The peerage of Scotland: containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom, ... collected from the public records, and ancient chartularies of this nation, ... Illustrated with copper-plates. By Robert Douglas, Esq;.

BRUCE Earl of ELGIN and KINCARDIN.

THE immediate ancestor of this noble family was,

VIII. Sir GEORGE BRUCE of Carnock, third son of sir Edward Bruce of Blairhall, and younger brother of Edward lord Bruce of Kinloss, before-mentioned under the title Elgin. He was a man of good parts, great saga∣city, and perfectly well acquainted with the trade and manufactures of our country.

He acquired a considerable estate in the mercantile way, which appears by a charter under the great seal,* 1.1 Georgia Bruce, terrarum baroniae de Carnock cum molendinis, &c. dated anno 1602.

He was member of parliament for the burgh of Culross,* 1.2 anno 1603, had the honour of knighthood conferred upon him by king James VI. and was appointed one of the commissi∣oners to treat of an union with England, anno 1604.

He married Margaret, daughter of Duncan Primrose of Burnbrae, Esq; ancestor of the present earl of Roseberry, by whom he had issue three sons, and four daughters.

1. Sir George.

2. Mr. Robert Bruce of Broomhall, an∣cestor of the present earl of Elgin, of whom more hereafter.

3. Alexander Bruce of Alva, whose only daughter Christian married to—Milne of Carriden.

1st daughter, Anne, married to sir James Arnot of Fernie, brother to Robert lord Bur∣leigh.

2. Magdalen, married to sir John Erskine of Balgony, near Culross.

3. Margaret, married to—Mercer of Aldie, in Perth-shire.

4. Nicholas, married, first, to sir John Morrison of Dairsie; and, 2dly, to Mr. John Dick of Braid, son and heir of sir William Dick, provost of Edinburgh.

He died anno 1625, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

IX. Sir GEORGE BRUCE of Carnock, who was served heir to his father anno 1626,* 1.3 and married Mary, daughter of sir John Pres∣ton of Valleyfield,* 1.4 Bart, by whom he had two sons, and three daughters.

1. Sir Edward, afterwards earl of Kincar∣din.

2. Alexander, who succeeded his brother.

1st daughter, Margaret, married to sir John Lumisden of Innergelly.

2. Magdalen, married to sir John Arnot of Fernie.

3. Mary, married to David lord Cardross, ancestor of the present earl of Buchan.

He was succeded by his eldest son,

X. Sir EDWARD BRUCE of Carnock, who being a man of great integrity, honour and loyalty, was by king Charles I. raised to the dignity of the peerage, by the titles of earl of Kincardin,* 1.5 and lord Bruce of Torry, by letters patent to him and his heirs-male, bear∣ing date 26th December 1647.

He died unmarried, whereby his estate and honours devolved upon his brother,

X. ALEXANDER, second earl of Kincar∣din, who was a man of great parts and singu∣lar endowments. Bishop Burnet, in his hi∣story of his own times, says,* 1.6

"He was the worthiest man that belonged to his coun∣try, fit for governing any affairs, a faith∣ful friend, and a merciful enemy, &c. &c."

He was a great loyalist, and steady friend of the royal family, was highly esteemed by king Charles II. and was both in his council and in the treasury.

He married Veronica Van Arsan,* 1.7 daughter to baron Somersdyke in Holland, by whom he had two sons, and three daughters.

1. Charles, lord Bruce, who died before his father, unmarried.

2. Alexander, lord Bruce.

1st daughter, lady Mary, married to Wil∣liam Cochran of Ochiltree, son and heir of sir John Cochran of Ochiltree, ancestor of the present earl of Dundonald.

2. Lady Anne, married to sir David Mur∣ray of Stanhope, baronet, and had issue.

3. Lady Betty, married to Mr. James Boswel of Auchinleck, advocate, and had issue.

He died on 9th July 1680, and was suc∣ceeded by his son,

XI. ALEXANDER, third earl of Kincar∣din, who turned blind, and never married. He offered a resignation of his honours in the king's hands in favours of his eldest sister, the heir of line, in prejudice of the heir male, to whom the honours were limited by patent; but the resignation was never received, and so could have no effect; and he dying without issue, in him ended the male line of sir George, eldest son of sir George Bruce of Carnock, whereby, after some short debate with the heir of line in the parliament 1706, the ho∣nours

devolved upon the heir male, sir Alex∣ander Bruce of Broomhall, son and heir of Mr. Robert Bruce of Broomhall, before-mentioned, to whom we now return.

IX. Mr. ROBERT BRUCE of Broomhall, second son of sir George Bruce of Carnock by Margaret Primrose, who being bred a lawi∣er, and eminent in the profession, was appoint∣ed one of the senators of the college of ju∣stice. He married Helen, daughter of sir John Skeen of Curriehill, one of the senators of the college of justice, and president of the session in the reign of king Charles I. by whom he had a son,

Sir Alexander Bruce of Broomhall, and two daughters.

