Jaffray, Alexander
- Biography
- Of Kingswells. Politician and Quaker leader. Born Aberdeen 1614, son of Alexander Jaffrey, Provost of Aberdeen. Educated Aberdeen Grammar School, then Marischal Coll., 1631-2. Sent to study law in Edinburgh 1632. Visited France 1634-5. Returned home 1636. Bailie (civic officer) in Aberdeen 1642. Arrested a servant of Sir George Gordon for riot, attacked by Gordon 1643. Gordon fined 20,000 merks, marched into Aberdeen Mar 1644, captured Jaffray and his brother, imprisoned them in Strathbogie, then Auchendoun Castle, released May 1644. M.P. for Aberdeen 1644-50. Captured and imprisoned by Irish confederates Jul or Aug 1645, escaped Sept 1645. Moved to Kingswells 1647. Sent to Netherlands 1649. Captured by the English in the battle of Dunbar 1650, released and returned to Aberdeen 1651. Elected provost 1651. Believed he must move beyond presbyterian, Independents organised own congregation Nov 1652. Director of the chancellery 1652. Split his time between Aberdeen and Edinburgh 1652-60. Imprisoned in the Edinburgh Tolbooth 1660-1, released because of his ill health but confined to the city. Converted to Quakerism 1662. Confined to his own house 1664. Health deteriorated mid-1660s, but imprisoned at Banff for 9 months in 1668. Died Kingswells 1673.
- Biography Date
- 1614-1673
- Biography References
- Prov. Reg. Notes; LOC; CERL; DNB; Fasti 206;
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