!SOURCE: Rev. Thomas Whyte, AN HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL
ACCOUNT OF THE BETHUNES OF THE ISLAND OF SKYE, Edinburgh, 1778,
reprinted London, 1893, by Alfred A. Bethune-Baker, reprinted by
ScotsPress, p. 17.
John the second son passed a course of college education at Aberdeen,
whre he commenced master of arts. He studied likewise at St. Andrews
and Edinburgh, and made great proficiency. He became his uncle''s
successor at Roskeen, and married his youngest daughter Janet, and by
her had several children that died in infancy. He had the degree of Doctor
of Divinity conferred on him by the University of Aberdeen, and was
admitted a fellow of the Royal Society of London. He enjoyed a clear
understanding and solid judgment, and possessed a large fund of useful
learning. He exhibited to the public different specimens of his talents
as a writer, which met with the approbation of the best judges of
literary merit. In the pulpit his discourses were most correct and
edifying. He was wise, cautious and circumspect, and behaved in every
respect as became his character. Nothing could appear more amiable
than the patience and equanimity with which he bore to the last a sever
illness of many years continuance. He died the 14th of April 1774, in the
50th year of his age, and the 20th of his ministry.