Boston Public Library - Electric Scotland

MICHAEL ALISON, THE COVENANTER. 29
dyedge, Scotland, in 1664. This was a part of the original
estate of Cairnduff, in Avondale, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Like his brothers and family, he was a zealous and enthu-
siastic Covenanter, and battled bravely for his religious faith.
With his brothers, Archibald and John Alison, he was in
the battles at Drumcloy, Bothwell Bridge, and at the skirmish
at Airsmoss, and participated in the siege of London-
derry, Ireland, in 1688-'89. At the skirmish at Airsmoss,
where his brother, Archibald Alison, was taken prisoner, he
fled so quickly that he reached Port Patrick and crossed
over to Ireland before the news of the disaster to the Covenanters
reached the Irish shore. Although he was questioned
severely by their enemies, yet he escaped suspicion,
and resided many years in the neighborhood of Londonderry,
and was present at the famous siege in 1688-89.
He either leased or bought a farm near Londonderry, for
there he married and had a large family. From 1681 to the
Restoration in 1690, the lands of Windyedge, his old home,
and many others, were forfeited in consequence of their proprietors
joining in so-called treasonable rising of Bothwell
Bridge. So long as this decree of the Lords of Justiciary
remained, Michael Alison could not return to Windyedge,
where his widowed mother was still
living. At the Restoration,
after the battle of the Boyne, he returned to Windyedge
with four members of his family, and the other members
of his large family of children remained in or near Londonderry.
He seems to have gone back and forth considerably
between his two homes, living a part of the time at
Windyedge and sometimes in Londonderry. He died at
Windyedge and was buried in the burying-place of the family
in Strathavon church-yard, leaving his eldest son, James
Alison, the laird of the farm. Michael Alison's wife was
Elizabeth Cooper, and the initials of her name, E. C, were
engraved into the lintel of the old house at Windyedge.
Mr. Alison married his own cousin for his second wife, and
had a large family.
The sword of Michael Alison, with which he fought at
Drumcloy, Bothwell Bridge, Airsmoss, and the siege of Londonderry,
is still in existence, a precious memento, and is in
the possession of Rev. George Alison, of Kilbarchan.
CHILDREN BY FIKST AVIFE, ELIZAISETII (COOPEK) ALISON.
{). James Alison^ (13), b. Londonderry, Ireland, in 1690; returned with
his father to Windyedge, Scothvnd, where he resided. He ni.
Margaret Semple. He was called "Cooper" Alison and was
well known in Avondale.