Cristina Reid

CRISTINA REID

The Question of Identity

According to the late Major William Bruce Armstrong, Sir Edward Bruce of Blairhall and Easter Kennet married a lady named Alison Reid, said by him to have been the: "daughter of John Reid of Aikenhead, and sister of Robert Reid, Bishop of Orkney." The Scots Peerage III: 476 By way of proof, but without explanation, he cited Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland which identifies a different father for Sir Edward's wife: "Alison, daughter of William Reid of Aikenhead, Esq., in vicecomitatu de Clackmannan, and sister of Robert Reid, Bishop of Orkney." Douglas Peerage: 235 Neither man cites documentary evidence of the given name of Sir Edward's wife, and their claims are not supported by surviving records.

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

1544: Charter by the said Commendator and Abbot in favour of the said Edward Brus [Bruce] and his spouse, Cristina Reid, of the said lands of Bargady and others. National Records of Scotland, Register House charters, 1st series, reference RH6/1337

                   2

1544: Precept of sasine by the said Commendator and Abbot for infefting the said Edward Brus [Bruce] and Cristina Reid in the said lands and others. National Records of Scotland, Register House charters, 1st series, reference RH6/1338

                   3

19 November 1546: Precept of sasine by the said Commendator and Abbot for infefting the said Edward Bruse [Bruce] and Cristina Reid in the lands of Corstoun in the lordship of Culros [Culross] and sheriffdom of Perth. National Records of Scotland, Register House charters, 1st series, reference RH6/1391A

                   4

23 December 1552: Charter by William, Commendator of Culross, with consent of Robert, Bishop of Orkney and Abbot of Kinlos [Kinloss], [Note] in favour of Edward Bruce of Estir Kennett and Cristina Reid his spouse of the lands of Bargadye and others. National Records of Scotland, Register House charters, 1st series, reference RH6/1572

Note: Robert, Bishop of Orkney and Abbot of Kinloss, is Robert Reid, son of John Reid of Aikenhead and his wife Besseta or Besseta Shanwell

Genealogy

1. The Scots Peerage : founded on Wood's ed. of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland; containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom. Edited by Sir James Balfour Paul, Lord Lyon King of Arms. Volume III. (David Douglas, Edinburgh, 1906), 618 pp.
2. The Peerage of Scotland etc. By Robert Douglas (R. Fleming, Edinburgh, M,DCC,LXIV), 718 pp. including addenda and corrigenda, plus plates
3. A flame in the Shadows. Robert Reid Bisho[ of Orkney 1541-1558. By Olaf D Cuthbert (The Orkney Press, Kirkwall, 1998) 188 pp. including index