Anders Mowatt of Hugoland
Encyclopedia
Anders Mowatt of Hugoland (c. 1535 – c. 1610), also known as Andrew, was an admiral of the Danish Navy in service of Christian IV of Denmark
.
. Unfortunately the first name of his father is lost but it clearly states Mowat of Swinie in Caithness, not Balquholly .
Some family trees document Andrew’s father as Patrick Mowat of Balquholly, while other family tree
s conveniently record Andrew’s father as Bartholomew a.k.a. Patrick Mowat. Although there are documented sources naming a Patrick Mowat of Balquholly, none of these sources name him having a son Andrew. Also, there are no documented sources for a Bartholomew Patrick Mowat. There are two possible women named in sources thought to be aunts of Andrew Mowat, one Agnes Mowat,who married Bartholomew Strang of Voisgarth, and the other is Barbara Mowat (the wife of Thomas Leask of Auchmad.)
What is known is that Andrew Mowatt is a descendant of the Mowats of Mont Hout, as described by his families ancestral Coat of Arms at Northhouse. A lion rampant on a shield with the motto Mont Alto scribed on it is the Mowatt coat of arms.
The first mention of Andrew Mowat in any known sources is from 1558. He was married to Ursula Tulloch, the daughter of William Tulloch of Skea in Northmavine
and thus became an important figure in local affairs.
Andrew was an estate owner in Shetland, and mentioned as the lord of Hugoland. Since no Mowats are found in earlier Shetland sources, Andrew probably came from the mainland of Scotland
in the early 1550`s, and was one of the first Mowats to settle in Shetland.
Besides his landed estates on Shetland, which he transferred to his three eldest sons in 1577, Andrew Mowat was also a businessman, owning a number of merchant ships and doing trade with Norway
, Scotland
and England
.
was a widow and a very important figure in Norwegian aristocracy
. She claimed the right to all the Giske
estates as well as some of the Meløy
estates in Norway. She also owned the Papa
and Papaquids estates in Shetland. Inger not living in Shetland, and being a distant landowner of these Shetland properties, appointed Ursula’s father William Tulloch to manage the estates for her. Around 1543, William Tulloch acquired lease
of the lands “Papa & Papaquids” from Fru Inger.
On Williams death prior to 1558, his daughter Ursula was his heiress and there seems to be an agreement that the lease would pass to her and her husband Andrew Mowat of Hugoland. Andrew was appointed “tutor” to Ursula’s brother John Tulloch in 1558, which indicates John was too young to take on the lease.
After the death of Fru Inger of Austrat, her son-in-law Robert Cheyne had come to an agreement with the Norwegian proprietor over the “Papa Property.” He ejected Andrew and Ursula from the island and overturned their right to assume control of the income of Papa and Papaquids.
The evidence for this come from letters written by Mary, Queen of Scots herself, to one Jens Split as the chief proprietor and the Norwegian authorities on behalf of Andrew and Ursula in September of 1566. These papers refer to Andrew and Ursula’s rights of possession.
Queen Mary’s letter had the desired effect, as Andrew and Ursula acquired the necessary confirmation of their rights to the lands of Papa and Papaquids. The confirmations were granted at different times between 1570 and 1576 by all the different proprietors. These arrangements were then confirmed in the Scottish courts. The Mowatts were also given the Great Seal of the Realm
insuring their firm legal right to the lands of Papa and Papaquids.
One of the privileges granted to Andrew Mowatt in 1577 was a right to build a house and fortress on Papa. There is no doubt that the Mowatt descendants at some time did build a residence there called ‘Northhouse,’ a beautiful mansion with the Mowat coat of arms
visible on the gateway entrance. However, Andrew and Ursula Mowatt did not take residece there themselves. Their place of residence in Shetland was Ollaberry
, Northmaven. Andrew Mowatt was later to be drawn into the Norwegian territory acquiring lands in Hardanger, Gjersvik and Hovland Norway.
In the Register of the Great Seal, on 27 March 1577, there is a confirmation by King James VI, of a charter granted by him in favour of John his eldest son, and apparent heir of 207- 3/8 merks land in Delting, 34½½ in Aithsting, 3 in Walls, 8 in Tingwall, 35 in Yell, and 18 in Unst, whom failing then to Malcolm, second son of the granter, whom failing Patrick, third son, reserving always his own life rent and a life rent on half of the said lands to Ursulla Tulloch, his spouse. The charter of confirmation also permits the Andrew and John to construct a fortress of stone, as the country of Zetland
have been invaded by the Irish, who have committed depredations there.
s at time the document was drawn up or they were born sometime after 1577 when the document was drawn up.
Andrew and Ursula had five known children:
1. John Mowat of Ollaberry, later of Hugolnad (born circa. 1564)
2. Gilbert Mowat of Garth, Minister of Delting (born circa. 1565)
3. Patrick Mowat (born circa 1567)
4. Malcolm Mowat (born after 1577)
5. James Mowat of Ure
& Burrafirth
(born after 1577)
other possible but not proven children of Andrew and Ursula are:
6. Barbara Mowat (married Edward Sinclair of Scalloway
)
7. Catherine Mowat, married John Neven of Scousburgh
, and was probably mother to his son Ninian. She died after 1610.
