Folios 44-45. Sir Everard Fawkener to Newcastle. Not expecting rebels [Jacobites]...

Folios 44-45. Sir Everard Fawkener to Newcastle. Not expecting rebels [Jacobites] to attack Duke of Cumberland’s army; He will have 11 battalions and 12 squadrons ready by tomorrow. Lord Chetwynd providing accommodation for troops. Dated at Stafford [Staffordshire]. Enclosures:

1. Folio 46. Duke of Devonshire to [unknown]. Account of rebels in Stockport [Cheshire]. Officers of Lancashire Milita mistaken for rebels while going to Lord Malton’s via Sheffield [Yorkshire]. Rebels gathering horses at Ditchley [?Disley, Cheshire], between Stockport and Wayliagh [Whaley] Bridge [Derbyshire]. Dated at Derby [Derbyshire], 1 December 1745.

2. Folio 47. Devonshire to [unknown]. Party of rebels seen in Stockport examining the fords. Rebels at Cheadle [Cheshire] asking for directions to Adlington Hall [Cheshire]. Note on reverse concerning state of demolished roads. Dated at Derby, 1 December 1745.

3. Folio 48. Duke of Kingston to Mr Mordaunt. List of regiments at Newcastle [Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire]. Man in Kingston’s advanced parties fired at by ‘highlanders’ [Jacobites] and retreated to safety. Rebels reported entering Congleton [Cheshire]. Dated at Newcastle [Newcastle-under-Lyme].

4. Folio 49. Kingston to [unknown]. Enclosed reports from scouts [See folios 50-51]. Instructed Cornet Smith to keep his men mounted, and avoid getting cut off if rebels advance on town. Dated Sunday [1 December 1745].

5. Folio 50. Quartermaster Thompson to Kingston. 6,000-7,000 rebels at Manchester [Lancashire]. About 70 rebel horse attempted to cross river Mersey near Stretford [Lancashire. Dated at Knutsford [Cheshire], Saturday [30 November 1745].

6. Folio 51. Thomas Smith to Kingston. Intelligence from Colonel Graham’s scouts; Rebel forces will reach Northwich [Cheshire], Midlewich [Middlewich, Cheshire], and Namptwich [Nantwich, Cheshire] in a few hours. Dated at Northwich, 1 December 1745.

7. Folios 52-54. Duke of Richmond to [Duke of Cumberland]. Reports of rebels at Congleton, Astbury [Staffordshire] and Leek [Staffordshire]. Concern that rebels intend to cut Richmond’s forces off from Stone [Staffordshire]. Sending out road patrols from Sneyd Green [Staffordshire] to Leek, to gather intelligence. Dated at Newcastle-under-Lyme.

8. Folio 55. General Bland to Lord Sempill. Duke of Kingston reports rebel parties crossing river Mersey, and building a bridge at Stretford. Details of order to retreat if rebels advance; Seal. Dated at Newcastle [Newcastle-under-Lyme], 1 December 1745.

9. Folios 55a-55b. General Bland to Colonel Napier. Unable to safely follow [Duke of Cumberland’s] orders concerning powder at Nantwich; His regiment will remain in marketplace alongside Kingston’s squadron, unless forced out by rebel advance. Dated at Newcastle [Newcastle-under-Lyme], 1 December 1745.

10. Folios 56-57. Bland to Napier. Received orders from Kingston; Sent intelligence to Lord Herbert at Shrewsbury [Shropshire]; Rebels building bridge across river Mersey at Stretford, and may intend to enter Wales. Major Stanley, Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire, seized 30 horses from ‘papists’. Dated at Newcastle [Newcastle-under-Lyme], 1 December 1745.

11. Folio 58. Sempill to Anstruther. Enclosing orders [See folio 55] from Bland for Anstruther’s troops. Two regiments will march to Newcastle [Newcastle-under-Lyme] tomorrow, unless orders to retire arrive overnight. Dated at Stone, 1 December 1745.

12. Folio 59. Intelligence from Thomas Moore. Rebels arrived at Manchester yesterday. About 200 made a bridge over river on road to Knutsford, and went to Altrincham [Cheshire]. Rebels crossing river at Gatley Ford, Cheadle Ford and Stockport. Rebels claim they enlisted 1,000 men in Manchester. Dated at Holmes Chapel [Cheshire].

