Glasgow Fugitives Banished in 1684

On 4 October, 1684, two proclaimed fugitives were brought before the circuit in Glasgow: ‘Peter and John Finisones in the printed fugitive roll being examined, ordered they be processed in order to their banishment’ (RPCS, IX, 687.)

Ruchazie (top rightRuc) and Gartcraig (bottom left).

There are two John Finnisons listed on the fugitive roll of May, 1684. One is ‘John Finnison, in Rothsay, [i.e., Ruchazie]in the Barony [parish]’. The other appears under ‘Provan or Govan’ as ‘John Finnison, elder in Gantcraig’. The latter had two sons, ‘Alexander Finnison, son of John Finnison in Gantcraig’ and ‘Peter Finnison, son of John Finnison in Gantcraig’ who were also fugitives. (Jardine, ‘United Societies’, II, 193.)

Map of Gartcraig/Ruchazie

Street View of former site of Gartcraig

Street View of former site of Ruchazie

Both Ruchazie and Gartcraig lay in the lands of Provan, Barony parish, which belonged to the burgh of Glasgow. The ownership of them was ratified in 1669. (RPS, 1669/10/125.)

It is possible that John Finnison’s name was duplicated on the separate lists for the parishes of Barony and Govan, as Ruchazie lies right next to Gartcraig.

John and Peter Finnieson were probably the father and son fugitives from Gartcraig/Ruchazie. A John Finnison appears under the Hearth Tax records of 1691 to 1695 under Ruchazie and a Peter Finnison under Gartcraig.

At the same diet and on the same day, appeared ‘John Williamsone in Kilmarnock, prisoner for a disorderly baptisem, being a poor man and penitent, and Colin Alisone in Glasgow, also prisoner for allegeit resett of Colin Alisone, his sone, which he possitivlie denyes; both of them remitted prisoners till their cases be taken to further consideratione.’ (RPCS, IX, 687.)

Colin Alison, elder, was the father of Colin Alison, the Societies’ activist.

John Williamson had been captured in Glasgow in November, 1683, but had ‘made some compliances, for which he showed evident repentance’. He presumably had been held in Glasgow Tolbooth since then. He was one of the United Societies’ ‘expectants’, i.e., trainees for the ministry in 1683. After the Revolution became a minister in the Church of Scotland.

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