Gilbert Mudie in Walls

GILBERT MUDIE IN WALLS (aka GILBERT MODI or GILBERT MUDY IN WALLS)

The Question of Identity

The Marquis of Ruvigny and Raineval believed that Gilbert Mudie, here treated, was the grandson of Gilbert Mudie of Caldwell He also belied that Gilbert must have succeeded to his grandfather's heritage land in Caithness via a father whose name is not known but who is identified by the Marquis as "Mudie of Dorrarie". The Moodie Book However, in the light of new evidence, this now seems unlikely.

Residenter in Walls

It cannot be regarded as certain but it does seem quite likely, probable even, that Gilbert Mudie here mentioned is the same man as Gilbert Mudy in Walls. [1] He is noticed on 10 May 1559, in the company of William Mudy in Walls and his son Master William Mudy in Kirkwall, together with another two members of the Mudy family who were resident in Walls, that is Magnus Mudy and William Mudy, younger. They are all noticed in a summons which was raised at the instance of the seniors and eighteen men of the merchants of the Hansa of Germany, [2] sometime residents of the town of Bergen in Norway. Old Lore Miscellany 10: pp. 36-42

Marriage

Gilbert Mudie (aka Gilbert Mudy) married Elizabeth Halcro, the daughter of Andrew Halcro of that Ilk. On 20 January 1544 Elizabeth Halcro was one of the heirs named in an entail executed by her brothers, Hugh and Malcolm Halcro. He and his wife gave their consent to the arrangement and appended their seals to the document. Records of the Earldom of Orkney: Charter number CXVIII on pp. 225-27 Mary, Queen of Scots, issued a charter of confirmation under the Great Seal of Scotland on 30 April 1545. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland

Children

The Marquis of Ruvigny and Raineval believed that Gilbert Mudie and Elizabeth Halcro were the parents of Master William Mudie of Breckness and two others, but it now appears that this is wrong. The Moodie Book: 11 It is quite likely, however, probable even, that they had a son named Magus. He follows:

1. Magnus Mudie in Garson

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

20 January 1544: Charter by which Sir Hugh Halcro, canon of the Cathedral Church of Orkney, and Master Malcolm Halcro, provost of the said kirk and archdeacon of Shetland, with the consent of their sister Elizabeth and her husband Gilbert Mudi, settle their estates upon their cousin Hugh Halcro. Records of the Earldom of Orkney: Charter number CXVIII on pp. 225-27 Mary, Queen of Scots, issued a charter of confirmation under the Great Seal of Scotland on 30 April 1545. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland

                   2

10 May 1559: Abridged version of a summons raised at the instance of the seniors and eighteen men of the merchants of the Hansa of Germany, residents of Buren town in Norway, [2] against twenty named individuals including the following: Donald McLauchlane in Wallis, William Mudy, father to Master William Mudy, there, Gilbert Mudy there, Magnus Mudy there, William Mudy, younger, there, Henrie Halcro in Kirkwall, Master William Mudy there and William Halcro there. The defendants having refused to make restitution to the pursuers and having failed to appear before the Lords of Council, the Lords of Council continued the case until 1 July 1561. Old Lore Miscellany of Orkney and Shetland, volume 10, pp. 36-42, which cites the Register of Acts and Decreets, volume 20, and a marginal note on folio 249

                   3

3 March 1563: Charter by which William Moodie of Breckness entailed his estates, including Melsetter, upon his son, Adam, and his airs, (whom failing) to return to Gilbert Moodie, brother to the said William, which failing to his nearest airs male bearing the surname and arms of Moodie. Adam's charter was confirmed by Mary, Queen of Scots, on 10 March 1564. The Moodie Book, p. 11 where a letter written by Captain James Moodie is cited

Note: The terms of this charter are echoed in the charter issued by George Brown. [See 4 below]

                   4

29 March 1566: Charter by which George Brown confirms that he has given a wadset for his merk land in the Outertown of Stromness to Master William Mudy of Breckness: "and the airis lauchfull gottin or to be gottin of his body, whom failing to his brother german Gilbert Mudy, and the lauchfull airis to be gottin of his body,” whom failing to any of the heirs of Master William Mudy of Breckness “being ane aire male onlie brouking the said Maister Williames surname and armes". Witnesses: Thomas Gounn, Johne Tailyeour, Stephin Stenbister, Johne Bard, Johne Sinclair son to Sande Sinclair, Johne Sinclair of Stank. Records of the Earldom of Orkney, pp. 283-84

Notes: [1] Wikipedia: South Walls [2] The summons accused the defendants of the crime of robbery and spoilation of a ship which had sailed from the port of Rostock in Germany to Bergen in Norway in September 1557, from where it was subsequently stolen in December of the same year: "knowing the said ship to have been an unlawful prize and stolen by the sea robbers" previously mentioned. Old Lore Miscellany 10: pp. 36-42