2 33 PROCEEDING E SOCIETY , 1910TH 9 Y F .O S MA ,

I. EXTRACTS FROM THE SESSION RECORDS OF MUIRKIKK, , (1659-1792) ALFREY B . D CHARLES JONAS, F.S.A. SCOT.

f Camden'I f Scotlano p sma d (I 695 lookes Muirkiri )o n , dat k wile b l Balfour'n i p ma foundse HistoryTh . f Scotlando (1770) doe t shosno w , neither does the map in Heron's Described (1790). Paterson asserts that Muirkir e sai b o hav t dy historo en kma y previous s tdisjunctionoit 1631n i , , from Mauohline parish. The Statistical Account, writte n 1837i n , informs readers that until about 1626 Muirkirk constituted a part of the parish of , and that the earliest entry in the parochial register of the latter is the 17th January 1670, and, further, that the first entry in Muirkirk register is dated in the year 1739. Keith's Catalogue f theo Bishops within e Kingdomth f Scotlando (1755) states that the charter founding Mauchline was by the Stuarts, and they bestowe t upodi n Melrose same Th e. authorit "s Machlinha y e n Kylei : Machle r Muirkir o ne fairl b y y f Kyle.o concludema k t I " d from this, that Keith was not able to discover any separate church or religious building at Muirkirk. Machline and Muirkirk are therefore somewhat closely associated; thus it is necessary in these notes to refer in a limited manner to Mauchline. e Kir f Th Muiro k r Muirkirko , s i state, y Patersoe b dth d an n Statistical Account to have been built in 1631; the former adds that when it was built, " there does not seem to have been a single house in the vicinity" (hardly a sufficient reason for building a church there). Thivery syma well have bee e casenth , when from Mauchline t least,a , e borderth o t f Lanarkshireso s covere wa a ,partiall y b d y dense forest. Confirmation of this is found in the Charter of Alexander II., when he grante Churce th o dt Melrosf ho e e land"th f Mauchlinso pasturd an e e forest:e lanth e f th Douglas n dfishine o i river.e th th d f go "an , There EXTRACTS FROM THE SESSION BECOKDS OF MUIEKIEK, AYESHIRE. 333

is every likelihood that the forest covered what was called by Keith " Machlen or Muirkirk"; nay, further, in the Charter of David I. granted to Melrose, he speaks of " timber in the forest of Selkirk and Traquair betweed an , Gale Leaded nth aan r water." This Melrose which David I. founded was not the old " Mailross " of Aidan' f swhico time d han , Bede wrote: "The first Abbo s Eatawa t , about the seventh century." Melrose was one of the twelve abbeys in Scotland, which were most beautiful from, at least, an architectural poin f viewo t . In Macpherson's historic map of Scotland (1796), adapted to the year 1400 o sucn , h plac s Muirkira e s markedi k ; this, howevers i , somewhat discounted by Keith's Catalogue, where he uses the term " Machline or Muirkirk."

The session records from which my extracts are taken will, keeping n vie i e foregoingwth e doublb , y interesting t instructiveno f i ,r fa o s , as they go. When I went over these records, they were not consecutive ; in fact, they appeared to be composed of what had been saved, or preserved fro e originamth l session books. The first entr s dateywa d 1659; thus, "Present wite Ministerth h , Hew Campbell, James Campbell and Johne Blackwood, The quhilk day it was delaited to the Sessioune that Jonat Kitchart," etc. This is multitudinoue th similaa o t e on r s entries commowhico s e har n earlni y minutes bearin churcn go h discipline. e proceedingNowth n i e , Commissioth f o s f Generao n l Assembly (1649) the following is found : "The Commission for planting of kirks divisioe th f Maehleinno s thii parish. o reat sw d Ho alon" g wite th h previous quotation, where it is stated that the Kirk of Muir was built in 1631? But is it not also worth notice that in the Scottish History Society's publicatio e Generath f o nl Assembly records, tracen ca s mentione i I , 1646-49s a r a word f fa t Muirkir o do no ,s , k Church? From the same authority we learn that in 1650 Mr Thomas Wylli ministes ewa t Mauchlinea r , and, being "called Edinburgho "t e th , 4 33 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH 9, Y F 1910O SMA , .

