THE COVENANTERS
NEW CUMNOCK
© Robert Guthrie
Cairn
Martyrs' Moss
Carsgailoch
Cairn
Tradition has it that New Cumnock's Killing Day was drawn to a hellish close when the dragoons finally caught up with George Corson and John Hair on the lower slopes of The Knipes in the east of the parish between Waistland and Cairn farms ( the martyrs are oftened referred to the Waistland Martyrs) and martyrdom swiftly followed.
The Reverend Simpson describes the scene
'the dragoons pursued their way over the hills towards the farm of Cairn, beautifully situated on the slope of the range of mountains that lines the sweet vale of the Nith on the south. At this place they came upon the two men in a hollow among the green and flowery braes, engaged it is supposed , in devotional exercises. The sound of their voices employed in prayer, or in the singing of psalms, probably attracted the notice of the soldiers, and drew them to the spot. The names of the individuals were Hair and Corson. The circumstances in which they were found were enough to ensure their death and they were without ceremony shot on the spot'.
The Reverend Simpson explains that John Hair was one of five brothers that farmed at Glenquhary in the neighbouring parish of Kirkconnel, a few miles from the where they were apprehended. Why stop so close from home in the knowledge of what had gone before on the heights of Carsgailoch hill? The saintly two had probably realised that their time had come and rather than risk placing the occupants of Glenquhary in danger they took to their bibles and sang their final psalm. Tombstones to the family of Hair can still be found in the ancient kirkyard of St. Connel close to the modern-day farm of Glenwharry. The surname Hair appears on two occasions (John Hair and John Haire) in 'A List of the hearths of the paroch of Cumnock, Old & New' (1691) and appears frequently in the early parish records of New Cumnock (beginning 1706). Rev. Simpson records that a lineal descendant of John Hair was resident in the farm of Muirfoot (circa 1867).
Tombstones of Margaret Hair & Robert McMillan and Patrick Hair & Marion McMichael, St. Connel's Kirkyard, Kirckconnel
Less is known of George Corson, but the surname is common in Dumfriesshire and is said to be of ancient origin since it is often to be found in the form of Acorsane or Ap Corsane strongly suggesting a British or Celtic origin (cf. Owen Ap. Urien).
With this strong association to Dumfriesshire and their place of martyrdom on the upper reaches of the River Nith it is fitting that the names of George Corson and John Hair appear on the wonderful Dalgarnock Cross raised in honour of 'The Nithsdale Martyrs'.
An alternative offering describing the martyrdom of Corson and Hair is found in a poem discovered by John Crocket of Dunscore and published in the Scottish Covenanter Memorials Association Newsletter 57 (Feb. 1995)
I stand today beside the spot
Where Hair and Corson died.
Slain by the monster's cruel hand,
Whose power they had defied.
As in a dream the bleak hillside
Is peopleld once again.
Young and old are gathered there
To worship in God's name.
The Preacher from the Sacred Book
And in his simple way
Is telling of the Love of God
To brethern gone astray.
When hark! a warning shout is raised,
The Benediction's quickly said,
And all that lovely gathering,
Save two are safely fled.
Those two with many oaths and jeers
Are dragged before the brute
Who hold the King's Commission
None dare his will dispute.
Give me at once, the tyrant said,
The names of all who fled,
Or ere the sun has run its course
You're numbered with the dead.
With scornful voice they both replied,
'This life is very sweet,
But rather than betray our friends,
We will gladly it forfeit.'
Thus died the two, the martyrs two,
Whose names are on this stone,
And who, but for oppression's hand,
Would have lived and died unknown.
A monument to the memory of Corson and Hair was erected in1845 at the spot of their martyrdom overlooking the River Nith and Corsencon hill a few miles from the modern day farm of Glenwharry.
The monument can be found between the farms of Waistland and Cairn, 2 miles from New Cumnock on the road to Kirkconnel (A76) . It can be easily spotted breaking the skyline across the Nith valley from Corsencon hill. (Grid Reference NS 664 127)
IN MEMORY OF
GEORGE CORSON
and
JOHN HAIR
who were shot near this place
in 1685, for their adherance to
DIVINE TRUTH,
And attachment to the
Covenanted Reformation
of 1638-50
'They lived unknown
Till persecution dragged them into fame
And chased them up to heaven'
