STRACHAN, William Minister of St Machar's parish (Old Machar), Regent at King's College, Aberdeen, Reverend Mr ¹

   Other names for William were STRACHAN, Williame,² STRACHANE, William,² STRACHANE, Williame,³ STRAQUHAN, Wam. ³ and STRATHAUCIN, Williame, Mr.⁴

   User ID: F372.

  General Notes:

"Another of this worthy band of Doctors was Dr Alexander Scroggie, minister of St Machar's Cathedral kirk, a charge from which he was ejected in 1640. Both men defied the injunctions that as outstanders against the Covenant they should not receive communion, and it is greatly to the credit of Mr William Strachan, Scroggie's successor at St Machar's that he did not refuse it to his predecessor."

"Spalding records in 1641 that on 'Wednisday, 23rd Junij, Dr Scrogie, ane old reverent priechar at this kirk is now, sore against his will, compellit to quyte his duelling houss in old Abirdein, and yairdis plesandlie plantit, for the most pairt be himself; so he removes this day, his wyfe, barnes, haill famelie, insicht plenishings, goodis and geir, furth and fra the samen, and deliveris the keyis to Mr Williame Strathauchin, that he may enter, alss weill to the bigging as to the pulpit. Himself transportit all to Ballogie, and tuke one chalmer for his cuming and going in New Abirdien. Thus is this wise, famous, lerned man handlit in his old age. Alvaies it is said that the said Mr Williame Strathauchin payit him for his planting 400 markis befoir he gat entress.' "

from Midmar Castle ⁴

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Education, Before 1628, King's College, Aberdeen.

2. Graduated MA, 1628.

3. Regent & Procurator Moraviensis, 30 June 1634, Aberdeen University.

4. Admitted, 1635, Methlick parish, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

5. Member of the Assembly, 1639.

6. Admitted, 1640, St Machar's Aberdeen.

7. Elected, 1643, Edinburgh.

William married Elizabeth MIDDLETON.¹ (Elizabeth MIDDLETON was born about 1615 and died on 30 January 1666 in Tarves Manse, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.)

  Marriage Notes:

(at Methlick in 1635)

"William Strachan, M.A.; pres. March 1635; trans, (by order of the Synod) to Old Machar 29th Nov.1640."

(at Old Machar in 1640)

"William Strachan, born 1610, eldest son of Arthur S., son and heir of Sir Alexander S. of Thornton, Knight (see note below); educated at King's College, Aberdeen; M.A. (1628); became Regent and Procurator-Moraviensis there, 30th June 1634; adm. to Methlick in 1635; was a member of Assembly in 1639; trans, and adm. 29th Nov. 1640; elected to Edinburgh 6th Nov. 1643, 13th July 1647, and 17th and 29th March 1648, but refused to accept any of these calls; died 8th March 1653. 'He was learned and of good life,' while he taught 'powerfullie and planelie the Word to the gryt comfort of his auditores' and was 'one of the best pastores that hes bene sene in this church thir many yeiris.' He marr. Elizabeth Middleton, who died at Tarves Manse, 30th Jan.1666, and had issue Andrew, died young; Patrick, M.A.(King's College, 1656), app. Master of the Grammar School, Aberdeen, 16th July 1656 [he is called min. of Maxton in Morland Simpson's Records of the Grammar School, but this is a mistake]; John, min. of Tarves; and Principal (see note below) of the Univ. of Edinburgh; George, min. of this parish; Arthur, min. of Mortlach. [Monteith's Mort., 130 ; Lyon Register; Spalding's Hist., 351.]"

from Fasti Ecclesiae (vol 6)


(at Old Machar in 1640)

"WIilliam Strachan, had issue - Alexander, bapt. 7th Nov. 1641; William, bapt. 23rd Jan. 1643; Arthur, bapt. 3rd March 1644, buried 26th Feb. 1645."

from Fasti Ecclesiae (vol 8)

Note:

"Arthur" is listed as fourth of eight sons of "John Strachan of Thornton" and "Isobell Livingston" in the Appendix to Memorials of the Scottish Families of Strachan and Wise (1877). The information, labelled No. II. is sourced from Macfarlane's Genealogical Collection, MS. (circa1735) vol ii.

No other supporting evidence has been found for thi Arthur, or any son by that name, of any laird named Sir Alexander Strachan of Thornton.


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