, Norway
to get married. In June 1587 Andrew, received permission to move to Bergen and find a suitible wife. This was also perhaps and example of James VI hoping to place one of his own middle ranked gentlemen into foreign society, in the hope that he might make good there and prove useful to the House of Stuart
at a later date.
This tactic bore fruit in the establishment of the Jacobean Stuart diplomatic corps in Scandinavia
. Once in Bergen, Andrew married the twice before widowed Else Rustung, daughter of the Admiral of the Danish-Norwegian Navy Kristopher Trondsson Rustung, a.k.a. Kristoffer Throndsen
. Else had been married twice previously to Jon Haard of Gjersvik and Axel Fredriksen, and was a landowner herself holding lands in Sunnhordland
. Andrew Mowat thereafter served as an admiral in Christian Iv's
service in the North Sea
until his death around 1610, returning to his native Shetland on numerous occasions. Andrew started something of a dynasty
in Norway with many of his and Else's sons and grandchildren becoming senior naval officers. Andrew became an important landowner in Norway, while still holding his lands in Shetland. Hewas also a ship-owner, owning several ships he had captained, and a trader of imports in Norway, Scotland and England.
1. Axel Mowat, Admiral in the Kings Navy
2. Christoffer Mowat, Vice-Admiral in the Kings Navy (died without issue)
3. Karen Mowat
4. a daughter Mowat not named in any sources.
or deed of pawn papers are signed on 20 June 1597, by both Anders and Else Mowat as the landowners.
Source:
The granters of the deed are Andrew Mouat of Hugoland (" Houckeland ") in Shetland, and his spouse Else Trondsdatter, who is declared to be owner of the lands in her own right. She is designed as " of Erisfiordt " or Erisfirth in Norway, and it is signed at Gieresvig in that country on 20 June 1597.
Mortgage, or Deed of Pawn, of Land in Shetland, 1597
Jeg Anders Maath til Houckeland i Hietlandt oc min kiere hustru Eriig oc welbyrdig fru Else Trondsdaatter tiill Erisfiordt Beplichter os med waare sande arfifuinger for alle medt dette wort obne Breff, At wi aff ret witterligh gieldt skyldiigh ere Erligh och Welforstandiig mandt Effuart Sincklar boenndis wdi Hietlandt paa Bollesetter summa tre hundrede Rigs Dalir, huilckie forbemelte penningie envert os aff sin venliig laan laant haffuer, for huilckie summa pendingie, nemlicht tre`` Rigs Dalir wi med waaris fri wilie oc welberaadt hugh, sampt med allis waaris sande arffuingers widskap wilie och samtockie, Haffuir pandset forbemelte Effuart Sincklar, bans arffuinger oe effterkommere dette effterschreffne gods som er min kiere hustruis rette Odal, Liggendis wdj Hietlandt, forst wdi Wissdals sogn y Offreboster, tolff march brende, huer march otte pendingie, I Skarpegierdt otte march brende, huer march sex pendingie, noch Degrand i Wisdals sogn sex march brende huer march otte pendingie, noch i Daletings sogn i fornemde Hietland paa ein gaard heder Kirckehuusz tre marche brende, huer marche sex pendingie, Dette forschreffne gods alt samen skall forbemelte
Effiuut Sincklar cller fil)emelte bans arffuingcr liaffuc, nyde, bruge oc bebolde tiill ein secber oc tryg wndcrpant oc brugclig ciedom, med bucs der tiil aff arilds tiid liggit baffucr, fraa bdgistc fields tinne oc yderste fiene stein, med lottum oc lundom, inlil wndcrtagendis wdi naagen maade, indtil forbenicttc Effuart Sincklar ellcr bans aiffuinger igien faar oc bekommcr sin fyllist betaling meeste oc minsta aff os eller waare sande arffuinger, oc naar /vi dette gods igien loszir, skall detb skie i tre terminer, den forste skall angaa om S. Hanszis tid, den anden om sancte Oluff der strax efftcr, oc denn tredie skal om sancte Hansz det aar der nest effterkommendis oc naar forscbreffne summa pendingie fornoiet oeb betalit er, som faaresiiger, daa skal forscbreffne gods folgie OSS igien som tilforne : Ocb dess till sandingenn ber om, Att dette forscbreffne saaledis fast ocb vvryggeligenn boldis skall udj ordt punncbter oc artickler, daa baffuer ieg fornemdbe Andres Maat med min kiere bustru trycbt waare signeter vnder dette wort obne breff oc wndcrscbriffue medt egen bandt, ocb till ydermere /idnisl)yrd ber om, daa baffuer wi wenligen ombedit wellerdt mandt ber Rasmus Jocnsonn sogneprest ber samme steds med oss at beseglc oc stadfestc,
Actum Gierisuig denn 20 Junij Anno 1597.
