Henry Erskine (minister)
Encyclopedia
Henry Erskine was a Presbyterian minister.
Erskine was born at Dryburgh
, in the parish of Mertoun, Berwickshire, being one of the younger sons of Ralph Erskine of Shielfield, a cadet
of the family of the Earl of Mar. It is commonly said that his father's family were thirty-three in number; but the late Principal Harper said he had seen a small manuscript volume in which Ralph Erskine had entered the names of all his children, and there was only twelve.
Henry was brought up under the ministry of Mr. Simpson, minister of Dryburgh, a man of very earnest piety, who probably influenced him to study to become a minister. His first charge was at Cornhill, a village in Northumberland
, where, according to Wodrow , he was ordained in 1649, but according to others this occurred ten years later. From this charge he was ejected by the Act of Uniformity
on St. Bartholomew's Day, 1662, greatly to the regret of his people. The revenues of his charge not having been paid to him, he went to London to petition the king to order payment; but after long delay he was told that unless he would conform he should have nothing.
On his voyage home he was driven by a storm into Harwich
, he preached with such acceptance and benefit that the people would have had him to take up his abode with them; but his wife could not be prevailed on to settle so far from her friends and home.
On leaving Cornhill he took up his abode at Dryburgh
, where he lived in a house of his brother's. From time to time he exercised his ministry in a quiet way, till arousing the suspicion of Urquhart of Meldrum, one of those soldiers who scoured the country to put down conventicles, he was summoned to appear before a committee of privy council. Being asked by Sir George Mackenzie, lord advocate, whether he would engage to preach no more in conventicles, he boldly replied, ‘My lord, I have my commission from Christ, and though I were within an hour of my death I durst not lay it down at the feet of any mortal man.’
He was ordered to pay a fine of five thousand marks, and to be imprisoned on the Bass Rock
till he should pay the fine and promise to preach no more. Being in very poor health he petitioned that the sentence might be changed to banishment from the kingdom. This was allowed, and he settled first at Parkridge, near Carlisle, and afterwards to Monilaws, near Cornhill, where his son Ralph was born.
Apprehended again, he was imprisoned at Newcastle, but after his release in 1685 the king's indulgence (1687) enabled him to continue his ministry without molestation. He preached at Whitsome, near Berwick, and after the revolution was admitted minister of Chirnside, where he died in 1696, at the age of seventy-two. During his times of persecution he and his family were often in great want, but obtained remarkable help. It is said that when he could not give his children a dinner he would give them a tune upon his zither. Thomas Boston
of Ettrick bears grateful testimony to the profound impression made on him in his boyhood by hearing Erskine preach at Whitsome.
Many other men of mark owned him as their spiritual father. He was twice married: first, in 1653, to a lady of whom little is known, and again to Margaret Halcro, a descendant of an old family in Orkney. His two distinguished sons, Ralph
and Ebenezer
, were children of the second marriage.
Erskine was born at Dryburgh
Dryburgh
Dryburgh is a village in the Scottish Borders region of Scotland, famous for the ruined Dryburgh Abbey.-The Temple of the Muses:This circular nine columned gazebo stands since 1817 on Bass Hill, a mound overlooking the River Tweed at the west end of the village...
, in the parish of Mertoun, Berwickshire, being one of the younger sons of Ralph Erskine of Shielfield, a cadet
Cadet (genealogy)
In genealogy, a cadet is a younger son, as opposed to the firstborn heir. Compare puisne.- Etymology :The word is recorded in English since 1634, originally for a young son, identical to the French, which is itself derived from the gascon Occitan capdet "captain, chief", in turn from the Late...
of the family of the Earl of Mar. It is commonly said that his father's family were thirty-three in number; but the late Principal Harper said he had seen a small manuscript volume in which Ralph Erskine had entered the names of all his children, and there was only twelve.
