Wedderburn book; a history of the Wedderburns in ... - waughfamily.ca

INTUODUCTION".
ki.
Sir Alexander clei k until Alexander had fitted himself for it. This he did introd.
Biacicne^^KSt., Under a famous writer, John Lermont of Edinburgh, and on
1610-1675-76. 1 March IG33 was admitted a notary, and a few months
later accepted ofBce as clerk. He soon proved his al)ility.
for in 1637 we tind him representintj Dundee in the Scottish parliament!
and he from that time guided the atlairs of the hurgh for close on forty
•years. He is described in the minutes of the Churdi Assembly for 1G3S
as "one of the skilfuUest of the burgh clerks," and in 1G40-4] w.as
appointed one of the commissioners to treat with the English at Uipou.
It has been supposed that he was knighted in 1G42 for" his sliare in
that matter, by which lie won the high approval of both Parliauieut and tiie
King, who gave him a grant of some of the Dundee customs, and a yearly
pension of £100 sterling. He has thus been known in the family as the
"Knight of Ripon," but this is a misnomer, for it is now clear that his
knighthood dates from 1G4G. I have given in the body of tliis volume
a detailed account of his movements from 1G42 to 1(;46, years durint^
which he was constantly in Edinburgh on burgh affairs, either as it's
member or ou special commissions. In 1647 he was elected by Parliament
as one of the six Scottish commissioners to treat with the English, a fact
eloquent as to the position he now held, as while five of the commissioners
represented the ))aronies, Sir Ale.xander alone was for all the burghs of
Scotland. His political attitude ou the commission does not appear, but
he was no doubt loyal to the King, for Cromwell, when in Edinbundi,
lost no time in ordering him to be deposed from the clerkship of Dunrt'cL-.'
I doubt, however, whether he ever really ceased to act as clerk. There is
an entry in the burgh council books, 19 Dec. 1G48, recording the electiou
of Thomas Wichtane in his place, ou the ground that Sir Alexander "forbears
the exercise of his ofSce," but he is still called cleik, and when, in IGol,
Charles n. came over from Holland, the town councd " ail in ane voice,"
and with the consent of Wichtane himself, " repouit Sir Alexander to his
place of the clerkship." Charles himself, who had written to Sir Ale.\andiT
in 1649, now also wrote to the Dundee Council, commanding his re-establishment,
so that the council had only anticipated the King's ordinance, and
there was never again any talk of Sir Alexander's deposition. In lG.V2-o4 lie
was summoned by Ciomwell to attend the English Parliament, and was at this
time in London with his uncle. Sir Johu. There are several Ifttei-s to him amon"
the Blackness papers, from persons of importance—Lord Kothes, Archbishop SlKup
and others— which show the estimation in which ho was held. Upon the I'estoration,
the King confirmed to him the pension granted by his father, Lot from this
date he is less often named. Perhaps his health failed, as in 1G71, "on account
of his frequent sicknesses," the Council appoint his son James conjunct clerk
with him, and in the same year when summoned to appear at Edinburgh and
give evidence in a law suit, he pleads that he is now " ane old and infirmo
man, not able to travel in the winter seasoue."
Of his private affairs, the principal one was the gradual aci]uisition
of Blackness, from which he and his descendants lung
ot^Biackness? took their designation, and in which he was no doubt ui