KEITH, WILLIAM [SSNE 3952]
Text source
William Keith was the brother of Robert Keith of 'Roishauch'. He enrolled in the Muscovite army in 1632 with a salary of 75 roubles. He took part in the Smolensk war and campaigns against Crimean Tartars, and became a colonel. In August 1634, Colonel Keith was in Moscow when he delivered 100 rex dollars to Thomas Melville, the Aberdeen burgess who accompanied the Holstein embassy to Persia, which Melville was to deliver to William's brother Robert whenever he (Melville) returned to Scotland. A few months later, in December 1634, Colonel Keith was in Amsterdam when he informed his brother Robert about this financial arrangement. At a muster of Alexander Leslie's regiment in Moscow William was joined by three other Keiths. A deed contracted by Robert Keith in October 1639 indicated that Colonel Keith was dead by then ('wmqle Colonell Williame Keithe').
D. Fedosov, The Caledonian Connection(Aberdeen,1996); (RGADA,f.210,op.1,No.78); Aberdeen City Archives, Aberdeen Register of Deeds, CA2/2/8, pp. 195-7.
This entry was kindly updated by Dr Thomas Brochard.
Service record
- RUSSIA, RUSSIAN ARMY
- Arrived 1632-01-01, as OFFICER
- Departed 1634-12-31, as COLONEL
- Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY