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George Monro

George Monro

Male Abt 1552 - 1630  (~ 78 years)

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  • Name George Monro 
    Born Abt 1552 
    • Estimate: This birth date is an estimate based on the birth dates of nearest relatives or contemporaries, or based on other clues such as christening date, marriage date, birth order, etc.
    Gender Male 
    Died 1630 
    Person ID I10405  Munro
    Last Modified 11 Jun 2011 

    Father George Monro, of Milntown & Dochcarty,   b. Abt 1522,   d. 28 Nov 1576, , , Ross and Cromarty, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 54 years) 
    Mother Janet Fraser, of Phopachy,   b. Abt 1522,   d. 1592  (Age ~ 70 years) 
    Family ID F2453  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Margaret Levingston,   b. Abt 1554,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Children 
    +1. Rev. George Monro, of Pitlundie,   b. Abt 1577,   d. Apr 1642, Suddie, , , Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 65 years)
    Last Modified 20 Jan 2009 
    Family ID F3808  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • George was chancellor of the diocese of Ross in 1571.

      Ref: "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - L/42 & R/36

      Ref: "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - L/4, L/42, R/36

      "George Munro of Miltown and Davochgartie married Fraser of Phopachies daughter by whom he had Andrew Donald of Tarlogie and Mr. George..."

      "Mr George Munro Chancellor of Ross married a Gentlewoman surnamed Levingston by whom he had George."

      "George chancellor of diocese of Ross 1571, wife Margaret Levingstoun."

      "John his 4 son married Margaret daughter to Mr George Munro Chancellor of Ross..."

      "John's wife Margaret (Deeds 1673) not mentioned in L/42-4..."

      Ref: "History of the Munros" by A. Mackenzie - p. 48-49

      "The following document, [was] dated at Holyrood House, the 12th of September, 1573,...

      "Anent our Sovereign Lord's letters raised at the instance of Master George Munro, making mention:--That wheras he is lawfully provided to the Chancellory of Ross by his Highness's presentation admission to the Kirk, and the Lord's decree thereupon, and has obtained letters in all the four forms thereupon; and therewith has caused charge the tenants and intromitters with the teind sheaves thereof to make him and his factors payment; and in the meantime Rory Mackenzie, brother of Colin Mackenzie of Kintail, having continual residence in the steeple of the Chanonry of Ross, which he caused to be built not only to oppress the country with masterful theft, sorning, and daily oppression, but also for suppression of the word of God, which was always preached in the said Kirk preceding his entry thereto, which is now become a filthy stye and den of thieves; has masterfully and violently, with a great force of oppression, come to the tenants indebted in payment of the said Mr George's benefice aforesaid, and has masterfully reft them of all and whole the fruits thereof; and so he, having no other refuge for obtaining of the said benefice, was compelled to denounce the said whole tenants rebels and put them to the horn, as the said letters and execution thereof more fully purports, and futher is compelled for fear of the said Mr George's life to remain from his vocation whereunto God has called him. And anent the charge given to the said Rory Mackenzie to desist and cease from all intromitting, uptaking, molesting above-written for any fruits or duties thereof, otherwise than is ordered by law, or else to have compeared before my Lord Regent's grace the Lords of Secret Council at a certain day bypast and show a reasonable cause why the same should not be done, under the pain of rebellion and putting him to the horn, with certification to him, and he failing, letters would be directed simpliciter to put him to the horn, like as is at more length contained in the said letters, execution and endorsement thereof. Which being called, the said Master George compeared personally, and the said Rory Mackenzie oftimes called and not compearing, my Lord Regent's grace, with advise of the Lords of Secret Council, ordained letters to be directed to officers of arms, Sheriffs in that part, to denounce the said Rory Mackenzie our Sovereign Lord's rebel and put him to the horn; and to escheat and bring in all his moveable goods to his Highness's use for his contempt." (Mackenzie's History of the Mackenzies, second edition, pp. 151-153.)

