James Webster, Min. of The Tolbooth Church

Biographical Summary

James Webster, of Fife origin; educated at Univ. of St Andrews ; suffered during earlier life for his religious opinions, being imprisoned no fewer than three times ; ord. to Liberton 1688 ; trans, to Whitekirk 1691 ; called 23rd Nov. 1692 ; trans, and adm. 1693. He scrupled to take the Oath of Abjuration in 1712 ; had a process instituted against him before the Lord Ordinary (Grange), same year, by the celebrated Dr Archibald Pitcairne, for calling him an atheist, which was amicably settled. He opposed giving toleration to Episcopalians. Died 18th May 1720, aged 61, and buried in Greyfriars. He took an active part in favour of the prosecution of Professor Simson of Glasgow in 1717, and in connection with the case worked himself into such an extremity of passion, that there was a probability of his being deposed by the Assembly at their next sitting, had he not tendered an apology. He marr.

(1) Margaret Keir, who was buried in Greyfriars, 12th April 1698

(2) Dec. 1698, Mary, daugh. of Dr James Stewart

(3) Sept. 1703, Agnes, daugh. of Alex. Menzies of Culterallers, advocate, and had issue —

• Alexander, min. of the Tolbooth Parish in 1737 ;
• Mary (marr. 6th Jan. 1724, Ebenezer Erskine, min. of Portmoak) ;
• Ann (marr. 28th May 1732, James Grant, merchant, Edinburgh).

SOURCE: Fasti ecclesiae scoticanae: the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the reformation, Vol. I, page 123