Transcribed from:

The Diocese and Presbytery of Dunkeld, 1660-1689, Vol. I
by the late Rev. John Hunter, D.D., Minister of the Parish of Rattray

Mr John CRUIKSHANK (Crookshank) was the son of John CRUIKSHANK in Nether Benchill, and Jonet, daughter of William Young, minister at Redgorton. He was admitted to the Exercise of the Presbytery of Perth on November 3, 1624, On April 20, 1625, he was appointed to Add at the next meeting of the Presbytery "in a part of his trial to the ministry at the Kirk of Regortoun to be a helper to William Young, his goodsire, now in his age." During the progress of his trials his grandfather died,¹ and before June 29, 1625, when his trials for ordination and admission as minister began, he had been nominated to Redgorton, Luncarty and St Serf. The Presbytery sustained his trials on November 23. On that day, too, John Grahame of Balgowan appeared before the Presbytery, and, in name of the parishioners, desired that he should be admitted to Redgorton. The Edict towards his admission,dated November 23, was served on November 27. He was admitted before February 8, 1626, when his name appears among the absentees. On that date also he was appointed to have the Addition at the next meeting. He was duly informed of that ordinance, but, as was reported by Mr Alexander Balneavis, he "absolutely refused" to obey it. On March 1, 1626, at the request of the Bishop of Dunkeld, he was received as a co-presbyter by the brethren of the Presbytery of Perth.

On April 11, 1627, the Presbytery appointed a visitation of Regortoun, and instructed CRUIKSHANK to intimate at the next meeting a day suitable for his parishioners. He failed, however, to make intimation of the intended visitation and to consult his people as to a convenient day, and, accordingly, on April 18, was "sharply rebuked for his negligence." He was absent from the following meeting, and on May 2 was "rebuked for his absence and for not advertising the brethren of his parishioners' diet when their kirk should have been visited."  The visitation of Regortoun was held on June 10, 1628. In 1630 the Presbytery found it necessary to take notice of his absence from their meetings without excuse. On July 28 they instructed Mr John Robertson to summon him either to appear before them, or to send a reasonable excuse for his lengthy absence. He paid no attention to that summons and was again called to appear.

On August II he was "ordained to be cited literatory." At the next meeting one of the members, in his name, requested the Presbytery to excuse him from attending till after St John's Market. He promised to give then satisfactory reasons for his absence. He appeared on September 8. The minute of the Presbytery runs :-
"Which day Mr John CRUIKSHANK, being present, and accused of his long absence, declares and expones unto the brethren some necessary hindrances, which were evidently known to divers of the brethren, which they acknowledged to be of verity :-  notwithstanding, for avoiding of evil preparatives, he is removed and censured, and promised not to be so long absent in times coming." He failed to obey appointments of the Presbytery on December 12 and 19, 1632, to add at their next meeting.

On December 26 he was excused, because it was understood that there were "lawful impediments" which prevented him from going to Perth. He complained to the Presbytery, on July 17, 1639, that he had been injured by Patrick Gray of Lednoch, who, on the public street of Perth, had used insulting expressions toward him, and had styled him "a mansworn liar." Gray was summoned to appear before the Presbytery. The minute of October 30 runs :—  "The matter betwixt Mr John CRUIKSHANK and Patrick Gray of Lednoch was taken up by two appointed for this effect by the Presbytery".  On November 11, 1640, the Presbytery, after a vote, appointed him to go to camp as a chaplain at a salary of 30/ a day for two months. He did not immediately obey, and, on November 25, gave reasons for his refusal, consideration of which was deferred. A letter from him, unopened at the previous meeting, was read on December 8, and his reasons were rejected as insufficient. On December 29 he submitted additional reasons for refusing to obey the appointment of the Presbytery. They were rejected (January 6). On January 19, 1641, he was appointed to exercise at the next meeting, "which was done in regard of the hope (of ?) the Presbytery to prevail with Mr John Graham, minister of Auchterarder, to take on that charge, in regard for the present he was to accompany my Lord Montrose to the camp."

Their hope, however, was disappointed, and on January 26, 1641, the Presbytery appointed him "to make ready, shewing him that of necessity he must lay down all objections, otherwise they would proceed with him as one refractory to order. He promised to obey." On February 10 it was reported that he had promised to start on the following Tuesday. A letter from him was received by the Presbytery on May 26, "desiring to be informed whether they would send one to relieve him, or not, and that they would give to his wife those moneys which the Presbytery should give to him since the time appointed for his return." The Presbytery, so far as appears, gave no answer. On June 16 his parishioners petitioned for his return. He resumed duty at Redgorton before August 25, when he is noted as absent from the meeting of Presbytery.

On June 29, 1642, he was appointed a Commissioner to the ensuing General Assembly, and was chosen Moderator of the Presbytery on April 19, 1643.

For his sufferings during the Rising of Montrose, (see below), he was one of a Committee associated with the Presbytery of Dunkeld for the plantation of the vacant churches within the bounds, especially Dunkeld, Little Dunkeld, Blair of Atholl, Logirait, Mowling, and Forthirgill, "with able and well qualified ministers, free of all malignancie, and well affected to the Covenant and publik cause of this kingdome, according to the order of this Kirk.²

He was appointed on July 14, 1647, to represent the Presbytery at the General Assembly.

On January 5, 1648, he preached at the admission of Mr John Murray to the church of Methven, as conjunct minister with his father, and on January 19 was appointed to give him institution to the benefice.

He was one of a Committee appointed by the Synod, in November 1647, to "cognosce" the lands of Logy and Glenalmond, proposed to be erected into a parish.

In October 1648 he was again appointed Moderator of the Presbytery, and, on November 27, brought charges of drinking the King's health and success to the Engagement against Mr Edward Richardson, minister at Forteviot. He stated "that Mr Edward Richardsone and he, being in Strathurd's house at a certain time at supper, he was desired to drink 1, the King's health : 2, to the success of the unlawful Engagement, as all the rest at table did ; but refused the same, and said that he would pray for the King, but not drink his health ; but declares that Mr Edward Richardsone, with his head discovered, drank the same, and when he had done, he looked over the table to him, and said we ought a Divine reverence to the King."

Other charges were brought against Richardsone. Cruikshank was objected to as a witness in the case, but all exceptions against him were repelled as irrelevant.³

On April 25, 1649, he asked the Presbytery to advise him as to the punishment to be meted out to one Marjory Fildue in his parish convicted of Charming. The Presbytery recommended that she should sit for three Sundays before the pulpit in sackcloth.

The minute of the Presbytery on June 20, 1649, runs :—
"Having been reported by John Bisset, elder for Rhegortoun, that the roof (of) the Kirk in Theicking was very faulty, and that they had not in the box to supply the same this preaching, to plead for an exemption from public dues appointed by superior Kirk Judicatories.
 "The Presbytery finds great fault with Mr John CROOKSHANK, minister at Rhegortoune, that any moneys should be taken out of the box for that use, since it ought to be done by the heritors, conform to an Act of Parliament : therefore ordains the said minister and elders to cause the Session raise letters of homing against the heritors for that effect, and to report."

The Synod of Perth and Stirling in October 1649 recommended him to the Commission of the General Assembly for the Plantation of Kirks for assistance in his endeavour to obtain a competent stipend for the parish, and appointed Mr Robert Young, minister at Dunbarney, to draw up their recommendation.

In October also he complained to the Presbytery that his parishioners in the district of Mullion did not attend church, and were "disobedient and refractory to discipline." The Presbytery recommended him to cite to their next meeting "the masters of families and chief ones among them." A number of the people of MuUion duly appeared, and were "exhorted to keep the Kirk of Rhegorton every Sabbath, which they promised to do, and if any of them stay from the Kirk, that they report a testimonial to the minister" (October 31).

On January 1, 1650, the Presbytery recommended that Muling, which was four miles distant from the parish church, should be annexed to the kirk of Logyalmond, a mile away.

