James Wood (university principal)

James Wood was the son of a merchant. He was educated at St Andrews. After study he became a Regent in the Old College there. He was ordained to the ministry of the church in 1640. He married Catherine Carstares on Thursday 7 January 1641 and therefore became the brother-in-law of John Carstares.{{sfn|Ferrie|1843}}{{sfn|Johnston|1887}}

James Wood was admitted minister of Dunino in 1641. In 1644, Wood was elected Professor of Divinity in Marischal College and minister of Greyfriars, Aberdeen, but not settled. He was then translated, in July 1645, to be professor of Ecclesiastical History in St Mary's or New College, St Andrews, of which Mr Samuel Rutherford was Principal.{{sfn|Scott|1925|p=196}}{{sfn|Baxter|1837|loc=[https://archive.org/details/ecclesiasticalre00abbo/page/204/mode/2up?q=james+wood 205]}}{{sfn|Baxter|1837|loc=[https://archive.org/details/ecclesiasticalre00abbo/page/214/mode/2up?q=james+wood 215]}}{{sfn|Blair|1848|loc=[https://archive.org/details/lifeofmrrobert00blai/page/464/mode/2up?q=james+wood 465]}}

He was sent by the Assembly in 1650 to wait upon Charles II at Breda.{{sfn|Livingstone|1845|loc=[https://archive.org/details/selectbiographi01twee/page/170/mode/2up 170ff]}} The Treaty of Breda was signed by the king in 1650.{{sfn|Johnston|1887}}

He became Provost of St Salvator's College at the University of St Andrews in 1657.{{sfn|Scott|1928|p=411}} Wood, like Samuel Rutherford, had declined to become a Professor unless he were allowed to continue his work in the pulpit. Both were associated with Robert Blair and Andrew Honeyman in the ministry of St. Andrews. Their labours were unremitting. During the Commonwealth every minister was expected to preach three times a week, and to lecture and catechise once.{{sfn|Gilmour|1904}} According to Baillie, the differences between him and Rutherford on the subject of the Public Resolutions rendering his situation very uncomfortable, he was desirous of being removed, and, in 1657, was translated to be Principal of St Salvadors, or the old College of St Andrews. His appointment to this office by the university was owing to Cromwell's government, which, by the advice of James, afterwards Archbishop Sharp, wrote a letter to the ministers of St Andrews, and the masters of the university, requiring them to admit Wood as Principal of the Old College without delay.{{sfn|Baillie|1842|loc=[https://archive.org/details/lettersjournalso03bail/page/216/mode/2up 216]}}{{sfn|Baillie|1842|loc=[https://archive.org/details/lettersjournalso03bail/page/376/mode/2up 376]}}{{sfn|Blair|1848|loc=[https://archive.org/details/lifeofmrrobert00blai/page/464/mode/2up?q=james+wood 465]}} Baillie in recording this appointment says, "I am glad he is in it, or any other 'charge' where he is contented; for indeed he is the most serviceable man our church now has." On the establishment of Prelacy after the restoration of Charles II., Sharp did all he could to induce Wood to conform; and finding his efforts utterly ineffectual, he soon effected his removal from St Andrews. By his instigation Wood was summoned before the Privy Council in July 1663;{{sfn|Blair|1848|loc=[https://archive.org/details/lifeofmrrobert00blai/page/216/mode/2up 217 fn]}}{{sfn|Johnston|1887}}{{sfn|Wodrow|1835|loc=[https://archive.org/details/historyofsuffe01wodr/page/404/mode/2up?q=james+wood 404]}}{{sfn|Blair|1848|loc=[https://archive.org/details/lifeofmrrobert00blai/page/464/mode/2up?q=james+wood 465]}} and appearing, his place was declared vacant, while he was ordered to confine himself within the city of Edinburgh. He was, however, afterwards permitted to return to St Andrews to visit his father who had fallen sick.{{sfn|Wodrow|1835}} He died about the beginning of the year 1664. Sharp visited him once or twice on his death-bed in St Andrews; and, though Wood spoke very little to him, and never at all about the introduced ecclesiastical changes, he circulated a report, that, in the prospect of eternity, Wood professed an entire indifference as to the subject of Church government, and that it might be altered according to the will of the magistrate. Wood, deeply grieved on hearing this report, dictated and subscribed a solemn testimony, before two witnesses and a notary, in which he declares it as his dying conviction, that Presbyterian government was the ordinance of God, appointed by Jesus Christ for governing and ordering his visible Church.{{sfn|Wodrow|1835|loc=[https://archive.org/details/historyofsuffe01wodr/page/402/mode/2up?q=james+wood 403]- 404}}{{sfn|Blair|1848|loc=[https://archive.org/details/lifeofmrrobert00blai/page/218/mode/2up 218 fn]}}

James Wood died on 15 March 1664, aged about 55.{{sfn|Scott|1925|p=196}}

He married:

• (1) Catherine (died 9 September 1658, aged 38), daughter of James Carstairs, merchant, St Andrews, and had issue —
• William; John, minister of St Andrews; Katherine (married John Lentran); Agnes (married William, eldest son of Walter Fairfowl of Lathallan Wester); They had three other sons and four other daughters
• (2) 30 June 1659, Anna, second daughter of John Napier or Lepar, provost of St Andrews{{sfn|Scott|1925|p=196}}

He is said to have left some very valuable manuscripts, particularly a complete refutation of the Arminian scheme of doctrine.{{sfn|Johnston|1887}}{{sfn|Wodrow|1842c|loc=[https://archive.org/details/analectaormateri03mait/page/84/mode/2up 84]}}

• A Vindication of the Freedom and Lawfulness, and so of the Authority of the late General Assembly, etc. 1652.{{sfn|Johnston|1887}}
• A Little Stone pretended to be out of the mountain, tried, and found to be a counterfeit, Etc. Edinburgh, 1654. - A reply by Wood to " A Little Stone out of the Mountain, or Church Order briefly opened," by Nicholas Lockyer, an Independent, who accompanied the English army to Scotland in the time of Cromwell.{{sfn|Johnston|1887}}
• Pamphlet bearing the title of "Protesters no Subverters, etc." Edinburgh, 1659{{sfn|Johnston|1887}}

• Fife Sasines, xix., 1
• General Register of Inhibitions, 13 June 1672
• General Register of Hornings., 4 Dec. 1671{{sfn|Scott|1925|p=196}}

;Citations

{{reflist |colwidth=30em}}

;Sources:

