Macdonald

Flora, a Scottish supporter of Charles Edward, the young Pretender. After his defeat at the battle of Culloden, April, 1746, every effort was made by the British authorities to effect his capture. He took refuge with the Macdonalds. He was a man of small stature and genteel, attractive appearance. Flora dressed him in women's clothing and passed him off as her maidservant. She succeeded in this way in conveying him to the Isle of Skye. Here he was concealed for a time, and succeeded finally in escaping to France. She was but twenty-four years old at this time. Later she married a clansman, Allen Macdonald. In 1775 she removed with her husband to Fayetteville, North Carolina. Oddly enough, during the Revolutionary War the Macdonalds took the side of King George. Allen became a brigadier-general under Cornwallis. Their five sons held office. At the conclusion of the war the family found it advisable to return to Scotland. During her lifetime, Flora kept as one of her choicest household treasures a linen sheet on which Prince Charlie had slept. On her deathbed she directed that it should be used as her winding-sheet.