Mundell Whos Who

MUNDELLS IN TINWALD

Two Covenanting Brothers

The Dying Testimony of JAMES MUNDEL, in Runnerhead in the parish of Tinwald and shire of Nithsdale, who died the 9th of April, 7724, in the 65th year of his age.k (He was therefore born about 7659.)

It begins : " I being now frail and aged, and not knowing how soon my friendly Lord and \laster may call me out of time into eternity, have seen, heard, and experienced strange things... The first faithful minister that ever I heard was Mr John Wellwood, then Mr John Welch, and, next to him, Mr George Barclay; who, in their preaching, held forth the sin of hearing the curates ; so that, if ever I found Christ in the preaching of the Gospel, it was then, in and about the year 7676. Also I heard Mr Richard Cameron and Mr Donald Cargill, with many others afterwards.

About this time I was a hearer of Mr James Renwick, who faithfully preached the gospel, whereby my soul. was often refreshed. Yet, what trouble I had from within and persecution from without; from enemies, and from natural enemies, my own relations . . . . I personally covenanted with the Lord upon the 28th of October, 7684, about the mid hour of the night. Wherein I engaged to stand to hair and hoof of all his controverted truths."

He witnesses against the defections of his covenanted brethren; particularly against \VIr Thomas Linning, Mr Alexander Shields, and Mr William Boyd, with many of the remnant who then (at the time of the fatal revolution) fell away -

1. When they addressed the bloody convention from their general meeting at Leadhills.

2. At Douglas, Edinburgh and Greyfriars kirkyeard; for their taking up a regimentl under the Earl of Angus, at the time of the incoming of the prince of Orange. And, last of all, I testified against that regiment, above Stirling bridge at the castle of Down (Doune).

The Lord also helped me to testify against ATr John :~1`:llillan and Mr John M'Niel, and these of my covenanted brethren with them, for their unstraight dealing in the Lord's cause first and last. And as I have not joined with such, I have been reproached with making division and right hand extremes. Although I approve not of division; and, as for right hand extremes, it is what I hate as fire. So that I durst not buy the privilege of preaching, with the quating of these truths. Now I desire to close all these, my sad contendings.

Now, as I have given away myself to the Lord, so al–so I have given away my wife to him, and my two children.

JAMES MUNDEL. Jan. 27, 1724.

[Italics are here and later used in order to call attention to words and phrases which repeat themselves.]

The few personal details enable us to identify his children in ?WiNlillan's register of marriages and baptisms.m From 1708 to 1770 James Mundell attended the General Meeting and brought away the money which was allocated to the poor of Nithsdale. We know that he married late in life, for, in the correspondence of Sir Robert Hamilton, John Mundell, whom I take to be his brother, is referred to as married, but James never. He was probably the James Mundell who was married by Alr M'Millan at Park 25th April, 1709, to Agnes Gass. After this he must have seceded from .11'Millan; and, after the old man's death (in 1724) his two children, then grown up, came to N'I'Millan for baptism. " At Hartbush (Tinwald), June 3o, 1729, was baptized, James Mundel and Agnes Gass in Tinwald their son John, giving an account of his faith, took on the engagements himself, aged 18 years." Also " at Hartbush May 2 1, 1732, was baptized Mary Mundel, daughter to the decenst James Mundel in Tinwald, who gave an account of her faith herself. "

In his testimony James quotes a number of texts, the first of which, from Ps. lxix., 33–" The Lord despiseth not his prisoners," is the only reference to his own imprisonment in Edinburgh. The circumstances are known from two independent sources.

Sir Robert Hamilton to friends in Glasgow - Earlston (Kirkt.) Feb. 26, 1692...P.S.Anything new of moment here is that the last week our friends in Tinwald, being informed of two curates residding in Drumfries, about the number of thirty of them armed went into the toun and, finding them at their service, with the Service Book in their hands, they took them out of the toun, and frighting them with certain death ; but they engageing never to exercise their office again in the three kingdoms, let them pass their way. The next day these Tinwald men came in to the toun again in the same manner and publickly burnt the Service Book, and discharged the pretended provost and magistrates under their highest peril not to suffer any such locusts to enter their city again. All this was done without the least resistance or disturbance, tho' a very indulged and malignant city.n

The provost seems to have been in Edinburgh at the date of the rabbling, as the information given by him to the Privy Council was based on letters. As stated in the Register for 23rd February, 1692, " on Sabbath the (blank) Feb. about thretty persons carried furth of the ports of the toun two ministers, detained them an hour and took a book from each and let them depairt. And on the Monday early these persons returned and did burn one of these books at the Cross and affixed a paper to the Cross." Later information was that they did deal indiscreetly and rudely with the two ministers and beat them. There were 16 persons, all mean country persons living about 4 or 5 miles from Drumfries, who disowned both Episcopal and Presbyterian ministers and acknowledged none but Mr Houston.o The Council censured the magistrates of Dumfries for negligence and no more occurred for the time. Not for three–quarters of a year at least. Under date Earlston, 13th November, 1692, Robert Smith (Sir Robert's henchman) wrote to Miss Janet Montgomery (Sir Robert's cousin) : " Mistress,–Our cloud seems to be growing darker; truth is more kythed to be truth since Sir Robert's taking. Fain would I have a word from Mr Montgomery anent Sir Robert." Sir Robert was taken at Earlston, 10th September, 1692.

