PRESBYTERY OF WIGTON p. 732

1667. JOHN SOMERVELL, A.M., trans. from Kirkcowan, adm. before 22d May; trans. To West Calder in 1668.-[Syn. Reg., Clanahan's Discourses.]

1668. JAMES BELLIE, A.M., studied at St. Leonard's College, and took his degree from the Univ. of St. Andrews 28th July 1666, ord. between 29th April and 27th Oct. 1668; continued 18th Jan. 1681. He marr.. 10th Sept. 1671 Agnes, daugh. of Charles Thorntoune, one of the bailies of Forfar, and had two children.-[Act. Rect. Univ. St. And., Syn., and Forfar Sess. Reg., Clanahan's Discourses.]

168-. JOHN MURDOCH, A.M., attained his degree at the Univ. of Edinburgh 1st Nov. 1681, passed trials before the Presb. of Dalkeith, and got a testimonial 1st May 1684 for licence, outed by the people in 1689.-(Edin. Grad., 318. Acc. of Min. 1689.]

1700. ROBERT SEATON, studied theology at the Univ. of Glasgow, ord. 18tlr Sept. 1700; died 18th October 1744, in 80th age and 45th min. Jean Martin, his widow, died 8th Feb. 1765.-[Mun. Univ. Glasg. iii., Presb., and Syn. Reg., Clanahan's Discourses, &c.]

1745. ALEXANDER GORDON, licen. by the Presb. 18th Dec. 1738, called 18th July, and ord. 19th Sept. 1745, got a church built in 1752, but demitted 26th May 1760 (under suspicion of adultery), went to America, where he obtained a situation, and remained till his death.-[Presb., and Syn. Reg., Clanahan's Discourses, Sinclair's St. Ac. xvii.]

1761. JAMES LAING, A.M., a native of Abernethy, Perthsh., studied at the United College, and got his degree from the Univ. of St. Andrews in 1753, licen. by the Presb. of Edinburgh 5th Dec. 1759, recommended by Principal Robertson on the application of the heritors, ord. 16th July 1761, had D.D. conferred, and died 27th Jan. 1814, in his 82d year and 53d min. He marr. 1st, 17th June 1763 Sarah, daugh. of Andrew Ramsay, Esq., Provost of Glasgow; she died 30th Dec. 1803, aged 81, and had a daugh. Sarah, who marr. William M'Culloch, Esq., younger of Auchingool, and was mother of John Ramsay M`C., the celebrated writer on Political Economy; she marr. afterwards Dr David Dempster; 2dly, in April 1805 Elizabeth Gairden, who died 19th May 1813; 3dly, 2d Aug. 1813, Helen Conning, who died in 1867.-Publication-Solomon's Advice to the Gay and Prosperous considered-a sermon.-[Clanahan's Discourses, St. Andrews Univ., Presb., and Syn. Reg., &c.]

1813. SAMUEL CLANAHAN, son of James C. at Aireyleck, par. of Mochrum, barn 17th July 1779, educated at the parish schools of' Mochrum and Sorbie, studied at the Univ. of Glasgow and Edinburgh, licen. by the Presb. 1st Jan. 1805, became tutor in the family of Robert Hathorn Stewart, Esq. of Physgill in May 1806, pres. by George, Prince Regent in Jan., and ord. (assist. and suc. 6th May 1813; he got a new church built in 1836, and died 27th Feb. 1849, in 70th age and 36th min. "He was a man of few words; sententious rather than conversational, had a keen appreciation of what was humorous, or witty, and Dot unfrequently blended his own remarks with a mild and felicitous admixture of irony and sarcasm. He was fond of playfulness, and even bizarrerie, in others, through he himself might only make occasional remarks. In short, modesty and apparent diffidence, originating mainly in physical causes, were his leading characteristics." He marr. 14th Feb. 1814 Stewart, daugh. of Mr John William, of the India House, London, and had issue.-Publications-Discourses, Edin. 1.849, 12mo, Account of the Parish (1Vew St. Ace. iv.)--[Discourses, Presb., and Syn. Reg., &c]