Mowat off Houcbeland
Else trunsdaatter
Her Rasmus Jonsonn minister
Translation
I, Anders Mouat/Mowat of Houckeland (Hugoland) in Hietlandt (Shetland) and my dear spouse the worthy and honourable lady Else Trondsdatter of Erisfiordt, with our true heirs, acknowledge before all, by this our open letter, that we are justly and truly indeljted to tbe honourable and discreet man Effuart Sincklar (Edward Sinclair), residing in Hietlandt (Shetland) at Bollesetter, the sum of three hundred Ri/ dollars, which money foresaid he has made over to us in friendly loan, for wbicb sum of money, namely three bundred Rix dollars, we, of our free will and well advised ])urp<)se, with the knowledge, will, and consent of all our true heirs, have pawned to the foresaid Edward Sinclair, his heirs and successors, the after described land, which is my dear spouse`s just Odal inheritance, lying in Hietlandt, first in Wissdale
Translation
( Weisdale) parish in Offreboster, twelve marks burnt [silver] eight pennies the mark, in Skarpegerdt eight marks burnt [silver] six pennies the mark, also Degrand in Weisdale parish six marks burnt [silver] eight pennies the mark, also in Daleting (Delting) parish in the before named Hiedandt, a farm called Kirkhouse, three marks burnt [silver] six pennies the mark. These whole before named lands the before named Edward Sinclair or his heirs shall have, enjoy, use and possess in sure and certain pawn and usable possession, with everything" that has belonged to them from time immemorial, from the highest summit of the hill to the lowest stone of the foreshore, with the parts and pertinents, nothing in any way excepted, until the before named Edward Sinclair or his heirs again receive and acknowledge the full payment, the most and the least, from us or our true heirs, and when we again redeem these lands it shall be done at three terms, the first at St John`s day, the second at St Olaf`s immediately thereafter, and the third at St John`s day next after following, and when the foresaid sum of money is fully paid as aforesaid, then the before named lands shall belong to us again as before. And for the verity hereof, that this [contract] before written shall be held sure and unchallengeable in all its words, points, and articles, I the before named Anders Mouat/Mowat with my dear spouse have affixed our seals to this our open letter and subscribed [the same] with our own hands ; and for further testimony hereof we have cordially requested the learned man Rasmus Joensonn, parish priest in this place, along with us to seal and confirm.
Done at Gierisuig the 20 June 1597.
Seal.) (Seal.) (Seal.)
A. Mowat of Houcheland
Else Transdatter
with [our] own hand
Her Rasmus Jonsonn minister
with my own hand.
Described as a Mortgage, or, more strictly, a deed of pawn, equivalent to the old Scottish instrument of Vadset, of certain properties in Shetland. By this instrument, subjects embraced in the document were not merely mortgaged in security, but were made over in real and corporal possession to the lender, only to be reacquired from him on payment of the borrowed money.
The granters of the deed are Andrew Mowat/Mouat of Hugoland in Shetland, and his spouse Else Trondsdatter, who is declared to be owner of the lands in her own right. June 20, 1597.
On 12 August 1586, Andrew Mowat’s home in Shetland was robbed in cash and goods by Captain of the pirates William Beare and the crew of the “Black Lyon”. Other Shetlanders and ships were being robbed and plunered along the Scotland and Shetland coastline. Andrew as well as others wrote letter directly to Queen Elizabeth
advising her of this. Andrew Mawat was again targeted in upon his return to Shetland in 1590 in a second raid where he once more lost money and goods. Mowat again wrote directly to the queen. The queen answered by saying thsat Captain Beare was dead and without the name of the pirate in the second raid there was nothing she could do.
However, Andrew Mowat had a great deal of social credit in two other European Courts. Andrew was a joint subject of James VI of Scotland and Christian IV of Denmark-Norway. James writ to his new brother-in-law Christian about the Mowat case proposing that the goods of Englishmen in Denmark be laid under embargo
until the restitution was forthcoming. Christian himself wrote a letter on behalf of Andrew and sent it to Elizabeth. Furthermore Mowat himself was serving in the Danish Navy so could quite easily enforce this decision.
A letter written by the Christian IV of Denmark
on behalf on Andrew Mowat to Elizabeth I of England
regarding pirate attacks on Andrew’s ships and his home in Ollaberry.
"It pleasethe your heighnes to understand that I, Andres Motte, esqueyer, retayner, and subjecte under the Kynges majestie of Denmarcke, and, for carten causes which God hathe appoynted, dwellinge at this present in his majestie realme of Norway, which am of layte yeres come oute of Shottland, in which place my landes, goodes, and inheritance doth lye and remayn which God hath geyven me to enierett of my progeniteis, gevinge your most excelent heighnes my greatte sorowe and heavei complaynt to understande that I have benne two seaverall tymes spoyled and robede with Inglysh men dwelling within your majestie realme of Ingland, unto my greate heyndrance and lose of manie houndrthe dolleris.
Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV was the king of Denmark-Norway from 1588 until his death. With a reign of more than 59 years, he is the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark, and he is frequently remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects...
.
Biography
There is a mystery surrounding Andrew’s parents and family. Most genealogical historians agree that Anders parents were Barbara Saint Clair and Bartholomew Mowat, however, they are not mentioned in any contemporary sources and there is no documentation to support or dispute this theory. Other sources conclude Anders father was Macolm Mowat, although there is no documentation to support or dispute this either. There is a document drawn up for Andrew Mowat dated 1572, and states that he was the second son of an unknown Mowatt of Swinie (Swinzie), in CaithnessCaithness
Caithness is a registration county, lieutenancy area and historic local government area of Scotland. The name was used also for the earldom of Caithness and the Caithness constituency of the Parliament of the United Kingdom . Boundaries are not identical in all contexts, but the Caithness area is...
. Unfortunately the first name of his father is lost but it clearly states Mowat of Swinie in Caithness, not Balquholly .
Some family trees document Andrew’s father as Patrick Mowat of Balquholly, while other family tree
Family tree
A family tree, or pedigree chart, is a chart representing family relationships in a conventional tree structure. The more detailed family trees used in medicine, genealogy, and social work are known as genograms.-Family tree representations:...
s conveniently record Andrew’s father as Bartholomew a.k.a. Patrick Mowat. Although there are documented sources naming a Patrick Mowat of Balquholly, none of these sources name him having a son Andrew. Also, there are no documented sources for a Bartholomew Patrick Mowat. There are two possible women named in sources thought to be aunts of Andrew Mowat, one Agnes Mowat,who married Bartholomew Strang of Voisgarth, and the other is Barbara Mowat (the wife of Thomas Leask of Auchmad.)
What is known is that Andrew Mowatt is a descendant of the Mowats of Mont Hout, as described by his families ancestral Coat of Arms at Northhouse. A lion rampant on a shield with the motto Mont Alto scribed on it is the Mowatt coat of arms.
Historical Document
I. ANDREW MOWAT OF Hugoland, in Delting, said to be a second son of ----- Mowat of Swinie, in Caithness, is mentioned in a precept of sasine contained in a charter granted by Francis Bothwell, treasurer of Orkney, and Vicar of Unst, in favour of Barthol Strang of Voesgarth, on 12 November 1572.The first mention of Andrew Mowat in any known sources is from 1558. He was married to Ursula Tulloch, the daughter of William Tulloch of Skea in Northmavine
Northmavine
Northmavine is a peninsula of Shetland in Scotland. It is in the north west of the island, and contains the villages of Hillswick, Ollaberry, and North Roe...
and thus became an important figure in local affairs.
Andrew was an estate owner in Shetland, and mentioned as the lord of Hugoland. Since no Mowats are found in earlier Shetland sources, Andrew probably came from the mainland of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in the early 1550`s, and was one of the first Mowats to settle in Shetland.
Besides his landed estates on Shetland, which he transferred to his three eldest sons in 1577, Andrew Mowat was also a businessman, owning a number of merchant ships and doing trade with Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Fru Inger
One Fru Inger of AustratInger, Lady of Austraat
Inger, Lady of Austraat [Rømer] was her era's wealthiest landowner in Norway, a daughter and ultimate heiress of the Younger Rømer family of Norway, a political intriguer , and her fame was the inspiration for Henrik Ibsen's somewhat fanciful play Lady Inger of...
was a widow and a very important figure in Norwegian aristocracy
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
. She claimed the right to all the Giske
Giske
Giske is an island and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It lies north-northwest of the town of Ålesund in the Sunnmøre traditional district. The municipal center is the village of Nordstrand on the island of Valderøy. Other population centers include the villages of Roald and...
estates as well as some of the Meløy
Meløy
Meløy is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Salten traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Ørnes, while Glomfjord is only slightly smaller. Meløy was separated from the municipality of Rødøy on 1 January 1884.The municipality...
estates in Norway. She also owned the Papa
Papa, Shetland
Papa is an uninhabited island in the Scalloway Islands, Shetland, Scotland.Papa lies north west of Burra and east of Oxna in the Shetland Islands.-Footnotes:...
and Papaquids estates in Shetland. Inger not living in Shetland, and being a distant landowner of these Shetland properties, appointed Ursula’s father William Tulloch to manage the estates for her. Around 1543, William Tulloch acquired lease
Lease
A lease is a contractual arrangement calling for the lessee to pay the lessor for use of an asset. A rental agreement is a lease in which the asset is tangible property...
of the lands “Papa & Papaquids” from Fru Inger.
On Williams death prior to 1558, his daughter Ursula was his heiress and there seems to be an agreement that the lease would pass to her and her husband Andrew Mowat of Hugoland. Andrew was appointed “tutor” to Ursula’s brother John Tulloch in 1558, which indicates John was too young to take on the lease.
After the death of Fru Inger of Austrat, her son-in-law Robert Cheyne had come to an agreement with the Norwegian proprietor over the “Papa Property.” He ejected Andrew and Ursula from the island and overturned their right to assume control of the income of Papa and Papaquids.
The evidence for this come from letters written by Mary, Queen of Scots herself, to one Jens Split as the chief proprietor and the Norwegian authorities on behalf of Andrew and Ursula in September of 1566. These papers refer to Andrew and Ursula’s rights of possession.
Queen Mary’s letter had the desired effect, as Andrew and Ursula acquired the necessary confirmation of their rights to the lands of Papa and Papaquids. The confirmations were granted at different times between 1570 and 1576 by all the different proprietors. These arrangements were then confirmed in the Scottish courts. The Mowatts were also given the Great Seal of the Realm
Great Seal of the Realm
The Great Seal of the Realm or Great Seal of the United Kingdom is a seal that is used to symbolise the Sovereign's approval of important state documents...
insuring their firm legal right to the lands of Papa and Papaquids.
One of the privileges granted to Andrew Mowatt in 1577 was a right to build a house and fortress on Papa. There is no doubt that the Mowatt descendants at some time did build a residence there called ‘Northhouse,’ a beautiful mansion with the Mowat coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
visible on the gateway entrance. However, Andrew and Ursula Mowatt did not take residece there themselves. Their place of residence in Shetland was Ollaberry
Ollaberry
Ollaberry is a settlement on Mainland, Shetland on the west shore of Yell Sound. The land round here is fertile by Shetland standards....
, Northmaven. Andrew Mowatt was later to be drawn into the Norwegian territory acquiring lands in Hardanger, Gjersvik and Hovland Norway.
The great Seal
Sources for Andrew Mowat:In the Register of the Great Seal, on 27 March 1577, there is a confirmation by King James VI, of a charter granted by him in favour of John his eldest son, and apparent heir of 207- 3/8 merks land in Delting, 34½½ in Aithsting, 3 in Walls, 8 in Tingwall, 35 in Yell, and 18 in Unst, whom failing then to Malcolm, second son of the granter, whom failing Patrick, third son, reserving always his own life rent and a life rent on half of the said lands to Ursulla Tulloch, his spouse. The charter of confirmation also permits the Andrew and John to construct a fortress of stone, as the country of Zetland
Zetland
Zetland can refer to:Places* Zetland, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney, Australia* Zetland, an archaic spelling of ShetlandOther* Marquess of Zetland* Zetland Lifeboat* A type of Zony that's a cross between a male zebra and a female Shetland pony...
have been invaded by the Irish, who have committed depredations there.
Family with Ursula
Since this document is dated 1577 and only names three of Andrew and Ursula’s known five sons we can assume that Malcolm and Patrick were either minorMinor
Minor means "not important", and in Latin "smaller". It may also refer to:* an underage child, see Minor * Academic minor, a secondary focus of a Bachelor's degree, the primary focus being an academic major-Mathematics:...
s at time the document was drawn up or they were born sometime after 1577 when the document was drawn up.
Andrew and Ursula had five known children:
1. John Mowat of Ollaberry, later of Hugolnad (born circa. 1564)
2. Gilbert Mowat of Garth, Minister of Delting (born circa. 1565)
3. Patrick Mowat (born circa 1567)
4. Malcolm Mowat (born after 1577)
5. James Mowat of Ure
Ure
Ure may refer to:* River Ure* Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology* Oriya people, and Indian gotra also known as the "Ures"* French for a species of wild bullAs a surname of Scottish origin:* Alexander Ure, 1st Baron Strathclyde, Scottish politician and judge...
& Burrafirth
Burrafirth
Burrafirth is a village in Shetland, Scotland....
(born after 1577)
other possible but not proven children of Andrew and Ursula are:
6. Barbara Mowat (married Edward Sinclair of Scalloway
Scalloway
Scalloway is the largest settlement on the North Atlantic coast of Mainland, Shetland with a population of approximately 812, at the 2001 census...
)
7. Catherine Mowat, married John Neven of Scousburgh
Scousburgh
Scousburgh is a small community in the South Mainland of Shetland, overlooking the picturesque Scousburgh Sand, and Spiggie Loch. From Scousburgh a road leads up the hill to the site of the former Mossy Hill army base. This road has a connection to Scousburgh Hill the site of the now redundant...
, and was probably mother to his son Ninian. She died after 1610.
Marriage to Else Rustung and becoming Admiral in the Kings Navy
Andrew’s wife Ursula died some time between 1580-1586, in 1586 he wrote an application to King James VI of Scotland to be allowed to travel to BergenBergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
to get married. In June 1587 Andrew, received permission to move to Bergen and find a suitible wife. This was also perhaps and example of James VI hoping to place one of his own middle ranked gentlemen into foreign society, in the hope that he might make good there and prove useful to the House of Stuart
House of Stuart
The House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
at a later date.