Commission refuse alloo dt "s w transportation,hi "s appointewa e h d d"an remaio t t Mauchline.na " Connected with my first note, Paterson states the Campbells were the principal families in the parish ; these were " Campbells of Auld- houseburn, Wellwood, Eshawburn, Over Wellwood, Middle Wellwood, the Browns of Waterhead, Tardors, Eiccarts (Eichards) of Burnfoot, d lanan d called Netherwood." Joh d Williaan n m Campbel f Oveo l r Wellwood suffered very e muctroublesomth n hi e time f 1684so . These two were scarcely mea when both were seized by Lord Boss's troop, at Wellwood Hilld takean ,o theit n r home, where their fathes wa r e housth d searchee an pillaged r fo de onlth , y charge against these young fellows being tha Bibleo t tw the thein d si yha r possession. They were carried prisoners, and ultimately lodged in " the Dean" at , then the property of the Earl of that Ilk.1 In the first year from which my previous extract is made, on 8th June :' " Present wit Ministere hth Campbell w He , , Terdoes, Jolme Blackwood, Eldere case th rese f th Jonaf eo th o s : t d tan Kitchar s continued.wa t " The arbitary manner in" which sessions used their power is illustrated b ya decisioh Jul6t yn o n1659 :appoyntes "Thwa t i e y y qlb dda k e Sessiou th e parischouneriy f no than no t s should receav famillin i e s Jonat Eitchart, in respect of her disobediences in not bringing her testimoneal froe lasmth t plac f abode.o e " On the 6th July 1659, "Present with the Minister all the Elders, The e parishchounereth y da k ql f Straveo s n presente a supplicatiound e subscrybe thosy db e heritor Sessiound san referancn ei e contribuan o et - tioun from us for repaireing certain Bredges, qlk was condesendit unto and tenn poundes Scotes given to them." At the meeting " 27 febry 1661, Presen Campbelw t he wit r e Ministe th M hElderse ly e l Th al r. became cationne for Johne Mitchell TuruoTirhill," etc. This Campbell figures often, being for many years an elder and an active worker in the session. e last-mentioneth n I d yea finname e w th dr e " lerpryke." Whether

See Wodrow's History (1722), vol. ii. p. 361. 1 EXTRACTS FROM THE SESSION RECORDS OF MUIRKIRK, AYRSHIRE. 335

e originath thi s i s e lnam a questionth for s f i emo ; certainls i t i y variously spelt in other minutes. There is, however, little doubt but that from this family sprang John Lapraik e erstwhilth , e farme d poean rt friend of Burns. From the work of Mr Hugh Paton of (1840), Laprai s bor e farn wa 1727i k nth f Laig m o t a , h Dalquhram (Dalfram). Dalquhram is mentioned by Wodrow in his list of fugitives, against whom Charles's proclamation of 5th May 1684 was issued. The minute of " IlJufi 1661 "contains the following: "The said day Johne lerkpryke presenti bila t f complino l t againest William brows nhi wyfe and her daughter for the slandering him," etc. The session, nexe 29te th tth f ho monthn whico t hme , agreed thae "billth ts "wa proved. Her name spels eth ewa t "Lepriaik." It was common to most, if not all, kirk-sessions to fix an hour at which ale-houses wer ceaso t ee suppl th e drinkf yo als e d e pricb oan ,th o t e n mani s chargedy wa instance t I . s settle y sessionb d s tha a certait n number only shoul invitee db marriagea o dt . Those aboumarriee b o t t d had to deposit a named sum of money with the session. With respect to the latter, we find that, on the 17th July, the session ordained "yt there upliftino souln consignmee e dth b f go r mariagefo s s for the space of three quarterres of a zeir after the mariage neither of lyeine thesar t ey g come.presentlio t e f theso ar " r t ey eno The practice, so observable to-day, of persons gathering at church doors after service (not invariably discussing the merits of the sermon), callee b t whay dno ma s tseemlyi : that suc hpractica e existed centuries ago, and was condemned, is to be learned from the following: " The s appoynti e wa Sessiounth t i quhily b d y ordainedt an da e ekb o t entimat nixe eth t lords day, thaaften no tr sermon endit sai foundee b l n standing in the Church yeard or upon the grein, hot sail presentlie be- take them to there homes, as also yt non sail goe away from the Church beteixt ye Sermone," etc. yeae th re tol n I 166f ar payment do e 6w s mad r "glaissenfo e d an " •"wyreing" the church windows; for buying iron "for repaireing the Bell." Ther numeroue ear s entrie similaa f so r kind r mend, fo suc s ha - 6 33 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE , 19109 TH Y F . O SMA ,

in"e Kirgth k yaird dyk e: mendin Kire gth k styl esclattee locth r k: rfo mending the Kirk 2 Ib. 18 a.s." "To ane poor man had his hous burnte 12 s.s." The servant question has, in some way or other, forced itself upon most of us: would matters be improved if we reverted, somewhat, to regimeperiode e th th f sessioo f o passes t , wheac wa n dn a n n " yno t sail receiv serventy ean s from other congregatiounes t testimonielwtou s "? e y O167llt th ne glea hMa w 0 n informatio e nama th f o o et s a n Bailli Kilmarnockn ei e nama "th Notta f d o e an , r " (elsewhere written " writter t Muirkirk")a hala d ,f nearlcenturiean o ytw s ago, thue s: " Th y Williaqlda k m Aird f Corsflato , d Andran , o hutcheoun, Nottat a r Muirkirk, being appoynted to revise the compt of collectiounes gathered Ministee th y e Gentillemesomb d th an rf eo e parisheth f no giv o t , e with e dischargth f Adaeo m Mures, Bailzi f Kilmarnoceo k quhari grantee nh s him to have receaved fiftie markes Scottis qlk is of the dait at- Kilmarnoc Juf o n9 1669,e kth " etc. Bailie Th e here named will not I think, foune b loca,a n di l historf yo Kilmarnock: in fact this makes the third Bailie, named by myself, from simila rt fin "loca e placdno a record th d ln ei di histor o s "wh y referre. dto Superstitio n inheritanca s i n e which, mor r lesso e al l\v , possess. Education has, fortunately, done much to lessen the hold it has upon human beings followine Th . g extrac f "o tJull i 1670" draws asidea e corneveith lf o whicr h hide so-callee sth d ignorant past d revealan , s t presena n m e subjecaspeca th tI f awareo s ta t s r whichha fa , o s , seldom been presented from similar records: " The said day it was delatee Sessiounth o t d e that James Hutchesoune n netherwooi , d ha d used ane grosse charme in cutteing of the heid of ane quick calfe wt d burreinan anx e a same th g n here betwix o Lorditw t s landio t r sfo prevente the Sturdye from the rest of his beastiall: was appoynted to be sitit against ye nixt day." Among the many ills flesh is heir to, the following is possibly new. , howeverIt , probably referre saie 1671y y d Th da Ma agueo t .d 2 " : their was given to Jonat Bege poore quho was lyeing of the trimbling EXTRACTS FROM THE SESSION EECORD MUIRKIRKF SO , AYRSHIRE7 33 . f Auguso h "charmee 9t th t e halfe.fiveree th merko n an O "tw d ," san worker agree "givo st publie ean c confessioune." The custom of placing a sum of money with the session, previously referred to, gave them a spiritual and monetary power probably not originally intended. Of this is an example in 1672, " Mr Hew Campbell was desyre e Baillzispeao t dth o kt f Gilmilscrof o e precepe an r o fo t t t e arreishandth f Eobern i o st t Blackwood, quhat indos monewa we yh o t Eobert Weir, d becausforefaulha e e Banh eth t de giveth o t n Session " : the Bailie mentioned was a Farquhar. In 1691 the sum of £5 was fixed by the session as the amount to be placed with them before proclamation. From another minute we learn the name of the minister at " Symont- toune" in 1671: "The said day George Jonstoune in the parishoune of Symonttoune produced ane testamonyell subscrybed Mr John Gemmill of his sadde loss by fyre, upon the quhich the Sessioune appoynted ane collectioune for him and sevarall of our awin poore." I was unable to tracmucw realises eho hwa Johnstouner dfo . On the 12th of February 1673 the following is interesting, but wants amplifying, with e respec"th Merbl o t t e chamber.e th t A " revisin f accountgo s paid, among those specifie sclatte, e "andis th o dt r for nailla and for repaireing of the Merble chamber at the Kirk to extend to threttie four pound ten shillinge four pennyes." The minute of 24th. July is most interesting: "The qlk day Mr Hew Campbell presente Sessioune th o t d heritoue thaan s a te wante h r seate d an dan , tha seae t an thert s bouldiherotoure ewa th y b t f Westeo e r Nether wood together with some others within the parish, and now seeing there is no heretoure that can pretend any right to that seat, therefore the Elders all unanimuslie togither with Lishaw yonger, Shaw, Criennock Maines yonger, Crosflat, John Ritchar f Burnefooteo t , consentew dHe thar M t should remove the fabricke of the old seate and builde ane new for himself upon the conditioune that quhensoever the Kirk shall be devidit e shalh , l tak t placq ee devideth e r shall appoynte him." Laconi followinge th s ci , 17th Marc hSessiouno n 167 d 6ha :ee "W VOL. XLIV. 22 8 33 PROCEEDING F THO SE SOCIETY 9,Y 1910MA , .