      Ref: "History of the Munros" by A. Mackenzie (1898) - p. 276

      George, Chancellor of Ross, from whom are descended the Munros of Pitlundie and Bearscroft, Auchenbowie, Craig Lockhart and Cockburn, Argaty, Edmondsham, Fearn and Ingsdon.

      Ref: "History of the Munros of Fowlis" by A. Mackenzie - Inverness (1898) - p.
      305-309

      I. George Monro, third son of George Monro, IV. of Milntown, was the first of this family. He studied for the Church at the University of Aberdeen, and was on the 21st of December, 1570, while still a student, presented by James VI. to the Chaplainry of Newmore, "with provision that he continue his study quhilk he be able to administrat the Word of God." In this office he succeeded Hector, second son of Hector Munro, seventeenth Baron of Fowlis, when the latter succeeded his brother, Robert Munro, as nineteenth Baron and became the first Baronet of the family.

      The rental of the Chaplainry at the Reformation, as given in by George Monro, was as follows:--"Newmoir extendis to xii bollis small custumis aitis; item, four martis, four muttounis; iiii do pultrie; item, to xvi merkis money; the quhilk rentall was set to the said George in assedatioun be umquhill John Bissatt, Chaplane for this tyme present for the sowme of xxx ilb. money allanarlie." ("Book of Assumptions.")

      On the 5th of July, 1571, James VI. presented George to the Chancellory of Ross. On his promotion to this more important and lucrative office, James granted the Chaplainry of Newmore to George, the Chancellor's nephew, and eldest son of Andrew Monro, V. of Milntown, "in support of his sustentatioun at the scoles" for a period of seven years. ("Orig. Par. Scot.," vol. ii., pp. 419, 421, 422.)

      In 1573 Roderick Mackenzie, I. of Redcastle, was put to the horn at the instance of Chancellor George Monro, who complained to the Privy council that "Rory, brother to Colin Mackenzie of Kintail, having continual residence in the steeple of the Chanonry of Ross, which he caused big not only to oppress the country with masterful reef, sorning, and daily oppression, but also for suppressing of the Word of God which was always preached in the said Kirk before his entry thereto--but is now become a filthy sty and den of thieves--has masterfully and violently, with great force of oppressors, come to the tenants indebted in payment to the said Mr George, and feft them in all and haill the fruits of his benefice." The Chancellor complains further "that through fear of his life the oppressor compels him to refrain from discharging the duties of the vocation to which God had called him." The document has been already given at length under Robert Mor Munro, fifteenth Baron of Fowlis.

      In 1585 James VI. confirmed a charter granted by George Munro, as Chancellor of Ross, with consent of Alexander Hepburn, Bishop of Ross, the Dean, and the Canons, to John Robertson, Treasurer of Ross, and Elizabeth Baillie his wife, and their heirs, with remainder to John's heirs whomsoever, of the Chancellor's manse, with the houses and buildings, both built and to be built, and the garden and croft of the same, lying contiguously in the Chanonry of Ross.

      Among the entries in the Register of the Privy Council, during the minority of James VI. are the following bonds of caution relating to Chancellor George Monro:--"Edinburgh, May 3, 1586.--Caution in 500 merks by Mr David Calmers, as principal, and Alexander Hepburn of Quhitsum, as surety, that Mr George Monro, Chancellor of Ross, his wife, bairns, tennants, and persons addettit in payment of the fruits and duties of the said benefice, shall be harmless, in their persons, lands, and goods, of the said Mr David." "Edinburgh, May 5, 1586.--Caution in 1000 merks by John Irving of Kynnock, as principal, and David Vaus, in Leith, as surety, the Mr George Monro, Chancellor of Ross, his wife, bairns, tennants, and persons addettit in payment of the fruits of his said benefice, shall be harmless of the said principal, in their bodies and goods; Colin Mackenzie of Kintaill and the said John Irving becoming bound to relieve David Vaus of the premisses. Subscribed at Leith, 5th of May, before these witnesses; Mr Murdo Murcheson, parson of Lochalshe; Alexander Mackenzie, parson of Garloch; John MacCulloch, servitor of the said Colin; John Vaus, son and apparent heir of the said David Vaus; William Irving, messenger; and Archibald Norwatt, notary public."

