PRESBYTERY OF STRANRAER p. 768

Council, 26th of said month, and not liberated till Dec. 1678, when a sentence of banishment was pronounced against him. He and about sixty others were to have been sent to the plantations in Virginia, but he got free at London, and returned in June 1679, went to Ireland shortly after, returned to Ayrshire in 1680, went back to Ireland in 1682, returned in 1685, and after many hairbreadth escapes died in the house of his brother at Dikes, par. of Sorn, 28th Jan. 1686, aged upwards of 60. He was secretly interred in the family aisle at Auchinleck. After remaining there six or eight weeks his corpse was raised by the soldiery, taken to Cumnock, and buried at the foot of the gallows (now the parochial burying-ground), as that of a common malefactor. He was regarded by the populace in the south-west of Scotland as that of a, prophet of high rank. The prophecies so called, however, were not authenticated by him, and may have been exaggerated. His style of preaching may be partially excused from his want of opportunity for preparation, and the anxieties and fears by which his attempts at religious instruction were constantly surrounded; yet notwithstanding, his memory should be cherished as a determined and fearless supporter of religious and political freedom, as well as for his sincere and fervent piety, zeal, constancy, and sufferings.-Publications-The Lords Trumpet sounding an alarm against Scotland, by warning of a bloody sword; a sermon; Sermons XXXVIIl. XXXIX. (Howie's Collection); Extracts from a Sermon on Luke xxiv. 21 (Edin. Chr. Inst. xix.); Letter to Mr Patrick Simpson (The Bass Rock).-[Sinclair's xx., and New St. Acc. iv. v., Kirkton, Crookshanks, and Wodrow's Hist., and Anal., Reid's Ireland ii., Tombst., Walker's Life, Mun. Univ. Glasg. iii., Bass Rock, &c.]

Tradition states that the appointment of a minister was made to this parish, and the presentee on his way to it, but that he was killed by a fall from his horse, within a mile or so of the church. The spot is still pointed out.]

1694. WILLIAM KYLE, was a preacher in 1679, and imprisoned for keeping conventicles, but liberated l lth July of that year, on signing an obligation to live peaceably. He was received, on a testimonial from the Presb. of Glasgow, by that of Kirkcaldy 11th June 1691, came to the par. in May 1693, but was not ord. on account of the paucity of ministers till 10th Jan. 1694. He died 28th March 1710, in 17th min. He marr. 2d Jan. 1688 Susanna Wallace, and had a son William, and daugh. Jean.—[Wodrow's Hist., Sess., Presb., Syn., and Glasg. Reg. (Marr, and Bapt.), Bass Rock, &c.]

1712. THOMAS HAY, formerly of Anwoth, called 29th May, and adm. 13th Aug.; died between 16th Oct. and 20th Nov. 1722, in 27th min. He marr. a lady, who died in 1725, and had two daughters.-[Presb. Reg.]

1725. JOHN DIOKSON, A.M., born at Haddington 17th May 1693, obtained his degree at the Univ. of Edinburgh 17th April 1712, called 4th May, and ord. 8th Sept. 1725; died 5th Feb. 1770, in his 77th year and 45th min. He wrote verses to the memory of his co-presbyter Mr Anderson, of Kirkmaiden, and marr. Katharine sister of Mr James Tweddell, min. of Old Luce, she died 17th Nov. 1775.-[Edin. Grad., Presb., Sess., Kirkmaiden Sess., and Syn. Reg., Tombst., &c.]

1770. JAMES CADDELL, tutor in the family of Mr Campbell of Balachyle, licen. by the Presb. of Dunoon 18th July 1763, entered as assistant to Mr Hamilton Kennedy, min. of Ballantrae at Martinmas 1764, who parted with him on account of his " bad disposition," but on his threatening to continue, and being supported by the people, Mr K. had a libel drawn