Joel Campbell (1735-1828): His Life and Times: 1685

[This is part of a series of articles on the year 1685. You might want to read the Overview first.]

June 18, 1685

The Earl's rebellion had fallen apart. Most of his clansmen had deserted his army and were wandering back to what if anything was left of their farms and families in the Highlands. The Earl himself had split up with his officers to draw less attention. In addition he disguised himself as a commoner, his bearded head topped with a blue bonnet. His only companion now was Major Fullerton as they headed southwest towards Ayrshire and the home of many sympathetic to Presbyterianism.

The 9th Earl of Argyll was captured at the point now called "The Argyll Stone" as he was escaping to the west.

The Earl and the Major were on horseback about to ford the river at Inchinnan . They were met by a party of armed men who the Major engaged in conversation as the Earl continued up the water. Another two armed men (also on horseback) stopped the Earl and demanded that he surrender his horse. He refused. A struggle ensued and the Earl was soon on the ground in hand to hand combat. He drew his pistols and the two rode off. Unwisely he left his horse and continued his escape by fording the river on foot.

Meanwhile the Major had been disarmed. His captors were suspicious of the Major's "guide" and sent after him. When they reached Argyll he was still in the water and they fired upon him. Willcock states:

"The noise drew the attention of those in a cottage hard by and three men, one of them a weaver named John Riddell who lived there, came out and joined the soldiers. On Argyll's coming out of the water an altercation took place. The weaver, who was drunk, and who had brought a broadsword out of the cottage with him, persisted in holding Argyll as his prisoner. The Earl offered him money which he refused, and then he drew his pistol and endeavoured to fire it at his antagonist, but the water had wet the powder and it would not ignite. On this the weaver struck him a violent blow upon the head with his broadsword and he fell into the water. As he fell he uttered some out-cry which revealed to his captors the fact that the unfortunate Argyll was in their hands."

This occurred at the confluence of the streams of the Black and White Carts. (Zoomable map) It is just a short walk from the end of the Glasgow Airport runway.

Signage at Black Cart Water

White Cart Water from Lift Bridge

This location is marked by two ancient stones associated with St. Conval, who introduced Christianity to this area in the 9th century. One of the stones was supposed the former base of a large celtic cross. From his date onward (June 18, 1685) it would be known as The Argyll Stone.