The Hidden: Five Fugitive Covenanters in Crossmichael parish

The summons to the circuit court held in Kirkcudbright in October, 1684, offers a fleeting glimpse into the networks of kin, friends and neighbours who hid the Society people.

Ernfillan Glen from the north © James Bell and licensed for reuse.

1. John Graham in Chapelerne, Crossmichael parish
He appears on the published fugitive roll of 1684 as ‘John Graham, in Chapelearn, reset and harbour’. (Jardine, ‘United Societies’, II, 217.)

On the complete parish list, probably of October, 1684, ‘John Graham, ab[sent], and his wife and daughter’ are listed with others under ‘Chapelearne’. (RPCS, IX, 582.)

‘Chapelearn’ is Chapelerne.

Map of Chapelerne                 Aerial View of Chapelerne

2. Thomas Graham in Ernfillan, Crossmichael parish
Thomas Graham appears on the published Fugitive Roll as ‘Thomas Grahame, in Ernefillan, reset and harbour’. (Jardine, ‘United Societies’, II, 215.)

A ‘Robert Grahame, in Ernfillan’ was also listed on the roll for ‘reset and harbour’. Ernfillan probably lay in the Ernfillan Glen to the east of Ernfillan Hill.

Both Thomas and Robert Graham and their wives are listed, along with a ‘John Grier, and his wife, ab[sent]’ at the farm of ‘Ironamry Murray’ in the complete parish list of 1684. See Ernambrie, below. Thomas and Robert Graham were probably brothers. (RPCS, IX, 583.)

A ‘Mareon Wilson in Ironphillan,’ and ‘Rosie Bel and her daughters in Ironphillan’ were listed as disorderly in the Crossmichael parish list of October, 1684. It is possible that these women were the wives of those listed on the Fugitive Roll, or the unnamed wives and sisters of the other residents of Ernfillan listed on the complete parish list of 1684. It is also possible that one of them was the mother of Thomas and Robert Graham. (RPCS, IX, 574.)

Map of Ernfillan Glen                  Street View of Ernfillan Glen

According to the summons to the court in Kirkcudbright:

‘John Grahame in Chapellyarn for conversing with John and Thomas Grahams befor they ware relaxed;’ (RPCS, IX, 374.)

The two Grahams who had formerly been fugitives had also appeared in the neighbouring parish of Balmaghie:

‘John Donaldson, miller in Ba[l]magie, for converseing with John and Thomas Grahames befor they war relaxed;’ (RPCS, IX, 374.)

Crofts

Ernfillan lay next to Crofts, a farm connected to two brothers, William and James Graham. William Graham was shot, probably in 1682 or 1684. James Graham was executed in Edinburgh in December, 1684. A ‘Margaret Mackharge in the Crofts’ appears on the parish list of October, 1684, as ‘altogether disorderlie’ (RPCS, IX, 574.)

The following people were listed at Crofts in the complete parish list of 1684: ‘Robert Gordon and his wife and daughter, William MackComb, William Herning and his wife, ex.; John Hannah, Girsel Gordon, Janet Gordon, Marion Horrel, widow, ab[sent].’ (RPCS, X, 583.)

Map of Crofts                  Street View of Crofts

3. William Russell in Ernambrie
He appears on the published Fugitive Roll as ‘William Raffil, in Iron-ambrie, reset and harbour’. (Jardine, ‘United Societies’, II, 216.)

‘Iron-ambrie/‘Arnambrie’, is now called Ernambrie and lies in Crossmichael parish. There are two farms named Ernambrie, Meikle and Nether Ernambrie, which both lie near Ernfillan and Crofts. They appear to have also been known under the names of ‘Ironamry Wilsone’ and ‘Ironamry Murray’

His mother may have lived at ‘Ironminnay’, now Ernmenzie, as ‘William Raphal his mother, ab[sent]’, was listed on the complete parish list of 1684. (RPCS, IX, 583.)

Map of Ernambrie                  Aerial View of Meikle Ernambrie

Street View of Nether Ernambrie

According to the summons:

‘William Hayning in Arnambrie Wilsone, Gilbert Muir in Arminnie, John Makeachter ther, John Anderson in Ironespie, James Cairns ther, Andrew Gerran ther, and ——- Kevan, mother to umquhill William Russall, for constant converseing with William Russell, fugitive;’ (RPCS, IX, 374.)

William Haining appears under ‘William Heug and his wife, ab[sent]’ under ‘Ironamry Wilson’ in the complete parish list of 1684. (RPCS, IX, 583.)

Ernmenzie © Colin Kinnear and licensed for reuse.

‘Gilbert Muir and his wife’ appear under ‘Ironminnay’ in the complete parish list of 1684 with Russell’s mother. (RPCS, IX, 583.)

‘Ironminnay’/‘Arminnie’ is now called Ernmenzie.

