The Countess of Erroll

My journey encapsulates a three year mystery that began in Edinburgh, Scotland in October 2006 in which I was led by a variety of mysterious historical symbols to learn about the life and challenges of Lady Mary Hay in Cruden Bay, Scotland, who was the 14th Countess of Errol during the years of 1711-1758. Mary Hay was the Senior Great Officer, Royal Office of Scotland and Chief of the King's Household in Scotland. She succeeded to the title in 1717 when she became Lady Hay and Baroness of Stain, 23rd Chief of the Hays (since 1171) and Mac Garaidh Mhar (a Celtic title). In 1727 she nominated John Duke of Roxburgh, to act as Her Deputy and walk in the procession for the coronation of George II. In 1745 she raised an army of Buchan men who stood for "Bonnie Prince Charlie"-Prince Charles Edward Stuart. She was close to sixty years of age at the time. At this time, Mary was a practicing Episcopalian and as this faith was persecuted by the Hanoverians she fitted out a grain store as a place of worship. This was known in Cruden Bay as `Countess Mary's Girnal'. It was burnt to the ground in 1746 by English Dragoons. She succeeded her brother, Charles Hay, and was succeeded by grandnephew Lord James Boyd Kilmarnock, the grandson of her late sister Margaret.

S. Elizabeth Edwards, Ed. D is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina. She has made a lifetime study of the Countess of Erroll and her valiant efforts to help the many men that fought in the battle of Culloden in 1745.