John Dishington (abt. 1535 - abt. 1603)

Born about 1535 in Ardross Fifeshire Scotland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 1603 at about age 68 in Kirkwall Orknøyene

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Biography

John Disington mentioned as a witness in St. Andrew 1559, probably the same person who graduated there in 1555. He is belived to have been born at Andros around 1535. John Dishington is found mentioned for the first time in the Orkny island 04-nov.1567 in a trial, which defends. He is completely coincident with the newly appointed " Feuar " by Orkney and Shetland Robert Stewart. Regent Morton as well as Bishop of Orkney Adam Bothwell tried in a political power struggle tried to remove Earl Robert Stewart, by inciting 33 " charges " against him. The most serious charges were for the treachery of the country, he was accused of negotiating with King Fredrik ll in copenhagen about the status of the Orkney Island, and of introducing " new " Norwegian laws to the Orkny Island. In 1577 further charges were brought against Robert Stewart, this time concerning Shetland . Earl Robert was jailed for a period for these charges, but Morton fell into disgrace in 1579, and was executed two years later. His head set on a stake for terror and warning (where it lasted a full year) while Robert Stewart receied restoration and appointment to the Earl. An example of Earl Roberts takeover of Orkney properties is mentioned on 12.nov.1584 in a case led by Sheriff John Bannatyne and John Dishington (here called the Earls chamberlain and attorney) shows outstanding taxes for the years 1575 - 1579 totaling 1009 pund sterling, for properties in Brught in Rowsay as well as Anehallow. These properties were owned by the now deceased Mr. Magnus Halcro of Brught and his surviving widow Margaret Sinclair . The propertres endedup on the Earls hands.

Earl Robert Stewart died 04.febr. 1593, 26 year after his appointment as Chief of the Orkny Island and Shetland, where John Dishington has apparently been his confidant all along. John Dishington is then mentioned as a lawyer for the Earls widow Jean Kennedy (ca.1535 - 1598).

John Dishington continued,after Earl Robert Stewart death 1593 to service Roberts son Earl Patrick Stewart. John Dishington was probably at his most powerful around 1597, at this time , King James mentions a " Johne, maisto of Orkney " which concerns either John Disington or John Stewart, brother of Patrich, whoom some accasions was desigated with this title. This John Stewart was accused in 1594 of having tried to kill his brother Earl Patrick, in the lead with an Alison Bafour, who was executed for witchcraft 16.dec.1594 in Kirkwall, after her self, her husband and her 2 children had been tortured to force a confeession.

A group of 600 men led by Learmonth of Balcombie traveled in october 1597 on colonial campaigns to the Isle of Lewis, but were defeated by MacLeods groupings and forced to retreat. Among the leaders of the campaign are John Dishington , who is here called a younger son of the Lord of Ardross, and a relativ of Earl Robert Stewart (how this possible kinship is not clarified)

One of the reference works for older Orkney history is the records of the Earldom of Orkney 1299 - 1614 - by J. Storer Clauston. Here it is mentioned that seal of John Dishington , used on a number of Orkney documents, contained 3 pilgrim clams on a diagonal, i.e. the same weapon - shield used by Dishington of Ardross. In addition, the seal contains the letters IMD, which is likely to be IWD, as William Dishington of Ardross fits very well chronologically (and no Dishington with first name of M is found in the current time period)

21.aug. in 1600 John Disington is mentioned as " Sheriff and Chamberlain of Yetland " he is mentioned there a number of times both befor and after this date, until july 25.- 1603, when as " Sheriff Depute and Justice Depute of the county of Zetland " Dec. 21-1602, John Dishington is called " commissioner of Orkney " . July 07- 1603, he prosecuted in a lawsuit in Sowndbrughe, Dunrosnes on Shetland, where he is called " Shetland commissary and deputy of Earl Patrick," after which he seems to disappear from the primary sources.

Mr. John Dishington is mentioned before 1584 as a court clerk (assizeman) for Hoy and Flotta. He owned the Gockhall house in downtown Kirkwall, on todays Shore Street . This property was owned almost 100 year later by his presumed grandson Priest John Dishington. (about 1600 - 1681) According << Great Seal>> 23.november 1615, have the deceased John Dishington been former owner of 9 pence land by name the Bu (ll) of Greenwall in Holme and Paplay, Orkney Island inhabited by William Sinclair in 1615 and 1617 (desendant of Sinclair of Caithness) and his mate Elisabeth Crichton.

Sources

• Alfred W Johnston and Amy Johnston : Orkney and Shetland Records, The Viking Society for Northern Research. Vol 7 s.160
• J. Storer Clauston: Records of the Earldom of Orkney: 1299 - 1614, Edinburgh,s.161.
• Peter D. Anderson: Black Patie, life and times of Patrick Stewart, Earl of Orkney, Lord of Shetland 1992 s.22
• John H. Ballantyne, Brian Smith : Shetland documents 1580 - 1611, leerwich 1994, item 257, dated Edinburg 30 june 1597
• www.genealogi.no.33.årgang.1/2019 (of Petter Vennemoe: Jacob Andersen Dishington part 2: Den eldre slekt Dishington i Skottland/ Orkenøyene