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

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DR. ALEXANDER SCRYMGEOUR. 173
grandchild," in the will of his mother's father, in 1682 (S.A.T. 10). On the presentation, Partii.
12 Aug. 1693, of David .Scot of ycotstarvit, he was aj)[ininted jirofi'ssor of Humanity in ^''^P-^-
S. Leonard's College, S. Andrew's, the presentation descrihing him as " second son of John
Scrymgeour of Kirktonn " (S.W. viii., ix., 62), and he was admitted to the chair 7 Sept. in
that year (ih. 6.3). He subsequently became professor of philosophy in the old colletje, and
is so named 28 ilarch 1702, when lie protests aj^ainst being apjiointed professor of (Wx'ck by
the university {ib. 67), and, 16 July, 1702, when he raises letters of susjiension against the
provost and mastei-s in regard to a pretended act, whereby they claimed power to appoint
professors {ih. 68).
He was afterwards appointed by Queen Anne to be second master and professor of
Divinity in the New College of S. Andrew's, the apiiointment being dated 31 Jan. 1713, and
registered under the privy seal 6 March (S.W. vi., i., 41).''' His admission li}' tiie university
did not, however, pass without protest, owing to the fact that he was not ni the ministry.
There were protests by the moderator, and answers by theyirofessor\ip to t lie last, 18 March
and 22 April (S.W. viri., ix., 7-5-76), although, 23 Apiil, his admission took place (/'/*. 77).
It was not, however, from S. Andrew's, but from King's College, Aberdeen, tli.at he received
the degree of Doctor of Divinity, 26 Oct. in this year {ih. 78). There is [ih. 8 ) 1
a memorial
for him, dated 14 July 1726, which narrates the holding by him of his professorship for
over twenty years, and refers to his admission, in 1713, as professor in the Now College, to
the annoyance of the college, he not being a clergyman. It also states that in 1718 he
•was attacked by the Synod of Fife, who charged him with " having convened with the
rebels in the time of "the Rebellion," and alleged that "his wife ami children went to
Episcopal meetings, and that the English service was countenanced by him." Douglas
describes hiiii as " a man of great learning and knowledge in the liberal acts and sciences."
He was one of the tutors to the children of his cousin, Alexander Wedderburn oi Wedderbum,
1713-31, and is occasionally named in connection with that trust iS W o-Jl-12, .026,
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565; R.A.D. 150). A facsimile of his signature to one of the documents in connection
with it faces p. 72 of vol. ii. iS.W. 512). His portrait is at Birkhill.
He purchased, 13 Aug. 1723, from David Balfour of Grange, the lands of New Cnuige,
in the parish of Balmerino (S.W. ii., iii., 23), which he settled, -1 .May 1730, on himself
for life, and on his eldest son David and his issue, whom failing on his second son
James and his issue, by a disposition confirmed by Great Seal Charter, 22 June following
(ih. VIII., xii., 3-4).3
He married, in 1697, Janet Falconer, daughter to Dr. David lalcnner, jirofessor of
Divinity at S. Andrew's (by his wife, Margaret Brvdie, daughter to l)Hvid I'.rydie). The
maiTiace contract is dated 16 Sept. 1697 and is referred to in a will Nshicii she made in
favour of her husband, 20 Feb. 1699 (S.W. viii., ix., 65).« By her Dr. Scrymgeour had
issue two sons and two daughters :
and
,.„^ , in *
2. James Scrymgeour, named as his second sou in the 1 1 oO disposition auU L.rcat
1. David Scrymgeour. See post, p. 174.
Seal Charter of New Grange, but d.s.p.^
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There Pecras at one time to have been considerable friction U-tweon tl,e town an.l ""^
'°
['''^f,';;''>;
regara to the episcopal ,,rincii.les of the latter. In 170:. the I nivc-nsily protca, >:« ^ "O '"^' ' «
Magistrate, of .S. Andrew., having .eized and i,n,.>-i>..ncd the K|...c.,,-I pr..cl..r ...d (1 J ^o^.) aga.n.l
the treatment of the Episcopal uieeiing house i.-i.W . viIl ,
ix ,
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IVivenutv
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He had been recommended to be professor of Divinity in the .New Luilege.and cccU^.! by Iho Luiveruty
4 March 1707 (S\V. VI, iii., 161-103).
,-..i «. " .11 .,,,1 l,-.ill the f-.urth
> Tliese lands a, e elaborately described in the dis,K,.,it,on o, 13 .^ur. ,J3 ""»";;', ;;,\':«J^;"„^J'.
part of the town and lands of NewgranKe. also and .aill the fourii. |.art ''- ^.'„,\,!7,'",""
ileugh and Batalaw, the half land-s of Coi>faulds, all and hadi w. «.re ..( ih. '"'"'
''f *-"l'-\' 'V?/
etc"' The profesBOT also purchased . ll.c ^mc ,s^.h ... 1..S ^^>.W.
n., i., 25). * .
1 T' 1
Tliere are various documents relating to tlie l-.dc
,, I'.ndie., ftli.l famili.
Scrymgeour-Wedderljurn Lhaitcr Chest, {e.ii. i
these it. appears that Robert F.dconer of t'r.u-nidie. ji
John. The elder, David d. in Jan. 10^2. KaMi^:; —
daughter Janet, who tn. Alexa.d.r Scrymgeour, an.l
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married and had i»sue a daughter ^'••^''S'"''''''! ','','
;„( \v.„.i,rbuni »« m..urr.J hr.r. IJ J«ii.
whom his great nephew Henry Scrymgeour-WcLcroun. ol «i . . r un.
1815. in the lands of Wester Little K.nncir, p..r. '' ""7";;;.,,,;,.,, •,',,i,„ ;„ ,he ri»uu.l..e n.t.i!. -f
» I have not ascertained the date of hw death, l;ul 11" " '
,,.,,„ »„.l ihc.r imuc m .uUlilulrt ia
Wedderburn 1766 on, which name both lus bn-uier a . 1
the succession, so that he clearly d. uum. s.p. bclure l.oo.