John Woodman
Encyclopedia
John Woodman [Wodman] was a 15th century churchman based in the Kingdom of Scotland
. Woodman was a canon
of the diocese of St Andrews, and as such was locally made Prior of Pittenweem on the death of the previous prior, James Kennedy, Bishop of St Andrews; however, he was opposed by one Walter Monypenny, while the new bishop, Patrick Graham, desired the position for himself. Woodman had lost litigation for this post to Monypenny by 17 September 1466, and possession to the bishop, though Woodman was still claiming this priory as late as 1477 when he became Bishop of Ross
.
Some time after November 1465, he was collated as Prior of Restenneth
by Bishop Patrick Graham, which involved him in unsuccessful litigation against the sitting prior James Dunmain. In 1468, while still litigating with Dunmain in the papal curia, he was provided as Abbot of Jedburgh
. The death of the previous abbot Andrew Bolton led the Bishop of Glasgow to try to imposed Robert Turnbull as abbot, but it was Woodman who secured papal provision.
Woodman was provided to the bishopric of Ross sometime before 20 August 1476, but after 22 July. He occurs as Bishop-elect on 17 August 1477, and on 16 October made a payment to the papacy of 321 gold florin
s through Nicholas de Rabatis and Rayner de Ricolis. He occurs again as Bishop-elect of Ross (though unnamed) on 4 May 1478. Woodman was in the archdiocese of York in 1480, allegedly acting as a suffragan, though this may be doutbful. We have no knowledge of his consecration, and his successor William Elphinstone
was provided to the (now vacant) bishopric of Ross on 3 August 1481 following the death of Woodman, though it is not possible to date Woodman's death more narrowly than either 1480 or 1481.
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...
. Woodman was a canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of the diocese of St Andrews, and as such was locally made Prior of Pittenweem on the death of the previous prior, James Kennedy, Bishop of St Andrews; however, he was opposed by one Walter Monypenny, while the new bishop, Patrick Graham, desired the position for himself. Woodman had lost litigation for this post to Monypenny by 17 September 1466, and possession to the bishop, though Woodman was still claiming this priory as late as 1477 when he became Bishop of Ross
Bishop of Ross
The Bishop of Ross was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Ross, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics. The first recorded bishop appears in the late 7th century as a witness to Adomnán of Iona's Cáin Adomnáin. The bishopric was based at the settlement of Rosemarkie until the mid-13th...
.
Some time after November 1465, he was collated as Prior of Restenneth
Prior of Restenneth
The Prior of Restenneth was the head of the Augustinian canons of Restenneth Priory, Angus. The following is a list of priors and commendators:-List of priors:* Robert, 1147x1159-1162* William, 1178- 1189x1194...
by Bishop Patrick Graham, which involved him in unsuccessful litigation against the sitting prior James Dunmain. In 1468, while still litigating with Dunmain in the papal curia, he was provided as Abbot of Jedburgh
Abbot of Jedburgh
The Abbot of Jedburgh was the head of the Augustinian canons of Jedburgh Abbey, Roxburghshire. It was founded by King David I of Scotland in 1138, and David's grandson and successor Máel Coluim IV ensured its promotion to the status of abbey before 1156...
. The death of the previous abbot Andrew Bolton led the Bishop of Glasgow to try to imposed Robert Turnbull as abbot, but it was Woodman who secured papal provision.
Woodman was provided to the bishopric of Ross sometime before 20 August 1476, but after 22 July. He occurs as Bishop-elect on 17 August 1477, and on 16 October made a payment to the papacy of 321 gold florin
Italian coin florin
The Italian florin was a coin struck from 1252 to 1533 with no significant change in its design or metal content standard. It had 54 grains of nominally pure gold worth approximately 200 modern US Dollars...
s through Nicholas de Rabatis and Rayner de Ricolis. He occurs again as Bishop-elect of Ross (though unnamed) on 4 May 1478. Woodman was in the archdiocese of York in 1480, allegedly acting as a suffragan, though this may be doutbful. We have no knowledge of his consecration, and his successor William Elphinstone
William Elphinstone
William Elphinstone was a Scottish statesman, Bishop of Aberdeen and founder of the University of Aberdeen.He was born in Glasgow, and educated at the University of Glasgow, taking the degree of M.A. in 1452. After practising for a short time as a lawyer in the church courts, he was ordained a...
was provided to the (now vacant) bishopric of Ross on 3 August 1481 following the death of Woodman, though it is not possible to date Woodman's death more narrowly than either 1480 or 1481.