Covenanter’s spoon, c1680

  James Renwick (15 Feb 1662 - 17 Feb 1688) was born in Moniaive, Dumfriesshire where his father was a weaver.  Renwick studied religion at the University of Edinburgh and witnessed the deaths or martyrdom of several Covenanters including Donald Cargill, an associate of Richard Cameron.   Renwick joined the United Societies of Covenanters who, after the death of Cargill, had no ministers.  In 1682 Renwick was sent to study in the Netherlands where he was ordained as a minister in 1683.  He returned to Scotland and travelled the country preaching and baptising children.  This was a dangerous time for Covenanters and there were many laws enacted to try and stop them meeting.  By 1685, anyone who attended a conventicle or open air preaching meeting could be tried and executed.  It became known as the "Killing Times".    James Renwick was finally caught in January 1688 and was executed by hanging in the Grassmarket in Edinburgh for refusing to swear an oath of loyalty to the King.  He was 26 years old.  Renwick was the last Covenanter to be publically executed and he is considered the last Covenanter martyr.   This spoon was in the collection of Dr Grierson's museum at Thornhill.  He collected it from a woman whose grandfather had been a Covenanter in Tinwald and had venerated it as having been used by James Renwick.