PRESBYTERY OF DUMFRIES p. 590

and inst.; deposed 3d Nov. 1656, for a great number of imprudencies, and for reviling his brethren, while he protested the Presb. was malicious-[Reg. Laur. Univ. Edin., Sec. Sigill, and Pres., Commiss. to Ass. 1638, Wodrow, and Macfarlane MSS., Presb. Reg., Acts Parl. vii., and MSS.]

1657. GABRIEL SEMPLE, A.M., second son of Sir Bryce S., of Cathcart, attained his degree at the Univ. of Glasgow in 1653, called 28th April, and adm. 26th May 1657; deprived by the Acts of Parliament 11th June, and of Privy Council 1st Oct. 1662. He offered to continue if his parishioners would run hazard along with him, but none offering to do so, he began the field-preachings, or conventicles as they were termed, on his being thrust out, and had letters directed against him by the Privy Council in Jan. 1666. He was engaged in the rising at Pentland, but was included in the Act of Indemnity 1st Oct. 1667. In 1674 a reward of 1400 sterl. was offered for his apprehension, and so inimical was he to the government that he was excepted from the declaration of pardon. Still continuing his course of itinerant preaching in Scotland, visiting also Ireland and the northern counties of England, where for some time he occupied the church of Ford, he was declared a traitor 6th Feb. 1679. He did not, however, join the extreme party who separated from those who heard the indulged ministers. After numerous escapes he was seized in the house of his nephew at Blackcastle in July 1681, but liberated in Oct. following, on granting a bond for compearance when called, under a penalty of xm merks, L.555, 11 sh. 13 d. sterl. He was called some time afterwards, but instead of giving obedience he withdrew to England, and remained tilt the death of Charles II. -[Mun. Univ. Glasg. iii., Presb. Reg. Macfarlane MSS, Edin. Chr. Inst. xxiii., Kirktow, and Wodrow's Hist., &c.]

16-. ------- STARK, trans. to , " a very vicious man."-[Macfarlane MSS., ,Symson's Galloway.]

1676. ALEXANDER SANGSTER, A.M., trans. from Cumbray; outed by the people at the Revolution, and by the Act of Parliament restoring the Presbyterian ministers. His spouse, Margaret Charters, died at Dumfries 15th June 1694.-Test. (Dumf.), Dumf (Bur.), and Edin. Reg. (Marr.), Macfarlane MSS., MS. Acc. of Min. 1689.]

1689. GABRIEL SEMPLE, A.M., above mentioned, returned in 1689, was restored by the Act of Parliament 25th April, included in the Act rescinding forfeitures 4th July, a member of Assembly, and trans. to Jedburgh 29th Oet. 1690.-[Presb. Reg., Reg., and Hist. Gen. Ass. 1690, Acts Parl. ix., Macfarlane MSS., Aew St. Acc. iv., &c.]

1693. WILLIAM ENGLISH, called in April, and ord. 7th Sept.; trans. to Kilspindie 15th March 1698.-[Presb. Reg., Acts of Ass. 1698, Macfarlane MSS., &c.]

1699. JAMES HILL, A.M., son of John H., in Dryburgh, descended from the family of Hillsland in Roxburghshire, had his degree from the Univ. of Edinburgh 13th July 1691, was bursar to the Presb. of Earlston from Martinmas 1692 to Whitsunday 1693, called in March, and ord. 30th May 1699; died 6th April 1743, in 67th age and 44th min. He was "a man of piety and considerable parts, but much under the influence of melancholy; careless of the world, and distressed by afflictions of body and mind." He marr. 29th April 1701, Agnes, daugh. of James Muirhead, late bailie of Dumfries, and bad thirteen children, of whom James was a surgeon in Dumfries, and a daugh. marr. Dr. James Callender.-(Presb., Syn., Stow Sess.,