120 THE TOLBOOTH [PRESB. OF
lains in Ordinary, and a Dean of the Chapel
Royal. He died 25th Jan. 1784. Though
strictly evangelical in doctrine, he was of
convivial and social habits, and withal so
popular and beloved that sittings in the
Tolbooth Church were not easily obtained,
which led one of the city functionaries to
observe, "it was easier to get a seat in the
kingdom o' heivin than i' the Tolbuith
kirk." Webster is said to have suggested
the erection of the New Town, Edinburgh.
He was enthusiastic in furthering the
civilisation of the Highlands by the pro-
mulgation of the gospel and the spread
of industry. He marr. 13th June 1737,
Mary (died 28th Nov. 1766), eldest daugh.
of Colonel John Erskine, brother of Sir
Charles E. of Alva, Bart., and had issue
—
John, born 31st May 1738 ; James, born
9th Jan. 1740; George, civil paymaster,
H.E.I.C.S., born 15th Oct. 1744, died in
Bengal, July 1794 ; William, born 21st Dec.
1750, died 9th Jan. 1767; Ann, born 22nd
Sept. 1752 (marr. Captain Eyre Robert
Mingay, of the 66th Foot), died 16th May
1786 ; Alexander, mate of the Dutton East
Indiaman, born 29th Sept. 1754, died on his
passage to India in 1782 ; Basil, born 8th
Aug. 1757, died 2nd Dec. 1759. Publica-
tions—Four single Sermons (Edinburgh,
1740-54) ; Divine Influence the True Spring
of the Extraordinary Work at Cambuslang
(Edinburgh, 1742 ; 2nd ed., with Postscript,
1742) ; Vindication of said Postscri]^
(Edinburgh, 1743); Calculations, with the
Principles and Data on which they are
Instituted, relative to the Widows' Scheme
(Edinburgh, 1748); Zeal for Civil and
Religious Interests (1754). He was author
of a well-known song, "Oh, how could I
venture to love one like thee."
—
[Scots Mag.,
xlvi., Ixiv. ; Webster's Mem., Morren'sAnn.
;
Douglas's Peer., i. ; Mackenzie's Life of
Home, Somerville's Life, Carlyle's Autob.;
Kay's Portr., i. ; Struthers's Harp of
Caled., i., ii. ; Diet. Nat. Biogi]
THOMAS RANDALL [DAVIDSON],
1>J8S
born July 1747, son of Thomas R.,
min. of Inchture ; educated at Univ.
of Leyden ; licen. at Rotterdam 14th June
1769; adm. min. of Inchture 21st Feb.
1771 ; trans, to Glasgow (Outer High) 18th
Nov. 1773; trans, to Lady Yester's, Edin-
burgh, 26th Nov. 1778 ; trans, and adm. 9th
June 1785; D.D. (Harvard Univ., Cam-
bridge, U.S.A., 1793). By the death (1794)
of his maternal uncle, William Davidson,
he succeeded to the property of Muir-
house, in the parish of Cramond, and
assumed the name of Davidson ; died 25th
Oct. 1827. He was an affectionate and
assiduous evangelical minister, and did
much to counsel and assist young men
studying for the ministry. He marr. (1)
29th Jan. 1772, Christian (died 6th July
1797), daugh. of John Rutherford of Edger-
ston, and had issue—Sarah, born 18th Jan.
1773; Mary, born 19th Feb. 1776, died
unmarried ; William of Muirhouse, born 7th
May 1783, died 23rd July 1865 : (2) 20th
Aug. 1798, Elizabeth (died 30th March 1850),
daugh. of Archibald Cockburn, Baron of
Exchequer, and had issue—Jane, born 6th
Oct. 1800 ; Elizabeth, born 23rd June 1802 ;
Thomas, born 5th Nov. 1803, died 3rd Nov.
1811 ; Archibald, advocate, Sheriff of the
Lothians, born 17th Oct. 1805, died 28th
March 1886 ; David, born 20th May 1808
;
Henry, born 15th June 1811 (marr. 1845,
Henrietta, daugh. of John Campbell
Swinton of Kimmerghame, and was father
of Randall Thomas Davidson, Archbishop
of Canterbury 1903). Publications—Three
single Sermons (Glasgow, 1779; Edin-
burgh, 1802); A Sketch of the Character
of Dr John Erskine (1803).—[Muirhead's
Fun. Serm., Kay's Portr., Philip's Ancestry
ofRandall Thomas Davidson.]
JAMES MARSHALL, born Rothesay,
1828 23rd Feb. 1796; son of Hugh M.,
surgeon; educated at Paisley and
Univs. of Glasgow and Edinburgh; licen.
by Presb. of Glasgow 2nd Sept. 1818 ; ord.
to Glasgow (Outer High) 8th July 1819;
pres. by the Town Council 15th Dec. 1827 ;
trans, and adm. 12th June 1828. He
adopted views which led him to renounce
connection with the Church of Scotland,
and demitted his charge 27th Oct. 1841 ;
took orders in the Church of England, was
curate to William Stephen Gilly, vicar of
Norham, and canon of Durham ; became