Despite a little help form the local Burgh Fiscal who was an adherent Buchan found it difficult to continue her ways in the town. There were many times when violence was seen at the meetings as locals tried to capture the "witch wife." One time they drummed her out the town. It was not long until She again had to flee to Glasgow.
In 1783 Andrew Innes from Muthill met Buchan at a communion in Glasgow. Later after a meal and a walk on Glasgow Green, Innes was completely taken in by Buchan chats over scripture. Despite his family he decided to join the group in Irvine which was now about 40 in number.
Innes had persuaded the local s of Muthill that it would be worth hearing Buchan. So off the group went with Innes as body guard walking to Muthil from Irvine. Rev Scott had taken special meeting in Muthill and denounced orthodox faith...claiming Buchan was to be the new incarnation of the Holy Ghost!
mean while the group in Irvine was growing and so was local hostility. By May 1784 the local magistrates were asked to proceed with action against the blasphemers.
The first night of the expulsion ws spent in a cart shed near Dundonald.
The group were now settling in Closeburn south of Thornhill. General house keeping and some sort of established community was set up including care and finances.
In due time they were re housed in Buchan Ha at new Cample. The group now numbering 60.
Once again locals in December 1784 were agitated to try and deal with this un-orthodox group.
Elspeth died in 1791 of natural causes.
(My Thanks to Richard Hopkins for some of the details of the last few days.)
Buchanites
Buchanites
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