John Dickson (minister)

[5] He was summoned before the Committee of Estates in Edinburgh on 13 October 1660, for preaching against the government and uttering speeches tending to division and sedition.

[8] In May 1662 an act of parliament was passed which John Dickson could not comply with in good conscience and he therefore left his charge in Rutherglen.

For example, he was present, along with Mr. John Blackadder, at the first armed conventicle held on the Hill of Beath, near Dunfermline, 16 June 1670.

For taking part in this service, Dickson and Blackadder were summoned to appear before the Privy Council on 11 August 1670 being charged with holding conventicles.

[10] The covenanter also began to hold field communions at which they armed themselves for defense and Dickson is recorded as being at services at Nisbet and at Irongray.

After the defeat of the Covenanters at the Battle of Bothwell Bridge, Dickson gave up field preaching, which was a capital crime, and only held meetings in private houses.

"Mr John Dickson, brought prisoner from the Bass, declares, that about six years ago he was taken for being present at conventicles; confesses he has kept conventicles several times; acknowledges the King's authority, but will not engage to live regularly and orderly, and not to keep conventicles; and shuns to give answer as to declaring the unlawfulness to rise in arms against the King or his authority: Ordered that the said Mr John Dickson and Mr Alexander Shields, brought prisoners from the Bass, be returned back prisoners thither until further order."

After sentence was passed Dickson made a petition that because of his age and ill health that he be allowed to stay in Edinburgh.