THE COVENANTERS.
The late 1670,s and the late 1680,s were known as THE KILLING TIMES in Scotland's long and turbulent history this was because of the fierce persecution against the Covenanters.
One well known sworn enemy of the Covenanters was Graham of Claverhouse who was in command of the government troops commissioned to quell the Covenanting rebels as they were deemed.
One of Claverhouse, s infamous deeds was the killing of John Brown of Priesthill witnessed by his wife and children
Another person to strongly oppose them was the Duke of York, younger brother of King Charles the second (the merry monarch) returned to the British throne after the civil war and the death of Oliver Cromwell.
The Duke of York succeeded his brother to the throne and became King James the second of England and eight of Scotland in 1685.
He was the father of Queen Mary wife of William of Orange.
The Parish of Dalserf was very much a strong Covenanting area.
The worst persecutor of the Covenanters in this area was ironically William Hamilton of Raploch whose magnificent mansion once stood where St Mary's RC Church now stands in Larkhall . One famous story attached to this gentleman was on his return from the Battle of Bothwell Bridge in 1679 he was supposed to have come upon a mortally wounded Covenanter whom he killed . Before the man died he was supposed to have cursed William Hamilton saying that the hares would soon run over his hearthstone and that he would not die in his bed . He did not die in his bed but fell from his horse when entering the estate . The Raploch mansion soon fell into disrepair and wild hares do run over the area. He is buried in the cemetery at the old Kirk in Dalserf. After his death parishioners used to spit on his grave.
The Cameronians formerly the local regiment of Lanarkshire, which holds many battle honours and glory, wore the Douglas tartan. The parish of Dalserf formed the fourth battalion of this regiment.
The name Cameronians comes from the surname of Richard Cameron who was renowned as a field preacher. The young Cameron spent some of his life studying in Holland. In 1680 with a following of around twenty men armed with swords he rode fearlessly into Sanquhar in Dumfriesshire. The assembled company held a prayer meeting at the town cross before fixing a document onto the town cross declaring themselves at war with King Charles the second.
The document was called The Sanquhar Declaration. The incident was perceived as an act of open rebellion and a price was put on Cameron's head.
A month later he was killed at Ayr's Moss on the 22nd of July 1680.
The Rev John McMillan was known as the Covenanter of Covenanters. The Covenanters were also known as McMillanites. There is a monument to the Rev John McMillan in Dalserf Kirk yard .He was the successor of Cameron and Cargill .
He lived in Braehead House In Millheugh in Larkhall and where his house stood is now known as Braehead Avenue . In the public park in Millheugh in Larkhall once stood a small house .This was always referred to as Tom Thumb's house but actually it was a replica of the Rev John McMillan's first church which was attached to his house in Braehead . There is a story that the Solemn League and Covenant was drawn up in that house .The Solemn League and Covenant was signed in 1643 20,00 men were promised by the Scots to fight with Oliver Cromwell against King Charles the first.
The Parish of Dalserf has a wealth of history going back 3,000 years and beyond the Covanting period a small but important part of it come along to the Larkhall Heritage Group all welcome for more information
