David Williamson, Min. of St Cuthbert's

Biographical Summary

"David Williamson, M.A., formerly in Collegiate Charge ; was denounced as a rebel 6th July 1674, for holding conventicles, and intercommuned 6th Aug. 1675. After the final Indulgence granted to the Church in 1687, he returned to Edinburgh, when a meeting-house was erected for him in the village known as Water of Leith. On 3rd Feb. 1688 he was arrested, his name having been discovered in a memorandum belonging to Renwick, who had been captured two days previously, but as the entries referred to a period covered by his indemnity, he was liberated after a fortnight's imprisonment. Not long afterwards he was arrested on the charge of not praying for the recently born Prince of Wales, but nothing followed thereon. At the General Assembly summoned after the Revolution, which met on 16th Oct. 1690, he was restored to his former parish, where he continued to officiate until the day of his death. He was one of the Commissioners sent by the Church to congratulate King William on his accession to the throne. He was a member of Assembly 1692; elected Moderator to that of 6th March 1702, and died "without painful sickness, generally esteemed" 6th Aug. 1706, aged about 72. He presented a dwelling-house, 18th Jan. 1700, to his colleague and his successors in office, discharging the feu-duty, £3, regularly during his lifetime. He marr.

(1) Isobel Lindsay, who died March 1665, and had issue — William, who died young

(2) Margaret Scott, and had issue — Margaret (marr. James Haswell, merchant, Jedburgh)

(3) about 1676, Jean, daugh. of William Kerr of Cherrytrees (the romantic episode which probably led to this marriage, gave rise to the song formerly well known, of "Dainty Davy"), and had issue — Elizabeth (marr. 1704, John Brown, min. of Abercorn, brother of George Brown of Finmount

(4) Margaret Melville, servetrix of the Countess of Wemyss, who died Oct. 1692, probably mother of John, min. of Inveresk, Wodrow's correspondent ; Agnes (marr. April 1708, Henry Robin, min. of Burntisland)

(5) Margaret, second daugh. of William Dougall, merchant, Dysart, and had issue — David, apprenticed 1713 to a surgeon in Edinburgh ; Mary (marr. 1st Feb. 1716, George Andrews, merchant, Edinburgh) ; William

(6) name unknown

(7) 10th May 1700, Jean, daugh. of Arthur Straiton of Kirkside, Forfarshire, and had issue— Arthur ; Joseph, advocate, one of the principal city clerks, and clerk to the Commission of Teinds, died 29th July 1795, in his 95th year ; Jean (marr. 5th April 1730, James Steele, saddler, Edinburgh). Mrs Williamson marr. secondly, in 1717, John Martine, of Little Aries, Wigtownshire."

SOURCE: Fasti ecclesiae scoticanae: the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the reformation, Vol. I, page 96