James Mudie of Melsetter

JAMES MUDIE OF MELSETTER

James Mudie of Melsetter, here treated, is the eldest son of Adam Mudie of Breckness. Fasti of the Church of Scotland VII: pp. 254-5

James Mudie of Melsetter. here treated, is not mentioned in the Moodie Book but he is mentioned in at least two entries in Alexander Peterkin's Rentals of the Ancient Earldom and Bishoprick of Orkney. The first entry identifies him as the grandson of Mr. William Mudie of Breckness, and the second, suggests that he was the son of Adam Mudie of Breckness. For example, in Peterkin's Rentals Mr. William Mudie of Breckness is identified as the "grandsire" of James Mudie of Melsetter. Orkney Rentals: p. 14 It has been supposed that the word "grandsire" means grandfather, a view supported by the glossary published by ScotlandsPeople Some support for this interpretation is provided by a second reference in Peterkin's Rentals, where it is said that: "James Muddye of Melsetter, alleges ane excambione betwixt ye (Earl) of Orkney and his father, wherin he hes the lands of Melsetter and 6 merk land in Brimes, disponed to him for the lands of Snelsetter; as also a confirmatioune of the Quein for ye rest of ye vdall lands in yat Ille." Ibidem: p. 30 James Mudie of Melsetter's father is not named in this reference but it can hardly be doubted that the exchange referred to involved Adam Mudie of Breckness, who exchanged Snelsetter for the Earl's parts of the lands of Melsetter and Brims: "BRIMBIS ..... MELSETTER ..... Givin in excambation be the Earle to umqle Adam Muddie". Rentals: pp. 140-2 It seems too that Adam Mudie of Breckness may have exchanged some of his land in Osmondwall for part of the bishop of Orkney's land in Melsetter: "Nota. My Lords part of these lands excambit with Adam Mwdie for uther lands in Osmondwall." Ibidem: p.102

The Lands of Melsetter

According to the Marquis of Ruvigny and Raineval: "The lands of Melsetter appear to have been held partly by the Crown and partly by the Church.The Crown's portion had been in possession of the Moodies for several generations, though their possession even of that seems to have been a little insecure owing, no doubt, to conflicting or overlapping grants to Robert Stewart or others." The Marquis believed that it was the Church's portion of Melsetter that Bishop George Graham conveyed to Francis Mudie by a charter dated 18 July 1630.Thereafter, he says, Francis was known as Francis Mudie of Melsetter. The Moodie Book: 21

James Mudie of Melsetter, here treated, held part of the Melsetter.The date of his tenure is not known, but he held this land during the time of George Graeme, Bishop of Orkney, 1619-39, and, since his tenure of Melsetter appears to have gone hand-in-hand with the tack that Mr. William Mudie gave to his son Adam, it might be supposed that is was dated earlier than 11 June 1627, when Francis Mudie of Melsetter is noticed holding the same tack. Rentals: pp. 37 et seq.

Tack of the Teinds of the Parish of Walls: To run for the span of three lives

Mr. William Mudie of Breckness gave a tack for the teinds of the parish of Walls to his son Adam on 8 November 1589. The tack was to run for the span of three lives. The Moodie Book Following Adam's tenure, the tack was held in turn by James Mudie of Melsetter, who is said to have held the tack in succession to his grandfather, Mr. William Mudie of Breckness, Rentals, Documents, Art V: p. 14 and by Frances Mudie of Breckness, who is noticed holding the tack on 11 June 1627. Rentals, Documents Relative to the Bishopric of Orkney, Art IX: pp. 37 et seq.

Death

A date and place of death has not been identified for James Mudie of Melsetter. It seems quite likely, though, probable even, that he died on or before 11 June 1627, when his brother Francis is noticed holding the tack for the teinds of the parish of Walls. Rentals, Documents Relative to the Bishopric of Orkney, Art IX: pp. 37 et seq.

