PRESBYTERY OF KIRKCUDBRIGHT p. 706

die in peace." He returned and preached again from his pulpit, but died shortly after, aged 75, in the assurance of heaven, rejoicing in the God of his salvation. He left a considerable sum of money to the poor of Kirkcudbright. Having been pains-taking and laborious among his people, he was generally held in great veneration, and yet was nick-named by some as "Fitch-cape, and Claw-poll."-[Wodrow's Hist., War Committee of Kirkcudbright, S. Presb. Eloq., &c.]

[1672. WILLIAM ERSKINE, A.M., formerly of Girthon, also indulged by the Privy Council 3d Sept.; whether he accepted this charge is doubtful, for he went to Teviotdale, and letters of intercommoning passed against him 6th Aug. 1675, and after being imprisoned three years at Stirling, he was liberated in Aug. 1679. He was again confined to Stirling-castle, and ordered to be removed to Blackness in 1682, after being confined there, and in other places, seven years, he petitioned the Privy Council 8th April 1684 for their compassion, and had their allowance to walk about the castle, and take the air with a keeper.-Kirkton, and Wodrow's Hist., New St. Acc. iv., &c.]

1677. JOHN GILCHRIST, was inducted by Mr John Welsh, formerly min. of Irongray, but was soon after ordered to Edinburgh by the Privy Council, as a prisoner, and dispossessed of the church, manse, and glebe.-[Wodrow's Hist., War Committee of Kirkcudbright.]

1684. PETER PEIRSON, A.M., formerly of Carmichael; being unmarried, and living alone, without a servant, furious against the Presbyterians, and inclined, it was thought, to Popery, implacable in his temper, and bold and. determined in manner, he was waited on by two of the discontented party in order to extort an obligation that he would cease from instigating the authorities against them. Being enraged at this, and arming himself with a sword and pistol, one of them (supposed to be James M'Michael) in bodily fear shot him dead at the manse in Nov. 1684, aged about 39. For this murder the Privy Council, l'lth Jan. following, ordered the parish to be prosecuted.-[Kirkton, and Wodrow's Hist., and MSS., Fountainhall's Diary, List of Disorderly, Rule's Sec. Vindication, Mackenzie's Galloway ii.]

168-. ALEXANDER STEPHEN, A.M., had his degree at the Univ. and King's College, Aberdeen 14th July 1674; outed by the people in 1689; he is said to have been of a scandalous life, a fighter, and a drunkard.-[Fasti Aberd., MS. Acc. of Min. 1689, Wodrow MSS.]

1690. ANDREW CAMERON, was a preacher and returned from Holland in 1687, called, and ord. before 15th April 1690; he was a member of the Assembly 1692, and was trans. to Kirkcudbright about 1693.-[Wodrow’s Hist., Syn. Reg., Reg. Gen. Ass. 1692.]

1694. JOHN REID, A.M., studied theology at the Univ. of Glasgow, and was licen. by the Presb. there 12th July 1693; died 18th March 1737. He marr. Janet Richardson, relict of William Galloway of Lipnoch; she died 31st Dec. 1730.-[Mun. Univ. Glasg. iii., Syn., Presb., and Sess. Reg., &c.]

1737. ANDREW REID, studied divinity at the Univ. of Glasgow, licen. by the Presb. of Wigtown 28th Aug. 1722, called to be assist. and suc. 17th Sept. 1736, pres. by Sir Thomas Gordon of Earlston, Bart., 6th April, and ord. 5th May 1737. It may be interesting to state the following, "Debursed at the moderation of the call, and at his ordination, as follows: