PRESBYTERY OF DUMFRIES p. 574

1670. JOHN MENziEs, A.M., trans. from Johnston; he renounced Episcopacy on account of its countenance to Popery 12th July 1670; being cited before the Commissioner, he was confined to his lodging in Edinburgh, but on 14th Jan. the Privy Council found that he had broken his confinement and having preached at his kirk of Caerlaverock, they ordered his appearance again on the 28th under pain of rebellion. He was accused at the Diocesan Synod 22d Oct. 1674 of holding a conventicle at Crawford. After this he submitted, took the Test in 1681, and got a benefice at Culter in 1686.-[Wodrow's Hist., Hist. Gen. Ass. 1690.]

1671. JOHN BIRNIE, trans. from Carluke, pres. by John, Earl of Nithsdale, 20th March, and by Will., Earl of Queensberry, 20th April, and coll. soon after. He obtained a favourable decision on a question regarding vicarage 13th Feb. 1680. In 1686 he was called to London with Alex., Archbishop of Glasgow, and consulted by John, Viscount Melfort, Secretary of State for Scotland, as to the propriety of repealing the penal statutes, and had the offer of a Bishopric, which he declined. He purchased the lands of Almornes 14tb March 1688, and on the 22d those of Broomhill and Floors. In Sept. and Oct. following his house and church were searched by a party of dragoons for arms and ammunition, under suspicion of concealment. In Dec. after he was outed by the people for not praying for their majesties William and Mary, retired to Edinburgh in 1690, and in 1693 to his property of Broomhill, where he died 17th May 1716, in his 74th year and 51st min. He was of good learning, well skilled in divinity, law, physic, and history, of tall stature and fair complexion. His conduct was exemplary, and being of a pious and charitable disposition, lie allotted for many years the tenth of his income to the poor, and notwithstanding his deprivation of benefice, provided his wife in a good jointure, and a handsome allowance in money. He had an annual rent of iiij^m merks from certain lands in the par. of Douglas, and left in MS. four practical essays, moral and divine, which remain unpublished, and bequeathed j' li to the poor, at or soon after his funeral. While under his protection, a herd-laddie was reared, Dr John Hutton, whose singular and prosperous history, and benefaction in 1708, have tended so much to the comfort of the native par. poor, the maintenance of education, and the perpetuation of his name in the district. Mr B. marr., 4th Feb. 1668, Jean, second daugh. of James, Bishop of Galloway, whose charitable and kind offices proved her to be " a woman full of good works," and had John, who succeeded to the estate, William and Robert, both surgeons, James, a sailor, Mr Alexander an advocate, and Isobel, who marr. George Muirhead of Whytcastle.[Fam. of Broomhill, Fountainhall's Dec. i., Reg. Sasines (Lanark), Min.-book Reg. Priv. Seal, MS. Acc. of Min. 1689, Test. Reg. (Hamilt.), Anderson's House of Hamilton, Sinclair's vi., and New St. Acc. iv., &c.]

1688. ROBERT PATOUN, A.M., attained his degree at the Univ. of Edinburgh in 1681, called in April, and ord. (in the meeting-house) 4th Sept. 1688; trans. to Dumfries (2d Charge) 28th Jan. 1696.-[Reg. Laur. Univ. Edin., Presb., and Syn. Reg.]

1697. JOHN SOMERVELL AM., graduated at the Univ. of Edinburgh in 1681, and studied theology at the Univ. of Glasgow, called in Feb., and ord. 6th April; in Oct. 1715 he was authorized by the Lord-Lieutenant of the county to take off the back-bridge of the Isle, and to keep a constant guard of the inhabitants of the parish at the Bankend-bridge so as to prevent communication between the Papists in the lower part of Galloway and the rebels in