John Henderson, 5th of Fordell

Sir John Henderson (1605–1650), 5th of Fordell was born 3 November 1605 in Fordell, Fife. He was a distinguished soldier, taken prisoner when commanding at the African Coast. Henderson was a mercenary, serving with the military for Denmark, Sweden, and elsewhere. He fought on the side of the Royalists in the Civil War when Henderson was invested as a Knight by King Charles I.

Henderson assisted Sir John Digby, the High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, to seize Newark on behalf of Charles I in late 1642 The Earl of Newcastle then made him Governor of Newark.During his time in Newark, Henderson lived and worked in The Governor's HouseIn February 1643, Henderson led a sortie from the town that successfully repulsed Major-General Thomas Ballard's force of 6,000 Parliamentarians.This led to suspicions that Ballard had colluded with the Royalists.

In March 1643, a large force of Royalists from Newark commanded by Sir Charles Cavendish and Henderson marched into Lincolnshire and captured the town of Grantham in a surprise attack.

On 9 October 1643 the Eastern Association army (under the command of the Earl of Manchester, Oliver Cromwell and Sir Thomas Fairfax) marched from Boston to Bolingbroke Castle. Sir William Widdrington put together a scratch force, which included Henderson's Royalist cavalry, in an attempt to relieve the castle. Two days later, the Earl of Manchester routed Henderson's Royalist cavalry at the Battle of Winceby.

By the end of October 1645 Henderson's liaisons between Charles I and the King of Denmark were known to Parliament as Charles became increasingly desperate in his attempt to obtain aid.

After "his health and means had been exhausted by his long imprisonment" he was allowed to retire to Denmark. A few months later, he returned to England as an envoy of the King of Denmark; due to a concern that he was using his diplomatic status as a cloak for espionage, he was ordered to return to Denmark.Sources agree that he died on the 11 March 1650, but differ over the place (Denmark or Fife).

His parents were Sir John Henderson, 4th of Fordell and Agnes Balfour. He married Margaret Menteith, daughter of Alexander Menteith and granddaughter of William Menteith of Randiford, 11th and Last of Kerse, on 7 February 1625. and together they raised ten children:

1. Jean Henderson (married Thomas Bruce of Blairhall, son of Robert Bruce and Catherine Preston, on 27 April 1748)
2. Sir John Henderson of Fordell, 1st Baronet (d. 26 Jan 1683), created in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia on 15 July 1664.
3. Francis Henderson (killed in action, without issue, having gained the rank of Officer in the service of the French service).
4. George Henderson d. 1659 (killed in action, without issue, in The Netherlands).
5. Margaret Henderson (married Sir Henry Wardlaw of Pitreavie, 3rd Bt. on 9 June 1653, then went on to marry Peter Hay of Maughton).
6. Elizabeth Henderson (married Alexander Mercer of Kinnaird on 9 May 1656, then went on to marry Sir Robert Cunningham, Bt. on 14 May 1660 and later married Sir William Denholme of Westshield on 7 July 1679).
7. Bethia Henderson (married John Roberton of Earnockon 5 March 1662, then went on to marry Alexander Hamilton, 2nd of Dalzell, son of James Hamilton, 1st of Dalzell and Beatrice Fleming).
8. Anna Henderson (married Hon. Archibald Stuart, son of James Stuart, 4th Earl of Moray and Lady Margaret Home, in 1669, then went on to marry Walter Denholme, son of Walter Denholme of Westshield).
9. William Henderson b. c 1628, d. 21 Jul 1676
10. James Henderson b. c 1630, d. 2 May 1675 (a supporter of King Charles II, married Margaret Scott)