CHAP. I - BIRTH, EARLY LIFE, AND A TEACHER OF YOUTH

Summary

The individual whose life is here attempted to be traced derives his descent from ancestors long settled in the parish of Tinwald, near Dumfries. In this parish the farm of Kirkland had been in the occupation of the family from an early period in the life of his great-grandfather. The name was originally spelt Dinwoody, or Dinwoodie, which the Doctor, when a very young man, modernized as it is written upon the title page. His parents, John Dinwoody and Catharine Riddick, were humble, and cultivated the small farm already mentioned. They had five children, three sons and two daughters, all born on the premises. The subject of the following Memoir, their youngest child, came into the world an orphan on the 8th December, 1746, more than half a year after the father had been consigned to his grave. The eldest son was then but twelve years old, and a heavy burden devolved upon an industrious mother, who was exceedingly interested in the welfare of her youngest child. So soon as he was able the orphan James had to take a share in the duties of the farm, by looking after the cattle, and such other tasks as suited his tender years. A neighboring village supplied the first rudiments of learning, but the system of education pursued at small country schools is seldom calculated to “teach the young idea how to shoot.”