General William Baillie of Letham

GENERAL WILLIAM BAILLIE OF LETHAM

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

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11 March 1628: Letters of alienation by Barbara Baillie, daughter of John Baillie of Lethame [Letham], and Mr Alexander Bruce of Kincavell [Kincavil], her spouse, in favour of Janet Bruce and William Baillie, son of the deceased William Baillie of Lemyngtoun [Lamington], her spouse, of their half of the lands of Lethame [Letham], Lethamedoll, and Sascan, containing procuratory of resignation by the said parties for new infeftment of the said William Baillie and Janet Bruce in conjunct fee, of the whole of the said lands. National Records of Scotland, Dundas of Fingask, reference GD65/45

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11 April 1628: (1) Precept of Clare Constat by James, Marquis of Hamiltoun [Hamilton] in favour of Janet Bruce, as niece and one of the two heirs-portioners of the deceased James Baillie, son of John Baillie of Bradschaw, of half of the lands of Lethame [Letham] and Lethamedoll, with half the lands of Sascan in warrandice. [Seal appended]. (2) Sasine following thereon. Dated 21 April, 1628. Registered P.R.S. Stirling, 28 April 1628, iv, 133-4. National Records of Scotland, Dundas of Fingask, reference GD65/46

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4 July 1628: (1) Instrument of Resignation by Janet Bruce and William Baillie, her spouse, of half the lands of Lethame [Letham], Lethamedole, and Sascan, in the hands of James, Marquis of Hamiltoun [Hamilton], in favour of themselves and their heirs, following on GD65/45.(2) Charter following thereon. Dated 4 July 1628. [Seal appended]. (3) Sasine following thereon. Dated 5 March 1629. Registered G.R.S., 16 March 1629, xxv, 273-5. National Records of Scotland, Dundas of Fingask, reference GD65/47

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31 July 1634: (1) Disposition by Barbara Baillie, relict of the deceased Mr Alexander Bruce of Kincavill [Kincavil], and sister and one of the 2 heirs-portioners of the deceased James Baillie, in favour of Colonel William Baillie, and Janet Bruce, his spouse, of her part of the lands as in GD65/45, reserving to John Baillie of Lethame [Letham], father of said Barbara, his liferent of said lands, with procuratory of resignation. (2) Instrument of Resignation following thereon. Dated 19 August 1634. (3) Charter by James, Marquis of Hamilton, following thereon, the said William paying yearly the sum of £15 5s Scots. Dated 29 August 1634. [Signature; seal appended]. National Records of Scotland, Dundas of Fingask, reference GD65/50

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1620-90: Lord Forrester of Corstorphine, Janet Bruce, relict of lt. gen. William Baillie of Lethem, wife of Sir Michael Naismith, mother of James, lord Forrester 1620-90 Brisbane of Bishoptoun Lands of Little Currie and Lang Hermanstoun, Dishington of Ardross, Wardlaw of Riccarton, Lichton, Hepburn etc. (MP179) Miscellaneous Papers (Formerly known as MP Bundles), reference RH15/90/5

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15 December 1649: Extract antenuptial contract of marriage between James and William Baillie, sons of Lt.Gen. William Baillie of Lethem and Jonet Bruce, his spouse, and Jean and Lilias Forrester, daughters of George, lord Forrester of Corstorphine, James marrying Jean, and William marrying Lilias. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Graham Family, Dukes of Montrose , reference GD220/6/260

BIOGRAPHY

William Baillie was born during the lifetime of his father's first wife. His father, Sir William Baillie, of Lamington, after the death of his first wife, married his mistress, but the son was not thereby legitimated, and the estates were inherited by Margaret Baillie, the eldest daughter by the first marriage.

In early life William Baillie went to Sweden and served under King Gustaf II Adolph. In a 'list of Scottish officers that served his majesty of Sweden' at the the time of the monarch's death in 1632, he is styled 'William Baily, colonell to a regiment of foote of Dutch.'

After his return to Scotland in 1638 he was empolyed on many important services by the covenanters. In his commission in the army, ratified by parliament 11 June 1640, he is designated 'William Baillie of Lethem (Letham), Stirlingshire,'an estate which came into his possession through his marriage to Janet, daughter of Sir William Bruce of Glenhouse, and granddaughter of John Baillie of Letham.

In 1641 he made an unsuccesfull attempt to have the settlement of the Lamington estates reversed in his favour. Under Alexander Leslie, later the 1st Earl of Leven, he was present with the army which in 1639 encamped on Dunse Law, and he also took part in the incursion into England in the following year.

As lieutenant-general of foot he also distinguished himself under Leslie in 1644, at Marston Moore, the siege of York, and the capture of Newcastle. In order tto check the brilliant raids of Montrose and his Highlanders in the northern districts of Scotland, he was, in 1645, appointed to the command of a strong force, with Sir John Urry (or Hurry), as assistant general. For some time he manoeuvred against Montrose with great strategic skill, but, the forces under his command having divided, Urry was routed at Auldearn, and he himself, after a stubborn contest, was worsted at Alford and compelled to retreat southwards. Attributing his defeat to the fact that his forces had been unnecessarily weakened by the drawing off of recruits, he resigned his commission; but after receiving from the authorities formal approbation of his conduct, he agreed to continue in command till an efficient substitute could be found.

The result fully justified his scruples. On 15 August the opposing forces again came in sight of each other at Kilsyth. The committee of estates resolved to give battle, a determination so strongly disapproved of by Baillie that he declined to undertake the disposition of the troops, and consented to be present merely that he might lessen the disastrous results of a defeat which he felt to be inevitable. So overwhelming was the victory of Montrose that Scotland for a time was at his feet. It seemed indeed to be fated that the undoubted bravery and skill of Baillie should always be thwarted by the incompetence and blunders of those whom he served.

When the Scots, after the 'engagement' with Charles in the Isle of Wight, resolved on an expedition into England to deliver the 'king from the power of secretaries,' Baillie was appointed lieutenant-general of foot in the army raised by the Duke of Hamilton. The loose order kept by the duke rendered the disaster at Preston on 11 August 1648 a foregone conclusion. Baillie rallied his forces near Winwick, three miles from Warrington, 'maintaining the pass,' according to Cromwell, 'with great resolution for many hours;' but, receiving 'an order to make as good conditions as he could,' he with great reluctance sent in a capitulation to Cromwell, which was accepted. He took no further prominent part in the events of his time, and there is no record of the day or year of his death.

Genealogy

• Genealogics
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Baillie_(soldier)_
• http://www.thepeerage.com/p56042.htm “Mariota Baillie is the daughter of Lt.-Gen. William Baillie of Letham and Torwoodhead.2 She married Alexander Robertson of Struan, 12th Chief of Clan Donnachaidh, son of Alexander Robertson of Struan, 11th Chief of Clan Donnachaidh and Margaret Graeme.1 Her married name became Robertson.“
• The peerage of Scotland: containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom, ... collected from the public records, and ancient chartularies of this nation, ... Illustrated with copper-plates. By Robert Douglas, Esq;. Douglas, Robert, Sir, 1694-1770. Page 714.
• “Baillie, William (fl.1648)” Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 02. by Thomas Finlayson Henderson.
• “The Bruces of Airth and their cadets.” Bruces of Stenhouse. Page 93 - 95. Archive.Org
• “British Civil War project - William Baille, d 1653
• “ The Battle of Alford, 1645” by Ellen Castelow
• “BAILLIE, WILLIAM” The SSNE database comprises of information relating to c.8000 individuals from Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales who migrated to or worked in Denmark-Norway, Sweden (inc. Finland), and the Baltic countries between 1580 and 1707.