2nd United Associate Congregation 1823-1846
Scottish communion tokens have a fascinating history. They were used by Presbyterian churches to regulate access to the Lord’s Table, their primary purpose being to provide entrance to the Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion). Elders distributed the tokens to deserving individuals that were known to hold ‘correct belief’ and exhibit ‘proper conduct’.
The token pictured above was issued by Rev Thomas Adam who served as the second minister at the Gytes Meeting House of the Associate Congregation Burghers of Peebles, following in the footsteps of Rev Thomas Leckie. Thomas Adam served from 1823-03-19 until his resignation in 1846-08-04.
Towards the end of 1835, a less than agreeable correspondence was recorded in an exchange of letters between Rev Thomas Adam and Thomas Young of Rosetta. Mr Adam was a popular preacher in the meeting house at the Gytes, but he incurred the disapproval of some people including, it seems, Thomas Young. Mr Adam made a statement of his grievances to a local lawyer, apparently at Mrs Young’s request. In it he accused Thomas Young of:
- Telling Mrs Young’s maid that unless she left Mr Adam’s congregation she she would be sacked.
- Trying to persuade Sir James Montgomery to dismiss all his servants who belonged to the congregation.
- Trying to influence the six other county gentlemen against Mr Adam, by saying he was out of his senses and half mad.
Thomas married Margaret Semple in 1823-09-21 and they had a son, James. Tragically, Margaret died 5 years later in 1828-00-00 and their son James died in infancy.
Thomas married again in 1830-07-18 to Isabella Borthwick and they subsequently raised six children, three of whom are particularly noteworthy; their eldest son Robert became a celebrated merchant and philanthropist and served as the Director of the Young Men’s Christian Association in Buffalo, New York. Their youngest son James was elected Mayor of Buffalo in 1905-00-00 with a majority of 10,000. Their youngest daughter Isabella reportedly taught Sir J M Barrie at The Hanky School in Kirriemuir.
References:
[S2.5] SCOTT, Sheila Alexandra, Children of the Manse (Sheila Scott, Peebles, 1980)
[S2.3] SCOTT, Sheila Alexandra, Thomas Young of Rosetta (Sheila Scott, Peebles, 1980)
[G1.3] GUNN, Clement Bryce, The Parish Church of Peebles. A.D. 1784-1885, Presbyterianism (Allan Smyth, Neidpath Press, Peebles, 1917)