PRESBYTERY OF LAUDER p. 536

1690. JOHN VETCHE, A.M., formerly noticed, was imprisoned by the Lords of Justiciary 2d Aug. 1683, for breaking his instructions. He was released 10th Dec. following, on finding caution to appear when called. By order of the Lord Chancellor (Earl of Perth he was seized 4th Sept. 1685, carried to Edinburgh, and next day sent to prison and closely confined, pen and ink being withheld, and no intercourse allowed for twenty weeks. He was restored by the Act of Parliament 25th April 1690, was a member of Assembly in Oct. following, and in that of 1692. He died at Dalkeith, in returning from a meeting of the Commission of Assembly 16th Dec. 1702, in his 84th year and 55th min.

" Hospes erat, mastixque mali, verique patronus,

                                                             Alterius parcus, prodigus usque sui."

He wrote “Ane Description of Berwickshire in the Merse," which is preserved in the Advocate's Library, Edinburgh. He marr. Susanna Dundas, who survived him, and had a son, George, writer, Edin., and two daugh. Susanna marr. Mr Nicol Edgar, min. of Hopekirk, and Sophia marr. Mr James Ker, min. of Nenthorn-[Wodrow's Hist., Mem. of W. Veitch, Reg. Gen. Ass. 1690, 1692, and Odd Dec. i., ii., iii., Monteith's Mort. ii., Presb., and Test. Reg. (Edin., and Lauder), S. Presb. Eloq., Sinclair's St. Acc. i., ii.]

1704. WALTER SCOT, A.M., took his degree at the Univ. of Edinburgh 28th June 1697, licen. by the Presb. of Dunbar 27th Jan. 1703, called 15th June and ord. 21st Sept. 1704; died in May 1737, aged about 60, in 33d min. He marr., 28th Feb. 1707, Sophia Hume, who died 31st March 1771, and had a son who succeeded to the cure, and two daugh., Catharine and Agnes.-[Edin. Grad., Presb., Sess. and Test. Reg. (Lauder), Sinclair's St. Acc. vii., &c.]

1738. FRANCIS SCOTT, son of the preceding, bapt. 28th Dec. 1707, licen. by the Presb. 5th Sept. 1732, pres. by George Il. in Nov. 1737, and ord. 8th May succeeding; died 12th Nov. 1781, in his 74th year and 44th min. Barbara Ker, his widow, died 9th May 1782.[Sess., and Presb. Reg., Sinclair's St. Acc. vii.]

1782. WILLIAM SHIEILS, A.M., born at Haddington, but went to Lauder in infancy, was educated at the par. school there, and afterwards studied at the Univ. of Edinburgh and St. Andrews, at the latter of which he took his degree in 1775, and was licen. by the Presb. 5th April same year. He became assistant to the Rev. Dr Wishart in the Tron Ch. Edin., was pres. by George III. 23d Nov. 1781, and ord. 29th Aug. thereafter; trans. to Earlston 17th June 1813. From the inadequacy of his stipend he found it necessary to open an Academy in the manse, where many of his pupils attained that knowledge which enabled them in after life to hold a high rank in Society, and in liberal professions.-[Sermons, St. Andrews Univ. and Presb. Reg.]

1813. JOHN SHIELS, eldest son of the preceding, born 14th April 1789, licen. by the Presb. 6th Sept. 1811, pres. by George, Prince Regent in Aug., and ord. 23d Sept 1813; died at Nice, where he had gone for the recovery of his health, 11th Feb. 1819, in 30th age and 6th Min.-[Presb. Reg., &e.]

1819. JOHN BIRRELL, A.M., a native of Newburn, obtained his degree at the Univ. of Edinburgh 24th Feb. 1814. During the progress of his studies he became teacher in George