Kirk-Session Recorbs or lroncray, 1691-1700. 133 
1707 he was restored to his ministry at the earnest petition of the 
parish. He vehemently opposed the Union, and was deep in the 
counsels of those discontented Cameronians who purposed join- 
ing the Duke of Athol’s Highland host and overthrowing the 
Union by force. Hill Burton says he betrayed his confederates 
to the Government (His. of Scot., vol. viii., 162). In the Fifteen 
he was a suspected character, for he raised a force of 300 men 
in Urr and had them under arms. His hatred of Popery was 
stronger than his objection to the English Government, and they 
marched to defend Dumfries against Kenmure. The flag they 
carried is still in Urr Manse, bearing the title “ For the Lord of 
Hosts.”’ 
THE HEPBURNIANS. 
The followers of John Hepburn figure so frequently in our 
session records that this long account of their leader is necessary. 
A lady called Janet Welsh is the next troubler of the peace. 
She was the daughter of John Welsh in Rigghead, probably some 
relative of William Welsh of Scar. On July 26, 1695, the 
session was informed “that she not only continually dishaunts 
ordinances, but hath gone and caused proclaim herself with Alex. 
Clark in Terregles parish disorderly without so much as informing 
either minister or elders in this parish or yet the elders in the 
parish of Terregles.’’ On September 27 she was cited “ pro 
secundo ’’ for “her irregular and clandestine proclamation and 
other misbehaviours, having gone te Mr Hepburn (who preacheth 
at Urr and Kirkgunzeon in opposition, not only to the Presbytery, 
but to the laws of this Church and kingdom), and is married by 
him without proclamation or testificat, and is now gone to live in 
the parish of Terregles with Alex. Clark, to whom she is married.” 
The minister gives also an account that he wrote to Mr Hepburn, 
and first showed him that she was under a process before the 
session for several irregularities, and, secondly, that she had never 
been proclaimed, “ only a wicked fellow who had no commission 
from any but herself or else Alex. Clark had called her name and 
her present husband’s at the church door of Terregles, there being 
no sermon there upon that day; as also that he had used many 
arguments to dissuade him from marrying her, notwithstanding all 
which he hath married her as is alleged. She being now out of 
this parish, the session thought fit to refer the matter entirely to 
the Presbytery.’’ What the Presbytery did I cannot tell. 
