Robert Grierson

Robert Grierson was one of five Covenanters shot in the farm yard at Ingliston Mains on 28 April 1685 by Colonel James Douglas, Lieutenant Livingstone and their dragoons. As he belonged to Balmaclellan parish, he was buried here. 

The five Covenanters were apprehended in a cave and Colonel Douglas sentenced them to death there and then. They were shot in front of an old thorn tree in front of the farmhouse. The other four martyrs were buried in Glencairn kirkyard. 

Robert Grierson's Gravestone

Balmaclellan Churchyard

Balmaclellan

Kirkcudbrightshire

NGR - NX 651791

The flat tablestone to Grierson is located in the old churchyard surrounding Balmaclellan Parish Church. The stone is typical of those erected by James Paterson ('Old Mortality').

The inscription reads:

HERE LYETH ROBERT

GRIERSON WHO WAS SHOT TO DEATH BY COMMAND OF

COLANEL JAMES DOUGLASE

AT INGLIS TOUN IN THE PAROCH OF GLENCARN ANNO 1685

THIS MONUMENT TO PASSENGERS SHALL CRY

THAT GOODLY GRIERSON UNDER IT DOTH LY

BETRAY'D BY KNAVISH WATSON TO HIS FOES

WHICH MADE THIS MARTYRS DAYS BY MURTHER CLOSE

IF YE WOULD KNOU THE NATURE OF HIS CRIME

THEN READ THE STORY OF THAT KILLING TIME

WHEN BABELS BRATS WITH HELLISH PLOTS CONCEAL'D

DESIGN'D TO MAKE OUR SOUTH THEIR HUNTING FIELD

HERE'S ONE OF FIVE AT ONCE WERE LAID IN DUST

TO GRATIFY ROME'S EXECRABLE LUST

IF CARBINES WITH MOLTEN BULLETS COUD

HAVE REACHED THEIR SOULS THESE MIGHTY NIMRODS WOUD

THEM HAVE CUT OF; FOR THERE COULD NO REQUEST

THREE MINUTES GET TO PRAY FOR FUTER REST