Map of Ernmenzie             Street View of Ernmenzie

John Anderson, Andrew Gerron and their wives, and James Cairns and his wife and daughter, all appear under Ernespie on the complete parish list of 1684. (RPCS, IX, 583.)

‘Ironespie’ is now called Ernespie.

Map of Ernespie               Aerial View of Ernspie

A ‘Margaret Hillow in Hilletoun, daughter to Robert Hillow’ was listed as disorderly in the parish list of October, 1684. (RPCS, IX, 574.)

Hillowton lies beside Ernespie

Map of Hillowton

Crossmichael Mill

4. Andrew Crock in Erncrogo
Appears on the Fugitive Roll as ‘Andrew Crock, in Iron-crogo, reset and harbour’. (Jardine, ‘United Societies’, II, 216.)

Map of Erncrogo               Street View of Erncrogo

According to the summons:

‘Isobell Grierson att Corsmichaell milne and Nathaniell Gordon in Airds for conversing with Andrew Crock, fugitive;’ (RPCS, IX, 374.)

According to the parish list of October, 1684, ‘Nicholas MacKnight, lady of Cross Michaelmil, and Janet Muirhead, her servant’ and ‘Maron Mackernah at the Mil’ were disorderly persons within the parish. A ‘Grisel Mackernah and her daughter, fugitives’, were also listed. (RPCS, IX, 574.)

The complete parish list of 1684 records ‘Nicholas Macknight, Lady Crossmichael Mill, an aged woman; Janet Muirhead, her servant, ab[sent]’ under Erncrogo, rather than the Mill. It also records that ‘Issobel Greir; ex’ at Erncrogo. (RPCS, IX, 583.)

Crossmichael Mill lies near Erncrogo.

Map of Crossmichael Mill              Street View of Crossmichael Mill

Nathaniel Gordon was presumably one of the two sons of the ‘William Gordon of Airds and his wife’ recorded under Airds on the complete parish list of 1684. (RPCS, IX, 582.)

Airds lies to the west of Erncrogo.

Map of Airds                 Aerial View of Airds

A ‘James Wilson in the Roan’, i.e., Rhone, beside Airds, was listed as disorderly in the parish list of October, 1684. (RPCS, IX, 574.)

Map of Rhone

5. James Garmorie either in Ernanity, or Crossmichael parish.
There are two fugitives named James Garmorie, or Garmarie, listed on the Fugitive Roll of 1684. They are ‘James Garmorie, in the parish of Corsmichaell’ and ‘James Garmarie, in Armanady’, which is probably Ernanity.

The complete parish list of 1684 lists ‘Issobel Germurie, spous to James Germuire, ab[sent]’ under ‘Ironannatie’. (RPCS, IX, 583.)

Ernanity has vanished. However. According to Thomson’s map of the early nineteenth century, Ernanity lay at the road junction below Chapelerne.

Map of Ernanity             Street View towards Ernanity

According to the summons:

‘Robert Garmorie in Meikle Drayburgh for converseing with James Garmorie at the circuit 1683, and hes not hitherto accepted of his Majesties indempnitie;’ (RPCS, IX, 377.)

Robert and his wife are listed on the complete parish list under ‘Muckel Dryburgh’ (RPCS, IX, 582.)

Meikle Drayburgh is Dryburgh in Crossmichael parish. On Roy’s map, Dryburgh lay between Mollance and Dunjarg, rather than where the modern farm lies. It also lay close to Ernanity.

Map of Approximate location of Dryburgh      Aerial View of Approx location of Dryburgh

James Garmorie in Ernanity was also sheltered by his landlord.

‘James Turner of Kirkland for traiterouse resett and converse with James Garmorey in Ironanity, a declaired traitor, and uplifting land rent from him since the circuit court att Drumfries holden in anno eightie thrie;’ (RPCS, IX, 378.)

The complete parish list of 1684 notes under Blackerne that ‘Heares James Turner lifts rent of Ironanatie’. (RPCS, IX, 582.)

Kirkland lay in Crossmichael parish, probably somewhere between the church and Crofts.

Map of Kirkland?

Three people in Kirkland were listed as disorderly on the Crossmichael parish list of October, 1684.They were ‘John MackMunish, son to Janet MackGil in Kirkland’, ‘James Mackmunish, stepson to Janet Mackgil in Kirkland’ and ‘John Wilson, son to Thomas Wilson in Kirkland’. (RPCS, IX, 574.)

A John Garmorie in Trowdale was also listed for reset and harbour on the Fugitive Roll, but is not mentioned in the summons as he appears to have fled his home. (Jardine, ‘United Societies’, II, 216.)

On the complete parish list of 1684, ‘John Graham and a woman servant; John Germurie, fugitive and gone, wife, son and daughter’ are listed under ‘Treudall’. (RPCS, IX, 582.)

In October, 1684, ‘John Germurie his wife in Trendal’ was listed as disorderly by the parish minister. (RPCS, IX, 574.)

Map of Trowdale

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