STRACHAN, Kenneth SJ, Reverend Mr
- Born: About 1671
- Died: After 1736
Another name for Kenneth was STRACHAN, Francis Xavier.
General Notes:
Kenneth Strachan was schoolmaster at Rothiemay 1695-1697. In July 1700 he entered Douai Seminary in France to study for the priesthood in the Catholic Church. In 1734 he was Rector of Scots College, Douai. At one point he succeeded to Baronetcy of Thornton, though there was no estate or property to go with it.
The Records of the College in Madrid record him thus:
"KENNETH or FRANCIS XAVIER STRACHAN
22nd November 1717 to September 1721
son of Sir James Strachan, baronet of Thornton in The Mearns (a Protestant), and Catherine Ross of Pittendriech Midlothian; to Scots College, Douai, 4th July 1700; joined Society of Jesus in Bavaria or in Tournai, 17th September 1703?; taught Philosophy; from Douai to Madrid, 13th June 1717; rector in Madrid, as above; a master in the college and confessor to Countess of Castelblanco in Madrid until 23rd December 1724;returned to Douai from Madrid, 1725, to be procurator and minister; rector of Scots College, Douai,1731 to 1736; procurator of Scottish mission at Paris, 1736.
(Cf. Foley, ed.,Records of the English Province of the Society of Jesus,VIII, p. 743)"
from www.electricscotland.com/history/spain/collegeappndx3a.pdf
"...That Strachan that was regent at Aberdeen and turned papist, I was informed that he was in a society of Jesuits at Naples."
from Journals of Sir John Lauder Lord Fountainhall at infomotions.com/etexts/gutenberg/dirs/1/2/9/3/.../12930.htm
This may be a letter from this man:
"FATHER JAMES INNES, S.J. 1688.
Father James Innes of Drumgask, S.J., was apprehended in 1688 by a noisy and furious mob, and would have been shot, if it had not been that a nobleman coming up to the spot, though a rigid Calvinist, rescued Father James from the fury of the crowd, declaring that no
man should be put to death in this manner, but should be brought to trial before a regular court of justice. Accordingly, he was put into prison, where several other priests, both Fathers of our Society and seculars, were detained in captivity. The Calvinists thinking them-
selves cheated of their prey, made several attempts to break into the prison and murder the inmates. They set fire to some houses, and spread the report that this had been done by Catholics in order to effect the liberation of the prisoners. On this account he was trans-
ferred to the prison of Edinburgh, and thence to Blackness, a very unhealthy situation, where he was detained two years. He was at length released and went to Douay.
(Letter of Father Francis Strachan, Van Hulthem
MSS. t 562, Royal Library, Brussels.) "
from Memoirs of Scottish Catholics During the VIIth and VIIIth Centuries 1
Research Notes:
There is a tradition about a murder of King Kenneth in 994, either in Fettercairn, or while on a pilgrimage to the shrine of St Palladius at Fordoun. This legend would presumably be well known to James Strachan. Fordoun and Fettercairn are in the Mearns, near Strachan itself.
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