Reverend Theodore Hay, Minister of the Gospel at Peebles

Biographical Summary

"Theodore Hay, born probably 1581, younger son of Andrew H., rector of Renfrew, and grandson of William H. of Talla, Tweedsmuir; entered the Univ. of Glasgow 1593; M.A. (1597). On 13th Oct. 1609 he was app. a regent in the same University, to teach " in all subjects, but especially in Physiologia " ; pres. by James VI. 20th April 1610; a member of the Court of High Commission 21st Dec. 1615, again 15th June 1620, and 21st Dec. 1634 ; D.D. (St. Andrews, 29th July 1616). On 27th July 1617, at the Music School, Edinburgh, along with fifty-four other ministers, he signed a Protest to James VI., then on a visit to Scotland, complaining of attempts to advance Episcopacy, and on 12th July he and several others debated with His Majesty anent affairs of the Kirk, desiring that matters of importance should be referred to a General Assembly, to which James consented. From 1620 to 1638 he was a member of Peebles Town Council, and a Justice of the Peace in 1634. In 1621 he was on the leet for one of the Edinburgh churches, preached a "proofe" sermon in the beginning of Dec, but was not chosen. On 1st Aug. 1632, he gave 100 merks to the building fund in aid of Glasgow University Library. He was a member of the Glasgow Assembly of 1638, and in 1639 was Chaplain to the King. He dem. 1648, and was dead by 4th Sept. 1651. He marr. Lilias Cockburn, and had issue —

• John, his successor
• Henry, a writer, whose widow, Margaret Lindsay, was recommended for charity by Tron Kirk -session in 1697."

SOURCE: Fasti ecclesiae scoticanae: the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the reformation, Vol. I, page 286