The Paton family came from the east coast of Scotland and settled in Fenwick, on the lands of Warnockland and Meadowhead. The first Paton in Fenwick, Matthew Paton was born in Warnockland about 1565 and died in 1632. He married Janet Muir.
John Patton, our subject, was born in Meadowhead in the parish of Fenwick and shire of Ayr. He was brought up in the art and occupation of husbandry. He entered the military as a volunteer and went abroad to the wars in Germany. For some heroic achievement at the taking of a certain city he was advanced to a captain's post.
In 1645 when the ministers in the western shire's called upon their own parish militia to oppose Montrose's insurrection, he was appointed to be their captain. He behaved with much gallantry among the Coventers. He was a Soldier-Covenanter in the religious warfare of that time. He fought at the battles of Worcester, Pentland and Bothwell Bridge.
Captain John Patton married Janet Lindsay June 25, 1656. She was born in Airnock, Scotland. About 1666, John married the second time to Janet Miller who was born in Englesham, Scotland. He had at least seven children: David, Janet, John, Hugh, Agnes, Margaret, Marion and several that died young.
He was finally captured, imprisoned at Edinburgh and sentenced to death. Friends interceded on his behalf and a reprieve was granted by the King of England. However, the officer in charge of the prison held up the papers until after the execution on May 8, 1684. Captain John's Memorial marker at Fenwick Church says the following: Sacred to the Memory of Captain John Paton, late in Meadowhead of this Parish, who suffered Martyrdom in the Grassmarket, Edinburgh, May 9th, 1684. He was an honour to his country, on the continent, and at Pentland, Drumnclog, and Bothwell. His heroic conduct truly evinced the gallant officer, brave soldier, and true patriot.
