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Reverend Malcolm Fleming, Prior of Whithorn

b. circa 1500, d. circa 30 March 1569

Person Exhibits

Whitorn Priory

Birth

Reverend Malcolm Fleming, Prior of Whithorn, was born circa 1500.1,2

Parents

FatherVice-admiral John ("the Ambassador") Fleming, 2nd Lord Fleming (b. circa 1465, d. 1 November 1524)

Family life

Reverend Malcolm Fleming, Prior of Whithorn, and Catherine Fraser, Lady Fruid, were engaged circa 1524.2

Partner with Catherine Fraser, Lady Fruid, (b. circa 1500)

Working life

  • On 29 October 1519 Reverend Malcolm Fleming, Prior of Whithorn, was occupied as vicarius chori at Glasgow University in Glasgow.3
  • After 1524 Reverend Malcolm Fleming, Prior of Whithorn, was occupied as priest.2
  • In 1539 Reverend Malcolm Fleming, Prior of Whithorn, was occupied as Commendator in Whithorn Priory. This is the person who holds the Priory's estates in trust. Whithorn Priory was a medieval Scottish monastery that also served as a cathedral, located at 6 Bruce Street in Whithorn, Wigtownshire, Dumfries and Galloway. The priory was founded about the middle of the 12th century by Fergus, the Lord of Galloway, during the reign of King David I of Scotland, initially for a community of Augustinian canons regular. Around 1175, the monks were replaced by Premonstratensian canons regular, referred to colloquially in Britain as the White Canons. Many Scottish sovereigns, among them Margaret (queen of James III), James IV, and James V, made repeated pilgrimages to the saint's shrine, and left rich offerings behind them. The monastery, thus endowed, became opulent, and its income at its dissolution under the Scottish Reformation was estimated at over £1000. Possibly as a result, the priory was put under the rule of a commendatory prior in 1516.2
  • After 1539 Reverend Malcolm Fleming, Prior of Whithorn, was occupied as Commendator and Prior in Whithorn Priory.2
  • In December 1541 Reverend Malcolm Fleming, Prior of Whithorn, was occupied as commendator and vicar-general at Galloway Diocese in Galloway.3

Property4,56

Reverend Malcolm Fleming, Prior of Whithorn, possessed granted a bond to his brother Malcolm, 3rd Lord Fleming, for 500 merks, for relief of his sister Margaret's tocher on 3 February 1540.2,7 He possessed granted a tack (lease) to John Fleming and Margaret Hamilton, his well-beloved servants, in the five merk land of Creathdo for a period od 19 years in 1558 in Creathdo.8 He possessed consented to a royal charter whereby the glebe of a church was granted to Robert Watson vicar of the parish church of Clochcant on 3 July 1568 in Holyrood House.9

Death

Reverend Malcolm Fleming, Prior of Whithorn, died circa 30 March 1569 at age ~69.1,2,10,11,3 He had his estate probated on 2 July 1569. This was a testament dative, meaning that he died intestate.12,11

Citations

  1. [S28] Sir James Balfour Paul, The Scots Peerage, vol viii, Fleming Earl of Wigtown pages 519 - 558
  2. [S29] Various, Various, "WikiTree," pedigree, Commons, WikiTree (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki: accessed ), ., online; 9 November 2023; Malcolm Fleming (abt. 1505 - 1568) at https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Fleming-3863
  3. [S117] David Laing, The Works of John Knox, vol ii, p 370, note 4
  4. [S43] Scotland Court of Exchequer, Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum, vol iii, ch 1079, p. 236
  5. [S5] William Hunter, Biggar and the House of Fleming, p 507
  6. [S58] Edinburgh, National Records of Scotland, "Online Catalogue," National Records of Scotland (https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue: accessed ), ., viewed; 25 September 2025; GD39/1/53, 31/5/1538, nstrument of Seisin in favour of William Fleming of Boghall in the lands of Miltoun and Heriotshole
  7. [S17] Francis J Grant (Ed), Charter Chest of the Earldom of Wigtown, Charter 85
  8. [S17] Francis J Grant (Ed), Charter Chest of the Earldom of Wigtown, Charter 109
  9. [S43] Scotland Court of Exchequer, Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum, vol v, ch 654, p 201
  10. [S2] Various contributors, Various contributors, "Wikipaedia," database, Commons, Wikipaedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/: accessed ), ., online; 9 November 2023; Whithorn Priory at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whithorn_Priory
  11. [S56] Scotland, Scotland's People, "Wills and Testaments 1513-1925," National Records of Scotland, ScotlandsPeople (https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/search-records/legal-records/wills: accessed ), ., 24 February 2025; CC8/8/1, Malcolme Fleming, commendator of Whithorn, 30 Mar 1569 and 2 Jul 1569
  12. [S17] Francis J Grant (Ed), Charter Chest of the Earldom of Wigtown, Charter 118
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