Act, 25 February 1692, Edinburgh

Act, 29 December 1692, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh the Tuentie Fyfth Day of Februarij Jaj vjc Nyntie tuo years

A1692/2/1011

Act

Act Mr James Strachan for stipend

Anent the petitione Given in to the Lords of there Majestyes privie Counsell be Mr James Strachan Minister at Weeme Shewing That where the petitioner being upon the accompt of his duety full Complyance and owneing and publictly prayeing for the prosperity of there Majestyes sacred persones and righteous government, Robbed of all his moveable goods and gear by the professed Enemies of both in the year Jaj vjc and Eighty Nyne and Jaj vjc and Nyntie Whereby the petitioner himself his wyfe and Four Children and Numerous family are redacted to extreame necessitie His stipend being but verie mean not exceeding three Hundreth pounds Scotts yearly which hes been Lykewayes withholden and keeped up from him by the Indirect and unjust methods of malicious and pretended Creditors, So that the petitioner and his Numerous family have been redacted to the greatest straitts, His residence being in the shyre of Pearth near to the Blair of Atholl and his Circumstances being such meer necessity forced him to Leave his Charge as a minister to his Great greiff in the moneth of october Last to make known his miserable Condition and supplicate there Lordships for some supplie in Liew of the extraordinarie dammadges the petitioner is notourly knowen to all the neighbourhood to have sustained in maner forsaid And he haveing2 accordingly in the moneth of November last petitioned the saids Lords for some suteable redress of the great Losses he hade undergone The saids Lords were pleased by ane act in the petitioners favours upon the seventeint day of the said moneth of November Last To recomend the petitioner to the Lords of there Majesties Theasurie for such suteable supplie as there Lordships should think fitt to appoint to be payed to the petitioner out of the vacant stipends of there Majesties patronadge or otherwayes And the dyetts of there Majestyes theasurie haveing been since that tyme verie unfrequent And when there Lordships mett, Haveing been otherwayes taken up about the preferable Concernes of the publict So that the petitioner hes never yet receaved any ansuer of the petitione given in to them And the saids Lords of privie Counsell being out of there Lordships mear grace and favour frequently pleased summarly to Consider the pitiefull conditione of severall distressed ministers and to grant them present supplie And the stipend of the paroch of Elliott in the shyre of Pearth haveing been for some tyme vacant which as belonging to the Bishoprick of Dunkeld is now of there majestyes patronadge And the case of no minister who hes yet applyed to there Lordships being more favourable or deserveing more Consideratione then the petitioners oune In regaird of what he hes suffered for the government And therefore Craveing that there Lordships would be pleased in Consideratione of the premisses to Grant to the poor petitioner ane gift of the vacant stypends of the said parochine of Elliott, or otherwayes ordaine Mr James Melvill of Cassingray Collector of the vacand stipends to pay so much to the petitioner out of the first end of his Intromissiones therewith as there Lordships shall think fitt to appoint for the present releiff of the petitioner and his poor familie As the said petition bears The saids Lords of there Majesties privie Counsell haveing Considered this petitione Given in to them be the above Mr James Strachan Minister at Weeme with the act of Counsell in the petitioners favours mentioned therein and produced therewith They allow the petitioner the stipend of the above Kirk of Elliott for the haill Cropt and year of God Jaj vjc and Nyntie one And ordaines him to be readiely ansuered obeyed and payed thereof be the heretors fewers Lyfrenters titulars tacksmen of teynds tennents possessors and others Lyable in payment of the samen and ordaines Letters of horning to be direct at his instance againest them for that effect upon production of a decreet of locality And in case there be none ordaines these Lyable to make payment of there respective proportiones according as the samen shall be decerned be the Judge ordinarie

At Edinburgh 25 February 1692

A1692/2/1011

Act

Act Mr James Strachan for stipend

Concerning the petition given in to the lords of their majesties’ privy council by Mr James Strachan, minister at Wemyss, showing that where the petitioner being upon the account of his duty, full compliance, and owning and publicly praying for the prosperity of their majesties’ sacred persons and righteous government, robbed of all his moveable goods and gear by the professed enemies of both in the years 1689 and 1690, whereby the petitioner himself, his wife and four children, and numerous family are reduced to extreme necessity, his stipend being but very mean, not exceeding three hundred pounds Scots yearly, which has been likewise withheld and kept up from him by the indirect and unjust methods of malicious and pretended creditors, so that the petitioner and his numerous family have been reduced to the greatest straits, his residence being in the shire of Perth near to the Blair of Atholl. And his circumstances being such, mere necessity forced him to leave his charge as a minister, to his great grief, in the month of October last to make known his miserable condition, and supplicate their lordships for some supply in lieu of the extraordinary damages the petitioner is notoriously known to all the neighbourhood to have sustained in manner foresaid. And he having accordingly in the month of November last petitioned the said lords for some suitable redress of the great losses he had undergone, the said lords were pleased by an act in the petitioner’s favour upon 17 November last to recommend the petitioner to the lords of their majesties’ treasury for such suitable supply as their lordships should think fit to appoint to be paid to the petitioner out of the vacant stipends of their majesties’ patronage or otherwise. And the diets of their majesties’ treasury having been since that time very infrequent, and when their lordships met, having been otherwise taken up about the preferable concerns of the public, so that the petitioner has never yet received any answer of the petition given in to them, and the said lords of privy council being out of their lordships’ mere grace and favour frequently pleased summarily to consider the pitiful condition of several distressed ministers and to grant them present supply, and the stipend of the parish of Elith in the shire of Perth having been for some time vacant, which as belonging to the bishopric of Dunkeld is now of their majesties’ patronage, and the case of no minister who has yet applied to their lordships being more favourable or deserving more consideration than the petitioner’s own, in regard of what he has suffered for the government, and therefore craving that their lordships would be pleased in consideration of the premises to grant to the poor petitioner a gift of the vacant stipends of the said parish of Elith, or otherwise ordain Mr James Melville of Cassingray, collector of the vacant stipends, to pay so much to the petitioner out of the first end of his intromissions therewith as their lordships shall think fit to appoint for the present relief of the petitioner and his poor family as the said petition bears. The said lords of their majesties’ privy council having considered this petition given in to them by the above Mr James Strachan, minister at Wemyss, with the act of council in the petitioner’s favour mentioned therein and produced therewith, they allow the petitioner the stipend of the above kirk of Elith for the whole crop and year of God 1691, And ordain him to be readily answered, obeyed, and paid thereof by the heritors, feuers, liferenters, titulars, tacksmen of teinds, tenants, possessors, and others liable in payment of the same. And ordain letters of horning to be directed at his instance against them for that effect, upon production of a decreet of locality. And in case there be none, ordain those liable to make payment of their respective proportions according as the same shall be discerned by the judge ordinary.

1. PC1/48, 73-5.

2. Originally written ‘hehaveing’ then separated by the clerk using a downwards line.

1. PC1/48, 73-5.