PRESBYTERY OF PENPONT p. 668

Proposed to be erected by the General Assembly 1581, it was, however, a part of that of Dumfries till 1607, when the Presb. of Sanquhar appears. It is mentioned as Penpont 19th Sept. 1638, when electing members for the Assembly. The Record commences 31st Dec. 1690, and is contained in eleven volumes, having chasms from 24th April 1706 to 17th Feb. 1714, and 2d Jan. 1717 to 2d Dec. 1719.

PENPONT.

Previous to the Reformation the church belonged to the Abbey of Holywood. The parish was supplied with Cummertrees by JAMES TAILZEOCR, exhorter in 1567, and reader from 1574 to 1578.

1578. WILLIAM TAILZEOUR, had renounced the Popish religion, was vicar of Tynron, and entered as Exhorter there at Beltyn 1568, and was Reader there 1574 to 1576, in 1578 Tynron was also in the charge; continued in 1585, and was trans. to Glencairn in that or the following year.-[Reg. Min., and Assig., New St. Acc. iv., Wodrow Miscell.]

1604. WILLIAM OUSTANE, A.M., was laureated at the Univ. of Edinburgh 12th Aug. 1592, adm. in 1604 ; died 12th Dec. 1637, in his 77th year and 34th min.-[Reg. Laur. Univ. Edin., and Assig., Tombst.]

163-. SAMUEL OUSTIN, A.M., probably son of the preceding, had his degree at the Univ. of Edinburgh 25th July 1624; most likely he was colleague and suc.; was a member of the Assembly 1638, and also those of 1642, 1646, 1648, and 1649. He took the Protesting side of the Church in the unhappy division of 1651; in 1654 he was named by the Council of England as one of those for authorizing admissions to the ministry in Dumfries and Galloway. Refusing to submit to Episcopacy he was accused bf seditious carriage, and appeared before the Privy Council 23d Dec. 1662, by whom he was referred to His Grace the Commissioner (Middleton) that he may take such course with him as he thinks fit. He died 16th March 1669 aged about 63, in 39th min. He marr. 12th Aug. 1624 Elizabeth Alexander, in the par. of Falkirk.-[Reg. Laur. Univ. Edin., Kirk Pap., Commiss. to Ass. 1638, Wodrow MSS., Dumfries Presb., and Falkirk Sess. Reg., Nicoll's Diary, Tombst., Mem. of W. Veitch, Baillie's Lett., Balfour's Hist. Works iii., Wodrow, and Stevenson's Hist.]

1684. WILLIAM AUSTIN, or OUSTIN, A.M., graduated at the Univ. of Edinburgh 15th July 1650, not unlikely son of the preceding; ousted by the people at the Revolution, died before 1690, leaving issue Robert, Isobel, and Christian.-[Edin. Grad., Test. Reg. (Dumf.), MS. Acc. of Min. 1689.]

1689. JOHN ANDERSON, A.M., probably late of Terregles, (helper), ousted by the people at the Revolution. He is said to have been a scandalous swearer, and was also accused of being