Thomas de Kirkcudbright
Encyclopedia
Thomas de Kirkcudbright, also known as Thomas de Dalton [de Daltoun], was a medieval prelate from the Kingdom of Scotland
. He was apparently a nutritus, or foster son, of Robert V de Brus, Lord of Annandale
, and seems to have been closely linked in some way to Adam de Kirkcudbright, the man who held the church of Dalton
in Annandale. He was likely a native Galwegian or perhaps a native of Annandale.
As the chaplain
of Robert de Brus, he was elected by the chapter
of Whithorn Cathedral to replace the recently deceased Henry of Holyrood
as Bishop of Galloway
, sometime before 13 January 1294. He offered obedience to the Archbishop of York
on 30 May and was consecrated on 10 October. His election was initially opposed by John Balliol
, King of the Scots, though John was eventually reconciled to the election. By the time of his election to the bishopric, he was already a priest and was styled magister, indicating the completion of a university education - though not details of his university education are not known.
Although naturally better disposed to the Bruces than Balliols, his exact role during the turbulence of the First War of Scottish Independence
is not clear; after the deposition of Balliol by King Edward I of England
, he was co-operative with the English crown, both in his role as a senior inhabitant of the Kingdom of Scotland and as a suffragan of the Archbishop of York. He spent a great deal of time in this period both in Galloway
, and in England, and was a close associate of John de Halton
, Bishop of Carlisle
. The latter, a papal tax collector, granted Thomas a £40 loan from the papal funds stored at Tongland Abbey
, in August 1294, undoubtedly related to his accession as Bishop of Galloway.
It was came to be thought by some York authorities that he had never adhered to the cause of King Robert I of Scotland
, when they called him to a council on this basis on 5 March 1323. Bishop Thomas however had spent a lot of time in the post-Bannockburn
kingdom, attending the Ayr
assembly of 27 April 1315, where he added his seal
to a declaration about the Bruce succession; he added his seal to another pro-Bruce document at some point between October 1314 and November 1316, and attended the Scone
parliament of 3 December 1318. His date of death is unknown exactly, but it was after 4 April 1324, and had occurred by 23 September 1326, when his successor Simon de Wedale
was elected to succeed him.
Kingdom of Scotland
The Kingdom of Scotland was a Sovereign state in North-West Europe that existed from 843 until 1707. It occupied the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shared a land border to the south with the Kingdom of England...
. He was apparently a nutritus, or foster son, of Robert V de Brus, Lord of Annandale
Lord of Annandale
The Lord of Annandale was a sub-comital lordship in southern Scotland established by David I of Scotland by 1124 for his follower Robert de Brus...
, and seems to have been closely linked in some way to Adam de Kirkcudbright, the man who held the church of Dalton
Dalton, Dumfries and Galloway
The village of Dalton is a small settlement about 10 miles southeast of Dumfries and 4 miles south of Lockerbie.The village has an 18th-century church, one of its past ministers being The Rev. John W. Morris MA, who is buried near the southern boundary of the church...
in Annandale. He was likely a native Galwegian or perhaps a native of Annandale.
As the chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
of Robert de Brus, he was elected by the chapter
Chapter (religion)
Chapter designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran churches....
of Whithorn Cathedral to replace the recently deceased Henry of Holyrood
Henry of Holyrood
Henry was a 13th century Augustinian abbot and bishop, most notable for holding the positions of Abbot of Holyrood and Bishop of Galloway.It is not known when Henry became an Augustinian nor when he became Abbot of Holyrood Abbey...
as Bishop of Galloway
Bishop of Galloway
The Bishop of Galloway, also called the Bishop of Whithorn, was the eccesiastical head of the Diocese of Galloway, said to have been founded by Saint Ninian in the mid-5th century. The subsequent Anglo-Saxon bishopric was founded in the late 7th century or early 8th century, and the first known...
