Alexander Borthwick (1785 - 1817)

Born 5 Jan 1785 in Westerkirk, Dumfriesshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Died Jan 1817 at about age 31 in Gangāni, Rajasthan, India

Biography

Alexander BORTHWICK (Christopher BORTHWICK , Alexander BORTHWICK , Jennet GLENDINNING , James ) was christened on 5 Jan 1785 in Glendinning, Westerkirk, Dumfries. He died in Jan 1817 in Gangani, Southern India. Alexander was employed as Lieut. E.I.C. 2nd Regiment Native Infantry.

The Alexander who died in Jan 1817 in India is definitely the son of Christopher Borthwick and Lillas Glendinning as he is on their gravestone. This says he is a Lieut in Native Infantry whereas the baptism of William Scott Borthwick says the father Alexander Borthwick is Lieut in Royal Navy, but we think they are one and the same person.

It would be interesting to find out why Alexander joined the East India Company Army and subsequently died at Gangani. There is a Gangani in Bengal, but this one should be in southern India. 1817 was the year of the last War between the EIC Army and the Maratha Empire - see - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Anglo-Maratha_War . Alexander died early in the year well before the War kicked off.

Ian Glendinning checked with Family Search to see if there were documents indicating whether this Alexander Borthwick could be the one who married Janet Graham . The Borthwick Cadetship papers held by FamilySearch were not of much use. The documents on Alexander Borthwick b 1785 son of Christopher Borthwick and Lilias Glendinning were from the 1806/07 batch of East India Company Cadetship papers. It was a copy of the extract from the Parish Register and confirmation from the Minister and Elders that he is the Lawful son (i.e. his parents are married) It looks like there should be more but it has been covered by an unrelated paper.

It would seem odd for a married man to sign up for this war. So He may not have been the Alexander Borthwick who married Janet Graham.

There is Alexander Borthwick who married Janet Graham on 21 NOV 1802 in Langholm, Dumfries, Scotland. They had a son John Borthwick (1803-1882) who married an Ann Reid and had a son Francis Borthwick (1830-99).

A John Borthwick was christened at Langholm on 14th August 1803 the son of Alexander BORTHWICK and Janet GRAHAM. He had a sister Mary Christened at Langholm on 20th June 1805.

Sources

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Katharine E for starting this profile.