On December 19, 1649, he was appointed to preach at the vacant church of Forteviot. His experience there is related in the minute of January i, 1650 :

"Mr John Crookshank declared that, while he was preaching in Forteviot at the appointment of the Presbytery, Mr Edward Richardson his wife's natural sister went out of the kirk in the midst of his sermon with a great grumbling, and, as she went out of the kirk door, uttered the words, ' Fy ! Will none take the common thief down out of the pulpit, that I may pull the throat out of him ?' Also, he declared that, the sermon being ended, his woman servant uttered these words in the audience of the people, 'My master's mouth is closed for the time, but I hope, ere it be long, his shall be opened, and theirs closed.' "The culprits were duly summoned before the Presbytery. On March 13, 1650, "compeared Elspeth Inglis and Margaret Fyfe, parishioners of Forteviot, being summoned to answer for some scandalous speeches uttered by them on the Lord's day at the kirk of Forteviot, and Elspeth Inglis, being examined, declares that when Mr John CROOKSHANK was preaching there that she rose, and went out of the kirk, and in her way going said, 'Could she hear such blasphemous speeches against Mr Edward Richardson ?' : and Margaret Fyfe, being examined, declares that, immediately after the Blessing, she said, 'Lord ! that their conscience may indite them both night and day that had the wyte my master's mouth was closed.' The Presbytery, having found that the foresaid speeches are dishonourable to God, reproachful to his servants, and scandalous to that congregation, do ordain the foresaids persons to make public satisfaction in the foresaid congregation."

At the diet of Privy Censure on April 3, 1650, the Presbytery expressed the opinion that he had "an ill manse," and ordered him to enter into possession of the glebe of St Serf. Mr John Murray and Mr Alexander Balneavis were appointed to represent the condition of the manse to the heritors and to request Lord Tullibardine to give CROOKSHANK entry to the glebe of St Serf. On June 5, 1650, he was elected a Commissioner to the General Assembly, and, if the identification be correct, on August 8, 1650, was appointed by the Commission of the General Assembly to serve for three months as chaplain to the regiment commanded by Lord Coupar. If he did act, his service was not incompatible with his attendance at the meetings of the Presbytery of Perth ; his name appears in every sederunt but one, and there the names of those present are not given. He was again elected Moderator of the Presbytery on October 23, 1650, and was one of three ministers appointed by the Presbytery, on receipt of a letter from the Commission urging faithfulness in ministerial duty and reciprocal exhortation, "to speak something in private relating to the letter, and running upon the times," at the next meeting. He was then appointed, as one of the members "of most experience, gravity, and ability," to meet with the Commission at Stirling, on November 14, 1650, for the purpose of tendering them advice at that critical period of the national history.

The Commission appointed a Fast to be kept on the last Sabbath of March and the first Sabbath of April 1653, for these, among other causes : "3. The increase and heightening of all our woeful differences and divisions, to the great scandal of the Reformed Christian Religion, and apparent ruin of the work of Reformation established amongst us, if the Lord in mercy do not prevent it. 4. The many sad encroachments from divers hands made and like to be made upon the precious liberties of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus, a precious trust committed to us from Him, and transmitted to us from our zealous and faithful predecessors, who, in the obtaining and preservation of them, loved not their lives even unto the death."⁴

On April 6 CROOKSHANK declared that he had not kept the Fast, and, on April 20, gave his reason for his action :— "because the causes that came to the hands of the Presbytery here were too general, and did not hold out the main particular causes of God's controversy with this Kirk and Kingdom." The Presbytery did not find his reason satisfactory, "1. Because the causes being read before him in the Presbytery 14 days before the Fast, he objected nothing then against them. 2dly. Albeit he found them general, he should have joined with the Kirk of Scotland in observing them, seeing he spake nothing which imported a condemning of any particular in these causes."

CROOKSHANK had other reasons : they are not recorded.
(For the attitude of the Presbytery toward his son, v. infra.)
On June 29, 1653, he protested against the action of the Presbytery in proceeding to the election of representatives to the ensuing General Assembly, on the ground that he intended to adhere to the protestation presented against the General Assembly at St Andrews and Dundee.

The Synod, in October 1654, declined to sustain his excuse for absence, and ordered the Presbytery "to take notice of him," if he had no other excuse than that stated in his letter.

