Spring Road Trip Drive On Visit To Abercorn West Lothian Scotland

Tour Scotland Spring travel video of an April road trip drive, with Scottish music, on a single track road on visit to Abercorn in West Lothian. Abercorn, Scottish Gaelic: Obar Chùirnidh, Old English: Æbbercurnig is a village located around three miles West of South Queensferry. A castle existed here from Norman times, although it was demolished in 1455 by King James II during a siege against the Black Douglases and their chief James Douglas, 9th Earl of Douglas. The lands of Abercorn were granted to Claud Hamilton in the 16th century. His son was later created the Earl of Abercorn. In the early 17th century, a branch of the Hamilton dynasty moved to Ulster in Ireland. The family would, henceforth, play a major part in Ulster affairs. Thus, the estate was later sold to the Hope family, who were created Earls of Hopetoun, and built Hopetoun House to the east of the village. Hugh Meiklejohn was born on 12 June 1764, the only son of Mary Cree, daughter of Hugh Cree, of Saline, Fife, and Reverend George Meiklejohn, who was later a minister in the Carolinas in America. He studied divinity at the University of Glasgow. He was licensed to preach by the Church of Scotland around 1786 and ordained as minister of Dunfermline in 1788. In 1791 he was translated to Abercorn in West Lothian and remained there until 1799, after which he was Professor of Ecclesiastical History at the University of Edinburgh. He was appointed Moderator of the Church of Scotland in 1810. From around 1810 he lived with his family at Merchant Street opposite Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh's Old Town. In 1792 he married Anne Liston, died died 1852, eldest daughter of Very Reverend Robert Liston, Moderator in 1787. They had nine children including Captain James Hope Johnston Meiklejohn, born 1795, died 1856, of the Gordon Highlanders, Hugh Cree Meiklejohn, born 1797, died 1847, Reverend Robert Meiklejohn, born 1800, died 1859 minister of Strathdon, and Reverend William Hope Meiklejohn, born 1811, died 1850 a missionary in Calcutta, India. Hugh died on 11 June 1831, and is buried with his family in Abercorn churchyard. All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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