becow stormy.s e day th wa f suc o st si n I h" strict veneratioe th r nfo seventh, one is a little surprised at such a plea being offered as was on " Julie 1679.'' James thresSmitd befors di sessione e hwa th e"h r fo , corne upon the the lords day in the morning." On the 29 of October Smit "callit's hwa ; and'"confessi f ignoranceo t t hoi ou td t di no ,e h t knowing it was the lords day." By what process of reasoning the session conclusioe camth o et n that "his confessioune seeme fe eallb o dt " is hard to understand, yet they "did appoint him to make confessn." The year 1692 was the year of Glencoe—a tragedy which sullied e characteth f Kino r g William d doubtles an s outcom, it e d th ha sn i e rebellion f 171o s t 174-5d i seeme 5an t ye , o havdt e little influencn o e the everyday lif sucn ei h place Muirkirs sa t makSessioe no th ke: d ndi referency an e recordth e s handetheretoe a r sar fa o ds , down. The old-fashioned precento practicalls rha likelt yno dies yi dt i outd an , that such a one as Dean Eamsay tells of (the precentor in Eettercairn) will ever appear , againhoweverWe . , have evidenc precentorw ho f eo s were pai t Muirkirda 1693n i k : "The whil Georgy kda e Allan s chosewa e n presentee b hav o t o t shillin0 d 2 e an r f eacge o b ho t pais i f folr o t ky proclaimed." On the " 4 of December 1692. Archibald M'JSTahre being called upon did compeir and confessed," etc., " He" willingly offered 40 schilling of penaltie," whic instantlis h: " wa e apointe givee b Jameo o dnt t s Wilson for biggin Kire gth k yeard yeats." speedya This perhapd swa an , s con- venient method of paying church accounts. The defaulter might well clai havmo t "e e Kir th pai r kdfo yeard yeats." e 19tTh hf Marco h 1693 a defaulte, s punishei r n unusuaa n i d l manner—" before the Sessione and presbeterie . . . having according to e generalth f o the t l ac rasembli e showen som ee sorro th sign r f wfo o s befon hi sessione si s th r s apointeewa e Kire nixth th d kto t lord y da s doo n saci r k o stant cloat d d an hther e betwix e secon th td thir an d d bell." A minute of the 24th of November 1694, which is made up of account se end paith receivedd t :an da " s Thiha , s Book visited an d approved March 6t , h 1695 . Lockhart.S , " EXTRACTS FROM THE SESSION RECORDS OF MUIRKIRK, AYRSHIRE. 339

