Elizabeth Cairns (1685 – 1741) was a

working-class The working class (or labouring class) comprises those engaged in manual-labour occupations or industrial work, who are remunerated via waged or salaried contracts. Working-class occupations (see also " Designation of workers by collar colou ...

Scottish

Calvinist Calvinism (also called the Reformed Tradition, Reformed Protestantism, Reformed Christianity, or simply Reformed) is a major branch of Protestantism that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice set down by John Ca ...

lay preacher Lay preacher is a preacher or a religious proclaimer who is not a formally ordained cleric Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presidi ...

and memoirist. Cairns was born in

Blackford Blackford might refer to: People with the surname *Charles Minor Blackford (1833–1903), an American lawyer *Hosea Blackford, a fictional character in books by Harry Turtledove *Ian Blackford, a Scottish politician *Isaac Blackford (1786–1859), ...

, the daughter of an impoverished Scottish

Covenanter Covenanters ( gd, Cùmhnantaich) were members of a 17th-century Scottish religious and political movement, who supported a Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and the primacy of its leaders in religious affairs. The name is derived from ''Covenan ...

shepherd. From the age of five she and her sister needed to look after sheep without supervision. At different times she worked as a shepherd, servant and schoolteacher. Her memoirs recorded her life as a spiritual journey, in which she was sustained by mystical and visionary encounters.

Works

* ''Memoirs of the life of Elizabeth Cairns written by herself some years before her death; and now taken from her own original copy with great care and diligence ''. Glasgow: printed for, and sold by John Greig sadler there, and at Edinburgh, Perth and Stirling. 1762.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cairns, Elizabeth 1685 deaths 1741 deaths 18th-century Calvinist and Reformed Christians 18th-century Scottish memoirists 18th-century Scottish women writers Covenanters Scottish Calvinist and Reformed Christians Women religious writers British women memoirists