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Logie Parish (Page 3)
Their only son, William Fettes, became a member of the Faculty of Advocates in 1810, but his career, which was full of promise, was terminated by death in 1815. Sir William survived till 27th May, 1836, his wife having predeceased him by only three weeks. The vast fortune which he had amassed was placed under trustees, who were to carry out the conditions of his will by paying various legacies to poor relations and bequests to charitable institutions, and applying the residue to "form an endowment for the maintenance, education, and outfit of young people, whose parents have either died without leaving sufficient funds for that purpose, or who from innocent misfortune during their lives are unable to give suitable education to their children." The fund for the latter purpose amounted at Sir William's death to £166,000. This was suffered to accumulate for several years, and at length, in 1863, arrangements were made for the erection of the splendid edifice, now known as Fettes College. The site chosen was on a part of Comely Bank estate, and a most effective design was provided by the late David Bryce, R.S.A., to complete which cost nearly £150,000. The building was founded in June, 1863, and formerly opened in October, 1870. By a provision in the will of the founder, the number of boys to be admitted was never to exceed fifty, but recently arrangements have been made that increase the usefulness of the benefaction. It is now transformed into an institution for supplying secondary education to children in the middle class society, and is regarded as " the Scottish Harrow." The estate of Denbrae is still in the possession of the trustees of the deceased baronet.The smaller estates in the parish of Logie are Lucklawhill and Straiton, the property of the trustees of the late Mr. Fraser Stewart of St. Fort; and Kedlkock, which belongs to James Johnstone, Esq. of Kincardine.
The church of Logie was under the Abbey of Balmerino previous to the Reformation, and Archibald Keith, the first Protestant minister, who was appointed in 1562, had both Logie and Balmerino churches under his charge. The building had fallen into so great disrepair, that in 1590 it was deemed necessary that it should be "re-edifiet." The present church was erected in 1826. Amongst the notable ministers in Logie was Henry Pitcairn, who was admitted in 1652, and deprived of his charge by the PrivyCouncil in 1689 "for not reading the proclamation of the estates, and not praying for their Majesties, William and Mary, but for the late King James." His helper, David Balfour, was also deposed for the same reason. Samuel West, who was minister from 1751 till 1766, was father of John West, the author of a system of mathematics that was highly esteemed. The latter became an Episcopalian clergyman in the island of Jamaica, and died there, leaving a considerable quantity of manuscripts on mathematical subjects. Andrew Melville was presented to the church by George III in 1803, and continued as minister of Logie until the Disruption, at which time he joined the Free Church.
Extracts from:
Pages 177-181, 333/4, 413/4
"Fife Pictorical and Historical" Volume 1; It's People Burghs Castles & Mansions
by A.H Millar, FSA. Scot.
Cupar-Fife:A.Westwood & Son (Publishers)
Edinburgh & Glasgow : John Menzies & Co. 1895
Last Modified: 29-June-2000
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