extrace Th t whic f hloca o genera d followe an l on s li s historic interest, vers i t i y doubtfud an e informatioth f i l n here given coul easilye b d f i , at all, found in any other single source. The session meeting from which the extract is made is dated the 25th day of June 1697. "In obedience to the sd summonds compeired the whole Elders and Heritors, William Campbel wellwoodd Mi f o l , James Campbel Grinnocf lo k Maines, Thomas Brow f Neitheno r wellwood, George Campbel f Neitheo l r wood, Androw brow f terdoesno , John Campbel f Orlhousburneo l , William Air Wesf do - late, John Ritchart f burnfooteo , , John Air Eshaburnef do , Thomas Bryce of Glenbuiek, John blackwood of Airds green, heritors; and of tennents John blackwoo n Halldi , John Samson n Middelfieldi e , James Wilsone in limburne, Alexander Wilson their, Thomas Wilsone in Watterheid, James Wei n Blacksydei r , Heugh Merri Muirmylnen i e , John Allan . haw . . , wite Ministe th l hunanimously al d Elder an d r di s n no , gainsaying, appoint the cutter Chamber at the Kirk for ane school-house, and three pound upon each hundredth pound of valuatione which will exten seventio dt e pounds r valuationou , 0 2 ed beinan 0 g 30 200 d 0an pound." t wilI l possibl a littl e yb e interestin refeo gpersont e somo th t r f o e s above mentioned. William of Middle Wellwood in 1685 was taken prisonebrothe s resee hi th f r o t rfo Joh n; bot h were take Edinburgho nt , thence to Dunottar, and afterward banished to New Jersey. Having gained freedom, the following year William was taken by Craigy's troops and put in prison, in Canongate tolbooth, but after a considerable paymene th t of y le fine.fa timb s f o te wa 1 James Campbel f "Grinnock.o l originae Th " f thio l s place-nama s ei little difficult to fix. " ," it has been said, is derived from Gaelic" Grianaig," sunny bay. mors wa e Greenock t i ancientl s a , or , y named, "Grenhok,o n d ha " existence as a separate parish before 1636, and as late as the beginning of the eighteenth century only consisted of a few thatch-covered houses ; o harbourn d d almosha an , s t littli a t e "Grinnock th trade n I . "

Wodrow'e Se s History (1722) . ,572 p vol . ii . 1 340 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, MAY 9, 1910.

quoted we have the place-name existing in 1673. It was at Greenock Mains that Thomas f eightyEichardo trappen s ma wa ,pretendea a ,y db d friend, and executed by Colonel Douglas at Cumuock. \ Thomas Brown of Nether Wellwood was an heritor at this date. Paterson only mentions him as having a sasine of land in Middle Third in 1705. Andrew Brown of Tardoes was of the same stock as those of Water- head. John Campbel f Auldhouso l e burn also possessed Crosflatt a , least in 1646. John Richard of Burnfoot here mentioned is named by Paterson as of Burnfoot, only in 1714. Paterson admits, with regard to Eshawburn noteo n s sextrac ,y ha respectintha m e e h n tw I t . git have " John Aird, of Eshawburn, heritor in 1697," at least. " Glenbuick " ( s wheri ) e Messr f sGlasgoo . FinlaCo w& y formed lochr o s reservoirs about the year 1802, for supplying their works at . A new phase was introduced into Muirkirk civil and religious life e facbyth t tha n "28to t h Feby shereff.e 1700th qly e ksda Th ,comis - sione to Midwellwood and Terdoes to be Sess bailJies according to the f parliameno t ac t onl r no punishinty fo g Civilie scandalous personst bu , f parliameno t ac e executionn th i t t pu als regulatinr o ot efo e poorgth , was delivere theo dt thed man y excepted e Ministerth d an , , with consent of the Sess and heritors, was given to Midwel wood to be keiped." Another remarkable laps f memoreo s reporteyi e 19tth hn do Januar y 1701, when Thomas Kenned broughs ywa t befor e sessioth e r "thafo n t he was weiving upon the Lords day which he declared was not willfully done, but ane mystake," etc. Among those proposed for elders, on the 25th February 1704, was John Lickprivick of Dalquhran. The next month he was objected .to, on the ground that he had taken the " Test." s statewa dt I that r thifo , sgived offenceha n e satisfaction."h , e Th " session, however, withdre names whi , " that they migh t givno te offence to anie other." With respec o Laprait t k (Burns's), shortly mentioned earlier in these notes, he succeeded his father in 1754, and died in 1807, aged eighty e JohTh n. Lickprivic f Dalquhrano k above th n ei , extract, was, in all probability, his grandfather. EXTKACTS FROM THE SESSION RECORD MUIRKIRKF SO , AYRSHIRE1 34 .

