David Hackston of Rathilett

[bcowan]

David Hackston of Rathilett was a well known 17th century covenanter and was executed in Edinburgh on 30th July 1680.  After his brutal execution his body parts were displayed throughout the country as a warning to others and his hands are buried in the churchyard at Cupar where you can find a headstone.

There are many derivates of the name including Halkerston, Halkerstoun, Haxton, etc and a family myth persists that the Hackston family of circa 1900 Holytown are connected to the historical Hackston of Rathilett.  To date I have traced back to a George Hackston b.1811 in Ayrshire and also the line of David Hackston as outlined in "Old Families of Scotland" but as yet have been unable to find a connection.

I've posted details of both George Hackston and the Halkerston family on my website, (http:///www.family-history-scotland.co.uk) and I'd be grateful for any other clues that may be out there....

[hdw]

Since you've raised the subject of Haxton (etc.) in Fife ... I used to be interested in a couple called James Peebles and Janet Haxton, who I thought were my 3xgreat-grandparents. I later worked out that I was actually descended from James's younger brother Robert Peebles and his wife Ann Dewar, but for anyone who is interested in the name Haxton, I can tell you that the above Janet Haxton died in 1871 in Carnbee parish and her parents were William Haxton, ploughman, and Christian Angus. Janet was born at Balmerino.

Janet's husband James Peebles died only a few weeks after her and their death-certificates are on the same page of the Carnbee deaths register. They have a headstone in Carnbee churchyard.

Harry

[Bloosman]

Excellent topic...always been interested in the Covenanting issues, and since delving into my past I have discovered that my Gt x 5 Grandmother was

Mary Haxton (a possible derivative of Hackston)

She originated from the Collessie area, and married a David Garland.

Her son John, my Gt x 4 Grandfather, joined The (Loyal) Tay Fencibles in 1794.

I would dearly love to find that Mary was related to David Hackston of Rathillet....!!!

Dougie.

[Skoosh]

Some stuff on Hackston & the Killing Times on Dr Mark Jardine's blog, 
http://drmarkjardine.wordpress.com/ 
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Skoosh