William (Borthwick) Borthwick Fifth Lord Borthwick (bef. 1546 - 1582)

Born before Mar 1546 in Borthwick, Midlothian, Scotland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died Oct 1582 after age 36 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland

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Biography

William (Borthwick) Borthwick Fifth Lord Borthwick is a member of Clan Borthwick.

William Borthwick was a member of the aristocracy in British Isles.

William was the son of John Borthwick and Isobel Lindsay.^[1]

"William, Lord Borthwick was a zealous supporter of Mary, Queen of Scotland, whom, with the Earl of Bothwell, he entertained in June 1567. He married, before 1570, Grissel, daughter of Sir Walter Scott of Branxholm & Buccleuch. The marriage proved unhappy, and proceedings were instituted against her 15 Jan 1579/80 for an alleged intrigue, but were abandoned. on 24 Sep 1581 she lodged a complaint against him for desertion and cruelty. He was of "ill government" and died "of the French disease" Oct 1582, in the Canongate, at Edinburgh, where his Testament was probated 28 Jan 1583/4. His widow married, before 1593, Walter Cairncross, of Colmslie".^[2][3]

He married Grissel Scott.^[4][5] They had numerous children, including:

1. William, Master of Borthwick, d.v.p. 17 Mar 1570-71^[4]
2. James, 6th Lord Borthwick^[4]
3. William, secundus, Tutor of Borthwich, m. Agnes, daughter of WIlliam Borthwick of Crookston^[4]
4. Captain John^[4]
5. Alexander^[4]

Research Notes

Although one might be certain that his parents married before 1544, it is not known how long before such marriage took place. Given that a bride could have been as young as 12 and given that most women were fecund until age 47, a child of that marriage could have been as late as 1579 were it not for the fact that both were deceased before that date. Isobel survived John who passed in Mar 1566 placing the birth of any child before 1567. He married before 1570 placing his birth prior to 1556. He was on the Privy Council in Aug 1567^[6] making it safe to believe he was of full age and, thus, born before Aug 1546. It should be noted that a date of Oct 1539 was proffered earlier but without source.

"William, 7th^[7] Lord Borthwick, also took an active part in public affairs, and warmly supported the cause of Queen Mary. He married Grissel, eldest daughter of Sir Walter Scott, of Branxholm, and by her had two sons."^[8]

William, Lord Borthwick's Testament was proved in the Edinburgh Commissariot Court on 29 January 1583/4.^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ Paul, James Balfour. The Scots Peerage : founded on Wood's ed. of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland; containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom, Edinburgh: David Douglas, 1905, Vol. II, Archive.org, p. 110; N.B. erroneously referred to as seventh rather than fifth Lord
2. ↑ Cokayne, George Edward, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, London: St. Catherine Press, 1912, Ed. 2 Vol II, Archive.org, p. 222; N.B. erroneously referred to as sixth rather than fifth Lord
3. ↑ Lauder-Frost, FSA Scot., Gregory, "The Cairncross Family in the 16th & 17th centuries" in The Borders Family History Society Magazine, Galashiels, Selkirkshire, issue 59, October 2005, pps:13-24.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5} Paul, James Balfour. "The Scots Peerage : founded on Wood's ed. of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland; containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom", Edinburgh: David Douglas, 1905, Vol. II, Archive.org, p. 111
5. ↑ Cokayne, George Edward, "The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom", London: St. Catherine Press, 1912, Ed. 2 Vol II, Archive.org, p. 221
6. ↑ Burton, John Hill, The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, First Series, Edinburgh, H.M. General Register House, 1877, Vol. I, Hathitrust, pp. 548-50
7. ↑ Incorrect: refer The Scots Law Times 3rd July 1987, (ISSN 0036-908X), Court of the Lord Lyon: Lord Borthwick, Petitioner.
8. ↑ Burke, John and Burke, John Bernard, "'Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage, Baronetage", London: Harrison & Sons, 1880, ed, 42, Google Books, p. 137
9. ↑ Testament: https://archive.org/details/scottishrecordso01scotuoft/scottishrecordso01scotuoft/page/32/mode/2up?view=theater

See also:

• The Peerage