James Muir family: from Cumnock Manse to Alexandria, Virginia

Rev James Muir

The Reverend James Muir, would go from was being one of at least 6 children born in the Manse of the Old Cumnock Parish Church to the Rev George Muir and Isabel (Tibbie) Muir, to become a well-known minister in Virginia in the United States, associated with several key figures in US history, including George Washington.

The Rev George Muir, James' father, was born in the village of Spott, in East Lothian, in 1724.  He had intended to enter into the legal profession, but after attending the famous revival in the Cambusland region in the summer of 1742, he felt a call to the ministry. He became ordained on the 30th of November 1752, becoming the minister for the Cumnock Parish church (now called the Old Church).  On 12 September 1753, George married Isabel (Tibbie) Wardlaw, who was born in Dunfermline. 

George served for 14 years in Cumnock before accepting a call to serve the High Church in Paisley. He passed away while serving in Paisley. He had an accident that injured his foot, which led to an infection, eventually he became unable to walk and was carried into the church on a sedan chair and would preach from a specially made elevated seat. After suffering for a time, his doctor felt that the best choice was to amputate, the operation appeared to be a success, but the following night as he slept an artery burst and he passed away on 20 July 1771. 

To quote from the Cumnock Chronicles article about him, "Of the work of Muir in Cumnock and the spirit he showed in carrying it on, we happen to know more than of the work and spirit of any other of this time. The session records testify that after his settlement, new life came into the Church and new methods were adopted for the progress of religion in the parish. The sin of drunkenness begins now to be frequently referred to, and the ordinary discipline of the Church, apparently long in desuetude for this sin, revived. But the sessional discipline was only part of the effort of the Church to redeem guilty persons from insobriety. The private dealing of the minister, of which we can read between the lines of the formal minutes, would go far to win offenders back, and would be a work into which Mr Muir would throw himself with all the earnestness of his faithful spirit."

Grave of James Muir

Of the children of George and Isabel, the most famous, or at least most written about, was the Rev James Muir. He was born in the manse in Cumnock on the 12th of April, 1757. Just like his father he had planned to go into law, but (to quote from his biographer William Buel Sprague) "under the preaching of his excellent father, his mind became deeply impressed with the importance of eternal things." And so "his thoughts, which had previously been directed to the profession of the Law, were now fixed upon the Christian ministry."

After studying in Glasgow and Edinburgh, he traveled to London to further study under his cousin Rev Henry Hunter, where it is possible he also began preaching in one of Lady Glenorchie's chapels. 

Sometime around 1781 he was ordained as an evangelist to Bermuda. While in Bermuda he became the principal of an academy, and became the acting pastor for Christ Church in Warwick, Bermuda. In Warwick he met Elizabeth Wellman, who was from "one of (Bermuda's) most respectable families." They were married on 29 February, 1783.  After serving for eight years in Bermuda, the Muir family intended to move back to Scotland, but due to bad weather their ship had to sail for the United States instead, where they would end up settling.

In 1789, James accepted a call to serve as minister at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House in Alexandria, Virginia, where he would serve for 31 years until his death in 1820. To quote from an Old Presbyterian Meeting House site "Rev. Muir’s influence extended far beyond the confines of the pulpit. As a leader in his community, he demonstrated compassion by spearheading Alexandria’s Poor Relief Committee, ensuring the welfare of those in need. Muir held the role of Chaplain at Lodge No. 22, the very lodge (George) Washington belonged to." And "recognizing the transformative power of education, Rev. Muir took on the role of the president of the Alexandria Academy [founded in 1785 with an enodowment from George Washington]. This commitment to nurturing young minds and advancing knowledge underscored his dedication to progress and intellectual growth. His influence in shaping the minds of future generations continues to echo through time, reminding us of the enduring impact of dedicated educators."

As for his preaching, many wrote he was a powerful preacher, however apparently his Scottish accent was so strong that it was felt he would never be an overly popular one. But he was certainly respected for what he did say. I like the quote of one United States Senator, who after having listened to one of Muir's sermons, remarked that he was "a short man, of short sermons, of short sentences."

A close family friend was Rev John Witherspoon, president of the College of New Jersey (later to become Princeton University) and a signer of the Declaration of Indepence. It was probably in part due to Witherspoon's backing that Muir was awarded an honorary degree of Doctorate of Divinity from Yale University in 1791.

As for children, Sprague records: "They had had seven children ; but, at the time of his death, only four were living, —one son and three daughters. The son Samuel was, for some years, a post surgeon in the United States army, stationed on the South-western frontier. He had, however, resigned his commission, and, having married a daughter of one of the chiefs of the Sacs or Fox tribe of Indians [now called the Sauk and the Meskwaki tribes], was, for several years, regarded as one of the greatest men of the nation. About three years before his death, he had settled in an extensive medical practice at Galena,  and, during, the Black Hawk war, when the cholera broke out in our army under General Scott, with such terrible violence, he boldly went out, as a volunteer, to endeavour to stay its ravages. But, after saving the lives of many in the army, he was attacked by the disease himself, and in twentyfour hours was numbered among its victims. He was educated at Edinburgh, was a highly accomplished man, and a skilful physician."

His daughters, are listed on this linked site as Jane, Mary, and Elizabeth, and are thought to have remained unmarried, devoting themselves to teaching in the Sunday school set up by their father.