Register of the Privy Council, r5 Sept., 1692. Orders for Sir Robert Hamilton and other prisoners brought to the Tolbooth of Edinburgh for alleged proclamation or paper at the croce of Sanquhar, in Aug. last. (This is the first, made loth August, 1692, of three Declarations to which almost all the Dying Testimonies refer with pride.) Sir Robert was next day ordered to the Tolbooth of Haddington. James iNioundell and John 'Wellsp in Tinwall paroch were put in different rooms in the Tolbooth of Edinburgh. John Bell and Halbert Wells in the same parish were dealt with similarly. John Heron in Kirkmacho parish was to be transferred to the Tolbooth of Leith. On the 13th October there were orders for a troop of dragoons to be stationed at Dumfries.

The isolation of the prisoners is referred to in A Relation concerning Thomas M'Millan (in Galloway - di. 3 Nov. 1696), and John Clark (in Lairdmannoch, Tongland). (Dying Testimonies, p. 8i.) " These two (with Sir Robert Hamilton) were the only sufferers in Galloway after the Revolution; who were carried to Dumfries, and soon after to Edinburgh with others in Tinnald who had been taken about the same time on account of the Declaration of 1692. Who, after their examination before the Council, were put sundry and sent to their several prisons in Edinburgh and Canongate tolbooths. Two of these taken at Tinnald, yeilding to the enemy, were shortly after liberated. But the rest, being detained for half or three quarters of a year, were set at liberty. Some supplicating without their consent and knowledge, got them out. Against which the honest sufferers gave a public testimony at their liberation." The imprisonment of Thomas iVI'Millan lasted half a year (ibid. 84).

James IMundell must have been oue of those who were let off with the shorter period of imprisonment (six months).

James Mundell to Sir Robert Hamilton–Tinwald, .,Ipril 25th, 1693. This is shewing that we came safely home and are all in good health. And now as to your Honour, I am realy hopefull that, either in your outcoming or inbiding, our Lord's cause will be vindicated. Though you in a manner be left alone, I hope the Lord will be your second

It is like your Honour will get a line from us the next or second week. If you get news concerning your Honour at this Parliament, get us notice by a line. My feckless love to you.

(P.S.) Remember my love to your Little Page Kathren Currie. (She is frequently referred to in these exchanges.)

The promised line followed in a week, signed by the four released prisoners.

John Glover, Harbert Wells, John Bell, and James Mundell to Sir Robert Hamilton –– Tinavald, .1 Aril 22nd, 1693. All grace, mercy and peace in your honourable bonds. Our greatest enemies, these two Ladies, Tine ald and Glenae, are yet using all policy secretly to persecute by putting away several of their tenants that are of our friends, merely upon malice at us and our Testimony, and will not suffer them to sit on their ground; we would wish your Honour's advice. The Presbytery or Synod of Drumfries caused Drumcoutran, one of their ruling elders, and a present bailie, to apprehend old James Robson, our friend, for

,a sower of sedition and seducing the people from the ordinances; which was done on Wednesday last; and upon Thursday sent him to prison, requiring that he should speak no more against their ministry and magistracy, but be silent and go where he would. But he told them lie would do it [would speak.

The two lads in Cokethill in Annandale, our fellowprisoners, are come up to our fellowship and both fully joined with us. We desire to hear if there be any motion concerning your Honour at this Parliament, or if you be like to get anything done with your Paper.

It was all the general report here, especially amongst the Indulged, that Mr Hepburn had been at the King and

procured our liberation, until we shewed them the contrary. lour poor feckless sympathizers and servants for the Lord's sake.

There is a letter, undated, from Sir Robert to James `lundel, Harbert Wells, etc., in which, addressing them as " my dear fellow–prisoners in and for Christ Jesus," he concludes : " I have had many suitors; each party fancies they would have a great prize in me. Your fellow–prisoner for Christ. " The following seems to be the reply to this note

Harbert Wells, John Clark, John Bell and Thomas 11`Millan to Sir Robert Hamilton – Cannongate, 2401 Oct., 1692.

We, your poor fellow–prisoners, are much refreshed by your Honour's line. As for us we heard of no jealousy of your Honour or your dear friends till we were made acquaint of it by Lady Earlston (Sir Robert's sister). Now as to the fast and the cause thereof, we dare not much disagree with your Honour's judgement; we have drawn up some necessary causes and we think fit to proceed in keeping of the Day. We have inclosed the Causes. We do nothing without consent of your fellow–prisoners.

Your Honour's poor and unworthy fellow–prisoners...

Robert Smith, 1666–13th December, 1724, who died at Douglas, aged 58,qwas the peripatetic organiser of the extreme Cameronians, those who were guided by Sir Robert Hamilton. He was never more than " student of divinity.'' The place of his origin is not anywhere stated, so far as I have seen; but he might be thought a native of Tinwald from an expression contained in one of two letters written to James Mundel, John Bell and John Glover in Tinwald.

