William Cockburn (cavalry officer)
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Major William Cockburn (c1605–1683) was the son of William Cockburn (late of Skirling) and Joneta Hamilton, the daughter of Sir James Hamilton of Libberton. Major Cockburn is best known for his role as a Royalist Scottish cavalry leader during the Restoration. In the 1670s he was placed in charge of pursuing and capturing leaders of the Covenanter movement. Most notably, in June 1673 he captured the renowned leader Alexander Peden at Knockdow near Ballantrae, Ayrshire.[citation needed]
Major William's father had been the laird of the Barony of Skirling, but likely financial difficulties required him to sell the property in 1621[1]. The Cockburns of Skirling had a long military tradition going back hundreds of years.
According to his epitaph, Major Cockburn had military experience in Germany and France[2]. His career spanned the period of the English Civil Wars, but it is not known if he fought at home during that tumultuous period. He likely was a member of the Royalist force that defeated Covenanters at the Battle of Rullion Green[2]. In the 1660s Major Cockburn led dragoons in Southwestern Scotland. In September 1667 he was a lieutenant in the Laird of Hatton's troop, which was raised in 1666[2] and based in Hawick. Later, he was appointed Under-Lieutenant to the Troop of Life Guards, commanded by the Earl of Newburgh. In September, 1668 he was order to pursue Covenanters in Galloway and nearby regions. This he did with notable success. He retired from the Life Guards in 1681.
William Cockburn married Marie Melrose and they had one son William and five daughters Elizabeth, Jane, Francisina, Marie and Sarah[1]. The son followed the family tradition and was referred to as a lieutenant in 1692, when he was retoured heir to his father. Lieutentant Cockburn apparently did not have any male descendants, and so he appears to have been the last of the Cockburns of Skirling[1].