Wishart History

Excerpt from Introduction

“… The name Wishart is well-known to any Scottish school child.  The most famous, George Wischart was one of the primary movers of the early Presbyterian church and was, as a result, burned for heresy at St. Andrews in 1545/6 … What connection the Wisharts of Tabusintac (New Brunswick) may have had with or any of the other Wisharts that have appeared in Scottish records as far back as the thirteenth century is unknown.”

Excerpt from Pages 99 and 100

“… Wishart – The family are of ancient date in Forfarshire, and are descended from Robert, a natural son of David, Earl of Huntingdon, who having gone on a crusade to the Holy Land, was called Guishart, on account of the slaughter he made of the Saracens.  Adam Wishart of Logie, was living in 1272.”

Excerpt from Page 821

“… Wishart – The same as of Guishard, from of Wischard, ‘prudent, sagacious’.  William Wischard witnessed grant of the mill teind to the Abbey of Cambuskenneth, ca. 1200.  JohnWischard, witness in 1245, was present at perambulation of bounds of Conon and Tulloch, 1254.  William Wishard was a Culdee at St. Andrews, 1250.  Adam Wishard had charter of the land of Kenny Murchardyn, 1279.  John Wychard of the Miernes rendered homage, 1296.  Andrew Wycchard (Wyschard or Wychard) of Scotland, a prisoner of war in Hereford Castle, 1305-1307.  George Wischart was burned for heresy at St. Andrews, 1545/6, and a later George Wischart was first bishop of Edinburgh after the Restoration and private chaplain and biographer of the marquess of Montrose.  In 1549 Queen Mary presented Mr. James Buchart or Buschart (apparently the same as Wischart) to the chaplainry called Towie (or Tolly) in the diocese of Ross.  Johnnett Wischart in Aberdeen was burnt for witchcraft, 1596.  James Wisehartt or Wyschartt was burgess of Montrose, 1649, and John Wishit was prisoner in Canongate Tolbooth, Edinburgh, 1686.”