Biggar and the House of Fleming

BIGGAR CHURCHYARD. 157
besides Robert, to wbom we have just referred. They all de-
voted themselves to the learned professions. James, a very-
amiable man, and a most respectable medical practitioner, was
settled at Moffat, and afterwards at Limekilns. Ebenezer
studied for the church, and was for a number of years con-
nected with the Scottish Establishment. He acted for some
time as chaplain of Simpson's Asylum at Plean, near Falkirk,
and, after the Disruption, was settled minister of the Free
Church at Bannockburn. He was a man of capital scholarship
and great humour. He died on the 3d February 1864.
William, who is minister of the United Presbyterian congrega-
tion at Limekilns, is a person whose ability, learning, and
great moral worth, have not only given him a high place in
the United Presbyterian Church, but throughout a wide section
of the community. The University of Glasgow, at which he
studied, conferred on him the degree of Doctor in Divinity.
In the north part of the Churchyard is a vault without grace
or ornament, and, in fact, of so rude a construction as to be even
an eyesore among the humble stones by which it is surrounded.
Beneath it repose the ashes of Thomas Ord, the famous eques-
trian, and his first wife. Mr Ord's early history is obscure.
It has been stated that he was the son of the Rev. Selby Ord,
minister of Longformacus ; that he was for some time a medi-
cal student ; and that, being of a roving disposition, he threw
aside the lancet and dissecting-knife, and enlisted into a cavalry
regiment, in which he served till a friend of his father pur-
chased his discharge. On the other hand, it has been asserted
that he engaged himself, when a boy, to a distinguished eques-
trian of the name of M'Donald, with whom he served five
years. In his sixteenth year, it is said, he started as an
equestrian on his own account, and in this character made his
debut at Kelso. However this may be, it is certain that, at
an early part of his career as a master equestrian, he drew a
company around him, and performed with eclat in many of the
smaller towns of Scotland. Having great confidence in his
own abilities, and encouraged by the success which had attended
his previous efforts, he set up regular establishments in Edin-
burgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, Perth, Inverness, Dum-
fries, etc., and everywhere received substantial marks of public
favour. He then made a descent into England, and performed