| Collection | GB 0231 University of Aberdeen, Special Collections |
| Level | Fonds |
| Ref No | MS 983 |
| Title | Collection of Sermons |
| Date | c. 1750 - c. 1782 |
| Extent | 2 volumes (0.07 linear metres) |
| Source | Both manuscripts were entered in the University Library's accessions book when catalogued in October 1929 as 'Old books', and their provenance is unknown. There is no indication of former ownership or authorship on either volume.
Based on additional information provided in 2013 by Dr. Norman D. Nicol (Professional Genealogist/Family Historian), the volumes are very probably written by Dr. John Glennie (d.1801), Church of Scotland Minister at Drumoak from 1750-1763 and at Maryculter from 1763-1801. He married Jean (d.1815), daughter of Arthur Mitchell, Minister at Skene, in 1754 and they had eight sons and two daughters. He received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from King's College in 1782. See 'Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae: Vol III, Part 2 Synods of Aberdeen, Angus and Mearns' (Edinburgh, 1871) for more information. |
| Description | A collection of undated dissertations or sermons on the Ten Commandments, including additional sermons on related texts (MS 983/1) and sermons, lectures and notes of addresses and abstracts of religious works, 1750 - c. 1777 (MS 983/2). These sermons were preached at Aberdeen and Drumoak, Maryculter, Peterculter, Durris, Skene and Banchory, all close to Aberdeen. There is also the draft of a sermon expanded on folios 22 verso - 29 recto of MS 983/2 in which the author comments on the American Revolution (MS 983/2/1).
These two volumes of sermons and related notes may have been compiled by the same person: the handwriting in both appears to be identical. The author's identity, however, has not been ascertained [but see 'Source' field above]. The undated MS 983/1 may have been compiled after MS 983/2, which contains several items dated between 1759 and 1771. Frequent mention is made in marginilia to a work by 'Dr Clark'. This may be Samuel Clarke (1675-1725), DD, a well-known theological writer. In MS 983/2 there are some notes on the Psalms, taken from 'Delauney's life of David'. This is a reference to Patrick Delany (1685?-1768), dean of Down, author of 'An historical account of the life and reign of David, King of Israel', first published in three volumes in 1740-1742. There are also abstracts from 'The Devout Communicant's Assistant' (Edinburgh, 1777) by Alexander Duncan (1708-1795), AM, Marischal College 1729, DD, King's College 1773, minister at Smailholm (Roxburghshire) from 1743-1795.
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| Appraisal | This material has been appraised in line with normal procedures. |
| Accruals | None expected. |
| Access Status | Open |
| Access Conditions | The records are available subject to the signed acceptance of the Department's access conditions. |
| Copyright | Subject to the condition of the original, copies may be supplied for private research use only on receipt of a signed undertaking to comply with current copyright legislation. Permission to make any published use of material from the collection must be sought in advance from the University Archivist and, where appropriate, from the copyright owner. Where possible, assistance will be given in identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material. |
| Language | English |
| Physical Description | Both volumes are bound in grey boards with leather spines which require repair. MS 983/1 measures 15.5 x 20.5 cm and contains 562 pages, excluding 4 folios containing contents-list. The pagination is misnumbered after p. 434 where it reverts to 425 and the remainder is paginated 425-552; there are numerous additions and comments for which marginal references have been added. MS 983/2 measures 21.5 x 16.5 cm. Considerable portions appear to have been removed before the manuscript was catalogued, the stitching is loose and several folios have become detached. In all, 111 folios have been preserved and are unpaginated, apart from a section of which only pages (1)-(36) and (56)-(67) remain. |