The Covenanters were a Presbyterian movement. After their uprising was defeated in 1679, 250 prisoners were being transported to begin a life of slavery in America. The ship they were on , "The Crown of London" was wrecked on the cliffs near Scarvataing in a storm. More than two hundred of the Covenanters died and most of the survivors were re-captured.

The monument was built in 1888 on the cliff above where the ship was wrecked.