James Robson

James Robson (died c. 6 May 1757) was a Northumbrian landowner, poet, songwriter, "political criminal" and one time Jacobite rebel. Early life James Robson was born in Northumberland, probably in, or near, Thropton, a small village near to Rothbury and was described as a “freeholder” (i.e. owner of land), in the village. He became a Jacobite, siding with James Francis Edward Stuart (also called the Old Pretender, son of the deposed James II, and some said rightful heir to the throne of Britain) and took part in the First Jacobite Rising (or Rebellion). During this uprising, General Carpenter, after marching his men and horses into Scotland, returned to Newcastle tired and weary, but was immediately ordered to meet the Jacobite "rebels" at Lancaster. He met the rebels at Preston, where the rebels, after defending the place for some time, surrendered to the King's troops. Among the rebels was Mr James Robson of Throston, who was imprisoned in Preston Jail. He was a poet, songwriter, but whether this was by natural bent, or because of his incarceration, is not clear. It appears that he may have been a musician, as many of the historical documents describe him as "a (or "the") leader of a (or "the") band in the Pretender’s army", and although these does not make clear whether this means a "group of musicians" or just a "group of rebels", John Bell in his Rhymes of Northern Bards, states that "James Robson ….. was at that time a musician in the rebel army".