146 Some Incidents in Troqueer Parish. 



It is not exactly clear when a school was started in Troqueer, 

 but it was probably about 1701. In September, 1691, we find 

 the Presbytery urging the Heritors " to fall upon some way for 

 provyding a competent sallarie for yr precentor and schoolmaster 

 qrof they undertake to consider of betwixt and the Synod." 



The Act of 1696 appears to have been anticipated by the 

 minister of Troqueer, Mr William Softierville. On his death in 

 April, 1696, it was found that he had made two " gifts of morti- 

 fication " — ^one for a Bursary in Theology or Philosophy of 2000 

 marks, and the other of 500 marks for a School in Troqueer. 

 The terms of the latter gift (which has been described erroni- 

 ously as a legacy to the poor) are as follows : — " fforasmuch as I 

 am now by the almightie in his providence sorely afflicted and 

 diseased in bodie and Considering how much it is my duty so 

 far as in me lys, to propagate and promote the glory of God, 

 Together with the great and inexpressable necessitie of parochial 

 schools, and how far the same may tend therto by the Education 

 of youth and especially the meaner and poorer sort thereof. Doe 

 therefore, out of the true Respect and Love I have, and carry for 

 my saids parishoners and their weelfare and Tranquility, 

 Spirituall and Temporal . . . make . . . the Minr 

 Elders and Kirk Session of Troquier . . . mv cessioner 

 and assigneys In and to the soume of fflve hundred merks Scotts 

 money . . . toward erecting, installing, continuing, and 

 keeping up ane parochial schoole in the said parish for Educating 

 . of youth and children therof, and especially the meener 

 and poorer sort. To the teacher wherof being still successive 

 nominate and presented be the said Minr and Elders . 

 and no other wayes I hereby ordeane the yearly annuel rent of 

 the said soume to be payed. ' ' 



It took some time, however, to settle the estate, and in June, 

 1701, the Heritors "acknowledge they had no public school nor 

 a sallarie for a schoolmaster." The Presbytery advises " ym to 

 meet and allocat a sufficient fond upon ym selves . . . and 

 yrafter to present a man to the Minr and Presbrie in order to his 

 admission upon his being found qualified." On the 5th August 

 following the minister receives £93 6s 8d Scots as the portion of 

 Mr Somerville's bequest due the parish. 



The Church, of course, was not without prejudice in educa- 

 tional matters. It tempered its teaching on mundane affairs to 



