John Blackadder (preacher)
| John Blackadder | |
|---|---|
| Religion | Christianity |
| School | Presbyterianism |
| Personal | |
| Born | ca. 1622 |
| Died | 1685 (aged 62–63) Bass Rock |
| Resting place | North Berwick |
| Senior posting | |
| Title | Reverend |
| Religious career | |
| Profession | Preacher |
John Blackadder (or Blackader) (ca. 1622–1685) was an eminent Presbyterian Covenanter preacher in Scotland during the period of the Commonwealth of England (1649–1660). Despite a government ban he continued to preach in the fields after the restoration of the monarchy. He was arrested and imprisoned in 1681 and died in jail.
Blackadder was born between 1615 and 1623. He was grandson of Adam Blackadder of Blairhall, a cadet of the Blackadder Baronetcy of Tulliallan, and became heir to the title after the extinction of the male issue of Sir John Blackadder of Tullialan, the first baronet. However, he did not assume the title. Blackadder studied Divinity at Glasgow University, where his mother's brother was principal. In 1646 Blackadder married Janet Haining of Dumfries and they had five sons and two daughters.
On 7 June 1653 Blackadder was ordained by the Presbytery of Dumfries as minister of Troqueer, near Dumfries, during the time of the Commonwealth, when the monarchy was deposed. People came from other parishes to hear his weekly sermons. He arranged for reciprocal visits with two of his neighboring parishes. He catechised the parish twice each year, and achieved improvements in the standards of worship and of religious knowledge.
Blackadder was expelled from his parish in 1662 after the restoration of Charles II because he refused to comply with the Episcopacy, which the government had imposed in Scotland. He was arrested and taken to Edinburgh, and was released soon after and moved to Caitloch in Glencairn parish, where he sometimes preached to large assemblies. When the authorities heard about his activities, he moved again, and began a wandering life. In 1666 letters of Council were directed against Blackadder and other ministers who were preaching, praying and baptizing without authority.
Blackadder preached in Dumfriesshire and Galloway and in most other counties of southern Scotland, and was often joined in these conventicles by other preachers. He participated in meetings of the Covenanters at Hill of Beath in Fife and at East Nisbet in what is now Berwickshire. The meeting at Beath Hill on 18 June 1670 was one of the first where the attendees brought arms to protect themselves against the military, who had been ordered to enforce a court ban on conventicles. After exaggerated stories of this conventicle had spread, he was called to appear before the privy council, but instead went into hiding. He later resumed preaching.
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