page_title: John Blackadder (preacher)
section_title: Early career
hierarchical_section_title: John Blackadder (preacher) / Early career
caption_attribution_description: English: In 1683, General Dalziel ordered from New Mills near Haddington 2,536 ells of 'stone-grey cloth' for his regiment of dragoons, hence their adopted name, the 'Scots Greys'. An exhibit in the National War Museum, Edinburgh Castle.
context_page_description: John Blackadder was an eminent Presbyterian Covenanter preacher in Scotland during the period of the Commonwealth of England. Of the times MacPherson said that "after the first rejoicings of the Restoration were over, the Covenanters — Resolutioners as well as Protesters — were speedily disillusioned, and it became evident that the aim of Charles II and the junta of self-seeking noblemen who were in control of the affairs of Scotland was to establish in Scotland something approximating to an oriental despotism. The Presbyterian system, in which an Assembly of ministers and elders controlled the affairs of the Kirk, had to be supplanted by an Episcopal, with a hierarchy controlled by the Crown and easily manipulated in the interests of tyrannical rule." Despite a government ban he continued to preach in the fields. He was arrested and imprisoned in 1681 and died in jail on the Bass Rock.
context_section_description: Blackadder was born between 1615 and 1623. He was grandson of Adam Blackadder of Blairhall, a cadet of the Blackadder Baronetcy of Tulliallan, and became heir to the title after the extinction of the male issue of Sir John Blackadder of Tullialan, the first baronet. However, he did not assume the title.  Blackadder studied divinity at Glasgow University, where his mother's brother, John Strang, was principal. In 1646 Blackadder married Janet Haining of Dumfries and they had five sons and two daughters. He graduated as a Master of Arts in 1650 and was subsequently licensed, probably by the Presbytery of Glasgow.
  On 7 June 1653 Blackadder was ordained by the Presbytery of Dumfries as minister of Troqueer, near Dumfries, during the time of the Commonwealth, when the monarchy was deposed.  The minister in the neighbouring parish was John Welsh of Irongray. Blackadder then began an intensive campaign for moral and spiritual reform. Besides holding a second service on Sundays, he instituted weekly services every Tuesday, "except in the throng of seedtime and harvest." These Tuesday meetings became so popular that people came from other parishes to attend them. He ordered all who could read to procure copies of the Scriptures, and those who were too poor to comply were provided with money to buy Bibles, catechisms, and similar books. Those who could not read were told to hear the sacred book read in neighbouring houses. Every half-year he catechised the entire parish; he visited many homes. He instituted societies, meetings for “family prayer and Christian fellowship"; and he announced that for all those who were specially anxious as to their moral and spiritual condition he would set apart a day, every fortnight, for communion and conference about their spiritual case. The reforming movement met with considerable success. The improved state of the parish was reflected in the attendances at public worship, for so many commenced to come that there was not seating accommodation for all. 
  Blackadder was expelled from his parish in 1662 after the restoration of Charles II because he refused to comply with the Episcopacy, which the government had imposed in Scotland. Blackadder, in his sermons on several Sundays, energetically exposed its unlawfulness, and, to use his own phrase, "entered his dissent in heaven" against it. In consequence of this, and the refusal of the presbytery of Dumfries to celebrate, by order of parliament, the anniversary of the Restoration, a troop of fifty horse were sent from Edinburgh to his home parish. He was prepared for a visit from the military; in fact, he ordered the gallery to be kept open for "the gentlemen of the guard," who made their appearance according to his expectation. He then preached from Hosea ix. 10-12. In the course of his sermon, he stated that he would not allow his freedom of speech to be interfered with by the presence of such unusual hearers, and 
  he took up the same uncompromising attitude in the afternoon. The whole atmosphere was electric; many expected that he would be arrested, instead of which "the gentlemen of the guard courteously saluted the minister." He had almost persuaded them that he was right, for some of them observed "that he spake nothing he had not backed with Scripture."
  Next day, however, an order was issued to all ministers within the bounds to appear before the commander and accompany him as prisoners to Edinburgh. The authorities at this stage were evidently not prepared to go to extreme lengths, for on the Friday the ministers were asked if they would agree to preach annually on May 29. All of them were willing to agree to this, except Blackadder and his co-presbyter, Archibald. These two stood firm. On the following Tuesday, they were asked if they had yet "clearness of conscience," and their reply was that no severity would change their opinions. Naturally, they expected severe treatment; and they were both surprised when they were dismissed without further questions and told that they were at liberty to return to their parishes.
  He was deprived by the 
caption: 17th century government dragoon
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