Thomas Maclellan, 2nd Lord Kirkcudbright
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Sir Thomas Maclellan, 2nd Lord Maclellan of Kirkcudbright was a Scottish nobleman, father of Robert Maclellan, 1st Lord Maclellan of Kirkcudbright and the son of William Maclellan and Rosina Agnew. He married Janet Douglas, daughter of Sir William Douglas, 1st Earl of Queensberry and Isabel Kerr, on 28 July 1640.
Maclellan's support for the Covenanters led to his ruin. In 1638 the Solemn League of the Covenant was signed throughout Scotland raising objecting to the enforcement of the use of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer in Scotland. During this period many of the local ministers favoured the Covenant and this caused difficulties which involved Lord Kirkcudbright. Thomas McLellan was charged with the raising of a feudal army in the parishes of Dunrod, Galtway and Kirkcudbright to support the Solemn League and Covenant. On the 28th of July, 1640 Thomas Maclellan married Janet, a daughter of Sir William Douglas, 1st Earl of Queensberry by Isabel Kerr. In 1640 he was appointed Colonel of the South Regiment, and accompanied the Scottish army into England.
In 1644 the Scottish Parliament appointed him Steward of Kirkcudbrightshire, and subsequently he was present at the battle of Philliphaugh with his regiment, where, by their gallantry they greatly contributed towards the victory of the Scotch forces.
For his good service at Philliphaugh he was awarded by Parliament a significant reimbursement (poss. Ł750), raised from the estates of Lord Herries, but which it is alleged was never received.
From his habbit of always marching at the head of his regiment with a barrel of brandy, which upon long marches and other needful occasions he would freely distribute to his followers, he became very popular among the troops.
On 23rd July 1644 a mounted infantry regiment was raised in the parishes of Kirkcudbright under the command of the Thomas McLellan of Glenchannoch (lord Kirkcudbright).
Joining the Scottish Army, a force of some 9,000 men, under the Earl of Leven McLellan's regiment marched to Marston Moor where they joined forces with the English Parliamentary troops under Cromwell. On the battle field Lord Kirkcudbright’s Regiment ‘Dispersed and Overthrew the Royalist Cavalry opposed to them’.
"Lord Kirkcudbright, a zealous Presbyterian, embraced the cause of the Covenanters. He was with the well trained Scottish army under Sir Alexander Leslie encamped an Dunse Law, near Edinburgh, in defence of presbytery, when King Charles I, with an English army of about an equal force, invaded Scotland to establish prelacy; but, after a cavalry fight, on the 3rd June, 1639, retreated. Appointed, in 1640, colonel of the South Regiment of Cavalry raised chiefly in Galloway, he joined the Scottish army, which, under the Earl of Leven, marched into England."
"Montrose, being the first man to ford the Tweed and advancing to the Tyne fought an won the battle of Newburn, near Newcastle, on 28th August, 1640, an English army of 6000 men under Lord Conway being put to flight. By personal gallantry, and care for those under his command, he became a popular leader".
"On the 13th of September, 1645, under Sir David Leslie, at the Philiphaugh, near Selkirk, as commander of a regiment which he had raised in Galloway at his own expense from amongst his own tenants and retainers, he greatly distinguished himself, his regiment being commended for their extreme gallantry. Lord Kirkcudbright later served in Ireland, where he died in 1647". (Norman Waddell).
The Royalist James Graham, Marquis of Montrose had taken military control of Scotland, and defeated the Covenanters in a series of battles culminating in the battle of Kilsyth. Part of the Scottish army under Alexander Leslie, including Lord Kirkcudbright’s Regiment, was sent north to meet Montrose. This they did at Philliphaugh, near Selkirk.
The prisoners taken at Philliphaugh were executed as traitors with many shot dead in the court yard at Newark Castle, others were throw to their deaths from the parapets of the Ettrick Bridge drowning in the river below.