Glas, John, 1695-1773

John Glas (1695-1773) founded the Glasite church after being deposed from his charge in Tealing for deviating from the doctrines of the Church of Scotland. His views on the lack of a scriptural basis for both the Scottish nation and the national church were expressed in The Testimony of the King of Martyrs concerning his Kingdom . His followers built the first Glasite church in Dundee; the movement spread mainly amongst weaving communities. Glas wanted to create a community of saints, with an independent church of self-governing congregations following faithfully the model of the New Testament, with strict discipline, in a renewed spiritual atmosphere based on intellectual Calvinism. The leadership of the church passed to his son-in-law, Robert Sandeman, and followers were known as Sandemanians.

William Walker was a writer in Dunkeld, then Dundee. He was a member of the Glasite church, son of John Walker and Elizabeth Blair, who was daughter of James Blair, glover in Dundee. The items in this collection came from his office.

James Cargill (1703/4-1779), glover and merchant in Dundee and Dunkeld, was an initial follower of John Glas, becoming one of his first elders when the first Glasite church was founded in Dundee in 1730. Five years later he moved to Dunkeld to become elder of the new Glasite church there. He went on a missionary tour to New England with Glas’s son-in-law Robert Sandeman in 1764. His son Walter Cargill (1729-1783) became a merchant in Dunkeld, going into business with his brother in law Daniel McDuff in the firm Cargill and McDuff dealing in drapery, and later formed a separate firm of linen manufacturers, with other partners called Cargill, McDuff and Company. Another son William (c.1742-c.1788) was a wright in Dunkeld. As his second wife he married Katherine Coke, daughter of William Coke, bookseller in Leith.

Walter’s son Robert (1752-1833) was a merchant and manufacturer in Dunkeld, being part of Cargill, McDuff and Co, and later became a banker. He was also Baron Bailie of Dunkeld.

From the guide to the Manuscripts relating to John Glas and the Cargill family, 1700-1813., 1700-1813, (University of St Andrews)