106 Notices concerning Oxnwm Parish. By J. Hardy. 



Maxton, and Mr Henry Davidson, Galashiels, Preface to Rev. William 

 Crawford's [of Hawick] Dying Thoughts, along with John Gilchrist and 

 Robert Riccaltoun. [Reg- Laur. Univ. Edin., Gen. Ass., Reid's Ireland, 

 ii., Presb. Reg., Peterkin's Constitution of the Church, Presb. Rec. Boston's 

 Mem., Presb. Reg., Tombstone, Wilson's Annals of Hawick.] 



Thomas Boston, trans, from Ettrick, presented by William, Marquis 

 of Lothian, in Sept. 1748, and admitted 10th May thereafter. On a vacancy 

 at Jedburgh, an application was made for him by the Town Council, the 

 elders, and a great majority of the parishioners, who, being disappointed 

 of their choice, separated from the church, built a meeting-house [now 

 Boston Church, Jedburgh], and engaged to support a minister with a 

 greater salary (£120) than the stipend of Oxnam, giving Mr Boston a 

 call, which he accepted ; he tendered his demission to the Presbytery 7th 

 December 1757, which being transmitted to the superior Court, was 

 accepted by the General Assembly 30th May 1758, and Mr B. declared 

 " incapable of receiving or accepting a presentation ; and all ministers of 

 this Church prohibited from employing him to preach or perform any 

 ministerial office, or from being employed by him." The great body of 

 the parishioners of Jedburgh thronged to the new meeting ; he was 

 admitted their pastor and laboured among them till he and [Mr Thomas] 

 Gillespie (formerly of Carnock), with elders from their congregations, 

 admitted a minister to a congregation at Colinsbnrgh, and constituted 

 themselves into the Presbytery of Relief, and elected Mr B. their first 

 Moderator, thus founding a new sect in Scotland, which continued to 

 flourish till they joined the United Associate, and formed the United 

 Presbyterian Synod 13th May 1847. Mr B. died 13th Feb. 1767, in his 

 54th year and 34th min. He married 26th April 1738, Elizabeth Anderson, 

 who died at Dysart 21st June 1787, and had Michael, min. of the Relief 

 Congregation, Falkirk, and Christiana, who married Dr Tucker Harris, 

 Charleston, South Carolina. Publications : (Four Single Sermons, Edinr., 

 1745-62, 8vo ; Select Discourses on a variety of Practical Subjects, Glasg.. 

 1768, sm. 8vo) — [Presb. Reg. Boston's Mem. Scots' Mag. xix, xx, Somer- 

 Wlle's Life, Sinclair's i. and New St. Ace. iii., Hist, of the Presb. of Relief.] 

 According to Struthers' Hist, of the Relief Church, he was the author of 

 a, volume of Essays, two of which were published by his son after his death, 

 as well as of some well-written prefaces to religious reprints. He was the 

 youngest son of the Rev. Thomas Boston of Ettrick. 



1787. John Huntee, licenced by the Presb. of Selkirk 6th March 1781, 

 pres. by George III., 19th July, and by William John, Marquis of Lothian, 

 2nd Sept. 1786, and ordained 28th Feb. thereafter; died 15th Jany. 1830, 

 in 76th age and 43 min. Publication : Account of the Parish (Sinclair's 

 Stat. Ace. xi.) 



1830. James Wight, licenced by the Presb. of Forfar 15th June 1814, 

 pres. by George IV. in March, and ord. 11th June 1836, died 1st June 

 1 859, in his 70th year and 29th min. He married 9th March 1826, Mary 

 Leslie, who died at Edinburgh, 3rd Nov. 1867, and had George, min. of 

 Wamphray. John a preacher, and a daughter. Publication : Account of 



