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PHOTO GALLERY
Most of the photos on this page were taken in late May or early June of 2001, during a visit to Scotland.
 
Edinburgh Grassmarket Covenanters' Memorial
    This Memorial is located in Edinburgh at the site where many Covenanters were executed between 1661 and 1688.
 
Edinburgh Grassmarket Plaque
    This is a photo of a memorial plaque at the Grassmarket Memorial.  Captain John Paton's name, and his date of execution,
is in the next-to-the-last column, 9 lines down from the top of the list of names.  It lists his execution date as 25
April 1684; however, his memorial stone at Fenwick Church (see below) lists the date as 9 May 1684.
I believe the latter is the correct date.
 
Edinburgh Grassmarket Circle
    This stone is placed in the center of the memorial.  Around the outside it is inscribed,
"ON THIS SPOT MANY MARTYRS AND COVENANTERS DIED FOR THE PROTESTANT FAITH"
 
Greyfriars Church
    The National Covenant was signed in Greyfriars Church in 1638.  The current structure was built in the 1850s.
Covenanters executed at the Grassmarket were buried  in the churchyard.
Captain John and is buried there in an unmarked grave.
 
Greyfriars Cemetary
    The churchyard at Greyfriars.
 
Covenanters Prison Area
    In the southeast corner of the Greyfriars churchyard is this locked area, designated as the "Covenanters Prison."
At the time Covenanters were imprisoned there, it was an open field with no shelter for them.
Many, perhaps most, died of exposure before they could be executed.
 
Greyfriars Martyrs Memorial
This memorial is in the northwest corner of the Greyfriars Church yard.
It is  a memorial to James Renwick, and also to all Covenanter martyrs.
James Renwick was beheaded 17 Feb 1688
 
The inscription on it reads:
Halt passenger take heed what thou dost see
This tomb doth shew for what some men did die
Here lies interr'd the dust of these who stood
Gainst perjury resisting unto blood
Adhering to the Covenants and Laws
Establishing the same which was the Cause
Then their lives were sacrificed unto the Lust
Or Prelatist's abjur'd though here their dust
Lies mixt with murders and other crew
Whom justice did justly to death pursue
But as for this in them no cause was found
Worthy of death but only they were found
Constant and steadfast zealous witnessing
For the prerogatives of CHRIST their KING
Which truths were feared by famous Guthrie's head
And all along to Mr Ranwick's blood
They did endure the wrath of enemies
Reproaches torments deaths and injuries
But yet they're these who from such troubles came
And now triumph in glory with the LAMB
 
Fenwick Church
  This is Captain John's church at Fenwick.  On the grounds there are several graves marked with plaques with the words, "Fenwick Covenanter."  Captain John's memorial sits directly at the rear of the church, facing toward it.
 
Captain John's Fenwick Memorial
    This is Captain John's Memorial marker at Fenwick Church.  At the top, above the inscriptions, there is an open Bible with the words, "THE WORD OF GOD," and another part that says, "FENWICK FOR GOD, COUNTRY, AND COVENANTED WORK OF REFORMATION."  The top part of the inscription reads:
 
SACRED
TO THE MEMORY
OF
CAPTAIN JOHN PATON,
 LATE IN MEADOWHEAD.
OF THIS PARISH.
WHO SUFFERED MARTYRDOM
IN THE GRASSMARKET.
 EDINBURGH, MAY 9TH, 1684.
 
HE WAS AN HONOUR TO HIS COUNTRY,  ON
THE CONTINENT, AT PENTLAND, DRUMCLOG,
AND BOTHWELL.  HIS HEROIC CONDUCT TRULY
EVINCED THE GALLANT OFFICER, BRAVE
SOLDIER, AND TRUE PATRIOT.  IN SOCIAL AND
DOMESTIC LIFE HE WAS AN ORNAMENT.
A PIOUS CHRISITAN, AND A FAITHFUL
WITNESS FOR TRUTH IN OPPOSITION TO
THE ENCROACHMENTS OF TYRANNICAL AND
DESPOTIC POWER IN CHURCH AND STATE.
 
THE MORTAL REMAINS OF
CAPTAIN PATON
SLEEP AMID THE DUST OF
KINDRED MARTYRS, IN THE
GREY-FRIARS CHURCH-YARD,
EDINBURGH.
NEAR THIS IS THE
BURYING-PLACE OF HIS FAMILY
AND DESCENDANTS."
 
The lower part of the inscription reads:
Who Antichrist do this oppose,
And for truth's cause, their lives lay down,
Will get the victory o'er their foes,
And gain life's everlasting crown.
 
I am standing beside the memorial.  I am 5'4" tall, which helps put the size of the memorial in perspective.
 
Fenwick Inscription
    This is a photo of the top part of the inscription, transcribed above.
 
Fenwick Inscription, Lower Portion
    This is the lower part of the inscription, along with the Fenwick Covenanter memorial marker.
 
Back of Fenwick Memorial
    This photo shows the placement of the Memorial, relative to the church, and is taken from the back side
of the memorial.   In front of the back side of the Memorial there is a memorial marker for James Paton,
Agnes Young and their family, which obscures the back of Captain John's marker in this photo.
Though it is not visible in the photo, the back of Captain John's memorial states that it was "Re-erected by the Christian Public,"  in 1853.  It also has the name, "J. Bowie," which I assume to be the maker of the memorial.
 
 

Other Captain Paton Photos
I would like to thank Grant Paton for the following five photos.

Captain John Paton Mezzotint
This is a photo of a mezzotint of Captain John Paton made in the 1800s.  One copy of this print is located at Scotland's National Portriat Gallery in Edinburgh.

Captain John's Bible
Captain John's Bible is located at the Covenanter's Museum in Lochgoin, Scotland.

Captain John's Sword, #1
Two of Captain John's swords are also located at the Covenanter's Museum in Lochgoin, Scotland. This is a photo of one of those swords.

Captain John's Sword, #2
Captain John's other sword.

Covenanter's Flag
The flag of the Scots Covenanters.


 
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