WebCatt's Genealogy

Kerly of Cruggleton

excerpts from "William Wallace,"
a biography by James Mackay,
Mainstream Publishing, c1995, ISBN 1-85158-823-X

p 91"...One of his (Wallace) earliest adherents was Kerly from Cruggleton, near the village of Sorbie in Wigtownshire. This Gallovidian Gael was his most faithful companion, accompanying him on many of his exploits and fighting by his side through thick and thin."

p 95 " ...William was with this entourage and rode ahead with his two trusty companions Gray and Kerly, ..."

p 97 "...one Stephen of Ireland who was to become, like Kerly, one of William's most trusted supporters. Another adherent at this time was a strange character called Fawdon, 'melancholy of complexion, heavy of stature, dour in countenance, sorrowful, sad, ever dreadful and without pleasance'. All in all, this seems to have been a pretty rough bunch of murders and cut-throats; William ordered Gray and Kerly to stick close to him at all times, until he trusted the others better."

p 102 "...The fate of the tardy Fawdon is hard to rationalise, especially as Stephen and Kerly now hung back while the others pressed on. These two, Wallaces most trusty men..."

"...As they were doing so, Stephen and Kerly crept out and mingled with the crowd. Kerly gradually edged forward and when Heron was bending forward to examine the body, he suddenly struck him dead..."

"...Wallace fretted about the fate of Stephen and Kerly..."

p 104 "...Discreet messages were sent forth by means of Kerly...'

"...Kerly also contacted Robert Boyd at..."

p 107 ... Leaving most of his men in Knock Wood, he (Wallace) set out with Halliday, Little and Kerly to celebrate mass in the parish church..."

"...Halliday, Little and Kerly made short work of the other three..."

p 254 ...Every night for a week, with only Kerly, the most trusted of his comerades, and his new page, Jack Short, Wallace rode out to Robroyston..."

"...About midnight Wallace and Kerly both went to sleep - most unlikely and uncharasteristic in the circumstances..."

p 255 "...The story that Wallace was accompanied by Kerly rest entirely with Blind Harry..."

"...Kerly, who had served Wallace faithfully for many years and come through countless battles and skirmishes unscathed, was taken outside and put to the sword on the spot..."

"...it is surprising that he was not slain on the spot like his faithful squire Kerly..."

see also excerpts from
McKerlie's History of Galloway

go to main page | Kerley Information