MacPherson was an Egyptian

Subject: MacPherson was an Egyptian
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 28 Apr 10 - 10:14 AM

Seeing the thread on Irish being Egyptians reminded of this bit of useless information.

MacPherson, as in MacPhersons farewell, was tried and convicted of being an 'Egiptian and a wagabond'. It was against Scottish Law to be an Egyptian (or Gypsy) in those days. The other little known fact is that the clock at Banff, which was set 'a quarter before' is now installed in the tower at Dufftown. Looking though the rest of the text I also find he was 'keeping mercats in ane hostile manner'. I wonder if he should have compared the market instead...

I hope I have enriched your lives:-)

Cheers

DeG

Subject: RE: MacPherson was an Egyptian
From: meself
Date: 28 Apr 10 - 11:50 AM

Thanks for that!

Subject: RE: MacPherson was an Egyptian
From: Mr Happy
Date: 28 Apr 10 - 11:52 AM

Meercats??

Subject: RE: MacPherson was an Egyptian
From: GUEST,Ewan McVicar
Date: 28 Apr 10 - 03:19 PM

When his people arrived at Leith they told the king they were Egyptians who had been Christian, then forcibly made Muslim, now they had escaped and were on their way to Rome to get forgiveness from the Holy Father, could they get some cash to help them on their way? Their severe wrong turn out of the Med was not commented on!
Ewan

Subject: RE: MacPherson was an Egyptian
From: BobKnight
Date: 28 Apr 10 - 03:39 PM

Another lesser known fact - the pardon that came over the Brig O' Banff in the last verse wouldn't have gotten there in time anyway, because the bridge wasn't built until many years later. The last verse is a later addition.

He was probably just a "traveller," as opposed to a gypsy. Not many gypsies by the name of McPherson, but they probably just lumped them all under the same name. (gypsy)

Subject: RE: MacPherson was an Egyptian
From: meself
Date: 28 Apr 10 - 04:07 PM

Presumably the name MacPherson came from his father, the laird "MacPherson of Invereshie", who, as far as I know, no one claims was a gypsy. Or traveller. Or Egyptian, for that matter.

Subject: RE: MacPherson was an Egyptian
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 28 Apr 10 - 06:18 PM

It says in the article MacPherson was the illegitimate son of a Highland laird, MacPherson of Invereshie, and a beautiful Tinker or gypsy[clarification needed] girl that he met at a wedding. The key phrase in Wikipedia is, of course, clarification needed, but is does show that at least someone has claimed Jamie was half Gypsy - or Egyptian.

I guess no-one will ever really know now but the offence cited also shows the court beleieved him to be 'Egiptian' and I am ssuming (possibly incorrectly) that the court records are verifyable?

Cheers

DeG

Subject: RE: MacPherson was an Egyptian
From: greg stephens
Date: 29 Apr 10 - 02:38 AM

So what does "mercats" mean in this context?

Subject: RE: MacPherson was an Egyptian
From: akenaton
Date: 29 Apr 10 - 03:19 AM

Buying and selling ...Mac was probably a "resetter" of stolen goods, or dealt in contraband of some sort.

Subject: RE: MacPherson was an Egyptian
From: greg stephens
Date: 29 Apr 10 - 04:06 AM

Subject: RE: MacPherson was an Egyptian
From: Wolfhound person
Date: 29 Apr 10 - 04:08 AM

mercats=markets?

Paws

Subject: RE: MacPherson was an Egyptian
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 29 Apr 10 - 05:45 AM

For insurance = comparethemarkets.com

For Scottish contraband = comparethemercats.com

Seemples.

:D