The Saber and Scroll Journal Volume 8, Number 3, Spring 2020 | Page 97

ontributions of Women Jacobites 1688–1788
5
was a man’s business. Women lived in
the social parameter, but Lady Nairne
chose to overstep those boundaries. 40
Women, like men, had a strong national
identity in eighteenth century Scotland,
and Lady Nairne had great pride as a
Scot and a Jacobite. 41
Lady Nairne spent years building
a network of contacts, often from
favors she gained during her political
endeavors. For example, in correspondence
with John Campbell, the Earl of
Breadalbane, Lady Nairne shared plans
she had drawn up to update her home,
and that she wished to purchase slate
from Breadalbane mines. Interwoven in
her correspondence were political opinions,
and invites to see progress on her
home. 42 Lady Nairne’s invitations were
more of a political nature than sharing
her home’s progress. 43 Most letters
were written as direct communication
from Lady Nairne, but she often used
her husband’s sickness as an excuse to
write correspondence for him. Lady
Nairne communicated for her husband
frequently to remain involved in the
Jacobite political circles. 44 The Jacobite
Lairds of Gask is a book written by T.
L. Kington Oliphant, which contains
several letters and records from the Oliphants
of Gask, including a letter from
the Earl of Mar to the Lady Nairne. 45
In his letter dated October 23, 1715,
Mar explains the state of the current
army positions, including horse and
foot brigades. Mar requested “a copie
of the paper tonight” from Lady Nairne
and wishes her “a good, quick, & safe
journie.” 46 Lady Nairne used her political
pull and that of her husband’s, as he
held command in Mar’s upcoming ex-