The Dumfries Post Office, 1642-1910. 113 



William Fingass. In office 1676. 



William Fingass may, perhaps, have been the second Post- 

 master of the Burgh, but we have been unable to ascertain the 

 exact year of succession. He appears to have been an innkeeper 

 in Dumfries and he is specially deserving of notice on account of 

 his lengthy and prominent public services. He was Dean of the 

 Burgh in 1675-6 and afterwards served as Baillie from 1676-1685. 

 He was appointed Commissioner to the Convention of Burghs in 

 Parliament 2nd April, 1685. 



From the Burgh Treasurer's Accounts for 1683-4 we obtain 

 the following references. — 



" Decemr 24, 1683. — Spent wt baillie fifingas, baillie Roome, 

 & James Cuthbertson massin when they went to sight the Bridge 



00 05 00." 



" Octobr 2, 1684. — It. spent with baillie ffingas, baillie 

 Roome, Corheid & Baillie Coupe the tyme of the Circuit Court 

 for Ale, Brandie, tobacco & pyps 02 02 00." 



He died 5th May, 1686.53 



Robert Johnston. In office 1695, demitted 1709. 



Robert Johnston, also a merchant and innkeeper in Dum- 

 fries, may possibly have succeeded William Fingass in the office of 

 Postmaster. Our earliest mention of him as holder of that office 

 is obtained from Dumfries Kirk-Session Records under date 

 April, 1695. He appears to have been admitted a Burgess on 

 6th July, 1691. He retained office until his death in 1709. 



John Johnston, 1709-1737. 



John Johnston, merchant, succeeded to the office of Post- 

 master on the death of the above-mentioned Robert Johnston in 

 1709. He rendered valuable service to the community as a coun- 

 cillor, and was elected a Bailie in the year 1724, Stentmaster on 

 14th September of the same year, and Representative to the Con- 

 vention of Burghs on 31st June, 1733. He was Postmaster of 

 the Burgh during the rebellion of 1715, and seems to have taken a 

 prominent part in the preparations for repelling the Pretender and 

 his forces. As Rae, the historian of the Rebellion, puts it : — 



" Hereupon they [the Pretender's forces] retired to Loch- 



53. " Memorials of St. Michael's Churchj'ard," p. 290. 