Fingland, atcg. 22nd, i695.–Loving Friends, I am a poor distressed creature, tossed with the wearisome case of a lukewarm, worldish and self–seeking pack. Half a Reformation is good enough for many of us. I am wearied of my traveling through the West and most parts of the kingdom, seeing that I cannot bring them forward. Oh ! that I might live and die in poor Tinwald.

As soon as this comes to you, two of you step up to Earlston and see what ye can do; but let not witt that I bade you. Send down the sermons that ye will get from him, or Closeburn folk. The sermons that is in Robert Hamilton's book send them to jean Bell's in Annandale, for I intend to come in by them all the next week. Your dear billie (brother) etc. Smith also writes twice from Tinwald, the dates being 1st April, 1696, and 30th January, 1 701. Letters of 12th February, 169; ; 26th March, 1700 ; and 12th February, 1701, are addressed to him there. In a letter dated 18th March, 1700. Sir Robert Hamilton, writing to Robert Smith, uses the expression–" a godly woman like one of our Tinwald lasses."

These Hamilton letters show very clearly that no single Society in Scotland was so successful in maintaining the extreme principles advocated by Hamilton. The influence they had in the parish is to be inferred from the fact that, from the date when a " curate " was outed at the Revolution of 1688, there was no minister placed in the parish until 1697. At this date Alexander Robeson was ordained there so much against his inclination, that at first he endeavoured to escape. The connection of the Tinwald Society with this prolonged vacancy does not now rest on mere surmise, as the next letter shows. It may be allowed to explain itself, except to mention that NIr John Pasley, 1667–1712, was minister at Morton (Penpont Presbytery) from 1693 till his death in 1712.

To Mr. Pasley in the parish of Morton–Tinwald, Sept. 21st, 1695. We, the societies of Tinwald, hearing tell that some in this bounds has given you a call to this parish, we thought to send two of our members to bid you to desist from accepting of it, or of coming here; protesting that it is against Scripture, John x., 1, and the acts and constitution of the Reformed Church of Scotland to the calling and coming of a minister to a particular parish. If you will not, we let you to know that no perjured curate or curate's underling (such as you) or indulged Erastian shall come into this parish. But we will (through the Lord's assistance) to the last drop of our blood resist the same. No more at present, but remember that you are fairly warned, and if you keep scaith, blame not us. (There are no signatures.)

Thus warned off, in unmistakable terms, Mr Pasley remained in Morton; we presume that the church at Tinwald remained unused. It is not unlikely that the Tinwald Society worshipped in the church. They were fond of field preaching, but once at least they used the pulpit of Lesmahagow Parish Church.

There were no signatures to the " warning "; but the hand of Robert Smith seems to be betrayed by the repetition of the expression " kepp scaith " in the following letter signed by him. It is of interest for several reasons.

Robert Smith to James Mundell, John Bell, and John Glover in Tinwald–Glasgow 18 March 1697. Since I wrote you last I have heard by a friend that was at Edinburgh that you have been assaulted with one of these intruding hirelings, shortly, as of late. The storm will pass, and few of you kepp skaith. It is in some folks' thoughts that at that old Father Masson's roomr shall be filled up.

The Lord choosed some of you to bear witness for Him at Edinburgh in 1692; when the foxes got leave now and then, as they pleased, to come from that black Presbytery of Dumfries and preach in your church. From that day there has been a decay of your zeal. I hope there are none in Nithsdale and Annandale (and further too, if need were) that will or dare refuse you their help. I know there are some of you, and (an or if) ye could get backing, would venture your blood in the quarrel.

P.S. Send up these inclosed as soon as ye can. James Mundell, if ye please to sell your Bible with the Cane's notes,s send it to the General Meeting. A friend desired me to write you anent this. Till we meet.

As I was going to close this, I received yours come from Janet Wilson at Edinburgh–long looked for; from which I understand your case is as above represented. I add concerning Lawsont - God will he about him ;fear him not; set to and instruct and inform one another and forget him not in your prayers. Let John M'Millan be busy and I shall neighbour him. It is long since heu stood on the other side with the enemy. He came in like a lamb but is become a beast of prey. Be at your duty, though there were but six of you and a few women; ye have had experience of his loving kindness already, when some of your bloods was running for it; how he made your enemies to faint and fall away and quite their plea as ashamed.

Old Mr Houston is dead. As he lived, so he died contending and testifying against that indulged crew. Ile has left a testimony, as we hear, a few days before his death. When he was dead, the indulged man of that parish (notwithstanding of daily hot contests betwixt them when he was alive) invitted all his hearers to come to his Burrial, calling him a faithful brother. So he was honourably burried as well he deserved it, as a worthy servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. (This is the only known indication of the time of 'Mr David Houston's death. The place of his death is believed to have been in Ireland.)v

There is much more, both of local and of general interest in these letters, but there is only space for a few points. Robert Smith dated a letter from Glenmade May 12th 1701. This is a moorland farm in the parish of Kirkmahoe, on the borders of Closeburn, Tinwald and Kirkmichael. It is remarkable for its long association with the family of Fraser from the killing times to quite recent dates. In the letters of Robert Smith greetings are sent to Luke and Francis (or Francy) Frizzels, presumably the brothers who then occupied the place. Luke Fraser, best known as the beloved teacher of Sir Walter Scott, of Francis Jeffrey and of Lord Brougham, was a pupil in i76o of James Mundell, the Edinburgh schoolmaster to whom we shall come bye and bye. This Luke was probably a grandson of Luke of the year 1700. He was born at Auchenrath, in the parish of Kirkmahoe, on Christmas day, old style, 1735.

