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 south of Edinburgh. He was one of the first group of students at Edinburgh University under Principal Robert Rollock and graduated MA in 1587.''Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae''; vol. 2; by Hew Scott In 1588 he was made "reader" of Jedburgh church (housed in Jedburgh Abbey 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, Archbishop of Glasgow, 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 Edinburgh University 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, Governor of Dumbarton Castle. 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 *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