A short article in the Sheffield Iris dated 2 September 1843 said that one of my direct ancestors (who was over 100 years old at the time) could “detail at great length the particulars of the run-away-Saturday at Sheffield, in the year of the Scotch rebellion.” I’ve tried googling it, but can’t find out what this run-away-Saturday was. Does anyone know?
From the "Sheffield Local Register":
The rebells expected, and great alarm in the town.
Nov.30 1745 — S. M.'s Pap.
From "The Oldest Sheffield Plater" by J & J Hatfield pp 88-89:
The humdrum life of Sheffield was disturbed in 1745 by news of a second large-scale Jacobite Rebellion. "Bonny Prince Charlie", the Young Pretender, had landed in Moidart with only a handful of followers, but had soon been joined by the Highlanders. After a decisive victory at Prestonpans he was given the support of most of Scotland. His aim was to march on London, and crossing the border he took Carlisle, Preston and Manchester. Although Sheffield as a whole was no lover of Roman Catholic ideals it did not want to get involved in a battle, even to help King George. The Cutlers Company petitioned to stop apprentices enlisting in the County Service. When the Pretender reached Manchester, Sheffield was in a panic thinking that his army would be approaching over the Pennines. Women and children were rapidly evacuated to friends and relatives who could give them shelter in outlying districts aaway from the expected route and the rest of the town awaited with trepidation the arrival of the Pretender. The fear however was unjustified as the army veered south from Manchester and headed for Derby. There the Pretender was uncertain of his next move, and retreated back to Scotland from where he eventually returned to France.
This is wonderful! She would have been about 9 years old at the time and no doubt the evacuations must have made a great impression on her. Thank you so much for your help