He and Mr John Murray witnessed, on June 11, 1655, the disorderly admission of Mr James Strachan to the church of Dunkeld.⁵ Their action was brought under the notice of the Presbytery of Perth by a letter from the Presbytery of Dunkeld, in which it was stated that the Presbytery were informed that CROOKSHANK and Murray had been present and "had a special hand" in the admission "both by counsel and
action." In answer to the questions of the Presbytery, they admitted that they had been witnesses of the admission, and stated that they "had a call from them whom they looked upon as the Presbytery of Dunkeld." They were cited before the Synod, but the Synod passed from the citation, "because that citation for the trial and cognition of their accession to that scandal was misconstructed, as if it had been in order to censure."⁶

At the diet of Privy Censure on October 1, 1656, the Presbytery recommended him to establish a school in his parish "and to use all means possible with the heritors for that effect."

A case of charming was brought before the Presbytery on November 19, 1656, by reference from the Kirk-Session of Regortoun. George Scobbie, William Pullar, William Hutson, and George Henderson appeared, and "confessed to their using of a charm, to wit, the putting of an ox under the earth, and calling the cattle over him." CROOKSHANK was appointed to confer with them in order to make them sensible of their sin, and the culprits were ordained to undergo discipline in sackcloth.

In 1658 the Presbytery of Perth besought him and Mr John Murray, the two protesting ministers within the bounds, to accept  "A Declaration of the Brethren who are for the Established Government and Judicatories of this Church, expressing their earnest desires for Union and Peace with their Dissenting Brethren,⁷ as a basis of Union.⁸  CROOKSHANK and Murray protested, however, that there should be no agreement on the terms contained in that document, and, on June 23, submitted to the Presbytery, in writing, the reasons of their protestation. An answer to those reasons was duly approven by the Presbytery on July 21,

CROOKSHANK dissenting. A Declaration of the Presbytery relating to one of the reasons of the protestation was approven on the same date, CROOKSHANK again dissenting, and called forth a paper styled "The Humble Representation and Desire of Mr John Morray and Mr John CROOKSHANK, ministers of the Gospel, unto their Brethren of the Presbytery of Perth." In that document they stated that they had been wronged by expressions in the "Declaration" of the Presbytery, and requested them to cancel it, or, if they declined to do so, to register their "Representation" for their vindication. They also asked the members of Presbytery to state explicitly "whether, upon the account of our not disclaiming these practices and proposals (in the printed Declaration) and joining with them in disallowing thereof, they do indeed judge us to be such as do dissent from and are enemies to the Government of the Kirk by Presbyteries."⁹ "The Representation " was followed by an "Answer" approven by the Presbytery on October 6, 1658. It concluded thus : —
"... we do not . . . judge them purposely, or intentionally, to dissent from the present Government of this Kirk by Presbyteries, but, in charity, we look upon them as brethren of an orthodox mind and well-meaning zeal thereto, and we trust we shall, as we have ever before so, still give them a real proof and testimony of our respect to them in the Lord as becomes brethren and ministers of the Gospel."

On October 14, 1658, the Synod expressed their approval of the approbation of the Declaration by the Presbytery of Perth, and condemned the "Protestations" and "Answers" of CROOKSHANK and Murray.

CROOKSHANK and Morray protested, on August 17, 1659, against the action of the Presbytery in disclaiming, as a Presbytery, all knowledge of a certain Mr Robert Anderson, alleged to be an expectant resident within the bounds. Anderson, whom the Kirk-Session of Leuchars desired to hear in connection with the vacancy there, was the son of Mr John Anderson, minister at Cargill, and had been licensed, probably, by the Protesters of the Presbytery of Dunkeld. The minute of the diet of the Privy Censure of the Presbytery on March 27, 1661, runs :— "Mr John CROOKSHANK approven in life and doctrine : and he being concerned in the public differences, the Presbytery delays him until Mr John Morray, who is equally concerned with him, and now under restraint, be enlarged."

