Notebook of John Wallace, 1707-1718

This material is held atUniversity of St Andrews Special Collections

  • Reference
    • GB 227 msBX9225.W2(ms5146)
  • Dates of Creation
    • 1707-1718
  • Name of Creator
  • Language of Material
    • English Latin
  • Physical Description
    • 1 volume, 324pp

Scope and Content

Autograph notebook of John Wallace, minister of Drumelzier, Peebleshire.

  • Front paste-down endpaper, key to shorthand, [continued on pp.322-324], with signature of John Wallace.
  • p.2 Costs, itemised in the hand of John Wallace, for building materials and cartage, on Sir [David ?] Murray's account, May 1710 by James Renton of Leith and for six loads of lime supplied 1711 for the manse of Drumelzier (Drumeller).
  • p.4 Estimates, in a different hand, for the repair of the manse and church at Drumelzier given by William Hyslop and Thomas Laing masons, wrights, to the presbytery of Drumelzier.
  • pp.5-9 Sermon notes
  • pp.11-34 Compendium Logicae
  • p.34 'Introduction to Navigation by arithmetick' [12 lines only]
  • pp.35-280 Sermon notes. The first sermon is noted as delivered at Drumelzier on 5 April 1707. The notes were completed on 9 October 1718. [the notes read in reverse pagination and were originally paginated independently].
  • p.310, 312, 314 Notes on theological and scriptural topics, arranged in three columns, each column reading independently.
  • p.316, p.318, p.320 Notes in shorthand in the centre column of three ruled columns with, pp.318, 320 only, a continuation in the first and third columns of: pp.319, 321-322 Notes on European geography.
  • pp.11-34 in ruled borders. Odd numbered blank pages ruled in three columns with ruled upper margin.

Administrative / Biographical History

John Wallace (c. 1674-1733) was minister of Drumelzier, Peebleshire, from his ordination in 1705 until his death in 1733. He had been licenced by the presbytery of Kirkcaldy in 1702. He married Christian, daughter of William Murray of Cardon, in 1706.

The commonplace book was originally a Renaissance idea to have a book into which favourite passages of text, sayings and quotations could be copied. Students created notebooks in their studies to compile a collections of ideas from their readings to be used in future speeches, compositions and if they were training for the ministry, sermons. These would provide a series of headings under which to organise the sermon, an aid to memory, and a store for useful passages of Scripture or commentary for future works.

Arrangement

Single item

Access Information

By appointment with the Keeper of Manuscripts. Access to records containing confidential information may be restricted.

Acquisition Information

Purchased for pound 3.5s. from George G Adams together with mss5144 and 5146, 17 Feb 1946

Note

Call number used to be ms5146

Other Finding Aids

Individual Manuscripts and Small Collections database available as part of Manuscripts Database.

Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements

Binding: calf. Paper: 14.9x20cm vertically bound.

Archivist's Note

Description compiled by Maia Sheridan, Archives Hub project archivist, based on material from the Manuscripts Database

Conditions Governing Use

Applications for permission to quote should be sent to the Keeper of Manuscripts. Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of documents.

Accruals

None

Related Material

GB227 msBX9225.W2, ms5145

Geographical Names