Robert Bennet of Chesters facts for kids
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Robert Bennet of Chesters was a Scottish gentleman who lived a long time ago, in the 1600s. He lived in a beautiful area of Scotland called the Scottish Borders. His home, Chesters (also known as Grange), was right next to the River Teviot and close to the town of Ancrum in Roxburghshire.
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Who Was Robert Bennet?
Robert Bennet was a very religious man. His own minister was a famous preacher named John Livingstone from Ancrum. Robert wrote in his own notes about how much he was affected by a sermon (a religious talk) given by another preacher, Rutherford (possibly Samuel Rutherford), at a church service. This happened in Wilton church on Sunday, June 22, 1656.
Robert's Promise to God
After this powerful church service, Robert Bennet, who was about 35 years old, made a special promise to God. He wrote down that he felt God was showing him a promise from the Bible (Isaiah chapter 55, verse 7): "Let the wicked forsake his ways, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon."
Robert promised to turn away from anything wrong he had done and to live his life for God. He lifted his hands and made a serious vow to follow God's path. This promise was very important to him and changed how he lived his life. He even renewed this promise every year on January 16. Even when his wife's spending caused them money problems, he faced these challenges with a strong spirit.
Facing Trouble for His Beliefs
In 1676, Robert Bennet faced serious trouble because of his religious beliefs. The government at the time did not like people holding church meetings outside of the official church. These outdoor meetings were called conventicles. Robert attended these meetings, including some led by John Blackadder on Lilliesleaf Moor.
Because he went to these meetings, the government declared him an "outlaw," which meant he was considered a criminal and all his belongings were taken away.
Robert was also known as a prisoner from the Bass Rock. This was a famous prison on an island in the Firth of Forth. He was fined a lot of money and put in prison many times on this island. He was imprisoned because he refused to attend the official church services and instead went to the conventicles, which the government saw as dangerous.
On May 2, 1677, he was sentenced and moved from a prison called the Tolbooth to the Bass Rock. He was fined 4,000 merks (a type of Scottish money) on June 28, 1677. He was also accused of refusing to listen to the official church ministers and instead following a preacher named John Welsh, whom the government considered a rebel. Robert was finally ordered to be set free on October 9, 1677.
His Family Life
Robert Bennet was married to Anna Douglas. When she was very sick and close to passing away, he was allowed to visit her from prison on February 18, 1678. Later, on June 13, 1678, he was ordered to stay at home under "house arrest," meaning he couldn't leave his home freely.
Robert and Anna had at least one daughter named Christian, who married Walter Scot. They also had a son named Archibald.
Religious Meetings on Lilliesleaf Moor
Lilliesleaf Moor was a large open area that was a popular spot for many conventicles. Government papers from that time suggest that these outdoor religious meetings were held almost every Sunday, all year round, on Lilliesleaf and Hassendean moors, Blackriddel hill, and other nearby places.
A person named Meldrum, who caused a lot of trouble for religious groups in the Borders area, told the Privy Council (a group of advisors to the king) that the area around Selkirk was "the most disorderly part of the kingdom" and had more conventicles than anywhere else. Lilliesleaf Moor seemed to be the most common place for these meetings near Selkirk.
