Gavin Black: Covenanter

Map of the site of Stuart Town, near Beaufort, South Carolina 1684

I thought I was the first person in our direct line to come to America but I was wrong.

Gavin Black of Craigneuk c 1650 in Airdrie was the great great grandfather of Mary Black 1787 who married Alexander Moffat 1787.

Gavin Black “of Craigneuk” was one of thousands of Presbyterians who signed the Solemn Covenant, a document written in 1643 that proclaimed their support for the mission of the Church of Scotland to rid the country of “Poperie”.

The Scottish Reformation in 1560 rejected Catholicism, establishing a national church that would establish schools across Scotland. They believed that people should be able to read the Bible for themselves and organize their own church on democratic principles.

Religious freedom was at the heart of the Civil War in the three kingdoms (England, Scotland, and Ireland)

1649 Charles I executed (Charles Stuart)

1650 Charles II signed the Covenant

1651 Charles II exiled

1653 Oliver Cromwell ruled during the “Protectorate”

1660 Restoration of the monarchy and a return to Episcopal control

1679 Battle of Bothwell Bridge

For 25 years the English hunted down Scottish Presbyterians who had signed the Covenant. This period was known as “The Killing Times”.

The Battle of Bothwell Bridge was the last stand of the rebels. Gavin Black was captured, sentenced for treason, and exiled to S Carolina. He sailed on the Carolina Merchant on July 21st 1684 and arrived in Charleston in October. All the passengers arrived but were in bad shape. We’re not sure what happened to Gavin Black.

Some of the travelers died, some escaped, and some went to Port Royal to establish a new colony, Stuart Town. They made friends with a group of Indians who had escaped persecution and together they raided Spanish held territory further south in Florida (for slaves). The Spanish retaliated by burning Stuart Town to the ground.

I’m not sure what happened to Gavin Black. There are no records of his survival but there are researchers on Ancestry who claim him as their ancestor.

Gavin Black of Craigneuk was definitely a Covenanter and definitely sailed on the Carolina Merchant to South Carolina. It’s unclear if this Gavin was the father of our John Black or his grandfather. Old parish records aren’t available until 1693 in Airdrie.

Memorial at Bothwell Bridge