page_title: James Wallace of Auchens
section_title: The Pentland rising
hierarchical_section_title: James Wallace of Auchens / The Pentland rising
caption_attribution_description: English: Carnethy Hill and Rullion Green
context_page_description: James Wallace was a Scottish soldier and covenanter. He was the son of Matthew Wallace and Agnes Somervell and succeeded about 1641 to his father's lands at Auchans, Ayrshire. Early in life he adopted the military profession, and became lieutenant-colonel in the parliamentary army. He went to Ireland in the Marquis of Argyll's regiment in 1642, and in 1645 was recalled to oppose the progress of Montrose. He joined the covenanters under General Baillie, and was taken prisoner at the Battle of Kilsyth. Returning to Ireland before 1647, he was appointed Governor of Belfast in 1649, but was deprived of the office in June of that year. Soon afterwards he removed to Redhall, Ballycarry, near Carrickfergus, where he married in 1649–50. Removing to Scotland in 1650, when Charles II came to Scotland on the invitation of the Scots parliament, Wallace was appointed lieutenant-colonel of a foot regiment under Lord Lorne. At the Battle of Dunbar Wallace was again made prisoner. On his colonel's petition, as a reward for his services, he was ‘referred to the committee of estates, that he may be assigned to some part of excise or maintenance forth of the shire of Ayr.’
context_section_description: Colonel Wallace seems to have lived in retirement from the Restoration till the month of November, 1666, when Maclellan of Barscob, and some other men who had been driven into hiding, happening to fall in with some soldiers whom they found maltreating a poor old countryman. They immediately disarmed the soldiers, and thus spontaneously start the Pentland Rising. Having already committed themselves by helping, they anticipated vengeance from Sir James Turner as one soldier was injured in the confrontation. Therefore, they moved quickly and surprised him with his whole party where he lay, in the town of Dumfries, about sixteen miles distant. Accordingly, having assembled their friends, to the number of about fifty horse with a few foot, they marched into that town upon Thursday, the 15 of November, and made Sir James prisoner with his whole party, wounding only one man. The insurgents on this occasion were led by a Mr. Andrew Gray, a merchant in Edinburgh, who happened by chance to be in that part of the country at the time. Neilson of Corsack, however, was the leader, before whom Sir James Turner, upon being made prisoner, was brought. From this gentleman he obtained quarter and protection; but when Gray, the chief of the party, came up, he insisted upon having him shot upon the spot. They finally, however, set him upon a sorry beast, and carried him about with them in his deshabille, and in this manner proceeded to the market-cross, where they drank the king's health and prosperity to his government. Sir James, however, for some days could not believe but that they intended to hang him when they should find time and place suitable.
  While these things were transacting in Dumfries, the insurgents and their sympathisers kept up a correspondence by special messengers, and continued deliberating on what was best to be done. Among others, Wallace joined a consultation, which was held at the chambers of Mr. Alexander Robertson in Edinburgh, the same night that Sir James Turner was made prisoner. At this meeting it was resolved to make common cause with the western brethren, and seek redress from government with arms in their hands. Colonel Wallace and a little band of adherents lost no time in proceeding to Ayrshire, in the hope of being reinforced there. They joined the main party on Wednesday 21 November at Brig o' Doon, where he was given military command. They visited successively Mauchline, Ayr, Ochiltree, Cumnock, Muirkirk, and other places on the route; but met with little encouragement in their enterprise. Mr. Robertson, who had been still less successful in procuring assistance, rejoined Wallace, along with Captain Robert Lockhart, and insisted that the undertaking should be abandoned. This counsel was unpalatable to Wallace, but he forthwith sent Maxwell of Monreith to consult with John Guthrie, brother to the celebrated minister of Fenwick, on the subject. Having been reinforced by a small party from Cunningham, under Captain Arnot, the whole body marched to Douglas on Saturday the 24, where at night, after solemn prayer, the proposal of Robertson and Lockhart was carefully considered. It was rejected without one dissenting voice, all being clear that they had a divine warrant for the course they were pursuing. They resolved, therefore, to persevere in it, although they should die at the end of it; hoping that, at least, their testimony would not be given in vain to the cause they had espoused. Two other questions were discussed at this meeting: the renewing of the covenants — to which all agreed; and what should be done with Sir James Turner, whom, for want of any place in which to confine him, they still carried about with them; and who, as a persecutor and murderer of God's people, it was contended by many, ought to have been put to death. As quarter, however, it was alleged, had been granted to him, and as he had been spared so long, "the motion for pistolling him was slighted."
  The next morning, the Sabbath, they marched for Lesmahagow, and passed the house of Robert Lockhart, where Mr. Robertson also was at the
caption: Carnethy Hill and Rullion Green
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