[3] Along with some other recusant Presbyterians, he took a warm interest in field preaching until the summer of 1675, when he was arrested under a warrant, issued to the Earl of Moray, commanding him “to execute the laws against the keepers of conventicles in the county of Moray and neighbouring places.” Wodrow relates, (perhaps mistakenly and perhaps misleading Crighton[4]),[5] that after undergoing terms of imprisonment at Nairn and Inverness, Ross made his acquaintance with the dungeons of the Bass Rock.
He was deprived by an Act of Parliament and Decreet of Privy Council on 1 October 1662, and went to Tain, where he is said to have made himself useful in the work of the Gospel.
[10] In 1676 he was removed to the prison of Tain and confined till 9 October 1677, when he was liberated on finding caution for 2000 merks to appear when called upon.
[14] Anderson relates that Lilias Dunbar (later Mrs Campbell) visited Thomas Ross, along with Jean Taylor, while he was sick in prison.
The union was, however, formed by Mr. John Stewart, who, at the restoration, was minister of a parish in the presbytery of Deer, in the synod of Aberdeen, but who was ejected for nonconformity.