CAPTURE OF COLONEL HENRY KER OF GRADEN 291 



Perth gaol, we refer the curious to Graham Bower's Narra- 

 tive, the substance of which has recently seen the light.* 



Colonel Ker, after his arrest, having produced his Commission 

 as an officer in the Spanish service, the Hanoverian officer in 

 command did not think it prudent to keep him a prisoner. 

 But, if he was let go for the moment, his freedom must have 

 been short-lived, since two days later we find Andrew Fletcher 

 writing to the Duke of Newcastle to announce his seizure : 



" Edinburgh, S.May (mid-day). — "The number of prisoners dayly 

 increases. None of distinction since my last, except Mr. Ker of 

 Oreyden, an officer of pretty high rank among the rebels."^ 



Chevalier Johnstone, rather a partisan witness, attributes 

 Colonel Ker's capture, or recapture, to the fanaticism of the 

 Pi-esbyterian inhabitants of Forfar. The minister of Forfar, 

 at this time, was John Ker, afterwards, in 1776, Moderater 

 of the General Assembly. It is interesting to recall that his 

 father, John Ker, an officer in Ireland, was only son of Ker 

 of Crookedshaws, heirs male to the Kers of Linton, while his 

 cousin, William Ker,<5 (1707-1794) Town Clerk of Kelso in the 

 '45, and afterwards laird of Gateshaw, was Henry Ker's agent, 



During alterations made some years ago at the old house 

 of Kincaldrum, the Commission granted by Prince Charles 

 to Henry Ker of Graden was found. The original being 

 countersigned Charles P.R. in holograph, as an incriminating 

 document, it is supposed that Henry Ker had thrust it into 

 a hole in the wall, before attempting to make his escap.e. 

 Through the courtesy of its present owner, Charles E. G. 

 Chambers, Esq., I am permitted to publish, in our Proceedings, 

 this interesting Jacobite document. 



*Vid. Chambers Journal, May, 1911., Art. '^Bridging Time." 

 5 Scot. H.O. Papers XXXII. 



* A good portrait of this William Ker, " Graden's Doer," still exists at 

 Cargen House, the residence of his descendant, Robert F. Dudgeon, Esq. 



MM 