That John Mundell (of the Letters) was a younger brother of James is inferred from the manner in which the names appear. " Remember me to John Mundell and his family and to father Mason " (4 July 1695) ; " to James Mundell, John Mundell and his wife " (i5 July 1700) ; " to James Mundell and his brother " (zo Aug. 1700). There is no certainty that John is the John Mundell, who was rebel and fugitive in 1684 and was seen at the Runner of Tinwald about Beltane in that year. He was banished next year and " given " to Mr George Scott of Pitlochie for his plantation in America. At tho inquiry held in Tinwald in 1685 after the rescue at Enterkin, the following appear as in Rinner of Tinwald (printed Kinner) – John Mundell depones negative, Marion 'Mundell sick excused, Marion 'Iundell widow.w

Persons of the name James Mundell appear. in the same place and year (1) in Dalruskine; he must be the ancestor of the group next to be dealt with ; (2) in Shawes ; (3) in Tinwald Mill.

The father of the brothers, John and James, was most probably John Mundell in Runnerfoot, whose testament was recorded 2o Feb., i68o. His executors were his bairns, John, James, Agnes and Jean.x

THE MUNDELLS OF WALLACE HALL AND OF EDINBURGH, SCHOOLMASTERS.

We now leave these Covenanting brothers, and take up a family who may be related to them. As will be seen, they were followers of John Mac.',1illan, and were allied by marriage with the Hepburns. It may therefore be inferred that they were not of the extreme party of the Cameronians, those who were so much under the influence of Sir Robert Hamilton that they might be properly described as Hamiltonians. As one of them was treasurer of the indulged and malignant town of Dumfries, it may be conjectured that it was this family to whom old James Mundell referred in his dying testimony as " natural enemies, my own relations." But this is mere conjecture, as the evidence is very scanty.

A starting point is obtained from a group of four tombstones in Tinwald churchyard. The oldest name is that of James Mundell of Dalruskon, who died Nov. 12, 1692, his age 55. He was thus born in 1637, or twelve years before the James Mundell who suffered prison for his activities. His relation to the later members of this group is not indicated in any way, but it is natural to infer that he was the father of the brothers and sisters to be next mentioned. M'Dowall (:l–fernorials of St. i1fichaels, p. 283) shows that William Mundell, merchant in the Burgh, was granted burial-place in 1712, and, that the only monument erected on the ground bears to have been erected " by the heirs of William Mundell, late treasurer in this Brough, 1716." There is nothing else on the stone. But from his testament and other papers something can be gleaned as to his ungrateful heirs. His testament states that the treasurer died 13th March, 1716, and it was given up by Robert iNfundell in Dalrusken in name of himself, as eldest brother, and Joseph in Dalrusken, Janet and Jean Mundells, brethren and sisters german of the defunct, and William Neilson, late baillie of Dumfries, husband to the said Janet, and Thomas Gillespie of Auchenftourhill, husband to Jean. The inventory included the merchant goods in the " shop and volt under the tolbooth possessed by the defunct." It may be concluded that the treasurer had no children, and we may now pass to the offspring of Robert, his eldest brother, only mentioning that Joseph in Tinwald, the second brother, appears in MacMillan's Register as having children baptised from 1723 onwards.

Of Robert (elder brother of the treasurer) there is a very dutiful memorial on one of the Tinwald tombstones. It is in Latin and is no doubt the composition of his son, Alexander, master of Wallace Hall.

" Here lies all that was mortal of a very upright man, ROBERT MUNDELL, who was born 31 Oct– 1678, and lived afterwards iry Kirkmichael; he long dealt faithfully with his fellow–mortals and gave his best effort to befriend as many as possible; at length, 26 Nov. i76t, he gladly exchanged this earth for Heaven, towards .vhIch his soul constantly aspired, his loss being deeply mourned. He loved better to be good than to have the appearance.

Here also is interred the body of Mary Raining his virtuous ,vife, who, in her 52nd year, distinguished by piety to God, duty to,Wr husband, devotion to her children and kindness to all, found a glad return to Heaven 21 Mch. 1736, mourned by husband and children, fitly and deeply.

Also their son Robert Mundell, who died 17 Sept. 1715, aged one year and eighteen days."

For the marriage of these spouses and their children the Register of Mr John N14acMillan is now to be consulted. Robert Mundell and Mary Ranning were married by him 5 Feb. 1708. Their known children were as under:

1. James, the eldest son, the eminent teacher in Edinburgh. There is no evidence for him in the Register, but he was the eldest son. He and his family will be left for a later stage. He died ig :`lay, 1762, leaving an only son, Robert, printer in Edinburgh, who died 17 March, 1775.

