ABERNETHY, THOMAS [SSNE 1744]

Surname

ABERNETHY, ABERNETI, ABBERNETH, ABBORNOTH, ARBOTHNOT, ARBUTHNOT, ABBORNAT, EBBERNET, OBORNITH, ABERNET, ABORNHOTH

First name

THOMAS

Title/rank

GOVERNOR

Nationality

SCOT

Social status

OFFICER

Text source

Thomas Arbuthnot/Abernethy was in Sweden by 1580 and served in Henry Leyell's [SSNE 182] company. He is probably the same as Thomas Ebbernet (of Abernethy), who is listed as governor of Viborg, and who, in 1591 is sent on a diplomatic mission to Narva. It appears that he was responsible for turning the town of Narva in Duke Karl's favour by 1600, during Karl's war with his nephew, King Sigismund III of Poland and Sweden. Whether he bought or received land in Finland has not been determined yet, but he was land holder there. Abernethy's name can be found in Swedish muster rolls until 1609. That year a Thomas Abornhoth was listed amongst "Livonians" in the 1609 donation register. He presumably died by 1612 as that year Samuel Cockburn took on Arbuthnot's properties in Finland, comprising land in three different villages in Perna and Borga parishes

Swedish Krigsarkiv, Muster Roll, 1582/3; 1590; E. Anthoni, Hertig Carl och Finland, p.160 and p.412; T. Fischer, The Scots in Sweden (Edinburgh, 1907), p.65, 223; E. Brännman, Frälseköpen under Gustav II Adolfs Regering (Lund, 1950),p.45, 48, 49, 144; S.A. Nilsson, På väg mot militärstaten, (Uppsala, 1989), p.39; see also: Toijer, Sverige och Sigismund 1598-1600; Tawaststjerna, Kaarle IX:n ja Sigismundin taistelu Viron ja Liivinmaan omistamisesta; and Allardt, Borga Sockens Historia I.

Service record

SWEDEN, HENRY LEYELL'S SCOTTISH COMPANY

Arrived 1582-01-01, as ENSIGN

Departed 1582-12-31, as ENSIGN

Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY

SWEDEN, VIBORG, FINLAND

Arrived 1591-01-01, as GOVERNOR

Departed 1591-12-31, as GOVERNOR

Capacity GOVERNOR, purpose MILITARY

SWEDEN, NARVA

Arrived 1591-01-01

Departed 1591-12-31

Capacity ENVOY, purpose DIPLMACY