(1768-1797)
As with so many accounts of history, the truth, particularly that of women, and most definitely of poor women is unclear and largely undocumented. The fact that Jackie’s story (partly or wholly true) is discovered at all gives weight to her involvement in the events at the Tranent Massacre.
Weakened by conflict in Europe, the British Army, under the Militia Act, sought to forcefully conscript 6000 Scottish men to serve. Men were to be chosen by ballot and troops were deployed to enforce consignment in Scotland. This was met with resistance from many places across the land, not least because most places relied heavily on workers to farm land for food and work mines for coal without them families and the community faced a crippling prospect of not enough food or coal to cook or stay warm. Tranent was one such place and the residents drew up a statement in opposition to the draft but to no avail. When soldiers reached the town, residents had organised peaceful protests, marching through the streets. Jackie was said to be part of the opposition, banging a drum and chanting, ‘nae militia’. Despite accounts of peaceful protest, scenes turned with soldiers slaying what was reported as at least 12 people, but likely to be more, with many people injured. As for Jackie, it was said her body was found in a corn field weeks after the massacre. No one was prosecuted or held accountable for the deaths.
The statue serves as a memorial to the people killed in the Tranent Massacre of 1797, depicting Jackie with a look of determination, drum at the ready. In stone the words, ‘nae militia’ are inscribed.
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