Magnus Mudie in Garson

MAGNUS MUDIE IN GARSON

(aka MAGNUS MUDY IN WALLS or MAWNIS MUDIE)

Magnus Mudie in Garson, here treated, was the cousin of Master William Halcro of Brugh. NRS: GD96/78 It seems quite likely, therefore, probable even, that he was the son of Gilbert Mudie in Walls and his wife Elizabeth Halcro In a charter dated 20 January 1544, Gilbert Mudie and Elizabeth Halcro gave their consent to the settlement of the Halcro estates upon Elizabeth's nephew Hugh Halcro of that Ilk. William Halcro of Brugh is probably the man who is named as one of the heirs of entail in the same charter. REO: CXVIII

Magnus Mudie was one of twenty-six Orkney men who were accused of intromitting with goods belonging to some Norwegian merchants. The goods in question came to Orkney in a ship that was stolen while on route from Germany to Norway. William Mudie in Walls, and his son Master William Mudie in Kirkwall, Gilbert Mudie in Walls, and William Mudie in Walls, the younger, were with others accused of this crime. The lords of Council and Session issued a summons on 10 May 1559, but the accused failed to appear and the Lords continued the case until 1 July 1561. Old Lore Miscellany of Orkney and Shetland 10: pp. 36-42

On 17 July 1560, Magnus Mudie, in company with Master William Halcro of Brugh, and another twelve prominent Orkney men, gave a promise of support to George, Earl of Caithness, in the event that he should "invaid the cuntre of Orknay in persecutione of his auld ennymeis". In return for their promise the Earl gave them his protection, in the event that they were to "make persecutione of slauchter" upon their enemies" and promised to defend them "and sall have friendlie passage with manteinyng aganes thair ennymeis and persewaris into the cuntre of Caithnes". NRS: GD96/78

The Lands of Garson

The lands of Garson belonged to the Earl of Orkney. At the time of his death, Magnus Mudie owed eighteen pounds to the Earle "for the mails & dewiteis of the said lands of Garsane of the crop & year of god jaj vc lxxxxviij yeiris". [National Records of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland Commissary Court, The Testament Dative and Inventory of Magnus Mudie in Garsan, parish of Hoy, Orkney, reference CC17/2/1] Image of Testament

Death

Magnus Mudie in Garson died intestate in February 1598. [National Records of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland Commissary Court, The Testament Dative and Inventory of Magnus Mudie in Garsan, parish of Hoy, Orkney, reference CC17/2/1] Image of Testament

His Testament Dative and Inventory

The testament dative and the inventory of Magnus Mudie in Garson was given up by his sons, Andro Mudie, Gilbert Mudie, and William Mudie, who were confirmed as his executors dative on 25 February 1612. [National Records of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland Commissary Court, The Testament Dative and Inventory of Magnus Mudie in Garsan, parish of Hoy, Orkney, reference CC17/2/1] Image of Testament

Marriage and Children

The name of Magnus Mudie's wife is not known but he had three sons:

1. Andro Mudie in Hoy
2. Gilbert Mudie in Gilsland
3. William Mudie in Walls

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. William Halcro was one of the heirs of entail named In the charter. Records of the Earldom of Orkney: Charter number CXVIII on pp. 225-27

                   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 case was continued 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

17 July 1560: Contract between George, Earl of Caithnes (Caithness), and Mr. Magnus Halcro of Brught, chantor of Orknay (Orkney). Mr. Magnus binds himself to support the earl and his interest in Orknay and to take part with him if he should "invaid the cuntre of Orknay in persecutione of his auld ennymeis". The earl gives his protection to Mr. Magnus and to "his cousingis, William Halcro of Aikeris, Eduart Sinclare, yonger, of Toabe, Niniane Halcro, bruder german, Nicholl Chalmar, William Sinclar in Kerstane, Robert Chalmer, David Chalmer, Mawnis Mudie, John Cromatie, William Kirknee of Mousland, Alexander Kirkness of [blank], James Cragy, Hendrie Cragy"; if they "make persecutione of slauchter" upon their enemies, the earl shall defend them "and sall have friendlie passage with manteinyng aganes thair ennymeis and persewaris into the cuntre of Caithnes". Dated at Braule. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Sinclair family of Mey, Caithness, reference GD96/78