Reverend James Alexander of Boghall, Laird of Boghall & Blackhouse, Minister at Kilmacolm

REVEREND MR. JAMES ALEXANDER OF BOGHALL

Spurious Pedigree

It has been claimed that the Reverend James Alexander of Boghall, here treated, is the same person as Rev. James Alexander, of Lagan Presbytery, Convoy, Raphoe, Donegal For this claim see Appalachian Ancestry and FamilyCentral This is quite wrong, however. The Minister of Kilmacolm died in 1669 and the Minister of Raphoe died on 17 November 1704.

The Minister of the Gospel at Kilmacolm in Renfrewshire

The Reverend Mr. James Alexander of Boghall is the eldest son of Robert Alexander of Blackhouse and Marion Hamilton. His father was a Writer in Paisley, who for a time served as Town Clerk there. According to the Fasti of the Church of Scotland, the Reverend Mr. James was born in about 1634. Fasti III: 211 He and his father are noticed in each others company on 14 October 1648, in the witness list of a charter made in favour of Jean Cunningham. NRS: GD138/1/299 They are noticed again on 21 April 1668, in an instrument of sasine made in favour of Mr. William Adair, Minister of the Gospel at Ayr, and his wife Jonet Kennedy. NRS: GD86/668

Death

The Reverend Mr. James Alexander of Boghall predeceased his father. He is reported to have died of fever in 1669. Fasti III: 211

Marriage

The Reverend Mr. James Alexander of Boghall, Minister of the Gospel at Kilmacolm, is reported to have married Mary Maxwell, daughter of John Maxwell of Southbar. They were contracted to marry on 9 June 1657. Fasti III: 211

Children

1. Robert Alexander of Blackhouse, WS
2. John Alexander of Boghall and Blackhouse
3. Jean Alexander
4. Elizabeth Alexander
5. Mary Alexander

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

14 October 1648: Disposition by William Cunynghame son lawful to [deceased Alexander C. of Montgrenan] commendator of Kilwining, to Jean Cunyngham daughter to deceased Mr. James C. of Monkgrennand my brother german without reversion of the 16 merkland of Powtoun. At Paisley. wit:- Robert Alexander writer in Paisley, James Alexander his son and John Whyte notary burgess of Paisley. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Stewart family, Earls of Galloway (Galloway Charters), reference GD138/1/299

                   2

21 April 1668: Instrument of Sasine under the hand of Hugh Thomson, clerk, of the diocese of Glasgow, notary public, following upon and narrating a precept of sasine in a bond and obligation (dated 18th April 1668) by John Challmer of Gaitgirth, whereby, in security of the sum of 3500 merks Scots, he bound and obliged himself to infeft Mr. William Adair, minister of Air, and Jonet Kennedy, his spouse, and the longer liver of them in conjunct fee, whom failing, the heirs lawfully procreated or to be procreated between them, in an annual rent of 210 merks Scots furth of his lands called the Miltowne of Martnahame, mill lands, multures, etc. thereof, lying in the parish of Coiltowne, barony of Martnahame, King's Kyle, and sheriffdom of Air, redeemable on payment of the principal sum and arrears of annualrent. Sasine given upon the ground of said lands and mill on 21st April 1668, by John Hannay, younger in Mylltowne, bailie of the granter, to William McAdam in Air, attorney for the said William Adair and spouse. Witnesses to the bond and obligation, John Kennedy of Kirkmichall, Robert Alexander of Blackhouse and Mr. James Alexander, his lawful son. Witnesses to the Sasine, John Hannay, elder in Milton, William Hannay, his son, George Stevenson in Barmuck and James Moore in Cloncairde. National Records of Scotland, Sir William Fraser Charters, reference GD86/668

                   3

19 January 1692: Receipt for cobble rent in Newton from John Alexander as procurator for the children of Mr James Alexander of Boghall to John Kerr, late baillie of Newton. National Records of Scotland, Sir William Wallace of Craigie: Receipts, reference RH15/112/5/79

Published Biographical Accounts

                   1

James Alexander of Blackhouse and Boghall, born 1634, eldest son of Robert A. of Blackhouse, town clerk of Paisley, and Marion Hamilton. MA Glasgow 1653. Licensed by Presbytery of Irvine 27th January 1655. Ordained 29th March that year. Deprived by Act of Parliament 11th June, and decreet of the Privy Council 1 October 1662. In March of 1669 he was accused before the Privy Council at Ayr for preaching and baptizing irregularly. He died of fever that year. He was eminent for his piety and scholarship. He married (cont. 9 June 1657) Mary (died in 1701) Maxwell, daughter of John Maxwell of Southbar, and had issue: Robert of Blackhouse, W.S., died 23rd May 1723; John, merchant, Glasgow; Jean, married (1) (cont. 24rd August 1689) William Greenlees of Auchlamont, writer in Ayr, (2) 26th Nov 1704, Alan Walkinshaw of Orchard; Mary; Elizabeth; Anne [Wodrow's Hist. I. 327. ii. 123; Ayr Sas. ix. 244, 245.] Fasti III: 211

                   2

James Alexander, designed "of Boghall," eldest son of Robert Alexander of Blackhouse, was born in 1634. He entered the University of Glasgow, where he graduated in 1653. Obtaining license as a probationer in 1655, he was the same year ordained minister of Kilmalcolm, Renfrewshire. for his adherence to the Presbyterian polity, he was deprived by Act of Parliament, 11th June, and of the Privy Council, 1st October 1662. Accused of preaching and baptizing irregularly, he was summoned to Ayr in March 1669; he died of fever in the same year about the age of thirty-four (Fasti Eccl. Scot., vol. ii., p. 250) [Note] He married Mary, daughter of John Maxwell of Southbar, descended from Adam Maxwell, fifth son of the first Lord Maxwell of Caerlaverock, by Elizabeth, daughter of William Cuninghame of craigends; she died in 1670. By her he had a son, John, and four daughters, Elizabeth, Mary, Jean, and Anna. His daughter Jean was, in September 1689, married to William Greenless, one of the magistrates of Paisley (Reg. Abbey Parish of Paisley). Memorials II: 24-5

Note: This reference refers to the first edition of the Fasti.

                   3

On Mr. Hall's return to his own charge in Ireland, the pulpit of Kilmacolm was again vacant. Without, however, any considerable delay the parish made up its mind on a successor. It so happened that the parishes of Erskine and Neilston were also vacant, and all three set their affections on the same man. This very popular preacher was James Alexander, the eldest son of Robert Alexander of Blackhouse. He was a young man of great promise, a distinguished student of Glasgow University, where he graduated in Arts in 1653. He was under twenty years of age when he was inducted to the charge of Kilmacolm. The proceedings in the case were very simple and unanimous : — " 27th Jan., 1655. Mr. James Alexander having passed all his examinations, is licentiat to preach as an expectant. The same day the parochiners of Kilmacolm, Erskine, and Neilston, desyre the Presbytery to send Mr. James to preach in their respective congregations betwixt and the nixt Presbytery day ; but the Presbytery, having heard the said Mr. James declare that he inclineth to preach only in Kilmacolm, do therefore appoint him to preach there." On 7th February the "parochiners of Kilmacolm submit a Call to Mr. Alexander, and ask the Presbytery to take him on trials." They appoint his trials for next meeting, when he delivers a controversial thesis in Latin, and is examined in " Chronologie, Cases of Conscience, problematic questions reconciling places of Scripture, and in Greek and Hebrev?." His trials are sustained, and his induction fixed for 29th March : — " 29th March, 1655. This day, being a day of solemne humiliation, Mr. Alex. Dunlop did preach, and thereafter Mr. James Alexander was ordained minister at Kilmacolm, with fasting, prayer, and imposition of the hands of the Presbytery, in the public congregation ; and Mr. Hugh Smith did preach in the afternoon." The induction was attended by no social or festive celebrations ; the act of ordination had a special virtue when the ordaining Presbyters were fasting, and a day of humiliation was a day given over to much preaching. Kilmacolm: 58-9

The temporalities of the benefice were not yet quite clearly defined. Thus it would seem that during the vacancy certain of the landlords had appropriated the minister's glebe : — " 25th July, 1655. The Presbytery, finding Mr. Alexander minister of Kilmacolm to be presentlie without the possession of a Gleib, and have seen the designation of a Gleib to Mr. Ninian Campbell, the previous minister, in the whilk Gleib, designed as aforesaid, the Earl of Glencairn and the Laird of Newark pretend interest, and therefore the said Mr. James is withheld from the possession thereof: and further, they seriouslie recommend to the parochiners of Kilmacolm the reparation of the Manss, nowe verie insufiicient." On enquiry it was found that the glebe was inconvenient, both by situation and by being scattered over the parish, and a commission was appointed by the Presbytery to arrange for an excambion and a final designation of the glebe of Kilmacolm. Kilmacolm: 59

Mr. James Alexander who, as we have seen, was inducted to Kilmacolm in 1655, was a young man of great ability and of unquestioned zeal and earnestness. He is described as " eminent for piety, and a considerable scholar, singular for gravity, and of a most obliging temper." He seems at once to have obtained the respect and esteem of his parishioners. No longer had they to complain that they were not sufficiently roused. None "was suffered to fall asleep under his ministry; nor were ill-doers allowed to escape the penalty of their transgressions. The Earl of Glencairn himself was dealt with by the Kirk-Session for grievous misconduct. In the year 1657 no fewer than three young women of Kilmacolm, Janet Taylor, Christian Wilson, and Margaret Hay, admitted to the Session that he was the father of their illegitimate children. This great scandal Mr. Alexander deemed it necessary to bring before the Presbytery. They could not summon the Earl to their bar, as he was at the time a prisoner in the Castle of Edinburgh in connection with the abortive Highland rising. They, however, appointed one of their number to visit him in prison, who, on 20th Jan., 1658, reported that he had brought the Earl humbly to acknowledge his guilt, and to profess sincere sorrow for his sin. As he could not in present circumstances, make public repentance in the kirk of Kilmacolm, Mr. Alexander was instructed, on the next Sunday, to announce to the congregatlon that the Earl of Glencairn confessed that he was guilty and earnestly craved forgiveness. The time was near at hand when the proud and crafty Earl was to deal, after a very different fashion, with church censures, and the doings of ecclesiastical courts. Kilmacolm: 64

When the Act of Glasgow was passed on 1st October, 1662, the Presbytery of Paisley consisted of 15 ministers. These were Mr. James Taylor at Greenock ; Mr. John Hamilton at Tnverkip ; Mr. James Wallace at Inchinnan ; Mr. Hugh Peebles at Lochwinnoch : Messrs. Alex. Dunlop, John Drysdale, and James Stirling, at Paisley; Mr. John Stirling at Kilbarchan ; Mr. Patrick Simpson at Renfrew ; Mr. Hugh Smith at Eastwood ; Mr. William Thomson at Mearns; Mr. William Thomson at Houston ; Mr. James Hutchison at Killallan ; Mr. Hugh Wallace at Neilston ; and Mr. James Alexander at Kilmacolm. Of these, eleven were summarily ejected, leaving only the first four in the above list. About a year afterwards, three of these refusing to conform, were suspended from the ministry, and ejected from their charges; so that out of the whole Presbytery of Paisley, only one minister, Mr. Taylor, of Greenock, continued to hold office. Kilmacolm: 68

                   4

Mr. [James] Alexander of Blackhouse and Boghall, Minister of Kilmalcolm, to which charge he was ordained in 1656. He married Mary, daughter of the Laird of Southbar, and aunt of Mr. James Stirling, minister of the Barony of Glasgow. This marriage took place in 1657. A contract was entered into upon the occasion, "between the said Robert Alexander and James Alexander, commissar at Kilmalcolm, his eldest son, on the marriage of the latter with Mary Maxwell, daughter of John Maxwell of Southbar, whereby the former became bound to convey to the latter his lands of Blackhouse, Chappelland, mill of Daimilling, £3, 11s. land of Dalmilling, called Gairdner Hunter and Lauchland's mailings, and the one-half merkland of Dalmilling, called Greystack, under the reservation of his own liferent of one half thereof," dated 9th June 1657. Mr. Alexander was among the "outed" ministers in 1662. He is said to have died of fever in 1669; but this could not have been the case, for, on the 30th October 1685, he grants a disposition in favour of Robert Alexander, his eldest lawfull son, of the lands and estate of Blackhouse. History of the County of Ayr II: Appendix, p. 531

Genealogy

1. Memorials of the Earl of Stirling and of the House of Alexander. By the Rev. Charles Rogers LL.D., etc. Vol. II (William Paterson, Edinburgh, 1877), 264 pp. including index
2. Kilmacolm: A Parish History 1100-1898. By James Murray, MA., Minister of the Parish (Alexander Gardner, Paisley, 1898) 267 pp. including index
3. History of the County of Ayr. With a Genealogical Account of the Families of Ayrshire. By James Paterson. Vol. II. (George Stevenson, Edinburgh, M.DCCC.LII.), 528 pp.
4. History of the Counties of Ayr and Wigton. Vol I - Kyle Part II. By James Paterson (James Stillie, Edinburgh, 1863) 778 pp. plus Addenda/Appendix and 36 p. index. For Alexander family see pp. 533-35 and pp. 668-71, plus Addenda/Appendix pp. 531-36
5. Fasti Ecclesiæ Scoticanæ: The Succession of Ministers in the Church of Scotland from the Reformation. By Hew Scott, DD. New Edition. Volume III. Synod of Glasgow and Ayr (Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, 1920), 535 pp. including indexes