BALFOUR, DAVID [SSNE 8033]

Surname

BALFOUR

First name

DAVID, [incorrectly as DANIEL]

Title/rank

SIR

Nationality

SCOT

Social status

OFFICER

Text source

Sir David Balfour was an officer in the Scots-Dutch Brigade from 1603-1638. He was the son of Colonel Barthold Balfour (commander of the old regiment between 1586-1594) and brother to Sir Philip Balfour, colonel of the third regiment in 1640. He may have also been the brother of Sir Henry Balfour and Sir Michael Balfour, first lord of Burleigh. See below for more familial details.

Sir David took oath on 20 December 1603 as captain in Lord Buccleuch's [SSNE 5010] newly formed regiment. Throughout his captaincy his command fluctuated, and what follows is a list of his command and the company's salary:

1604: 200 men, £2489

1607: 150, £2014

1608: 149, £1915

1609-1617: 70, £1059

1621: 120 men, £1655

(N.B. The suddent drop in 1609 coincides with the start of the Twelve Years' Truce. Every company in the brigade underwent the same drop in numbers until 1621).

By 4 September 1622 Balfour was promoted to sergeant-major under Sir Francis Henderson [SSNE 8024]. After Sir Francis' death by 23 December 1628, Balfour was promoted to lieutenant-colonel under Sir John Halkett [SSNE 7966]. Balfour assumed the colonelcy of the regiment by 7 September 1629, after Halkett was killed at Bois-le-Duc. He fought at the siege of Breda in 1637 but was dead before 6 December 1638. The colonelcy of the regiment fell to his lieutenant-colonel, Archibald Douglas.

FAMILY

On 30 October 1607, Sir David married Anna Bax, the daughter of Ridder Pauwels Bacx, Governor of Bergen-op-Zoom and captain of horse. He had several children, possibly including Lieutenant-Colonel James Balfour [SSNE 8009] (see that entry for the issue of names). He had at least one daughter, and she went on to marry one Captain Wight. The Balfour pedigree is the subject of much debate and deeper consultation and research is necessary before further claims can be made.

 

A portrait of Balfour exists in the Netherlands:

https://rkd.nl/nl/explore/images/record?query=david+balfour&start=0

 

Sources:

J. Ferguson, Papers Illustrating the History of the Scots Brigade in theservice of the United Netherlands, 1572-1697 (Edinburgh, 1899), p. xxv, xxxiv, 64, 65, 66, 70, 73, 74, 226, 228, 230, 307, 308, 313, 314, 318-320, 322, 323, 328, 329, 330, 331, 332, 439.

 

This entry created by Mr Jack Abernethy.

Service record

THE DUTCH REPUBLIC, THE SCOTS BRIGADE, BUCCLEUCH, HENDERSON

Arrived 1603-12-20, as CAPTAIN

Departed 1622-09-04, as SERGEANT-MAJOR

Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY

THE DUTCH REPUBLIC, THE SCOTS BRIGADE, COL. F. HENDERSON

Arrived 1622-09-04, as SERGEANT-MAJOR

Departed 1628-12-23, as LIEUTENANT-COLONEL

Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY

THE DUTCH REPUBLIC, THE SCOTS BRIGADE, COL. HALKETT

Arrived 1628-12-23, as LIEUTENANT-COLONEL

Departed 1629-09-07, as COLONEL

Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY

THE DUTCH REPUBLIC, THE SCOTS BRIGADE, COL. D. BALFOUR

Arrived 1629-09-07, as COLONEL

Departed 1638-12-06, as DECEASED

Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY