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September 09, 2006
This May Explain a Few Things
While looking for some honorable person in either one of our backgrounds, Shirley found this interesting account concerning a person who was the second wife of John Porterfield, my twelfth great-grandfather. Sure, we likely don't share any unique family genes but the Lady Duchal and I have a lot in common. And old John Porterfield obliviously had great taste in women.
The case of the Dowager Lady Duchal, a daughter of the Knoxes of Ranfurlie and second wife of John Porterfield, who had purchased Duchal from Lord Lyle, was still more protracted. On the death of her husband, Lady Duchal removed to her dower house near Renfrew, the original seat of the Porterfields. Here she came under the spiritual jurisdiction of Mr. John Hay, the parson of Renfrew. Her case first appears in the Records under date March 10, 1603, but from the terms in which it is referred to by Mr. Hay, it is evident that it had been going on for some time. At the date mentioned, Mr. Hay, it is said, reported that 'Jean Knox, Lady Duchal, remaynes contumax, refusing to hear the word of God preichit in the Kirk of Renfrew or to communicate the Holy Sacrament.' For some reason her case was allowed to drop, and nothing is heard of it for more than a year. But after its revival by Mr. Hay, on May 24, 1604, she was summoned and admonished and prayed for, but in vain, until after she had been prayed for the third time, on August 9, when for some reason she gave in and conformed, but only for a season. On May 2, 1605, Mr. John Hay again 'delaitet the auld Lady Duchall for not communicating,' and was ordered to summon her to appear the next presbytery day. Not appearing as directed, she was summoned the second and third time, but without effect. On July 26, she was ordered to be prayed for the first time, and on August 1 the old lady appeared before the Presbytery, and 'being demandit upon what occasion she had refusit to communicate the Bodie of Jesus Christ, she boldly answered 'that it was for plane malice that she had conceived in her heart against her pastor, Mr. John Hay, for sindrie wrong she allegit done by him to her, whilk she tuk in hand to give in befoir the 8th instant.' The Presbytery accepted her proposal, and fixed the day named for hearing the case and ordered her to attend. But when the day came she was absent, and the process of praying for her was ordained to be resumed. On September 5, when the third prayer was appointed, the Moderator and Mr. Gabriel Maxwell were directed 'to confir with her, to see if they can bring her to any conformitie.' Whether they conferred with her is unknown. Her name suddenly vanished from the Records. The old lady was about ninety years of age, and the probability is that she found relief from spitiual tormentors in death." [Source: Metcalfe, William M., The History of the County of Renfrew, Glasgow: The Grimsay Press, 2004 based on 1905 edition, pages 234-235. Note the strange spellings are in the original]
I wish I had known her.
Posted by DuaneSmith at September 9, 2006 04:08 PM | Read more on Odds and Ends |
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