Very particular were sessions over the keeping of the seventh day; so in the records being dealt with, many were the " acts " passed con- cerning its observance. Yet it is most strange that, with respect to the keepin f public-houseso g ,q jealousls whic s wa h y guarde y kirkb d - sessions e fin w n Wi ,d . Stephen's e HistoryScottishth f o Church,1 quoting from the Assembly's records, that ministers sometimes " kept open taverns, d thesan " e reverend tavern-keepers wer- ex e horte o keed"t p decorum. servanA " t named "Margret taillour"had brought herself within the grasp of the ever-watchful session, and on "18 Jarrie 1706e Elderth e Ministel ,th sal beind an r g present, after prayer, terdios tol holde d appointed ha thaCoure ha e nh d an t r an t dhe mose upo como Lorde t th ny tan o et patensda t Kirk dootheid an o rt r Braidnnee th n i t bepu thei tim e stano t th r el betwixdal secone th t d dan last bell ringin fornoon.e th n gi " Perhap e mosth s t startlin d widespreaan g d disaster, financially speaking, whicr experiencee countAy th h e f eighteentth o y n i d h century was the collapse of Messrs Douglas, Heron & Oo.'s bank, when, after the debts due to the bank were taken into account, the loss 'by each shareholder was calculated to be £2600 per share. This bank was e causth f Lapraik'o e s financial ruina share t ,no - althougs wa e h holder. It was succeeded by Messrs Hunter & Co., and, in a minute in the session records, is " Lord Loudoun and Logans order to Mr Shepherd, authorising him to lend the £100 stg. in the Bank." e hereb"W y authoris o han t e hundre u on d yo e d pounds sterlinf go money belonging to the poor of the parish of Muirkirk, at present payable by Messrs Hunters & Co., bankers, Ayr, to e Trusteeth s upo e lin th f nRoaeo d betwixt Sor Muirkirkd nan , for the purpose of making and repairing the road in the above parish of Muirkirk." " To the Revd. Mr Shepherd, Minister of Muirkirk. "(Signed) LOUDOUN, " HUGH LOGAN.

" The above is a true copy by Ben. Maull, Sess. Clk." 1 See vol. i. p. 109 and context. 342 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, MAY 9, 1910.

One more extract on banking : "April 22, 1792. Mr Shephard formerly mentione e Sessioth o dt n that agreeabl o theit e r lodged desireha e dh , thirty-one poun de poor stgth f so . moneBankine th n yi g hous f Manseo - field Kamsay & Co., for which sum he produced their promissory note. The Session approve of the same and the above note is lodged in their Treasurers hands." Concluding these notes from Muirkirk sessioe nb recordsy ma I , permitted,to say that the only safe method of acquiring knowledge of the ancient history of any particular part of the country is to find whether there is any incontestable evidence .obtainable from public records, or local documents or inscriptions. Certainly \ve possess such evidence wherever kirk-session record e foundar s . Detail f dailo s y life as they existed in the several localities, at the same period, will, I venture to say, be found more exact, and, in certain particulars, absolutely true sucn i , h record have w es sa bee n dealing with.