Patrick Anderson of Walston

Patrick Anderson of Walston was a 17th-century minister and Covenanter.

Early life He graduated with an M.A. from St. Andrews 1648. He came to Walston between 1 May and 1 November 1655.

Legal troubles

Our sovereign Lord, considering the obstinacy of the fanatical party who, notwithstanding all the laws formerly made against them, still keep their house and field conventicles, which are the nurseries and rendezvouses of rebellion; therefore His Majesty, with consent of Parliament, ordains that all such persons who shall hereafter preach at such house or field conventicles, also those who shall be present as hearers, shall be punished by death and confiscation of their goods.

He was subsequently deprived of his post by Act of Parliament 11 June, and of Privy Council 1 October 1662. He was granted indulgence in Dreghorn or at Kilbirnie prior to 22 October 1674.

He was ejected for non-conformity in 1663. In September 1672, he was ordered by the council, under the Act of Indulgence, to repair to the parish of Kilbirnie, and there to remain confined, with permission to preach and to exercise the other parts of his ministerial function, - which order he did not obey. In 1673, he was called before the council, and ordered to his confinement. He stayed in Edinburgh at Potterrow for some years but was called before the Privy Council, on 3 April 1678, on a charge of having held conventicles at Boghall, Biggar, and in his house during the years 1674–1648, and of corresponding with John Welsh, Gabriel Semple, and other intercommuned persons such as Williamson and Johnston. He appeared and denied the charge. He was pronounced guilty and sentenced to imprisonment on the Bass, unless he found caution to the amount of 2000 merks, and agreed to remove from Edinburgh and not come within five and a half miles of the city, or converse with any persons but the members of his own family. He found the necessary security, and retired to Dalkeith, where he set up a meeting-house. He was released in July 1679. Anderson survived the Revolution, and on the ejection of Mr. John Kinked, an Episcopalian incumbent, he became minister of his old parish of Walston, where he laboured with great acceptance until he died. He was restored in 1689. He returned previous to 6 July 1689.

His daughter Mary married (cont. 23rd, 25th, and 29 April 1678: Perth Sas., vii., 193) David Pitcairn of Dreghorn, and was grandmother of Principal Robertson.

His son James Anderson was a Writer to the Signet and was appointed Postmaster General for Scotland and became a well-known Scottish antiquary and historian.