Reverend Thomas Somerville, Minister of the Gospel at Cavers

REVEREND THOMAS SOMERVILLE

Minister of the Gospel of Cavers

Fasti of the Church od Scotland II: 105-6

Biographical Summary

Thomas Somerville, son of James, second son of Sir James S. of Cambusnethan ; M.A. (St Andrews, 28th July 1666) ; pres. by Robert, Archbishop of Glasgow, jure devoluto, 15th May, and ord. 17th Sept. 1674; inst. 18th Aug. 1675. It is on record that when the Presb. went to Cavers that day " they found the church and churchyard doors fast shut, quherwpon they sent the Presb. officer to Sir William Douglas his house to demand the keyes, bot he could get accesse neither to Sir William nor his lady, only mett with their daughter, whose answer was that no keyes was to be had there, so that the brethren were necessitat, without preaching and ordinar solemnities, to give Mr Thomas institution at the kirk-stilo likeas they did at the manse and gleib by delivering earth and stone according to usual custome. It was ordered that a letter should be written to Archbishop Burnet to acquent his Grace of this affront put on the Presb. in shutting up the church and churchyard doors, and when they came to execut his Grace's commands that a number of women were conveened in the churchyard with their laps full of stons, as a guard to keep us out of church and churchyard, and beside that some women rail'd on us, calling us soul murderers and the divel's servants, which letter was drawn and subscribit to give to the Archbishop." S. was deprived by the Privy Council, 29th Aug. 1689, for neither reading the Proclamation of the Estates nor praying for William and Mary. He continued in residence till 1693, when he retired to Hawick, where he ministered to Episcopalians in his own lodgings till his death in the prime of life. He marr. -- Burnside, and had a son, William, min. of Hawick, and two daughs., of whom Dorothea marr. 8th Dec. 1710, William Hadden, one of the masters of the High School, Edinburgh.

SOURCE: Fasti ecclesiae scoticanae: the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the reformation, Vol. II, page 105