What is it?

This is an 18th century powder flask that would have contained gunpowder for ‘priming’ flintlock guns and pistols.

Who owned it?

We don’t know the individual who owned this object, but we can surmise he was a Hanoverian supporter, someone opposed to the Jacobites and the Stuart dynasty.

Why is it important?

The inscription around the rim of the horn talks about the battle of Sheriffmuir, but also mentions skirmishes in the north of Scotland and at Preston, in the north-east of England.

Its pro-Hanoverian text includes the boldly triumphant: ‘Ye Pretender ye Erl of Mar & ye rest of ye Party run away to Perth’.

‘Ye Pretender’ is a reference to James VIII & III who was known as the Old Pretender; Bonnie Prince Charlie, as his son and heir was often known as the ‘Young Pretender’.

Here is the full text inscription on the horn:

“Dumblain fight Nov 13 1715 / Kings Gen: D.Argile. Pretenders &: Mar / Invs: Atk: Defd by Erl: of Surlnd: Prsin: Takn: by Gen: Cartr: & Wills / Ye Pretender ye Erl: of Mar & ye rest of ye Party run away to Perth. M r?. Cadogan ye Kings General: Gen: 30: Jan: 1715/6”

The inscription describes the events of the Jacobite Rising in 15-16 including the Battle of Sherrifmuir [Dumblain] between the Jacobites led by the Earl of Mar and the Hanoverian army led by the Duke of Argyll [D.Argile]. It also refers to the struggle in the north of Scotland at Inverness lead by the Earl of Sutherland [Erl: of Surlnd], the taking of Jacobite prisoners at the Battle of Preston by General George Carter and General Charles Wills [Gen: Cartr: & Wills] and the retreat of Jacobite forces from Perth in 1716 in the face of the approaching and the government forces lead by Lieutenant - General Cadogan.

Watch this short video as Assistant Curator, Adrienne Hynes, pieces together the story of the 1715 rising from this rare ‘Hanoverian’ object in the National Museums Scotland collections.

We will discuss the powder flask and other objects linked to the 1715 uprising later in this activity.