96 Communion Tokens. 



Kirkconnel— continued. 



167. E.G. No. 85. K C. Reverse, M P R / 1734— The 



M P R in monogram for Mr Peter Rae, Minister there 

 from 1732-1748. No borders. R. 10. Brook 659. 

 (See Plate correction, p. 76.) 



The Rev. Peter Rae was a remarkable man. Born in 

 1671, he married " Agnes, eldest daughter of John 

 Corsaue of Meiklenox, late bailie of Dumfries." He 

 filled the offices of Secretary to the Hammermen of 

 the town of Dumfries, Precentor to Dumfries Kirk, 

 Clerk to Dumfries Kirk Session, and Clerk to the 

 Dumfries Presbytery and Synod. In addition to this 

 he had a private printing press in Kirkbride from 

 which he issued publications as early as 1712. Nor is 

 it improbable that he had more than a nominal 

 interest in the printing venture in Dumfries that 

 sent forth publications in the year 1715. " Like the 

 celebrated Joannes de Sacro Bosco, he was dis- 

 tinguished as a philosopher and astronomer, as well 

 as a divine. Nor was he less so as a mechanic, 

 mathematician, and historian. An astronomical 

 chime clock, in the Castle of Drumlanrig, made and 

 constructed in all its parts with his own hand, not 

 only proved his mechanical powers, but also the ex- 

 tent of his philosophical knowledge." Intending to 

 write the history of all the parishes in the Presbytery, 

 he succeeded in finishing those around Penpont, and 

 there the enterprise stopped. That part of his work 

 has not yet been published. It seems strange that a 

 man of such ability should have been so much the 

 victim of superstition as to believe that a witch was 

 exercising some malign influence over him. Acting 

 in accordance with popular credulity he struck the 

 woman on the forehead with intent to draw blood. 

 Thus, and thus only, it was held, could such 

 malignant influence be made to cease. For his con- 

 duct in this matter he was dealt with by his Presby- 

 tery. 



Kirkmahoe. 



168. E.G. No. 86. K H O ' 1723 with figure shaped like com- 



munion chalice above. Border. Reverse, plain. 

 Rude polygonal, 12. 



Rev. Patrick Cuming, A.M., 1720-1725 : translated to 

 Lochmaben (172-5-1731) ; thereafter to Edinburgh Old 

 Church. 



