PRESBYTERY OF KELSO p. 474

LEMPETLAW.

The church previous to the Reformation belonged to the Trinity College Church, Edinburgh. The parish has for a long period been united to Sprouston.

STITCHELL.

Previous to the Reformation the church belonged to the Abbey of Coldingham. It was supplied by WILLIAM HUDE, reader, from 1574 till he was "deprivit 1st May 1577, and JOHN FAIRBAIRN, from 1578 to 1591.

1600. JAMES FRENCHE, A.M., trans. from Home, pres. by James VI. 5th May, continued 6th March 1605.-[Reg. Pres.] See HOME.

1613. DAVID COURTIE, A.M., was laureated at the Univ. of Edinburgh 30th July 1601, pres. to S. and Home by James VI. 31st May 1613; in 1627 the parish contained "four hundreth communicants, or thairby," with” no scoole nor foundation for ane," though” maist necessar thair sould be ane gif provisioun might be had." Mr C. died 29th April 1655, in his 84th year, and 42nd min. He had a daugh. who marr. his successor.-[Reg. Laur. Univ. Edin., Pres., and Assig., Presb., and Sess. Reg., Kirk Pap., Stat. Reports 1627, &c.]

1648. DAVID STARK, A.M., attained his degree at the Univ. of St. Andrews in 1631, ord. (coll. and suc.) in Sept. 1648. Conforming to Episcopacy he was pres. by Charles II. 17th Sept. 1663; demitted 1st May 1683, and died in March 1685, aged about 74, in 37th min. His books were estimat at j^c li, insicht and plenishing of the house lxvj li xiij s iiij d, Inventar and debts vij^c xxij li xiijs iiijd. He marr. before 27th Jan. 1649 Elizabeth Courtney, daugh. of the preceding incumbent, who, with her husband, had sasine of ane annual rent of xcij li furth of the kirk lands of Home 11th Nov. 1661, of which resignation was made 14th Nov. 1672.-[Act Rect. Univ. St. Andrews, Presb., Test. (Peebles), and New Gen. Reg. Sasines ii., Min.-book Reg. Priv. Seal v., Wodrow's Hist., &c.]

1683. ANDREW DARLING, A.M., graduated at the Univ. of Edinburgh in 1670, was long resident within the bounds, pres. by Charles II. in April, and ord. after 1st May 1683; deprived by the Privy Council 29th Aug. 1689 for not reading the Proclamation of the Estates, and not praying for their majesties William and Mary. He was deposed by the Presb. of Earlston 13th May 1692 for drunkenness.-[Presb., and Earlston Presb. Reg., Min.-book Reg. Priv. Seal v., MS. Acc. of Min. 1689, Peterkin's Constitution of the Church, Edin. Grad.]

1691. JOHN GLEN, called in May, and ord. 30th June; he was a member of the Gen. Assembly 1692, and died in May 1718, in 27th min.-[Presb. Reg., Reg. Gen. Ass. 1692.]

1719. JOHN GLEN, licen. by the Presb. 5th Aug. 1718; and pres. by the Presb. jure devoluto 2d Dec. following, and ord. 5th March thereafter; trans. to Edinburgh (New Greyfriars' Church) 14th Nov. 1732.-[Presb. Reg.]

1734. ALEXANDER HOME, eldest son of Mr George H., min. of Chirnside, licen. by that Presb. 27th July 17 31, pres. by George II.; and by William, Earl of Home-, in 1733, and ord.