John Penney

A Topographical and Historical Account of Linlithgowshire (published 1832)

By the late John Penney (1754-1823)

From the Prefatory Notice:

John Penney was born at Bathgate upon the 22^nd of October 1754. His father was a small farmer near Bathgate; and although his means were small, yet, from the quickness of his son’s apprehension, and his desire for learning, he was induced to remove him from the school at Bathgate, where he was educated, to Edinburgh, where he remained until his father died, in the year 1769. It was originally proposed that he should be educated as a clergyman; but his father’s demise compelled him to relinquish his original intention; and, after teaching French and Latin for some years, he accidently formed an acquaintance with the late Baron Hepburn, who very kindly recommended him to the notice of his brother, a writer to the signet in Edinburgh, in great practice, who agreed to admit him into his office, at a very considerable salary. With that gentleman he remained upwards of thirty years.

In October 1801, Mr. Penney married Rachael Crease, the youngest daughter of William Crease of Nether Keith, a small landed proprietor in East Lothian. This lady, after having borne him several children died upon the 18^th of June, 1809. In the year 1818 he contracted a second marriage. He died upon the 5^th of February, 1823, aged sixty-nine, leaving behind him property to a considerable amount.

Some years prior to his death, he met with an accident through a fall, which injured his legs to such an extent, that he was never afterwards able to walk without assistance. During the time he was confined, he translated the Psalms of David into French, which he presented to his Majesty, Louis the Eighteenth. He also transcribed a Latin Testament, which  he sent to his late Majesty, George the Third. Besides writing the History of Linlithgow, he amused himself from time to time in the composition of other works; in particular, he wrote Memoirs of Lord Gray, and gave an account of the Beauties of Edinburgh, which cannot now be found among his papers.