(Marr. and Bapt.); MS. Acc. of Min., 1689; Wodrow's Anal., i.; Sage's Works, i.; Rule's Sec. Vindication.]

1687 WILLIAM ERSKINE, brother of James  E. of Shielfield; M.A. (Edinburgh, 1st Aug. 1651); min. of Girthon in 1658; min. of Carsphairn in 1672; called 22nd July 1687; confirmed by the Town Council 24th July 1687; died unmarr. May 1692, aged about 61.-[Edin. Counc., Guild, Test., and Reg. (Bur.); S. Presb. Eloq.]

1695 WILLIAM CRICHTON, M.A. (Edin burgh, 26th July 1649); ord. (by the Protesting Presb.) min. of Bathgate 10th April 1654; Moderator of Assembly 15th Jan. 1692; trans. to Falkirk 23rd Aug. 1693; trans. and adm. 8th Sept. 1695; a second time Moderator of Assembly 2nd Jan. 1697; dem. 12th May 1707. "As a mark of respect for the vigilance, prudence, piety, and zeal with which he has performed his ministerial duties while free from sickness and infirmity, the Council granted him a yearly allowance of 1000 merks Scots." Died 27th Nov. 1708, in 78th year. He marr. and had issue (nothing is known as to his wife and children.)-[Edin. Counc. and Reg. (Bur.); Acts Parl., xi.; Warrick's Moderators.]

 1707 WILLIAM WISHART [WISHEART], born 1660, son of William W., min. of Kinneil; educated privately and at the Univs. of Edinburgh and Utrecht; M.A. (Edinburgh 1680). Returning from Holland, he was charged with denying the King's authority, and put into prison, 1684. Released the following year, he was called to be min. of the Meeting-house, near the Sheriff Brae of Leith (in which his father had ministered), and was ord. 12th Jan. 1688. In 1692 he removed to the Parish Church of South Leith, a step which met with much opposition from the Episcopal section of the community, who tried by force to prevent him and his friends from gaining possession of the church (vide South Leith). He was Moderator of Assembly 4th April 1706, and on 12th Oct. 1707

was adm. to this charge. He was a second time Moderator of Assembly 30th April 1713, a third, 14th May 1718, a fourth, 14th May 1724, and a fifth, 2nd May 1728; Principal of the Univ. of Edinburgh (which he held in conjunction) 6th June 1716; D.D. (Edinburgh, 31st Dec. 1728); died 11th June 1729. Bell of Gladsmuir described him as "a godly, grave person, a sweet and excellent preacher, whose life being of a piece with his preaching, he made almost as many friends as there were persons known to him." He marr. 15th March 1691, Janet (died 30th June 1744), daugh. of Major William Murray, of Touchadam family, and had issue-William and George, both his successors. Publications-Many single Sermons (Edinburgh, 1701-31); A Discourse of Suppressing Vice (Edinburgh, 1702); Theologia, or Discourses of God, 2 vols. (Edinburgh, 1716); Sermons on the Lord's Supper (Edinburgh, 1721); A Short and Impartial State of the Case of Mr John Simson, as it comes before the General Assembly of 1729 (anon., London, 1729). [Edin. Counc, Prestonpans Sess., Test., and Reg. (Bur.); Wodrow’s Anal., iii., iv.; Warrick's Moderators, Grant's Univ., Advocates' Lib. Catal.]

1730 GEORGE WISHART, son of preceding; educated at Univ. of Edinburgh; M.A. (27th May 1719); licen. by Presb. of Edinburgh 27th April 1725; ord. to St Cuthbert's, Edinburgh, 24th Nov. 1726; called 31st March; trans. and adm. 23rd July 1730; app. by the Commission of Assembly, 9th Nov. 1743, to go with Robert Wallace (New North Church) to London to make application to Parliament for getting an Act to provide for the widows and children of ministers. In this they succeeded, and were "thanked for their faithfulness and diligence" by the Assembly, 15th May 1744; principal clerk of Assembly 21st May 1746; Moderator 12th May 1748; D.D. (Edinburgh, 13th March 1759); one of His Majesty's Chaplains in Ordinary; Dean of the Chapel Royal July 1765; died 12th June 1785, aged 82. He marr. 6th Dec. 1727, Ann (died 17th Nov. 1782, aged 72), daugh. of