Hallowe’en tale of laying a bankrupt’s troublesome ghost to rest
AS it is Hallowe’en I will relate the story of the ghost of Abraham Crichton, that haunted the kirkyard of St Brides in Sanquhar.
Abraham Crichton was a merchant in Sanquhar who was a shrewd businessman, reputed to be very wealthy and so popular that in 1734 the townsfolk made him the chief magistrate. He took a keen interest in the welfare of the burgh and during his term of office they began to build the Council House.
Abraham’s prosperity didn’t last and in 1741 he was declared bankrupt. Some years before, the parish of Kirkbride had been merged with the neighbouring parishes of Sanquhar and Durisdeer, and the ancient kirk was allowed to fall into disrepair.
The former members of the old kirk had to go to the rebuilt kirk in Kirkconnel to worship and deeply resented the abolition of services in Kirkbride. Those responsible for the change were looked upon as being guilty of nothing short of sacrilege.
Misfortune and disasters were said to have followed all who had a hand in the destruction of the old parish system and its old kirk.
Abraham Crichton thought little of the ancient kirk and doubtless thought that destroying it would put an end to the clamouring for services to be resumed.
He got some men to remove the roof, but they were forced to stop work by a tremendous storm. Soon after, Abraham was killed when he fell from his startled horse and got one of his feet caught in a stirrup. The galloping horse dragged him to his death.
His violent end was regarded as a just reward for his actions. There was also a rumour that before he went bankrupt he had dishonestly hidden his money.
After his burial it was said that his body would not rest until he had made up for his wrongdoings. His ghost was often seen in the evening walking in the kirkyard, or grinning over the low wall that surrounded it. The thought of that terrified all who had to pass that way in the dark.
The ghost began to chase folk as far as the streams that ran through the burgh. That stopped him from going further because ghosts can’t cross a running stream.
When held in check by a running stream the ghost would make signs as if he wished to speak. No-one was brave enough to start a conversation with such an uncanny being, so what secret, if any, the ghost wished to divulge was never known.
Things came to such a pass that it was deemed absolutely necessary to take the most drastic action to lay the ghost to rest.
It was believed that if a God-fearing man could be found, courageous enough to speak to the mischief-maker and use certain charms, that the ghost could be laid to rest.
A good, local minister called Hunter was asked to undertake the desperate task. He readily agreed, and after spending a day in prayer, he went alone at midnight to the kirkyard and with sword and Bible in his hands took up his post at Abraham Crichton’s grave.
The following morning he was eagerly asked by the townsfolk how he had passed the night. Hunter replied that he had laid the ghost to rest. Abraham, he said, would never trouble them again.
Pressed to tell what took place between him and the spirit he replied: “No man shall ever know what passed between us.”
Nevertheless, it was said that when Hunter stood at Abraham’s grave on that memorable night he drew a charmed circle around him with his sword, and over this no ghostly footstep or evil spirit could pass. When Abraham’s ghost made its appearance it was powerless against the man of God. It stood outside the ring and held out its hand to Hunter, who refused it. Instead, he threw his glove outside the circle when it was instantly seized by the ghost and torn to pieces.
With open Bible, Hunter completed the magic spell by ordering the ghost never again to disturb or hang about local people and their homes. On hearing that command, the ghost gave a fiendish cry and descended into the grave never to be seen again.
Abraham’s grave was covered with a large stone bound by a strong chain to keep him under and prevent his escape. The ghost has never haunted Sanquhar since. ROYAL Bank of Scotland (RBS) chiefs expect the taxpayer-controlled lender to be cleared of the most serious allegations levelled at its controversial global restructuring group (GRG).
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