STRACHAN, Adam Master of the Household to Countess of Aboyne 1 2
- Born: About 1599
- Marriage (1): HAY, Barbara 1
- Died: Between 16 April 1648 and 22 June 1649 3
Other names for Adam were STRACHANE, Adam, Mr,1 STRAQN, Adam 3 and STRAUCHANE, Adam.2
User ID: X211.
General Notes:
"...and he had a third son, Adam Strachan, frequently mentioned in Privy Council Records."
from The Strachans of Glenkindie
Gilbert Blakhal, author of A Breiffe Narration joined the household of Sophia Gordon, nee Hay, Countess of Aboyne, in 1638:
"Mr. [Adam Strachan] had governed her house, in quality of master household, many yeares, and [John Thomson] as butler; they both, haveing nothing of their owne, plenished with her meanes, labourings we cal the roomes, to themselves, and left her much in debt, which she thought had been payed; but they, turning to their own usses her moneyes, gave her creditures only interests, and pacified them with the expectation of their principals at the next termes, and so let the principal runne on until they were away from her service, and then her creditors puting at her for their principals, she did find herself in a condition hard eneugh; for theise her doers, or rather undoers, mad the proverbe true which sayeth, Evil wonne, il waired. They both had their labourings upon water sydes, Jhon Thomson, upon Spey in Murray nere Comrie; and Mr. Adam Strachan, upon Donsyde, at Glenkyndie; and one and the same detording of waters, through excessive raines that did fal in the harvest, did carry away the comes from them both. Mr. Adam Strachan lost his cornes but saved his catel, which his owne brother, Glenkyndie, did tak for the rent of his roome, seeing no other way to be payed; and the water of Spey did carry away from John Thomson at once both corne and catel to the sea, which was within a quarter of a mile to him. So she could not expect any reparation from them of the damages that they had done her. Nather would her tender hart have suffered her to exact her owne from them, although! they had bein able, be cause the one, to wit, Mr. Adam Strachan, had bein preceptor to her husband, and Jhon Thomson his man, for she loved every thing that had any relation unto him."
from Father Blakhall's A Brief Narration...
The following excerpts give some indication of the religious atmosphere of the time. The first reference to Adam Strachan names Isoble Hay as his wife. Further down there are two mentions of women, surnamed Hay, married to two men surnamed Strachan: Isoble married to Captain Strachan, and Barbara married to Adam Strachan:
"16 April 1648 It was intimat out of pulpit that neane sould have commers wt thes excommunicat papists viz. Mr Adame Straqn Isoble Hay his wife Georg Hay sone to Murifold Elizabeth and Anna Heyes Mare Cuming, Jannet Darg for incest Laird of Schiwas and his ladie Susan Haitley the guidwife of Arthrachie Setone of Blair elder and Yor Jeane Mawer, the ladie Delgatie Sophia Hey James Gordone Janet Knowes Jannet Malcome Minzies of Balgownie Mr. Alexr Irving of Hiltone and his wife, Alexr Colisone Alexr Hervie Mr. Wm Lumsden Helene Barclay Ro' Irving Jeane Minzeis Jon Gordone of Secchel, Margaret Wynton Isoble Irving wife to Alexr Irving of Beltie Jon Leythes 2 daughters Isoble Blackhall relict of Mr Thomas Blackhall Mr Wam Blackhall, James lord Gordon Mr Wam Maitland Mr Alexr Innes, Aradoule Yor Pat. Gordone Steilhand Arthor Forbes, under all highest payne that efter may follow.
7 May 1648 The sd. day intimatione was made of excommunicat persons viz George Gardyne feire of Telifroskie Alex Paip laird of Schythine, laird of Typertie Alexr Irving of Drume Pat. Ro'sonc rayler not to be recept, James Seatone, Wam Rob and Christaine Farq Alexr Leslie of Petcapell Mr James Gordone Coclarichies brother James Grame Lodwick Lindsay."
"22 June 1649 Its ordynit neane keep companey wt Setone laird of Blaire excomumicat papist giuing gryt ofence to all the professors of the trueth being imployed as ane phisiciane throughe all parts of the countray the Assemblie as befoire for staying his scandalous conversing ordynes ilk minister within the province to tack notice of the parts wherin he hants and the imployers recepters of him and hanters of his company and discharge the samen and proceid in discipline agaynst the transgresors of the sd. act as they will be ansuerable at the nixt assemblie.