, sometime before 13 January 1294. He offered obedience to the Archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
on 30 May and was consecrated on 10 October. His election was initially opposed by John Balliol
John of Scotland
John Balliol , known to the Scots as Toom Tabard , was King of Scots from 1292 to 1296.-Early life:Little of John's early life is known. He was born between 1248 and 1250 at an unknown location, possibilities include Galloway, Picardy and Barnard Castle, County Durham...
, King of the Scots, though John was eventually reconciled to the election. By the time of his election to the bishopric, he was already a priest and was styled magister, indicating the completion of a university education - though not details of his university education are not known.
Although naturally better disposed to the Bruces than Balliols, his exact role during the turbulence of the First War of Scottish Independence
First War of Scottish Independence
The First War of Scottish Independence lasted from the invasion by England in 1296 until the de jure restoration of Scottish independence with the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton in 1328...
is not clear; after the deposition of Balliol by King Edward I of England
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
, he was co-operative with the English crown, both in his role as a senior inhabitant of the Kingdom of Scotland and as a suffragan of the Archbishop of York. He spent a great deal of time in this period both in Galloway
Galloway
Galloway is an area in southwestern Scotland. It usually refers to the former counties of Wigtownshire and Kirkcudbrightshire...
, and in England, and was a close associate of John de Halton
John de Halton
John de Halton , also called John de Halghton, was an English priest and Bishop of Carlisle from 1292 to 1324.-Life:Little is known of Halton's background, but he attended Oxford University. He was a canon and cellerer in Carlisle Cathedral. He was elected bishop on 23 April 1292, and consecrated...
, Bishop of Carlisle
Bishop of Carlisle
The Bishop of Carlisle is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Carlisle in the Province of York.The diocese covers the County of Cumbria except for Alston Moor and the former Sedbergh Rural District...
. The latter, a papal tax collector, granted Thomas a £40 loan from the papal funds stored at Tongland Abbey
Tongland Abbey
Tungland or Tongland Abbey was a Premonstratensian monastic community located in Galloway. It was probably founded in 1218 by Alan, Lord of Galloway, although the church of Tongland had previously been granted to Dercongal Abbey by his grandfather Uchtred in the early 1160s. Few of its early abbots...
, in August 1294, undoubtedly related to his accession as Bishop of Galloway.
It was came to be thought by some York authorities that he had never adhered to the cause of King Robert I of Scotland
Robert I of Scotland
Robert I , popularly known as Robert the Bruce , was King of Scots from March 25, 1306, until his death in 1329.His paternal ancestors were of Scoto-Norman heritage , and...
, when they called him to a council on this basis on 5 March 1323. Bishop Thomas however had spent a lot of time in the post-Bannockburn
Battle of Bannockburn
The Battle of Bannockburn was a significant Scottish victory in the Wars of Scottish Independence...
kingdom, attending the Ayr
Ayr
Ayr is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205...
assembly of 27 April 1315, where he added his seal
Seal (device)
A seal can be a figure impressed in wax, clay, or some other medium, or embossed on paper, with the purpose of authenticating a document ; but the term can also mean the device for making such impressions, being essentially a mould with the mirror image of the design carved in sunken- relief or...
to a declaration about the Bruce succession; he added his seal to another pro-Bruce document at some point between October 1314 and November 1316, and attended the Scone
Scone, Scotland
Scone is a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. The medieval village of Scone, which grew up around the monastery and royal residence, was abandoned in the early 19th century when the residents were removed and a new palace was built on the site by the Earl of Mansfield...
parliament of 3 December 1318. His date of death is unknown exactly, but it was after 4 April 1324, and had occurred by 23 September 1326, when his successor Simon de Wedale
Simon de Wedale
Simon de Wedale O. S. A., was a 14th century Augustinian canon who rose to become Abbot of Holyrood and then Bishop of Galloway. Little is known of Simon until he appears on 27 February 1321 as Abbot of Holyrood Abbey near Edinburgh...
was elected to succeed him.