KELLS p. 715

KELLS.

The church previous to the Reformation was one of the prebends of the Chapel-royal of Stirling. The parish was supplied by DONALD MURE, exhorter and vicar from 1567, and reader to 1580.

1636. JOHN DICKSONE, A.M., had his degree at the Univ. of St Andrews in 1617; died 19th May 1659, aged 60.-[Act. Rect. Univ. St. And., Commiss. to Ass. 1638, Dumfries Presb., and Test. Reg. (Laud.), Tombst., &c.]

1659. JOHN CANT, adm. after 21st Oct.; deprived by the Acts of Parliament 11th June, and of Privy Council 1st Oct. 1662. He was accused before the Privy Council 24th Feb. after, " of still labouring to keep the hearts of people from the present Government in Church and State;" on his appearing 24th March succeeding, the case was delayed.-[Blair's Autob., Wodrow's Hist., &c.]

1664. JOHN SCHAW, A.M., was laureated at the Univ. of Glasgow in 1661, he passed trials before the Presb. of Stirling, and was recommended 10th, and licen. by George, Bishop of Edinburgh, 16th June 1663, adm. before 25th Oct. 1664; trans. to Carnock in 1665.[Mun. Univ. Glasg. iii., Reg. Collat., Stirling Presb., and Syn. Reg.]

1665. ROBERT STEEL, licen. by George, Bishop of Edinburgh, 13th Sept. 1664, adm. before 31st Oct. 1665; he was allowed by the Synod 29th April 1669 to demit his charge, and for the purpose recommended to the Bishop.-[Reg. Collat., Syn. Reg.]

166-. JOHN CANT, above-mentioned, was indulged by the Privy Council 27th July; but fined by them, 10th July 1673, for not observing the anniversary of his majesty's restoration. He confessed having " contravened and broken several of the instructions " given to indulged ministers, 9th Oct., and was indicted to appear before the Court of Justiciary 22d Dec. 1684 for resetting rebels; the trial was deserted, but he was obliged, 17th Jan. thereafter, to give a bond that he should "live peaceably, and not preach."- [Wodrow's Hist., Orig. Confession.]

168-. JAMES BROWNE, A.M., obtained his degree at the Univ. of Glasgow 13th July 1669; outed by the people in 1689, and deprived by the Act of Parliament 25th April 1690, restoring the Presbyterian ministers.-[Mun. Univ. Glasg. iii., MS. Account of Min. 1689, Rule's Sec. Vindication.]

1689. JOHN CANT, demitted 14th May 1689; though restored by the foresaid Act. He did not take advantage of it, and being in indigent circumstances, it was agreed, 20th Oct. 1703, that each member of Synod should give him xxx s. He died between 17th Oct. 1705 and 29th May 1706.-[Syn. Reg., Wodrow's Hist.]

1691. ANDREW EWART, A.M., of Mullock and Drummore, eldest son of John E., Provost of Kirkcudbright, who was a sufferer in the persecuting times of Charles IL, had his degree from the Univ. of Edinburgh in 1679, called , and ord. in 1691; died 10th Jan. 1739, in 78th age, and 48th min. By his second wife. Agnes Grierson, heiress of Capenoch, he had two sons, one of whom, John, became min. of Troqueer, and four daugh., of whom Agnes marr. the succeeding minister.-[Syn., and Presb. Reg., Tombst., Wodrow's Anal., &c.]

1741. PETER YORSTOUN, licen. by the Presb. of Edinburgh 16th Oct. 1735, called 31st July