EDINBURGH] ST CUTHBERT'S 97
(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.]
PATRICK WEDDERSPOON [some-
1732 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 pies, 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 dis-
pute 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 corre-
spondents, James Burnett, min. of Lass-
wade, 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
VOL. I.
genuine principle, adhered to what he con-
sidered 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. Portecnis.]
JAMES DAWSON, son of John D.,
1734 m*n " °^ Lanoton > 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.
THOMAS PITCAIRN, son of David P.
1735 °* 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 forti-
tude 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 White-
field, 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. 1780), 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, Car-
lyle's Autob., Hist, of the Rebell.]
JOHN HYNDMAN, D.D. ; trans, from
Colinton ; pres. by George II. 30th
Oct. 1751; adm. 20th Feb. 1752;
trans, to Lady Yester's Church, Edin-
burgh, 26th Oct. 1761.— [Sime's West
Kirk, Peterkin's Annals of the Church.]
1752