The McMillanites in Eskdalemuir #History #Scotland
The McMillanites were a fragment of the Society people that rejected the Revolution Settlement of 1689 to 1690. After many of the Society people rejoined the Church in 1690, some dissenters formed what could be called the “Continuing” Societies. From 1692 they issued declarations against the Revolution and held their own general meetings. They continued without an ordained presbyterian minister for over decade until the Rev John McMillan, who had been ejected from his charge at Balmaghie parish but refused to leave it, accepted a call to minister to the Society people in 1706.
His register of baptisms and marriages provides a good guide to where the McMillanites, as their opponents termed them, flourished. It may also point to areas where the Society people of the 1680s had support. There is an obvious flaw in using data from two decades after the events of the 1680s, but you don’t know if it reveals something unless you try it. It does highlight some intriguing connections between the two periods.
The list below is only from the first years of his ministry between 1706 to 1712 and only lists the locations in Eskdalemuir parish and Hutton parish where he conducted baptisms and marriages. Further posts will cover other areas.
‘At Kilburn’, [Eskdalemuir parish, Dumfriesshire,] 16 January, 1710.
Kilburn was a very remote farm by the Black Esk Water in Eskdalemuir parish. It now lies by the Black Esk Reservoir built in 1962.
Map of modern Kilburn Street View (of modern Kilburn)
The old map, above, suggests that in c.1710 that Kilburn actually lay further east, on southern bank of the Kil Burn, rather than the west bank of the Black Esk, i.e., about here on the map below:
‘was baptized
David Jarden in the parish of Aplegirth, his eldest son John.
At the same place and on the same day, were married, Thomas M’Vittie and Jean Lawson, both in parish of Kirkmichaell.
John Carsell in Wamphrey parish and Janet Bettie in Kilpatrick Juxta.’
The “Covenanters” Grave at Winshiels © Bob Cowan and licensed for reuse.
‘At Windshields’, i.e., Winshiels, Hutton parish, Dumfriesshire, 17 January, 1710.
Winshields was where the Covenanter martyr, Andrew Hislop, was captured in 1685.
‘were married,
John Henry in Wamphrey parish and Jean Graham in Hutton parish.’
[Eskdalemuir parish, Dumfriesshire,] 10 March, 1711.
‘James Donaldson in parish of Eskdalemuir had a daughter baptized called Mary.’
[Dumfriesshire,] 11 March, 1711.
‘Robert Johnstoun in Applegirth a daughter named Elizabeth.
Matthew Short in the parish of Moffat a son named John.’
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