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The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project (Registered Scottish Charity No. SC043826). Please visit our homepage at www.scottishmilitaryresearch.co.uk
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spoons
Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 4991 Location: St John's Town of Dalry
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Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:57 am Post subject: Balmaghie, George Short - Covenanter memorial |
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This grave is in Balmaghie Churchyard (OS Map Ref NX 723 663).
Not listed on UKNIWM.
Transcription of George Short’s grave
"HERE LYES GEORGE SHORT
WHO WAS PURSUED AND TAKEN
AND INSTANTLY SHOT TO DEATH
UNDER CLOUD OF NIGHT
IN THE PARISH OF TONGUELAND
BY GRIER OF LAG
MEMENTORI
AND THE EARLE OF ANNANDALE
BECAUSE OF HIS ADHERENCE
TO SCOTLANDS REFORMATION
COVENANTS NATIONAL AND
SOLEMN LEAGUE 1685"
Robert Grierson of Lag was one of the most feared persecutors of the Covenanters. In 1678 he was appointed Deputy Steward of Kirkudbrightshire and the Earldom of Nithsdale. It was at this time that he drew up a bond disallowing his tenants from attending conventicles or associating with the Covenanters. He was unrelenting in his search for non-conformists, hunting down and murdering a large number of Covenanters in the district.
On 11th July 1685, Lag and the Earl of Annandale were in command of a troop of dragoons in the parish of Twynholm, Kirkcudbrightshire. At night as they were riding back to their base they came upon two Covenanters, David Halliday and George Short. Realising they had no chance of escape, they gave themselves up. Annandale decided they should be taken prisoner and face trial the next day. However Lag ordered that the pair should be shot as they lay tied up on the ground. At first the soldiers refused, but when Lag threatened them with the consequences if he was forced to do the deed himself, they pulled their guns and fired.
The corpses were left where they fell, but were later taken to Balmaghie Kirkyard, where they lie in separate graves. David Halliday is buried alongside his namesake who had already been martyred on 21st February 1685 at Kirkconnell Moor.
Last edited by spoons on Tue Dec 08, 2009 3:48 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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stuartn
Joined: 13 Dec 2016 Posts: 2551
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Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2017 9:14 pm Post subject: |
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Very regrettably this does not classify as a war memorial for natiional purposes (but does for local purposes!!), as it is an actual grave site.
The difference from Balmaclellan is that there the memorial is also to men not buried there. |
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