George Shoreswood

Nicholas
Bishop of Brechin
See Brechin
In Office 1454–1462 x 1463
Predecessor John Crannach
Successor Patrick Graham
Orders
Consecration 8 March x 1 July 1454
Personal details
Born unknown
unknown
Died 1462 x 1463
unknown
Previous post Rector of Coulter;
Vicar of Haddington;
Chancellor of Dunkeld

George Shoreswood or Schoriswood (died 1462 x 1463), was a prelate active in the Kingdom of Scotland during the 15th century. He appears to have been of English-speaking origin, from the family of Bedshiel in Berwickshire.[1]

He was a clerk of William Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas in 1446, holding the rectorship of Coulter in Clydesdale.[1] After the death of Earl James in February 1452, he became a royal clerk.[1] He also became vicar of Haddington at some point, holding the office until becoming a bishop in 1454.[1]

He was granted crown presentation to the Dunkeld chancellorship; this happened at some point between 5 July 1451 and 22 June 1452 following the death of former chancellor Richard Clapham.[2] George took possession soon afterward.[2] He was involved in litigation in the papal curia with two other claimants to the office, John MacDonald and Thomas Penven, but still held the office when appointed bishop of Brechin on 8 March 1454.[2] He was still chancellor on 20 March, probably giving the position up shortly before or else upon his consecration as bishop later in the year (sometime before 1 July).[3]

Bishop George was auditor in the Exchequer at various points during the second half of 1454.[4] He served as Chancellor of Scotland between 1457 and 1460.[5] He went on a pilgrimage to Durham, receiving a safe-conduct for himself and 40 attendants in 1459.[1] He is recorded as bishop for the last time in 11 November 1462, but died before March 28 1463 when the see was granted to his successor Patrick Graham.[6]

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
George Clapham		 Chancellor of Dunkeld
1451 x 1452–1454		 Succeeded by
John MacDonald
Preceded by
John de Cranach		 Bishop of Brechin
1454–1462 x 1463		 Succeeded by
Patrick Graham

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e Dowden, Bishops, p. 186
  2. ^ a b c Watt and Murray, Fasti Ecclesiae, p. 145
  3. ^ Watt and Murray, Fasti Ecclesiae, pp. 55, 145
  4. ^ Dowden, Bishops, pp. 185–86
  5. ^ Dowden, Bishops, p. 186, n. 2
  6. ^ Dowden, Bishops, p. 186; Watt and Murray, Fasti Ecclesiae, p. 55

References

  • Dowden, John (1912), Thomson, John Maitland, ed., The Bishops of Scotland : Being Notes on the Lives of All the Bishops, under Each of the Sees, Prior to the Reformation, Glasgow: James Maclehose and Sons 
  • Watt, D. E. R.; Murray, A. L., eds. (2003), Fasti Ecclesiae Scotinanae Medii Aevi ad annum 1638, The Scottish Record Society, New Series, Volume 25 (Revised ed.), Edinburgh: The Scottish Record Society, ISBN 0-902054-19-8, ISSN 0143-9448