Robert Bruce, Lord Broomhall

ROBERT BRUCE OF BROOMHALL

Advocate; Senator of the College of Justice, where he sat as Lord Broomhall

The Question of Identity

According to the late George Brunton, Robert Bruce of Broomhill, here treated was the: "Third son of Sir George Bruce of Carnock by Margaret, daughter of Archibald Primrose of Burnbrae." Senators: 338 This appears to be wrong, however. His mother was Euphame Primrose On 31 March 1612 Robert Bruce and four of his siblings, that is Alexander Bruce, Magdalane Bruce, Elizabeth Bruce and Nicolas Bruce, were confirmed as executors dative to their deceased mother. [NRS: CC6/5/3]

The Testament Dative and Inventory of his deceased Mother

Euphame Primrose died intestate on 13 October 1609. On 31 March 1612 her Testament Dative and Inventory was given up by her widowed husband, Sir George Bruce of Carnock. It was given up in name and behalf of five of their children, that is Alexander Bruce, Robert Bruce, Magdalane Bruce, Elizabeth Bruce and Nicolas Bruce, who were recognised as executors dative to their deceased mother by the Commissary Court of Dunblane. Confirmation was granted to the executors dative on 31 March 1612. [National Records of Scotland, Dunblane Commissary Court, The Testament Dative and Inventory of Euphame Prymrois, spouse to Sir George Bruce of Carnock, knight, reference CC6/5/3]

1. Image of Testament
2. Image of Testament
3. Image of Testament

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

2 February 1622: Assignation by Sir George Bruce of Carnok, knight, to Mr. Robert Bruce, his son, of Tack, dated 8 Nov., 1611 and 15 Apr., 1613, granted by deceased Master William Home, sometime minister at Torrie, with consent of deceased Edward, Lord Bruce of Kinloss, patron of the church of Torrie, of teind sheaves of the church and parish of Torrie, for the space of 57 years. 2 Feb., 1622. Translation of aforesaid Assignation and Tack by said Robert Bruce to Alexander Bruce of Alveth, his brother. 5 June, 1635. National Records of Scotland, Erskine family of Cardross, Perthshire, reference GD15/853

                   2

1622-28: 8 Inhibitions by Mr. Robert Bruce, son to deceased Sir George Bruce of Carnock against heritors and others of the parish of Torrie and heritors and others of the lands of Poffillis and Blair in lordship of Culross, for payment of teinds. National Records of Scotland, Erskine family of Cardross, Perthshire, reference GD15/448

Biographical Summary by George Brunton

Third son of Sir George Bruce of Carnock, by Margaret, daughter of Archibald Primrose of Burnbrae. He was admitted advocate on 4th February 1631, and took his seat as an Ordinary lord on 2d June 1649, in consequence of an act of Parliament (unprinted), of 12th March, that year. He was a member of the committee of war for the shire of Fife, 1648, and a commissioner for revising the laws and acts of Parliament, 1649; a member of the Committee of Estates, appointed by Parliament, on the 6th June 1651; and died on the 25th June 1652. An Historical Account of the Senators of the College of Justice: From Its Institution in MDXXXII. By George Brunton (Thomas Clark, Edinburgh MDCCCXXXII), p. 338

Biographical Summary from The Scots Peerage

ROBERT BRUCE, third son of Sir George Bruce, first of Carnock, was the first of the family of Broomhall, Fife. He was retoured heir to Alexander Bruce of Alva, ' his next elder brother,' 29 June 1638. He was a distinguished member of the Scottish Bar, to which he was admitted 4 February 1631, and was appointed one of the Senators of the College of Justice as Lord Broomhall 2 June 1649. He died 25 June 1652, and was buried at Culross, having married Helen, daughter of Sir James Skene of Curriehill, Lord President of the College of Justice in the reign of Charles i. She married, secondly, Hon. Sir Charles Erskine of Alva, and thirdly, in 1666, Sir James Dundas of Arniston, one of the Senators of the College of Justice ; died 1691, and was buried at Culross. The Scots Peerage: 488