West Highland Museum has recently obtained on long term loan a distinctive snuff box that was present during the Battle of Culloden. This item is a ram’s horn snuff mull – taking snuff was the fashionable means of inhaling Nicotine before cigarettes.
The object has a silver lid inscribed with the motto of Clan Chattan: “Do Not Touch the Cat without a Glove.”
Accompanying the powder horn was a handwritten note stating:
“This is the Snuff Box of Angus MacKintosh of Farr, taken from his pocket after he was killed at the Battle of Culloden in 1746’. Being obtained by a James MacKintosh, innkeeper at Glamis, from an English trooper. He gave it to Lt.James MacKintosh of the 42nd Regiment at Bonnington by whom it has been presented to Simon Fraser”.
The note was penned by Simon Fraser MacKintosh in 1830. This Simon Mackintosh, a legal practitioner, authored a history of the MacKintosh branches, known as “The Farr Manuscript,” which is preserved in the National Library. A visit to the library confirmed the narrative regarding James MacKintosh of the 42nd Regiment, “who gave me with my grandfather’s snuff mull, taken from his body after the Battle of Culloden”.
The Farr manuscript recounts the tale of Angus’s son, James MacKintosh, who was attending school just north of Culloden at Petty in 1746. He and several classmates chose to skip school that day to observe the battle, including Archibald Fraser, the son of Lord Lovat. James later recounted how he witnessed his father grimly march with the other men towards the desolate moor, a look of despair etched on his face that he would never forget. The Farr manuscript notes that they witnessed the initial assault of the battle, after which they were so frightened that they quickly returned home. While the story of the boys watching the battle has been documented, this marks the first occasion in nearly 200 years that the snuff mull and its associated narrative have come to light. It was discovered in an attic!
The widow of Angus Mackintosh later married Angus MacPherson of Flichity, with whom she had a daughter named Marjory. This Marjory, from her first marriage, had a daughter named Emilia who wed John Cameron.
The widow of Angus Mackintosh remarried an Angus MacPherson of Flichity, whose granddaughter Emilia became the first wife of John Cameron, the tacksman of Corriechoilie, renowned as the Highland Drover from Spean Bridge.
It is said that he first laid eyes on Emilia at the Ballachulish ferry, declaring his intention to marry her. A friend wagered him sixpence that he would not follow through, yet he did! Together, they had three sons, most of whom eventually emigrated to Australia. However, the youngest, William, tragically passed away at the age of 11 and is interred at Cille-choirill alongside his father.
The museum has been exceptionally fortunate to receive a long-term loan of this object, which is currently exhibited at the West Highland Museum in Fort William.
Dr Chris Robinson