This tactic bore fruit in the establishment of the Jacobean Stuart diplomatic corps in Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
. Once in Bergen, Andrew married the twice before widowed Else Rustung, daughter of the Admiral of the Danish-Norwegian Navy Kristopher Trondsson Rustung, a.k.a. Kristoffer Throndsen
Kristoffer Throndsen
Kristoffer Throndsen , posthumously also with the family name Rustung, was a squire, admiral, feudal overlord in Norway and Denmark, privateer captain and pirate...
. Else had been married twice previously to Jon Haard of Gjersvik and Axel Fredriksen, and was a landowner herself holding lands in Sunnhordland
Sunnhordland
Sunnhordland is a traditional district in the western part of Norway, consisting of the southern, coastal regions of the county of Hordaland, from the mouth of the Hardangerfjord and outwards to the Atlantic Ocean...
. Andrew Mowat thereafter served as an admiral in Christian Iv's
Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV was the king of Denmark-Norway from 1588 until his death. With a reign of more than 59 years, he is the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark, and he is frequently remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects...
service in the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
until his death around 1610, returning to his native Shetland on numerous occasions. Andrew started something of a dynasty
Dynasty
A dynasty is a sequence of rulers considered members of the same family. Historians traditionally consider many sovereign states' history within a framework of successive dynasties, e.g., China, Ancient Egypt and the Persian Empire...
in Norway with many of his and Else's sons and grandchildren becoming senior naval officers. Andrew became an important landowner in Norway, while still holding his lands in Shetland. Hewas also a ship-owner, owning several ships he had captained, and a trader of imports in Norway, Scotland and England.
Family with Else
The issue of the marriage with Andrew Mowat and Else:1. Axel Mowat, Admiral in the Kings Navy
2. Christoffer Mowat, Vice-Admiral in the Kings Navy (died without issue)
3. Karen Mowat
4. a daughter Mowat not named in any sources.
Events
Events:- June 1587 Andrew gets permission to travel to Norway and find a wife
- Andrew serves in the Kings Navy from circa 1587 until his death in circa 1610
- Circa 1587 Andrew and Else are married.
- 1591 Letters are written by the King of Denmark on behalf on Andrew Mowat to Elizabeth I, regarding pirate attacks on Andrew’s ships and his home in Ollaberry.
- Mortgage or deed of pawn papers are signed on 20 June 1597, by both Anders and Else Mowat as the landowners.
- Andrew is documented as sitting on the supreme court in Oslo as said Judge in 1599.
- From 1602 to 1604 records show Anders and Else lived in Shetland.
- On April 16, 1606 at Hovland, Paths, in Hordaland. Anders and Else took over part of the farm.
- 1610/11 Andrew Mowat dies.
- By 1613 Else had taken over the rest of the estate in Hovland and the Mowat family owned the entire seat by the 1630s.
Documents to timeline Andrew's life
There are documents that exist to this day that give us a clue to the life that Andrew Mowat lead. One such is MortgageMortgage
A mortgage is a security interest in real property held by a lender as a security for a debt, usually a loan of money. A mortgage in itself is not a debt, it is the lender's security for a debt...
or deed of pawn papers are signed on 20 June 1597, by both Anders and Else Mowat as the landowners.
Source:
The granters of the deed are Andrew Mouat of Hugoland (" Houckeland ") in Shetland, and his spouse Else Trondsdatter, who is declared to be owner of the lands in her own right. She is designed as " of Erisfiordt " or Erisfirth in Norway, and it is signed at Gieresvig in that country on 20 June 1597.
