OLDHAMSTOCKS, or

ALDHAMSTOCKS.

[The church was consecrated by Bishop David de Bernham, 19th Oct. 1242. Its chancel is a fine example of late Gothic probably fifteenth-century work.]

1547 THOMAS HEPBURN, "parson of Aldhamstocks."

1562  THOMAS HEPBURN, probably the above, natural son of Sir Alexander H. of Whitsome, and brother of Robert H., min. of Prestonkirk, was one of those " thought apt and able to minister " by the General Assembly 20th Dec. 1560. He was app. by the Assembly, 4th July 1562, to preach in the unplanted kirks of the Merse month about with Patrick Cockburn and David Lindsay. In 1567 he requested the services of John Craig (formerly of Holyrood House) in proclaiming Queen Mary's marriage with his relative the Earl of Bothwell; adm. Master of Requests 17th May. Two days after the marriage, in 1567, he received the famous Casket Letters on behalf of Bothwell, but was seized, and the casket and its contents taken from him. On the escape of Queen Mary from Lochleven, with twenty men he attempted to take Dunbar Castle, but was repulsed by the Earl of Home's men. In Aug. 1568 he was forfeited and inhibited from pursuing his ministry at Oldhamstocks, and on 24th Oct. 1576 the Assembly dep. him for heresy, he having taught that " no soul entereth heaven until the last judgment." He was min. again in 1578.-[Booke of the Kirk; Keith's, Row's, Calderwood's, and Laing's Hists.; Wodrow's MS. .Biog., ii.; Acts Parl., iii.]

1568 JOHN HEPBURN is mentioned as "parson of Aldhamstocks," 1568. [Miller's Dunbar.]

1569 DAVID HUME, trans. from Foulden,  and adm. in May 1569. In 1574, Cockburnspath and Aldcambus were also under his care; trans. to Aldcambus in 1580.-[Rey. Min. and Assig., Booke of the Kirk, Calderwood's MS. Hist.; Wodrow Miscell. and Biog., ii.; Melvill's Autob.]

1574  ALEXANDER LAUDER, reader.[Reg. JIin.]

1578 THOMAS HEPBURN, above mentioned, restored from forfeiture 1577; reponed and returned; died 7th June 1585. He marr. Margaret Sinclair (who marr. (2) l0th May 1587, Walter Hay, Provost of St Bathans), and had issue -Thomas, his successor; James [Bona- ventura], celebrated linguist, keeper of Oriental books and manuscripts in the Vatican Library, born 14th July 1573, died at Venice 9th Oct. 1620; Alexander, died 1600; John, apprenticed to Robert Auchmowtie, surgeon, Edinburgh, 22nd July 1595; Patrick, apprenticed to Archibald Mudie, apothecary, Edinburgh, 5th Aug. 1595; George, servitor to Mark, Lord Newbattle (Edin. Inhib., ix., 249); Margaret; Georgiana.-[Acts Parl., iii.; Inq. Ret. Haddingt., 10; see armorial stone in church wall, " T. H. M. S., 1581."]

1585  JAMES LAMB, reader at Tynninghame in 1576, and at North Berwick in 1578; trans. to Aldcambus before 1586.-[Reg. Assig.]

1586 THOMAS HEPBURN, son of the above Thomas H.; adm. 1586; had also charge of Aldcambus in 1593; dep. by the Synod, 2nd May 1599, for not submitting to its authority in a case of disputed stipend between him and John Lauder, min. of Cockburnspath. Restored in 1601, and a member of the Glasgow Assembly 1610; died 9th April 1629. He marr. Margaret Hepburn, and had issue-Alexander, regent in the University of Edinburgh; Joanna; Francis of Woolling, apprenticed 15th Jan. 1600 to Luke Wilson, skinner, Edinburgh; Thomas, apprenticed 15th May 1616 to Patrick Hepburn of Blackcastle, apothecary; Anne; Margaret (marr., cont. l0th July 1621, Patrick Home, portioner of West Reston: Milne Home Papers, 217); John; George.-[Reg. Sec. Sig., Booke of the Kirk, Edin. Presb. and Test. Reg.; Stat. Reports, 1627; Calderwood's Hist.; Inq. Ret. de Tut., 448.]