Rev. Alexander Livingston, of Monyabroch

http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=PED&db=:3269383&id=I167014

Includes NotesNotes for Alexander Livingston: From The Livingstons of Livingston Manor, etc. by Edwin Brockholst Livingston 1910: Among the Livingston papers formerly belonging to the Viscounts of Kilsyth, and still preserved in the charter room at Colzium House, Stirlingshire, are some deeds relating to the Scottish ancestors of the American branches of this once noble family, most important bearing date of Mar. 15, 1560 and which had been executed at Callendar House, the principal seat of the Lords Livingston. This deed, which is in Latin, is to the effect that Alexander Livingston, rector of the parish church of Monyabroch, with the consent of his patron and chief, William Lord Livingston feus half his glebe to another William Livingston and Janet Makgowin his spouse, with the armorial seals of both Lord Livingston and the rector who both signed it. The lack of an adequate stipend was apparently the reason why the rector, 'after due deliberation' so runs the charter, had to feu to his 'beloved William Livingston and Janet Makgowin his spouse' and their heirs, the half of his glebe for the low rent of three pounds two shillings. Even in the year 1574, or thirteen years subsequent to the date of this transaction, the Rev. Alexander Livingston only had as stipend, according to the Book of Assignation of Stipends, 'the third of the parsonage and vicarage, extending to three chaldees, five bolls, and one-third boll of meal, and the third of the vicarage pensionary of Monyabroch, three pounds, six shillings and eight pence. (Scots)'

Owing to the earlier volumes of the kirk-session Records of Kilsyth having either been lost or destroyed, probably during the civil wars of the 17th Century, little can now be gleaned from contemporary sources concerning the long ministry of the Rev. Alexander Livingston over this parish. But from the fact of his having been appointed by the Scottish Privy Council, Mar. 6, 1589-90-, one of the three clerical commissioners for ';overseeing the maintenance of the Protestant religion in Stirlingshire, it would appear that he must have been favourably known to the government as a man of influence in his district, though his relationship to the head of his family alone, would probably have been sufficient to have got him appointed a member of this important commisssion. There were seven commissioners altogether--three clerical and four lay---and of these, three were members of the Livingston family, who at this period were all powerful in this county. The other Livingston commissioners were, William Lord Livingston, and John Livingston, the younger, of Dunipace. That family influence was the principal cause of his appointment, is borne out by the fact that only two years later 'he was so aged and infirm, that he could neither preach, administer the sacrament, nor exercise discipline,' so that the Presbytery advised him to get a helper, but he doesn't appear to have acted upon this advice as the Presbytery in 1594 applied to the Synod for a helper. The result is not recorded. Rev. Livingston, owing to the fact that he 'was in near realtion to the House of Callendar,' had been specially selected, in spite of his infirmaties, by the Presbytery of Glasgow, to personally wait upon Lady Livingston, though she was not a resident of his parish, but of Falkirk, and summon her to appear before the Presbytery upon April 13, in this same year, to answer as to her religious beliefs, which were the cause of much scandal to the kirk elders, who deemed her 'a malicious papist.' Failing to appear she was summoned for the 2nd time 'to give the confession of her faith under the pain of disobedience and Mr. Livingston was duly admonished as to the personal delivery of this summons. The lady not deigning to take any notice, 'Mr. Alexander Livingston, parson and minister of Monyabroch' was ordered on the 23rd of the above month to summon her for the 3rd time, to attend before the Presbytery upon the 15th day thereafter 'under the pain of excommunication.' And that the said lady 'may be won to God,' the Presybery further ordained that Mr. Patrick Sharp, Principal of the College of Glasgow, and Mr. John Cooper, should confer with her 'touching the grounds of religion.'

This attempt to bring Lady Livingston into the right path also failing, and after waiting for nearly 3 years for her to see the error of her ways, the Presbytery finally upon Mar 1, 1596-7, 'ordains every minister within the Presbytery of Glasgow to intimate next Sunday that Dame Helenor Hay, Lady Livingston, is excommunicated, and Rev. Alexander Livingston to do the same, under the pain of disposition.' This Lady Livingston was the wife of Alexander, 7th Lord Livingston, eldest son and successor of Rev. Alexander's patron, soon to be created Earl of Linlithgow. The reason why the Presbytery of Glasgow were so bitter against her religious views, was that her husband had been recently entrusted by King James the 6th with the care of the infant Princess Elizabeth, in after years to become celebrated as the wife of the unfortunate Elector Palatine, and ancestress of His Majesty King Edward VII. The worthy elders even complained to King James himself, who very diplomatically told them in reply that his daughter was placed under the charge of Lord Livingston, 'who was a man known to be of good religion.' and not under that of his wife. This dispute continued for several years for in 1602 Lady Livingston, now the Countess of Linlithgow, had to appeal to the king for protection against further threats of excommunication, this time from the Presbytery of Linlithgow. One of the charges seriously laid against her was having dealings with midsummer fairies. The Rev. Alexander Livingston's conduct in this affair had, apparently, given great offence to the scandalised kirk elders, for under date of Mar. 16, 1596, it is duly recorded in the Glasgow Presbytery Register, that 'as to Monyabroch neither exercise nor discipline is keepit by the minister there.' And upon June 21, in the following year the rector was summoned before the Presbyter 'to hear himself deposed from the ministry at the kirk of Monyabroch for inability to use discipline in the said kirk.' When asked if he had anything to say in his defence he raised no objection and deposition was pronounced. The reason why the rector so readily acquiesced in this sentence, appears to have been owing to the fact that the Presbytery had agreed, at the same time, to take William Livingston, his son, on trial for the living.

From http://www.robertsewell.ca/livingston.html#l4 {Reverend} Alexander Livingston, M.A. who was the first Protestant Rector of Monyabroch. He was known as Master Alexander Livingston, a reference to his degree of Master of Arts. Died: circa 1598 Married: circa 1570 to Barbara Livingston, daughter of Alexander Livingston of Over & Nether Inches, and grand daughter of William Livingston, 4th Viscount of Kilsyth and Janet Bruce of Airth. Barbara Livingston was a great X5 grand daughter of King Robert (II). Barbara and Alexander were 5th cousins, their common ancestor being Sir John Livingston of Callendar.

{Reverend} Alexander Livingston and Barbara Livingston had the following children:

Katherine Livingston who married James Livingston of Belstane

{Reverend} William Livingston, M.A.

More About Alexander Livingston and Barbara Livingston: Marriage: 1570, Scotland.

Children of Alexander Livingston and Barbara Livingston are: i.+William Livingston, b. 1576, Kilsyth Castle,Scotland, d. 1641, Lanarkshire, , Scotland.