[4] He was succeeded in Carmummock by the Patrick Clason, and after being translated to Pencaitland, in Haddingtonshire, was married to Miss Helen Stirling.

[7] Makellar wrote the entry for Pencaitland in the New Statistical Account in May 1839 where he shows, amongst other things, concern for the young women of the parish.

[9] At the meeting of the Free Church General Assembly at Glasgow, in October 1843, Dr Makellar was unanimously appointed chairman of the Board of Missions.

At such a time, when all the foreign missionaries of the Establishment declared their adherence to the Free Church, and when so many as between 200 and 300 congregations at home were unsupplied with ministers, it was most important that a competent person should be placed at the head of the Mission Board.

Although listed in some documents as a "slave owner" this is inaccurate as Britain had abolished slavery in its colonies at the time of his inheritance.

[15] Makellar did however receive £246 10s 0d (approx £12,000) as compensation for loss of human property paid to slave-holding plantation owners, due to his wife's inherited interest in the Jamaica plantation at Hampden estate and £137 8s 1d as compensation for loss of human property at Kerr estate (approx £16,000).