From a Covenanter hand-lbook published in 1938, we learn that the gable of the church in which he preached was still standing. Here he labored for over 40 years, during which he was granted permission by his Balmaghie congregation to spend the most of each summer among the scattered “Society People,” preaching to them in their conventicles, baptising the children, and holding memorial services for those who during the year had departed this life. In this way he was destined to become a true Shepherd of the Hills to an extent few others have ever been able to be. As an illustration of how greatly he was loved, the story is told that when he first went to live at Balmaghie, the State Church Authorities still active, sought to evict him from the manse, and for this purpose sent a deputation of armed men. Having received word that this was to be attempted, the Balmaghie, the people, men, women and children, armed themselves with pitch-forks, spades and mattocks, and the women with buckets of hot water, surrounded the manse and their pastor, ready to do battle. When the deputation saw the situation, and realized if they persisted, blood would be shed, they departed without committing any violence. Happily the days of persecution were over, and this good man was allowed to complete his work without harm or danger, although his life was an exceedingly arduous one. Unfortunately, a family record of the descendants of John MacMillan has not been preserved, or is unknown on this side of the Atlantic. This need not be too surprising, when we recall the scarcity of the family records of those who left the old world and settled in the new, particularly is this true of families like our own, that came to this country in troublous times, by way of northern Ireland. The hardships which awaited all pioneers, even the most favored, together with the growing tension between the old world and the new, which was climaxed in the Revolutionary War, would be sufficient to account for the fact that even the first generation of new arrivals would soon lose trace of their nearest kin they left behind. Yet it is interesting, and I believe a significant fact, that one of the earliest and most persistent traditions of our family is that it had its origin not only with the “Society People” of Scotland, but were closely connected if not directly descended from John MacMillan, who was one of the leaders in that noble band of martyrs. The writer is convinced, that there is authentic historical 9
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