William Erskine Marrs was Scottish clansman who
travelled to the new world around the year 1720.
Much of the information on this man may be lost to antiquity (LTA). Most have come from stories passed on by
generation.
There are some stories that say he was born in Balmoral Castle. I've researched Balmoral Castle and found that this Castle was constructed by Queen Victoria in 1840. Furthermore, maps of Williams time period do not show a Castle in the area called Balmoral. More on this here
Why did he leave for the new world?
In 1715, when the Earl of Mar declared war on England and lost, his followers were also banished from the political situation of the times. Young William may have been between 15 to 25 when the Earl fled to France.
Between 1715 and 1719, many of the rebels hid in the countryside as government troops searched the Highlands. Castle Marr was garrisoned and William with some of his clan, hid in caves in the Brae of Mar.
By 1719, rebellion was brewing again. With the help of the Earl of Seaforth, who was also grandfather to the Earl of Mar,
James Stuart was going to take the crown. Several ships set sail for Seaforths home at Eileen Donan Castle. Only 300 men made
it. English got word and the rebellion was defeated before it really had a chance to get going at the Battle of Glenshee
William may have been present or at least known about it.
In 1720, William is found guiltly of being a religious heretic in Edinburgh and is sentenced to be tied to the tail of a wild pony and dragged through the streets of the city. What is meant by religious heretic and how was he caught? LTA
The night before the sentence is to be carried out, he bribes the sentry to let him escape for exchange for a gold coin that he had in is shoe. He then travels to the port city of Bristol in England and sails on a ship to the colonies. What ship and where did he come to port in the colonies? LTA
Relationship to Earl of Mar?
What is the relationship of William to the Earl of Mar? This may be lost to antiquity. There has been extensive research into this relationship. No documented evidence has surfaced. So that leaves us to speculate.
The ship that he rode passage is also a mystery. My guess is the ship came to port in Philadelphia since it is closest port to where wh wound up. After some time, William moved out to what is now the southeast area of York Country, Pennsylvania, an area called Chanceford. A community of Scottish immergrants moved to this area along with German and Irish. This was the land of William Penn. A town formed and was called Little York. It is assumed that he married someone with the last name MUNDAY since this is the middle name of the second son. She may have been a Native American. His Son Samual was born in 1740 in Little York. He married Francina Bradshaw who was also from Chanceford.
