Hi Nessie,
I have discovered a few tidbits of information, but nothing that has led to any major breakthrough. I have managed to unearth a bit more information about my 3X great grandfather, John's, time in Scotland.
I have a couple of accademic articles and thesis, including B. W. Andrzejewski, S. Pilaszewicz, W. Tyloch (1985: 588), Sass, F.W. (1956: 47), and Shell, S.C.T.R. (2006: 206) that state John was born on 26 October 1796 in Glasgow in Lanarkshire in Scotland. His death notice, drawn up by his son, also states that he was born in Glasgow, and that his parents were James Bennie and Margaret Scott.
Scott, H. (1928: 561) states in the Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae the Succession of Ministers in the Church of Scotland From the Reformation - Volume VII, John "was probably the son of James B. merchant, Haddington, educated at Univ. of Glasgow. Of his time in Glasgow it further states that he was set apart in the North Albion Street Chapel on 23 Jan 1821.
I have found no other link to Haddington, although it is possible that his son perhaps presumed that he was born in Glasgow as I do believe that his death notice was the source for many of the academics that wrote about him. I have not been able to find the James Bennie of Haddington and would question why he would be referred to as being from Haddington if he was in Glasgow from at least the time of Thomas' birth.
Sass, F.W. (1956:47) records that in December 1814, John was received as a member of ``the Church in Campbell Street.'' He would have been 18 years of age at the time. Where the rest of his family were at this point is unclear. I have no indication that the family were with him, I doubt it as my understanding is is that the church is near the university, and according to Scott, H. (1928, 561), John was educated at the University of Glasgow. It is thus possible that even if the family was in Glasgow at the time, he was possibly received at a church closer to were he moved to to be near the uni.
According to B. W. Andrzejewski, S. Pilaszewicz, W. Tyloch (1985, 588), John became a member of the Glasgow Missionary Society in 1816. He would have been 20 years old at the time of joining.
John would later cut his studies short so that he could travel to the Cape Colony as a missionary catechist. According to Scott, H (1928, 561), John was "set apart" in the North Albion Street Chapel on 23 January 1821.
Thank you for your continued interest,
Duncan
