Jean Gordon (Scottish Gypsy) Explained

Jean Gordon
Birth Date:	1670
Death Date:	1746
Death Place:	Carlisle, England
Death Cause:	Murdered by drowning
Known For:	Jacobite supporter of Bonnie Prince Charlie The inspiration for Sir Walter Scott's character Meg Merrilies

Jean Gordon (1670 to 1746) was born into one of the Gypsy tribes of Kirk Yetholm. She died in Carlisle in 1746.^[1]

Biography

Gordon, who was 6 feet tall, was said to be the inspiration for Sir Walter Scott's character Meg Merrilies in his novel Guy Mannering.^[2]

In 1732, aged 62, she was charged at Jedburgh Court for 'being an Egyptian' and plea bargained to leave Scotland.

Gordon was drowned in Carlisle, by an angry mob, for the support she voiced for the Jacobite cause and Bonnie Prince Charlie.

References

1. Book: The new biographical dictionary of Scottish women . 2018 . Edinburgh University Press . 978-1-4744-3628-1 . Ewan . Elizabeth . Edinburgh . 164-165 . Pipes . Rose . Rendall . Jane . Reynolds . Siân.
2. Web site: Smith . Kenny . 2019-10-11 . Charles Faa Blythe - the last king of Scotland's gypsies . 2023-07-25 . Scottish Field . en-GB.