PRESBYTERY OF BIGGAR
[Disjoined from the Presbs. of Lanark and Peebles and erected by the General
Assembly, 12th Aug. 1643 and 3rd June 1644. It was not acknowledged under
Episcopacy, the parishes being subject to their former judicatories during that period.
The Records begin 26th June 1644, the only blanks being from 23rd Oct. 1650 to 10th
May 1660, and from 16th Jan. 1662 to 22nd March 1688.]
BIGGAR.
[The church, dedicated to the Virgin
Mary, was made collegiate by Malcolm,
Lord Fleming, 10th Jan. 1545.]
1567 WILLIAM MILLAR, reader.
1571 WILLIAM HAMILTON, reader.
1573 DAVID MAKKIE, reader.
NINIAN HALL, trans, from Inver-
1573 §owrie> and adm. 1573 ; Lamington,
Hartside, Coulter, Kilbucho, Sym-
ington, and Thankerton were also under
his care.
—
[Beg. Assig., Wod/row MiscelL]
WALTER HALDEN, min. in 1576;
trans, to Wiston 1586 or 1588—
[Beg. Assig., Booke of the Kirk, Test.
Beg.]
1586 JOHN PETILLOCH, reader.
ALEXANDER SPITTAL, M.A. ; on the
«»> exercise at Edinburgh 3rd Dec. 1586,
and adm. same month ; trans, to
Libberton 1590.—[Act. Beet. Univ. St And.,
Beg. Assig., Edin. Presb. Beg.]
[There is no trace of a min. for nine
years in the Presb. Record.]
THOMAS CAMPBELL, M.A. (Glasgow
1599 1589)^ mm- °* Coulter 1596; trans.
and adm. 1599 ; died between 6th
May 1646 and 24th April 1655, leaving a
son, Thomas, M.A., at Snafield in England,
238
who was served heir at the latter date.—
[Beg. Assig., Test. Beg. (Lan.) ; Inq. Bet.
Gen., 4011 ; Hunter's Biggar.]
[WILLIAM FLEMING is mentioned as
1605 " Parson and vicar of Biggar " in
1605, and James Duxcan, prebend-
ary, in 1616 {Wigtown Inventory, Scot. Rec.
Soc, Nos. 383 and 602).]
ALEXANDERLIVINGSTON, probably
1647 cousm °f Alexander L., min. of
Colinton; M.A. (?Glasgow 1633);
chaplain to Sir John Auchmutie of
Scougall and Aldhame, and tutor to his
son ; adm. min. of Carmichael 3rd June
1639 ; pres. by John, Earl of Wigtown, and
trans, and adm. (assistant and successor)
3rd Feb. 1647 ; member of the Commissions
of Assembly 1647, 1648 ; with most of his
co-presbyters he joined the Protesters in
1651 ; was nominated by the Protector one
of those in the provinces of Lothian, Merse,
and Teviotdale, for visitingthe Universities,
and authorising "godly and able men " to
enjoy their livings, 17th Oct. 1655; sus-
pended, May 1661, for joining the Pro-
testers ; called before the Privy Council
23rd July 1661 ; confined in Edinburgh, and
ordered to wait on Alexander, Archbishop
of Glasgow, and give satisfaction as to
his behaviour and carriage. There is no
mention of him after 1662. He marr. Helen
Ramsay,who died June 1692, and had issue
—Robert, min. of Libberton and of Biggar ;
and a daugh. (marr. John Greig, min. of