68 DUMFRIESSHIRE AND GALLOWAY MINISTERS IN CUMBERLAND. 
The term “briefs’’ may require to a Scottish audience some 
explanation. They were collections made under the authority of 
an Act of Parliament “for collecting charitie money upon briefs 
by letters patent so far as it relates to ministers, church wardens, 
chapel wardens, teachers, and preachers in separate congrega- 
tions, and to every person qt hath taught in Quakers meetings.’’ 
One entry from the baptismal register is all that we need 
extract :—“ Nov. 27, 1730. Then baptized William, son of Mr 
Robert Wight, Min. to the Dissenting Congregation, by himself 
before the congregation.’? This son was subsequently well 
known in Scotland. He became a distinguished Professor of 
Glasgow, occupying at different times the Chairs of Ecclesiastical 
History and Divinity. He died July 29th, 1782. 
The following extract from the Evans MSS. in the Williams 
Library, London, is of interest:—“1718. Brampton market 
town. £8 or £6 allowed from Presbyterian Fund. Miuinister, 
Robert Wight, 180 hearers, 1 county voter, 6 gentlemen, mostly 
poor tenants of the Earl of Carlisle.’’ Another extract from 
Evans’ list, under the heading of Brampton, is interesting :— 
“Wardrew in the water drinking time. £5 allowed from the 
Presbyterian Fund.”’ 
After twelve years of strenuous labour at Brampton, Wight 
received a presentation from the Duke of Queensberry to Tor- 
thorwald. He only stayed at Torthorwald some nine months, 
however, returning to Brampton in May, 1725, continuing at 
Brampton until 1732, when he was called as assistant and suc- 
cessor to the Parish Church of St. Michael’s, Dumfries. The 
story of his occupancy of this important charge will be better 
known to many here than to the writer, who would be glad to 
receive any information regarding him, and would also like to 
know if a portrait of him exists. When Wight left Brampton he 
left a flourishing congregation of 101 Presbyterian families, say 
between three and four hundred members. There is still remain- 
ing in old lead work in one of the windows of the old church the 
initials of “R. W.’’ Following Wight as minister came Mr John 
Herries, preacher of the Gospel at Dumfries. Ordained by the 
old Cumberland Classis or Presbytery at Brampton on April 
10th, 1734, his ministry terminated about the end of 1736. 
What became of him there is nothing to show. 
That Brampton congregation had friends at Dumfries at this 
ee 
