Archibald "9th Earl of Argyll" Campbell

Not available for transfer - my ancestor

The Paper Caves on Lock Eck side were the hiding place of the Campbell estate papers during the rout of Argyll in 1685

Argyll's tradition enemies now could only believe that the rise and fortunes of the Argyll family had surely come to an abrupt halt yet the 9th Earl's son was to have lands and title restored and was made the first Duke of Argyll.

The bodies of the Marquis and the 9th Earl are interred in the family mausoleum at Kilmun. After a suitable period of being a grisly warning on spikes at Edinburgh Tolbooth their heads were brought to Kilmun and reunited with their bodies.

The Paper Caves are associated with this period where the estate papers and titles were hidden to keep them safe till better times and fortunes.

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

Campbell, Archibald, ninth earl of Argyll (1629–1685), politician and clan leader, was born on 26 February 1629 at Newbattle Abbey, Edinburghshire, the son of Archibald Campbell, Lord Lorne and later eighth earl and marquess of Argyll (1605x7–1661), and his wife, Lady Margaret (1610–1678), daughter of William Douglas, earl of Morton (1582–1648). At the age of four he was, in accordance with Gaelic tradition, fostered with a kinsman, Sir Colin Campbell of Glenorchy, living mainly at Balloch, Perthshire. After his father had inherited the earldom in 1638 he was known by the courtesy title Lord Lorne, and he returned to his family at Inveraray Castle in 1639. He was sent to the University of Glasgow in 1642, but he did not graduate.

escaping [sic] from Edinburgh Castle on 20 December 1681 with the help of his stepdaughter Sophia Lindsay, the success of his disguise as a page no doubt being helped by his short stature.

executed and [sic] As his head fell, his body, in a macabre spasm, jumped upright on its feet, spouting blood 'like a cascade or jette d'eau' before being held down by the executioners (Lauder, Historical Observes, 194). His head, like that of his father before him, was displayed on a spike on the top of Edinburgh Tolbooth, while his body was buried at Newbattle Abbey, where he had been born. The head was reunited with the body in 1689 when his eldest son, Archibald Campbell (d. 1703), was restored as tenth earl, and in 1704 they were taken to his family's burial place at Kilmun.

Reputation being the son of 'the great marquess' brought him many enemies.

From 1660 to 1681 he fought a long and successful battle for the survival of himself and his family

Though successful up to 1681, Argyll was not well liked. He was short-tempered, and never sought popularity

He was the 8th Earl's eldest son. He and Mary had seven children. He became the 9th Earl of Argyll on October 16, 1663. He had no issue by his second wife. In June 1685, the 9th Earl of Argyll unsuccessfully tried to invade Scotland, and on June 30, 1685 he was executed. As a result of his failure, two of his sons and a nephew who accompanied him were banished, his brother was forced to flee the country, and several others left involuntarily. [Neil Grant, The Campbells of Argyll, published by Franklin Watts, London, England, 1975, page 55]

Lives of the Lindsays By Alexander Crawford Lindsay Crawford pg 153 (letters from the 9th Earl of Argyll the day of his execution - to his daughter in law) pg 152

"My dear Lady Sophia,
"What shall I say in this great day of the Lord, wherein, in the midst of a cloud, I find a fair sunshine? I can wish no more for you, but that the Lord may comfort you and shine upon you as He doth upon me, and give you the same sense of His love in staying in the world, as I have in going out of it. 'Adieu!
'ARGYLE
'P.S. My blessing to dearl Earl of Balcarres: the Lord touch his heart, and incline him to His fear!"

Married 1st Lady Mary Stewart b 1628 d May 1668
Married 2nd Lady Anne MacKenzie no issue. She was 1st wife of Alexander Lindsay, 1st Earl of Balcarres

Archibald was succeeded by his son, Archibald Campbell, 10th Earl and 1st Duke of Argyll