THE COVENANTERS
NEW CUMNOCK
© Robert Guthrie
Carsgailoch
Martyrs' Moss
Carsgailoch
Cairn
Joseph Wilson, John Jamieson and John Humphry were seized by government troops close to the summit of Carsgailoch hill, in the parish of New Cumnock and shot on the spot. There is no tradition of them being offered their lives in return for accepting the monarchy. Sadly, little else is known of the three Carsgailoch Martyrs.
Joseph Wilson
The name Wilson has strong ties with New Cumnock in a Covenanting context. James Wilson of the Old Castle featured in a proclamation of 1684 for 'the apprehension of those bearing arms or for harbouring those that did'. The surname Wilson appears thirteen times in 'A List of hearths of the paroch of Cumnock, Old & New' (1691), including James (2), John (6), William (3) and Sarah (1). Margaret Wilson, the young Wigtown Martyr and daughter of Gilbert Wilson is said to have been born near the River Nith at New Cumnock (see Wigtown Martyrs).
John Jamieson
The name Jamieson has some tenous link with the parish of New Cumnock, through the appearance of the names of William Jamisone and Heu Jamison in 'A List of hearths of the paroch of Cumnock, Old & New' (1691), some 6 years after the Killing Day. However, the nearby Ayrshire parish has much stronger associations with the surname, with the name appearing on no fewer than 5 occasions on 'The Hearths of the paroch of Muirkirk' . Included in the list was that of Alexander Jamisone the brother perhaps of the martyr John, who was captured on the hill top and taken prisoner to Cumnock. The year before the Killing Day, the parishioners of Muirkirk (like those of Old and New Cumnock) were interrogated by government officials, including 60 year-old John Jamieson in Middlefield who reported 'Joanet Andersone, his spous, keepes not the church'. Old John's wife's non-attendance at church was typical of parishioners with Covenanting sympathies. Could John Jamieson, the Carsgailoch martyr have been the son, and possibly the eldest son ( taking the name of his father) of John Jamieson and Joanet Anderson in Middelfield, Muirkir? . The route home from Dalmellington to Muirkirk would certainly have taken the Jamieson brothers over the heights of Carsgailoch.
John Humphry
Robert Umphra and Janet Umphra appear on 'The hearths of the Toune and paroch of Ocheltrie' (1691), where the name Umphra is clearly a form of Humphry. If John Humphry the martyr, belonged to the parish of Ochiltree then he may well have been an acquaintance of Margaret Dun (see Martyrs Moss). Walter Humper, from the neighbouring parish of Dalmellington was one of 250 Covenanters being transported to Barbadoes on the ship 'Crown of London' when it foundered on the rocks near Deerness, Orkney. Almost 200 Covenanters were drowned, but Walter is recorded as one of the 50 survivors. The name Humper may also be an alternative form of Humphry .
According to tradtion, a local farmer, Hugh Hutchison of nearby Dalgig witnessed the martyrdom and later laid the bodies of the saintly three to rest on Carsgailoch hill. Many years later, Robert Paterson or 'Old Mortality' visited this holy spot and erected his customary memorial stone. The inscription given by J. H. Thomson read,
H
e R e . L ye S . IOS e PHOn the other side:
TH
e IR . ADH e RANC e
Sadly the original 'Old Mortality' tombstone no longer exists although a small fragment (see above) could once be seen resting against the current monument. This piece has since been moved to the Baird Institute, Cumnock for safe keeping. However this loss was to result in the discovery of New Cumnock's most prized Covenanting relics. In 1826 when the foundations of the current tombstone were being laid, the bodies of the Covenanters were found perfectly preserved in their peaty resting place. A lock of golden hair and piece of woollen pawkie were recovered and remained in possession of the family of Ivie Campell of Dalgig Farm for many years - these too can now be found at the Baird Institute.
Piece of woollen pawkie (mitten) and lock of Covenanter's hair
The current monument was erected in 1826 and repaired in 1896 both events being recorded on the reverse side of the main inscription A.B.Todd one of the finest poets on Covenanting traditions describes the Rev. David McAllister as 'one of the most eloquent ministers and able writers of that great country'.
The Covenanters Monument to the Carsgailoch Martyrs is now encircled by forests planted in the last 20 years but thanks to the efforts of the Scottish Covenanter Memorial Association can still be accessed via marked pathways . (Grid Reference 548 147).
ERECTED
After a sermon preached here by the
Revd. A. M. Rogerson , Darvel
From Rev. VII, 14
These are they which came out of
great tribulation and have washed their
robes and made them white in the
blood of the Lamb.
REPAIRED
After a sermon preached here by
the Rev. Dr. McAllister
of Alleghany, Pittsburgh, USA
28th June 1896
