Margaret Bruce, heiress of Wester Kennet

MARGARET BRUCE heiress of Wester Kennet

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

No. 55.—16th June, 1568—Contract of marriage between Robert Bruce of Kennet as taking burden for Margaret Bruce of Kennet, his daughter and apparent heir on the one part, and Archibald Bruce, son of the deceased David Bruce of Green, on the other part in contemplation of which the said Archibald Bruce obliges himself to infeft the said Margaret Bruce, his future spouse in liferent in the lands of WesterKennet, and in .the event of her surviving him in four houses on the south part of the principal place—viz., a cellar—three chambers above the same, and the entry to be at the tower door inthe close, and the garden on the west side of the place alternately, and in like manner the said Robert Bruce obliges himself to convey to them his lands, tenements and acres within the county and freedom of Clackmannan, under burden of his own liferent, and Elizabeth, his spouse's, and shall sustain the said Archibald and Margaret, together with a servant and nurse, when such occurs, during his (the said Robert) lifetime, and shall pay to the said Archibald £20 money of Scotland, £l 13s 4d sterling) yearly, to keep his purse and for the purpose of enabling the said Robert to redeem his said lands, the said Archibald to make payment to him of the sum of 2400 merks, money of Scotland at the terms therein mentioned.

This contract is somewhat decayed and insome places illegible. David Bruce of Green the father of Archibald, had succeeded to the property of Green on the death of his brother Patrick, mentioned in (Nos. 53 and 54.) The first " such that occurred" was a son, Robert,who afterwards succeeded to the estate of Kennet.

No. 56.—20th July, 1569—Letter of reversion by John Blackadder of Tulliallan, and Margaret Halkerstone, his spouse, to Robert Bruce of Wester Kennet, for redemption of the half lands of Wester Kennet, except an acre called the field land thereof, lying in the Sheriffdom of Clackmannan, wadset to them by said Robert Bruce, for to sums of 800 merks each, the place of redemption within the Parish kirk on a Sunday forenoon during the time of prayers, or at their dwelling-houses. Witnesses : John Couston, in Clackmannan ; William Blackadder, son of the said John Blackadder ; and James Gibson, his servant. Signed at Tulliallan the above date.

No. 57.— 19th September, 1569—Instrument of intimation by Archibald Bruce, son of the deceased David Bruce of the Green, and Margaret Bruce, his future spouse, daughter, and apparent heir of Robert Bruce of Wester Kennet, who compeared with a notary and witnesses at the place of Tulliallan, and made search for John Blackadder of Tulliallan, and Margaret Halkerstone, his spouse, but not finding them, made intimation to them to compear within Parish Kirk of Stirling, upon the 10th day of November, 1569, being Martinmas term, and receive the sum of 1600 merks, for redemption of the half lands of Wester Kennet, wadset to the said John Blackadder and spouse by the said Robert Bruce, for the said sum thereafter passed, to the place of Balgonie, the dwelling place of Robert Erskine, and in pre- sence of Christian Stirling, his mother, made intimation to them also as said is, and that in terms of assignation by the said Robert Bruce of letter of reversion, preceding to them.Witnesses : William Leslie, of Rothes ; JamesSpencer ; and David Bruce, brother of Eobert Bruce, Clackmannan. Taken at Tulliallan and Balgonie the above date.

https://deriv.nls.uk/dcn23/9494/94948513.23.pdf

7 January 1575-76: Charter by Margaret Bruce, daughter and heir of umquhile Robert Bruce of West Kennecht, with consent of Archibald Bruce, her husband, and in implement of a Contract entered into by her father, of date at Clakmanen, 4 Jan 1572/1573, granting to David Bruce, her brother, and Margaret Cowstoun, his spouse, and the survivor of them in conjunct fee, and the heirs begotten or to be begotten betwixt them, whom failing, to revert to the granter and her heirs, a little croft of land lying in Pettinskeyn, in the lands of David Bruce of Grene on the east and south, the lands of John Broun in Feritoun on the west, and the common highway on the north). To be held of the granter for payment of one penny Scots in name of blench ferm. At the manor West Kennecht. Witnesses: David Bruce of Grene, Robert Bruce in Lynmylne, William Nycoll, Alexander Robesoun, notary public, cum diversis aliis. National Records of Scotland, Register House charters, 1st series, reference RH6/2381