She was inspired to create her record by Rev George Meldrum of the Tron Kirk, who would later become the Professor of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh.

Erskine's replacement George Meldrum had a large effect upon West and she considered him to be her "Lord's messenger".

[1] Her parish minister was John Moncrieff and he had been charged for holding unauthorised religious non-conformist gatherings.

He seconded the proposal to keep a memoir but he also encouraged her to move to the more strict covenants of the Church of Scotland.

[1] The Trades Maiden Hospital was founded in 1704 by Mrs Mary Erskine in Argyle Square.