Mortgage, or Deed of Pawn, of Land in Shetland, 1597
Jeg Anders Maath til Houckeland i Hietlandt oc min kiere hustru Eriig oc welbyrdig fru Else Trondsdaatter tiill Erisfiordt Beplichter os med waare sande arfifuinger for alle medt dette wort obne Breff, At wi aff ret witterligh gieldt skyldiigh ere Erligh och Welforstandiig mandt Effuart Sincklar boenndis wdi Hietlandt paa Bollesetter summa tre hundrede Rigs Dalir, huilckie forbemelte penningie envert os aff sin venliig laan laant haffuer, for huilckie summa pendingie, nemlicht tre`` Rigs Dalir wi med waaris fri wilie oc welberaadt hugh, sampt med allis waaris sande arffuingers widskap wilie och samtockie, Haffuir pandset forbemelte Effuart Sincklar, bans arffuinger oe effterkommere dette effterschreffne gods som er min kiere hustruis rette Odal, Liggendis wdj Hietlandt, forst wdi Wissdals sogn y Offreboster, tolff march brende, huer march otte pendingie, I Skarpegierdt otte march brende, huer march sex pendingie, noch Degrand i Wisdals sogn sex march brende huer march otte pendingie, noch i Daletings sogn i fornemde Hietland paa ein gaard heder Kirckehuusz tre marche brende, huer marche sex pendingie, Dette forschreffne gods alt samen skall forbemelte
Effiuut Sincklar cller fil)emelte bans arffuingcr liaffuc, nyde, bruge oc bebolde tiill ein secber oc tryg wndcrpant oc brugclig ciedom, med bucs der tiil aff arilds tiid liggit baffucr, fraa bdgistc fields tinne oc yderste fiene stein, med lottum oc lundom, inlil wndcrtagendis wdi naagen maade, indtil forbenicttc Effuart Sincklar ellcr bans aiffuinger igien faar oc bekommcr sin fyllist betaling meeste oc minsta aff os eller waare sande arffuinger, oc naar /vi dette gods igien loszir, skall detb skie i tre terminer, den forste skall angaa om S. Hanszis tid, den anden om sancte Oluff der strax efftcr, oc denn tredie skal om sancte Hansz det aar der nest effterkommendis oc naar forscbreffne summa pendingie fornoiet oeb betalit er, som faaresiiger, daa skal forscbreffne gods folgie OSS igien som tilforne : Ocb dess till sandingenn ber om, Att dette forscbreffne saaledis fast ocb vvryggeligenn boldis skall udj ordt punncbter oc artickler, daa baffuer ieg fornemdbe Andres Maat med min kiere bustru trycbt waare signeter vnder dette wort obne breff oc wndcrscbriffue medt egen bandt, ocb till ydermere /idnisl)yrd ber om, daa baffuer wi wenligen ombedit wellerdt mandt ber Rasmus Jocnsonn sogneprest ber samme steds med oss at beseglc oc stadfestc,
Actum Gierisuig denn 20 Junij Anno 1597.
Mowat off Houcbeland
Else trunsdaatter
Her Rasmus Jonsonn minister
Translation
I, Anders Mouat/Mowat of Houckeland (Hugoland) in Hietlandt (Shetland) and my dear spouse the worthy and honourable lady Else Trondsdatter of Erisfiordt, with our true heirs, acknowledge before all, by this our open letter, that we are justly and truly indeljted to tbe honourable and discreet man Effuart Sincklar (Edward Sinclair), residing in Hietlandt (Shetland) at Bollesetter, the sum of three hundred Ri/ dollars, which money foresaid he has made over to us in friendly loan, for wbicb sum of money, namely three bundred Rix dollars, we, of our free will and well advised ])urp<)se, with the knowledge, will, and consent of all our true heirs, have pawned to the foresaid Edward Sinclair, his heirs and successors, the after described land, which is my dear spouse`s just Odal inheritance, lying in Hietlandt, first in Wissdale
Translation
( Weisdale) parish in Offreboster, twelve marks burnt [silver] eight pennies the mark, in Skarpegerdt eight marks burnt [silver] six pennies the mark, also Degrand in Weisdale parish six marks burnt [silver] eight pennies the mark, also in Daleting (Delting) parish in the before named Hiedandt, a farm called Kirkhouse, three marks burnt [silver] six pennies the mark. These whole before named lands the before named Edward Sinclair or his heirs shall have, enjoy, use and possess in sure and certain pawn and usable possession, with everything" that has belonged to them from time immemorial, from the highest summit of the hill to the lowest stone of the foreshore, with the parts and pertinents, nothing in any way excepted, until the before named Edward Sinclair or his heirs again receive and acknowledge the full payment, the most and the least, from us or our true heirs, and when we again redeem these lands it shall be done at three terms, the first at St John`s day, the second at St Olaf`s immediately thereafter, and the third at St John`s day next after following, and when the foresaid sum of money is fully paid as aforesaid, then the before named lands shall belong to us again as before. And for the verity hereof, that this [contract] before written shall be held sure and unchallengeable in all its words, points, and articles, I the before named Anders Mouat/Mowat with my dear spouse have affixed our seals to this our open letter and subscribed [the same] with our own hands ; and for further testimony hereof we have cordially requested the learned man Rasmus Joensonn, parish priest in this place, along with us to seal and confirm.
Done at Gierisuig the 20 June 1597.
Seal.) (Seal.) (Seal.)
A. Mowat of Houcheland
Else Transdatter
with [our] own hand
Her Rasmus Jonsonn minister
with my own hand.
- The deed, is written on a folio sheet of strong hand-made paper, and is in an excellent state of preservation. The writing is in an ordinary Norwegian hand of the period, and any difficulties in its style have been cleared up by the scholar, Mr. Kristian Koren, of Trondhjem.
Described as a Mortgage, or, more strictly, a deed of pawn, equivalent to the old Scottish instrument of Vadset, of certain properties in Shetland. By this instrument, subjects embraced in the document were not merely mortgaged in security, but were made over in real and corporal possession to the lender, only to be reacquired from him on payment of the borrowed money.
The granters of the deed are Andrew Mowat/Mouat of Hugoland in Shetland, and his spouse Else Trondsdatter, who is declared to be owner of the lands in her own right. June 20, 1597.
Letter to Elizabeth I
- The next document is dated 1591.
