(marr. 21st April 1729, William Brackenrig, M.A., preacher); Rachel; Christian; David (2) 6th Oct.1719, Marion Hay, relict of John Anderson of Dowanhill, Lord Provost of Glasgow.-[Test. Reg., Sime's West Kirk ]

1726 GEORGE WISHART, M.A.; called 14th July, and ord. 24th Nov. 1726; trans. to Tron Parish, Edinburgh, 23rd July 1730.-[Sime's West Kirk, Carlyle's Autob.  Wodrow's Anal., iii.]

1732 PATRICK WEDDERSPOON [some times called WOTHERSPOON]; educated at the Univ. of Edinburgh; M.A. (18th May 1725); ord. missionary to the miners (principally from Leadhills and Wanlockhead, with a few from England and Wales), at Sunart, now Strontian, by Presb. of Lorn, 22nd May 1729, from which he removed the following year. A meeting for a call was held 24th Nov. 1730, and he was pres. by George II. 1st .Jan. 1731. After much dispute and appeals to the Synod and Assembly, his settlement was appointed by the Commission 8th March 1732. At serving the edict on the 12th, by James Dawson (afterwards his successor), such a tumult arose that the City Guard was called out, commanded by Captain John Porteous, who afterwards met with such a tragic fate. Some of his men were so severely handled by the crowd that in self-defence they fired upon them, when several were severely wounded. When tried for his life after the riot of April 1736, Porteous, who maintained that he had then given no orders to fire, referred to what had happened at the West Kirk, when counsel for the Crown did not dispute his assertion that on that occasion the shots had been fired without his orders. On 30th March Wedderspoon's admission was completed (under protection of the civil law), to the grief of the other mins., by the Presb. and a committee of correspondents, James Burnett, min. of Lasswade, presiding. It was believed the injurious treatment Wedderspoon received hastened his death, which took place on the 12th May succeeding, in his 26th year. He had an unblemished character, and with the fortitude and resolution which belong to genuine principle, adhered to what he considered right,

in defiance of popular clamour. Publications-Sermons on Several  Subjects and Occasions, posthumous (Edinburgh, 1733).-[Mull Presb. and Argyll Syn. Reg., Sime's West Kirk; Acts of Ass., 1731, 1732; Wodrow's Anal., Trial of Capt. Porteous.]

1734 JAMES DAWSON, son of John D., min. of Langton; M.A. (Edinburgh, 9th Nov. 1722); licen. by Presb. of Duns 25th Feb. 1725; ord. to Langton 18th Aug, 1727; called 28th Dec. 1732; trans. and adm. 15th Feb. 1734; died 22nd Jan. 1735, aged about 33. Marr. (pro. 21st  May 1732) Jean, daugh. of John Keir, baker, convener of the Trades, Edinburgh. She marr. secondly, 14th March 1742, John Nisbet, writer.

1735 THOMAS PITCAIRN, son of David P. of Dreghorn and Mary Anderson; educated at Univ. of Glasgow; licen. by Presb. of Biggar 10th Sept. 1719; ord. to Lauder 29th March 1720; pres. by George II. 31st May, trans. and adm. 16th Oct. 1735. Like his colleague, he had the fortitude to pray for His Majesty on the Sunday immediately after the battle of Prestonpans, when the city was practically in the hands of the rebel party. During his incumbency a great revival of religion took place in the parish. He was a friend of George Whitefield, the West Kirk being one of the first places he preached in on the occasion of his visit to Scotland in Aug. 1741. He died 13th June 1751, having marr. Mary (died 8th Feb. 17 80), daugh. of Patrick Redpath, younger, of Byrecleugh, and had issue-James, succeeded his uncle Patrick Redpath in Gladswood, Berwickshire; Jean, died 9th Oct. 1807; William, physician, London; a third son, a major in the army, was killed early in the American Rebellion; and a daughter, Elizabeth, died unmarr. 28th June 1809.-[Sime's West Kirk, Carlyle's Autob. Hist. of the Rebell.]

1752 JOHN HYNDDIAN, D.D.; trans. from Colinton; pres. by George II. 30th Oct. 1751; adm. 20th Feb. 1752; trans. to Lady Yester's Church, Edinburgh, 26th Oct. 1761. - [Sime's West Kirk, Peterkin's Annals of the Church.]