James Macpherson (freebooter)

James Macpherson was a Scottish outlaw.

Early life

MacPherson was the illegitimate son of a Highland laird, Macpherson of Invereshie, and a beautiful Scottish Traveller girl whom he had met at a wedding. When his father was killed while in pursuit of cattle-rustlers in Badenoch, James was taken in by the laird's family. But when he grew up the young Macpherson reverted to his mother's people, and he became the leader of a band of Travellers who roved the northern counties of Banff, Moray and Aberdeenshire dealing in horses.

Criminal career

There is little doubt he overstepped the bounds of law on occasion, and made enemies amongst local landowners; not least by his custom of entering the towns of Banff, Elgin and Forres with his followers and a piper at their head. One such landowner, Duff of Braco, organised a group to capture him.

Arrest and hanging

He was arrested during the St Rufus Fair in Keith after a fierce fight. The story goes that he was betrayed by a woman who threw a blanket over him from an upstairs window, thus enabling his pursuers to arrest him. On November 7, 1700 he was tried before the Sheriff of Banffshire and sentenced to death by hanging. According to legend, he played his fiddle and danced around the gallows. When he was finished, he turned to the crowd, broke his fiddle over his knees, and threw the pieces at the audience. The tune he played is still known as McPherson's Lament.