Alexander (Boswell) Boswell IIIrd of Balmuto (abt. 1467 - 1513)

Born about 1467 in Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Ramsay) Boswell — married 1496 (to before 1505) in Scotland

Husband of Alison Sandilands — married before 28 Apr 1508 in Scotland

Descendants

Died 9 Sep 1513 at about age 46 in Flodden, Northumberland, England

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Biography

Sir Alexander (Boswell) Boswell IIIrd of Balmuto was killed in Action during the War of the League of Cambrai at the Battle of Flodden Field.

Sir Alexander Boswell who married 1496 Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Alexander Ramsay by Margaret Douglas, daughter of George, 4th Earl of Angus, got a charter under the great seal "Alexandro Boswell de Balmuto et Elizabethae Ramsay ejus spousae, terrarium de Easter Balgally, cum mylendis, etc dated 30th Jany 1499". This Alexander, grandchild and son respectively to David Boswell senior and david Boswell junior, to the latter of whom he succeeded anno 1493, survived his father about 20 years. He was twice married, first by dispensation from the Pope to Elizabeth Ramsay by whom he had four sons viz:

1. David his heir
2. John of Aberdour whose wife was Jean Boyd, they had a family.
3. Robert who was bailee of Foulden in Berwick, married another Ramsay, and had a family.
4. Alexander who married a Merchal (or Marshall) and had a family

Sir Alexander by his second wife Alison Sandilands, daughter of Sir James Sandilands of Calder by Christian, daughter of Sir Archibald Dundas, had two sons and two daughters: (See Research Notes)

1. John, by some designed Calder and by others of Bowhill to which he succeeded with Balgony and Strathrudy. Married Elizabeth, daughter of Alexander Cockburn of Langston, son of Sir Alexander, Keeper of the Great Seal. By her had a large family, one daughter married a cousin, son of John of Balglely (Balgelly/Balgally?)
2. Archibald who had to wife a Dalrymple of the family of Stair and had a family.
3. Janet, wife of Alexander Boswell of Kilvermouth, son of Thomas Boswell of Affleck. This Alexander was a portioner of Kinglassie and Pitzoqhar. There was a large family.
4. Mary Boswell, wife to James Bethune (who was NOT chancellor of and commendator of Arbroath, Archbishop of Glasgow and afterwards of St Andrews, 6th son of John Bethune of Balfour by Mary daughter of David Boswell of Balmuto See Bethune-14 for details of James Bethune the Archbishop).

Sir Alexander was in great favour of King James IV who confirmed upon him the honour of Knighthood. He obtained two charters from the king under the Great Seal "domino Alexandro Boswell de Balmuto nuleti et Alisonoe Sandilands ejus spouse of the lands of Fleskmill and Balgally with other lands; this first dated 1505, the second 1508". He was a man of remarkable fortitude and resolution and accompanied the king to the fatal field of Flodden with his brother Thomas Boswell of Affleck where both were killed together with their King, James IV, anno 1513.^[1] See reference to it in the section headed "Genealogical Charts"^[2][3]

SIR ALEXANDER BOSWELL OF BALMUTTO, succeeded his father and granted an annual rent of £20 from his lands of Balhelvy to the New College of Aberdeen on 12 February 1505.[1] He was k. at the battle of Flodden in September of 1513, having m. first, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Alexander Ramsay of Dalhousie, with whom he had a conjunct charter for the lands of Balglaly-Easter on 30 January 1500,[2] and by whom he was father of :

1. David Boswell of Balmutto, (see below).
2. John Boswell, d. unmarried.
3. Robert Boswell,
4. Alexander Boswell, m. Margaret Marshall, and had issue.

He m. secondly, to Alison, sister of Sir James Sandilands of Calder, with whom he had a charter on his own resignation for the lands of Balglaly on 28 April 1508,[3] and was father of :

5. Archibald Boswell, ^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ Table 14 and p9 of J J Boswell's unpublished manuscript of "The History and Genealogical tables of the Boswells" Part 2, a copy of which is held in Yale University Library and the original manuscript at Fondazione Sella in Biella, Italy.
2. ↑ https://archives.yale.edu/repositories/11/resources/894
3. ↑ http://www.thepeerage.com/p24002.htm#i240018
4. ↑ Red Book of Scotland Vol 1 p 931

Research Notes

Children of Sir James Sandilands, 5th of Calder and Margaret Kinloch

Christian Sandilands

John Sandilands, 6th of Calder d. before 13 Feb 1493/94

Children of Sir James Sandilands, 5th of Calder and Margaret Kerr

Margaret Sandilands

James Sandilands d. before 15 May 1534

unknown daughter Sandilands who m. William Dishington of Ardross

John Sandilands d. before 10 May 1521

Peter Sandilands d. c 4 May 1549

Jennet Sandilands who also m. William Dishington of Ardross

It seems unlikely that William Dishington married two sisters, although it was possible. In any case, the dates suggest that Alison was the daughter of James Sandilands, 5th of Calder, and could possibly be the "unknown daughter".