Thomas Maclellan, 2nd Lord Kirkcudbright
Encyclopedia
Thomas Maclellan, 2nd Lord Kirkcudbright was a Scottish
nobleman, nephew of Robert Maclellan, 1st Lord Kirkcudbright
and the son of William Maclellan and Rosina Agnew.
Maclellan's support for the Covenanter
s led to his ruin. In 1638 the Solemn League of the Covenant was signed throughout Scotland raising objecting to the enforcement of the use of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer in Scotland. During this period many of the local ministers favoured the Covenant and this caused difficulties that involved Lord Kirkcudbright. Thomas Maclellan was charged with the raising of a feudal army in the parishes of Dunrod, Galtway and Kirkcudbright
to support the Solemn League and Covenant. On the 28th of July, 1640 Thomas Maclellan married Janet, a daughter of William Douglas, 1st Earl of Queensberry by Isabel Kerr. In 1640 he was appointed Colonel of the South Regiment, and accompanied the Scottish army into England.
In 1644 the Scottish Parliament appointed him Steward of Kirkcudbrightshire
, and subsequently he was present at the Battle of Philiphaugh
with his regiment, where, by their gallantry they greatly contributed towards the victory of the Scottish forces. For his good service at Philliphaugh he was awarded by Parliament
a significant reimbursement (poss. £750), raised from the estates of Lord Herries, but which it is alleged was never received.
From his habit of always marching at the head of his regiment with a barrel of brandy, which upon long marches and other needful occasions he would freely distribute to his followers, he became very popular among the troops.
Joining the Scottish Army, a force of some 9,000 men, under the Earl of Leven Maclellan's regiment marched to Marston Moor where they joined forces with the English Parliamentary troops under Cromwell. On the battle field Lord Kirkcudbright’s Regiment ‘Dispersed and Overthrew the Royalist Cavalry opposed to them’.
The Royalist James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
had taken military control of Scotland, and defeated the Covenanters in a series of battles culminating in the battle of Kilsyth
. Part of the Scottish army under Alexander Leslie, including Lord Kirkcudbright’s Regiment, was sent north to meet Montrose. This they did at Philliphaugh, near Selkirk.
The prisoners taken at Philliphaugh were executed as traitors with many shot dead in the court yard at Newark Castle, others were thrown to their deaths from the parapets of the Ettrick Bridge drowning in the river below.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
nobleman, nephew of Robert Maclellan, 1st Lord Kirkcudbright
Robert Maclellan, 1st Lord Kirkcudbright
Robert Maclellan, 1st Lord Kirkcudbright was Provost of Kirkcudbright in 1607, and was best known for his riotous behavior...
and the son of William Maclellan and Rosina Agnew.
Maclellan's support for the Covenanter
Covenanter
The Covenanters were a Scottish Presbyterian movement that played an important part in the history of Scotland, and to a lesser extent in that of England and Ireland, during the 17th century...
s led to his ruin. In 1638 the Solemn League of the Covenant was signed throughout Scotland raising objecting to the enforcement of the use of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer in Scotland. During this period many of the local ministers favoured the Covenant and this caused difficulties that involved Lord Kirkcudbright. Thomas Maclellan was charged with the raising of a feudal army in the parishes of Dunrod, Galtway and Kirkcudbright
Kirkcudbright
Kirkcudbright, is a town in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.The town lies south of Castle Douglas and Dalbeattie, in the part of Dumfries and Galloway known as the Stewartry, at the mouth of the River Dee, some six miles from the sea...
to support the Solemn League and Covenant. On the 28th of July, 1640 Thomas Maclellan married Janet, a daughter of William Douglas, 1st Earl of Queensberry by Isabel Kerr. In 1640 he was appointed Colonel of the South Regiment, and accompanied the Scottish army into England.
In 1644 the Scottish Parliament appointed him Steward of Kirkcudbrightshire
Kirkcudbrightshire
The Stewartry of Kirkcudbright or Kirkcudbrightshire was a county of south-western Scotland. It was also known as East Galloway, forming the larger Galloway region with Wigtownshire....
, and subsequently he was present at the Battle of Philiphaugh
Battle of Philiphaugh
The Battle of Philiphaugh was fought on 13 September 1645 during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms near Selkirk in the Scottish Borders. The Royalist army of the Marquess of Montrose was destroyed by the Covenanter army of Sir David Leslie, restoring the power of the Committee of Estates.-Prelude:When...
with his regiment, where, by their gallantry they greatly contributed towards the victory of the Scottish forces. For his good service at Philliphaugh he was awarded by Parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
a significant reimbursement (poss. £750), raised from the estates of Lord Herries, but which it is alleged was never received.
From his habit of always marching at the head of his regiment with a barrel of brandy, which upon long marches and other needful occasions he would freely distribute to his followers, he became very popular among the troops.
Joining the Scottish Army, a force of some 9,000 men, under the Earl of Leven Maclellan's regiment marched to Marston Moor where they joined forces with the English Parliamentary troops under Cromwell. On the battle field Lord Kirkcudbright’s Regiment ‘Dispersed and Overthrew the Royalist Cavalry opposed to them’.
The Royalist James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose was a Scottish nobleman and soldier, who initially joined the Covenanters in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, but subsequently supported King Charles I as the English Civil War developed...
had taken military control of Scotland, and defeated the Covenanters in a series of battles culminating in the battle of Kilsyth
Battle of Kilsyth
The Battle of Kilsyth was an engagement of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms which took place on 15 August 1645 at Kilsyth. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the battle was another victory for Royalist forces over the Covenanters, and marked the end of William Baillie's pursuit of the...
. Part of the Scottish army under Alexander Leslie, including Lord Kirkcudbright’s Regiment, was sent north to meet Montrose. This they did at Philliphaugh, near Selkirk.
The prisoners taken at Philliphaugh were executed as traitors with many shot dead in the court yard at Newark Castle, others were thrown to their deaths from the parapets of the Ettrick Bridge drowning in the river below.