13. Folios 60-61. Intelligence from ?Sa Wright to Ralph Laycester. Body of the rebels at Macclesfield [Cheshire]; Locals compelled by rebels to help build bridge over river Mersey at Stretford. Rebel artillery crossing Cheadle ford. Rebel army marched from Altrincham to Macclesfield, avoiding Knutsford; Messengers told them King’s troops were there. 21 rebels at Buckley Hill [Bucklow Hill, Cheshire] looking for two deserters. Seal. Dated at Knutsford.

14. Folio 62. Intelligence from J Furnivall. 2,000 rebel infantry marched out of Macclesfield; The rest will stay until tomorrow. Rebels testing their artillery pieces. Dated at Gawsworth [Cheshire].

15. Folios 63-64. Intelligence from ?J Sanders to his father Mr Sanders, Postmaster at Nantwich. ‘Highlanders’ marched from Altrincham to Macclesfield, but avoided Knutsford. 20 rebels at Bucklow Hill [Cheshire] pursuing deserters. Rebel messengers returned to Manchester to ask about King’s forces; Rebels heard 2,000 cavalry were at Knutsford, after sighting group of Kingston’s Light Horse when they crossed river. Seal. Dated at Knutsford.

16. Folio 65. Nathaniel Beard to [unknown]. 200 rebels at Warrington; Two seized by soldiers from Liverpool [Lancashire] as they crossed river; Sent to Chester [Cheshire]. General Bland reported this to Duke of Cumberland, who is at Lichfield [Staffordshire] with Duke of Richmond and Earl of Albemarle. 7,000 rebels marching from Manchester to ‘Bullokes Smithy’ [Bullock Smithy, now Hazel Grove, Cheshire], Buxton, then into Derbyshire. Dated at ‘Newcastle-upon-Trent’ [Newcastle-Under-Lyme], Staffordshire, 30 November 1745.

17. Folio 66. Report from B G. Main body of rebels in Manchester; Young Pretender [Charles Edward Stuart] arrived yesterday with ‘principal officers of his army’. Rebels have 16 cannons, many covered wagons, and nearly 100 loaded horses. Rebels inspecting nearby fords. Townspeople ordered to pay Excise. Dated at Stockport, 30 November 1745.

18. Folios 67-68. Intelligence from Talke on the Hill [Staffordshire]. Pretender proclaimed at Manchester. Rebels crossed river at Crossford Bridge [Stretford], and built bridges. Rebels ‘of note’ named by Mr Gove: Thomas Siddall, barber; Mr James Bradshaw; Mr Jackson; Mr Fletcher; Dr Deakin’s son. Kingston and Bland at Newcastle [Newcastle-under-Lyme] with Duke [of Cumberland] and Colonel Honywood. Dated at Talke on the Hill, 1 December 1745. With copy of intelligence from Charles Vernon. Rebels took possession of Sir Peter Davenport’s house, and ordered roads levelled for carriages. Farmers ordered to secure horses. Reports of Marshal Wade at Manchester. Dated at Holmes Chapel.

19. Folio 69. Intelligence from [Unknown] to ‘my Lady’. 200 rebels rebuilt Crossford Bridge and marched to Macclesfield. Rebel horse and artillery crossed river at Cheadle ford. Rebels demanding quarters for 10,000 in Macclesfield; Hopes they march to Derby. Rebels also seen at Broken Cross [Cheshire].

20. Folio 70. Intelligence. Pretender at Sir Peter Davenport’s house. Rebels have 5,000-6,000 men and 200 horse. Dated at Congleton.

21. Folio 71. Intelligence from J Mordaunt, enclosing letter [?See folio 48] from Duke of Kingston. Dated at Stone.

22. Folio 72. Richard Rider, junior, to Duke of Cumberland. Over 2,000 rebels in Congleton. Pretender’s Son at Macclesfield with his officers, and 2,000 rebel horse and foot. Vanguard is at Broken Cross. Rebels expected to march to Wales; Rider’s brother gone to advise Lord Cholmondeley about destroying bridges at Chester. Rebels expected Marshal Wade to attack from Manchester. Seal. Dated at Leek.

23. Folio 73. W M to Viscount Chetwynd. Rebels at Manchester talk of marching to Chester. 30-40 people joined them. Dated Saturday [30 November 1745]