James Borthwick of Glengelt

JAMES BORTHWICK OF GLENGELT

According to the Scots Peerage, James Borthwick of Glengelt was the son of William, second Lord Borthwick. The Scots Peerage, ii, p. 98 However, it now appears likely, from the research that was undertaken in the lead up to the recognition of Lt Col John Henry Stuart Borthwick of Crookston as Lord Borthwick in 1986, that the first Lord Borthwick may still have been alive in 1467 and this suggests that James Borthwick was his son. NRS GD350

Evidence from the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland

19 December 1467: Charter by which William, Lord Borthwick confirms that he has given the lands of Glengelt in the sheriffdom of Berwick to his son James Borthwick and his heirs. For greater security James Borthwick obtained a charter of confirmation under the Great Seal of Scotland on 20 December 1467-68. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1424-1513, charter number 937 on p. 195

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

The Borthwick muniments in the NRS are in fact the papers of the branch of the family Borthwick of Crookston, in which the title of Lord Borthwick is now vested. The direct line of the original peerage family died out in 1674, and the location of the muniments of that family is unknown. The Borthwick of Crookston succession to the peerage title has a complicated history, which may be briefly summarised as follows:There were four principal cases which established the right of Crookston to the peerage. The first, 1774-1776, was pursued by John Borthwick of Crookston, who claimed that, on the death of Henry Lord Borthwick on 6 Sep 1772 without issue, all male issue of William, second Lord Borthwick became extinct. He claimed to be descended from John Borthwick, whom he asserted to have been second son of the first Lord Borthwick. No decision as to this claim was taken on this occasion. (It should be noted that by now the title had passed to another line). The second case, 1807-1816, was presented by Archibald Borthwick, a kinsman of Henry Lord Borthwick, but was answered by John Borthwick of Crookston, son of the earlier claimant. The case was also deserted without a final decision, although at times thereafter there was a reawakening of interest. Principally this occurred during the third case, 1868-1871, presented by Cunninghame, twentieth Lord Borthwick, which was successful. John Borthwick of Crookston, grandson of the 1812 claimant, asserted a claim to the title but brought forward no formal defence. Cunninghame's son Archibald, twenty-first Lord Borthwick, died without male issue in 1910, whereupon the peerage became dormant. The fourth case, 1984-1986, was presented successfully by Lt Col John Henry Stuart Borthwick of Crookston to the Lord Lyon, and in due course Lord Borthwick took his seat in the House of Lords. Additional evidence came to light during research for this case which allowed the approval of the petition presented. A major point was a renumbering of the previous holders of the title: the successful petition argued that the first Lord Borthwick had married twice and had lived 25 years longer than had earlier been thought. This means that previous accounts of the family, in sources such as 'The Scots Peerage', ii, 94-119, are unreliable. National Records of Scotland, Borthwick of Borthwick, reference GD350

Genealogical Accounts

1. Sir James Balfour Paul, Lord Lyon King of Arms, The Scots Peerage, ii (David Douglas, Edinburgh, 1908), 602 pp.
2. Clan Borthwick: The Borthwick Family Lineage