The heartland of Covenanter resistance was in Ayrshire, Scotland and the southwestern counties of Dumfries and Galloway. It was here that the likes of Richard Cameron preached to open air congregations or conventicles that numbered thousands and where many bloody reprisals were made by the military.

The southwest of Scotland is a region of rolling hills and large expanses of moor and bog which in the 17th century was not easily accessible. In this sometimes beautiful, and in other times harsh, surroundings the shepherds were the masters of travel and knew of the best sites where conventicles could be held in relative safety.

It was here that resistance to the government was centred after the Act of Uniformity in 1662 reintroduced the rule of the church by bishops. Daniel Defoe, author of Robinson Crusoe, was witness to a conventicle in Nithdale in which an audience of some 7,000 was ranged round the hillside to listen to a preacher. They had come fifteen miles or more to hear the sermon that lasted for almost seven hours before setting off on the long walk home.

When Richard Cameron published the Declaration of Sanquhar in 1680 and openly sought the removal of King Charles I, military actions against the Covenanters hardened. The main detractors were John Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee, who operated from his castle at Stranraer and Sir Robert Grierson of Lag. At least 80 summary executions took place in 1684-1685: many more were simply not reported.

The worst is that of a 18 year old Margaret Wilson of Wigtown who was tied to a stake in the sea and drowned. Another to suffer the same fate was Margaret Lachlan aged 63. Others were hung without trial such as William Johnson, John Milroy and George Walker for simply being Covenanters. James Renwick was the last of the prominent Covenater Martyrs. He was hanged in February 1688 after refusing to apply for a pardon - not long before the last of the Stuart Kings, James II of England (VII of Scotland) vacated the throne.

Many of the incidents involving the Covenanters of south west Scotland have passed into folklore and make fascinating reading as well as being a social history of the late 17th century. The following description of a trooper bent upon a search of a home although in flowery language conveys the fear that they engendered:

No sight was more appalling to the helpless peasantry than that of a gruff looking, swearing trooper roughly clad, sunk to the knees in large boots, with a grisly helmet on his head, a coarse cloak hanging from his shoulders and a huge cumbrous scabbard rattling on his heels. These for the most part were men of blood, who rioted in human sufferings, and to whom the wailings of humanity were merriment.

Source: Rev. Robert Simpson, Traditions of the Covenanters

One incident happened when he was supervising some work on his farm and he was unable to make an escape in full view of oncoming soldiers. He ran inside the house into a small closet and concealed himself in a bed stored there. With great presence of mind a domestic servant quickly piled some wet turfs on the fire, which in those days was in the centre of the kitchen , and filled the place with "dense blue smoke which rolled its lazy volumes from the floor to the roof."

Despite the smoky atmosphere a soldier found Frazer and demanded that he sing a profane song to prove he was not a Covenanter but Frazer responded with the words of a hymn. For reasons unknown the soldier warned Frazer to be careful of his words else he would be mistaken for a non-conformist and left him, the soldier saying nothing to others in the search party.

On another occasion he was trapped in his house and surrounded by troops. In desperation he climbed through a window to land at the feet of a soldier where the following conversation took place:

"I am in your power," said Frazer.

"Yes," replied the trooper, "but I feel, somehow or other, as if I am not inclined at present to use that power; no one is witness to this interview - run to that covert, and hide yourself; do not flee to the hill, for your flight might perchance be seen; and though you were as light of foot as a roe , our fleet horses will outrun you."

Source: Rev. Robert Simpson, Traditions of the Covenanters

Frazer was often an exile from his home and occasionally returned when judged safe to do so. He was finally captured while sitting down to dinner with his family and quickly taken prisoner. But the soldiers then helped themselves to the meal and consumed copious amounts of home-made beer. Meanwhile Frazer had been placed in the barn trussed up ready for transfer to prison where he managed to stand up and shuffle into a dark corner to await his fate. Providence again intervened with the now drunken soldiers climbing on their horses and riding off without him. Frazer, accompanied now by his wife who feared the revenge of the troops when they realised what they had done, returned to the wilderness where they remained until the

welcome news of the Revolution sounded, like the silver trumpet of a hallowed jubilee, through the length and breadth of a wasted land. The happy tidings that the arm of the oppressor was broken, and that the children of tribulation were now to walk forth out of the furnace, reached the dreary caves in the wilderness ....

This wonderful use of language to paint a glowing picture of events is symptomatic of a bygone age but even so it conveys the essential truth of great persecution for having a particular belief. Sadly persecution seems to appear in every age of man - may the oppressed be as fortunate as John Frazer and his wife Marion Howatson and enjoy Divine intervention in their time of trouble.

Meet the Author, Brian Orr, Researcher with The Guild of One Name Studies

Back to The Covenanters, Main Page

Part One: The Covenanters: Who Were They?
Part Two : The Kirk and its Impact on the People
Part Three : Tales of the Covenanters
Part Four : What's in a Name?
Part Five : The Sanquhar Declaration
Part Six : Covenanter Ships: The Eaglewing, The Crown and Henry & Francis
Part Seven : Female Covenanters: Execution by Drowning
Part Eight : Covenanter Prisons: Bass Rock and Dunnattor Castle
Part Nine : Greyfriars Kirk and the National Covenant
Part Ten : Battle of Rullion Green
Part Eleven : Rev. James Renwick, Martyr
Part Twelve : Presbyterians in Ireland
Part Thirteen: The Final Word on the Solway Martyrs
Part Fourteen: The Margaret Wilson Statue
Part Fifteen: After the National Covenant