SPENS, DAVID [SSNE 1156]

Surname

SPENS, SPENCE

First name

DAVID

Title/rank

OFFICER

Nationality

SCOT

Region

WORMISTON, FIFE

Text source

David Spens was the brother of Sir James Spens of Wormiston, later Baron Orreholm in Sweden [SSNE 1642]. He appears to have been in Swedish service in 1605, during King Karl IX's reign, as the first reference to him hitherto found dates from this time. David recommended his brother James to the King as a source for new recruits. Two years later, in April, Karl had authorised David to muster the Scottish cavalry already in Sweden, which lay at Torshälla and other places and bring them to Stockholm. The next month Karl again wrote to James in May regarding the fact that James and David had not been able to fulfill their promise of levying 1000 infantry and 600 cavalry for Swedish service. At the end of May that year David began to receive 150 daler monthly to be colonel of soldiers being sent to Livonia

Riksarkivets Ämbetsarkiv, Huvudarkivet FV a:31-32 Ang. Skottar i svensk tjänst, notes compiled by Hammerskjöld, references to Riksregistraturet.

Service record

SWEDEN, STOCKHOLM

Arrived 1605-01-01, as OFFICER

Departed 1607-05-23, as OFFICER

Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY

SWEDEN, LIVONIA

Arrived 1607-05-24, as COLONEL

Departed 1607-12-31, as COLONEL

Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY