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ANNALS OF THE PARISH
CHAPTER XVII YEAR 1776
It belongs to the chroniclers of the realm to describe the damage and
detriment which fell on the power and prosperity of the kingdom； by
reason of the rebellion； that was fired into open war； against the name and
authority of the king in the plantations of America； for my task is to
describe what happened within the narrow bound of the pasturage of the
Lord's flock； of which； in his bounty and mercy； he made me the humble；
willing； but alas！ the weak and ineffectual shepherd。
About the month of February； a recruiting party came to our neighbour
town of Irville； to beat up for men to be soldiers against the rebels； and
thus the battle was brought； as it were； to our gates； for the very first man
that took on with them was one Thomas Wilson； a cottar in our clachan；
who； up to that time； had been a decent and creditable character。 He was
at first a farmer lad； but had forgathered with a doited tawpy； whom he
married； and had offspring three or four。 For some time it was noticed
that he had a down and thoughtful look； that his cleeding was growing
bare； and that his wife kept an untrig house； which； it was feared by many；
was the cause of Thomas going o'er often to the change…house； he was； in
short； during the greater part of the winter； evidently a man foregone in the
pleasures of this world； which made all that knew him compassionate his
situation。
No doubt； it was his household ills that burdened him past bearing； and
made him go into Irville； when he heard of the recruiting； and take on to
be a soldier。 Such a wally…wallying as the news of this caused at every
door； for the red…coatsfrom the persecuting days； when the black…cuffs
rampaged through the countrysoldiers that fought for hire were held in
dread and as a horror among us； and terrible were the stories that were told
of their cruelty and sinfulness； indeed； there had not been wanting in our
time a sample of what they were； as witness the murder of Jean Glaikit by
Patrick O'Neil； the Irish corporal； anent which I have treated at large in the
memorables of the year 1774。
A meeting of the session was forthwith held； for here was Thomas
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Wilson's wife and all his weans； an awful cess； thrown upon the parish；
and it was settled outright among us； that Mr Docken； who was then an
elder； but is since dead； a worthy man； with a soft tongue and a pleasing
manner； should go to Irville； and get Thomas； if possible； released from
the recruiters。 But it was all in vain； the sergeant would not listen to him；
for Thomas was a strapping lad； nor would the poor infatuated man
himself agree to go back； but cursed like a cadger； and swore that； if he
stayed any longer among his plagues； he would commit some rash act； so
we were saddled with his family； which was the first taste and preeing of
what war is when it comes into our hearths； and among the breadwinners。
The evil； however； did not stop here。 Thomas； when he was dressed
out in the king's clothes； came over to see his bairns； and take a farewell of
his friends； and he looked so gallant； that the very next market…day another
lad of the parish listed with him； but he was a ramplor； roving sort of a
creature； and； upon the whole； it was thought he did well for the parish
when he went to serve the king。
The listing was a catching distemper。 Before the summer was over；
the other three of the farming lads went off with the drum； and there was a
wailing in the parish； which made me preach a touching discourse。 I
likened the parish to a widow woman with a small family； sitting in her
cottage by the fireside； herself spinning with an eident wheel； ettling her
best to get them a bit and a brat； and the poor weans all canty about the
hearthstanethe little ones at their playocks； and the elder at their tasks
the callans working with hooks and lines to catch them a meal of fish in
the morning and the lassies working stockings to sell at the next
Marymas fair。… …And then I likened war to a calamity coming among them…
…the callans drowned at their fishingthe lassies led to a misdoingand the
feckless wee bairns laid on the bed of sickness； and their poor forlorn
mother sitting by herself at the embers of a cauldrife fire； her tow done；
and no a bodle to buy more； drooping a silent and salt tear for her babies；
and thinking of days that war gone； and； like Rachel weeping for her
children； she would not be comforted。 With this I concluded； for my own
heart filled full with the thought； and there was a deep sob in the Church；
verily it was Rachel weeping for her children。
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In the latter end of the year； the man…of…war； with Charles Malcolm in
her； came to the tail of the Bank at Greenock； to press men as it was
thought； and Charles got leave from his captain to come and see his
mother； and he brought with him Mr Howard； another midshipman； the
son of a great parliament man in London； which； as we have tasted the
sorrow； gave us some insight into the pomp of war； Charles was now
grown up into a fine young man； rattling； light… hearted； and just a cordial
of gladness； and his companion was every bit like him。 They were
dressed in their fine gold…laced garbs and nobody knew Charles when he
came to the clachan； but all wondered； for they were on horseback； and
rode to the house where his mother lived when he went away； but which
was then occupied by Miss Sabrina and her school。 Miss Sabrina had
never seen Charles； but she had heard of him； and when he enquired for
his mother； she guessed who he was； and showed him the way to the new
house that the captain had bought for her。
Miss Sabrina； who was a little overly perjink at times； behaved herself
on this occasion with a true spirit； and gave her lassies the play
immediately； so that the news of Charles's return was spread by them like
wildfire； and there was a wonderful joy in the whole town。 When
Charles had seen his mother； and his sister Effie； with that douce and well…
mannered lad William； his brotherfor of their meeting I cannot speak； not
being presenthe then came with his friend to see me at the manse； and
was most jocose with me； and； in a way of great pleasance； got Mrs
Balwhidder to ask his friend to sleep at the manse。 In short； we had just a
ploy the whole two days they stayed with us； and I got leave from Lord
Eaglesham's steward to let them shoot on my lord's land； and I believe
every laddie wean in the parish attended them to the field。 As for old
Lady Macadam； Charles being； as she said； a near relation； and she having
likewise some knowledge of his comrade's family； she was just in her
element with them； though they were but youths； for she a woman
naturally of a fantastical； and； as I have narrated； given to comical devices；
and pranks to a degree。 She made for them a ball； to which she invited
all the bonniest lassies； far and near； in the parish； and was out of the body
with mirth； and had a fiddler from Irville； and it was thought by those that
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were there； that had she not been crippled with the rheumatics； she would
have danced herself。 But I was concerned to hear both Charles and his
friend； like hungry hawks； rejoicing at the prospect of the war； hoping
thereby； as soon as their midship term was out； to be made lieutenants；
saving this； there was no allay in the happiness they brought with them to
the parish； and it was a delight to see how auld and young of all degrees
made of Charles； for we were proud of him； and none more than myself；
though he began to take liberties