DUNBAR, PATRICK [SSNE 272]
- Surname
- DUNBAR, DOMBAR, DUNBAR, DUMBAR, til SPANNERUP
- First name
- PATRICK, PETER
- Title/rank
- COUNT SPANNERUP
- Nationality
- SCOT
- Region
- CUMNOCK
- Social status
- NOBILITY
Text source
Patrick Dunbar served in Colonel Donald Mackay's [SSNE 93] regiment between 1626 and 1629. He chose to continue in Danish service rather than transfer with the regiment to Sweden. He desired to go to Scotland in 1633 but was refused permission to leave. Riis suggests that he was demoted from major to overvagmester for asking, though he must have been reinstated as major by 24/9/1634. Dunbar became the Commander 'ad interim' of Halmstad Castle 20/8/1641 and of Christianopel Castle 16/5/1642. In May 1645 Hannibal Sehested was keen to use Dunbar's men, 400, for the support of Govenor Nils Krabbe - these likely included those of Colonel Laurence Blair [SSNE 24].
There is some confusion surrounding the demise of Patrick Dunbar. Riis, Thisset and Wittrup (correctly) believe that he married Maren Munk and was naturalised as a Danish gentleman in 4/5/1638 and died around 19/4/1646. With her he had a daughter, Mette Maria Dunbar [SSNE 7841] and a son, John (Hans) Dunbar [SSNE 269] .
Hirsch and Lind both believe (erroneously) that he served on until the 1660's. In 1657 a Patrick Dunbar [SSNE 8121], probably a son or a nephew, served as a major in Nadelwitz's infantry. 'Oberstvagtmester' Dombach is noted for being captured in 1658 in Helsingor while serving as a major. He remained a prisoner for 18 months but managed to ransom himself, became 'reduced' in 1661 and sought his dismissal from the army. On 11/11/1657 in Maria Kirken, Dunbar married Elizabeth Grubbe.
Sources: J.C.W. Hirsch and K. Hirsch (eds.), 'Fortegnelse over Dansk og Norske officerer med flere fra 1648 til 1814 (12 vols. compiled 1888-1907), III, vol.2 (here Listed as 'of Spannerup' in Skane, born 1598); G. Lind, Danish Data Archive 1573; A. Thiset and P.L. Wittrup 'Nyt Dansk Adelslexicon', p.70; T. Riis, Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot (Odense, 1988), II, p.86; Samlinger til det Norske Folks Sprog og Historie, I, (Christiania, 1833), p.153, 159.
Service record
- DENMARK-NORWAY, MACKAY'S REGIMENT
- Arrived 1625-01-01, as ENSIGN
- Departed 1628-10-31, as ENSIGN
- Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY
- DENMARK-NORWAY, DANISH ARMY
- Arrived 1629-01-01, as ENSIGN
- Departed 1641-08-19, as MAJOR
- Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY
- DENMARK-NORWAY, HALMSTAD
- Arrived 1641-08-20, as COMMANDANT
- Departed 1642-05-15, as COMMANDANT
- Capacity COMMANDANT, purpose MILITARY
- DENMARK-NORWAY, CHRISTIANOPEL
- Arrived 1642-05-16, as COMMANDANT
- Departed 1646-04-19, as COMMANDANT
- Capacity COMMANDANT, purpose MILITARY