20 Report of Meetings for 1885. By Jas. Hardy. 



minister of Christ, for his piety, learning, wisedom, 

 Diligence and success in gaining souls he had few equals. 



"He after being here and elsewhere 55 years in the Ministry 

 died 29 1738 aged 84 years. 



" And Jean Hughes his spouse who after she had with tender- 

 est sympathy been partner of his joys and griefs for 45 years 

 and died 1731 her age 69. 



"And Ebenezer Coldon their son, and Mr James Home of 

 Billie." 



"Colden's Well" is still pointed out near the farm place of 

 Cleughside. There is also a tradition of his still more dis- 

 tinguished son, Cadwallader, having attended the old school of 

 the place which stood near Pierslaw where now there is only a 

 quarry. Pierslaw was also one of the Oxnam farms under the 

 old system of small holdings. The Eutherfords of Hunthill — 

 among others no doubt the famous " Cock of Hunthill" — and 

 their family ; as well as some of the Ainslies of Dolphinston lie 

 here in their silent mansions. There is a great neglect here of 

 tombstones by relatives after they have been put up. Some 

 were interested in finding the tomb of James Davidson, one of 

 the representatives of " Dandie Dinmont." It is a flat slab 

 inscribed " James davidson late tenant in Hindlee who died at 

 Bongate (Jedburgh) 2nd Jany. 1820. aged 55 years." 



The graveyard is very wet ; a trench being cut, water rushed 

 from a line of graves next to it. It lies on a flat at the base of 

 a rise of the ground, and the water finds its way to it, and lodges 

 there. The moss, Orthotrichum cupul&tum, was fruiting freely 

 on some of the damp mouldering tombstones. One is surprised 

 to find so much " Peaseweep grass " ( Luzula pilosa) on the surface 

 of graves ; this arises from the turf that covers graves having 

 been cut from Oxnam Row hill, the Luzula having been intro- 

 duced with the sods. 



On a subsequent evening I examined a series of the Oxnam 

 tokens along with the Rev. Mr G-unn and Mr Simson ; and like- 

 wise the four Communion silver cups. The first two of the cups 

 are, "The gift of Simon Eliott of Swinside to the parish of 

 Oxenham 22 Novr. 1723 ; " the second two, " The gift of Walter 

 Thomson, portioner in Newbiggon to the parish of Oxnam, 1776." 

 No baptismal font remains. " There is a tradition, that, during 

 the animosities between the kingdoms, one of the principal bells, 

 now upon the Cathedral of Durham, was carried from this 



