The Scots Worthies | John Brown
John Brown was a staunch supporter of the Covenant and was known to Alexander Peden, indeed Peden conducted Browns marriage ceremony and visited Brown at his small farm, the remains of which can still be seen today close to his grave and memorial. Peden the so called "Prophet of the Covenant" it is said told Browns wife to ready linen to wrap her husband in for burial as he would be killed when they least expected it. Brown was well known as a supporter of the Covenant and his farm was used for meetings of those involved in the struggle.
Most of the well-known martyrdoms took place at this time, including the notorious murder of John Brown by Claverhouse at Priesthill, about one mile from the Strathaven road. John was a devout Christian and would probably have been a fierce preacher were it not for the fact he had a speech impediment. Many Covenanters were welcomed to his cottage and illegal meetings were held there. On 1st May 1685 a number of soldiers arrived, commanded by John Graham of Claverhouse. Brown was asked to swear the oath of allegiance to the crown, but he refused. It was noted that in his answers to Graham, Brown's stutter left him and he is said to have responded with the eloquence of a preacher.
He was then dragged back to his own front door and in front of his wife, daughter and baby boy, he was thrown to the ground and told to pray. Claverhouse's temper grew as the prayers went on and on. He interrupted Brown three times and bellowed that he "gave him time to pray, not preach". 'Bloody Graham' then ordered his men to shoot the Covenanter and it was reported that they initially hesitated as they were to perform the act in front of women and children. It is said that Claverhouse suffered nightmares afterwards and the words of Brown's prayers continually haunted him. Friends helped John's wife Isabel to bury her husband near to where he fell and the spot is still marked with a memorial and flat gravestone.
The grave of John Brown lies in a remote and desolate spot, a mile or so from the farm of Priesthill not far from Muirkirk near Cumnock. There is a sign just outside Muirkirk on the Muirkirk - Strathaven road that indicates where the grave is. From there you follow the road to Priesthill farm then a path of sorts leads to the actual site. The terrain is not too difficult and the walk from the farm to the grave is probably less than a mile.The main inscription on the graveslab shown in the photograph reads as follows,
"In deaths cold bed the dusty part here lies Of one who died the earth as dust despises Here in this place from earth he took departure Now he has got the garland of the martyr"
"Butchered by clavers and his bloody band Raging most ravenously over all the land Only for owning Christs supremacy Wickedly wronged by encroaching tyranny Nothing how near so ever he to good Esteemed nor dear for any truth his blood"