New Spalding Club > Thanage of Fermartyn including the district commonly called Formartine

236 The TJianage of Fermartyn.
malignant, and stiff-necked people, his stipend has been and still is very little, namely,
ane hundred pounds money and twenty-four bolls victual, with one vicarage of little
value. His manse was imperfect, and he is so straitened that he had not ane foot-
broad over his gate, and was so surrounded with cottars and grassmen, that in the
summer time when his beasts did set their heads over the gate, they were either killed
or pitifullie beaten ; that his glebe was but ane little piece of land lyand far from his
manse and kirk, about ane mile and ane half, and consequently unprofitable ; that by
reason of this he was exposed to the reproach and contempt of his people, and the
Gospel under-valued and slighted." '
James Gordon was appointed in 1659. He preached at the consecration of the
Scotch Bishops in Holyrood, 7 May, 1662," and was afterwards translated to the mother
church of Kinkell.
William Seton, A.M., was translated from Lumphanan, admitted prior to July,
1662.3
George Chalmer, son of George Chalmer, minister of Rhynie, who was appointed to
Drumblade before 4 February, 1687. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. James
Gordon, parson of Rothiemay.' She was executrix to her father, and died 16 January,
1692. By her he had two sons and two daughters — James, George, Anna, and Jean.
He afterwards, when very old, married Rachel, said to be a daughter of Sir John
Forbes of Waterton. She was alive in 1696. He presented to the parish two Com-
munion cups, and died 1702. (See Monkshill.)
John Turing, A.M., was formerly minister of Insch, and was admitted to Drumblade,
16 March, 1703. He died January, 1733, aged about 84. From him is descended the
present family of Turing. (See Foveran, Turing.)
John Stewart was admitted minister of Drumblade, 20 February, 1734; died
January, 1 743. He married Magdalene, daughter of Gordon of Birkenburn. She died
2 May, 1783. Their son, John Stewart, sold the estate of Birkenburn to James, Earl of
Seafield. The Gordons possessed Birkenburn from 1547. Adam Gordon and
Christina Gordon, his spouse, obtained a feu charter (cartam feodifirmam) in that year.^
George Gordon was served heir, in 1752, to his grandfather, Robert Gordon of Chapel-
town,' and was translated from Bourtie to Drumblade, where he died 8 December, 1763,
leaving a son, Charles, who went to Glasgow ; a daughter, Elizabeth, who was married
to John Alleson, Port Glasgow. Dr. Scott says another daughter married Captain
John Henry of Corse, but this is a mistake. It was a daughter of Robert Gordon,
minister of Drumblade, whom Mr. Henry married.
^\'illiam Bisset, A.M., was translated from Footdee Chapel of Ease, Aberdeen,
having been presented by the Earl Marischal to Drumblade on 22 May, 1765.' He
was translated to Dundee.
1 Brebner's Notes on the Presb. of Turriff in Aber Journ. 5 New Stat. Acct. Ant. A. .tnd B. 1 1 . p. =50.
2 Grub's Eccles. Hist. III. p. 199. 6 Decen. Rets. 1752.
3 Eccles. Records, Aberdeen, p. 214. 7 New Stat. Acct.
4 New Stat. Acct. p. Poll Book, II. p. 271.