NOTES ON CHURCH AND BARONY OF LINTON 159 



have thus weathered the storms of over two centuries, and 

 witnessed the coming of seven incumbents. The cellarage 

 below is older still, being probably a relic of the manse 

 erected at the coming of Robert Boyd, in 1659. Walter 

 Douglas died in 1727, leaving behind him an admirable 

 volume of " Eleven Sacramental Sermons," published in 

 1725, and dedicated to Jean, Lady Cranstoun.* The crown 

 of his tombstone, bearing the family arms and motto — Honor 

 et Amor — may now be seen built into the eastern wall of 

 the Church. 



GEORGE HALL, M.A. (1728-1740), was formerly minister 

 of Abbotrule. There is reason to believe that he was a 

 grandson of the famous Covenanting leader, Henry Hallf of 

 Haughhead, only three miles beyond the boundary of the 

 parish of Linton. Henry Hall died of his wounds, near 

 Queensferry, on 3rd June 1680. It is well known that his 

 grandson, who conformed to the Church of Scotland, was, in 

 consequence, disinherited by his Cameronian father, who left 

 past him the famous '' Bluidy Banner," which had waved at 

 Bothwell Brig, with the sanguinary motto — "No quarters 

 for ye active enimies of ye Covenant." If one may judge of 

 him by his published sermons, George Hall was a man of 

 no small parts and piety. He was buried on 2nd December 

 1740, and left behind him three sons, one of whom, Robert, 

 afterwards became Presbytery Bursar. 



JAMES TURNBULL (1743-1780), a native of the parish 

 of Sprouston, was presented by John Pringle, Lord Haining, 

 the living having stood vacant for nearly two years after 

 Mr Hall's death, owing to a dispute about the patronage. 

 Mr TurnbuU may, perhaps, chiefly be remembered for a 

 lengthy law plea which he instituted over the glebe lands. 

 This ecclesiastical cause celebre, after dragging on for many 

 years through the Court of Session, ended in a compromise. 

 Mr Turnbull was the first permanent Clerk of Presbytery, 



* Crailing, near Jedburgh, was their family seat, till the Cranstonji 

 estates were sequestrated, about 1752. 

 t Vid. Ber. Nat. Club Traiisactions for 1879, p. 22, 



