Prior of Lesmahagow

The Prior of Lesmahagow (later Commendator of Lesmahagow) was the head of the medieval Tironensian monastic community of Lesmahagow Priory, located in modern South Lanarkshire. The following is a list of priors and commendators:

List of priors

• Osbert, 1180^[1]
• Bricius, 1203^[2]
• Hugh de Liam, 1218 x 1220
• Waltheof (Waldeve), 1221 x 1226
• Thomas de Durham, x 1315^[3]
• John de Dalgarnock, 1348^[4]
• William, 1367–1369
• James Mador, 1468
• Richard Wylie, 1469–1470
• Alexander Wedall, 1477
• John Clasinwricht, 1477 x 1509
• N., x 1502^[5]
• Alexander Alani / Linton, 1502
• John Richardson, 1509

List of commendators

• James Cunningham, 1561–1580^[6]
• David Collace of Auchenforsyth, 1586

Notes

1. Became Abbot of Kelso.
2. Became Bishop of Moray.
3. An Englishman and probable appointee of the English crown; he seems to have held both this position and the Abbacy of Kelso.
4. May have become the Abbot of Kilwinning.
5. Known only by initial.
6. Third youngest son of Alexander Cunningham, 5th Earl of Glencairn.

Bibliography

• Cowan, Ian B. & Easson, David E., Medieval Religious Houses: Scotland With an Appendix on the Houses in the Isle of Man, Second edition, (London, 1976), p. 69
• Watt, D. E. R. & Shead, N. F. (eds.), The Heads of Religious Houses in Scotland from the 12th to the 16th Centuries, The Scottish Records Society, New Series, Volume 24, (Edinburgh, 2001), pp. 134–6