Grissell Cairnes

• Name	Grissell Cairnes
  Gender	Female
  Religion	1685	Scotland
  	Presbyterian - Covenanter
  Residence	18 Jun 1685	Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland   [1]
  	Presented a petition to the Privy Council to relieve the conditions of her husband and other prisoners in Dunnottar Castle
  	“Anent a petition presented by Grissell Cairnes and Alison Johnston in behalfe of Mr William McMillan and Robert Young, wright in Edinburgh, their husbands, and the rest of the prisoners in the Castle of Dunnottar, shewing that the petitioners said husbands, who are under no sentance, with many others haveing been sent prisoners to the said Castle, they are in a most lamentable condition, there being one hundreth and ten of them togither in one vault, where there is litle or no daylight at all, and, contrare to all modestie, men and women promiscuously togither and fourtie tuo more in another roume in the same condition, and no person allowed to come near them with meat or drink, but such bread and drink as scarce any rationall creature can live upon, and yet at extraordinär rates being tuentie pennies each pynt of ale which is not worth a plack the pint, and the peck of sandie dustie meal is afforded to them at eightein shilling per peck, and not so much as a drink of water allowed to be caryed to them whereby they are not only in a starveing condition but must inevitably incurr a plague or other fearfull deseases without the Councill provyd a speedy remidy, and therfor humbly supplicating that warrant might be granted to the effect underwritten. The Lords of his Majesties Privy Councill, haveing heard and considered the forsaid petition, doe hereby continow that part of the desire for liberty till they considder furder of the petitioners caise; but in the meantyme gives ordor and warrant to the deputy governour of the Castle of Dunnotar to suffer and permitt meat and drink and other necessars to be brought in to the petitioners by their freinds or servants at the ordinary easie rates, and to allow the saids Mr William McMillan and Robert Young a distinct roume from the rest, and in regaird of the heat of the season of the year that all the prisoners may be so accomodate without throng that their health be endangered as litle as possible.”
  Person ID	I44731	East Jersey Genealogies
  Last Modified	7 Dec 2025

  
  

  Family	Mr William McMillan   d. Abt Oct 1685, At sea
  Family ID	F31178	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	7 Dec 2025

  
  

• Event Map

  Religion - Presbyterian - Covenanter - 1685 - Scotland Residence - Presented a petition to the Privy Council to relieve the conditions of her husband and other prisoners in Dunnottar Castle - 18 Jun 1685 - Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Sources

  [S3611] Privy Council of Scotland, The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, 3rd Series, XI, p70.