| The Life and Times of a Scottish Minister, Master John Livingston 1603 - 1672 (Abridged version of the book by John P Stewart) |
 |
| "By speech first but far more by writing, man has been able to put something of himself beyond death. In tradition and in books an integral part of the individual persists, for it can influence the minds and actions of other people in different places and at different times: a row of black marks on a page can move a man to tears, though the bones of him that wrote it are long ago crumbled to dust" Julian Huxley |
 |
| The ruins of the old parish church of Ancrum, Roxburghshire |
| Photograph by Courtesy of The Earl of Wemyss and March K.T. |
| About Myself. I am a retired maintenance engineer who resides in the town of Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland. I moved here from Edinburgh in 1966 alongwith my late wife and children. Livingston at that time was in the process of developing from a rural community of several villages. Always being a keen writer and fond of history, I became interested in the origins of the town, and in so doing I made contact with various Livingston towns and townships the world over. It was during my correspondence with the Township of New Jersey that I became interested in the subject of my narrative. Livingston, New Jersey was named for a William Livingston who was a descendant of `a vigorous Scots Minister of the Gospel.` This intrigued me sufficiently that I determined to trace this person. What I discovered was a rich source of presbyterianism waiting to be brought to light. More eminent scholars and writers than me have chronicled the times and events of those days, but I did not feel deterred in adding mine to the list. I have attempted to collate and present some of this material in modern text, but in the quest for desired effect, the colourful and descriptive language of middle Seventeenth Century Scotland has been retained. I hope anyone who reads this will have as much satisfaction in so doing as I have had in compiling it. I thank you for your interest, and I look forward to reading your comments in my guestbook if you feel inclined to remark. Finally, I recommend you clicking on my Links to take you to other associated sites. John P Stewart |
|
 |
John Livingston A prominent protestor, when many about him were content to accept the rules and dictates of the Bishops, and through them the supreme right of the monarch in all things spiritual, he aligned himself with others who baulked at this claim maintaining the power of the throne stopped short of this. |
 |
| My grateful thanks to Nell Livingston Blay, Sue Livingston Fritz, and Robert Sewell for their encouragement, aye even cajoling me to set up this site. Also to my son Alan for assisting in so doing. |
| LAST UPDATED 19th Feb 2001 |