STRACHAN, James Minister of Logie-Mar and Colstone parish, Regent at King's College, Reverend Mr ¹

   Another name for James was STRAUCHANE, James, Mr.²

   User ID: F238.

  General Notes:

(at Logie-Mar and Colstone in 1608)

"James Strachan, regent in King's College in 1600-01; though the stipend was assigned to him in 1608, he probably was not adm. till 1609 or 1610; was settled at Skene before 17th Aug.1609, but returned here shortly afterwards; still min. Nov. 1633. He marr.and had issue Robert; Jean (marr. John Farquharson of Kirkton, Aboyne), mother of Robert F., min.at Kennethmont. [Reg.of Deeds, Downie, dlxxxvii., 4th Aug. 1653 ; Broughdearg MS.; Michie's Logie-Coldstone,44.]"


(at Skene in 1609)

"James Strachan, min. of Logie- Colstone; called 26th Aug. 1609, but refused on account of the inadequate stipend. He was settled as colleague before 17th Aug. 1609, but re turned shortly thereafter to Logic- Colstone."

from Fasti Ecclesiae



"BOOK OF ANNUALRENTARIS.

We now come to a document which shows in a forcible manner the financial condition of the country. It is designated The Book of the Annualrentaris of Aberdeen, and was compiled under the provisions of an Act of the Convention of the Scottish Estates, held at Holyrood 28th July, 1630.

'By this statute an extraordinary impost or tax was ordered to be levied on the twentieth part free of all annualrents - that is, of the interest of all moneys lent on bond on obligation to repay - beginning at the Feast of Martinmas, 1630.'

In fact, it is the first instance we have of the imposition of an income tax. There was indeed very little money in circulation; most affairs were managed by barter, and rents were in great part paid in kind. All the same, some men got passing rich, and that not in flocks and herds merely, but also in real cash. When a tenant had any money to spare, he went to the laird with it; and received from him a bond, or promissory note, the interest on the amount standing good for part of his rent, sometimes for the whole of it. When a property was sold, if the purchaser could not pay the whole price he made over a part of the land to the seller till the price should be paid in full. This was called a wadset. A wadset was also often given as security for money due by the proprietor of land for cash lent him on any account...We give one as a sample, and we take the minister of Logie-Coldstone's account : -

Mr. James Strauchane, minister of Coldstone, declared that there was due to him :-

By David Barclay of Matheris . . 2000 merkis. „

" Robert Paul, burges of Aberdeen . 600 „

„ Patrik Strauchane of Kinnadie . 500 „

„ William Forbes of Pittelachie 100 „

„ George Gordon of Tullachowdie 200 „

„ Mr. John Reid, minister of Tarlan 200 „

„ James Gordon of Auchmull . 200 „

„ Mr. Johne Strauchane, minister of Midmar 100 „

„ Mr. Alexander Gordon, minister of Glenmuik 100 „

" John Reid in Coldstaine 100 merkis.

„ Mr. Alexander Strauchane, minister of Lumphanan . 200 ,,

„ Sir James Gordon of Lesmoir and Alexander Gordon of Abirgeldie 1600 ,,

Sum of free moneys, 5800 merkis.

I have selected the above out of 324 statements, as showing that the minister was not in debt - there was no claim against him - that he had some money to spare, that he was ready to help his neighbours when they were in need of a little cash, that his neighbouring ministers were often in need and were helped, and that the big lairds, Lesmoir and Abergeldie, did not disdain to borrow from him. Of such a good and comparatively wealthy man we might wish to learn something more.

What further we know of him is also to his credit. After finishing his education (when he graduated A.M.) he became a Regent or Professor in King's College, Aberdeen; he was appointed to Coldstone in 1608, but could not leave his chair in the College till next year, and there is some reason to believe that he held the chair for even another year. He was still minister of Logie-Coldstone in 1633, so that it was in his time, and not in that of Rev. Robert Forbes (as is generally supposed), that the union of the parishes took place. He is referred to by Orem, Spalding, and Bishop Forbes of Corse. We have, however, no account stating when or where he died His successor was his debtor in 1633, Alexander Gordon, translated from Glenmuick 1647."

from History of Logie-Coldstone ^{1 2 3}

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Admitted Regent, 1601, King's College, Aberdeen.

2. Admitted, 1608-1610, Logie-Mar and Colstone.

James married.