EDMISTON, JOHN [SSNE 8403]

Surname

EDMISTON, EDMONSTON, EDMONSTONS, EMESTON

First name

JOHN

Title/rank

SERGEANT-MAJOR

Nationality

SCOT

Social status

OFFICER

Text source

Sergeant-Major John Edmiston was a Scottish officer in the Dutch Revolt, though there may have been several Captain Edmistons in Dutch service in the 1570s. On 17 March 1573, it was reported to Lord Burghley that a Captain Edmonstons was in Scotland raising soldiers and mariners for the Prince of Orange, but sometime after it was said that he was perhaps going to transport soldiers for the Earl of Huntly but fell sick. In August, it was reported that Captain Edmonstoun had departed for the Low Countries, and indeed a Captain Edmiston appears in the pay-lists of Holland from 1573-1574 and in the pay-lists of 1575-1577 a “Johan Edmeston” appears as sergeant-major, along with a “William Emeston,” who was a captain. On 15 Dec. 1577 it was reported to Lord Burghley that a cavalry Captain Edmiston was drowned on his passage over to the Low Countries. 

 

Sources:

Calendar of State Papers, Scotland, 1571-1574, pp. 522, 536, 601.

Calendar of State Papers, Foreign, 1577-1578, p. 384.

J. Ferguson, Papers Illustrating the History of the Scots Brigade in the service of the United Netherlands,1572-1697 (Edinburgh, 1899), pp. 36-38.

 

This entry created by Mr Jack Abernethy.

Service record

THE LOW COUNTRIES, PRINCE OF ORANGE, THE SCOTS BRIGADE

Arrived 1573-03-17, as CAPTAIN

Departed 1577-12-15, as SERGEANT-MAJOR

Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY