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

Tlic Cliurcli and Ministers of Ellon. 485
1649. Mr. David Lindsay of Belhelvie preached, and by virtue of ane commission
from the Presbytery of Ellon, being assisted by Mr. Gilbert Anderson, minister of
Cruden, did instal Mr. Paterson as actual minister, and that upon ane unanimous
supplication of ye parochine given unto the Presbyterie to transplant him from the
church of Foveran,' and the whole paroche did receive him as their pastor. Mr. Pater-
son remained until 1659, when he was translated to Aberdeen, where his translation was
bitterly opposed by Andrew Cant. He was afterwards Bishop of Ross, father and son
were at the same time Bishops.
Mr. John Paterson, regent in St. Andrews University, was son of the preceding. On
October 30, 1659, he preached at Ellon, and on the following Sunday the congregation
have sermon from Robert Ogilvie of Methlick, who afterwards retires to the session-
house with the elders, fifteen being present and four absent. The business was to
appoint a minister, when Mr. Paterson was elected by a large majority. Four, however,
dissented and protested, namely, Donaldson of Hilton, John Gordon of Fechil, John
More of Kinmucks, and George Cassie. The bodie of the people did very cheerfully
assent.' He remained only two years. He rose rapidly in the church ; was translated
to Edinburgh, and in 1687 he was appointed Archbishop of Glasgow. He was said to be
a great promoter of the test, and always studied too much to please the court.^
James Eraser was next minister. In the session records of Ellon there are these
entries regarding him. "July 5, 1663. Mr. James Eraser did preach, being about to
be minister." " October 10. The first session held by James Eraser, minister." He
was afterward deposed. The minister, who had been south in the spring of 1672, is
again there for some months in the spring of 1674. Soon after his return the visitation
of the church was held, and thereafter, on the 31 May, Mr. Irvine of Udny preached
and intimated that the kirk of Ellon having been visited on the 19 inst., and Mr. James
Eraser, present incumbent, having "obstinately refused to submit himself to the Presby-
tery, he was suspended until the sub-synod, to be held at Aberdeen in August. From
August, the suspension was continued until October, and on 13 December, his de-
position by my Lord Bishop and Synod, for his contumacy and disobedience was an-
nounced, and the Church declared vacant.''
Walter Stewart was the next minister. Before his appointment in 1678, it is
recorded that one, Mr. George Mill, was now called to the church of Ellon. He is
mentioned in the records as " a residenter in Logiebuchan, and a young man who had
preached there occasionally." His settlement was strongly opposed by the heritors, led
by Colonel Fullerton of Dudwick, and, according to their statement, the body of the
people and the majority of the Presbytery were opposed to him. The Bishop, at a
meeting of the Presbytery in Aberdeen, called on them to state their opinions. With
the exception of the minister of Logy, they thought him unfit for the charge, or gave
but a very qualified approval, and from their statement it would seem that Mr. George
1 Mairs Records of Ellon, p. loo. 3 Mair's Records of Ellon, p. 124.
2 Id. p. 124. 4 Id- P- 134-