HAY, Andrew of Renfield, Parson at Renfrew, Rector of University of Glasgow, Reverend Mr ^{2 3}

   Other names for Andrew were HAY, Andrew of Ranfield ⁵ and HAY, Andrew Chanon of Glasgow, Mr..⁶

   User ID: C682.

  General Notes:

(at Renfrew in 1556)
"Andrew Hay of Renfield, son of William H. fourth of Talla (see Note below), Tweedsmuir, and Janet Spottiswood, was prebendary of Renfrew in 1556, rector and parson 10th July 1558; joined the Reformers in 1559 ; was Commissary of Hamilton and Dalserf in 1564. He was accused of being concerned in the murder of David Riccio 9th March 1566, and was confined in free ward within the burgh of Dunbar and two miles around in July 1566, but was released by Queen Mary 29th Jan. 1567. He was a member of thirty-four of the forty Reformed General Assemblies held before Aug. 1590, and was Moderator of those of March 1573 and Oct. 1580; was elected Dean of the Chapter of Glasgow Jan. 1571, and a Commissioner for Clydesdale, Renfrew, and Lennox 1569-88. In 1574 Govan and Inchinnan were also in his charge. He was rector of Glasgow Univ. 1569-86 ; was app. by Privy Council 6th March 1589 a commissioner for the maintenance and defence of the true religion in Clydesdale, and died in 1593. He marr. Janet Wallace of the Craigie family, and had issue - John, min. of this parish; Theodore, D.D., min. of Peebles; David, commissary-clerk of Glasgow, died Jan. 1616; Andrew, min. of Erskine; Archibald; Susannah (marr. 1588, Archibald Gibson); Jean."

from Fasti Ecclesiae

Note: Fasti Ecclesiae also places Andrew's brother George Hay of Rannes as the son of William Hay of Talla and Janet Spottiswood. Please see Note for his brother George Hay for source of confusion.




"At Paisley, Archbishop Hamilton, as we have seen, was celebrating mass as late as 1562. Then, and for some time after, the town was looked upon as a 'nest of papistry,' and was one of the places where the church doors were 'steikit' against the preachers of the new doctrine. Whether the town of Renfrew leaned to the new faith is uncertain. Probably it did ; for its parson, Mr. Andrew Hay, was zealous enough to be. accused of being concerned in the murder of David Rizzio..... Mr. Andrew Hay, the parson of Renfrew, was appointed to succeed him as superintendent of the west. The district over which he was placed included Clydesdale, Renfrew, and the Lennox. As few or no complaints were made against him, it may be assumed that his former zeal had not deserted him, and that he discharged his duties to the satisfaction of the brethren. His office was no sinecure. The times were troublous and the old religion was by no means suppressed.

from Electric Scotland




"Andrew Hay (d 1593) was a graduate of the University and served as Rector from 1569 to May, 1586. He gifted books to the University library.

Hay was the brother of another famous churchman, George (c.1530-1588) and the father of another University Rector, John. He is believed to have been a graduate of the Universities of Glasgow and Paris, and was a Canon of Glasgow Cathedral and Prebend of Renfrew by 1556. In 1559 he became a parson and minister of Hamilton and soon after he was Commissary of Hamilton. In 1566 he was accused of involvement in the murder of David Riccio, the secretary to Mary, Queen of Scots, but subsequently released from imprisonment. In 1572 he was appointed a dean of Glasgow Cathedral."

from The University of Glasgow Story




"The above George Hay (referring to George Hay of Rannes who became Minister at Rathven) was superintendent of Glasgow and Aberdeen, Secretary to the Privy Council in the year 1567 and rector of Ruthven (not Ruthven in Tayside, rather Rathven in Banffshire). He added the lands of Faskin and Findachy to his patrimonial inheritance. He also acquired the lands of Eddeston, which he bestowed on his brother and the lands of Ranfield, which he gave to his brother Andrew."

from Leith-Hay site




"In 1563 the manse was disponed, with the consent of the Dean and Chapter, by Master George Hay - who had turned Protestant, and had shortly before this time been disputing with the Abbot of Crossraguel - rector of Edlestoun, to his brother, Andrew Hay, rector of Renfrew, 'an honest, zealus, frank harted gentleman, . . . wha lyked never those bishopries'."

from The Regality Club ^{4 7 8 9 10}

  Research Notes:

RANFIELD

Also Renfield and Ringefield.

"Upon a point between the rivers of Clyde and Cart, stands pleasantly situate, Ranfield, in a pleasant plain, weel planted, is the possession of Colin Campbell of Blythswood, acquired from the Hays, who attained these lands at the Reformation; and he and his successors were, for 4 generations parsons of Renfrew."

from Journal of Topography

Note:"It was Archibald Campbell of Blythswood who gave Renfield Street its name. He used to own the land on which it stands and named the street after his estate of Renfield, near Renfrew. He was also responsible for the naming of Renfrew Street in Glasgow." (Glasgow History) ^{11 12 13}

Andrew married Janet WALLACE of the Craigie family.¹ (Janet WALLACE of the Craigie family was born about 1535.)

  Marriage Notes:

"What were the further transmissions of the 8s. land till it merges in the general title I have not been able to trace, but the above-mentioned 21s. 8d. portion is, I think, what appears in the entry in the Register of the Great Seal as one of the subjects of the Confirmation by King James VI., dated 1st February, 1580-1, of a Feu Charter of date 16th June, 1579, granted by James, Archbishop of Glasgow, with consent of the Chapter, viz., '43 solidat, terrarum in Garbraid' and '21 sol. 8 den. terrarum in Garroche,' in favour of John Hay, eldest and lawful son of Mr. Andrew Hay, Rector of Renfrew, and Janet Wallace, spouses, the reddendo being, for Gairbraid 20s. iod. at Martinmas, and 1 5s. at Pentecost, with 6f firlots 'gersum' malt, 2 firlots 'mylne' malt, 6f firlots 'avenarum, lie hors corne,' 5 capons and 2 hens; and for Garioch 10s. iod. at Martinmas, and 7s. 4d. at Pentecost, with 1 boll of gersum malt, 1 firlot 'multyr' malt, 3 capons and 2 hens, with 2s. of augmentation. A new charter by King James VI. of the same lands, to the same persons, of date 23rd March, 1588, also appears in this Register and the probability is that this portion of Garioch came into the possession of Ninian Hill about the same time that the 43s. land of Gairbraid came into that of his brother-in-law, George Hutcheson of Lambhill."

from An Old Glasgow Family ³