| Administrative History | M.I. Abernethy (or John Abernethy) was the Bishop of Caithness from 1616-1638.
He was the son of Thomas A. of Glencorse and Jean Straiton, one of the original students at the University of Edinburgh under Rollock ; M.A. (1587) ; reader in 1588 ; adm. min. 7th Aug. 1593. He was a member of Assembly in 1601, 1602, 1608, and 1616. He signed the Protest against the introduction of Episcopacy (1st July 1606), yet when Constant Moderators were set-up he accepted office for the Presb. of Jedburgh. For two years his brethren refused to acknowledge him and in 1615 he solicited appointment to the Archbishopric of Glasgow; was made D.D., a member of the Court of High Commission, and promoted to the See of Caithness, 7th Dec. 1616.
He married twice, the first marriage in 1600 to Alison (daughter of Sir David Home of Fishwick, governor of Dumbarton Castle), with whom he had 3 children. His second marriage in 1606 was to Isabella (daughter of Patrick Murray of Philiphaugh) with whom he had 6 children. |