LIVINGSTONE, THOMAS [SSNE 4983]

Surname: LIVINGSTONE, LIVINGSTON, LEVINGSTON, LEVINGHTOUNE, LEVITSON
First name: THOMAS
Title/rank: LIEUTENANT-COLONEL
Nationality: SCOT
Region: NEWBIGGING, SOUTH LANARKSHIRE
Social status: BARONET

Text source

There is much confusion surrounding the early career of Sir Thomas Livingston of Newbigging. In The Scots Peerage, Sir James Balfour Paul contends that Livingston was a captain in Colonel Sir William "Brigg's" (probably a mistake for "Brog" [SSNE 7842]) regiment. Indeed, a Captain "Levingston" is recorded in the company of Colonel William Brog on 12 July 1622, however, Ferguson indexes BOTH Thomas Livingstone and James Livingstone (later Lord Almond) to this record, so it is uncertain which Livingston it actually was at this time. Thomas Livingston was created a baronet by Charles I on 29 June 1627 with lands in Nova Scotia.

Thomas Livingston, however, definitely succeeded command of Captain Patrick Murray's company (in Sir David Balfour's [SSNE 8033] regiment) on 23 March 1635. In the Autumn of 1639 he became sergeant-Major in the regiment, but there is some discrepancy as to the actual date because of the promotion of the officers above him. On 7 July 1649 he married Gertrude Edmond [SSNE 8039], daughter of the deceased Colonel William Edmond [SSNE 8019] and Agneta Berck.

Confusion arises yet again as to his career in the brigade after this. Ferguson contends that on 9 June 1660, the lieutenant-colonel of the regiment, John Henderson [SSNE 8038], assumed colonelcy of the now reinstated third regiment, which had been dissolved since 1655. Ferguson further claims that Livingston was made sergeant-major (p. 323). However, on the following page, Ferguson writes that on 11 June 1660, Livingston was promoted to lieutenant-colonel of Kirkpatrick's regiment. The lieutenant-colonel claim is further supported by Balfour, but Balfour may have been getting his information from Ferguson. It is possible that the sergeant-major claim is only a misprint, and that Ferguson had actually meant "lieutenant-colonel." The answer must, and most likely can, be found under further research outwith Ferguson.

Livingston was certainly lieutenant-colonel in Kirkpatrick's regiment by 1662 and maintained this position until 1673. Command of his company was succeeded by his ensign and son, also Sir Thomas Livingstone, and afterwards Lord Teviot. His other son, Sir Alexander Livingstone, is also believed to have served in the brigade.

A portrait of Livingston exists in the Netherlands:

https://rkd.nl/nl/explore/images/record?query=regiment&start=323

Sources:

Sir James Balfour Paul, The Scots Peerage (8 vols., 1904-1911), VIII, p.374.

J. Ferguson, Papers Illustrating the History of the Scots Brigade in the service of the United Netherlands,1572-1697 (Edinburgh, 1899), pp. 319, 322-324, 346, 466, 468, 490-491, 494-497, 499, 500.

National Archives of Scotland, RD2/2/326, 2/27/139, 2/26/44; D. Dobson 'Scottish Soldiers in Continental Europe' [part one] (St Andrews, 1997).

MacLean, Dr. Ir. J., De Huwelijksintekeningen Van Schotse Militairen in Nederland: 1574-1665 (Zutphen, 1976), p. 52.

This entry updated by Mr Jack Abernethy.

Service record

THE DUTCH REPUBLIC ?, THE SCOTS BRIGADE, COL. BROG ?: Arrived 1622-06-12, as CAPTAIN ?; Departed 1635-03-23, as CAPTAIN ?; Capacity OFFICER ?, purpose MILITARY ?
THE DUTCH REPUBLIC, THE SCOTS BRIGADE, COL. D. BALFOUR: Arrived 1635-03-23, as CAPTAIN; Departed 1639-09-06, as SERGEANT-MAJOR; Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY
THE DUTCH REPUBLIC, THE SCOTS BRIGADE, COL. KIRKPATRICK: Arrived 1639-09-06, as SERGEANT-MAJOR; Departed 1660-06-11, as LIEUTENANT-COLONEL; Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY
THE DUTCH REPUBLIC, THE SCOTS BRIGADE, COL. J. HENDERSON ?: Arrived 1660-01-01, as SERGEANT-MAJOR ?; Departed 1662-12-31, as LIEUTENANT-COLONEL; Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY
THE DUTCH REPUBLIC, THE SCOTS BRIGADE, COL. KIRKPATRICK: Arrived 1660-06-11, as LIEUTENANT-COLONEL; Departed 1673-07-19, as DECEASED; Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY