1733.—FANNERS FOR THE HEUGH MILLS.—“John Durie, the
town’s sub-tennant of the heugh mills complains to the
town council of the great loss he sustains for ‘want
of wind’ to dight his shealing, accasioned by ‘the
braes of Shealing Hill being all planted at and by
west of ye said milnes with trees.’” The council
agreed to contribute twenty-four pounds “to help John
to erect his fanners.” (Burgh Rec., Jan. 1733; also
An. Dunf. date 1729.)
BELL-HOLES SQUNDING
BOARDS.—“William Inglis and George Walls informed the
council that they had bought timber and put on the
sounding-boards on the Steeple, and laid the loft
above the bells. Cost £113. 9s. 8d. Scots.” (Burgh
Records, 23rd March, 1733.)
WHEAT was first
grown in this district at the Gellet. (Vide Cham.
Jour., No. 88, Sept. 1835.)
TOWN OFFICERS’
LIVERY.—“The council agreed to furnish each of the
Town Officers with a big coat Bearing ornaments of Red
and Whyte, being the Town’s Livery, and that the
Officers put on the said coatts at all times, both
Sabbath day and Week day; and if any of them shall be
guilty of any malverse, for which they shall be
deprived of their office, that the Coatt be
immediately taken from him or them, and put upon such
person as the council shall choice in room of the
Transgressor.” (Burgh Rec., 28th March,
1733.)
GREAT SICKNESS
prevailed in the town in June, July, and August this
year, and a large number, both young and old, were
carried off by it.” (MS.)
PROVOST OF
DUNFERMLINE.—Sir Peter Halket of Pitfirrane was
re-elected Provost. (Burgh Records, 1st
Oct. 1733.)
THE AULD KIRK CLOCK
and New Crown Wheel.—“The council considereing that
the time agreed with Robert Bonnar for keeping and
taking care of the Clock Expyred at Michaelmas last,
they therefore called for Robert Bonnar when he
acquainted the council it was proper there should be
made a Crown Wheel of brass for the Clock in order to
make her go well. Which, being considered by the
council they agreed with him to make the same and to
pay him twelve pounds scots therefore, and sett to him
the keeping of the clock for six years to come at the
old rent.” (Burgh Records, 13th Oct.
1733.)
GREAT
THUNDER-STORM.—On the 27th October, 1733, a
great thunder-storm passed over the west of Fife. “A
wall of the old Abbey Choir, struck with the
lightning, fell; also a part of the old wall”
[In-below-th’-Waa’s]. (Old MS. Note, of date August,
1733; see also Sib. Hist. Fife.)
THE BAKERS’
WHEAT-MILL BUILT.—This mill, now a ruin, stands on the
west side of the overflow of water on Heugh Mill Brae,
70 yards south-east of the Palace wall. On a stone
near the foundation there is the date “1733.” The
ancient Shilling or “Sheeling” Hill was on “the brae
of the heugh,” a little to the east and north of this
mill.
1734.—“IN-BELOW-TH’-WAA’S” was ordered to be cleansed
and kept in proper order. (Burgh Records) In the
beginning of the 16th century, this passage
between the east end of May Gate and the New Row was a
narrow, “ill-kept foot-road,” and had then the name of
“the foul vennel.” Afterwards it was known as
“In-below-th’-Waa’s”—i.e., below, or at the foot of
the north wall of the Abbey Park. It is now three
times its former breadth, and dignified with the name
of “Canmore Street,” which name was bestowed on it in
1811.
THE WEAVERS’
FLAGS—The flags belonging to the incorporation of
Weavers were woven in the loom by James Blake,
damask-weaver, Dunfermline. The writer has in his
possession one of these flags, it consists of a large
sokid sheet of silk damask, on which perfectly
different patterns are woven on each side, and on this
account considered a great curiosity in weaving. On
one side there is a reed, a sword of the lay, a
rocking tree, two shuttles, two temples, and four
combs, with the words—
“For the Weavers of
Dunfermline. 1734”
and the Weavers’
motto—
“TRUST WITH
TRUTH”
and their ensign—a
Boar’s Head, with a Shuttle in its mouth. On the
other side, in the centre of the sheet, is a Lion
rampant, surrounded by a border of Scotch Thistles,
with a Crown at the head, and a St. Andrew’s Cross,
with the motto—
“NEMO ME
IMPUNE LACESSIT.”
CITY OF
DUNFERMLINE.—“30TH Sept., 1734: This day
the council elected and do hereby elect Patrick Black,
merchant, Dunfermline, to be Provost. Same day
Patrick Black demitted office, or rather would not
accept it, upon which the council unanimously elected
the most honourable John Marques of Tweeddale to be
Provost of this burgh till michaelmas nixt, and his
Lordship accepted of the character and office.”
(Burgh Records, 30th Sept., 1734.)
THE NETHER-GATE OF
THE ABBEY.—“The council, by petition from the
inhabitants of the Nethertown, ‘craving liberty to
open the wicket at ye nethergate of the Abbey Park for
their convenience,’ was granted, on the condition that
they should have a sufficient door on it or glacks and
uphold it,” &c. (Burgh Records, 23rd Nov.,
1734.)
JAMES YOUNG,
MERCHANT, DUNFERMLINE, Tried by the Regality Court
for Manslaughter.—Fernie, in his History of
Dunfermline, has the following notice of this
trial:--“James Young, merchant in Dunfermline, in
December, 1734, was indicted for bruising and wounding
Henry Wardlaw, son of lieutenant Patrick Wardlaw, and
being the occasion of the boy’s death. The jury,
consisting of fifteen, unanimously found the panel not
guilty. The depute baillies of regality on the trial
were Arthur Forbes of Pittencrieff, and Mr. Hugh
Forbes, Advocate.” (Regality Rec. of Dunf. Dec.
1734.)
LITERATURE—“The
Gospel Sonnets.”—The first edition of this work was
published towards the end of the year 1734 by its
author, Rev. Ralph Erskine, minister of the First
Charge of Dunfermline Church. It is entitled “Gospel
Sonnets, or Spiritual Song, in Six Parts,” &c. This
celebrated work has gone through about thirty tow
editions.
ABBEY WALL PARTLY
REMOVED.—That part of the north wall of the Abbey,
which stood between Abbot and Canmore Streets, was
removed in order “to get a nearer road to the new
Bleachfield.” (MS. Note.)
1735.—BLEACHFIELD
CANALS.—The council appointed several of their members
to oversee the building of “four canalls in the
Bleachfield wt stones on each syde and bottom, and
that the same be fallen about as soon as may be.”
(Burgh Records, 7th March, 1735.)
THE WEAVERS’
CALANDER HOUSE.—In the Burgh Records, 21st
March, 1735, “the Corporation of Weavers represent to
the council, that they having new built yr calendar in
the new raw, and placed some windows on ye south
gavill yr of by east ye corner of John Donaldsons
house, “ they therefore crave the council to recognize
these windows as their rights. The council, in the
meantime, refuse to sanction them in case Donaldson’s
heir might at some time enlarge his house by which the
weavers’ lights may be stopped, &c.
ROTTENROW PORT.—The
following appears to be the only notice on record of
the Rotten Row Port:--“3 May, 1735: The council
having several times visited the foundation of the
malt barn proposed to be built by Bailly Lindsay on
the north syde of the Rottenraw, and having this day
reasoned on the same. They allow the south east
corner of the malt barn to be built nine foot north
from the south pillar of the Rottenraw port, and the
south wall to run therefrom in a straight line a foot
by south the east corner of James Thomson’s byre, and
that the stair on the south side shall be only three
foot and an half by south the syde wall, and the
council ordain Bailley Lindsay to pay Matthew Keir,
thesaurer, a guinea for behoof of the community.”
Such like payments, which were “very rife” in those
days, do not always appear to have benefited “the
community.” This Port appears to have stood on the
street between the south end of North Chapel Street
and the north end of Randolph Street. It is likely
that it would be greatly damaged by the “overwhelming
fire of 1624,” and afterwards re-built, or “helped.”
(For other Ports, see An. Dunf. dates 1327, 1488,
1585, 1752, 1780.)
LITERATURE.—“The
Female Preacher; or the Woman of Samaria’s Sermon to
the Men of the City, by Rev. Ralph Erskine; printed
for David Duncan, foot of the West Bow, 1735.” This
production is a 16mo or 79 pp.
PROVOST OF
DUNFERMLINE.—“27TH Sept., 1735: Council of
the Burgh of Dunfermline, Holden within the Tolbooth
thereof by the Magistrates and members of the
council. Sederunt—The Most Honourable The Marquis of
Tweeddale, Lord Provost, presiding,” &c., when “the
council elected the most Honourable the Marques of
Tweeddale, Provost and James Crawford and David
Morison, Baillies.” (Burgh Records.)
A
COPPERSMITH.—Mungo Borland is mentioned in a MS. book,
this year, as being a coppersmith at the lower end of
the Heugh Mills. (Old Business Account.)
1736.—AULD KIRK
REPAIRS—“Rotten Laft,” &c.—“The auld kirk was again
under repairs in 1736, when a timber roof or awning
was erected along nearly the whole length of the
middle area of the kirk, a little above the stone
pillars.” This was done in order “to keep the
minister’s voice more into the kirk, and to be better
heard, and also to make the kirk more comfortable and
warm;” the date, 1736, was cut into several of the
cross-beams. The “laft” was removed in 1823; it had
the name of the rotten laft shortly after its
erection, as the whole fabric of the laft was
constructed of ratten deals, &c., or undressed
timber.
PROVOST OF
DUNFERMLINE.—It is not know who was Provost this year,
the Burgh Records for this date, and also for dates
1737, 1738 and 1739 having been long missing.
METEOROLOOGY.—According to a MS. Note, “the summer was
extraordinarlie hot and sulphry for above 3 months.”
WEAVING.—David
Mackie at this period “carried on the damask weaving
trade in Dunfermline, and had three looms employed,
which was then reckoned a large stock.” Mercer’s
Hist. Dunf. p. 164
1737.—REV. RALPH
ERSKINE, of Dunfermline, “first formally connected
himself with the Associate Synod,” which was
instituted in 1733.
PUBLIC RACES on the
Carnock Road established this year, “and ordained to
be run there annually at June Fair.” (Burgh Records.)
METEOROLOGY.—On the
fly leaf of an old book there is a written note by
W.B., stating that “this summer, like last one, was
extraordinarily warm in Dunfermline, and that the
lieges were greatly distressed for want of water, for
the Dam, the Back Burn, and Broomhead Burn, had been
dry for many weeks.”
SACRAMENT SUNDAY,
10TH July, 1737—Extraordinary Number of
Communicants, Length of Service, &c.—Fraser, in his
life of Rev. Ralph Erskine, extracts the following
note from his Diary:--“Sabbath, July, 10th,
1737—The sacrament was in Dunfermline, and I preached
half an hour before the action began, about half an
hour before 8 in the morning, upon Mat. Iii. 17. The
tables began to be served a little after 9 o’clock and
continued till about 12 at night; betwixt four and
five thousand communicants.” It would appear that the
above number and length of services were nothing
uncommon; such had happened yearly since about 1716
and continued so until the death of Rev. Mr. Erskine
in 1752.
PROVOST OF
DUNFERMLINE—Name not know, Burgh Records for this
date, &c., lost.
1738.—RELIGIOUS
CONTENTION.—“Much religious contention in Dunfermline
and locality at the beginning of 1738. caused by the
Secessionists and others.” (MS. Note.)
LITERATURE.—“A
Paraphrase or Explicatory Poem upon the Song of
Solomon,” by Rev. Ralph Erskine, published.
TRANSCRIPT OF
DUNFERMLINE ABBEY CHARTULARY.—Walter Macfarlane (of
the ilk), the eminent antiquary, during the year 1738,
made a transcript of the Chartulary (or Register) of
Dunfermline Abbey, which is considered to be a
faithful translation. On the death of Macfarlane, in
1767, it was purchased, along with other Abbey
transcripts, by the Faculty of Advocated, Edinburgh
and deposited in their library, where it may be
consulted. It has been much referred to by
antiquaries and others during the last hundred years.
PROVOST OF
DUNFERMLINE.—Name on know. Burgh Records for this
year lost.
ABBEY WALL.—“Agreat
part of the old Abbey wall, extending along the north
side of the Common Vennel (Priory Lane), fell in
December, 1738. It had been long in a very ruinous
condition.” (MS.)
1739.—SEVER
FROST.—According to an old MS. Note, the frost which
“set in about the middle of Dec. 1738, continued for
107 days, “ for it did not give way until March 29th
this year.” Dunfermline was “distressed for want of
pure water. The Dam and Clay acres loch on Pilmuir
swarmed with sliders, old and young and Curling was
brisk.”
SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR
ERECTING A SECESSION KIRK.—An Old MS. Note informs us
that “great discontent and irritation prevailed in the
town and parish in 1739, in consequence of the Rev.
Ralph Erskine, one of their ministers, being placed in
such an uncomfortable and unsatisfactory position. In
the month of March, this year, it was resolved, at a
numerous meeting of his adherents and kirk-session,
that a new kirk should be built in case their minister
should be deposed at the then forthcoming meeting of
the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland,” and
“to accomplish this, the town and country was ordered
to be canvassed for subscriptions to defray the
expenses of the building.”
Referring to this
matter, the Rev. Mr. Erskine has the following entry
in his Diary:--“April, 1739: About this time a libel
and summons were put into our hand from the
commission, to appear before the Assembly; and what
happened in this parish was very remarkable. Some
three weeks ago [end of March, 1739], upon hearing of
the libel, our Session, all except four or five, met
in order to contribute for a meeting-house, in case of
the Assembly’s sentence of deposition; and then they
went through the parish for subscriptions, and the
people generally and heartily subscribed, some less
and some more, according to their ability, and very
quickly made a considerable sum, which at present is
going on, this being the 17th of April. It
is expected that at least four hundred pounds sterling
will be gathered in the parish, even amongst the
poorer sort for the most part; and may that have given
declaring that, in case of need, they will give as
much again. This collection by subscription is so
universal that it is surprising and astonishing both
friends and enemies. Great and wondrous are thy
works, Lord God Almighty; and what am I that such
favour should be expressed towards me in this place!
Lord. Help rightly to improve this providence.” (R.
Erskine’s Ms. Diary, and Fraser’s Life of Ralph
Erskine, Pub. Edin. 1834, pp. 230, 231, &c.)
The sum ultimately
collected does not appear to be on record. It has
been said, however, that shortly before the end of the
year 1739 the sum of £1060 was collected, and that a
site was then purchased for the erection of the new
kirk. (See An. Dunf. date 1740.)
A PREACHING TENT,
erected for the Rev. Ralph Erskine, “in Clerk Wilson’
yard” (the ground now occupied by St. Andrew’s Church,
North Chapel Street.) Near at hand there was a large
barn, in which worship was frequently conducted in
inclement weather until early in June, 1741, when “the
New Church” was opened for him. (Fraser’s Life of
Rev. Ralph Erskine.)
ITALIAN VIEW OF
DUNFERMLINE.—An Italian View of Dunfermline from the
west, was published this year, entitled, “Ruine della
Badia de Dunfermling, in Scozia.” This is similar to
the French View of 1730; we have a copy of this print,
now a very scarce one.
CAUSEWAYS TO BE
REPAIRED.—The Maygate causeway ordered to be
“re-caused and raised;” and the causeway at the “East
end of the toun,” near the Town Green, also ordered to
be repaired. (Burgh Rec.)
COLLIEROW
MILLS.—The council, seeing that the Collierow Mills
were in bad repair, and in want of slates, ordered
Thomas Knox, their tenant, to repair and put them in
order at his own expense, and if he refused, to
prosecute him before the Regality Court. (Burgh
Records, 4th August, 1739.)
WATER.—“6th
Sept., 1739: This day the council considering how
profitable it would be for all the inhabitants if
clean water could be brought into town for serving
Leidges, and it is probable water may be got on the
foreside of grants bank, or the Witch Loan, order an
inspection and trial of these places.” (Burgh
Records.) The sites were tried without coming on
water.
SNUFF
MILL.—According to an Old Note, “Andrew Paton erected
machinery for grinding snuff, in a house below the
Corn Mill, on the west side of the conduit and water
fall.” This is supposed to have been the first snuff
mill in Dunfermline.
CHARLES, FIFTH EARL
OF ELGIN, died in his 77th year, and was
interred in Eastern or Pslater Churchyard of
Dunfermline.
PROVOST OF
DUNFERMLINE.—Lord Charles Hay (of Blansh), elected
Provost. (Burgh Records 1st Oct., 1739.)
DANGEROUS STATE OF
THE ROTTEN ROW.—James Thomson and Alex Wilson complain
that the great quantity of rubbish on both sides of
this street throws the water into the middle, and
being frozen, makes the street dangerous to pass on;
ordered to be inspected. (Burgh Records, 8th
Oct., 1739.)
1740.—GREAT SNOW
STORMS.—An old MS. informs us that during “the whole
of the month of Januar in 1740, Dunfermline was
visited by terrible storms of snow, and that where it
was drifted it was at least 24 feet deep.”
THE
PROVOSTSHIP.—“26th Jan., 1740: Which day
was laid before the council a letter to the Baillies
and Council from Lord Charles Hay, Provost, whereby
his Lordship declares his cheerful acceptance of his
office as Provost of this Burgh. (Burgh Records.)
THE SECESSION KIRK
FOUNDED.—Several notes inform us that “the new
Secession Kirk was founded in May, 1740, and that the
site purchased for its erection was in the south end
of a field on the east side of School End Street (now
Bath Street), and that the front wall and entrance of
the Kirk reached close upon the Row, called the Back
Syde” (now Queen Ann Street). Another note adds that
“the field purchased for the site extended to near
Pilmuir, which large purchase was for the purpose of
having a tent erected in it for the numerous hearers
who attended on sacramental occasions.” (An. Dunf.
1741; also Fraser’s Life of Rev. Ralph Erskine, p.
246.)
“ANCIENT SOCIETY OF
WEAVERS”.—The society called the Ancient Society of
Weavers was instituted early in 1740. (Mercer’s Hist.
Dunf. p. 143.) It became a friendly society in 1793.
THE REV. RALPH
ERSKINE, minister of the First Charge of Dunfermline
Church, was deposed on 12th of May, 1740,
by the General Assembly. (See An. Dunf. date 1742.)
NEW TANWORK.—“20th
Aug., 1740: Which day upon application from Samuel
ford shoe maker, craving a tack of two roods of ground
by east the baxters mill In order to set down a
tanwork; which was agreed to on certain conditions,
and the baillies warranted to sign the Tack on such
terms.” (Burgh Records.)
ELECTION OF DEACONS
OF THE INCORPORATED TRADES IN THE AULD KIRK—Fall of a
Gallery: Several People Hurt.—The following paragraph
is extracted from the Caledonian Mercury, 15th
Sept., 1740:--“We hear from Dunfermline, that the
trades being met in the church, in order to elect
their deacons, the loft in which they sat was so
crowded, that it fell down, whereby several were
crushed.” See also An. Dunf. date 1678.) The Auld
Kirk appears to have been a common place for holding
meetings of the incorporated trades, elections of
deacons, &c.
PROVOST OF
DUNFERMLINE.—“29th Sept., 1740: The
Councill Elected and hereby Elect The Right Honourable
Lord Charles Hay Provost.” (Burgh Records.)
PITTENCRIEFF
HOUSE.—This house, built about the year 1610, had a
third storey added to it in 1740. According to
several notes, this storey was built with stones from
the palace ruins; perhaps the entire house may have
been aided from the same source. (An. Dunf. date
1610.)
THE CROSS” being in
danger of falling down, the councill order it to be
repaired according to the report made on it.” (Burgh
Records 11th Sept., 1740.)
“BURGH OVER
COAL.”—“11TH Oct., 1740: This day the
council agreed to set the over coal to five of the
Colliers at half a crown each per week, and Eight
pence each of them more for paying the Coal Grieve.”
(Burgh Records.)
MEAL MARKET.—“25th
October, 1740: Which day the council taking under
their consideration the great loss the inhabitants
sustain threw ye want of a meall mercat,” &c., “the
council for remedie thereof resofved to build or
provide a proper place for a meall mercat.” (Burgh
Records.) “An apartment in the lower floor of the
tollbooth was taken for this purpose.”
THE DEARTH.—A
scarcity of provisions “began first to be felt in
Dunfermline about Nov.,” 1740. (Old MS.)
1741.—SHEELLED BEAR
BROTH.—“17th Jan., 1741: The council
considering that several persons are demanding sheeled
bear in order to make into broth, they order that four
or five bolls of the said bear dried and shealled, and
then the council will put a price on it.” (Burgh
Records.)
THE REV. THOMAS
GILLESPIE was ordained to the charge of the church of
Carnock on 22d January, 1741. (See An. Dunf. date
1752; Mackelvie’s Annals and Stat., p. 175.)
THE DEARTH.—“25th
April, 1741: The council considering that the
scarcity and dearth of victual continues, and that the
quantity of grain lately commissioned by the
Guilderie and brought to this place will in all
probability soon be disposed off, the council
unanimously agree to commission one fourth part of a
Loading of Victual.” (Burgh Records.) The vessel
called the “Success” arrived at Brucehaven on the 8th
June with the town’s order of victual.
THE NEW SECESSION
CHURCH Finished and Opened for Public Worship.—The new
Secession Kirk, “in the Backsyde” Row, according to
several Notes, was finished and opened for public
worship in June, 1741. “The kirk was about 80 feet in
length, from east to west, 50 feet from north to
south; 30 feet in height in front wall; the gable ends
from ground to peak of the roof, 50 feet; and had
sittings for 1100 worshippers. There were galleries
round three sides of the kirk,” and “they came so
close together that they terminated within a few feet
on each side of the pulpit in the south wall. The
roof was composed of close-set-together timber, which
was thoroughly covered all over with a deep layer of
pitch. On hot days the pitch softened, and
occasionally dropped down on the heads of the hearers,
to their great discomfort and annoyance. At the west
end there were ‘loupin-on-staps’ for the use of
equestrians in leaping on their horses.”
The following
engraving represents a view of this kirk from the
south-west, reduced from one made under the direction
of George Birrell, Esq., ex-Provost of the burgh, who
in his youth worshipped in this celebrated kirk, and
who pronounces this view to be a correct
representation of the original kirk:--
The above view may
be further described with the aid of our notanda,
viz.: “In the front, or south wall, were eight large
oblong windows, arranged in two storeys, three
circular ones in the upper storey, and three large
oblong entrance doors leading into passages. A few
feet within the middle door, near the south end of the
middle passage, stood the pulpit, which fronted the
north. The passage was wide where the pulpit stood,
the worshippers passing along each side of the pulpit
without inconvenience.” (Manuscripts.) Above the
lintel-stane of this door, figured the lettered stane,
a representation of which is shown in the engraving
below. “The south or front wall of this kirk was
built on ground about sixteen feet to the south of the
present iron entrance gates, while the north or back
wall stood oa few feet to the north of Mr. Erskine’s
statue. The west gable [shown in the view] reached
within six feet of the west wall of School End Street”
[Bath Streeet]. “It had four large oblong windows.,
similar to those in the front wall; also arranged in
two storeys, between the soles of the lower ones,
stood the loupin-on-staps. At the north west corner
of this gable there was yet, which led into the tent
parl.” The only relic of this structure in existence
is the lettered-stone which was built into the front
wall over the lintel-stane of the middle door. This
stone had lain long, “unheeded and unknown,” amongst
lumber in the lumber-place of the present church. It
has recently been placed against the wall, inside of
the west door. As it will be interesting to many of
our readers, we give a facsimile engraving of it:--
Probably this
inscription was written by the Rev. Ralph Erskine, and
may be rendered—
“Feed and provide,
O Christ, for thy flock scattered abroad. THE LORD
WILL PROVIDE. Ralph Erskine, Minister of God’s Word.
1740.”
(See An. Dunf. dates
1741, 1742, and 1800.)
REV. GEORGE
WHITEFIELD IN DUNFEMRLINE.—This celebrated “Methodist
Divine” preached his first sermon in Scotland from the
pulpit of Ralph Erskine, in Dunfermline, on 31st
July, 1741. Whitefield, in his Diary, referring to
this occasion, says:--“I went to Dunfermline
yesterday, where dear Mr. Ralph Erskine hath got a
large and separate, or as it is commonly termed,
Seceding Meeting-House. He received me very
lovingly. I preached to his and the town’s people—a
very thronged assembly. After I had done prayer, and
named my text, the rustling made by opening the bibles
all at once quite surprised me: a scene I never was
witness to before,” &c. This sermon would be preached
in the then recently erected meeting-house. On the
evening of August 1st, Mr. Whitefield
returned to Dunfermline, and preached in the “Orphan’s
House Park” (extreme end of East Port Street.) “Dear
Mr. Erskine accompanied me. I preached to many
thousands in this park. The Lord was there.
Immediately after sermon a large company, among whom
were some of the nobility, came to salute me.”
(Whitefield’s Diary; also Fraser’s Life of the Rev.
Ralph Erskine p. 328.)
MEETING OF THE
“ASSOCIATE SYNOD” WITH THE REV. MR. WHITEFIELD.--This
new body met in the house of the Rev. Ralph Erskine
(down a close, south side of the High Street, leading
down to the east end of the Maygate) by special
appointment, on the 5th August, 1741, to
mee and confer with the Rev, Mr. Whitefield respecting
his religious views, &c. The meeting took place.
Various versions have been given of this celebrated
meeting; but there can be no doubt that it “ended
rather unpleasantly.” (Fraser’s Life of the Rev.
Ralph Erskine pp. 329, 330.)
TIMBER STAIRS,
&c.—“15th July 1741: At a council meeting
held this day, Baillie Wilson stated that the whole or
most part of ye houses in ye town have had originally
timber fore stairs, and some with auderys without
stone pillars below, and yr can no instance be given
of any hereitor being restricted from building as far
out as their stone pillars, and in this wise ye was
not only stone pillars but a piece of side wall.”
(Burgh Records.)
PROVOST OF
DUNFERMLINE.—Lord Charles Hay, of Blansh, re-elected
Provost. (Burgh Records, 28th Sept.,
1741.)