CROOKSHANK refused to accept Episcopacy in 1662. He was suspended from the ministry by Bishop Haliburton at his Synod in October 1663, and, in October 1664, was deposed. He afterwards went to Ireland. Kirkton states that CROOKSHANK and Mr Andrew Macormock, whom he designates Irish ministers, were "the great instruments to perswade the people" to rise in arms in 1666.' He certainly joined
the Galloway insurrectionists, and served as an officer of the forces.  He preached to the cavalry at Lanark at the renewing of the Covenant, and was killed at Pentland. In a letter to Lauderdale, Rothes stated :—" The Nonconforme Ministers were cheife comanders amongst them (the insurgents) ; and the galiantest amongst them, whose name was CRUKSHANCK, receaved the just reward for rebellioun, upon the feild, which is death and damna'ne."

It was reported that he had translated Buchanan's De Jure Regni.

He had a son John, who matriculated at St Leonard's College, St Andrews, in 1644.
On October 20, 1647, he was appointed Bursar of the Presbytery of Perth at the New College of St Andrews.

His conduct there, however, was, for a time, unsatisfactory, and the Masters declined to grant him the usual certificate because of his drunkenness. He gave in to the Presbytery a declaration of his sense of guilt on December 21, 1649, and confirmed it verbally, and was again recommended to the Masters of the New College He signed a Protestation against the General Assembly at Edinburgh, and the Act of Union being offered to him by the Presbytery of Perth, he declined to accept it (November 3, 1652).

He produced to the Presbytery, on November 10, 1652, a testimonial from the Masters of the New College, viz. :— Samuel Rutherford, A. Colville and James Wood, and was entered on trials for licence. His trials were completed when the Presbytery, before proceeding to admit him to the Exercise, decided to ask him if he were prepared to withdraw his protestation against the General Assembly and accept the Act of Union. The procedure of the Presbytery illustrates the action of the dominant party in the Church toward their opponents. The minute of the Presbytery runs : —

At Perth, the 25th of May 1653. — Anent Mr John CROOKSHANK, younger, his admission to the public Exercise continued to this day, the Presbytery, having this day taken to consideration, whether Mr John CROOKSHANK, younger, should proceed to the public Exercise, and close his trials, thought fit, before determination of that, to enquire at the said Mr John, whether or not he was yet resolved to take the overture for peace, and pass from the protestation against the General Assembly subscribed under his hand, who, being called in, and required thereupon, adhered unto the protestation as formerly he had done. Notwithstanding of his refusal, they were willing to give him a timely advice. He replying that he had done it upon deliberation, as a truth sought no time : Whereupon the Presbytery having read and considered the Act of the General Assembly at Dundee, subscribed under the Clerk's hand, discharging all expectants from public preaching and catechising in congregations and families, and from all other privileges and liberties allowed to expectants who shall not allow the General Assemblies, or this present Assembly at Dundee, and that shall not acquiesce to the Acts and conclusions thereof : having also read and considered another Act of that same Assembly, whereby it is ordained that Presbyteries shall proceed to censure such as do protest against the authority or Acts of General Assemblies : and finding that they have gone a greater length out of their love and respect to the said Mr John, and also out of hope to have gained him, than they had warrant from the Acts of the General Assembly to do, therefore thought convenient not to proceed any further with him in trial, or to give him testimonial for what he had done already. Against which Act, and manner of procedure, Mr John Murray protested as being unjust, and craved liberty to give in the reasons of his protestation to the Clerk, whereunto Mr John CROOKSHANK, elder, adhered.

Mr John CROOKSHANK, younger, having desired a testimonial of the passing of his trials, and approbation thereof, and an extract of the Act secluding him from the public Exercise, the Presbytery does refuse the same for a time till they be farther advised. Whereupon the said Mr John protested, and took instruments in William Robertson, notary, his hand, that the Presbytery of Perth refused him a testimonial
of the passing of his trials, and approbation thereof, and an extract of the Act secluding him from the public Exercise. Likeas the Moderator, in name of the Presbytery, took instruments in the said notary's hand upon the ground of their refusal, which was that it was against the Acts of the General Assembly, and, upon so doing, they would involve themselves in censure.

Mr John Murray protested against the action of Presbytery at the meeting of the Synod in June 1652 : but his protest was not sustained.