On 12 August 1586, Andrew Mowat’s home in Shetland was robbed in cash and goods by Captain of the pirates William Beare and the crew of the “Black Lyon”. Other Shetlanders and ships were being robbed and plunered along the Scotland and Shetland coastline. Andrew as well as others wrote letter directly to Queen Elizabeth
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
advising her of this. Andrew Mawat was again targeted in upon his return to Shetland in 1590 in a second raid where he once more lost money and goods. Mowat again wrote directly to the queen. The queen answered by saying thsat Captain Beare was dead and without the name of the pirate in the second raid there was nothing she could do.
However, Andrew Mowat had a great deal of social credit in two other European Courts. Andrew was a joint subject of James VI of Scotland and Christian IV of Denmark-Norway. James writ to his new brother-in-law Christian about the Mowat case proposing that the goods of Englishmen in Denmark be laid under embargo
Embargo
An embargo is the partial or complete prohibition of commerce and trade with a particular country, in order to isolate it. Embargoes are considered strong diplomatic measures imposed in an effort, by the imposing country, to elicit a given national-interest result from the country on which it is...
until the restitution was forthcoming. Christian himself wrote a letter on behalf of Andrew and sent it to Elizabeth. Furthermore Mowat himself was serving in the Danish Navy so could quite easily enforce this decision.
A letter written by the Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV was the king of Denmark-Norway from 1588 until his death. With a reign of more than 59 years, he is the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark, and he is frequently remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects...
on behalf on Andrew Mowat to Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
regarding pirate attacks on Andrew’s ships and his home in Ollaberry.
"It pleasethe your heighnes to understand that I, Andres Motte, esqueyer, retayner, and subjecte under the Kynges majestie of Denmarcke, and, for carten causes which God hathe appoynted, dwellinge at this present in his majestie realme of Norway, which am of layte yeres come oute of Shottland, in which place my landes, goodes, and inheritance doth lye and remayn which God hath geyven me to enierett of my progeniteis, gevinge your most excelent heighnes my greatte sorowe and heavei complaynt to understande that I have benne two seaverall tymes spoyled and robede with Inglysh men dwelling within your majestie realme of Ingland, unto my greate heyndrance and lose of manie houndrthe dolleris.
Fyrste, in anno -86 the 12 in Auguste am I robede and spoyled in my dwellinge house called Olleberie in Shottlande bye Inglishe men, the capten beinge named Capten Beare dwellinge in Ratclyf beseides your majestie citey of London, or havinge his abbydinge in the same place. Which capten hade a shipe called the "Blacke Leyon" of Hull, master tharof called Ellexsander Chapman, dwellinge in Hull, havinge with them an other small barke to thare pennes and haveinge in both shipes a greate nomber of men. At which tyme they have not only spoyled my house, but allso have tacken from me in goulde and money and seylver warcke and other goodes the some of two thowsande doleris, beseides my apparell and obligacones and deades which I woulde not meyse for syxe houndrethe doleris.
And now agayn in anno `90 I had occason for to sayll from Norwaye to Shottlande, and from thense to my soffrayne lord and prence the Kynges majeste of Skottlande upon sarten matteris I hade for to declare unto his highnes. And beinge come nere to the lande of Shottlande thare came an Ingleshe man of ware upon me and robede me of all that I hade in my shipe, and tocke from me at that present tyme in goulde, selver, and goodes, the some of foure thowsande and fyve houndrethe dolleris, besydes a wryteynge which my souffraune lord Kynge Jemes his majestie be fore hade geyven unto me with sarten other obleygacones and billes aperteyning to my sealf, the which I woulde not meise for a thowsande doleris. Upon vhich saide rover was a roppares sonne of Skarbroughe in Yorckshyar as nere as I can larnne by my shiper and marineris, which saide ropperes sonne hathe a marke in one of his checkes cout with a sorde,
And beinge so spoyled and robed two seaveralle times with our majestie subjectes, and havinge by them had suche a greatte lose upon my goodes and monye, it hathe cawsed me to macke my humble sutt and complaint unto my souffrainte lord, the Kinges majestie of Danmarke, whoo hathe of his majestie heighenes wryten his lovinge letteres unto your souffrainte majestie in my behalf.
And for that I do understand that my souffrainte lord and Kynnge his majestie wrytethe not so large instrouccones unto your highnes of theise persones as I my self with dyveres otheres can showe and testefye, it mackethe me the boulder to present this my humble suppleicacon unto your majestie, moste humble besechinge your heighnes not onlye to geyve me pardon for this my boulde enterprice, but also of your gracious goodnes for my souffraynt lorde and Kynge his majesties sacke to be a healpe unto me, whareby I may come unto my ownne agaynne of theise forsaid parsones which have so crewellye meisowsed me, or other wayes to have lawe and justes agaynst them in suche order as it shall seme beaste unto your majesties heignes. Wrten upon my hows called Gereis Weycke in Norway."
Undertegnet "Mowat of Howgland"........"