Lesmahagow

Isobel Steel, a relative of David Steel, wag apprehended for adhering to the Covenant, and after a long imprisonment, was banished to the Island of Barbadoes in the year 16 8 7. She returned to Logan water soon after the Revolution, and lived there for many years.
Jean M'Ghie, widow of William Brown of Auchlochan, was imprisoned at different times in the castles of Dunotter and Blackness. Her son Thomas was fugitived during the persecution. Thomas Brown of Auchlochan Townfoot was a steady Covenanter, and led a party to victory at Drumclog. He also fought at Bothwell Bridge, where the Covenanters were sorely discomfited. On one occasion two of Claverhouse's troopers came upon Brown a few yards from his own door. He bravely defended himself with his sword (which is still carefully preserved at Auchlochan by his descendant, James J. Brown, Esq.), but being overpowered, he was left for dead by his persecutors. At that moment, another Covenanter, whose name is not known, appeared on the Blackreckoning side of Nethan, and was immediately pursued and put to death. , Thomas Brown was not killed but only stunned He revived and lived to a good old age.

John Whyte of Neuk was, among others, proclaimed a fugitive. He was betrayed by a neighbour, who gave notice to Claverhouse of the time when he would be found at home. His house was surrounded by a party of soldiers, but he escaped by a window, and found refuge in Westown Craigs. One of the soldiers observed his flight, but being at heart a Covenanter, he cunningly fired his musket in another direction, and thus drew off the attention of his comrades. It is narrated, that some years afterwards this soldier came to Neuk and claimed a night's lodging, and was kindly entertained. John Whyte was an elder in the Kirk, and died in 1739 at the patriarchal age of ninety?one. John Steel of Logan Waterhead joined the army of Covenanters in 1679, and was appointed a captain. He was the acknowledged leader of that party in Lesmahagow and the adjoining parishes. He escaped unhurt from the battle of Bothwell Bridge, but his aged father, Robert Steel, having visited the camp, was overtaken by the enemy and slain. His body was left upon the road, but afterwards carried to Strathaven churchyard and decently interred. William Steel, the captain's brother, was taken prisoner and carried to Glasgow Tolbooth. He rented the farm of Lochanbank, from the "laird" of Blackwood, who. although himself greatly persecuted, had influence enough, through the Marquis of Douglas, to procure his liberation. He returned to his farm, and did not afterwards suffer molestation.
The most vigorous search was made for John Steel, but although a reward of looo merks was ofered upon his head, no one would betray him. Soon after the battle of Bothwell Bridge, the Earl of Airlie came to Waterhead with his troops. and having put him to the horn, declared him a rebel, and produced a Crown grant of his lands. His wife and family were deprived of all they possessed, and expelled from their home. Captain Steel continued faithful to his principles, and attended a general meeting of the United Societies of Covenanters of Lanarkshire and adjoining counties, at Logan House, on the 15th December 1681. (See " Faithful Contendings," p. 9.) Other assemblies were convened at Friarminion, Auchengilloch glen, also on Gudebuss hill, and at a spot about midway between the sources of the rivers Logan and Kype. A spring of clear water, a Covenanter's pulpit, and more recently a simple monument, mark the hallowed ground where these weary Christians so often assembled.

During this dismal period, the Earl of Airlie collected the rents of Upper Skellyhill and Cairnhouse, two farms which belonged to John Steel, and which were in lease. But as no tenant in the district could be procured for Waterhead (Steel's own residence), a man was brought from the north of Scotland to occupy the lands, under the name of Huge or Hugh Bawties. This stranger could not find servants to hire in the vicinity, nor any one in the neighbourhood to render him assistance; indeed, all regarded him as an intruder. He brought servants from his own district, and procured a guard of soldiers to protect them, but the latter procedure only tended to make matters worse, for the soldiers, with their horses, lived at free quarters; and Bawties, finding that he was not prospering, returned to his own country, after having been at Waterhead about twelve months.

The sufferings of Marion Lean, wife of Captain Steel, were most harrowing. So strict was the search maintained by the soldiery for her husband, that he durst not even lodge under the same . roof with his family, but secreted himself in the moors. Two of his hiding?places were discovered by his enemies; his but was next discovered and burnt, and a second shared the same fate. He then retreated to Logan hills, but being discovered, he was driven to Mennock hill, on the lands of South Cumberhead, where his cousin David also hid himself at night. The place is still known as " Steel's Seat." While there the Steels were supplied with food chiefly through the kindness of John Brown of Priesthill. John Steel's wife and children, meanwhile, were reduced to absolute starvation, and lodged in a small comfortless but made of turf. The boys gathered berries in the moors, and " guddled " trout in Logan water, to satisfy the cravings of hunger. A story is narrated of a farmer?and Bawties himself has been named, although with questionable? accuracy ? who seeing smoke at a distance in the moors, hastened to the spot expecting to find one of his own sheep roasting, instead of which he beheld these innocent children cooking some of the fish they had caught, and which they generously invited him to share with them. This unexpected act of kindness so overpowered the farmer that he turned away, filled with self?reproach for having entertained such hard thoughts against a family suffering for conscience sake.