covenanters imprisoned on bass rock

[isobelw]

Before I retired I managed properties belonging to the University of Edinburgh. One of these was Rullion Green Cottage which lies adjacent to the site of the battle. There is a stone commemorating those who died on the hillside just above the cottage.
Isobel

[RJ_Paton]

I would agree that a man named Learmont was in charge of the mounted Covenanters on the left flank - he was tentatively identified  by a letter (page 68 of Pentland Rising  published in 1904

" A letter from Edinburgh on 27 November, 1666, speaks of Learmont as
"Jos. Learmont, a foolish fellow, not worth 500/" {Cal.
State Papers, Dom. 1666-1667, P 295)

No mention of any ranks or title (through property) despite the disparaging terms used to describe him don't appear to give him much credit I suspect he must have had some means as another publication claims that several years before this he was fined £1200 (scots) under what was known as the Middleton Act. (even at the settled conversion rates of 12:1 thats quite a fine for the period)

[RJ_Paton]

Further information about the Bass Rock Prison (and several mentions of Major Learmont) can be seen in : -
The Bass Rock : its history and romance by Phillimore, R.P published in 1911 although it implies that his stay at Bass Rock was brief.
(you can freely download the book  from the Internet Archive at https://archive.org )

[hanes teulu]

Crookshank (again) 1762
"On the 7th (April 1682) Robert Fleming of Auchinsin*, Hugh Maclwraith of Auchinfloor*, Major Joseph Learmont and Robert Mclelland of Barscob, who with several others, had been forfeited in life and fortune, having been apprehended, were brought before the Judiciary, and, without any farther trial, ordered to be executed at the Grass Market of Edinburgh on Wednesday 12th; but it seems all of them got off through interest. Barscob made some compliances, and was of use to the managers afterwards"

(*cannot read my notes - not sure if I have captured the place correctly)

[hanes teulu]

Crookshank 1762
"On 15th August (1667) ..... John Nisbet, the King's advocate, produced a commission ....... for pursuing criminally and forfeiting the following persons in their lives and fortunes, as being in the late insurrection in the west viz. Colonel James Wallace, Major Joseph Learmont ...... Mcleland of Barscob ...."

[hanes teulu]

"Caldwell's estate was given to Dalziel, Kersland's to Drummond, Learmont's to William Hamilton of Woolhaw, Quarrelton's and his brother's to Mr John Hamilton of Halcraig"

[Daonnachd]

Thank you for the link Falkryn.
I was aware that he had his assets seized, but not about the fine.
As a rule of thumb, I believe that whether someone is described by others as foolish or brave, usually reflects which side the other person is on 

[Skoosh]

Presumably these forfeit estates were returned at the Revolution?

Skoosh.

[Daonnachd]

I haven't found anything that specifically says his lands were returned to him, but it does look like it. I found a source - that incidentally gushes about his heroics! - stating that he died peacefully in 1693 at Newholme (the estate that was seized following his trial and handed to William Hamilton of Woolhaw).