Person:John Dennistoun (1)

The Book of Dumbartonshire - Cardross Genealogies: Dennistoun of Colgrain - Page 329 - Jean Sempill, daughter of William Sempill of Fulwood. She married, John Dennistoun of Colgrain, 15th February, 1648. Issue:
1. Margaret, born 1649
2. Jean, married to  ? Stirling of Milliken
3. Janet, married William Sempill of Fulwood, or Dalmoak, who discharged her tocher of 2500 merks in 1671.
She married secondly, Thomas Fleming, merchant, burgess of Dumbarton, and had by him a son, Charles.

XIII. John Dennistoun of Colgrain, had a resignation in his favour, by his father, in 1638, of Colgrain and the Camis-Eskans; and in 1655, made up titles to Kirkmichael-Stirling, on a precept of clare constat from Sir George Stirling of Keir.
In an age of national degradation, it is refreshing to find individual instances of loyalty and devotion worthy of the brightest days of chivalry. Such an one was the Laird of Colgrain. He was a steady and zealous friend to the royal cause, and ultimately crowned his exertions with the sacrifice of his life. The Earl of Glencairn having been appointed by Charles II., in 1653, commander-in-chief of the Royalist troops in Scotland, granted commissions to Colgrain in November and December of that year. First. " Whereas I William Earl of Glencairne by vertue of his Ma . . . commissione ame empowered to levie horse and foot wtin the kingdom of Scotland for his Ma . . . service and I being weel assured of the Loyaltie courage and guid affectione of Jhon Denniston of Cogrene does hereby warrand and appointe him to levie the third man of all the fencible persons wtin the Lennox and to reduce them in foot companies and to place officars over them and to command the foresaid foote and to bringe them up to joyne wit his Ma . . ties forces now on foot, for the which this sail be unto him ane sufficient warrand given under my hand the 20 day of November 1653. Glencairne."
There is another commission from the Earl dated 3rd December of the same year. Second. " These ar authoreiseinge the Laird of Colgraine to use all advantages against the commonn enemie within this kingdom thair complices intelligencers and adherents and whatsoever personne shall without ane warrand from me mairch throu the countrie and presume to quartir in aniepairt of the He above Leavin I doe hereby ordaine him to tak notice of them and according as he shall find them deserving to allow them transceant qrtir for long or short space as he shall think fitt. Commanding lykwayes all the inhabitants within the said He and paroches adjacent, to be readie upon everie occasione to contribut to the fortifieing of the hous Rossdou against said commonn enemie at what tyme and whensoever they or any of them sail be requyrit for the effect as they and everie of them (without respect of personnes) tend the advantage of his Ma . . ties service and will anser the contrarie in thair heighest perill. Given at happelavroch this third day of Dec. 1653. Glencairne." The Parliamentary leaders— onk, Couper, Twisleton, and Argyll— ame to Dunbarton in 1654, "advising on a hard and sorrowful work, what houses and what corn to burn." They lost no time in seizing upon John Dennistoun as one of the most dangerous and influential Royalists in that part of the country. This may be illustrated by the following letter from General Philip Twisleton
" To the Laird Colgrene. These.
"Sr
" I have acquainted the generall with what you desired and wt had passed betwixt you and mee and he hath given command that (unless you give good securitie not to acte against the commonwealth and to render Yourself prisoner att the tyme that shall be appoynted) I shall secure You, therefore I have appoynted Captain Ward the bearer hereof to bring you with him and to lett You have the benefitt of a boate and the best accommodations that may be for the effecting theyreof, I am Your Servant Ph. Twisleton."
" Ffrom the Campe at "Tarreboote August 15th 1654."
Of the same date is the following pass
"You are to permit the Laird of Colgrene to have his little boate to his owne house hee having engaged himselfe to returne her to Dunbarton and deliver her to Captain Thompson by twelve o'clocke tomorrowe. Ph. Twisleton."
"Att noone August 15th 1654.
"To Capt. Escot."
It is probable that Colgrain had found security as required, for he was included in a convention between Monk and Glencairn a fortnight afterwards to the following purport " Articles of Agreement made and concluded this nine
and twentieth day of August 1654 between the Right Honourable General Monck, commander in chief of the forces in Scotland for and on behalf of his Highness the Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland on the one part, and David Creichton Laird of Lugton on the behalf of the Right Honourable the Earl of Glencairne and his forces, on the other part.
1st. It is agreed and concluded that the Earle of Glencairne shall together with all others of his partie, repair or come to Dunbarton within six daies after the signeing of these
present articles and then and there lay down and deliver upp their armes to Lieutenant Collonell Cotterell to whom they are to give notice twenty foure houres before their approache.
2nd. That the Earle of Glencairne shall give good security to the value of Five thousand pounds to Lieut. Col1 . Cotterell within fourteen daies after delivering up their arms for his peaceable deportment to his Highness the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England and his successors ; and that such others of the said Earl's forces or partie as either have estates in Land or were officers under him, shall give reasonable security for their peaceable deportment, and the private soldiers shall give their engagements to the like purpose.
