1685 - Overview

This is the first in a series of blogs about the year 1685.
[Author's Note: These articles along with additional content were published in 2015 in both hard cover and paperback editions. 1685 - The Year that Changed Scotland and Clan Campbell]

1685 May - The Legendary Escape of Lord Lorne - Eldest Son of the 9th Earl of Argyll
1685 May 15 - Anna MacKenzie - Countess of Argyll
1685 June 1 - Glendaruel - The last recruitments of Argyll's Army
1685 June 2 - Eilean Dearg - The Small Island Fortress of the Argyll Rebellion
1685 June 12 - Kildalvan in Glendaruel - Part 1
1685 June 12 - Kildalvan in Glendaruel - Part 2
1685 June 18 - The Cochranes and Bonnie Dundee 
1685 June 18 - The Argyll Stone
1685 June 19 - The Capture of the "Campbells In Kildalvan"
1685 June 20 - The Netherbow Port
1685 June 20 - John Campbell - Grandson of the 9th Earl Falls out of a Window
1685 June 22 - Canongate Tolbooth and the Declaration of Robert Campbell
1685 June 23 - The Fall of Carnassarie Castle
1685 June 30 - Edinburgh Castle and the Argyle Tower
1685 June 30 - "The Laigh Council House" and Argyll's Final Letters
1685 June 30 - The Maiden
1685 June 30 - The Mercat Cross
1685 July 15 - Dunstaffnage Castle
1685 July - The Executions at Inveraray
1685 Late July or Early August - Banished!
1685 August 13 - Lord Neil Campbell - Younger Brother of the 9th Earl - Settler of New Jersey
1685 August 18 - George Scot of Pitlochie
1685 September 5 - The Harbor of Leith
1685 December - The Henry and Francis
1685 - Epilogue and Bibliography

Why 1685?

This was a traumatic year for the Campbell Clan in general, perhaps the worst of all years.  Worse than 1745 when the clans were essentially abolished (Campbells happened to be on both sides of that conflict at Culloden, but mostly on the side of the victors).  Worse than 1513 when the Clan leader, Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll, was killed at the Battle of Flodden along with his king and many of his clan.

1685 was also a traumatic year for the grandfather of Joel Campbell.  Joel's grandfather was Robert Campbell.  The timing of Robert's arrival in New Jersey and our DNA signature that maps closely to Highland Campbells, make us believe that this is the same Robert Campbell that arrived at Perth Amboy on the ship called the Henry & Francis in December of 1685.  Admittedly, this series of articles stands on that rather large leap of faith, but it makes the story much more interesting.

The year started with the death of Charles II, the King of England/Scotland/Ireland, on February 6.    Charles II had executed the 8th Earl of Argyll (Archibald Campbell) in 1661 and had passed the same judgement on his son, the 9th Earl.  The 9th Earl, also named Archibald, sat in the Netherlands in exile.  So how much worse could the new king be?

The childless Charles II was succeeded by his younger brother James II.  James II was from the royal Scottish line so was also known as James VII of Scotland, but that did not mean the Scottish had a strong liking for him.  In fact his conversion to Catholicism and his marriage to the Italian Catholic Mary of Modena raised suspicions that he would reinject Catholicism into the government.  One of their main religious objections was their refusal to recognize a King as the head of the church.

Charles II had an illegitimate son, also exiled in the Netherlands, who was commonly known as the Duke of Monmouth.  The 36 year old Duke also fancied himself as an heir to the throne.

Over beers in Amsterdam the Duke and Argyll decided to mount a two front attack on England and Scotland.  They sailed in May.  By mid July they were both defeated and beheaded.

The Campbells who supported their chief lost their lands and were subject to rape, pillage, and slaughter.  In Inveraray a monument stands to remember seventeen Campbell leaders executed close to that spot.  Those with means and connections were able to sail to the Netherlands, France, or the colonies in America.  They often took with them convicted criminals and malcontents as their indentured servants.  These were prisoners that the Kings men were more than happy to be rid of.

1685 ended with the Campbell Clan leader dead, his heir in exile, his lands and titles forfeited, his people's homes, farms, livestock destroyed, his cadets scattered or dead, and his religion persecuted.  It had been a very bad year.

If this overview leaves you a bit confused, don't be alarmed.  These were times that cannot be explained with our current norms of church and state, clan loyalty and royalty, feudal power and religious freedom.  The other articles in the series are intended to stand alone. Hopefully they can be enjoyed without a complete understanding of the motives of the individual actors and the political and religious conditions of Scotland in 1685.