234 IJPHALL [PEESB. OF JOHN WILKIE, son of John W., mer- 170Q chant, Edinburgh, of the family of Rathobyres ; M.A. (Edinburgh 1699) ; licen. by Presb. of Linlithgow 20th June 1705; ord. (colleague) 28th Aug. 1706; pres. to Currie 1718, and to Second Charge, Dumfries, 1731, but declined both ; died 28th May 1762. He marr. Euphan Skene, who died before April 1759, and had issue—Charles, min. of Ecclesmachan ; Henrietta. Publication — Sermon preached at Mid-Colder (Edinburgh, 1720).—[Aber- corn Sess. Reg., Law's Mem. (Pre/.).] WILLIAM GIB, licen. by Presb. of 176s Kirkcaldy 19th Aug. 1756 ; ord. to Kilmany 24th Sept. 1761 ; pres. by Henry David, Earl of Buchan, trans, and adm. 27th Oct. 1763; died 3rd Dec. 1795, aged 62. He marr. 23rd Nov. 1795 (ten days before his death), Elizabeth Rentoul of Middleton, who died 14th May 1809. —[Scots Mag., lvii.] DAVID URE, son of Patrick U., a 1796 weaver m Glasgow, at which trade he himself wrought in earlier life ; educated at theGrammar School and Univ. of his native city ; M.A. (1776). During his divinity curriculum he assisted the schoolmaster of Stewarton, and subse- quently taught a subscription school near Dumbarton ; licen. by Presb. of Glasgow 11th June 1783, he became assistant at East Kilbride, with only ten pounds a year and his maintenance. On the death of the min. he had some expectation of being appointed his successor, but finding the parish not unanimous, he accepted the post of assistant in a Presbyterian church at Newcastle 1798. He was employed by Sir John Sinclair to draw up agricultural surveys of the counties of Dumbarton, Kinross, and Roxburgh. He superin- tended the publication of the concluding volumes of the first issue of the Statistical Account of Scotland, and prepared the general indices of the work. Appreciating his meritorious services, David Stuart, Earl of Buchan, pres. him to this charge ; he was ord. 14th July 1796, and died unmarr. 28th March 1798. Blessed with a strong and vigorous mind, which adversity could neither subdue, nor prosperity elate, he persevered in the objects on which he had set his heart, whether of classical or scientific research, with unconquerable ardour. His usual method of travel was on foot, a supply of bread and cheese in his pocket, and quenching his thirst at the limpid spring. In the pocket of his greatcoat he secured such minerals or other curiosities as attracted his notice, had a tin box for preserving curious plants, a stout stick, armed with steel, which occa- sionally served as a spade or pick-axe ; a few small chisels, and other tools ; a blow- pipe ; a small liquid chemical apparatus ; optical instruments, etc., so that others sometimes referred to him as a walking shop or laboratory. Seemingly indifferent to all weathers, heat or cold, wet or dry, he was a patient observer, and an accurate describer of Nature ; while his kindness to an aged and widowed mother, from very slender means, bespoke the warmth of his affection and the goodness of his heart. Publications — History of Rutherglen and East Kilbride (Glasgow, 1793); Accounts of East Kilbride, of Rutherglen, and Killearn (Sinclair's Stat. Ace, iii., ix., xvi.) —[Scots Mag., lxx. ; Tombst„ Diet. Nat. Riog.] JOHN FERGUSON (primus), son of 1798 J°nn F., Dunblane ; educated at Univ. of Glasgow ; schoolmaster of Inveraray ; licen. by that Presb. Sept. 1785; ord. by them as chaplain to the 74th Foot, 19th Feb. 1788 ; pres. by David Stuart, Earl of Buchan, and adm. 28th Sept. 1798 ; died 14th Dec. 1835, in 77th year. He marr. Enea Fisher, who died 1st Dec. 1858, in her 88th year, and had issue —Jessie, born 2nd Oct. 1795 ; Archibald, born 19th Sept. 1798 ; Angus Fisher, born 23rd July 1799, died 28th June 1817 ; John, his successor ; Duncan Campbell, born 8th Sept. 1802 ; William, born 8th June 1804 ; Lilias, born 24th May 1807 ; Matilda, born 12th Feb. 1811. JOHN FERGUSON (secundus), born 1824 2n(* APr^ 18°1 5 son of preceding; educated at the Univ. of Edinburgh ; licen. by Presb. of Linlithgow 24th Sept.