Joan ( Jackie ) Crookston of the Tranent Massacre

[Templar75]

Hi stacey,

              I am related to Anita and Jackie or Joan Crookston was our 5th great aunt, as far as the story goes most of the people who were killed are supposed to be the ringleaders.

Jackie Crookston's body lay undetected for several weeks and she was found by Harvesters, men women and children were killed on that tragic day, Jackie Crookston's death was never officially recorded, she may have been fatally wounded on the outskirts of the Town and made her way to hide perhaps in a hedge and died there.

There does not seem to be any little girls killed on that day, however, a young boy of 13 years was hacked down in a field, the Dragoon Horseman hacked half his head off.

He and his brother William who was slightly older lived in Pencaitland, they had heard about what was going on in Tranent and decided to see the demonstration, they never reached Tranent the Soldiers saw them walking down the road and that is where he met his death his brother was wounded

Your sister states he hears the voice saying " I can't see and can't hear " it is probably the wee boy, remember having half of his head hacked off would mean his ear and one of his eyes were missing, perhaps a message.

If your sister hears the voice again tell her to say " William ", remember this was the brother of the dead boy who was not named, at 13 years old and in those days he was probably small and unbroken voice just a wee boy, if the toys are being moved around if it's him he is just being inquisitive, he probably never had toys.

If it persists tell your sister to get the help of the local Catholic Priest and ask if he could Bless the house, this usually works. Or she could look at it that he does not mean her or her family any harm, her house is probably on the spot where he fell.

John Caddell a local Mine owner was responsible for calling the Troops in, to incite the crowd he was seen throwing stones into them, Robert Dundas failed to see that the Troops actions related to murder.

The dead were, Peter Ness, William Lawson,Stephen Brotherstone, William Laidlaw, John Adam, James Moffatt, the young boy killed as mentioned his last name was Kemp.

Of course there were Jackie Crookston and some others not mentioned.

I have attached a map with the names of those who were shot and roughly where.

Cheers.

Archie.

[Oyama]

Hi Stacey

Excellent info from Archie.

Anita

[staceymaclennan]

defo anita, thankyou so much archie, great help, my sister will be pleased.

stacey.

[staceymaclennan]

it seems that willaim laidlaw is the one thats closest to her, is this the one you are talking about as there are two williams.

stacey

[Hibee]

Hi

Is there any further information on John Adam, who was listed amongst those killed?

I have a 1st cousin (6 times removed) of that name, who was born 25. Jan 1764, married Janet Kinlay 25 Oct 1781 in Tranent, and had a daughter (Euphemia Elizabeth) there in 1786.

Hibee

[Templar75]

Hi Stacey,

              I mean William Kemp he was the brother who escaped back to Pencaitland, as there are no actual ages except for the wee boy Kemp I assume the rest were all of adult age.

The wee boy that was killed could be the one that your sister is hearing and moving the toys, as his brother was called William she could say his name and see what reaction if any she gets if any.

What I will say is that he means her or the family no harm, depending on the age of her children she should ask them if they have ever seen a wee boy in the house, this happened to us when one of our sons many years ago saw something, he stood there smiling at something in the Hallway of our house, we asked him what he was smiling at and he answered a big man, we think it was his late granddad.

More on the Massacre :


Caddell took his anger out on a number of people on of them being Janet Hogg, he is alleged to have dashed her face against the door of the Inn. he is then supposed to have ordered the troops to ride in a five mile radius and kill everyone on site.

George Elder and Joan Crookston were shot in the street, Isobel Rodger 19 yrs old was chased by a soldier into a passageway of a house and shot dead, William Smith died on the staircase of a house opposite the Inn, Janet Forsyth 16 yrs old had left her job cutting the corn to see what was happening was shot by a soldier wounding her, she carried the bullet for the rest of her life.

Another Tranent girl 17 yrs old Mary Allan was shot in a narrow passageway, the bullet missed her and hit the frame of the door, she passed out and the soldier thought he had killed her and left.

Soldiers saw women standing at the door of one of the houses a soldier went into the house, he saw the bed and started to hack and cut through the sheets, a child screamed with that a Mrs. Reid grabbed the soldier and threw him into the street, her young son David had lost one of his little fingers.

Stephen Brotherstone as mentioned earlier came from Pencaitland and the story is this, he and his wife with an old man called James Crichton were walking towards Tranent on the road from Pencaitland.

As they were walking they saw the Cavalry riding towards them, they took cover in a hedge but the soldiers opened fire a few times raking the hedge. A Trooper dismounted to see if they were dead but was amazed that they were still alive, he started to hack at James Crighton with his Sabre, he also attacked Brotherstone cutting his abdomen and legs, Mrs. Brotherstone screamed for mercy but none was given.

The Pembrokeshire Regiment never turned up for the hearing which seems that they were guilty of murder.

Sorry Hibee there is no other information on John Adam.

Cheers.

Archie.

[staceymaclennan]

archie

thnakyou so much for all your time and information, you have been a great help!!

my sisters child is only one so not really old enough to speak even if he has saw something, whoever it is doesnt seem to be bothering them and never thought he/she would hurt the family, think they are just a little scared and finding out more information about who it may be has helped alot.

thanks

stacey.

[Templar75]

Hi Stacey,

                  you are most welcome and regards to your sister please.

Cheers.

Archie.

[Templar75]

Hi Folks,

             to all who are interested this is the ruin of Gladsmuir Old Kirk where Joanna Crookston was baptized on the 12 June 1760.

Cheers.
 
Archie.