2. Robert, baptised at Hartbush (Robert Mundel his son Robert), 14 July, 1724, being then 1 t months old. He was thus born in August, 1723. He died 27 April, 1787. The testament of Robert Mundell, late of the province of Maryland, sometime of the city of Glasgow, thereafter of the city of Edinburgh, where he resided forty days before his death, was given up by Alexander Mundell of Wallace Hall, his brother and sole executor under his will. Some of the clauses of his will are rather unusual and may be worth quotation. " Having the perfect use of my mental faculties (such as they are), instead of bequeathing my soul to God and my body to the earth, as I have seen done by others in writings of this nature, I leave the last to accident, being perfectly indifferent what becomes of my body when the breath is gone; my spirit I resign to Him who gave It.'' He constitutes Alexander Mundell his executor, who failing. his two sons and daughter, who are to pay to " my nephew," William Ferguson –,40, and to each of his sisters £2o stg. ; to Mrs Mundell, wido%v of my nephew, Robert Mundell of Edinburgh or his children Z5o; to " my sister," Janet Mundell Z,5 per annum of annuity; and an annuity of £2 to Robert Lauder, son of my sister, Rebecca, for life, which, with the pension he has already seems sufficient for one in his situation. " All this on the supposition that I leave ;CS50. If I die at home, my funeral is to be at the smallest expense common decency will admit; mournings a black ribbon or scarf or some such trifle for a week or so."

3. Alexander, the youngest son, was the master of Wallace Hall who made that academy famous through the length and breadth of Scotland. He died there 21 Nov., 1791. He, " Robert Mundell in Kirkmichael his son Alexander," was baptised at Hartbush 30 June, 1729 (born 12 Jany., 1729), by NIr MacMillan, as in. all the other cases. His marriage and succession will be reserved for a later place.

4. Janet, evidently the eldest child, is mentioned in her brother Robert's will. She, " Robert Mundell in Dalrusken his eldest daughter, Janet," was baptized z Jany., 1709, at Glenmade, which, we know, was the house of Luke and Francis Fraser. From the mention of her in her brother Robert's will it may be surmised that she remained unmarried. .

5. Rebecca was baptized S Feb., 1711, being then 7 months old. She would be born in July, 1710. That she married and had a son Robert Lauder may be inferred from the reference to her in her brother Robert's testament.

6. Margaret, as is learned from one of the tombstone in Tinwald, was born 25 Dec., 1717, and died 3 May, 1776. Her baptism does not appear in the Register; but there is a note that " the names of several children baptized about this time (1717–r8) at Hartbush and . . are insert already by \Ir Hugh Clark, so it is superfluous to set them down again." Her husband, James Carruthers, who died ,;o June, 1785, aged 67, is interred in the same place.

7. The testament of Robert suggests that another sister married and had a son William Ferguson and some daughters.

Robert Mundell in Kirkmichael in a 'deed of 7 Mar.,1758, makes mention of Elizabeth Murray his (second) spouse to whom he provides liferent. From their marriage contract of 31 March, 1738, it is known that she was \vidow of William Rogerson in Lochbro–,v, of the family from which came Dr. John Rogerson. He and his relation, Dr. James Mounsey, were famous physicians at the Russian Court. (Dumfries Sheriff Court Deeds.)

We shall now return to Nos. r and ,; of this (the third) generation of ~Iundells. They were persons of national importance, a,s \yc shall see, and merit longer notices than those contained in Ramage Drtmtlanrig and the Douglases (pp. 188 and 278).

JA,NIES MUNDELL (died 1762), teacher in Edinburgh.

Ramage says he was grand–uncle of Dr. Robert Mundell, rector of Wallace Hall, but he was uncle, being a brother of Alexander Mundell, father. and predecessor of Dr. Robert. Ramage also calls him LL. D., but there is no authority for this; finally Ramage bas him 'Professor of Humanity in the University of Edinburgh." He was merely a teacher of Humanity in Edinburgh ; that is to say he kept a private school in which was given an education based upon Latin. It was in the West Bow, a street that has now been removed.

James Mundell's scholars were drawn from the most distinguished families of Edinburgh who resided in the neighbourhood of the Lawnmarket; in this respect the site of his school seems to have been more advantageous than that of the High School of the city, which stood near the Infirmary and so a good distance from the fashionable quarter. That his scholars preserved a high opinion of their old schoolmaster is shown by the fact that for many years after his death they met together to celebrate his memory. " At these social meetings," says Kay (Portraits 1, 298), " the parties lived their boyish days over again, and each was addressed in the familiar manner and by the juvenile soubriquet which he bore when one of the schule laddies. Any deviation from these rules was punished by a fine." Kay enumerates the Earl of Buchan. three judges of the Court of Session (Lords Hermand, Polkemrnet, and Balmuto) and Dr. Andrew Hunter among Mundell's scholars. (Of these the first, third, and fifth are confirmed by the list

which will be mentioned presently.)

Kay's statement as to an annual celebration has been confirmed by the discovery, in the Library of the University of Glasgow, of what may be called the official list of members of the club of Mundell's scholars. It bears to be printed by Mundell and Wilson, 1789, and the paper is tinted light blue. The date was not that of the origin of the club, for, on the second page a notice is printed : " Edinburgh, 31st January, 1789, the annual meeting is now appointed to be

held the last Saturday of January." There follows a list of " scholars educated by the late iVIr James Mundell." There are 568 boys arranged in order of years from 1735 to 1762, and 94 " female scholars " without mention of years.

