Rutherglen Cemetery

By tradition, Rutherglen is said to have received its Royal Burgh status in 1126 by a Royal Charter from King David I of Scotland, who reigned from 1124 to 1153. However, a factual analysis of the state of knowledge, would conclude that there is no evidence that David I granted Royal Burgh status, nor granted it by a charter. That David I did probably grant Rutherglen some trading or even burghal status, is evidence by a William I charter granted sometime during the period 1179-1189. Thus, the only tenable conclusion is that sometime during David I's reign (1124-1153) he granted some form of privileges to Rutherglen, but not necessarily in 1126. Indeed, had such a royal burgh charter been…