NORTH BERWICK AND

THE BASS.

[The church was dedicated to St Andrew, and previous to the Reformation belonged to the Cistercian nunnery at North Berwick, which was dissolved by Act of Parliament, 16th Dec. 1597. The Bass, dedicated to St Baldred (who is said to have died there, 6th March 606), was united to North Berwick in 1581. A curious remnant of old ecclesiastical privilege still exists twelve solan geese with the feathers on being annually paid to the minister of North Berwick as "Vicar of the Bass."]

1567 JOHN YOUNG, having also charge of Gullane and Aldhame in 1567; trans. to Duns in 1568.-[Reg. Min.]

1568 PATRICK CREECH, min. of Ratho in 1565; adm. 1568, and dep. Nov. 1568; reponed March 1572, and adm. to Haddington as reader of the prayers, " if he and the town could agree." He marr. Marion Clarkson (A. and D., Iv., 74).-[Reg. Min., Bannatyne’s Journal.]

1571 THOMAS MAKGHIE, adm. May 1571. In 1574 the Bass and Whitekirk were under his care; trans. to Dirleton before 1576. -[Booke of the Kirk, Wodrow Miscell.]

1576 THOMAS GREIG, min. in 1576, when Whitekirk, Aldhame, and the Bass were in the charge. He was pres. to the parsonage of the Bass by James VI. 16th Dec. 1581, and to North Berwick by John Home of North Berwick in Jan. 1587, being inst. 11th Feb. of that year. He was grieved at the spiritual indifference of many of his parishioners, who "attended not the sermon in the afternoon," while " the Sabbath was prophanit by pyping and dancing''; he was forbidden by the Presb. (5th Aug. 1601) to proclaim Lord Angus's son, and on his Lordship complaining, it was stated that his son was only thirteen years of age; died in Oct. 1603 He marr. (name of his wife unknown),

and had issue-Alexander, min. of Drumelzier; Elizabeth (marr. Patrick Carkettill, min. of Humbie); Margaret (Reg. of Deeds, cxcix., 361).-[Reg. Assig., Excheq. Buik, Booke of the Kirk, Calderwood's Hist.; M'Crie's Melville, ii.; Wodrow Miscell.]

1604 JOHN ADAMSON, M.A.; Ares. by Sir John Home of North Berwick 19th April 1604, and adm. shortly afterwards; trans. to Liberton in 1609.-[Crawfurd's Univ,. Edin., Reg. Assig., Calderwood's Hist.]

1610 THOMAS BANNATYNE, M.A.; trans.  from Castleton; pres. by James VI. 8th Oct. 1609; app. by the Synod, and adm. 25th Nov. 1610; trans. to Douglas after 27th June 1621. -[Calderwood's Hist.]

1622 MICHAEL GILBERT, pres. by James VI. His settlement was disputed, but eventually he was coll. and inst. 6th Feb. 1622. Dissatisfaction continuing, he was removed to Garvock in 1628. - [Reg. Sec. Sig.; M'Crie's Melville, i.]

1628 HENRY AICKINHEAD [AITKEN. HEAD], born 1602, second son of David A., merchant, burgess of Edinburgh (Reg. of Deeds, cccclx., 72); M.A. (Edinburgh, 27th July 1622); pres. by Charles I. 2nd March, and inst. 5th Oct. 1628; died before 16th Feb. 1649. He left a silver cup for the Communion. He marr. (1) Elspet (cont. 18th and 21st June 1631), daugh. of Patrick Hepburn of Smeaton (Reg. of Deeds, cccclx., 72): (2) Anna Ker, who lied about 1689, and had issue Archibald; David, died before 1664 (Reg. Mag. Sig., x., 434; G. R. Inhib, 14th Dec. 1664); Helen (marr. Archibald Riddell, min. of Trinity Parish, Edinburgh); Isobel (marr. James Rigg, merchant, burgess of Edinburgh). -[Reg. Sec. Sig., and Old Dec., ii., iv.]

1649 ARCHIBALD TURNER, M.A.; trans. from Borthwick, and adm. 18th Dec. 1649; trans. to Old Kirk Parish, Edinburgh, 15th Nov. 1662.--[Reg. Sec. Sig. and Collat.]