Mundell's can only have been a small school, probably manned by himself and an usher. We do know that his usher was Alexander, his young brother, until the latter went in 1750 to be master of Wallace Hall. It is quite likely that the school, although competing in a way with the High School, was not purely a Latin school, and the presence of some 94 girls suggests this opinion. Wallace Hall was an academy apparently from the beginning of Alexander's tenure at least, and he may have copied a model which he found in the school of James at Edinburgh. An academy, we may here say briefly, was a school which taught other subjects besides Latin, such as English, arithmetic, geography, book–keeping, mathematics, and French.

The list of 661 pupils who passed through James 'Iundell's hands is an impressive one. It includes members of the noble houses of Buchan, Bu te, and Stair; the sons of Principal William Robertson, the historian; of Professor Alexander \–Ionro, primus; many boys who rose to be judges, advocates, and writers to the signet. Most curious of all, the infamous Deacon William Brodie was there, and the famous Ilay Campbell, who, as lord advocate, conducted the prosecution against him for breaking the Excise Office in Edinburgh. The most valuable scholar for preserving the ,memory of 'Mundell's school was James Boswell, the biographer of Johnson. Born in 1740, he appears in Mundell's register under the year 1746, so that he entered at the age of six. It is a usual age, and this shows that Mundell took scholars to learn their letters in contrast with the High School, which only provided for boys who– were ready to begin the study of Latin, that is to say, about the age of eight.

James Mundell, whose scholars kept his memory green, married Agnes Bennet,. daughter of (blank) Bennet, brewer, and in her right was admitted a burgess of Edinburgh 16 July, 1740. He was soon in possession of enough means to enable him to acquire from John Pasley the lands of Over Auldgirth. The sasine (of the 3 m.l.s. of Auldgirth) was recorded 28 April, 1752,y in favour of himself and his only son, Robert. (It may be worth mentioning that the seller was son of the minister of Morton who is mentioned in Part II.)

Robert, this son, became a printer in Edinburgh (Brodie's Close, Lawnmarket), but he died at an early age, 17 March, 1775. His widow, Catherine Anderson, can only have been 38 years old at the time. She was the eldest daughter of Alexander Anderson of Cleugh by his wife, Beatrix Wright. She was thus a cousin of Dr. James Anderson (LL.D.), proprietor of the Beez (see later). Mrs Mundell survived her son and carried on the business of printer; she died at St. Ann's Lodge 9 Nov., 1820, at the age of 83. She was therefore born about 1737. Besides two sons, James and Alexander, who will be dealt with presently, there were two daughters, Beatrix and another.

1. James iNlundell was probably the older, seeing that he followed the paternal trade of a printer. The firm was sometimes known as Mundell & Wilson; later as Mundell, Son & Co. ; their address was Back Stairs 1786 to 1790, and Heron's Court 1794–6. In 1791 the three large presses of Mrs Mundell became a nuisance to John Dundas, cleric to the signet, who was her neighbour in the Back Stairs leading from the Parliament Close to the vennel called the Kirkheugh. In answer to the complaint it was pointed out that Ruddiman, the late printer, had carried on business only five yards away from the Mundells' printing house; that Mr Lezars, the engraver, was just on the other side of complainer's –able; that fashionable dwellers had mostly moved away; and, finally, that Mrs Mundell had often lived underneath her own printing presses without injury, even in childbed.

All readers of the Letters o f Robert Burns know that on i Nov., 1790, Burns sent to Dr. James Anderson the names of eleven subscribers to a new weekly called The Bee. It was to be printed by Mundell & Sons. The first number appeared 22 Dec., 1790, and the second was due on the i 2th January following. On the 7th Anderson wrote to the printer, Mundell : " Dear James, You are now a week late with The Bee . . . . ' James pleaded among other circumstances the dissipation of the " daft days " (when his men did not work). This did not satisfy Anderson, who ordered Mundell to print a note on the cover of the second number, stating that the .vork would be discontinued owing to the inability of the printers to execute it within the time allowed. In vain did Mundell beg Anderson to withdraw this advertisement, and in Nov., 1792, Mundell raised an action against Anderson for breach of contract. It is clear that at this time the firm consisted of Mrs Mundell and her son James. After her husband's death Mrs Mundell had taken as a partner one Wilson (probably Robert Wilson, who married in 1759 and again in 1768). Wilson became bankrupt and absconded, and it was then that she took her son as partner.A

James Mundell must have had a good reputation as a printer; it is, at least, a remarkable fact that he was in 1795 appointed printer to the University of Glasgow for three years. In 1798 his appointment was renewed ; but, as already seen, he died before the expiry of the second three years.B. He died at Edinburgh 22 Aug., i8oo. Readers of the Burns Chronicle for 1938 will see in the SymeCunningham Correspondence references (pp. 42–44) to Mundell and to " Mundell's brother, who is a solicitor in London." (For him see .–'Alexander, later.)

As to his successors I have no information, except. that in the directory of 1833–34 John Mundell was in business as an artists' colourman and fancy stationer at 60 Princes Street.

2. Alexander Mundell, solicitor in London, being described by Syme as Mundell's brother, ought, one would think, to bo the younger brother. He died ig March, 1837. in his 7cch year (says the Scotsman), and he was born 3 Feb., 1768. He was a voluminous writer of brochures dealing with branches of political science. I have a note of eleven titles of such publications dating from 1825 to 1834. In most of them he betrays a Scottish bias; and in the last of them, The Philosophy of Legislation, an essay, he gives some little account of himself. " If you ask me what qualifications I bring to the execution of a task which has not before been attempted, I answer that I received the education of a Writer to the Signet in Scotland and I am still a member of that Society; but since I arrived at manhood I have been employed in conducting private bills in Parliament . . . . "

The date of his admission as Writer to the Signet was 8 July, 1790. He married Susanna, second daughter of Samuel Champneys of Bradmire, Hertfordshire. Born icy Oct., 1778, she died 16 Aug., 1846. He died ig March, 1837, at Great George Street, Westminster, from which house he dated one of his books in 1 8=5. The birth of a son was announced in 1818, at the address. Parliament Street, London.

One son, William Adam Mundell of the Middle Temple, barrister, Q.C., 1866, produced in 1848.–1 digest of cri,ninal statutes, and in 1857 .4 Letter to Lord Campbell proposinalterations in the holding of assizes., the latter bearing the imprint Leicester.

His eldest daughter, Anne Augusta, was married 23 Feb., i8tg, to Thomas Broadwood, of Juniper Hall, Surrey. He was the famous maker of pianos. His second daughter, Catherine Jane, was married 3 Nov., 1823, at St. ivIargaret's. Westminster, to John, youngest son of Thomas Jervis of Old Palace Yard, one of H. M. Counsel. In both cases the address of the father is Parliament Street.

Alexander, the solicitor in London, gave some small assistance to the committee which raised some funds on behalf of the widow and family of Burns in 1796. In the year i8o6 Sir Walter Scott became impatient to secure a patent as clerk of session in succession to old George Home (one of Mundell's scholars), and under date 25 Jan., i8o6, wrote to George Ellis : " I have written to my solicitor, Alexander Mundell, Fludyer Street, to use every despatch in hurrying through the commission." . There were very good reasons why Scott should be acquainted with the whole Mundell family, as we shall see later. But he may have made a mistake in writing Fludyer Street. He had another correspondent at that address.

To the kindness of Mr James Seton–Anderson I am indebted for the following list of the family of Alexander Mundell, the solicitor in London

1. Robert Champneys, born 1798, and educated at Westminster School. He married Mary, daughter of Joseph Cumberlege, H.E.I.C.S. He died 1853 or 4. She died 1883.

2. Anne Augusta, born 18oo, died 1845, married Thomas Broadwood, of Mickleham, Surrey, and had issue. (See Burke's L.G.)

3. Isabella Susanna, born i8oz, married 24th September, 1825, Bulstrode Whitelock Cumberlege, MajorGeneral, :Madras Cavalry, and had issue.

Beatrice Haig, born 1803, died 1843, married Forbes M'Neill, of Colonsav.

John Joseph, born i8~5, Proctor Doctors' Commons, married Elizabeth itlatthews. He died 1856.

6. Camilla Windus, born 1807, died 1864, married George Aitcheson, of Drummore.

7. Walter Garcia, born iSoB, died 1827, educated at Westminster School.

8. Lennox Alexander, born cSio, was in the merchant service. Died, unmarried, at Singapore, 1833.

9. Maria Mackenzie, born 1812, died, unmarried, aged So.

10. William Adam, born i8i 5, a noted Q.C., died, un

married, 1875. –

11i . Thomas, born 1817, died when ten days old.

12. Hugh Innes, born 1818, H.E.I.C.S., Madras, died, unmarried, 1839.

13. Catherine, harried Sir John Jervis, M.P. for Chester, Lord Chief Justice of Common Pleas. Died 1886. All of the sons died without male issue.

ALEXANDER MUNDELL (died 1791), master of Wallace Hall

He was, as already explained, the youngest of the sons of Robert Mundell in Dalrusken, afterwards in Kirltmichael, and younger brother of James, the teacher in Edinburgh, and of Robert from i\–Iaryland. Mr MacMillan's entry of his baptism runs thus : " At Hartbush, June 30, 1729, baptized Robert Mundel in Kirlcmichael his son Alexander (born), January tz, i7zg." In other words he was five months old at the time of his baptism. He died zi Nov., 1791. It is unlikely that the careful inscription on the tombstone and the date " 1I Calendarum Decembris " is wrong; but in the Scots Magazine and The Gentleman's Magazine the announcement reads : " Suddenly on the 29th Nov...rector of the academy at Closeburn." A ledger is extant on which we trace his hand to the 21st and the accounts are balanced to the 22nd November, as if this was the day on which his successor and son, Dr. Robert Mundell, took over. " Struck down with apoplexy," says Ramage.

He had been appointed master of Wallace Hall 26 Feb., 1750, and he organised it on the lines of an " academy." It was probably the first academy in Scotland in point of time, and he made it probably the first academy in reputation in Scotland, though a very small one. I do not undertake to deal here with the names of the boarders whose accounts appear in the ledger; but some outstanding facts may be noted. The ledger deals with the period 1781 to 1791, and there are in all gi boys. These are drawn from the aristocratic, landed, professional, and merchant classes from all parts of Scotland as far north as Sutherland. A large proportion come from Morayshire and that quarter, from Aberdeenshire, Kincardine, and Forfar, from Fife, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Ayrshire; only a small number are drawn from Dumfries and Galloway. From another source it is known that the two immediately older brothers of Sir Walter Scott were there, and it may be conjectured that the school only failed to have Walter as well because of the delicate state of his health at the time he was due to go to school.

"Mrs Susanna Mundell, relict of Mr Alexander Mundell, late master of the school of Closeburn, died 23 July; 1807, at Wallace Hall." That she was somehow a granddaughter of Mr. John Hepburn, the famous minister of Urr, wits known as the explanation of Alexander Mundell's possession of the sword and drum of that militant cleric. But her maiden surname was unsuspected till it was found on the tombstone and her parentage was communicated to me by an American, another descendant of Mr. Hepburn.C She was a daughter of Thomas Hepburn, chirurggeon in Shaws of Closeburn (now Shawsholm), one of the sons of the minister of Urr.

The inscriptions for these spouses run as follows

" Alexander Mundell, the distinguished head of the school of Closeburn. who, widely famed for his knowledge of letters and all good arts, discharged his duties with the utmost diligence and the highest praise for 41 years, and after a life ever truly Christian to friends, relations and scholars. (lied in his 74th year 21 Nov., 1791.

Also Susanna Hepburn, his dear spouse, buried in the sarre grave. no less endowed, having done her duty with all diligence and praise, died in her 77th year, 23 July, 't8o7."

Two sons and a daughter are known by name from the Ledger, and " two sons and a daughter " are referred to in the testament of their uncle Robert, from Maryland. These were as under

t. Robert Mundell, LL.D., who succeeded his father in Wallace Hall.

2. Thomas. " My son Thomas " is once referred to in the Ledger as the recipient of a small payment on behalf of a boy \furdoch, who came from Glasgow. The date is 6 Dec., 1753. " Tam Mundell "left for America (Mary, land) about =7 Feb., 1784, " in the same imploy as his uncle was in." This uncle, also " Tam " (Hepburn), was another son of the chirurgeon and was great–grandfather of my obliging correspondent.

3. Margaret. " Miss Mundell " is mentioned once or twice in the Ledger, without Christian name. She must he " Mrs Margaret Mundell, relict of the late Mr Thomas Williamson, Dumfries," who (lied at Portobello 2o July, 1830. Two reasons for this identification may be advanced. Thomas Williamson was cautioner for the testament of Alexander Mundell, master of the school of Closeburn, and he lies buried in the fancily burial ground in Tinwald. " A man of the highest respectability in his profession and particularly distinguished for his strict integritv and steady friendship," he died 12th August. 1810. in the 50th year of his age.

Thomas Williamson and Margaret Mundell had an only son, David, born in 1805. He was a Writer to the Signet, and he died unmarried 21 July. 1843.

ROBERT MUNDFLL, LL.D., Rector of Wallace Hall.

W'hen Alexander Mundell died he contrived to leave only £5 of estate. "part of £500 contained in a promissory note by Mansfield, Ramsay and Co., dated t st October last." Presumably the rest belonged to Dr. Robert, and he set about building an ample boarding house which still gives good service. It was completed in 1795, as the inscription over the door testifies. It cost £1700, and the expense was partly financed by Harkness of Mitchellslacks.

An obelisk in Tinwald is devoted to him and his spouse. On the front there is a long inscription in Latin. On the side an English one states that he died 5 May, 1842. aged 83. He was thus born in 1759. His spouse, Marion M'Millan, died 1 Feb. 1852. aged 71. She was thus born in 1781, and was much younger than her husband. There seem to have been no children.

Robert Mundell graduated M.A. at Edinburgh 6 April, 1779, and his thesis. delivered on that date, was printed in that year. It is in Latin, and the subject is " Visual Perception " (De Acquisitis Perceptionibus Visus).D On the third page there is a dedication to Alexander Fergusson of Craigdarroch in gratitude for his kindness and benevolence. He was afterwards the hero of the contest for the Whistle, and three of his sons were at Wallace Hall before and after 1781. James, the eldest of the three, was the subject of the fine Lament written by the poet Burns.

Marion .M'Mlillan, his spouse, was the daughter of William M'Millan of Polbae, writer in Newton-Stewart, to whom she and her four sisters were served heirs in 1836. One of her sisters, Ann, was married to Robert Adamson, writer in Dumfries, whose firm, Adamson & Symons, have long been agents for the Wallace Hall Trust. At Mrs Mundell's death her heirs were Mrs Ann Adamson, Mrs Margaret M'Connell (her sisters), and a nephew in Montreal called William M'Millan Black. Writing in 1876, Dr. Ramage said : " I do not know of any relatives of the Mundell family in this part of the world." It still appears to be the case that no descendants in the male line of any of the Mundells mentioned in this paper have survived here. (It is always possible that Tom Mundell may have left some of his surname in America.)

Some further information about the Mundells will be found in a paper which I am preparing on the Family of Mr John Hepburn of Urr.

Mundeville of Tinwald and Mundell in Tinwald by A. CAMERON SMITH

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Prepared by Bob Dalrymple, PO Box 122, Dapto, NSW Australia 2350

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