Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Paton, James (d.1684)
PATON, JAMES (d. 1684), covenanter, was born at Meadowbank in the parish of Fenwick, Ayrshire, where his father had a farm. Until near manhood he was employed in agricultural pursuits. According to one account he went as a volunteer to Germany, and served with such distinction in the wars of Gustavus Adolphus that he was raised to the rank of captain. According to another, he was present with the Scots army at Marston Moor. With the rank of captain, he fought with great gallantry against Montrose at Kilsyth, 15 Aug. 1645, and escaped uninjured during the flight. After the defeat of Montrose at Philiphaugh on 13 Sept. he returned home to Fenwick. He took part with the people of Fenwick in opposing General Middleton in 1648. With other Scottish covenanters he, however, supported the king against Cromwell in 1650 and, accompanying him in 1651 into England, fought for him at the battle of Worcester on 3 Sept. After the Restoration he fought, in command of a party of covenanting cavalry, on 28 Sept. 1666, at Rullion Green, where he had a personal encounter with Sir Thomas Dalyell [q. v.] He was also at the battle of Bothwell Bridge 22 June 1679. He was excepted out of the indemnities passed after both battles, but succeeded in lurking safely in various hiding places, until in 1684 he was taken in the house of a covenanter, Robert Howie. Dalyell on meeting him is said to have stated that he was both glad and sorry for him. The fact that he had fought for the king at Worcester atoned in Dalyell's eyes for much that was unjustifiable in his subsequent behaviour. He severely rebuked an insult that was offered him, and is supposed to have exerted special influence to procure his pardon. Lauder of Fountainhall mentions that Paton ‘carried himself very discreetly before the justices’ (Historical Notices, p. 535). He was sentenced to be hanged at the Grassmarket on 23 April, but was reprieved till 9 May. He was then willing to have taken the test, but a quorum of the privy council could not be obtained to reprieve him.
[Howie's Scots Worthies; Wodrow's Sufferings of the Church of Scotland; Lauder of Fountainhall's Historical Notices in the Bannatyne Club.]