Cargill's Leap, River Ericht, Blairgowrie, Perthshire

The first video from our Spring Blairgowrie trip, and the story and location of Donald Cargill and his 'Leap' to freedom...

Please excuse the fact the music is not Scots Geilic, but Irish Gaelic, but it fitted with the atmosphere I was seeking, so please indulge my artistic licence...

Drones - 'Mighty Midge' - DJI MINI3 Pro 

Edited using - DaVinci Resolve 18

Music - Sissel - An Raibh Tú Ag an gCarraig ? -    • Sissel - An Raibh Tú Ag an gCarraig ?  

Information from - https://ourheritageblairrattray.scot/...

DONALD CARGILL (c.1610 – 1681)

Donald Cargill was born at Hatton of Rattray, a farm about a mile north of Rattray, Perthshire. He was the eldest son of Laurence Cargill of Bonnytoun, Rattray, and Marjory Blair. The Cargill family was well respected locally. Having been educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and the Universities of Aberdeen and St Andrew’s, he became Minister to the Parish of Barony in Glasgow in 1655, where he remained for the next seven years.

In 1638 the National Covenant, a document pledging resistance to changes being made by Charles I, was drawn up. Supporters of the Covenant were known as Covenanters. Donald Cargill was an ardent Covenanter.

Charles II continued to impose Episcopalian forms of worship in Scottish Churches. An act of Parliament required churches to hold services of thanksgiving for the restoration of Charles II as King. In 1662 Donald Cargill disobeyed this order and was dismissed. He continued to preach at conventicles, secret gatherings of worshippers, often held in the open air. Government troops hunted him wherever he went.

Around 1665 Donald Cargill returned to Blairgowrie, possibly to visit his family. He was pursued by a party of government dragoons led by John Graham of Claverhouse. Knowing the area well, Donald made his way to the River Ericht and managed to escape capture by leaping across the river.

Donald Cargill continued to preach and to support the Covenanters’ cause.

In 1679 he was wounded at the Battle of Bothwell Bridge which was between Royalists and Covenanters. He escaped to the Netherlands to recover. By the following year, he was back in Scotland and continuing to preach.

Through the issue of documents like The Queensferry Papers and the Sanquhar Declaration, in association with Richard Cameron, he accused the authorities of tyranny and oppression and called upon people to defend themselves and their rights. Following Richard Cameron’s death in July 1680 at the hands of the dragoons, a substantial reward was offered for Donald Cargill’s capture.

He was finally arrested at Covington Mill in Lanarkshire and taken to Edinburgh for trial. Inevitably, he was sentenced to death. On 27th July 1681 at the Mercat Cross in Edinburgh, Donald Cargill was hanged and beheaded. As was the custom, his head was fixed on the Netherbow in Edinburgh. His life is remembered locally and elsewhere. A plaque in his memory may be seen in Rattray Parish Church.