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

484 Tlie Tlianage of Fermartj'n.
Patrick Cheyne was the next, and in 1547, Francis Cheyne, his brother, was
appointed his successor."
John Leslie, prebendary of Ellon in 1557, witnessed a feu charter of George, Earl of
Huntly.'
In 1563, Andrew Leslie, prebendary of Ellon, was a witness to a charter of William,
Bishop of Aberdeen, to Robert Turing of Foveran, and his spouse. This is the last
prebendary of Ellon of the Church of Rome witnessing a charter of his Bishop, William
Gordon.^
We now come to the period after the Reformation.
John George was reader from 1567 — 1586.
The first minister was Mr. John Herriot — mentioned in session records of Ellon in
1602 and 1604.*' John Herriot, M. A., took his degree at the University of St. Andrews
in 1582-3. In 1598, a band was subscribed in his presence by William Keith of Lud-
quharne and Alexander Keith, his son.^ Mr. Herriot died sometime between the 8th
of June, 1604, and 20 March, 1605.
Robert Mercer was the fourth son of James Mercer of Newton. He died 6 January,
163S, in the thirty-third year of his ministry. "To him whom I have always found kind
and faithful," Mr. John Johnston bequeathed in 161 1, " his little ring with the diamond
quhilk he himself brought to me from the noble Prince. Providing that if he die with-
out heirs male of his awin, that the foresaid ring be left to the best scholar native of
Aberdeen, especially the best poet, because I recevit it as ane reward of my poesie." ''
David Leeche was in 1638, promoted from being sub-principal of King's College and
University. He was presented to Ellon by Charles I., and fled to His Majesty with some
others on account of the Covenant, but returned to Aberdeen, 2 June, 1839. He
preached a penitential sermon and gave obedience to the kirk." The following is
recorded regarding him : — " Mr. David Leitch, minister of Ellon, happening to step out
of the manse between twelve and one o'clock, did see the sun to shine as if it had been
mid-day, and much astonished at so fearful a prodigy, he called to his bedral to see it
also ; and lest the truth thereof should not win belief, he caused the bedral to raise a
number of neighbours from their beds, all which did testify the same." ^ He wrote a
funeral oration on the death of Bishop Forbes. He paraphrased the songs of the Old
and New Testatment. This, however, was never printed, but he published a volume of
Latin poetry, which was printed at London. Sir Thomas Urquhart thus speaks of him
— " I forbear to spend encomiums upon that worthy gentleman. Master David Leech,
who is a most fluent poet in the Latin tongue, an exquisite philosopher and a profound
theologe."'
John Paterson was translated from Foveran, and appointed to Ellon, 9 September,
1 Ant. A. and B. III. p. 443. 6 Trans-ictions Society of Antiquaries.
2 Id. p. 435- 7 Orem's His. of Old Abdn. p. 273 ; Mair's Records 01
3 Id. p. 86. Ellon, p. 50 ; Spal. Troubles, I. p. 199.
4 Mair's Records of Ellon, p. 50. 8 Chambers' Domestic .Annals, II. p. 147.
5 P. C. R. v. p. 62 ; Mair's Records of Ellon, p. sr. 9 Bishop Forbes' Funeral Orations, p. 236.