Annotation:Black Jock o' Skellater
X:1 T:Black Jock o' Skellater M:C| L:1/8 R:Reel B:Skinner – Miller o’ Hirn Collection (1881, No. 87, p. 45) Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:C G|c2 (Bc) egag|fedc BGAB|c2 (Bc) egag|fedc Bafd| c2 (Bc) egag|fedc BGAB|c2 (Bc) ecGE|FDGF ECC|| G|ECB,C A,CG,C|B,CDE {G}FDDG|ECB,C A,CG,E|FAGB cagf| ecBc AcGc|Bcde {g}fddf|egfd ecdB|cG AF ECC||
BLACK JOCK O' SKELLATER. Scottish, Reel (cut time). C Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. "Black Jock o' Skellater" was composed by Aberdeenshire fiddler-composer and dancing master wikipedia:James_Scott_Skinner (1843-1927). Skellater House sits at the base of Lonach Hill and overlooks the River Don four miles from Strathson, Aberdeenshire. It was built in 1727 for Lachlan Forbes of Edinglassie, and remained in the hands of the Forbes family until the beginning of the 19th century, when it was sold. In Skinner's time Skellater was occasionally occupied during the shooting season, and then was used for hay storage.
Skinner's title probably references John Forbes (1666-1716) of Invernan (a part of Skellater), known as "Black Jock," who came out for the Jacobites in 1715. Black Jock was wounded at the indecisive battle of Sheriffmuir and captured, then marched to Carlisle to be imprisoned awaiting trial. He was subsequently condemned but died in prison, some say the day before the date fixed for his execution. His daughter, Christian, married her cousin, George Forbes, 4th of Skellater.
Skinner composed another tune for the family, "Colonel Forbes C.B.."
