Thomas (Boswell) Boswell of Auchinleck and Balmutto (aft. 1483 - 1513)

Born after 1483 in Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Annabella Campbell — married before 8 May 1506 in Scotland

Descendants

Died 9 Sep 1513 before age 30 in Flodden field, Northumberland, England

Biography

Thomas (Boswell) Boswell of Auchinleck and Balmutto was killed in Action during the War of the League of Cambrai at the Battle of Flodden Field.

Thomas was the putative son of David Boswell and Margaret Sinclair.^[1][2]

Thomas Boswell married Annabella Campbell by Marion Auchinleck. Annabella was the daughter of George Campbell of Londoun in descent from Sir Duncan Campbell the first to assume the name of Argyle 1424. The Londoun estate seems to have fallen to heiresses frequently until now it has emerged from that cause into the Hastings possessions. The first heiress of Londoun, Margaret de Londoun, married Sir Reginald de Crawford about 1200. Again in 1307 Ronald Crawford who, for being present in the descent on Galloway with 700 men and were there totally defeated, was with his two brothers all badly wounded, taken to Carlisle and executed, their heads being placed on the Castle gates. Ronald's widow Susanna, now the heiress of Londoun, afterwards married Sir Duncan Campbell of Lochaw.

Annabella after her husband's death remarried and was the wife of John Cunninghame of Caprington, 1525. By Thomas Boswell were two sons. lst David, his heir 2nd Alexander, designed as of Silvermouth, who married his cousin Janet of Balmuto and by her had David Boswell of Auchtertool who married Agnes Balmano and had issue one son who died s.p. and one daughter of whom there is no further account. Who this Agnes Balmano was is not clear but the connection was with the Auchinlecks of Perthshire, designed of Balmano and Auchinleck having married the heiress of Balmano of that ilk. The name is mentioned in the following extracts: 1622 Robert Auchinleck servitore, domini de Balmano 1627 Auchinleck of Affleck de Balmano, Georgionum Auchinleck de Balmano and others. See test. M Roger Mowat, Advocate, Alexander Balmano ejius servitore dictus .......... etc ^[3]

I. THOMAS BOSWELL, the first of Auchinleck, was the son of David Boswell of Balmuto, by Lady Margaret Sinclair, daughter of William, Earl of Orkney and Caithness. He was a favourite at the court of King James IV., from whom he obtained a charter of the lands of Auchinleck, 20th November, 1504. The following year (16th June) he had another charter of the lands of Cruikstoun, Over and Nether Keithstoun, and Rogertoun, with the fortalice, &c. And again 27th May, 1507 he obtained a third charter, constituting the village and lands of Keithstoun into a freeburgh of barony. Nisbet, in his first volume of Heraldry, states that Thomas Boswell married the second daughter and co-heiress of Sir John Auchinleck of Auchinleck. This, however, does not tally with the fact, stated in volume second, that Dame Elizabeth Auchinleck, the heiress of line of that family, married Sir William Douglas. Crawfurd, in his Renfrewshire, falls into the same error, making Thomas Boswell twice married, and first to one of the daughters and co-heiresses of Sir John Auchinleck. According to Douglas' Baronage, he married a daughter Annabella of Sir Hugh Campbell of Loudoun, by Isabel, his wife, daughter of Sir Thomas Wallace of Craigie, and by her had a son, David, his heir. Having accompanied James IV. in his chivalrous invasion of England, Thomas Boswell fell, with his royal master, at the fatal field of Flodden, in 1513. His widow must have lived to a great age, as we find her Annabell, Lady of Auchinleck mentioned in the parliamentary records as alive in 1586. He was succeeded by his only son, David Boswell of Auchinleck ^[4]

Died with King James IV of Scotland in the Battle of Flodden Sept 09 1513.

Sources

1. ↑ MacGregor, Gordon, "The Red Book of Scotland", Scotland, private, 2022, Ed. 3, Vol. I, p. 988
2. ↑ MacGregor, Gordon, "The Red Book of Scotland", Scotland, private, 2022, Ed. 3, Vol. I, p. 1011
3. ↑ The Boswell History Vol 2 Ch15 by J J Boswell 1906, unpublished manuscript held at Fondazione Sella in Biella, Italy, a copy is also held at Yale University
4. ↑ History of the County of Ayr, Vol 1, by James Paterson, p238