I am continuing the discovery of Mrs Buchan
The potters business did not perform and Robert went back to Glasgow presumably to get work leaving Elspeth and children at home in Banff shire to make ends meet.
She Elspeth raised living expenses from educational work by opening a school teaching basics including the ability to read. However she got bored with the standard Scottish theology and returned to her young years visions and revelations which stimulated her into passing on her interpretation of the Bible. She started with fairly orthodox views which then grew into more unorthodox views.
As an eager interested follower she mixed with a local fellowship meeting and on the face of it showed great Piety and value to the group. She was able to influence many that she had almost a direct access to the truth and that she was a prophetess. Now it would seem she had found her mission in life .
The family and school suffered as she developed her mission with opposition coming from all parts including her children.
Gone was the sewing and teaching and then the money dried up. So off to Glasgow back to the husband in 1781 where she seems to have done very little apart from spending her husbands money so she could promote her thoughts.
Letters to the Rev Hugh White a relief church minister in Irvine had resulted in meetings together and for him to come under her "spell" believing together that she was the women in Revelation 12.
Coming next group of followers ...heresies ...Muthill ...the Buchanites.
