The Prior of Whithorn was the head of the monastic community at Whithorn Priory, attached to the bishopric of Galloway at Whithorn. It was originally an Augustinian establishment, but became Premonstratensian by the time of the second or third known prior. As most of the priors of Whithorn appear to be native Galwegian Gaels, it would appear that most priors before the 16th century at least were drawn from region, something unusual in medieval Scotland. The following is a list of abbots and commendators.
List of priors of Whithorn
Edanus (Adam or Áedan), 1154 x 1161 William (?), 1172x1178Named in the St Andrews Liber as "prior de Galuueia"; may have been the first Premonstratensian prior, but alternatively may have been the Abbot of Soulseat or the Prior of St Mary's Isle. Michael, 1200 x 1209. Malcolm, 1209 x 1226 Paul, 1217 x 1235 Duncan, 1235 Gregory, 1235 x1253 Duncan, 1273 Dungal, 1279 Thomas, 1287 John, 1293 -1294 Maurice, 1296 Michael MacKenlagh (or de Makenlagh), 1355Became Bishop of Galloway. Gilbert, 1382-1413 Thomas "Macilhachnisi" ("Makillehachuyfy"), 1413 -1431 James Cameron, 1446Became Abbot of Holyrood. William Douglas, 1447-1467 x 1468 Fergus MacDowell, 1466-1470 David Ralston, 1468 David Lindsay, 1470 Roger, 1473 Patrick Vaus, 1474 -1503 Patrick McCathroge [MacCaffrey?], x 1477 Thomas Adunnale, 1470s Henry MacDowell, 1503-1514 x 1516
List of commendators
Alexander Stewart de Pitcairne, 1516-1518 Silvio Passarini, 1516-1526 Gavin Dunbar, 1518-1524Became Archbishop of Glasgow. William Dick, 1520 John Maxwell, 1524Also Abbot of Dundrennan. Ninian Fleming, 1524-1537 x 1539 Abraham Vaus, 1532 Malcolm Fleming, 1539-1568 Robert Stewart, 1568-1581 x 1582Illegitimate son of King James V of Scotland; not the same man as was previously Abbot of Holyrood (1539-1568). William Fleming, 1568-1594 Patrick Stewart, 1582-1605 Gavin Hamilton, 1605-1612Also Bishop of Galloway, Commendator of Dundrennan and Commendator of Glenluce.
Notes
Bibliography Donaldson, Gordon, "The Bishops and Priors of Whithorn", in Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History & Antiquarians Society: Transactions and Journal of Proceedings, Third Series, vol. 27 (1950), pp. 127–54 Dowden, John, The Bishops of Scotland, ed. J. Maitland Thomson, (Glasgow, 1912) 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. 216–20
See also Whithorn Priory Bishop of Galloway