1. Helen, married to sir William Weir of Blackwood, in the county of Lanerk, Bart.

2. Janet, married to sir Thomas Burnet of Crimond, eldest son of sir Robert Burnet, lord Crimond, one of the senators of the col∣lege of justice at the restoration of king Charles II.

X. Sir ALEXANDER BRUCE of Broom∣hall, (afterwards earl of Kincardin,) son and heir of Mr. Robert Bruce of Broomhall, se∣cond son of sir George Bruce of Carnock, un∣doubted heir male of the third earl, succeed∣ed to the honours,* 1.8 in virtue of the patent to heirs male, which were confirmed to him by a decree of parliament, anno 1706, and he was the fourth earl.

He was a man of great honour, and a true lover of his country; he strenuously opposed the union of the two kingdoms, and joined in every measure against it; he adhered to the duke of Athole's protest, wherein it was set forth, that the articles of the treaty then on foot were contrary to the honour, interest, fundamental laws, and constitution of Scot∣land, the birth-right of the peers, the rights and privileges of the barons, &c. &c. &c.

He married Christian, daughter of Robert Bruce of Blairhall, a near relation of his own, by whom he had three sons, and five daugh∣ters.

1. Robert.

2. Alexander.

3. Thomas.

These three sons were successively earls of Kincardin.

1st daughter, lady Janet.

2. Lady Christian.

3. Lady Helen.

4. Lady Mary.

These four daughters all died unmarried.

5. Lady Veronica, married to Duncan Campbell of Kaims, but died without issue.

XI. ROBERT, first son, and fifth earl of Kincardin, succeeded his father, and dying without issue, was succeeded by his next bro∣ther,

XI. ALEXANDER, second son, and sixth earl of Kincardin, who married, and had issue one daughter,

Lady Jean, married to John Napier, young∣er of Kilmahew; but dying without male issue, was succeeded by his brother,

XI. THOMAS, third son, and seventh earl of Kincardin, a man of good parts, great ho∣nour, and a true patriot.

He married Rachel, daughter of Robert Paunsfort, of the county of Hereford, Esq; by whom he had two sons, and three daugh∣ters.

1. William, lord Bruce.

2. Thomas, who died without issue.

Ist daughter, Lady Sarah.

3. Lady Christian.

3. Lady Rachel, married to James Drum∣mond of Lundin, heir male and representative of the noble and illustrious family of Perth, and hath issue.

He died at Broomhall, anno 1739, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

XII. WILLIAM, eighth earl of Kincardin, a man of great worth and universal benevo∣lence. He married Janet, daughter and sole heiress of Mr. James Roberton, advocate, one of the principal clerks of session, son of Ar∣chibald Roberton of Bedlay, Esq; descended from Roberton of Earnock, an antient and honourable family, in vicecom. de Lanerk, by whom he had issue three sons, and two daughters.

1. Charles, now earl of Elgin and Kin∣cardin.

2. James, who is bred to the church.

3. Thomas, a captain in the army.

1st daughter, lady Rachel.

2. Lady Christian.

This earl being of a delicate and tender constitution, went to a warmer climate for his health, and dying at Brest, in the pro∣vince of Brittany, anno 1740, was succeeded by his eldest son,

XIII. CHARLES, ninth earl of Kincardin, who, upon the death of Charles the last earl of Elgin and Ailesbury, succeeded to the titles of Elgin, as before noticed; and, failing issue of the present laird of Clackmannan, he is the undoubted heir male and chief of all the Bruces in Scotland.

He married Miss White, only daughter and

sole heiress of Mr. Thomas White, an emi∣nent merchant and banker at London, by whom he hath issue two daughters.

1. Lady Martha.

2. Lady Janet.

ARMS

Of Elgin and Kincardin. Quarterly, 1st and 4th, or, a saltyre and chief gules, on a can∣ton argent, a lion rampant azure, armed and langued gules: 2d and 3d, quarterly, 1st and 4th, argent, a lion rampant azure; 2d and 3d or, a saltyre and chief gules.

CREST; a lion passant gules.

SUPPORTERS; two savages proper, wreath∣ed about the head and loins with laurels vert.

MOTTO; Fuimus.

CHIEF SEATS.

At Broomhall, near Dunfermline, and Dairsie, near Coupar, both in the county of Fife.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.2

  Spotiswood's history.
• * 1.3

  Retour in Chancery.
• * 1.4

  M. S. history of the family.
• * 1.5

  Chart. in pub. archiv.
• * 1.6

  Burnet's hist. v. I. p. 103.
• * 1.7

  M. S. of the family, p. 58.
• * 1.8

  Records of parliament.