Memoirs of the Life of Sir John Clerk of Penicuik (Volume 13); Baronet, Baron of the Exchequer, Extracted by Himself from His Own Journals, 1676-1755

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1892. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... memoirs of my life, extracted from Journals I kept since I was 26 years of Age. John Clerk. Nota.--This book may be read by all my friends in the House of Pennicuik, but is never to be lent or carried out of the House. As these Memoirs can be of no other use but to satisfy the/"/-1. curiosity of my Relations and dependants I shall write them with the same negligence of style that so many trifeling occurrences may deserve, and, with a view to all this, I absolutely prohibite and discharge any of my Posterity from lending them or dispersing them abroad. They are to remain in the House of Pennicuik, or such other place as they can best be keept. Having nothing to boast of as to the Antiquity of my Family,2 which, by-the-bye, I have always laught at in others, I shall trace my mean Progenitors no farther back than about 1 So marked in the ms. 3 Douglas traces the Clerks of Penicuik as most probably descended from 'John Clerk, one of the hostages for King David's ransom in 1357... a merchant, and the most considerable man of that town (Montrose). And it appears by their Council books that the Clerks were the chief magistrates of that burgh for some centuries thereafter; of whom are descended the immediate ancestor of his family, viz.:--I. William Clerk, merchant, burgess of Montrose, who lived in the reigns of Queen Mary and King James vi., and, dying about the year 1620, left issue, a son,--ii. John Clerk, who was baptised by the Bishop of Caithness at Fettercairn, 22d December 1611.' The last statement is made on the authority of the Records of the Kirk-Session, but these are now lost. He was bred a merchant, and was a man of parts and spirit.' The Bishop of Caithness at this time was Alexander Forbes, M.A., appointed rector of Fettercairn 1588, 'son of John Forbe...