George Shoreswood
Encyclopedia
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
.
He was a clerk of William Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas
in 1446, holding the rector
ship of Coulter
in Clydesdale
. After the death of Earl James in February 1452, he became a royal clerk. He also became vicar of Haddington at some point, holding the office until becoming a bishop in 1454.
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. George took possession soon afterward. 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. 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).
Bishop George was auditor in the Exchequer
at various points during the second half of 1454. He served as Chancellor of Scotland between 1457 and 1460. He went on a pilgrimage to Durham
, receiving a safe-conduct
for himself and 40 attendants in 1459. 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.
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
active in the Kingdom of Scotland
Kingdom of Scotland
The Kingdom of Scotland was a Sovereign state in North-West Europe that existed from 843 until 1707. It occupied the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shared a land border to the south with the Kingdom of England...
during the 15th century. He appears to have been of English-speaking origin, from the family of Bedshiel
Bedshiel
Bedshiel is a village in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland on the B6456, six miles from Duns, two miles from Westruther, Longformacus and Greenlaw.The Watch Water Reservoir, Millknowe Burn and Bogpark Burn are close by. The Kaims...
in Berwickshire
Berwickshire
Berwickshire or the County of Berwick is a registration county, a committee area of the Scottish Borders Council, and a lieutenancy area of Scotland, on the border with England. The town after which it is named—Berwick-upon-Tweed—was lost by Scotland to England in 1482...
.
He was a clerk of William Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas
William Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas
William Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas, 2nd Earl of Avondale was a Scottish nobleman. He was the eldest son of James Douglas, 7th Earl of Douglas and Beatrice Sinclair....
in 1446, holding the rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
ship of Coulter
Coulter, South Lanarkshire
Coulter or Culter is a small village and civil parish in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It lies approximately south of Biggar. Some old maps and local modern houses also have the spelling Cootyre - " a safe place for cows."Nearby are two notable Scottish hills, Tinto and Culter Fell. The River...
in Clydesdale
Clydesdale
Clydesdale was formerly one of nineteen local government districts in the Strathclyde region of Scotland.The district was formed by the Local Government Act 1973 from part of the former county of Lanarkshire: namely the burghs of Biggar and Lanark and the First, Second and Third Districts...
. After the death of Earl James in February 1452, he became a royal clerk. He also became vicar of Haddington at some point, holding the office until becoming a bishop in 1454.
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. George took possession soon afterward. 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
Bishop of Brechin
The Bishop of Brechin is the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Brechin or Angus, based at Brechin Cathedral, Brechin. The diocese had a long-established Gaelic monastic community which survived into the 13th century. The clerical establishment may very well have traced their earlier origins...
on 8 March 1454. 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).
Bishop George was auditor in the Exchequer
Exchequer
The Exchequer is a government department of the United Kingdom responsible for the management and collection of taxation and other government revenues. The historical Exchequer developed judicial roles...
at various points during the second half of 1454. He served as Chancellor of Scotland between 1457 and 1460. He went on a pilgrimage to Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
, receiving a safe-conduct
Safe-conduct
Safe conduct is the situation in time of international conflict or war where one state, a party to such conflict, issues to a person, usually an enemy state's subject, a pass or document to allow the enemy alien to traverse its territory without harassment, bodily harm, or fear of death. Safe...
for himself and 40 attendants in 1459. He is recorded as bishop for the last time in 11 November 1462, but died before March 28 1463 when the see
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
was granted to his successor Patrick Graham.