George Wishart was a kinsman of
John Wishart of Pitarrow. His lands may have been at "Drynne", "Drymmie" or Drymme, also known as "Drum", in Maryton parish near
Montrose in
Angus, Scotland.
Sub-collector of the Thirds of Benefices In March 1562 John Wishart of Pitarrow became the
comptroller of the exchequer and "collector-general of
teinds", the collector of the tax for church incomes calculated on the value of farms and incomes. John Wishart gave his kinsman George Wishart a job as a sub-collector of these royal incomes. An account made by George Wishart of the crown income (charge) and the expenditure (discharge) in 1564/5 is held by the
National Records of Scotland, and has been published as a historical source by the
Scottish History Society. From the
teinds, the "thirds of benefices" contributed to the expenses of the household of
Mary, Queen of Scots. Another member of the family, John Wishart's older brother, Alexander Wishart of Cairnbeg in
Fordoun, was involved as collector of the thirds of
Coupar Angus Abbey, and chamberlain of
Badenoch. George Wishart collected a few payments from his regional neighbours, including Walter Wood of Balbegno north of
Brechin for lands at
Fettercairn, and from Ninian Guthrie of
Kingennie near
Dundee, as Sheriff of Angus. Some of the material in Wishart's account, especially regarding payments for the
Royal Guard (and their travelling mattresses),
Captain Anstruther, and the fortress island of
Inchkeith, appears in other manuscript accounts and has been published. The historian
Gordon Donaldson highlighted payments by Wishart to household officers, including
David Rizzio, who appears as "David Rischo, Italiane", and payments to the Kirk minister
John Knox, as part of his stipend and also sums of money given to two of his servants, Margaret Fowlis and John Reid. Another payment for Knox was given to Robert Watson, a merchant in Edinburgh. The musician and valet of the queen's chamber
James Lauder was paid £125 Scots towards his pension and fee. John Wishart of Pitarrow supported the
Earl of Moray during the
Chaseabout Raid and lost his job. No more is heard of George Wishart at the exchequer. The date of his death is unknown. from
Dun ==Marriage and children==