John Mudie

JOHN MUDIE (aka JOHN MOODIE)

John Mudie, otherwise John Moodie, is the only son of James Moodie of Melsetter and his second wife Margaret Morrison. The Moodie Book has this to say about him: "In July 1675, James Moodie of Melsetter, appearing for himself and as attorney for his spouse Margaret Morrison and his lawful son John Moodie, infefts the said lawful son John Moodie in certain lands." The Moodie Book, p.25

The Castle: Gentle John's House

According to the Marquis of Ruvigny and Raineval John Mudie, otherwise John Moodie, resided in Gentle John's House. He believed that Gentle John's House should be identified with the House of Walls, located in North Walls, The Moodie Book, p. 26

According to Dr. Ray Fereday, John Moody fl. July 1675, youngest son of the 6th laird of Melsetter, lived at Gentle John's House, which was one of the houses on the Breckness estate in the parish of Stromness. Fereday also believed that John Moody's son Lieut. Robert Moody of Cursiter, who married Janet Watt in 1653, lived at Gentle John's House too. [James M. Irvine, The Breckness Estate, p. 255, citing Orcadian 26th Aug. 1999]

Children

The Marquis of Ruvigny and Raineval suggested that John Mudie, here treated, was: "possibly the father of Lieutenant Robert Moodie of Cursitter ".

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

11 October 1676: Protestation by Francis Murray, son-in-law of James Mudy of Melsetter, John Mudie, son of the said James, Malcolm Adamsone, Francis Hutchesone, and Joseph Jack, all indwellers in Orkney, who were charged at the instance of David Sinclair of Ryssay to compear on 22nd February last and answer for oppressing him in his possessiones and compelling those thirled to his mills to forsake the same and in December 1667, by armed force breaking up his house of Ryssay and removing the plenishing and money therein, and in December 1674, throwing down his miller's house and carrying away the stones thereof, and committing other crimes as mentioned in the principal complaint dated at Edinburgh 11th October 1676 ; but the pursuer being present neither on 22 February nor this day, to which the diet was continued, they protest for a new citation and expenses to each of them to be paid by the pursuer. The Register of the Privy Council. Edited and Abridged by P. Hume Brown, MA., LL.D., Fraser Professor of Ancient (Scottish) History and Palaeography in the University of Edinburgh. Histographer-Royal for Scotland. Third Series Vol. V. AD. 1676-1678 (H.M. General Register House, Edinburgh, 1912), pp. 130-31

                   2

27 February 1677: Petition by Francis Murray, son in law to James Mudie of Melsetter, the said James for himself and William, John and Charles, his sons, John Sandisone in Walls, Joseph Jack, Malcolm Adamsone and Francis Hutchisone, all indwellers in Orkney, as follows: - They were charged at the instance of David Sinclar of Rayssay to compear on Thursdat, 22nd inst., and answere to several charges maliciously made by the said David, "of purpose to tak advantadge of the said James Mudie his old age, weakness and infirmitie, he not being able to cum this lenth bot upon the heazard of his lyfe. as ane testificat under the ministers and eldars hands in the parochin wher he leives and the nixt nibowring parochines, and under the hands of the haill most considerable gentlemen in Orkney heirwith produced to your Lordships, fullie bears: - and lykewayes the said David knoweing verie weill that ther is captiones upon verie unjust grounds against Francis Murray and William Mudie, two of yoy said petitioners, and therby promissis to himself (?) that they wold not therfor have compeired, the said perseware being debitor to them in considerable sowmes of money, did desyre aither to compell them to agrie in his owen termes at home, or to gett ther certificatione of his letters against hem for not compeirance ; and for evedenceing the trowth heirof, albeit that his said letters befor yowr Lordships was raised in the begineing of October last, was never execut till about the eight of February instant, to compeir the twentie twa of the said moneth, they having only about fyfteine dayes or therby betwixt the giving if the charge and the said day ; and who fynding that your Lordships sais petitioners, even tho to the heazard of ther lyfes, intending peremptorlie to keep the said dyet, they knoweing their innocencie in the said matter, the said David knowing verie weill he wo;d sucumb in his probatione hath failled to com up himselfe and insist in the said matter, notwithstanding of the great expense and trwbell he hath put your petitioners to in this seasone of the yeir be [coming] upwairds of 250 myles besyde ferries." Therefore they crave large expenses to be modified to the petitioners present, "the most of them being gentlemen," and that they may be represented by proxy in future, if the matter is insisted in, and that protection may be granted to Francis Murrat for a time. - Edinburgh, 27th February, 1677, - "The Lords of his Majesties Privy Councill doe grant personall protection to the petitioner for the space od siz weiks, discharging messenger at armes etc." Edinburgh, 1st March, 1677. - The Lords having considered the petitione, they modifie one hundred [pounds] Scotts of expenses to each of the petitioners cited who compeared, viz. Francis Murray, Johne Mudie, Malcolme Adamsone, Francis Huchesone and Joseph Jack, to bee payed by David Sinclair, persewer ; and ordaines letters to bee direct against him for that effect (Signed) Rothes, Cancell., I.P.D. The Register of the Privy Council. Edited and Abridged by P. Hume Brown, MA., LL.D., Fraser Professor of Ancient (Scottish) History and Palaeography in the University of Edinburgh. Histographer-Royal for Scotland. Third Series Vol. V. AD. 1676-1678 (H.M. General Register House, Edinburgh, 1912), p. 612

Genealogy

The Moodie Book, p. 25