John Howie of Lochgoin

JOHN HOWIE OF LOCHGOIN II
that he died suddenly in 1754, that is, a year before his aged
father; that the eldest of the two sons borne by Martha
Thomson was the author of The Scots Worthies; and that it
was to Martha's father, John Thomson in Black's Hill, that
he was sent when he was a year old. Carslaw also states
that, in his boyhood, he attended two schools, one taught by
his uncle, James Howie, at Whirlhall, the other by Adam
Millar at Horsehill ; that his first wife was named Jean Lind-
say, and the second Janet Howie ; that by the first he had one
son, and by the second five sons and three daughters; and
that, as his step-mother remained several years at Lochgoin
after his father's death, he did not occupy the farm until
shortly after his first marriage, that was, in or about the
year 1762.
We now turn again, for a little, to the Memoirs of 1796.
John Howie confesses that in his youth he was thoughtless
and careless; but the only vice with which he could charge
himself was his inclination "to too much vain and unprof-
itable discourse when in company". He says, however, that,
after he was grown up, he soon found "predominant evils"
ingrained in his constitution, which, through the want of
restraining grace and the omission of secret prayer, over-
came him. The early death of his first wife "somewhat
affected" him; but his corruptions revived upon him, and
he was reproached by some of his neighbours and relations,
who thought that he was much worse than he really was,
and some people rashly blamed him for things that he was
innocent of. Regarding his slanderers he says : "I wish
the Lord may give them forgiveness, as I wish and expect
forgiveness for what occasion I gave them, and for what
I was justly chargeable in the sight of a holy God with."
All this time he had kept up family worship, and attended
divine ordinances and society meetings. In a formal way
he usually prayed in secret; but sometimes neglected even
the formal performance of this duty.
"At last", he says, "I married again a cousin of my own
[this was Janet Howie], who was of a quiet disposition,