Robert Wilkie M.A. (abt. 1577 - 1640)

Born about 1577 in Scotland [uncertain]

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Biography

Robert Wilkie M.A. is Notable.

Robert Wilkie was born about 1577, the son of William Wilkie and Agnes MacMorran.

He was educated at Glasgow University where he gained his M.A in 1598. Afterwards he joined the Scottish Clergy and his first ministry apointment was in 1603 at Douglas, a village in South Lanarkshire.^[1] Robert remained there as minister for 18 years.

In 1621, when the City of Glasgow decided that the Town had grown to such an extent that it needed to be divided into three parishes^[2], he transfered to Glasgow and became the first minister of Blackfriars Church in Glasgow after it was rebuilt in 1622. For 5 years he was in charge of the west quarter of Glasgow (1622-1627), after which he had charge of the east quarter for 12 years (1628-1640) until his death in 1640.

During his ministry at Glasgow he became the Dean of Glasgow University (1622-1628), it's Rector (1629,1632,1633 and 1638) and it's Vice-Chancellor (1637).

Robert was a member of the Court of High Commission at their meeting on 21st Oct 1634. Around that time King Charles I, was atempting to prescribe fixed forms of liturgy and prayer to Scotland by the use of the Scottish Book of Common Prayer^[3] which was published in 1637. Robert opposed the introduction of this book and even continued to administer Communion, to participants seated at tables, in a manner contrary to the articals agreed on at Perth.

Rev. Robert Wilkie died 20th Febuary 1640, aged about 62.

Robert's Family

He married Jean Inglis, who survived him, and had the following children:-

1. William, min. of Govan;
2. John of Broomhouse, ancestor of the Foulden family;
3. Zachary, min. of Ellemford;
4. James;
5. Robert;
6. Marion;
7. Margaret (m. John Bell, min of this parish (Blackfriars,Glasgow);
8. Janet (m. Patrick Sharpe, min. of East Kilbroide)

In 1630 The town council of Glasgow, who held Rev Wilkie in high regard, agree to give 500 Merks to Robert especially to help him with his 'dochters tocher' (Daughters dowry).^[4]

Life Facts

The following have been used to build Robert's Biography

Rev Robert Wilkie was minister of Douglas (1603-21) and thereafter of Blackfrias in Glasgow (1621-40). Had several sons including Wiliam Wilkie (minister of glovan), John Wilkie of Broomhouse & Zacharias Wilkie (minister of Ellemforn in Berwishire).^[5]

Rev Robert Wilkie was the first minister of Blackfriars Church in Glasgow after it was rebuilt in 1622. He was in charge of the west quarter of the city of Glasgow from 1622 till 1627, then the east quarter from 1628 until his death on 20th February, 1640. ^[6]

Robert (Rev.) Wilkie, d. 1640 minister of Glasgow. m. Jean Inglis and had John, of Broomhouse^[7]

'Robert Wilkie, son of William W., who represented Lanark in the Scots Parliament, 1581-93, and Agnes Macmorran of Glespin; Educated at Univ. of Glasgow; M.A. (1598); adm. to Douglas in 1603; trans. before 18th July 1621, with charge of the West Quarter (of glasgow) 1622-7, and East Quarter, 1628-40: was dean of Facility in Uni. 1622-8, and Rector, 1629, 1632, 1633 and 1638; Vice-Chancellor in 1637; a member of Court of HIgh Commission 21st Oct 1634. He not only opposed the intoduction of the Service Book in 1637, but administered Communion, with the aged incumbent, in the Laigh Kirk, to comminicants sitting at atables, contrarry to the articles agreed on at Perth; died 20th Febuary 1640, aged about 62. He married Jean Inglis, who survived him, and had issue - William, min. of Govan; John of Broomhouse, ancestor of the Foulden family; Zachary, min. of Ellemford; James;Robert; Marion; Margaret (m. John Bell, min of this parish (Blackfriars,Glasgow); Janet (m. Patrick Sharpe, min. of East Kilbroide).-[Glasg. Bapt. Reg.; Baillie's Lett.]^[8]

Notes

Date of birth has been estimated to be about 1577 based on the assumption that he gained his degree when he was 21 years old, and his age at death. His Birthplace of Scotland is based on the fact that he lived in Glasgow and that other family members are known to have lived in Scotland.

Robert Wilkie is a family member of the Wilkies of Foulden. A freespace page has been created by Sandra Ruffle which holds additional research notes about the Wilkies of Foulden

Sources

1. ↑ More infor about the Village of Douglas (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas,_South_Lanarkshire)
2. ↑ S5: Enumeration of Glasgow, page 5 (https://archive.org/stream/enumerationofinh00clel#page/n17/mode/2up/search/wilkie)
3. ↑ The 1637 Scottish Book of Common Prayer (http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/Scotland/BCP_1637.htm)
4. ↑ S5: Enumeration of Glasgow, page 239 (https://archive.org/stream/enumerationofinh00clel#page/238/mode/2up/search/wilkie)
5. ↑ S3: The Scottish Historical Review, Vol 2, page 106 (https://archive.org/stream/scottishhistori00unkngoog#page/n137/mode/2up/search/wilkie)
6. ↑ S2: Ministers of Glasgow, 1562-1649 (http://www.british-history.ac.uk/glasgow-charters/1175-1649/no1/dcxxx-dcxxxii)
7. ↑ S1: Burke's landed Gentry, page 2210 (https://archive.org/stream/genealogicalhera02inburk#page/2210/mode/2up/search/wilkie+foulden)
8. ↑ S4:Fasti ecclesiae scoticanae, page 398 (http://www.archive.org/stream/fastiecclesiaesc03scot#page/398/mode/1up)

• S1: A genealogical and heraldic history of the landed gentry of Great Britain & Ireland by Sir Bernard Burke, dated 1894 (https://archive.org/details/genealogicalhera02inburk)
• S2: Ministers of Glasgow, 1562-1649, British History Online (http://www.british-history.ac.uk/)
• S3: The Scottish historical review by Company of Scottish History, published 1903 (https://archive.org/details/scottishhistori00unkngoog)
• S4: Fasti ecclesiae scoticanae; the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the reformation. By Hew Scott, Published 1920. (https://archive.org/details/fastiecclesiaesc03scot)
• S5:Enumeration of the inhabitants of the city of Glasgow and county of Lanark. For the government census of M.DCCC.XXXI. With population and statistical tables relative to England and Scotland. By James Cleland, published 1832. (https://archive.org/details/enumerationofinh00clel)