Henry was brought up under the ministry of Mr. Simpson, minister of Dryburgh, a man of very earnest piety, who probably influenced him to study to become a minister. His first charge was at Cornhill, a village in Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, where, according to Wodrow , he was ordained in 1649, but according to others this occurred ten years later. From this charge he was ejected by the Act of Uniformity
Act of Uniformity 1662
The Act of Uniformity was an Act of the Parliament of England, 13&14 Ch.2 c. 4 ,The '16 Charles II c. 2' nomenclature is reference to the statute book of the numbered year of the reign of the named King in the stated chapter...
on St. Bartholomew's Day, 1662, greatly to the regret of his people. The revenues of his charge not having been paid to him, he went to London to petition the king to order payment; but after long delay he was told that unless he would conform he should have nothing.
On his voyage home he was driven by a storm into Harwich
Harwich
Harwich is a town in Essex, England and one of the Haven ports, located on the coast with the North Sea to the east. It is in the Tendring district. Nearby places include Felixstowe to the northeast, Ipswich to the northwest, Colchester to the southwest and Clacton-on-Sea to the south...
, he preached with such acceptance and benefit that the people would have had him to take up his abode with them; but his wife could not be prevailed on to settle so far from her friends and home.
On leaving Cornhill he took up his abode at Dryburgh
Dryburgh
Dryburgh is a village in the Scottish Borders region of Scotland, famous for the ruined Dryburgh Abbey.-The Temple of the Muses:This circular nine columned gazebo stands since 1817 on Bass Hill, a mound overlooking the River Tweed at the west end of the village...
, where he lived in a house of his brother's. From time to time he exercised his ministry in a quiet way, till arousing the suspicion of Urquhart of Meldrum, one of those soldiers who scoured the country to put down conventicles, he was summoned to appear before a committee of privy council. Being asked by Sir George Mackenzie, lord advocate, whether he would engage to preach no more in conventicles, he boldly replied, ‘My lord, I have my commission from Christ, and though I were within an hour of my death I durst not lay it down at the feet of any mortal man.’
He was ordered to pay a fine of five thousand marks, and to be imprisoned on the Bass Rock
Bass Rock
The Bass Rock, or simply The Bass, , is an island in the outer part of the Firth of Forth in the east of Scotland. It is approximately offshore, and north-east of North Berwick. It is a steep-sided volcanic rock, at its highest point, and is home to a large colony of gannets...
till he should pay the fine and promise to preach no more. Being in very poor health he petitioned that the sentence might be changed to banishment from the kingdom. This was allowed, and he settled first at Parkridge, near Carlisle, and afterwards to Monilaws, near Cornhill, where his son Ralph was born.
Apprehended again, he was imprisoned at Newcastle, but after his release in 1685 the king's indulgence (1687) enabled him to continue his ministry without molestation. He preached at Whitsome, near Berwick, and after the revolution was admitted minister of Chirnside, where he died in 1696, at the age of seventy-two. During his times of persecution he and his family were often in great want, but obtained remarkable help. It is said that when he could not give his children a dinner he would give them a tune upon his zither. Thomas Boston
Thomas Boston
Thomas Boston was a Scottish church leader.He was born at Duns. His father, John Boston, and his mother, Alison Trotter, were both Covenanters. He was educated at Edinburgh, and licensed in 1697 by the presbytery of Chirnside...
of Ettrick bears grateful testimony to the profound impression made on him in his boyhood by hearing Erskine preach at Whitsome.
Many other men of mark owned him as their spiritual father. He was twice married: first, in 1653, to a lady of whom little is known, and again to Margaret Halcro, a descendant of an old family in Orkney. His two distinguished sons, Ralph
Ralph Erskine (preacher)
Ralph Erskine was a Scottish churchman.Ralph Erskine was the brother of another prominent churchman, Ebenezer Erskine.After studying at the University of Edinburgh, Ralph was ordained assistant minister at Dunfermline in 1711...
and Ebenezer
Ebenezer Erskine
Ebenezer Erskine was a Scottish minister whose actions led to the establishment of the Secession Church ....
, were children of the second marriage.