Alexander Belsches, Lord Tofts

Alexander Belsches, Lord Tofts MP (c. 1610 – 1656) was a 17th-century Scottish judge and Senator of the College of Justice.

Life He was son of John Belsches (1580-1631) an advocate, and his wife, Janet Craig, daughter of Thomas Craig of Riccarton, Lord Advocate. In 1621 his father purchased the estates of Over Tofts and Nether Tofts in Berwickshire. In 1625 his father remarried (Janet presumably being dead) to a Marjory Kae.

He inherited the Tofts estates (east of Hawick) in 1631.

In 1644 Alexander was a Member of Parliament for Berwick-upon-Tweed. In July 1646 he was knighted by Charles I of England and created a Senator of the College of Justice taking the title Lord Tofts.

In December 1648, from Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight, King Charles wrote from his imprisonment pre-execution to gran Belsches a pension of £200 per annum. In September 1650 he became Sheriff of Berwickshire.

Artistic recognition

He was portrayed by Sir John Baptist de Medina.