Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Robe, James
ROBE, JAMES (1688–1753), Scottish presbyterian divine, son of Michael Robe, minister of Cumbernauld, was born there in 1688. He studied at Glasgow University, and was licensed by the presbytery of Linlithgow in 1709. In 1713 he was ordained to the parish of Kilsyth. In 1740 his ministry was signalised by a remarkable religious revival, following immediately upon a similar movement at Cambuslang, and extending to other districts in the west of Scotland. The movement gave rise to a controversy, especially with the associate presbytery, leading Robe to issue his first publication, entitled ‘A Faithful Narrative of the extraordinary Work of the Spirit of God at Kilsyth, and other Congregations in the Neighbourhood near Glasgow,’ published at Edinburgh, Glasgow, and London, 1742, 8vo, Glasgow, 1790, 1840, as well as a ‘Letter to Mr. Jas. Fisher,’ Edinburgh and Glasgow, 8vo, 1742. Robe's other works include ‘The Christian Monthly History,’ 6 numbers, Edinburgh, 1743–4; ‘Faith no Fancy,’ 1745, 8vo; and ‘Counsels and Comforts to Troubled Christians,’ Edinburgh and Glasgow, 1749. He continued at Kilsyth till his death, 26 May 1753. He married Anna Hamilton, who survived him twenty years.
[Hew Scott's Fasti Eccl. Scot.; Robe's Works; Mun. Univ. Glasg. vol. iii.; Wodrow Correspondence.]