History of the Fife Pitcairns

468 THE FIFE PITCAIRNS.
Mr Pitcairn married Mary Anderson in 1689, or before,
and had five sons and seven daughters.
The witnesses to the children's births were Mr Alexander
Pitcairn, Minister at Dron (David Pitcairn's father) ; George
Pitcairn, Commissary of Dunkeld in 1690, 1692, 1699
(David Pitcairn's brother).
The other witnesses for those years were, John Menzies,
Advocate ; Adam Chrystie, Clerk ; Sir James Foulis of
Colinton ; Sir James Primrose of Carrington. " 1692, Mr
James Anderson, W.S., Sir Robert Christie (late Lord
Provost)." "1699, Mr Newman Lowis of Merchistown ;
and, 1699, William Calderwood, Advocate." l
Mr Pitcairn resided much on his property, showed a
deep interest in all parochial matters, and enjoyed in a
remarkable degree public respect and confidence. He was,
for example, an active and efficient member of the kirk-
session, which he represented for many years at different
times, in the Presbytery of Edinburgh, and in the Synod.
" In 1694, the Session recommend to Mr Pitcairn's care
the provision of our Kirk until the minister (Mr Jas.
Thomson) return from the north, where he has been
ordered to go by the Synod." He was also the ruling
elder of the parish church for many years. Two damask
towels are in the possession of the Session, given in 1706
by David Pitcairn of Dreghorn. Mr Shankie, in his book,
' The History of Colinton,' quotes the following : —
" Mr Pitcairn, who, as will soon appear, was so remarkable for
illustrious descendants, could boast of progenitors no less eminent.
He was sprung from the ancient and honourable family of which,
in his day, Dr Archibald Pitcairne, famous as a Latin poet, and
' the honour of his profession in Scotland,' was a member. Dr
Webster dedicates his memoirs of that remarkable man (Edin.,
1 73 1, 8vo) to Dr William Pitcairne of London, his kinsman.
" Both Mr Pitcairn of Dreghorn and the physician were de-
scended from the Pitcairns of that Ilk and Forthar, of whom one
was Andrew Pitcairne, who with no fewer than seven sons fell at
Flodden (15 13), gallantly fighting by the side of their Sovereign." 2
Mr Pitcairn, as we have seen, died in 1709, and left a
widow and a numerous family. He was succeeded in his
1 Edinburgh Registers. 2 Biographical Annals of Colinton, by Mr Murray.