also refered to as James VII of England but I must be mixing up a few things here !

Jean Reid's parents are David Reid and Elizabeth McKinnon . It is said that they were "from" Inverness-shire. But they did move around alot in these troubled times.

[Jack Daw]

Cool, Robert. Good luck in finding a possible link.

[Phil]

The other way around actually, he was James II of England which is how he is usually referred to. I think most Scots, particularly the Covenanters, would prefer not to refer to him at all. Jamie the saxt (James VI of Scotland) son of Mary Queen of Scots became James I of England and on Charles II's death with no heir his brother James got the job. Confusing isn't it? Our present queen should properly be known in Scotland as Elizabeth I but somebody decided that the Scottish people have no history of any value so imposed her on them as Elizabeth II. Quite a lot of Scots don't really have much time for the whole deferential royal thing apart from those around Dee-side who make a nice living out of it. But I digress. Unfortunately Robertson, Reid & McKinnon are fairly common names and widespread throughout Scotland which makes tracking any down all the more difficult. Inverness-shire isn't too far removed from Robertson country and is the centre most folk from the isles such as McKinnons tend to head for so I think you would be safe enough assuming your Reid was one of the Robertson Reids.

[Ancienne Alliance]

The other way around actually, he was James II of England which is how he is usually referred to. I think most Scots, particularly the Covenanters, would prefer not to refer to him at all. Jamie the saxt (James VI of Scotland) son of Mary Queen of Scots became James I of England and on Charles II's death with no heir his brother James got the job. Confusing isn't it? Our present queen should properly be known in Scotland as Elizabeth I but somebody decided that the Scottish people have no history of any value so imposed her on them as Elizabeth II. Quite a lot of Scots don't really have much time for the whole deferential royal thing apart from those around Dee-side who make a nice living out of it. But I digress. Unfortunately Robertson, Reid & McKinnon are fairly common names and widespread throughout Scotland which makes tracking any down all the more difficult. Inverness-shire isn't too far removed from Robertson country and is the centre most folk from the isles such as McKinnons tend to head for so I think you would be safe enough assuming your Reid was one of the Robertson Reids.

Confusing perhaps a wee bit , but fascinating none the least !

If you come to think of anything else you are most welcome.

Best,

Robert

[thanmuwa]

And another small point, while James himself left for a nice French holiday after the Boyne (he must have been quite stressed, the battle probably ruined his nails.....), the final defeat of the Jacobites by the Papal forces under William was a bit later, at Aughrim/Limerick in 1691 as formalised by the Treaty of Limerick. This was followed by "The Flight of the Wild Geese" as we call it in Ireland. If your ancestors were amongst the Jacobite forces under Sarsfield, this could well be the route they took, after all some famous French families (Château Barton and Hennessy Cognac for example) entered France this way.

[Ancienne Alliance]

And another small point, while James himself left for a nice French holiday after the Boyne (he must have been quite stressed, the battle probably ruined his nails.....), the final defeat of the Jacobites by the Papal forces under William was a bit later, at Aughrim/Limerick in 1691 as formalised by the Treaty of Limerick. This was followed by "The Flight of the Wild Geese" as we call it in Ireland. If your ancestors were amongst the Jacobite forces under Sarsfield, this could well be the route they took, after all some famous French families (Château Barton and Hennessy Cognac for example) entered France this way.

Seems logical !

Thank You.

[Galician]

Papal forces??? Wouldn't the Jacobites have been favorable to the Roman Church, if not actually heavily Catholic?

[Phil]

That's right. The English invited William in precisely because he was Protestant. James was not welcome because of his conversion to Catholicism.
Here is a bit about the Robertsons - http://www.electricscotland.com/webc.../roberts2.html