THE REGISTER OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL OF SCOTLAND. Vol. 13, page 274. Ayr. 29th June 1688.--"Measures to be taken by the shire of Ayr to detect the rescuers of Houston".
"May it please your Lordship, The sherreff of this shyre did communicat to ws ane letter signed by your Lordship in name of the Lords of his Majesties most honorable Privie Counsell, which being considered in a verie frequent meiting, the whole noblemen and gentlemen did efter consideratione of that mater look upon and judge that invasione upon his Majesties officers and souldiers, and the rescue of one Houstoune, that declared rebell and traitor, be these desperat rogues, to be ane hie and rebellious crime and atrocious murder, and that the principles which acted them thereto are most damnable, inconsistent with religion, government and all humane societie, which we abhore and deteast, and have signified our resolutiones to use all methodes and wayes for detecting and bringing to condign punishment the persones guiltie within this shyre, and in order therto have thought fitt to appoint the heall heretors immediatlie to convein there respective tenents, cottars and servants and to examen them in the strictest maner of anie accessione they have had therto or knowledge therof.
And as to what your Lordships desires of ws to give our opinion anent the preventing such attempts or the rebellious meitings in the feilds in time comeing and to know the temper of the people, we have resolved each of ws to try and examine the principles and houmour of the whole persones liveing wpon our respective lands, and that we shall give ane particular accompt of our respective dilligence in the general meeting of the shyre which is to be upon the sext day of July nixt to come, against quhich time we will be capable to give ane more full accoumpt to your Lordships of our humle opinion and receave your Lordships commands. The indulget ministers of this shyre did likewayes meet with ws and did openlie before ws declare there abhorrence of such principles and practices, and delivered this inclosed paper to ws, which is heirin transmitted to your Lordships, by, my Lord, your Lordships most faithfull and most obedient servants.
SIGNED:
(1st name) Montgomerie
(2nd name) Boyd
(3rd name) Bargany
(4th name) Cathcart
(THE REMAINING NAMES HAVE BEEN ALPHABETIZED.--W.F.)
H. Archibald (a heritor)
J. Arnott (a heritor)
Robert Barcley (a heritor)
Jo. Beg (a heritor)
J. Binnie (a heritor)
Blair of that Ilk (the Lord of Blair)
Alexander Blair (a heritor)
T. Bontein (a heritor)
And. Boswell (a heritor)
D. Boswell (a heritor)
J. Boswell of Auchinleck
William Bowell (a heritor)
F. Boyd of Poucorsse
David Boyle of Corshill
J. Boyle (a heritor)
Jo. Brisbane (a heritor)
And. Broun (a heritor)
A. Broune of Booghead (sic)
J. Broune (a heritor)
Hugh Campbell of Schanks
James Campbell of Treebank
John Campbell (a heritor)
W.Campbell (a heritor)
Wm. Campbell (a heritor)
W. Carlung (a heritor)
Al Cathcart
Robert Cathcart (a heritor)
Allane Chalmer (a heritor)
Tho. Cochrane (a heritor)
Will. Cochrane (a heritor)
R. Colvill (a heritor)
D. Craufurd (a heritor)
J. Craufurd of Auchinames
Wm. Craufurd (a heritor)
Alexander Crawford (a heritor)
J. Crawford (a heritor)
Alexander Cuningham (a heritor)
J. Cuningham (a heritor)
Charles Cunynghame of Drongane
Joe. Cunynghame (a heritor)(This name appears twice.--W.F.)
Richard Cunyngham (a heritor)
William Cuningham (a heritor)(This name appears twice.--W.F.)
Tho. Davidson (a heritor)
M. Dickson (a heritor)
J. Douglas (a heritor)
W. Douglles (sic; a heritor)
William Fairlie (a heritor)
Robert Fullartoun of Craighall
Fullerton of that Ilk (The Lord of Fullerton.--W.F.)
Robert Fergushill (a heritor)
Johne Grahame (a heritor)
Jo. Hamilton (a heritor)
Jo. Hamiltone (a heritor)
William Hamilton (a heritor)
James Hutchison ( a heritor)
H. Kennedy (a heritor)
Quintin Kennedy (a heritor)
R. Kennedy (a heritor)
W. Kennedy (a heritor)
Walter Kennedy (a heritor)
Kilkerrane (the Laird of Kilkerrane)
Kirkland (the Laird of Kirkland)
George Logan of that Ilk (the Lord of Logane.--W.F.)
Jo. M_______. (a heritor)
W. McIlvaine (a heritor)
John McJorrow of Altinalbanie
Tho. McJorrow (a heritor)
Will. McKerrell of Hilhouse
Da. McLeren (a heritor)
Jo. Meary (a heritor)
Matt. Miller (a heritor)
Tho. Millikin, bailie in Ayr
James Montgomery (a heritor)
Jon. Montgomery (a heritor)
John Mure (a heritor)
Will. Mure (a heritor) (This name appears twice.--W.F.)
Dun. Osburne, baillie in Ayr
Lord Poke (?Pollok)
J. Quhitfuird (a heritor)
Jo. Raith (Reid?) (a heritor)
W. Reid of Daldilling
William Ross (A heritor. This man lived at Hillhead, just northwest of Hillhouse Loch, along the Cessnock river. He was descended from William,the youngest son of John and Mariota (Hamilton) Ross of Hanyng--being their grandson, as I believe.--W.F.)
M.W. Sewaltoun (a heritor)
Hugh Stevenson (a heritor)
R. Sympsone (a heritor)
Allexander Thomson (a heritor)
Jo. Wallace (a heritor)
Ro. Wallace (a heritor)(This name appears twice.--W.F.)
Thomas Wallace (a heritor)
James Wallae (sic; a heritor)
N.B.: On page 271 of this book, one reads that "his Majesties forces were convoying one Houstoun, a declared rebell, prisoner to the tolbooth of Edinburgh..." when they was attacked by unknown "actors, abaitors or hounders", desperate rebells all, effecting the rescue of said Houstoun, after having killed several of His Majesty's men. Page 129 speaks of one Houstone--"ane aged man with ane whyt night cape, preacher"--who was known as the preacher at conventicles of the Presbyterian faithful. On June 22, 1688, the Privy Council directed the various sheriffs of Air, Lanerk, Renfrew, Nithsdale, to discover the identity of these rescuers.....The above is what resulted in Ayrshire.--Walter Farwell of Iowa.