Robert Cunningham was one of the early Scots ministers who settled in Ulster in the 17th century. He was the first Presbyterian minister in

Holywood Holy Wood or Holywood may refer to: Places * Holywood, County Down, a town and townland in Northern Ireland ** Holywood, County Down (civil parish), a civil parish in County Down, Northern Ireland ** Holywood railway station (Northern Ireland) * ...

and was one of Samuel Rutherford's correspondents. He was deposed for his adherence to Presbyterian principles.

Life

Robert Cunningham or Cunninghame was at first preacher for a while to the Earl of Buccleuch's regiment in Holland, but afterwards became minister at

, in the North of Ireland. He was brought to

Ulster Ulster (; ga, Ulaidh or ''Cúige Uladh'' ; sco, label= Ulster Scots, Ulstèr or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional Irish provinces. It is made up of nine counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United King ...

by James Hamilton as were his fellow ministers John Livingstone and Robert Blair. Livingstone came after being urged by Cunningham. Cunningham was one of the first Scots ministers in County Down. He came to Ireland on the return of the troops to Scotland, and was, on the 9th of November 1615, admitted to the ministry by Robert Echlin, the

Bishop of Down and Connor The Bishop of Down and Connor is an episcopal title which takes its name from the town of Downpatrick (located in County Down) and the village of Connor (located in County Antrim) in Northern Ireland. The title is still used by the Catholic Chur ...

. He was returned on the diocesan roll, in 1622, as curate of Holywood and

Craigavad Craigavad () is a townland in County Down, Northern Ireland, lying within the civil parish of Holywood and the historic barony of Castlereagh Lower. Suburban and residential in character, Craigavad lies between the centre of Holywood and Bang ...

, and as maintained in this office by a stipend from Sir James Hamilton who had been ennobled by the title of Lord Claneboy. He was deposed from his ministry (with all the remaining Presbyterian ministers) in August 1636, following the death of Hugh Montgomery in the spring.

Family

He married Isabel Montgomerie, one of Sir Hugh Montgomery's daughters. He married Janet Kennedy. Robert Cunningham's sons by Janet were James, John and Robert. He had a daughter, Isabella (died 8 November 1703, aged 70), who married

John Law John Law may refer to: Arts and entertainment * John Law (artist) (born 1958), American artist * John Law (comics), comic-book character created by Will Eisner * John Law (film director), Hong Kong film director * John Law (musician) (born 1961) ...

, and had issue — William, professor of moral philosophy in the

University of Edinburgh 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 15 ...

, founder of the family of Law of Elvingston, East Lothian.

Death and posthumous fines

His epitaph was written by Robert Blair: Hic Cunninghami recubat Roberti Corpus. O qualis genius latebat, Quamque divinus fragili iuvolutus, Pulvere in isto ! Acrius nemo intonuit superbis ; Nemo dejectos magis erigebat ; Sed Dei laudes celebrando, vicit Seque aliosque. Some weeks after Cunningham's death he was cited to appear in court and being deceased did not appear and was fined. His widow and eight children had there goods seized to pay the fine.

References

;Citations ;Sources * * * * * * * * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Cunningham, Robert Covenanters 1637 deaths Ulster Scots people Evangelicals from Northern Ireland