COCKBURNSPATH,

anciently

COLBRANDSPETH.

[Originally a chapelry of Oldham-stocks, which, with Abbey St Bathans and part of Coldingham, embraced the entire area of the parish prior to the Reformation. Aldcambus was added about 1610.]

1567 JOHN WALLACE, exhorter.

1574 DAVID HUME, min. of Oldhamstocks, had Cockburnspath under his charge in 1574, with Thomas Harlaw as reader.

1608 JOHN LAUDER, min. of Aldcambus in 1607; trans. and adm. 1608; died before 22nd May 1627. He marr. (cont. 26th March 1612) Janet, sister .of George and James Paterson in Wester Shiells (Reg. of Deeds, ccvi., 413). — [Reg. Sec. Sig; Booke of the Kirk, Calderwood's Hist., Arnot's Criminal Trials.]

1627 GEORGE SYDSERFF [SYDSERF], fourth son of William S. of Ruchlaw and Eupham, daugh. of William Hay of Bara (Hays of Linplum); M.A. (Edinburgh 1616); formerly of Campvere, to which he had been appointed in 1625; pres. to Ayton by Charles I. 26th Jan. 1627, but did not enter; pres. to this parish 22nd May same year. An Act of Parliament was granted in his favour, respecting the stipend, 28th Jan. 1633. He was app. a member of the Court of High Commission, 21st Oct. 1634, and was deposed 7th Jan. 1639, for "contempt of his Presb., declining the Assembly 1638, erroneous doctrine, tyrannical conduct in compelling his parishioners to conform to the Articles of Perth, and appealing to His Majesty," who caused a letter to be directed to the Presb. "inhibiting them to admit onie person to the ministry there, and commanding them to authorise and repossess Mr. George in his place, at least not to hinder him to do onie ministerial duty there." He marr. Mar­garet Hamilton (G. R. Sas., xlii., 268), and had issue—Archibald, eldest

(ibid., xliii., 481), apprentice to Matthew M'Kell, apothecary, 24th April 1661; Eupham, on Charity Roll, July 1680 (marr. Thomas Row, writer); John, apprentice to Thomas Fairholm, 25th March 1657, merchant, Edinburgh (P. C. R., 3rd series, iv., 26, 4th March 1673); William, writer in Edin­burgh (Berwick Sas., i, 371; P. C. R; 3rd series, i., 697); Alexander, apprentice to William Burnet, surgeon, 28th June 1665. Sydserff was brother of Archibald 8., merchant, Edinburgh, and was served heir to John, son of John Sydserff of Quarrellsyd.—[Reg. Sec. Sig.; Acts Parl; v., vii.; Maitland Miscell., ii.; Wodrow MSS.,. Baillie's Lett., Stevenson's Hist.; Inq. Ret. de Tut., 595; Dempsterii Eccl. Hist., Sydserff Family Tree, Edinburgh Apprentice Reg.}

1640 JAMES WRIGHT, M.A.; regent in the Univ. of Edinburgh; adm. 4th Dec.  1640; pres. by Charles I. 15th Nov. 1641. He was obliged to leave the parish from 23rd July 1650 to 12th Oct. 1651, in consequence of Cromwell's army being in the neighbourhood; died 17th Nov. 1656, aged about 50. — [Edin. Counc. Reg., Craufurd's Univ. Edin., Acts of Ass., Baillie's Lett.]

1657 RICHARD CALLENDER, M.A.; adm. 28th Oct. 1657; pres. by Charles II.  4th Oct. 1662; coll. 15th Jan. 1663; trans. to Falkirk, where he succeeded his uncle same year.—[Reg. Sec, Sig. and Collat.; Inq. Ret. Gen., 5622.]

1663 GEORGE POLLOK, M.A. (Glasgow 1644); min. of Abbey Sfc Bathans 1650; pres by Charles II. 4th June, trans. and inst. 2nd Nov. 1663; died l7th June 1671, aged about 47.  He marr. Euphan Sibbald, and had issue—Alex­ander, bursar of the Presb. 27th Nov. 1677. — [Min.-book Reg. Priv. Seal.]

1671 DAVID STIRLING of Branxton, M.A., formerly of Greyfriars, Edinburgh; pres. by Charles II. 29th June, and coll. after 27th Sept. 1671; deprived in 1681 for refusing the Test. In 1689 he became min. of Eyemouth.—[Reg. Sec. Sig.]