John Abernethy (c.1570–1639) was a Scottish clergyman who served as Protestant

Bishop of Caithness The Bishop of Caithness was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Caithness, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics. The first referenced bishop of Caithness was Aindréas, a Gael who appears in sources between 1146 and 1151 as bishop. Ai ...

Life

Abernethy was born around 1570, the son of Jean Straiton and her husband Thomas Abernethy of

Glencorse Glencorse is a parish of Midlothian, Scotland, lying south of Edinburgh.Gazetteer of Scotland, publ, by W & AK Johnston, Edinburgh, 1937. Article on Glencorse. Places are presented alphabetically It is bounded on the north-west by the former pa ...

south of

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

. He was one of the first group of students at

Edinburgh University The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 1582 ...

under Principal

Robert Rollock Robert Rollock (c. 15558 or 9 February 1599) was Scottish academic and minister in the Church of Scotland, and the first regent and first principal of the University of Edinburgh. Born into a noble family, he distinguished himself during ...

and graduated MA in 1587.''Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae''; vol. 2; by Hew Scott In 1588 he was made "reader" of

Jedburgh Jedburgh (; gd, Deadard; sco, Jeddart or ) is a town and former royal burgh in the Scottish Borders and the traditional county town of the historic county of Roxburghshire, the name of which was randomly chosen for Operation Jedburgh in su ...

church (housed in

Jedburgh Abbey Jedburgh Abbey, a ruined Augustinian abbey which was founded in the 12th century, is situated in the town of Jedburgh, in the Scottish Borders north of the border with England at Carter Bar. History Towards the middle of the 9th century, when th ...

and became minister in 1593. In 1606 he opposed Episcopacy and became Constant Moderator of the Presbytery of Jedburgh. Despite this, in December 1616, through the influence of

James Law James Law (ca. 1560 – 12 November 1632) was Archbishop of Glasgow. Entering the church after graduation from university, he rose to the position of Bishop of Orkney, reorganising the diocese, before rising to hold the position of Archbishop o ...

Archbishop of Glasgow The Archbishop of Glasgow is an archiepiscopal title that takes its name after the city of Glasgow in Scotland. The position and title were abolished by the Church of Scotland in 1689; and, in the Scottish Episcopal Church, it is now part of the ...

, he was appointed

. This title was largely nominal, and he continued his parochial duties in Jedburgh. This promotion was preceded by the award of

Doctor of Divinity A Doctor of Divinity (D.D. or DDiv; la, Doctor Divinitatis) is the holder of an advanced academic degree in divinity. In the United Kingdom, it is considered an advanced doctoral degree. At the University of Oxford, doctors of divinity are ran ...

from

and appointment to the Court of the High Commission. He was deprived of his position as Bishop in 1638 and was replaced by Robert Hamilton. From 1635 to 1639 he seems to have been in dispute with his successor in Jedburgh, John Burnett, who claimed his post, despite it not being vacant. Abernethy died on 24 April 1639. He is buried in Jedburgh.

Family

Abernethy married twice, first in 1600 to Alice Home daughter of Sir David Home of

Fishwick Fishwick is a surname. It is from multiple locations in England, but predominantly from a place now in Preston, Lancashire; other origins are Fishwick in Kingsteignton, Devon, and possibly Fisherwick in Staffordshire. It may also derive from Fishwi ...

, Governor of

Dumbarton Castle Dumbarton Castle ( gd, Dùn Breatainn, ; ) has the longest recorded history of any stronghold in Scotland. It sits on a volcanic plug of basalt known as Dumbarton Rock which is high and overlooks the Scottish town of Dumbarton. History Dumba ...

. Their children included: *John Abernethy *Andrew Abernethy, Depute Governor of

Edinburgh Castle Edinburgh Castle is a historic castle in Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland. It stands on Castle Rock (Edinburgh), Castle Rock, which has been occupied by humans since at least the Iron Age, although the nature of the early settlement is unclear. ...

*Margaret, married Wauchope of Cakemuir then Sir William Maxwell of Gribton In 1606 he married Isabella Murray daughter of Patrick Murray of

Philiphaugh Philiphaugh is a village by the Yarrow Water, on the outskirts of Selkirk, in the Scottish Borders. Places nearby include Bowhill, Broadmeadows, the Ettrick Water, Ettrickbridge, Lindean, Salenside, Yarrowford and the Yair Forest. Origina ...

. Their children included: *William Abernethy, minister of

Thurso Thurso (pronounced ; sco, Thursa, gd, Inbhir Theòrsa ) is a town and former burgh on the north coast of the Highland council area of Scotland. Situated in the historical County of Caithness, it is the northernmost town on the island of Great ...

*Anna, married James Murray of Overtoun *Agnes, married William Ker of Newtown *Barbara, married John Rutherford of

Edgerston Edgerston is a village and an estate about north of the Anglo-Scottish border, and south of Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland in the former Roxburghshire. According to the Clan Rutherfurd family history site, Edgerston was p ...

*Elizabeth, married William Ker of Thankles *Katherine

Publications

* A Christian and Heavenly Treatise containing Physicke for the Soul * The Duty and Dignity of a Christian

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abernethy, John 1639 deaths Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Scottish bishops