RUTHVEN, ALEXANDER [SSNE 3402]

Surname

RUTHVEN, RUTHWEN, REDWEN

First name

ALEXANDER

Title/rank

LT. COLONEL

Nationality

SCOT

Region

BALLINDEAN, Carse of Gowrie, PERTH AND KINROSS

Social status

OFFICER

Text source

Alexander Ruthven son of General Patrick Ruthven [SSNE 3413] and Jane Henderson Ruthven [SSNE 6244]. He was the brother of the courtier Lady Jane Ruthven [SSNE 6301]. Alexander's Swedish service dates to 1632, when he served as a reformed captain in John Ruthven's regiment thereafter he transferred to the regiment variously called Patrick and Francis Ruthven where he served until at least 1635 if not beyond. After service with his father at the siege of Edinburgh on the Royalist side, 1639-1640, Alexander returned to Sweden in 1643. In 1648 his widow wrote to the military college, on 5 October. Alexander had a son, also called Patrick Ruthven. General Patrick Ruthven made his will on 9 May 1649 and in it left all his Swedish lands to his son Alexander's widow, Anna Erasma von Klencke [SSNE 8066]. These lands were in Brevik (Jönköping). To his third wife, Clara Berner and their son Patrick, he donated Ljunsbyholm in Kalmar Lan and Sackendorf in Mecklenburg. His other goods in Scotland he left to Clara Berner. Clara and his daughter-in-law Anna Klence fought protracted disputes over the Smaland lands, even until 1669 and these involved royal intervention. The executors to his will were General James King [SSNE 2814] (to take care of the Swedish side) and Jakob Pringle of Huitbank (to take care of the Scottish side).

Sources: Krigsarkiv, Muster Roll, 1632/31; 1633/11-22; 1634/12-23; 1635/20-22; KrA Muster Roll, 1643/11; 1644/13,14; 1645/13,14; 1646/12; Krigskollegium Kancelliet: Adressatregistratur till Krigskollegiets Registratur 1631-1654 noting a letter from his widow, 5 October 1648.

Letters from his widow Anna Erasma are found in Riksarkivets ämnessamlingar. Personhistoria https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/A0070111_00010#?c=&m=&s=&cv=9&xywh=1983%2C1996%2C3979%2C2295

Riksarkivet, Skoklostersamlingen II. Carl Gustaf Wrangels arkiv. (RA/720795.010) Volym, E 8461. 9x Letters from Alexander Ruthven to Carl Gustaf Wrangel, 1644-1646;

Riksarkivet, Oxenstiernska samlingen, E703. Alexander Ruthven to Axel Oxenstierna, Ulm, 11 November1646.

Riksarkivet, Biographica, Patrick Ruthven, 09/05/1649 and 08/08/1649; 1638/22;

Riksarkivet (manuscript), P. Sondén, Militärachefer i svenska arméen och deras skrivelser; G. E. Cockayne, The Complete Peerage, vol II (London, 1912), pp.299-300; RAOSB, second series, IX, 396. Patrick Ruthven to Axel Oxenstierna, 26 March/5 April 1647.

Service record

SWEDEN, JAHN, FRANCIS AND PATRICK RUTHVEN

Arrived 1632-01-01, as REFORMED CAPTAIN

Departed 1638-12-31, as CAPTAIN

Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY

STUART KINGDOMS, EDINBURGH CASTLE

Arrived 1639-01-07, as MAJOR

Departed 1640-09-15

Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY

SWEDEN, ABO AND BJORNEBORG CAVALRY, FINLAND

Arrived 1643-01-01, as LT. COLONEL

Departed 1647-12-31, as LT. COLONEL

Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY