Records of the Pringles of the Scottish Border, by Alex Pringle

Chapter 33

THE CHURCH

IN 1508 Robert Hoppringill, brother of George of Torwoodlee and Clifton, appears first as rector of Morham, Haddingtonshire (see East Teviotdale, and for his marriage, Fountainhall).

In 1526 Duncan Pringle is a dean in the monastery of Inchmahome, in the Lake of Menteith; where Queen Mary when six years old was sent for a while for safety (Red Book of Menteith).

In 1529 David Hoppringill is dean and treasurer of Melrose Abbey (see Buckholm).

In 1537 Robert, rector of Arniston, is a witness at Coldstream; also in 1560. He died in 1568 (T. E.). He left two sons, Robert and James. Robert, prebender in the College of Brighton, acts as bailie at the sasine of James Hoppringill of that Ilk in 1567 (L. Ch.). In 1591 James succeeded him in the College, being granted all the revenues of the prebendary of Arniston for life, and in 1585 he was followed by Jasper Hoppringill.

In September 1547 David Pringill is appointed Vicar of Stow on the decease of Gavin Hoppringill (P. S.).

In June 1561 James Hopprlngill is admitted one of the 12 beadsmen of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Edinburgh ; and afterwards acted as collector of their revenues till 1577 (Register of the Church).

In 1561 died Robert, provost of the chapel of Dirleton, in the Castle. .

In 1564 is registered the testament of William, pretender of Bothwell (Edin. Commissariat).

PROTESTANT

In 1646 Andrew Pringle, M.A., is appointed minister of Kirkton, Hawick, and the heritors, feuars, and tenants of the parish having refused to pay him his teinds, the Lords ordain them to pay within ten days under pain of horning. In 1650 he was translated to Castleton, Liddesdale. In January 1649 a detachment of the Cromwellian Army " did lie in the kirk of Castleton several nights, broke down the fittings, and carried away the books of session, with which they lit their pipes '' (History of Liddesdale). Andrew died in 1689, aged 72. By his wife Janet Scott he had two daughters ; Jean who married in 1677, as second wife, John Buchanan, last of that Ilk, and Elizabeth who married in 1679 Colin Campbell of Carwhin, W.S. (Fasti Eccl. Scot.)

For John Pringle, minister of Fogo, Berwickshire, see Whytbank.

In 1650 James Pringle of Burnfoot graduated at Edinburgh, about 1658 appointed minister of Westerkirk, Eskdale, deprived by the Privy Council in 1662, restored, on petition of the parishioners, in 1679, probably deprived again in 1681 for refusing the Test (Fasti Eccl. Scot.).

In 1654 James, son of Sir Patrick Hamilton, having got into some trouble, was in prison on board the Blossom at Harwich. On attempting to escape he received a shot from a carbine. While in the surgeon's hands the Rev. Alexander Pringle, attended to him, and when he died saw to his burial in the chancel of Harwich church (The Hamiltons of Fala). ln 1655 the Mayor and Aldermen of Harwich petitioned the Protector to maintain their election of Mr Pringle as their Minister, and that future elections might be in the hands of the town (State Papers, Green).

REV. ALEXANDER OF PERTH, D.D.,

was the third son of William Pringle, farmer of Blakelaw Kelso, who was a grandson of William of Craig of Yair, brother (natural) of Alexander Pringle of Whytbank and Yair. Born in 1752, he was one of a family of seven sons and one daughter. When about ten years of age he was sent to the High School of Duns, and about fifteen went to Edinburgh University. After leaving this, he studied Theology for a time at Alloa under the Rev. W. Moncrieff, Professor of Divinity to the General Associate Synod. When about twenty-four years of age he received Ms licence as a preacher, and was called to the Collegiate Secession Church of Perth, the congregation of which was then very large. This office he held till his death, which took place in May 1839 in the 87th year of his age and 62nd of his ministry, In 1819 Marischal College, Aberdeen, conferred upon him the degree of D.D. In the 50th year of his ministry he received from the congregation a handsome present of plate. He was author of three or four religious publications, the most notable being Scriptural Gleanings published a few months before his death. Dr Pringle had a son William who became minister of a Secession church in U.S.A. Of his brothers, Adam was Lord Provost of Perth where in 1820 they settled at Glen Lynden on lands granted to them by the Government under the leadership of Dr Pringle's nephew Thomas Pringle, the South African Poet and Reformer, for whom see the Dictionary of National Biography, or the 1833-35, others emigrated to South Africa,, Encyclopaedias.