Chased by a Mob
This short extract from a book called Historical and Traditional Sketches of Highland Families, and of the Highlands by John Maclean records an incident in the life of John Porteous, one of the ministers of Ross-shire mention by John Kennedy in his book about religious life in Ross-shire. ‘The Rev. John Porteous . This eminent divine was born in Inverness in the year 1704, and was presented to the united parishes of Daviot and Dunlichity about the latter end of the year 1730. ‘The first place he preached at was Daviot, and although no obstruction was offered by those of that district of the parish, yet he was but coldly received. Next Sabbath-day, when he was to preach at Dunlichity, just as he was entering the church he was not a little surprised to be assailed with a shower of stones, and to his astonishment, he perceived upwards of fifty females, headed by a virago named Elspet Maclean, coming towards him with their aprons tied round...