PRESBYTERY OF KELSO p. 466

Oct. thereafter; having been pres. to Gordon he demitted, which was accepted 7th March 1814.-[Presb. Reg.]

1814. WALTER MORISON, formerly of Gordon, pres. by James, Duke of Roxburgh in March, and adm. 12th May; died 29th Jan. 1844, in 37th min. He marr. Margaret Sutherland, and had Alexander, Thomas, min. of Methil, and Margaret, who marr. the Rev. William Atherton, a min. of the Wesleyan persuasion; their son, Sir William Atherton, rose to be Attorney General of England -Publication-Account of the Parish (New St. Acc. iii.), Articles in the Edinburgh Encyclopedia.-[Presb. Reg., &c.]

WHITTON-HALL

An old chapel occupied by the Presbyterians after the Toleration in 1687, until they obtained possession of the Parish Church.

1688. WILLIAM VETCH, A. M., youngest son of Mr John V., min. of Roberton, Lanarksh., born 27th April 1640, studied at the Univ. of Glasgow, where he held a bursary in 1653, and took his degree in 1659; he became governor or tutor to the family of Sir Andrew Ker of Greenbead at the Univ. of Edinburgh in 1660, and to that of Sir Hugh Campbell of Calder in 1663, which he was obliged to leave the year following on account of nonconformity. Living privately in the retired par. of Dunsyre, he joined the Presbyterians, took licence, and had many hairbreadth escapes from being taken prisoner during the persecuting reign of Charles II., assuming for a time the feigned name of Johnson, and becoming chaplain to a lady of that name, wife to the mayor of Newcastle. He preached at London and various places, till he settled in the par. of Rothbury, Northumberland, was ordained in 1671, and occupied a sort of Meeting-house at Fala-lees, then at Harnam-ha11 for four years, whence he removed to Stanton-ha11, in the par. of Longhorsly, till be was apprehended 19th Jan. 1679, and carried prisoner to Edinburgh, where it was intended he should be condemned to death on a former sentence of 16th Aug. 1667 for being concerned in the rising at Pentland (rescinded by Act of Parliament 16th July 1690), but it was changed to banishment 28th July following, so that he returned to his former residence, and continued preaching the gospel at various places as opportunity offered till 1681, when the Earl of Argyll made his escape from the Castle of Edinburgh, and reached his house, he safely conducted him to London, making at times ludicrous and marvellous escapes. After being in concert for a rising under the Duke of Monmouth, and making another fortunate escape, he reached Holland with his family; but when Monmouth's plot was going on, he was sent to Northumberland to raise forces on the border, where he was under hiding when Argyll was taken, and their plans brought to an end. After this he continued under hiding, and sheltered himself under several names, till he again got possession of a Meetinghouse at Beverly, where he preached for six or seven months. Returning to Scotland, he was called to Whittonhall 2d Nov. 1687, and entered in April 1688; he received three separate calls in 1690 to Crailing, Melrose, and Peebles, but was persuaded by the Earl of Crawford to