John Currie, Minister of Oldhamstocks

From Oldhamstocks: Notable people

John Currie was born in Ochiltree in Ayrshire, around 1670.

After obtaining licence, Currie received a call in 1694 to the Oldhamstocks Parish Church, Oldhamstocks, East Lothian TD13 5XN 55.9282, -2.4209, in the shire of Haddington. His ordination took place on Friday, 14 March 1695. Possessed of attractive preaching gifts, he early drew to himself the attention of larger congregations. Two years after his settlement, the parishioners of Elgin desired to secure him as their minister. The Presbytery, however, refused to translate him. About the same time, the people of Prestonkirk sought him to come to them, but their call was also set aside. In 1701 he was instrumental in erecting a new church in Oldhamstocks.

Before he left Oldhamstocks, Currie married Sarah Riddell, daughter of Archibald Riddell, minister then at Kirkcaldy, afterwards in Edinburgh. The lady had already been sought in marriage by a neighbouring minister. Turnbull tells the story, for the would-be benedict apparently was too bashful to make his proposal in person. On Wednesday, 9 April 1701, Turnbull writes "At the desire of Mr Hugh Darlin, minister at Ennerweeke, I proposed a design of marriage betwixt him and Sarah Riddell, to Mr Archibald Riddell, minister at Kirkcaldy, her father," Even if the ambassador was successful in his delicate mission, the marriage did not take place, owing doubtless to the death, in a few months, of the youthful minister of Innerwick. By Currie's marriage to Miss Riddell on Friday, 26 November 1703, he became the son-in-law of a man who had fought a good fight in the old days, for he had been imprisoned on the Bass Rock for three years, and had also suffered much at the hands of the French, by whom he was taken prisoner when returning from New Jersey after the Revolution.

He was translated to St Mary's in Haddington in 1704.

In 1709 he succeeded Rev William Carstares as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the highest position in the Scottish church. Despite being notably young for the appointment he was praised for his duties in the office, and mention was made of his "prudent conduct".

He died on Saturday, 18 June 1720. His position in Haddington was filled by Rev Patrick Wilkie.

From Scotland's People: Old Parish Records - Marriages and Banns

• 26 November 1703 marriage or banns of Sarah Riddell to John Currie, in the parish of Edinburgh

From Scotland's People: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms

Possible list of 7 children of John Currie and Sarah Riddell from first: 11 October 1704 Archibald Currie to last: 3 January 1720 John Currie

• 11 October 1704 birth or baptism of Archibald Currie, son of John Currie and Sarah Riddell [child 1], in the parish of Haddington
• 15 March 1708 birth or baptism of Isobell Currie, daughter of John Currie and Sarah Riddell [child 2], in the parish of Haddington
• 16 June 1709 birth or baptism of Anna Currie, daughter of John Currie and Sarah Riddell [child 3], in the parish of Haddington
• 27 April 1711 birth or baptism of Jean Currie, daughter of John Currie and Sarah Riddel [child 4], in the parish of Haddington
• 24 September 1715 birth or baptism of Margaret Currie, daughter of John Currie and Sarah Riddell [child 5], in the parish of Edinburgh
• 3 November 1717 birth or baptism of Walter Currie, son of John Currie and Sara Riddell [child 6], in the parish of Haddington
• 3 January 1720 birth or baptism of John Currie, son of John Currie and Sara Riddell [child 7], in the parish of Haddington

From Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae; the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the reformation by Hew Scott Volume 1 Published 1915 Pages 368, 370

[Page 368] Haddington.

The church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and previous to the Reformation belonged to the Priory of St Andrews.

[Page 370] John Currie, born Ochiltree; ordained to Oldhamstocks 14 March 1695; translated and admitted 29 June 1704; Moderator of the General Assembly 14 April 1709; died 18 June 1720. He married 26 November 1703, Sarah Riddell, daughter of Archibald Riddell, minister of Trinity Parish, Edinburgh, and had issue

• John Currie, merchant, Jamaica;
• Walter Currie;
• Isobel Currie (marriage proclaimed 27 March 1726, Thomas Elliot, writer, Edinburgh).

[Oldhamstocks Sessions and Edinburgh Registrations (Marriage and Burials); Passages in the Life of Mr John Bell (Wodrow Manuscripts); Brown's Gospel Truth, Warrick's Moderators Page 412]

Oldhamstocks, or Aldhamstocks.

The church was consecrated by Bishop David de Bernham, Sunday, 19 October 1242. Its chancel is a fine example of late Gothic — probably fifteenth century work...

John Currie, ordained Monday, 14 March 1695; translated to Haddington 23 March 1704

From Reminiscences and Notices of Ten Parishes of the County of Haddington by John Martine edited by E. J . Wilson Published 1894 Page 212

During the incumbency of his successor, Mr John Currie, the present church was restored. Mr Currie was translated to Haddington in 1704, and was succeeded here by the Rev. Harry Robertson, who resigned in 1731.

From Journal for the Association for the Preservation of the Memorials of the Dead in Ireland Volume IV 1898 to 1900 Published 1900 Page 143

In Anne's reign, Presbyterians detected a Jacobite plot in the adoption of the Prayer Book, since its use would generate popular hostility and threaten disorder. Writing to the secretary of state in August 1709, John Currie, moderator of the commission of the general assembly, warned that the introduction of the Prayer Book undermined the Presbyterian settlement supposedly guaranteed by the union of 1707. According to Currie, the proponents of liturgical worship were deliberately risking a riotous popular response like that seen in 1637, the last time a Prayer Book was imposed in Scotland [Footnote 151: The National Archives, Kew, Public Record Office, Letter by John Currie, 5 August 1709]

From The National Archives: John Currie, moderator, on the General Assembly's reply to the queen's letter

• Reference: SP 54/3/48
• John Currie, moderator, on the General Assembly's reply to the queen's letter; with copy of their address
• Note: 2 papers
• Date: 1709 April 16
• Held by: The National Archives, Kew
• Legal status: Public Record(s)
• Closure status: Open Document, Open Description