Mrs Macfarlane

Mrs MacFarlane (fl. 1716–1719) is known for being outlawed for the murder of John Cayley. The story of how she avoided punishment was the basis of verse and it was part of the story in Sir Walter Scott's novel Peveril of the Peak.

Life MacFarlane was born to Colonel Charles Straiton at the end of the 17th century. She married John MacFarlane who was many years her senior when she was 19. She came to notice following the death of John Cayley on 2 October 1716.

MacFarlane followed her husband's advice and she was "outlawed". Verses were written that supported MacFarlane for killing in self defence.

According to some sources, she lived on in Edinburgh, being kept in a hidden room by the Swinton family. Sir Walter Scott says that he was told this story by his aunt Margaret Swinton, who said that she had met Mrs MacFarlane in her parlour and she had disappeared into a secret apartment. Her aunt's family had sworn her to secrecy as they said that MacFarlane's life was at stake.

Her husband remarried in 1719, and this is presumed to be after her death.