FORBES, JAMES [SSNE 283]
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James Forbes (1637-1677) was a Scottish colonel and the son of Alexander 10/11th Lord Forbes [SSNE 1616], colonel in Swedish service. James Forbes had land in Sweden inherited through his uncle James [SSNE 3881] who had also served in Sweden. In 1674, Archibald 3rd Lord Napier [SSNE 6672] , made an agreement with James to enter Swedish service.
He returned to Scotland in 1677 when he signed a discharge in favour of his brother, William, 12th Lord Forbes. He apparently died in Germany leaving some papers to his nephew William Master of Forbes which were evaluated at William's request in 1690 (which means they relate to the future 13th Lord Forbes, son of James' brother William). These estates were worth 750 rixdaler per year and valued at 12,000 rixdaler.
In 1675 a Scottish colonel called James Forbes is said to have offered to recruit a regiment of Scots for Danish service when Charles II would allow it. It is not clear if he succeeded or if it was this man. Given the families long service and residency in Sweden this seems unlikely, however, the source for this information, Hirsch, has erroneously claimed other Scots in Swedish Germany as working for the Danes such as Patrick More in Buxtehude. Subsequent authors have not been critical in their use of Hirsch.
Sources: Riksarkivets ämnessamlingar. Personhistoria, Lord Napier 11 July 1674. https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/A0069635_00328#?c=&m=&s=&cv=327&xywh=3091%2C1849%2C4081%2C2237
National Archives of Scotland, GD 52/1184, 'A Review of some papers of Colonel James Forbes in the German tongue, 1690'; A. and H. Tayler, The House of Forbes (revised edition, Bruceton Mills, 1987), pp.190 and 224-225; J.C.W. Hirsch and K. Hirsch (eds.), 'Fortegnelse over Dansk og Norske officerer med flere fra 1648 til 1814' (12 vols. manuscript compiled 1888-1907), III, vol.4; T. Riis, Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot (Odense, 1988), II, p.88.