1618 JAMES SIMSON, probably son of Patrick S., min. of Stirling; M.A. (St Andrews 1600); went to France; licen. on his return 1613; adm. to Tongland 1618; was a member of Assembly same year, and voted against the Perth Articles; a member of the General Assembly 1638; one of the visitors of the Univ. of St Andrews 11th Nov. 1641; died Jan. 1654. He marr. (1) before 1635, Bessie Kirkcaldy, widow of Henry Boswell, merchant, burgess of Kinghorn (G. R. Sas., xlii., 452): (2) Annabella Hay, and had issue-Margaret; Katherine (marr. John Scott, min. of Shotts).-[Test. Reg.; Reg. Old Dec., iv; Baillie's Lett., i.; Acts Parl., v.; Stevenson's Hist.]

1654 JOHN HUTCHESON, ord. 31st Jan. 1654; trans. to Maybole 18th April 1655.

1655 WILLIAM CRICHTON, M.A.; called 15th and 29th Jan. and 5th Feb., also to Strathbrock, 21st Feb., but preferring Bathgate; was ord. (by the Protesters) 10th April 1654. His ministry was inhibited by the Synod Feb. 1655. A process was raised for his intruding on Bathgate contrary to the order of the Church, and he was removed by the Synod after 16th Nov. 1660. He was indulged by the Privy Council at Beith, 3rd Sept. 16 72, but refused to accept; was min. again in 168 7.-[Baillie's Lett., Wodrow's Hist., Brown's Hist, of Indulg., Rep. on Ch. Patronage.]

1656 ALEXANDER KINNEAR, M.A.; trans. from Roberton; adm. 10th Dec. 1656; coll. 12th Nov. 1662; trans. to Hawick before 2nd Aug. 1663.-[Reg. Collat.]

1665 WALTER RIGG, M.A.; ord. and coll. 15th Sept. 1655. A glebe of four acres, with grass for one horse and two cows, was designed him 15th .April 1668. Dem. 19th Jan. 1670; [min. of Athelstaneford in 1682.]- [Act. Rect. Univ. St And., Reg. Collat.]

1672 WILLIAM MANN, a native of Avoch; M.A. (King's College, Aberdeen, 2nd July 1667); licen. by Presb. of Aberdeen March 1671; inst. 24th flay 1672; outed at the Revolution. He made a mortis causes disposition 21st Jan. 1708, recorded Edin. Com. Deeds, 13th allay 1709. He marr. 17th June 1675, Jean Miller.[Edin. Reg. (Marr.), Kirkton's Hist., Rule's Sec. Vindication.]

1687 WILLIAM CRICHTON, M.A., above mentioned; returned at the Toleration; opened a meeting-house at Hilderstone, and with three others formed a Presb. 30th Nov. 1687; was a member of the General Assembly 1690, and Moderator 15th Jan. 1692; trans. to Falkirk 23rd Aug. 1693.-[Reg. Gen. Ass., Peterkin's Constitution of the Church.]

1694 JAMES HOUSTON, called 18th July, and ord. 19th Sept. 1694; trans. to Kirkliston 26th Sept. 1716.

1717 THOMAS LAWRIE, M.A., chaplain to Shairp of Houstoun; pres. by Alexander Hamilton of Ballencrieff 11th Feb. 1717. A considerable opposition arose in consequence of the parishioners not having been consulted. At the service of the edict, 19th Nov., the minister employed had to be guarded into the town by a troop of dragoons, but L. was ord. 26th Dec. 1717; trans. to Benvie 20th Oct. 1731.-[Kid's Lett. concerning the Parish.]

1735 GEORGE BLACKWELL, born 1713, son of Thomas B., Principal of Marischal College, Aberdeen; educated at Marischal College 1722-6; called 4th Sept., and ord. 18th Nov. 1735; died 7th April 1749. "The best scholar and most spirited speaker I knew in his profession," says his brother, Principal Thomas B. the younger. He marr. Janet Alexander, who died 29th June 1788, and had issue - Thomas, buried in Blackfriars Churchyard, Glasgow, 29th April 1751;