1.  He had the Addition on May 4, the Exercise on May 11, and on June 8 discussed the Commonhead "Of particulcir Assurance." He had offered no Theses, however, and the Presbytery appointed him to submit them at their next meeting, and referred "the rest of his trials to be advised on till then." Between June 8 and 29, it is presumed, Redgorton became vacant by the death of Young. On the latter date CRUIKSHANK was again appointed to Add, and on July 6 to Exercise. On the 20th his Theses on the certainty of Salvation were impugned, 'and allowed for this part of his trial." On August 2 the Presbytery prescribed to him another common head De vocaiione ministrorum, "in Latin, as a part of his trial to the ministry of Regortoun."
2.  Records of the Commission, 1646-7, 114.
3.  MS. Register oj the Presbytery oj Perth, May 22, 1649.
4.  MS. Register of the Presbytery of Perth, March 16, 1653.
5.  Ibid., June 27, 1655. y. Strachan, Weem, Chapter VI.
6.  MS. Register of the Presbytery of Perth, April 8, 1657 - Evidences of the Growth of Defection : Answer.
7.  MS. Register of the Presbytery of Perth, June 23. Printed at Edinburgh, 1658.
8.  Ibid., June 9.
9.  Ibid., August 25.

Here is the reference to the " his sufferings during the Rising of Montrose":

The minute of the meeting of the Kirk-Session of Logierait on January 5, 1640, proceeds :— "The same day, the elderis of the parochine were chosen, 17 in number, and were ressaved be Mr Johne Cunisone, minister at Dull, according to his commission frae the last visitation halden in Logieraitt the 11 of December, to witt 1639; amongst all which only William Fergusone of Balleuchane is absent. "He was appointed a commissioner from the Presbytery of Dunkeld to the General Assembly of 1641, and, with Messrs Alexander Rollock, minister at Dunkeld, William Menzies, minister at Kenmore, Henry Stewart (of Carco), the baron of Comrie, and John Stewart of Killiechassie, was nominated, by the Synod of April 1643, a commissioner to "deal with" those who were "potent" within the bounds of the Presbytery, that a collection on behalf of the Scots Army in Ireland might be available on May 1.

When Montrose was in the field for King Charles I. Cunison was despoiled of his goods and compelled to flee from his parish. With other distressed ministers, he petitioned "the Committie for the loisses" appointed by Parliament for reparation of his loss, and also Parliament for a grant in aid of his immediate necessities. Parliament voted him a sum of 400 merks Scots for his relief, until his claim had been submitted to detailed examination. He and Messrs Robert Murray, David Drummond, John Strachan, John CRUICKSHANK, and William Row, and others, "specially these both be east and be west the Water of Tay neirest the hills," complained to the Synod of November 1645, " that be reasone of the frequent downfalls of the rebells, and particular enmity conceaved against them, in regaird whereof their persons and lyfes ar sought and layed awaite for by the enemy, and thereby ar brought to that extremity as to leave their floks destitute of the comfort of their ministrie to their great greif." The Synod humbly requested the Commission of the General Assembly to represent their plight to the Estates of Parliament, that the "best and happiest" remedy might be adopted both for securing their safety, and for freeing the country from those attacks.

In 1646, Cunison is found acting as a chaplain to the garrison at Perth. The MS. Register of the Presbytery of Perth under date May 27 runs :— "Mr John CRUICKSHANK, minister at Regortoun, in the Presbytery of Perth, Mr John Cunison, minister at Dull in Athol, within the Presbytery of Dunkeld, now serving in the garrison of Perth, their hard and heavy condition is appointed to be represented (having both of them suffered great loss and spoiling by the enemy) by the Presbytery to the General Assembly, that they may recommend the same to the Honourable Estates of Parliament for remedy". The General Assembly of 1646 passed the following Act relative to Cunison and his neighbour, Mr Thomas Irland, minister at Weem :- "The General Assemblie, considering the distresses and necessities of Mr John Cuniesone and Mr Thomas Irland occasioned by the cruell oppressione and robberie of the rebells, doe, therfor, recommend them seriouslie to the charitie of all the brethren of the ministrie within the Presbitries be south Tay, in the same maner and according to the recommendationes given to the distressed ministers of Argyle."