The Prior of Pluscarden (later Commendator of Pluscarden) was the head of the monastic community and lands of Pluscarden Priory, Moray, Scotland. The Priory was founded in 1230 by King Alexander II of Scotland for the Valliscaulian Order. In March 1454 it incorporated the foundering neighbouring establishment of Urquhart Priory and became a dependency of Dunfermline Abbey, whence it became Benedictine. The following are a list of abbots and commendators:
List of priors
Simon [I], 1239 Andrew, x 1275Became Prior of Newbattle and then Abbot of Kinloss. William, 1275 Simon [II], 1280–1286 John Suryass, 1291 John Wysy, 1345–1346 Thomas, 1367–1398 Alexander de Pluscarden, 1398–1426 "Eugenius Macfeturis" (Eóghann mac Pheadair), 1417-1428 x 1431 David Cran, 1427–1428 Andrew Symson, 1428-1439Provided to be Abbot of Deer, but unsuccessfully. Richard Lundy, 1435 William de Breneth, 1436–1449 Andrew Haig [I], 1447–1454 John Benally, 1454–1456 William Boyce, 1457–1476 Andrew Haig [II], 1469–1471 David Ruch, 1474–1475 Thomas Foster, 1476–1479 Gavin Dunbar, 1479Cleric of the Diocese of Moray; later became a famous Bishop of Aberdeen. David Boyce, 1481–1482 Robert Harwar/Herwot/Harrower, 1487–1509 George Learmond (or George Learmonth), 1509-1529Was appointed to succeed Gavin Dunbar as Bishop of Aberdeen, but predeceased him. Alexander Dunbar, 1529–1560 George Dunbar, 1561 George Seton, 1561–1569 William Cranston, 1562
List of prior-commendators
Alexander Seton, 1565-1587.Maurice Lee jnr, "King James's Popish Chancellor", Ian B. Cowan & Duncan Shaw, Renaissance and Reformation in Scotland (Scottish Academic Press, 1983), p. 170, the Priory became a free barony for Alexander Seton. James Douglas, 1577–1581
See also Pluscarden Priory Prior of Urquhart
Notes
Bibliography Cowan, Ian B. & Easson, David E., Medieval Religious Houses: Scotland With an Appendix on the Houses in the Isle of Man, Second edition, (London, 1976), pp. 61, 84-5 Watt, D. E. R. & Shead, N. F. (eds.), The Heads of Religious Houses in Scotland from the 12th to the 16th Centuries, The Scottish Records Society, New Series, Volume 24, (Edinburgh, 2001), pp. 178–82