      In 1570 George Monro was appointed minister of Suddie; and in 1574 Kinnetas, with a stipend of 14 pounds 8s 10d Scots, was added to his charge, "with the haille Chancellory of Ross." He had, however, to pay his own "Readers."

      It may be here noticed that few of the people could then read, or had ever heard the Word of God read in their own tongue. To meet this defect, and also to make up for the want of ministers of the Reformed faith, the Scottish Reformers appointed a temporary class of office bearers called Readers, to read the Common Prayers and the Scriptures in the Churches, until advancing education made them unnecessary. Readers who had made such proficiency in the knowledge of Scripture as to be able to exhort the people, were known by the name of Exhorters. No one could be appointed to the office of Reader until he had reached the age of twenty-one years, and it was also necessary that he should be "endued with gravity and discretion," lest by his lightness and prayers or Scriptures read should be "of lesse price or estimation." And if, after holding the office for two years, the Reader had not advanced so as to be able to exhort and explain the Scriptures, he was removed from his office, on the ground that they who were not in a resonable time "able to edify the Kirk" should not be "perpetually susteined upon the charge of the Kirk." The object of these arrangements was that Readers should be gradually advance to the position of Exhorters; and that Exhorters should be advanced to the platform of Ministers, who preached the Word and administered the Sacraments.--(Dr Ross's "Pastoral Work," p. 245.)

      At the General Assembly of 1575 the Rev. George was accused of neglecting his duties, when he excused himself by pleading that he was prevented from attending to them, "by reason of a deadly feud," and his excuse was accepted. In 1581 he was one of a deputation appointed by the General Assembly for the erection of Presbyteries in the counties of Ross, Sutherland, and Caithness. This appointment was repeated in 1582. In 1586 he was a member of a committee nominated for the trial of any slander in life or conversion in the County of Ross, and in 1587 was one of several members of Assembly entrusted with answering the five articles propounded by James VI. He was selected by the General Assembly of the following year as the Commissioner to visit the bounds of Orkney, "where the Jesuits and Papists chiefly resort, and therein to plant kirks with qualified ministers; depose and deprive such as be unqualified, whether in life or doctrine, as well bishops as others, of the ministry; to crave of all men, as well of high estate as others, subscription to the Confession of Faith, and participation of the Lord's Supper; to try, call, and convene Papists and Apostates, and to proceed against them conform to the Acts of the Assembly, and finally, to do all other things that are necessary for reformation of the said bounds, and reducing them to a good order, establishing of the Evangel, and good dicipline of the Kirk, firm and stable holding." (Calderwood's "History of the Kirk of Scotland," vol. iv. pp. 641-2,)

      In 1589 Chancellor Monro was named by the Privy Council as one of the Ministers for "the maintenance of true religion in the bounds of Inverness and Cromarty." About the same time he was translated to Tarbat, but he returned to Suddie in 1594. In 1595 he was member of a committee appointed by the Assembly to advise with the Presbytery of Inverness "because of their weakness," and in 1569 he was again deputed to visit the bounds of Orkney, Shetland, Caithness, and Sutherland. In 1598 he was translated to Rosemarkie; and in 1599 to Chanonry, at the same time retaining the charge of Suddie and Kinettas. ("Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae," vol, iii. Part I., page 284.) At this period Protestant clergymen were scarce, and one minister had frequently to take charge of two or more parishes, an arrangement which had only one advantage to recommend it. It saved the pockets of the heritors. Chancellor Monro was member of the General Assemblies of 1601, 1602, and 1610. He was appointed by the Assembly of 1606 constant Moderator of the Presbytery of Ardmeanach, or the Black Isle, in the absence of Alexander Hepburn, Bishop of Ross; and on the 17th of January, 1607, the Presbytery was charged by the Privy Council to receive him within twenty-four hours after notice, under pain of rebellion. He died in 1630, or very soon after. ("Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae," vol. iii. Part I. page 274.)

      He married a lady named Livingstone with issue...

      Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA