 Memorial stone to the Jacobite prisoners at Tilbury Fort |
Chance reading of a work
on Scottish history has produced evidence of a
little known period of Thurrock's history. This
article is an attempt to collect together such
evidence as is available, in order that further
facts may be forthcoming. It fills one of the
many gaps in the history of Tilbury Fort with a
vision of horror and suffering such as was never
imagined to be connected with the well known
building on the marshes. In 1745 Prince Charles Edward Stuart (known as The Young Pretender or romantically as Bonnie Prince Charlie) landed in Scotland and raised his standard leading the Scottish clans in rebellion against George II. This caused consternation in Thurrock, and the men of West Thurrock vestry passed a resolution "For a day and night watch on suspition of Invasion" obviously fearing an attempt to attack London. (I. Sparkes "A Bibliography or Thurrock Page 201 no 4546C) On 16th April 1746 the battle of Culloden was fought and the Prince's army defeated in driving sleet by an army led by the Duke of Cumberland (son of George II and known henceforth as "Butcher Cumberland"). As a result of this campaign 3470 prisoners were taken, men women and children, most of whom were taken to Inverness. On 10th June 1746 a convoy
left Inverness bound for London. On board seven
leaky transports were 564 prisoners as follows:
The State Papers Domestic
Entry book 226 page 222 bears an entry that the
Duke of Newcastle told the Secretary at War that
the Savoy Barracks in London be prepared to
receive these prisoners. However on 18th June
Newcastle wrote: That you should give the necessary directions to the Commander of His Majesty’s ship who has the care of them, that the said three hundred prisoners be accordingly landed at Tilbury: and that the Commissioners For Sick and Wounded should provide the said prisoners with necessaries during their imprisonment there". [S.P. Dom. 226-125] Thus the convoy from Inverness escorted by HMS Winchilsea (Capt. Dyve RN) brought the prisoners to Tilbury. The transports were anchored in the river near the Fort. On 20th August 1746, a Mr.
Minshaw (a surgeon) reported on the state of
prisoners on board the "Pamela" at
Woolwich that they had Typhus and that at roll
call fifty four came up onto the deck but that
eighteen were too ill to climb up. This outbreak
had been caused by overcrowding, insanitary
conditions and starvation. |
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Note: The text of this article has
not been changed from the original publication. It is known to contain discrepancies which
it has not been possible to resolve.