Intimation that non recept nor keep companey wt the persones following wnder the payne of censuring viz Isoble Hay spous to Captene Straqn Davidsone excommunicat murtherer enemie to the caus of Chryst and work of reformation Gilbert Simsone murtherer a smith a littell black buirded man fugitive frome Slaynes Mr Jon Gordone lait minister at Elgen excommunicat for blasphime and other vicious facts Isoble Rait furnicatrix and fugitive from Nether Banchorie George Hay sone to James Hay of Murifold and Elisabeth Hay his spous, Pat Robertsone rayling wagabond excommunicat at Lonmay Barbra Hay relique of umqll Mr Adame Straqn excommunicat be the presbetrie of Deare for poperie Mr Wm Lumsden and Helene Barklay his spous Jeane and Agnes Lumsden his daughters excommunicat for poperie in the presbetrie of Abd. Ladie Delgatie Sophia and Anna Hayes, hir daughters James Knowes and Mariorie Mapltoune excommunicat for poperie in the presbetrie of Turref Mr. Wm Maitland excommunicat for rebelionc Alexr Irving of Beltie for the tyme excommunicat for his rebellione Thomas Minzies brother sone to Balgounie excommunicat for poperie Bessie Minzies excommunicat for incest."
from 'Extracts of Session Records' in Records of Old Aberdeen vol.2
This is a very strongly worded description of the victimisation of Roman Catholics, including Adam Strachan, at this time in Scotland:
"We may state that, for nearly three centuries, the Catholic religion was a proscribed religion in Scotland. Not even the highly efficient bureaucracy of the Antonine emperors in pagan Rome ever succeeded in obtaining such a thorough submission of their people to the religion of the State-the cult of the Roman Gods. In Rome, at least, the early Christians had recognized hiding-places where the edicts of persecuting emperors were powerless to interfere; the pagans of Rome respected the resting-places of the Christian dead, and the Sacred Mysteries could be celebrated in the Catacombs. In Scotland, "the zeal of the Calvinists" knew no bounds-nothing was sacred.
If the far-away and secluded glens of the Highlands were at times left in peace, it was for the very obvious reason that they could not be reached, or because the political situation demanded less excessive measures. No priest could openly exercise his ministry; no Catholic children could be educated as such; no Catholic could hold any public office; no Catholic could inherit property; all Catholics who insisted upon professing their religion openly were banished from the Kingdom and had their property confiscated. The Kirk was all powerful.
When the Assemblies met in the different districts, it was to excommunicate Papists. For instance, 'the sentence of excommunication the greater prononced yesterday (January 25. 1657) against Thomas Moncurr and Robert Smith, for their apostacie and defectioune from the true Protestant religion conform to the Presbiteries ordour' (Aberdeen Kirk Sessions, Record 134). It would certainly surprise many good Presbyterians of to-day, who are so filled with horror at the tales of the Inquisition in Spain, to know that we have the reports of Kirk Sessions, the Domestic Annals of Scotland, the Registers of the Privy Council of Scotland, and Records from many other sources (non-Catholic) to show that for hundreds of years our forefathers in the Faith were constantly subjected to persecution and tyrannous decrees which make the tales of the Spanish Inquisition seem mere child's play.
I have chosen at random a few records of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries to prove this assertion. They are only a few of a great multitude. I have purposely inserted one relating to marriage. Only a few weeks ago, we read a letter in The Gazette, claiming that none but 'Papists' interfered in affairs of State.
1630.- Orders were issued for the appearance before the Privy Council, of the following Catholics:-Robert Bisset, Alexander Gordon, Adam Smith, Malcolm Laing, Thomas Menzies, John Spence, Adam Strachan, Francis Leslie, all noblemen. These persons are declared to have been excommunicated, "this lang time bygane, charged with hunting and seeking all occasion for exercising their 'false religion.'
The priests named in the documents were:- Mr. Andrew Steven, Mr. John Ogilvie, Father Christie, Father Brown, Father Tyrie, and Father Robertson. It is commanded that 'none presume to receive, supply, furnish meat, drink, house nor barboury to them, nor keep company with them." The Commissioners are to "follow, hunt and pursue them with fire and sword, asseige the said strengths or houses, raise fire and use all other force for apprehending of the said Jesuits and Papists.' - for Popery - R. P. C. III, 407.
1658.- Anent the Lady Meldrum, Anna Crightoun, relict of Umquhill, William Seatoun of Meldrum, who is maryed with George Ogilvy, are excommunicated Papist, and by a priest; as is alleadged, this Assemblie ordaynes thee Presbyterie of Gairloch to process the said Anna Crightoun for her scandalous cohabitation with this said George Ogilvy, and for unlawful alleadged marriage.-Records of Kirk Sessions of Aberdeen. 243."
from A Glengarry Warrior 1 4 5
Research Notes:
MURIFOLD
Muiryfold is very near Delgaty in Aberdeenshire.
Noted events in his life were:
1. Charged with violence in a group: to Captain Alexander Wishart of Blairdo, 17 August 1613, Thornton, Kincardineshire, Scotland. 2
2. Appearance: as papist, 1630, Before The Privy Council.
Adam married Barbara HAY, daughter of HAY and Unknown.1 (Barbara HAY was born about 1610.)
Marriage Notes:
"I have also showen in what caisse were her affairs left by Mr Adam Strachan, who, after had made himself up, married her gentlewoman, Barbara Hay, and after some years did come to my ladye seiking a tochar for his wyffe, he called it a recompense for her good service, and another for his own; and my good ladye, haveing pitie upon them, and forgetting the domage he had done her, gave them her bond for fyve hundreth markes; .... and she, through that same pitie of younge mades destitute of provision, did give another bond for as much to Bellamor, with Helen Hay, sister to the foresaid Barbara. Al theis donations were given, but not payed, thats to say, they were promised, and bonds given for them, befor I did come to her service."
from Breiffe Narration 1
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