1700 JOHN TAIT, called 29th Nov. 1699; ord. 25th March 1700; died 11th April 1750. He marr. Jan. 1703, Katherine, daugh. of Thomas Young, merchant, burgess of Edinburgh, and had issue -William, his successor; Elizabeth (marr. 9th June 1730, John Bowie, min. of Dolphinton); Margaret; Isobel; Katherine; Thomas, died 1746; Janet.-[Edin. Reg. (Marr.), Pennecuik's Works.]

1751 WILLIAM TAIT, son of preceding; licen. by Presb. of Biggar 14th Jan. 1742; pres. by William Dickson of Kilbucho 4th Oct. 1750; called 29th May 1751; ord. 16th Oct. 1751; died 12th Nov. 1784. He marr. 26th Nov. 1760, Grisell Dick, who died at Peebles, 19th May 1809, and had issue-John, born 6th Oct. 1761; James, born 8th July 1764; Robert, surgeon, born 10th May 1767, died 1793; William, merchant, London, born 5th Dec. 1769; Elizabeth, born 1st Aug. 1771; Katherine, born 23rd Jan. 1774.

1785 WILLIAM PORTEOUS, son of John P., schoolmaster, Biggar; licen. by Presb. of Biggar 29th Aug. 1775; pres. by Capt. William Dickson of Kilbucho, and ord. 13th Aug. 1785; got a church built for the united parishes in 1804, to which he succeeded, in terms of Decreet of Annexation, 1810.-[Hunter's Biggar.]

COULTER.

[The church, dedicated to St Michael, belonged to the Abbey of Kelso. George Shoreswood, Bishop of Brechin and Chancellor of Scotland, 1456-60, was "parson at Coulter," 1449-50.]

1560 ARCHIBALD LIVINGSTONE.-[Orig. Par. Scot.]

1569 JOHN LEVERANCE [LAWRANCE], trans. from Douglas, and adm. May 1569; a witness at Dalkeith for the Earl of Angus, 10th Dec. 1574; returned to Douglas 1574. - [Reg. Min., Home Papers.]

1574 NINIAN HALL, min. of Biggar, Kilbucho, Lamington, Hartside, Symington, Coulter, with William Millar as reader at Coulter. [Reg. Min.]

1590 WALTER HALDEN, was pres. to Car stairs by James VI. 21st Feb. 1574, but did not enter on the charge. From 1576-86 he had charge of the parishes mentioned above, excepting Kilbucho; trans. to Wiston; dep. 7th May 1588 as "unworthie of his office." Being reponed, he was adm. to this charge about 1590, and died between 1594 and 1596.[Booke of the Kirk, Test. Reg.]

1596 THOMAS CAMPBELL, M.A.; min. in 1596; trans. to Biggar 1599.

1607 ROBERT SOMERVILLE, son of Patrick S. in Grein; M.A. (Glasgow 1600); min. of Dunsyre 1601-7; dep. 1607; adm. here same year; trans. to Barnwell, Ayrshire, 1615; returned 1616; died 14th Dec. 1635, aged about 56. He marr. (1) Barbara Menzies [possibly a mistake for Inglis]: (2) Barbara Inglis, daugh. of Inglis of Langlands Hill [Langley Hill], Broughton, and with her had sasine of the five-pound land of Over, Windy, and Nether Hangingshaw, 7th Dec. 1633, and had issue-James, who was served heir 1st Nov. 1642; Thomas; Katherine (Reg. of Deeds, ccccxci., 372).-[Reg. Assig.; Test. (Lan.) and New Gen. Reg. Sasines, iii.; Inq. Ret. Lanark, 210.]

1636 JOHN CURRIE, M.A. (Edinburgh, 25th July 1629); dep. 1653, but reponed by the Synod 9th May 1661. Being in reduced circumstances, he received pecuniary aid from some kirk-sessions. He marr. (name unknown), and had issue -Adam; Janet.-[Test. and Dunbar Sess. Reg.]

1654 ANTHONY MURRAY, born 14th March 1630, eldest son by second marriage of James M. in Burntisland; M.A. (St Andrews, 20th July 1650); adm. 18th Aug. 1654; deprived by Act of Parliament