Cuthbert of Castlehill: A View from Inverness

Writer Jennifer Morag Henderson places the Colbert family in its geographical environment, Inverness, the capital of the Highlands. Colbert of Castlehill is little known there, but there are various sources available in Scotland that can help shed some light on his life and family. Using her local knowledge and expertise in Scottish and especially Highland records, she presents what these records can reveal about the environment in which Seignelay grew up. Knowledge of the Colbert / Cuthbert family, their standing in Scotland, and their religious background, can help to make sense of Colbert of Castlehill’s later decisions. Matching research on Colbert in France with contemporary Scottish and Highland research on the same historical period gives new insights. Placing Colbert's life in the context of the Jacobite rebellion of 1745 and its aftermath gives a different perspective, while viewing his choices in the French Revolution alongside his brother's pro-Slavery stance similarly opens up new areas for discussion.