There had been more of the covenanting spirit in Fintry and the neighbour-
hood than in any other part of Strath endrick. The well-known James Ure of
Shargartan in Kippen was the leader of the Covenanters, and had great influence
in the district ; and the Rev. Mr. Archibald Riddell, the Presbyterian minister
of Kippen, who had refused to conform, held conventicles both there and
in Fintry parish. Ure was present at the battle of Bothwell Bridge, along with
several Kippen and Strathendrick people, but none of them seem to have been
taken prisoners or punished, though Ure himself was tried in 1682 and sentenced
to be executed. He escaped to Ireland, and succeeded in keeping himself safe
till the Revolution, and lived to be an old man, being alive at the rising of 1715.
Donald Connal in Bucklyvie was also a prominent Covenanter. We learn from
James Russel's narrative of the murder of Archbishop Sharp and the escape of
the murderers — himself being one of them — that when they arrived in Strathen-
drick they were joined by Connal,^ who rode with them, along with one Robert
Rainie, apparently to aid their escape. He and his wife, Margaret Philip, were
afterwards taken prisoners at a field preaching, and were, like many other
unfortunates, shipped at Leith for " the plantations." Her friends managed to
bribe the captain of the vessel, and she was landed at Leith, and he was so
fortunate as to escape at London.
