New Spalding Club > Records of Invercauld MDXLVII - MDCCCXXVIII [1547- 1828]

412 RECORDS OF INVERCAULD.
him for piety, prudence and benevolence, inheriting from his ancestors that purity and simplicity
of manners which became his station, and a love of letters, which, without attracting the notice of
the world, amused his leisure and dignified his retirement.' He marr. ist Margaret, daught. of
David Gregory of Kinnairdie (one of twenty nine children), and had a son Dr. Thojias, distin-
guished as a metaphysician, and Professor of Moral Philosophy in the Univ. of Glasgow, and a
daughter, Elizabeth ; 2dly, Janet, daughter of Eraser of Phopachy ; she died 26th Jan. 179S,
aged 87, and had two daughters, Margaret, who marr. the Rev: Alexander Leslie, of Fourdoun,
and Grace — the Rev: John Ross of Udny.'' — Scott's Fasti.
10. "Alexander Garden, A.M., trans, from Kinnairney called by the Presb. jure devoluto
24th Aug., and adm. 12th Oct. 1726 ; died 5lh Feb: 1778, in his 91st year and 58th min. He
marr. 2nd Sept. 1759 Janet Robertson, who died 5th Feb. 1810, and had two sons, Dr. Alexander,
physician, Charlestown, So. Carolina, known for his learning and courtesy, and John, merchant,
London." — Scott's Fasti.
It may be added (Jervise's Epitaphs and Inscriptions, Vol. II., p. 45.) "A marble tablet,
built into the outer and south wall of the Church of Birse, bears this inscription to the Rev.
Alex. Garden :—
"Viro Optimo A. G., hujusce ecclesi^ multos annos pastori, qui pietate, Uteris, morumque
suavitate sacro-sancta evangelii instituta illustravit. Inconcussa in patriam fide saevus inter belli
civillis furores laborantibus nee ope, nee concilio, nee hospitio defuit. Nee non matri dilectissimae,
pauperum patronae, hunc lapidem, tantarum virtutum monumentum eheu ! caducum post
peregrinationem XXXVIII. annorum tandem redux Alexr. Garden, posuit, M.D. CC. LXXXIX.
["To the memory of an excellent man, A. G., for many years minister of this church, who
by his piety, learning, and uniform sweetness of disposition, illustrated the most holy precepts of
the Gospel. Of unshaken fidelity to his country, he afforded aid, counsel, and hospitality to the
distressed during the savage fury of the Civil War : Antl also to the memory of his most dearly
loved Mother, a benefactress of the poor. Alexander Garden, in 1789, on his return after an
absence abroad of 38 years, erected this stone, as, alas ! a perishable memorial of so great virtues.]
"Mr. Alex. Garden, who came to Birse in 1726, and died there in 1777, aged 97, was
previously mmister of Kinerny. He was passionately fond of music, and played the violin with so
much enthusiasm that before coming to Birse he had earned for himself the sobriquet of ' the feel
(foolish) fiddler of Kinerny ! ' It is said that he composed the tune of 'Jenny dang the weaver,'
in celebration of a dispute that his wife had with a local ' customer weaver,' in which the lady was
victorious. In Thomson's Orpheus Caledontus (1773), a scarce and valuable collection of Scots
Songs set to music, the song ' O' mither dear I 'gin to fear' is set (11.83) 'o 'he tune of 'Jenny
beguiled the wt;bster.'
" Mr. Garden had a son who was bred a saddler, and on going to London he established the
house of Garden S: Co., Piccadilly, accountr-ment makers and army saddlers. He made a fortune
by his liusiness, and bought an estate in Norfolk, which is still held by descendants. Another
son (the erecter of the above tablet) was a physician at Charleston, South Carolina, an able
naturalist, and a correspondent of Linnaeus."
Mr. Garden's musical and poetical tendencies led him to an intimate intercourse with John
Skinner, the celebrated author of " Tullochgorum," " The ewie wi' the crookit horn," etc., who
was a native of the parish.
11. "James Paterson, pres. by Sir Arthur Forbes of Craigievar in April and ord. ist Nov.
1734; died 10th Jan. 1789, in his 86th year and 55th min. Two sons, James and John, were
physicians in Jamaica, and a daugh. Helen married Hr. William Morrice, min. of Lumphanan."
— Scott's Fasti.
12. "James Robertson, called 8th Jan., and ord. (at TuUich) 22nd JIarch 1699 ; he was on a
visit to England from Sth April to 9th September 1716, and died 15th July 1747, aged about 74,
in 49th min." — Scott's Fasti.