Strathendrick, and its inhabitants from early times

THE ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF BALFRON 33
him, desiring him to give in to the Presbytery a presentation from the Right
Hon. the Earl of Kinnoul in favour of Mr. George Sinclair, together with a
letter from Mr. Sinclair accepting the presentation. This presentation, no doubt,
was a very disagreeable surprise not only to the Presbytery but to the majority
of the heritors and to the parish generally, for though patronage had been forced
upon the Church of Scotland by the British Parliament in 1 7 1 2, still up to this
time, so unpopular was it, that it had seldom been acted on by the patrons,
who usually took no part in a settlement other than perhaps in some instances
recommending a minister, although not insisting on him. The heritors, elders,
and people were thus virtually the electors, and if the call was regular, and
there were no objections to the chosen minister's life and doctrine, he was
settled by the Presbytery. About this time, however, the patrons were beginning
to assert themselves, and the consequences, as in this case, were often most
unfortunate. Mr. Alexander Buchanan of Cremannan, who was present at the
Presbytery, took exception to the presentation on some technical grounds, but
neither at this time nor afterwards was Lord Kinnoul's legal right to the patronage
seriously disputed. Mr. Buchanan further informed the Presbytery that he
concurred with Glins and other heritors in desiring to call Mr. William
Buchanan. Mr. John Edmond, however, and other elders were in favour of
Mr. David Brown. The Presbytery delayed the matter, and subsequently sent
a committee of their number to Balfron " to find out the inclination of the
parish."
On the 6th January 1730 the committee reported to the Presbytery that
they met at Balfron 22nd December 1729, and that Culcreuch and other
heritors, as well as some elders and heads of families, had protested against
the meeting. Gleneagles, and the lairds of Glins, Cremannan, and Mains, as
well as John Wright of Easter Glins, John Buchanan of Provenstoun, John
Baik of Spittall, Patrick Nielson of Little Cammohill, and James Nielson of
Cammohill, all heritors, were in favour of Mr. Buchanan ; that Culcreuch, Ballin-
dalloch, and Balgair adhered to the paper formerly given in by them. That
the elders being called, John Lockhart and other three declared for Mr.
Buchanan ; and John Edmond and other five declared for a further hearing of
Mr. David Brown. That the heads of families being called upwards of thirty
of them declared for Mr. Buchanan ; all the rest, being upwards of eighty,
declared for a further hearing of Mr. David Brown. A letter was also read
from Lord Poltoun, William Drummond, Alexander Hay, and John Murray,
Doers for the Earl of Kinnoul in relation to His Lordship's right of presentation
to the parish of Balfron. The Presbytery, after hearing this report, appointed
Mr. David Brown and Mr. Buchanan to preach again at Balfron.
On the 3rd February 1730 the Balfron case was again before the Presbytery,