DONALDSON, ANDREW [SSNE 8007]

Surname

DONALDSON, DONALDSONE, DONALSON

First name

ANDREW, ANDRE, ANDRO, ANDREAS

Title/rank

CAPTAIN

Nationality

SCOT

Social status

OFFICER

Text source

Captain Andrew Donaldson received his commission in the Scots-Dutch Brigade in 1604, and served under Sir William Brog [SSNE 7842]. He fell under the pay of Buyren and Culenburg and in 1604 he commanded 95 men out the usual 113.

Throughout his tenure as captain the strength and salary of his company fluctuated.

1608: 91 men, £1290.

1609-1617: 70 men, £1059.

1621: 120 men, £1655.

By 1618, Donaldson was the second most senior captain in Brog's regiment, behind Captain Allan Coutts [SSNE 8003]. Upon the absence of Sergeant-Major John Gordon [SSNE 7993], Colonel William Brog petitioned on his behalf for his promotion to sergeant-major. Donaldson also drafted a memorial to this effect, citing that he had been defacto sergeant-major at his own expense and wanted the promotion. However, not everyone supported Donaldson in this endeavor. One Captain James Seyton (of Brog's regiment) petitioned against the promotion. He believed that Donaldson had not the experience for the position, averring that Donaldson had not been a soldier since shortly before the end of the siege of Sluys, and had only been employed in the sale of "hosiery and suchlike wares." Furthermore, wrote Seyton, he alleged that Donaldson had not been face to face with the enemy, aside from the siege of Gulick. Seyton cited his own 16 years of service, and though he stated that while he was not "ostentatiously offering himself for the appointment," he wished for a more experienced officer to be appointed, (Ferguson, 287). The matter does not reappear in Ferguson's volume, but in 1622 Donaldson is still listed as captain in the regiment while William Drummond is listed sergeant-major, indicating that the matter was taken seriously and Donaldson was passed up for the appointment. 

Donaldson was dead by 18 March 1627 and command of his company was assumed by James Balfour.

Donaldson's widow, Margaret Davidson, petitioned for an appointment for her son on 16 June 1628.

 

Sources:

J. Ferguson, Papers Illustrating the History of the Scots Brigade in theservice of the United Netherlands, 1572-1697 (Edinburgh, 1899), pp. 68, 69, 72, 75, 227, 229, 285, 286, 310, 318, 322, 332, 353.

 

This entry created by Mr Jack Abernethy.

Service record

THE DUTCH REPUBLIC, THE SCOTS BRIGADE, COL. BROG

Arrived 1604-10-09, as CAPTAIN

Departed 1627-03-18, as DECEASED

Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY