c 1633 Based on the dates of his matriculation and degree at St Andrews, Robert Criaghead was likely born about 1633.
1648 Agnes Heart, daughter of John and Agnes (Baxter) Heart, was baptized on December 17 in Dunino, Fife, Scotland. Her baptism was recorded in the Dunino parish register, "December 17 being Sabbath The whilk day Mr. Jhon Heart minister and Agnes Backstare his wyfe had a female child baptized called Agnes wittnesses Alexr Stewart in Strafuthie David Arton of Kenadie." [1]
1650/1 Robert Craighead matriculated in St Salvator's College at St. Andrews in Scotland, signing his name as "Robertus Craighead" in the list dated January 16. [2]
1653 Robert Craighead received his MA at St Andrews, signing his name as "Robertus Craighead" in the list of candidates dated May 13. [3] [4]
1658 Robert Craighead was "ordained to a Presbyterian congregation in Donoughmore, County Donegal" (near Castlefinn) in Ireland and was the minister there for 30 years. [5]
1661 Robert Craighead "was one of thirty-six Presbyterian ministers in Ireland ejected from his parish for refusing to conform to the established church. He remained with his people and contrived to exercise an effective ministry among them."
1689 Robert Craighead "removed in 1689 to Londonderry, and was pastor there at the time the gates were closed against the army of King James. Escaped during the memorable siege and made his way to Glasgow (19 June 1689), where a part of his family had preceded him, and were residing." Craighead was "called to a meeting house in Glasgow 3 July 1689, officiating either in the Inner High or Tron Church. His reception by the public authorities, as well as by his brethren in the Church of Scotland, was so spontaneous and cordial that, on subsequently publishing a volume entitled Advice to Communicants for Necessary Preparation and Improvement for the Lord's Supper, he dedicated it to the Lord Provost, the Bailiffs, the Deacon Convener, and the inhabitants of Glasgow." [6]
1689 Samuel Craighead, son of Robert Craighead and Agnes Heart was baptized in Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland, on "Octobr 20 ... Mr Robt Craighead & Agnes Hart a lawll. son; Samuel witnesses Mrs Tho: Kennedy and & Robt Landes." [7]
1690 Robert "Craighead returned to Ireland 3 Apr 1690 ... On 1 July 1690 he was called to be minister of the Presbyterian congregation in Londonderry." [8]
1994 Robert Craighead's book, An Answer to a late Book Intituled, a Discourse Concerning the Inventions of Men in the Worship of God, By William Lord Bishop of Derry Wherein The Author's Arguments against the Manner of Publick Worship, performed by Protestant Dissenters are Examined and by plain Scripture and Reason, Confuted, his Mistakes as to matters of Fact, Detected: And Some Important Truths concerning the Spirit of Prayer and External Adoration, &c. Vindicated, by Robert Craghead, Minister of the Godpel, was published in Edinburgh. [9]
1694 Bishop King, of Derry, published A Discourse Concerning the Inventions of Men in the Worship of God (1694), which criticized non-conformists in the church. Robert Craighead and other Presbyterians responded with their own publications. [10]
1695 Robert Craighead's book, Advice to Communicants For necessary preparation, and profitable improvement of the great and comfortable Ordinance of the Lords Supper: That therein true spiritual Communion with Christ may be obtained, and the eternal enjoyment of God Sealed, by "Robert Craghead Minister of the Gospel in L. Derry" was published in Edinburgh, Scotland. [11]
1696 Robert Criaghead's book A Modest Apology Occasioned by the Importunity of the Bishop of Derrie, Who presseth for an Answer to a Query, stated by Himself, in his second Admonition: concerning Joyning in the Publick Worship Established by Law. In Answer to the Query; The pondering of some weighty Exceptions is first Desired: And then such a Resolution is given to the Query, as the Word of God, and thereby the safety of our Consciences will allow, by "a Minister of the Gospel, at the Desire of some Presbyterian Dissenters" was published in Glasgow. [12] "The bishop of Derry from 1691 to 1702 was William King, afterwards archbishop of Dublin. King had already crossed swords with Joseph Boyse, minister of Wood Street congregation in Dublin, on the subject of Presbyterian worship, hoping to persuade his readers to follow his own pilgrimage from Presbyterianism to Anglicanism. His representations of Presbyterian practice were factually incorrect, and Craghead felt impelled to answer them ... His replies to King are orderly, thorough, and factual. They contain a wealth of information about Presbyterian life and spirituality, and especially about Presbyterian public worship. They confirm the very large numbers attending Presbyterian services in north-west Ulster at this time." [13]
1698 Robert Craighead returned to Scotland and was admitted to Blackfriars." [14]
1698 A second edition of Craighead's Advice to Communicants was published in Glasgow. [15] [16]
c1700 Robert Craighead went back to his former charge in Derry about 1700, and remained there until his death. [17]
1705 A letter signed by Robert Craighead and three other Presbyterian ministers in Londonderry was published in London. "May it please Your Grace, We Humbly beg leave to represent Our Just and Grateful Sense of the signal and seasonable favours Your Grace hath pleased to confer upon Us, Gratitude being at least Our Duty, and yet is almost all We are able to pay, for so great a Debt; wishing a better and greater reward to your Grace. And We in most Humble manner implore the continuance of Your Grace's Clemency, Favour and Protection, We being by principle determin'd as hiherto, so to continue demeaning Our Selves always, as becometh Loyal, Faithful and Dutiful Subjects to her Sacred Majesty and Government. And that Your Graces Person and illustrious Family may be attended with Affluence and all Blessings, shall be the Prayer of Your Graces Most Humble, Obedient and Faithful Servants, Rob. Craghead. And. Ferguson. P. Campbell. Will. Gray." [18]
1711 Robert Craighead died in Londonderry on 22 August.
[1] National Records of Scotland, Old Parish Registers, Pre 1855 Births & Baptisms, 425/ 10 32 Dunino, p. 32 of 356, [ScotlandsPeople].
[2] Muniment Collection, University of St Andrews, [St_Andrews_Muniments_Collection].
[3] Muniment Collection, University of St Andrews, [St_Andrews_Muniments_Collection].
[4] Hew Scott, Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae, new edition, 8 vols. (Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd, 1914–1950), 3:398, states his degree as "M.A. (St Andrews, 15th Feb. 1653, [InternetArchive].
[5] Hew Scott, Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae, new edition, 8 vols. (Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd, 1914–1950), 3:398, [InternetArchive].
[6] James Geddes Craighead, The Craighead Family: A Genealogical Memoir of the Descendants of Rev. Thomas and Margaret Craighead (Philadelphia, 1876), 16, [InternetArchive], [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust].
[7] National Records of Scotland, Old Parish Registers, Pre 1855 Births & Baptisms, 644/1 70 49 Glasgow, p. 49 of 372, Glasgow Parish Register, Births 1687-1698, [ScotlandsPeople].
[8] Hew Scott, Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae, new edition, 8 vols. (Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd, 1914–1950), 3:398, [InternetArchive].
[9] Robert Craghead, An Answer to a late Book Intituled, a Discourse Concerning the Inventions of Men in the Worship of God, By William Lord Bishop of Derry Wherein The Author's Arguments against the Manner of Publick Worship, performed by Protestant Dissenters are Examined and by plain Scripture and Reason, Confuted, his Mistakes as to matters of Fact, Detected: And Some Important Truths concerning the Spirit of Prayer and External Adoration, &c. Vindicated (Edinburgh: Heirs of Andrew Anderson, 1694), [GoogleBooks].
[10] George Thomas Stokes, Some Worthies of the Irish Church (London: 1900), 206, footnote, [GoogleBooks].
[11] Robert Craghead, Advice to Communicants (Glasgow: 1695).
[12] Robert Craghead, A Modest Apology (Glasgow: 1696), [GoogleBooks].
[13] A. W. Godfrey Brown, "Craghead, Robert (c.1633–1711)," Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2004, online edition), [Oxford_Dictionary_National_Biography], [OxfordDNB(UM)].
[14] Hew Scott, Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae, new edition, 8 vols. (Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd, 1914–1950), 3:398, [InternetArchive].
[15] Robert Craghead, Advice to Communicants (Glasgow: 1698).
[16] Robert Craghead, Advice to Communicants (Philadelphia: Reprint, 1838), 1, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[17] Hew Scott, Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae, new edition, 8 vols. (Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd, 1914–1950), 3:453, [InternetArchive].
[18] 17th-18th Century Burney Collection Newspapers at the British Library, Post Man and the Historical Account (London, England), May 22, 1705 - May 24, 1705; Issue 1406, [NewsBurney(UM)].