306 An Account of Simprin, Berwickshire, by Jas. Hardy 



Henderson, of 200 merks, which was still undischarged, Nov. 9th, 1646.* The 

 reader, George Davidson, may have partly supplied his place during his ab- 

 sence. In 1648, he escaped "being struck by a soldier, for having, as he 

 thought, said something against the Engagement. He died between 1652 

 and August 25th, 1654. His insicht gear was estimated at £13 6s 8d; and 

 the inventory and debts at £3312 4s 4d. His substance he left to his relict 

 Katharine Melvill for her own use, and for the use of their children, John 

 and Margaret, to be equally divided after her discretion. He appointed his 

 son " to be put to the scole of humanity e for a yeer or half yeer, either at 

 Edinbr or St. Androse ;" and "if he be found to profitt, I uold have him 

 pass his cours ' at the Old College of St Andrews. He also assigns a portion 

 conditional on her behaviour to their kinswoman Christian Melvill whom 

 they had brought up. " George Synklar, sone to the Laird of Wasseter, and 

 George Davidson reader at Sympreng," are witnesses ; and John Home also 

 appends his name.f It is possible that on the change of Government, in 

 1660, his predecessor, McMath, may have been restored ; which may partly 

 account for the long vacancy that ensues. 



4. James Gibson A M., acquired his degree at the University of Glasgow, 

 in 1657 ; he died 2nd March, 1668, aged about 32, leaving a widow. Very 

 recently, the Rev Robert Paul of Coldstream, kindly visited Simprin Church 

 yard on my behoof, and found Gibson's tombstone, with the inscription 

 almost obliterated ; but after getting it washed, he was enabled to read as 

 follows: — 



" Hie jacet Mr Jacobus 



Gibson pernuper 



sacerdos ecclesias Sim- 



prinensis qui obiit 



2° Martii Anno 



Domini 1668." 

 Mr Paul remarks that the use of the word " sacerdos" is unusual on the 

 tombstone of a Scotch minister, and is indicative of the troublous times 

 during which Gibson officiated at Simprin. It certainly is a notable ex- 

 ample of " priest writ large." 



5. James Sanderson, A.M., graduated at the University of Edinburgh, 

 July 27th. 1663, was licenced by George, Bishop of Edinburgh, Jan. 2nd, 

 1666 ; was ordained and collated to Simprin, Oct. 22d, 1668 ; and after only 

 three years ministry, died in June, 1671, aged about 28. His utensils were 

 estimated at about 10 merks; and his free gear, &c, at £ 1 42 5s 8d. By 

 Bessie Craw, his spouse, he left Robert and Isobel, "little children.' He 

 was a native of Coldstream, where, says the Rev Hew Scott, he succeeded to 

 houses and lands by birthright. Mr Paul cannot now trace the name in 

 Coldstream parish, but "Sanderson'' is mentioned in Armstrong's map, as 

 the proprietor of a small place — " Whiterigg "-in the neighbouring parish 

 of Eccles. This place, now Whitrig, is close to the boundary of both parishes. 



* Hetherington's Life and Times of Henderson, p. 662. 

 t Scottish Journal, ubi supra. 



