BALMAGHIE p. 699

When attending a funeral, his predecessor and opponent struck at him, in which assault he was assisted by his wife, and many other women, who cried "kill the dog," so that he escaped from their hands with difficulty. On another occasion, 9th Dec. 1713, when his friends went to plough the glebe for him, the followers of his rival arose against them, cut the reins in pieces, turned the horses adrift, and threw the plough-share into the adjoining lake. Violence was also threatened towards his person, and even attempted by an infuriated female, who, in striking at his throat with a reaping hook, cut one of his fingers to the bone, while his hand was uplifted to save greater injury. A letter was forwarded to the Lord-Justice Clerk and Solicitor-General a few days after stating the fact. No criminal prosecution followed, but M'Millan retired. Mr M'Kie, by prudent conduct and faithfulness in the discharge of his duty, however, overcame all opposition, and lived useful and respected till his death, 10th Feb. 1763, in his 84th year and 53d min. He marr. 22d Nov. 1714 May, daugh. of Nathaniel Gordon of Carleton, Esq. She pre-deceased him, and had five sons (two being in the ministry at Crossmichael and Balmaclellan), and four daughters.-[Presb., and Syn. Reg., Tombst., Wodrow's Anal., and Corresp., Acts of Ass., Sinclair's xiii., New St. Acc. iv., Mackenzie's Galloway ii., &c]

1764. DAVID BLINSHALL, A.M., got his degree at the Univ. of Edinburgh 17th April 1745, pres. by William M'Ghie of Balmagie in Aug. 1763, and ord. 3d May succeeding; died 23d July 1767, in 4th min.-[Edin. Grad., Presb., and Syn. Reg., &c.]

1768. SAMUEL MARTIN, son of John M., schoolmaster of Anstruther-Easter, born 7th July 1740, licen. by the Presb. of Dalkeith 3d Aug. 1762, ord. 29th Sept. 1768; trans. to Monimail 24th Sept. 1776.-[Anstruther E. Sess., Presb., and Syn. Reg., &c.]

1777. PHILIP MORISON, A.M., trans. from Dunscore, pres. by the tutors of John M'Ghie, Esq. of Balmaghie, in Feb., and adm. 3d June; he got a church built in 1794, and died 1st April 1812, in his 83d year, and 56th min. He marr.11th May 1761, Helen Rattray, and had a son and a daughter, but all the three died before him.-[Presb., and Syn. Reg., Tombst., Sinclair's xiii., and New St. Acc. iv., &c.]

1804. JAMES HENDERSON, studied at the Univ. of Glasgow, where he obtained a prize in the Ethic class 1st May 1788 for the best Essay on the Summum Bonum, licen. by the Presb. of Dornoch 20th June 1797, became amanuensis to George Dempster of Dunnichen, Esq., was Ares. by Thomas Gordon, Esq. of Balmaghie in April, and ord. (assist. and suc. 18th Oct. 1804; and died 21st Jan. 1839, in 76th age and 35th min. "His ambition rose no higher than that of a parish minister. He aspired to no distinction in literature or science. He had no turn for intrigue or faction. He looked on political agitation, whether in ecclesiastical or civil affairs, with calm contempt. He was a pattern of simple, homely, unpretending sustained piety and virtue; a sober, serious, honest, devout man, discharging the humble but important duties of his calling, with fidelity, modesty, and cheerfulness; ambitious of no honour but that of serving God, courting no approbation but that of a pure and clear conscience; pursuing with a firm step, surveying with a serene eye, and seeking out with an earnest heart, that path which winds through this valley of the shadow of death, and ascends to the gates and flowers of Paradise."-[Presb., and Syn. Reg., Williamson's Fun. Serm., &c.]