Helen Alexander
Encyclopedia
Helen Alexander was a heroine of the Scottish covenanters in the unequal struggle between the adherents of ancient Presbyterianism and prelacy, is still to-day a ‘household name’ in the west of Scotland. In the mountain glens and moors of Ayrshire
and Galloway
and the Pentland
s, chap-books still tell her marvellous story of courage and devoutness. Towards the end of her life she dictated many of her experiences to her husband, and the manuscript was published by the Rev. Dr. Robert Simpson
, of Sanquhar
, in his ‘A Voice from the Desert, or the Church in the Wilderness’ (1856). It is entitled ‘A Short Account of the Lord's Dealing with Helen Alexander, spouse first to Charles Umpherston, tenant in Pentland, and thereafter to James Currie, merchant in Pentland; together with some remarkable passages, providential occurrences, and her support and comfort under them, and deliverance out of them. All collected from her own mouth by her surviving husband.’ It is scarcely possible to imagine a more artless or a more absolutely truthful narrative of the events of ‘the killing time
,’ as it is still called in Scotland.
All the leading covenanter
s cross and recross the stage; for in and out of prison Helen Alexander was brought into the closest relations with them all, especially John Welsh
, Donald Cargill
, David Williamson
, Andrew Gullon and James Renwick
. Of the last she writes: ‘In the year 1683 the reverend and worthy Mr. James Renwick came home from Holland, an ordained minister. At first I scrupled to hear him, because it was said he was ordained by such as used the organ in their worship. But being better informed by himself, according as it is recorded in his Life and Death, printed some years ago, I heard him with all freedom, and to my great satisfaction, at Woodhouselee old house, being called there by friends about Edinburgh and Pentland. After this he frequented my house, with several worthy christians, even in the very heat of persecution; and I judged it my duty, in all these hazards, to attend the ordinances administered by him.’ And this: ‘In the year 1687, November 30, I was again married unto James Currie, by the renowned Mr. James Renwick. . . . Some months after this, Mr. Renwick being taken, I went and saw him in prison. . . . And when he was executed, I went along to the Greyfriars' churchyard, took him in my arms until stripped of his clothes, helped to wind him in his graveclothes, and helped to put him into the coffin. This was a most shocking and sinking dispensation, more piercing, wounding, and afflicting than almost any before it’. There are many similar reports of those killed in the Scottish persecution.
Helen Alexander was born at Linton
in 1654, and from her youth up was an earnest Christian. She was a staunch Presbyterian. She ‘ministered’ dauntlessly to the fugitives. She stood by the friendless at the bars. She spent days and nights in prison with ‘the suffering remnant’. She died in March 1729, aged 75.
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
and Galloway
Galloway
Galloway is an area in southwestern Scotland. It usually refers to the former counties of Wigtownshire and Kirkcudbrightshire...
and the Pentland
Pentland
- Places :In Scotland:*Pentland Firth, a strait between Orkney and Caithness in the far north*Pentland Skerries, a group of islands lying in the Pentland Firth*Pentland Hills, a range just south of Edinburgh in the south east...
s, chap-books still tell her marvellous story of courage and devoutness. Towards the end of her life she dictated many of her experiences to her husband, and the manuscript was published by the Rev. Dr. Robert Simpson
Robert Simpson
Robert Simpson or Bob Simpson may refer to:American:*Bob R. Simpson, American Business Executive, Major League Baseball Owner*Robert Simpson , American meteorologist and co-developer of the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale...
, of Sanquhar
Sanquhar
Sanquhar is a town on the River Nith in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It lies north of Thornhill and west of Moffat. It is a Royal Burgh.Sanquhar is notable for its tiny post office , claimed to be the oldest working post office in the world...
, in his ‘A Voice from the Desert, or the Church in the Wilderness’ (1856). It is entitled ‘A Short Account of the Lord's Dealing with Helen Alexander, spouse first to Charles Umpherston, tenant in Pentland, and thereafter to James Currie, merchant in Pentland; together with some remarkable passages, providential occurrences, and her support and comfort under them, and deliverance out of them. All collected from her own mouth by her surviving husband.’ It is scarcely possible to imagine a more artless or a more absolutely truthful narrative of the events of ‘the killing time
The Killing Time
thumb|240px|[[Margaret Wilson |Margaret Wilson]], one of the 'Wigtown Martyrs', executed by drowning in the incoming tide of the Solway Firth ....
,’ as it is still called in Scotland.
All the leading covenanter
Covenanter
The Covenanters were a Scottish Presbyterian movement that played an important part in the history of Scotland, and to a lesser extent in that of England and Ireland, during the 17th century...
s cross and recross the stage; for in and out of prison Helen Alexander was brought into the closest relations with them all, especially John Welsh
John Welsh
John Welsh may refer to:*John Welsh of Ayr, religious leader*John Welsh of Irongray, religious leader*John Welsh , FRS , Superintendent of Kew Observatory*John Welsh *John Welsh...
, Donald Cargill
Donald Cargill
Donald Cargill was a Scottish Covenanter, working to uphold the National Covenants of 1638 and 1643 to establish and defend Presbyterianism....
, David Williamson
David Williamson
David Keith Williamson AO is one of Australia's best-known playwrights. He has also written screenplays and teleplays.-Biography:...
, Andrew Gullon and James Renwick
James Renwick
James Renwick may refer to:*Jim Renwick , Scottish rugby player*Jim Renwick *James Renwick , Scottish Covenanter...
. Of the last she writes: ‘In the year 1683 the reverend and worthy Mr. James Renwick came home from Holland, an ordained minister. At first I scrupled to hear him, because it was said he was ordained by such as used the organ in their worship. But being better informed by himself, according as it is recorded in his Life and Death, printed some years ago, I heard him with all freedom, and to my great satisfaction, at Woodhouselee old house, being called there by friends about Edinburgh and Pentland. After this he frequented my house, with several worthy christians, even in the very heat of persecution; and I judged it my duty, in all these hazards, to attend the ordinances administered by him.’ And this: ‘In the year 1687, November 30, I was again married unto James Currie, by the renowned Mr. James Renwick. . . . Some months after this, Mr. Renwick being taken, I went and saw him in prison. . . . And when he was executed, I went along to the Greyfriars' churchyard, took him in my arms until stripped of his clothes, helped to wind him in his graveclothes, and helped to put him into the coffin. This was a most shocking and sinking dispensation, more piercing, wounding, and afflicting than almost any before it’. There are many similar reports of those killed in the Scottish persecution.
Helen Alexander was born at Linton
Linton
-Places:Australia* Linton, Victoria* Linton bushfireCanada* Linton, Ontario* Linton, QuebecEngland* Linton, Cambridgeshire* Linton, Derbyshire* Linton, Essex* Linton, Herefordshire** Linton, Bringsty near Bromyard, Herefordshire...
in 1654, and from her youth up was an earnest Christian. She was a staunch Presbyterian. She ‘ministered’ dauntlessly to the fugitives. She stood by the friendless at the bars. She spent days and nights in prison with ‘the suffering remnant’. She died in March 1729, aged 75.