PRESBYTERY OF SELKIRK p. 562

ROBERTON.

Erected in 1659, but was suppressed again, and finally erected by the Commissioners for Plantation of Kirks, on the suppression of Hassendean, 22d July 1690.

1689. THOMAS SHIELLS was a member of the Assemblies 1690, 1692, and is not improbably the same person who had been in Kirkbride, and was afterwards of Sanquhar.-[Presb. Reg., Reg. Gen. Ass. 1690, 1692.

1700. ROBERT SCOTT, A.M., brother of William S. of Whitehaugh, obtained his degree at the Univ. of Edinburgh, 3d July 1693, licen. by the Presb. 8th Sept. 1698, called 24th Dec. 1699, and ord. 24th April following; died 21st Aug. 1727, in his 54th year and 28th min. He marr. Janet Scott, in the par. of Hawick, and had a son Walter, and two daugh., Bessie and Marion.-Publication-Twelve Sermons preached before and alter the celebration of the Lord's Supper, Edin. 1729, 8vo.-[Edin. Grad., Presb., & Sess. Reg., Tombst. Boston's Mem.]

1728. HENRY ERSKINE, licen. by the Presb. of Kelso 3d April 1722, called 29th Feb., pres. by George II. in March, and ord. 3d May 1728; died 2d Dec. 1773, in 80th age and 46th min. He marr. 21st Oct. 1730, Janet, daugh. of Mr Robert Cunninghame, min. of Hawick; she died 1st June 1766, aged 64, and had two sons, James, who succeeded to the benefice, and Robert.-(Presb., and Sess. Reg., Tombst., &c.]

1774. JAMES ERSKINE, trans. from Kirktown, pres. by George III. 14th Jan. and adm. 29th July; trans. to Lessudden 4th April 1786.-[Presb. Reg.]

1786. JAMES HAY, trans. from Kirktown, pres. by George III. 1st July, and adm. 22d Sept.; he retired in bad health, but getting better, he resumed in 1812, and died 17th May 1825, in his 74th year and 41st min. He marr. 26tb July 1785, Arabella Douglas, who died 2d Feb. 1793, and had two daugh. Janet and another, besides two who died in infancy. -Publication-Account of the Parish (Sinclair's St. Acc. xi.)- [Presb. Reg., Tombst., &c.]

1801. WILLIAM BERRY SHAW eldest son of the Rev. George S., Abbotshall, studied at the Univ. of St. Andrews, and lived in the same room with Thomas Chalmers; he was licen. by the Presb. there 1st. May 1799, appointed by George 111. in Oct., and ord. (assist. and suc.) 25th Nov. 1801; demitted, on being pres. to Langholm, which was accepted 13th Oct. 1812. -[Presb. Reg., Hanna's Life of Chalmers i.]

1826. ALEXANDER NIVISON, third son of the Rev. Abraham N., Middlebie, licen. by the Presb. of Dalkeith 26th March 1811; he became a teacher of Oriental Languages, which brought him under the notice of the Hon. East India Company, who would have appointed him their Junior Chaplain of the Scottish Church at Calcutta, but preferring to remain at home, and Mr James Brown, who looked forward to the succession here, preferring to go there, an exchange of their respective interests was made, and he was pres. by George IV. 14th June 1825, and ord. 21st April 1826. He demitted 16th Oct. 1844, which was accepted 30th same month, when he was declared no longer a min. of this Church. He died at Edinburgh 7th Nov. 1861, in 75th age, and 36th min. He marr. Christina Thomson, who died 30th