Forbes, Bishop Of Caithness Patrick

Family/Spouse: Scougal, Katherine. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Erskine, Daughter. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Erskine. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

REV JOHN FORBES, 1568 (?)-1634; son of William Forbes born 1530 and Elizabeth daughter of Sir Alexander Strachan, Laird of Thornton; degree 1583 University of St. Andrews; ordained minister of Alford 1593; received by King James of Bngland 1605 and granted favor for the church; July 1605 appointed head of the general assenbly of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland; King James however concluded that the Presbyterian Church was becoming too strong from his Episcopalian viewpoint and issued an order banning future assemblies; nineteen preachers felt a firm stand must be taken and met with Rev Forbes Moderator; they declined to appear before a privy council and Forbes and five others were imprisioned, tried for high treason, found guilty by a packed jury and banished from the king's domain.

While a man of considerable estate, he calmly and deliberately gave up home, estate and position for the principle of separation of church and state. The exiles sailed from Leith to Bordeaux 7 November 1606. On reaching France, Forbes visited Boyd of Trochrig at Saumer and then went on to Sedan. Traveled for some years visiting reformed churches and universities. In 1611 he was settled as pastor of a British Congregation at Middleburg, Holland. Soon after he was released from banishment on terms which he could not accept. In 1616 he was in London where King Janes pronised to revoke his sentance of exile but never did.

After a ten year ministry at Middleburg he became pastor of the British Church at Delft, Holland, twelve miles from the pilgrim church at Leyden. By 1628 Charles I began to interfere with the English and Scottish churches in Holland and Forbes was ultimately removed as pastor. He died 1634, aged about 66. In his later years he became bishop in the Episcopal Church much to the dismay of his Presbyterian brethern. He married Christian, daughter of Barclay of Mavers.

Their sons Arthur and John were colonels in the Dutch service. Son Patrick became Bishop of Caithness, and son James became minister of Abecorn. All three daughters married in Scotland.

Many of the thirty-five thousand forced out of England in these times by religious intolerance left Holland because their children were becoming more Dutch than English. Many of Pilgrims from Leyden left for this reason. It is natural to suppose that the immigrant John Po(r)bes knew the Pilgrims of the area who had not left in 1620 with the first group. At any rate he apparently came to America with the last of Rev. Robinson's flock in 1636.

Having acquired a soft Dutch accent during his nearly 25 years in Holland it can be assumed that the English recorders of Plymouth would record the name as Vobes or Ffobes as they heard it.

Family traditions recorded in the earlier days and the reversion of many of the descendents to the name Forbes bear out this story. While history has recorded the fortunes of his brothers, John seems to have been missed in the available records. This tie is circumstantial and cannot be accepted as proven.

The coat of Arms with the motto "Grace Me Guide", the three boars heads, and crested with a deers head with ten tynes, is the Lord Forbes coat of arms and was verified several times in the years 1900 to 1952, with old parchment copies viewed which may have been drawn in the 1700's. It has had wide acceptance as the proper family arms by those in America for many years and appears in several branches of the family which are unknown to each other in this day.

(Reference Dictionary of National Biography pg 401 and History of Scotland by Andrew Lang, Vol II, pg 481-488). (53).

(Copied From The Fobes Family in America the Descendants of John Fobes, Author: Lawrence Fobes:
Call Number: CS71.F62x:Descendants of John Fobes, an immigrant in 1636 to Duxbury, MA Very interesting facts about family and towns. Includes over 3000 names. )

John married Barclay, Christian in 1575. Christian (daughter of Barclay, Laird of Mathers George and Erskine, Mary) was born in 1557 in Of Mathers, Kincardine, Scotland, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William married Strachan, Elizabeth about 1562 in Scotland. Elizabeth (daughter of Strachan, LAIRD OF Alexander (Laird of Thornton) and (Unknown)) was born in 1544 in Of, Thornton, Fifeshire, Scotland; died in in Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

George married Erskine, Mary in 1556 in Brechin, Angusshire, Scotland. Mary (daughter of Erskine, Laird of Brechin Thomas and Erskine, Mrs Thomas) was born in 1537 in Of Brechin, Angusshire, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Patrick married Lumsden, Marjory about 1540. Marjory (daughter of Lumsden, Lord of Cushaie Robert and Forbes, Isobel) was born about 1520 in Corse, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Alexander married (Unknown) about 1536. was born in in Thornton, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

David married Rait, Mary in 1534 in Hallgreen, Bervie, Kincardine, Scotland. Mary was born in 1516 in Of Hallgreen, Bervie, Kincardineshire, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Thomas married Erskine, Mrs Thomas in 1535 in Brechin, Angusshire, Scotland. Mrs was born in 1517 in Brechin, Augusshire, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]