James Erskine
James had his daughter baptised at Charlotte Chapel, but possibly the more
important connection is his theologian brother, Thomas.
- Lived
- 1787-1816
- Origin
- Linlathen
- Father
- David Erksine of Linlathen d.1791
- Mother
- Anne Graham, daughter of William Graham of Airth, and Anne
Stirling, daughter of Sir Henry Stirling, third Baronet of Ardoch. She a
Jacobite who held an Episcopalian service in Airth castle each Sunday and
refused to pray for King George (3)
- Estate
- Linlathen
- Story
- After James' death in 1815 the estate was inherited by his
brother Thomas, an advocate who had grown up in Edinburgh and a lay theologian
with views strongly reminiscent of those of Daniel Sandford. Thomas moved between Church of
Scotland preachers he admired like Thomas Chalmers and John McLeod Campbell,
and the Episcopalian liturgy, using the prayer book offices for his daily
devotions and having a funeral according to the English rite. In 1820 Thomas
published 'Remarks on the Internal Evidence for the Truth of Revealed
Religion', one of Sandford's favourite topics. He developed a theology of the
universal availability of the gospel which was considered heterodox by
presbyterians, but he was universally admired for his erudite, warm piety
(3).
- Chapel connection
- 1815 (baptism)
- Married on
- 1811
- Spouse
- Catherine Stirling
- Children
- Catherine (1815)
- Related to
- Christine Erskine was his
second cousin once removed.
Further ResearchHis obituary is in the first issue of the Dundee
Courier, 20 September 1816
Sources
- Registers of Charlotte Chapel (NAS CH12/3)
- Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1818
- 'Thomas Erskine of Linlathen, 1788-1870' by Trevor Hart in The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2004)
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