3rd. That the officers shall have liberty to marche away with their horses and swords, and the private soldiers with their horses to their respective habitations or places of aboade, where they are to sell their horses within three weeks to their best advantage ; and both Officers and soldiers to have passes from Lieut. Coll. Cotterell to go to their homes.
4th. That the Earle of Glencairne and the laird of Lugton, the laird of Newarke, the laird of Milton, the laird of Legland, James Cunningham of Blanghose [Blairwhoirh] the laird of Colgraine, Captain Colquhoun of Ballernick, Crawford of Carsburne, Captain John Stack and Captain William Stewart of Reidbeg shall enjoyne their estates both real and personall, and all others of the Earle of Glencairnes partie [non coming in] shall enjoyne their personall estates without any trouble or molestation, any act or thing by them formerly don in reference to the late Warrs between England and Scotland notwithstanding. They submitting to all common burdens equal with others of the nation. Provided that this doeth not extend to the restoaring of all or any part of the estates of any which are disposed of by way of donative, by the late Parliament, their Commissioners, or his Highness the Lord Protector and Councell. The Lord Forrester to have the benefit of this article paying fifteene hundred pounds in lieu of the fine of two thousand five hundred pounds lately ordered by his highness and councell, in the ordinance entitled,
An ordinance of pardon and grace to the people of Scotland according to the terms prescribed in the said Ordinance —
5th. That the Earle of Glencairne and the Laird of Lugton shall have liberty at any time within six months after the signeing hereof to go beyond seas and to levye and transport each of them one regiment of foote, each regiment to consist of one thousand men, to any Prince or state in amity with his Highness and Commonwealth of England, the same being first approved by His Highness the Lord Protector, and to be licensed to recruite once every three yeares.
6th. That whereas there are ships now on the coast for transporting of such as are prisoners att warr to the Barbadoes, notice shall be given to the Governors of the respective guarrisons where any prisoners are, upon signeing of these articles ; and such as are not before notice thereof on ship board [belonging to the Earle of Glencairnes party] shall be sett at liberty, and that such prisoners of ours (either English or Scotch) which have been taken by the Earle of Glencairnes party and are now prisoners, shall be forthwith released.
7th. That all such officers and soldiers who shall conceale or willingly embeazell their armes, and not bring them to Lieut. Col. Coterell according to this agreement, shall lose the benefitt of these articles.
8th. That the Laird of Lugton shall not by these articles bee excluded any benefitt he may have to claime by the ordinance of his highness and Councell of pardon and grace to the people of Scotland.
9th. That these articles shall be ratified by his Highness the Lord Protector or the Parliament (if neede soe require) and delivered to the Earle of Glencairne or whom he shall appoint within two months after signing these articles.
George Monck.
Da. Creichton."
" Signed and sealed in presence of William Dundass. William Clarke. Matthew Locke."
" We hereby declare our approbation and consent to the articles above written made with the Earl of Glencairn. Ph. Twisleton.
John O'Key."
There is a family tradition that John Dennistoun was about this time hit by a random cannon shot from Dunbarton Castle while going to the town in his boat, but his son-in-law mentions that he was wounded in the Highland expedition. After lingering for many months, he died of that wound in July, 1655. Colgrain married, 15th February, 1648, Jean, daughter of William Sempill of Fulwood, "a young ladie of incomparable beautie, wisdom, and prudent foresight." She married, secondly, Thomas Fleming, merchant, burgess of Dunbarton, and had by him a son, Charles. They acquired the estate of Dalchurne from Mr. Archibald Dennistoun in 1669, as we shall presently have occasion to show. Her children by Colgrain were
1. Margaret, born 1649.
2. Jean, married to Stirling of Milliken.
3. Janet, married William Sempill of Fulwood or Dalmoak, who discharged her tocher of 2,500 merks in 1671.
Before his death, Colgrain executed a special settlement and destination of his estate, which, with the reasons which actuated him, may be best stated in the words of a certain MS. below quoted. I shall only add that the dispositions, procuratories of resignation, charters, and confirmations from the superior are all precisely in accordance with the statement that Margaret Dennistoun was duly infeft thereupon 14th February 1655. "Of the wound he thereafter died; but though he was pained in bodie, yet being in his udgement wholie sound and entire all the tyme he laye of his wound, he did seriously reflect upon the circumstances his familie was in at the time as having no airs maill of his own bodie ; and his brother, a man of no deip wait or considerable actioun being the person by the tailzie to succeed, he bethought him of a method to preserve his familie from aparend danger of mismanagement if his brother should succeed, and at the same tyme holie to keep it in his own name and in the succession of the children begotten of himself; having a certain prospect by this method of considerable addition to his fortune, or making his owne thereby free of all burdein it stood then affected with. Whereupon he dispones his estait to Margaret Dennistoune, his eldest daughter, with the burdein of his debts, she always matching and marrying with William Dennistoune of Dalquhurne, and no otherwayes ; whom failzing, to the second daughter Jean, and the third Janet, successive, upon the same terms ; and failzing of all uther by deceas or reprisal, to the said William Dennistoune, his airs and assigneys whatsomever ; and failzing of him by deceas, to Archibald Dennistoune, his brother, in the same manner as to William these two, next to his own brother, being the next airs maill of the family, after the decease of their father and grandfather, who were alive at the time."