Sunday 22 June 2014

The Rev. William Muir

The Rev. William Muir (1795-1864), Minister, First Charge, Parish Church, Dysart, Fife, was uncle of "our" William Muir. He was born 30 Aug 1794 in Paisley, Renfrew, and died 1 Dec 1864 in Dysart, Fife, aged 70. His first marriage (to Christian Bain), took place 15 Apr 1828, at Dysart. They had eight children. His second childless marriage (to Margaret Robertson), took place 25 Dec 1850 . She long outlived him, dying in 1889.

Dysart circa 1860.
For what it's worth—at least it will avoid confusion—here is a list of the books published by the Rev. William Muir.




1827.—Memoir and letters of the Rev. William Guthrie, author of the “Christian’s great interest” .—Edinburgh.—1v. ; 12mo.
Edited by William Muir.

1831.—Notices of the burgh, church and ministers, school and teachers, of Dysart.—Edinburgh.—12mo.



1853.—Notices from the local records of Dysart.—Glasgow : Printed by J. Hedderwick & son.—Maitland club. Publications. no. 73.—x, 72 p : front., 3 pl ; 27 x 22 cm.
Edited by William Muir; presented to the club by William Euing. Some copies printed on vellum

1855.—The antiquities of Dysart.—Kirkcaldy : John Crawford.—39 p. : 2 plates ; 8vo.

1862.—Gleanings from the records of Dysart : from 1545 to 1796.—Edinburgh : Oliver & Boyd.—88 p ; 28 cm.
And a further summary of entries concerning the Rev. W. Muir in the F[ifeshire] A[dvertiser]. I can’t now recall where I obtained them and post them here in the hope they’ll be of interest to someone.


Funeral drinking (advertisement).—FA 1847 (6th March), page 8 column 2.

Examination of Abbotshall School.—FA 1849 (7th April), page 3, column 1.

Presided at a meeting in Wemyss Parish Church to moderate in a Call to the Rev. William Polson.—FA 1850 (17th August), page 4, column 1.

Member of a deputation which examined Dysart Burgh School.—FA 1853 (9th April), page 3, column 3.

Took part in the annual examination of Pathhead Town School.—FA 1853 (30th July), page 3, column 3.

Was appointed to audit the Inspector’s books at a meeting of Dysart Parochial Board.—FA 1853 (5th November), page 3, column 4.

Delivered a lecture in the Town Hall.—FA 1853 (17th December), page 2, column 8.

Delivered a lecture in the Town Hall on the antiquities of Dysart.—FA 1854 (11th February), page 3, column 6.

Officiated at a dinner in Clarke’s Inn for Lieutenant John Reddie Black.—FA 1854 (9th December), page 3, column 4.

Influential in the formation of a female industrial school in Gallatown.—FA 1855 (3rd March), page 3, column 3.

Involved in examining schools in Abbotshall, Kirkcaldy, Pathhead and Dysart.—FA 1855 (7th April), page 4, column 3.

Co-ordinator of a scheme to collect books to send to soldiers in the Crimea.—FA 1855 (1st December), page 1, column 4; page 3, column 3.

Delivered a lecture on "Dysart Witches".—FA 1856 (23rd February), page 4, column 5.

Opened a Sabbath School soiree with prayer.—FA 1856 (8th March), page 3, column 4.

Delivered a lecture in the Subscription Schoolroom in aid of blankets and winter clothing for the poor.—FA 1856 (13th December), page 3, column 5.

Spoke at Established Presbytery committee which heard the case of immoral intention of Rev. Mark Johnston Bryden.—FA 1858 (20th February), page 3, column 7/8.

Attended Established Presbytery meeting which made Pathhead Parish Church a quoad sacra parish.—FA 1858 (13th March), page 3, column 3.

Established Presbytery withdrew remarks made aboout Henry Beveridge during the case of Rev. Mark Bryden.—FA 1858 (10th April), page 3, column 7.

Established Presbytery received schedule returns for Port-Brae, Methil and Invertiel Chapels; Mr Muir also elected to represent Kirkcaldy Presbytery at Assembly.—FA 1858 (10th April), page 3, column 7/8.

Moderator at a presbytery meeting.—FA 1858 (8th May), page 4, column 4/5.

Received letter from the wreck of the 'Ava'.—FA 1858 (15th May), page 3, column 5.

Examination of Philp's School—Pathhead.—FA 1858 (7th August), page 3, column 7/8.—FA 1861 (4th May), page 3, column 4.

Attended Presbytery meeting which discussed the Henry Bursary, Methil Chapel and the ordination of elders at Port-Brae Church.—FA 1858 (28th August), page 3, column 7.

Attended Philp’s Trust meeting.—FA 1858 (11th September), page 4, column 2/3.

Philp’s Trust Governors meeting to discuss dispute with the managers of Pathhead over the right to fix salary of new teacher.—FA 1858 (25 September), page 3, column 1; page 4, column 2; page 4, column 3.—FA 1858 (2nd October), page 3, column 7.

Attended Philp’s Trust Governors meeting.—FA 1858 (11th December), page 4, column 3.

Acknowledged annual donations received by him for the poor.—FA 1859 (8th January), page 3, column 5.

Entertained fifty people to dinner on New Year’s Day.—FA 1859 (8th January), page 3, column 5/6.

Gave a speech at the ordination of the Rev. Hart to St David’s Church, Dundee.—FA 1859 (5th March), page 3, column 7.

Discussed innovations in public worship at Presbytery meeting.—FA 1859 (7th May), page 4, column 2/3.

Held open-air meeting in the old burying-ground.—FA 1859 (18th June), page 3, column 4.

Spoke at meeting held to hear evidence of objectors to the settlement of Rev. Logie to Scoonie.—FA 1859 (3rd September), page 3, column 5/6.

Delivered a special address to school children in the Parish Church.—FA 1860 (14th July), page 3, column 5.

Received a donation from John Clark to be distributed among the poor of Dysart.—FA 1860 (15th December), page 3, column 5.

Lectures on nature.—FA 1861 (12th January), page 3, column 5.

Meeting of Presbytery to judge the objections to the settlement of Rev. Blackwood.—FA 1861 (26th January), page 2, column 4/5/6/7/8.

Conducted marriage of Mary Anderson, to David Bogie, engineer.—FA 1863 (4th July), page 4, column 1.

Conducted marriage of Mary Reddie and James Nasmyth.—FA 1863 (18th July), page 4, column 1.

Present at the meeting of the Established Presbytery of Kirkcaldy.—FA 1863 (8th August), page 3, column 5.

Presentation made to him from the females attending his bible class.—FA 1863 (26th September), page 3, column 6.

Chairman at a meeting, held in Mrs Clarke’s Inn, for the purpose of exhibiting old coins.—FA 1863 (26th December), page 3, column 5.

Gave a lecture on the subject of Scottish coins.—FA 1864 (12th March), page 3, column 8.

Public roup of his furniture and books (advertisement).—FA 1865 (11th March), page 1, column 3.

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