George Hay

George Hay (c.1530–1588) was a Church of Scotland minister immediately after the Reformation, who served as Moderator of the General Assembly from March 1571.

Life

He was born around 1539 a younger son of William Hay 5th Laird of Talla near Tweedsmuir, and his wife Janet Spottiswood, a sister or close cousin of John Spottiswood.

In the earliest years of the Reformation (July 1558) he is mentioned as "Rector of Rathven". He was certainly a Roman Catholic priest pre-Reformation, having been granted a dispensation from Pope Paul IV allowing him a joint benefice from both Rathven and "Eddleston", showing that he was serving both these communities. If this "Eddleston" is the same the Eddleston of the Scottish Borders this is a very considerable journey in the 16th century. In January 1560 he granted "kirk lands" at Rathven and Eddleston to his brother William Hay of Barro.

In 1574, three further parishes were placed in his charge: Forsken, Dundurcus and Bellie. In 1575 he was made Commissioner of Caithness

In 1577, he undertook a major journey to Magdeburg with clergy from all of northern Europe to participate in the Augsburg Confession.

In July 1578, the Scottish Parliament appointed him Visitor (Inspector) for the College of Aberdeen. In 1585, he became Commissioner for Banff.

He died in 1588.

Family He married Marion Henderson (d.1577) of Fordell. Their children included:

George Hay of Rannes James Hay of Rannes (died c. 1630) William Hay, a burgess tailor in Edinburgh Janet

Publications

The Confutation of the Abbot of Crossraguel's Masse (1563) Against Tyrie the Jesuit (1573)