Donald 'the martyr' Cargill

Most Cargill/Cargile families throughout the world have traditions that they are either descended from or are closely related to Donald Cargill, the martyr. However, no one can claim direct descent as Donald Cargill never had any children. Most of the Cargill's/Cargile's are descended from his cousins.

Mr. Donald Cargill, The Martyr (1619? – 27 July 1681) was a Scottish Covenanter, working to uphold the National Covenants of 1638 and 1643 to establish and defend Presbyterianism. He was a minister in Glasgow from c.1655 until 1662, when he was expelled for denouncing the Restoration and resisting the establishment of the episcopacy in Scotland. After escaping wounded from the battle of Bothwell Bridge (1679), he joined Richard Cameron in the Sanquhar Declaration (1680) against Charles II. Cargill, having excommunicated the king, the duke of York, and others, was arrested and executed.

He was educated at Aberdeen and St Andrews Universities. In 1655 he was appointed Minister to Parish of Barony in Glasgow from which he was dismissed or ejected in 1662. He returned later and tried to hold a communion but the service was interrupted and he was arrested briefly.

He was wounded at the Battle of Bothwell Bridge on 22 June 1679 between Royalists and Covenanters, and fled to the Netherlands. Returning to Scotland in 1680 he issued the Sanquhar Declaration with Richard Cameron calling for war against King Charles II and the exclusion of his brother, afterwards James II from the succession. Eventually he was arrested and sentenced to death, and beheaded in Edinburgh.

Notes

DONALD CARGILL (1610-1681), Scottish Covenanter, was born in 1610. He was educated at St Andrews, and afterwards attached himself to the Protesters. After his appointment to one of the churches in Glasgow, he openly resisted the measures of the government. Compelled to remain at a distance from his charge, he ventured back to celebrate the Communion, and was arrested, but was liberated at the instance of some of his private friends. He was afterwards wounded at the battle of Bothwell Bridge, and fled to Holland, where he remained a few months. On his return he joined Richard Cameron in publishing the Sanquhar declaration, and boldly excommunicated the king and his officials. He was soon afterwards apprehended, and brought to Edinburgh, where he was beheaded on the 27th of July 1681.

Links

1. http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Donald_Cargill
2. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/d/donald_cargill.htm
3. http://www.angelfire.com/al/metaphysicsgalore/Cargile.html