{{refbegin|30em|indent=yes}}

• {{cite book |last1=Aikman |first1=James |title=Annals of the persecution in Scotland, from the restoration to the revolution |date=1850 |publisher=Presbyterian Board of Publications |location=Philadelphia |page=[https://archive.org/details/annalsofpersecut01aikmuoft/page/132/mode/2up?q=james+wood 132] |edition=2nd American |volume=1 |url=https://archive.org/details/annalsofpersecut01aikmuoft}}
• {{cite book |last=Baillie |first=Robert |editor-last=Laing |editor-first=David |title=The letters and journals of Robert Baillie ... M.DC.XXXVII.-M.DC.LXII |date=1842 |publisher=R. Ogle |location=Edinburgh |volume=3 |url=https://archive.org/details/lettersjournalso03bail/page/n5 |author-link=Robert Baillie}}
• {{cite book |editor-last=Baxter |editor-first=Charles |title=Records of the Synod of Fife (1611-1687) |date=1837 |publisher=Abbotsford Club |location=Edinburgh |url=https://archive.org/details/ecclesiasticalre00abbo}}
• {{cite book |last=Blair |first=Robert |title=Memoirs of the life of Mr. Robert Blair|page=[https://archive.org/details/memoirsoflifeofm00blai/page/110/mode/2up 110]|date=1754 |publisher=Printed by David Paterson |location=Edinburgh |url=https://archive.org/details/memoirsoflifeofm00blai/page/n3 |author-link=Robert Blair (moderator)}}
• {{cite book |last=Blair |first=Robert |editor-last=M'Crie |editor-first=Thomas |title=The life of Mr. Robert Blair, minister of St. Andrews, containing his autobiography, from 1593-1636 : with supplement of his life and continuation of the history of the times, to 1680|pages=[https://archive.org/details/lifeofmrrobert00blai/page/216/mode/2up?q=james+wood 217]-218 fn et passim|date=1848 |publisher=Wodrow Society |location=Edinburgh |url=https://archive.org/details/lifeofmrrobert00blai/page/n3 |author-link=Robert Blair (moderator)|editor-link=Thomas M'Crie the younger}}{{PD-notice}}
• {{cite book |last=Christie |first=James |title=The records of the commissions of the general assembly of the Church of Scotland holden in Edinburgh in the years 1650-1652 |date=1909 |publisher=Printed at the University Press by T. and A. Constable for the Scottish History Society |location=Edinburgh |volume=3 |url=https://archive.org/details/recordsofcommiss03chur}}
• {{cite book |last1=Ferrie |first1=William |title=Notices of the life of the Rev. John Carstaires, minister of the High church, Glasgow |date=1843 |publisher=Edinburgh printing co. |location=Edinburgh |pages=[https://archive.org/details/noticesoflifeofr00ferr/page/n21/mode/2up 1] |url=https://archive.org/details/noticesoflifeofr00ferr}}
• {{cite book |last1=Gilmour |first1=Robert |title=Samuel Rutherford : a study, biographical and somewhat critical, in the history of the Scottish Covenant |date=1904|pages=[https://archive.org/details/samuelrutherford00gilm/page/192/mode/2up?q=james+wood 192]|publisher=Oliphant, Anderson & Ferrier |location=Edinburgh |url=https://archive.org/details/samuelrutherford00gilm/page/n7}}{{PD-notice}}
• {{cite book|last=Hewison |first=James King |title=The Covenanters |date=1913a |publisher=John Smith and son |location=Glasgow |volume=1 |edition=Revised and Corrected|url=https://archive.org/details/covenanters01hewi/page/n11|author-link=James King Hewison}}
• {{cite book|last=Hewison |first=James King |title=The Covenanters |date=1913b |publisher=John Smith and son |location=Glasgow |volume=2 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/covenanters02hewi/page/172/mode/2up?q=james+wood 172] et passim|url=https://archive.org/details/covenanters02hewi/page/n7|author-link=James King Hewison}}
• {{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/scotsworthies00howirich

|chapter=James Wood

|title=The Scots worthies

|first=John |last=Howie |editor-first=W. H. |editor-last=Carslaw |author-link=John Howie (biographer)

|publisher=Oliphant, Anderson, & Ferrier |location=Edinburgh |year=1870|pages=[https://archive.org/details/scotsworthies00howirich/page/316/mode/2up 316]-319}}{{PD-notice}}

• {{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/treasuryofscotti00john

|page=[https://archive.org/details/treasuryofscotti00john/page/330/mode/2up 330] |title=Treasury of the Scottish covenant

|first=John C. |last=Johnston

|publisher=Andrew Elliot |year=1887}}{{PD-notice}}

• {{cite book |last1=Kirkton |first1=James |title=The secret and true history of the church of Scotland from the Restoration to the year 1678 |date=1817 |publisher=J. Ballantyne |location=Edinburgh |page=[https://archive.org/details/secrettruehistor00kirk/page/206/mode/2up 207]-208 |url=https://archive.org/details/secrettruehistor00kirk|author-link=James Kirkton}}
• {{cite book |last1=Lee |first1=John |title=Lectures on the history of the Church of Scotland : from the Reformation to the Revolution Settlement |date=1860a |publisher=William Blackwood |location=Edinburgh |volume=1 |page=[https://archive.org/details/lecturesonhistor01leej/page/402/mode/2up?q=james+wood 402]|url=https://archive.org/details/lecturesonhistor01leej |author-link=John Lee (university principal)}}
• {{cite book |last1=Lee |first1=John |title=Lectures on the history of the Church of Scotland : from the Reformation to the Revolution Settlement |date=1860b |publisher=William Blackwood |location=Edinburgh |volume=2 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/lecturesonhistor02leej/page/290/mode/2up?q=james+wood 291]|url=https://archive.org/details/lecturesonhistor02leej |author-link=John Lee (university principal)}}
• {{cite book |last=Livingstone |first=John |editor-last=Tweedie |editor-first=William King |title=Select biographies |date=1845 |publisher=Printed for the Wodrow Society |location=Edinburgh |pages=[https://archive.org/details/selectbiographi01twee/page/168/mode/2up?q=james+wood 168] ff |volume=1 |url=https://archive.org/details/selectbiographi01twee |author-link=John Livingstone (minister)|editor-link=William King Tweedie}}
• {{cite book |last1=Scott |first1=Hew |authorlink=Hew Scott|title=Fasti ecclesiae scoticanae; the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the reformation |date=1925 |page=[https://archive.org/details/fastiecclesiaesc05scot/page/196/mode/2up 196]|publisher=Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd |volume=5 |url=https://archive.org/details/fastiecclesiaesc05scot}}{{PD-notice}}

• {{cite book |last1=Scott |first1=Hew |title=Fasti ecclesiae scoticanae; the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the reformation |date=1928 |publisher=Oliver and Boyd |location=Edinburgh |pages=[https://archive.org/details/fastiecclesiaesc07scot/page/411 411] |volume=7 |url=https://archive.org/details/fastiecclesiaesc07scot |author-link=Hew Scott}}
• {{cite book |last=Walker|first=James|title=The theology and theologians of Scotland : chiefly of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries|date=1888|publisher=T. & T. Clark|location=Edinburgh|edition=2nd|url=https://archive.org/details/theologytheologi00walk|pages=[https://archive.org/stream/theologytheologi00walk#page/18/mode/2up/search/james+wood 18]–19}}
• {{cite book |last=Wodrow |first=Robert |editor-last=Burns |editor-first=Robert |title=The history of the sufferings of the church of Scotland from the restoration to the revolution, with an original memoir of the author, extracts from his correspondence, and preliminary dissertation |date=1835 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/historyofsuffe01wodr/page/370/mode/2up?q=james+wood 370] et passim|publisher=Glasgow: Blackie, Fullarton & co., and Edinburgh: A. Fullarton & co. |volume=1 |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofsuffe01wodr |author-link=Robert Wodrow}}
• {{cite book |last=Wodrow |first=Robert |editor-last=Leishman |editor-first=Matthew |title=Analecta: or, Materials for a history of remarkable providences; mostly relating to Scotch ministers and Christians |date=1842a |publisher=Maitland Club |location=Glasgow |pages=[https://archive.org/details/analectaormater01leisgoog/page/n251/mode/2up?q=mr+wood 235], 271-272 |volume=1 |url=https://archive.org/details/analectaormater01leisgoog |author-link=Robert Wodrow}}
• {{cite book |last=Wodrow |first=Robert |editor-last=Leishman |editor-first=Matthew |title=Analecta: or, Materials for a history of remarkable providences; mostly relating to Scotch ministers and Christians |date=1842c |publisher=Maitland Club |location=Glasgow |pages=[https://archive.org/details/analectaormateri03mait/page/84/mode/2up?q=mr+wood 84]-87 |volume=3 |url=https://archive.org/details/analectaormateri03mait |author-link=Robert Wodrow}}

{{refend}}

{{Scots Worthies}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wood, James}}

Category:Covenanters

Category:1664 deaths

Category:17th-century Scottish people

Category:17th-century Protestant religious leaders

Category:Alumni of the University of St Andrews