EVIDENCE FROM THE ORKNEY RENTALS

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11 June 1627: Report of the Commissioners for trying the Estate of the Parochines of Hoy and Wallis. . . . . . And concerning the kirk of Wallis, the personage teinds therof are sett in long takis to umquhile Adam Mudie be umquhile Mr. William Mudie his father, person of Wallis, with consent of Bishop Dean and Chapter ; and so the titular of thois teinds served the cure himself during his lyftyme, being ministerat Wallis ; and eftir his deceas, his airis payed to the minister at Hoy for coming to the kirk of Wallis, and serving the cure ther now and then, quhat they pleased, and the kirk had no constant stipend till the unioun forsaid . . . . . The kirk of Wallis is ane laik patronage for the present, and was ane common kirk befoir the reformatioune. The titulat therof, viz Frances Mudie of Brecknes, is patron, as he alledges. Befoir it was ane laik patronage, it had ane severall benefice be it self, viz. the personage teinds of Wallis ; neither was it united to anie uther benefice, bot wes errectit in ane laik patronage be umquhile Mr. Wm. Mudie, as we are informit. . . . . . The Paroche of Wallis lyis particularlie in manner following, and the whole scatt and land meallis is payit yearlie to the Bishop of Orknay as ane pairt of the patrimonie thairof conforme to the last erection, but the teind scheaves are led and sett yeirlie by the titular Frances Mudie as followis . . . . . BRIMMIS . . . . . Except 4 merk outhell and 6 merk escambit land be the earle of Orknay, with Adam Mudie for Snelsetter, . . . . . Rentals, Documents Relative to the Bishopric of Orkney, Art IX: pp. 37 et seq.

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1642: Documents Relative to the Bishopric of Orkney . . . . . Art V. Quaeries to the late Bishop of Orkney anent the State of his Bishopric, and his answers thereto, given to the Magistrates of Edinburgh, 1642 . . . . . Wallis. Item, the paroch off Wallis; the hail land throf; and the teinds personage are set to James Moodie for payment of fourtie ponds yeirlie; and the viccarage off this parroch is included within Robt. Menteith's foresaids tack. This Jas. Moodie's tack is worth nothing; and the teinds possess be him are reallie worth ten chalder off victuall. This tack was sett to him be his grandsire [Note] Mr. William Mudie, wha being minister ther took a gift off patronage off Queen Marie, . . . . . Orkney Rentals, Documents, Art V, p. 14

Note: Here the word "grandsire" is taken to mean grandfather. ScotlandsPeople: Glossary

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1642: Documents Relative to the Bishopric of Orkney . . . . . Art V. Quaeries to the late Bishop of Orkney anent the State of his Bishopric, and his answers thereto, given to the Magistrates of Edinburgh, 1642 . . . . . 5. Item. Whatt ministers are payed by the bischop? . . . . . Hoy and Walls. Item, Ye minister of Hoy had peyit out off the bishoprick, fyve last of victuall yeirlie, and six scoir pounds money or butter. This paroch of Hoy was distant from Walls ten mylles off Mont. Thir 2 kirks off Hoy and Walls are now devidit, and the minister of Hoy wants off the said fyve last victual, twentie-aught meills off victuall qlk is given to the minister of Walls mair then is given to the minister of Walls off the Bishopric, ano hundreth merks, together with and chalder of victuall payit be James Mudie out of his tack quarrallable foirsaid . . . . . Alexander Peterkin, Rentals of the Ancient Earldom and Bishoprick of Orkney; with Some Other Explanatory and Relative Documents. Part III (J. Moir, Edinburgh, 1820), Documents Relative to the Bishopric of Orkney, Art V: p. 16

                    4

1642: Demands by the Towne of Edinburgh . . . . .The Islle of Walls . . . . . Nota. - James Muddye of Melsetter, alleges ane excambione betwixt ye (Earl) of Orkney and his father [Note], wherin he hes the lands of Melsetter and 6 merk land in Brimes, disponed to him for the lands of Snelsetter; as also a confirmatioune of the Quein for ye rest of ye vdall lands in yat Ille.[Note] Rentals, Documents, Art V: p. 30

Note: The father of James Muddye of Melsetter is not mentioned by name here. However, the excambation referred to is mentioned in the Rental of 1614, where the Earl of Orkney is said to have given the earldom's part of the three penny land of Melsetter to the deceased Adam Mudie: "Givin in excambation be the Earle to umqle Adam Muddie". Rentals: pp. 140-2

                   5

1642: Documents Relative to the Bishopric of Orkney . . . . . Demands by the Toune of Edinburgh . . . . . Lyand within the ille of Walls the haill personage tynds throf, being ane commone kirk sett in tak, and now in possessone of James Muddye of Melsetter; for qlk he payes of tak dewtie 40 lb. and to the minister in stipend 26 meils malt. Nota. I know not by qt said James bruiks the said teinds; bot iff the taks were expired, it wil be worth aucht chalder of victual yeirlie. Alexander Peterkin, Rentals, Documents Relative to the Bishopric of Orkney, Art VII: p. 26

Note: The identity of James Muddye of Melsetter, here mentioned, is uncertain. It is possible that he was the eldest son of Frances Mudie of Breckness (afterwards Francis Mudie of Melsetter), although this is not certain.

Genealogy

1. The Moodie Book
2. Fasti of the Church of Scotland VII: pp. 254-5