Robert Bruce, of Wester Kennet

ROBERT BRUCE OF WESTER KENNET

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

No. 41.— 24th April, 1543 —Instrument of Sasine in favour of Robert, son of David Bruce of Kennet, in seven riggs of land on the south side of Kennet hill lying in country of Clackmannan, given propriis manibus of the said David Bruce, in terms of the Charter thereof. To be holden blench of the said David Bruce and his heirs, for payment of twopence, money af Scotland, at the feast of Pentecost, yearly. Witnesses : John Dow alias Henderson, John Heyk, James Hogg, and Mr John Bruce, notary.

This Robort Bruce afterwards succeeded to the whole estate of Kennet. (See No. 53.)

The Charters, &c., (No. 24, 30, 32, 34, 39, and 42, [see project]) show that David Bruce of Kennet who succeeded in 1490, continued to be proprietor till his death, between 1543 and 1547. No. 43 shows that his eldest son was Patrick. The claim made by John Bruce (see No. 42) cannot refer to the whole estate of Kennet, but merely to the portions specially mentioned, to which John Bruce acquired right by some arrangement with his father. The designation "Wester Kennet" shows him to have been one of the family of Bruce of Kennet, and it would rather appear from subsequent writs (see Nos. 50, 53, and 54,) that he was the next eldest son to Patrick, and afterwards succeeded to the whole estate of Kennet, and dying without issue, was succeeded by the next son, Robert.

No. 49.— 10th September, 1551— Instrument of seisin in favour of Robert Bruce, brother-german of John Bruce of Wester Kennet, in a croft of land in the lands of Wester Kennet, called Byrecroft, lying in the Barony and county of Clackmannan — given propriis manibus- by the said John Bruce. Witnesses: David Bruce, Edward Riddoch, John Finlayson.

No. 50.— 7th March, 1552— Confirmation by John, Archbishop of St Andrews, of Margaret Kinninmont, the Lady of Wester Kennet, given up at Gartalie on the 3d of April, 1551, before Thomas Stuart of Gartalie, John Stuart, Ewan Mackindow, John Macniven, and Sir John Taltour, curator of the church of Gartalie, by which she had in the hands of Thomas Bruce, her son, £20: in the hands of Alexander Gaw of Maw, and the said Thomas, three years rents of the lands of Bothkennier, £904, &c. ; and in the hands of Robert Bruce, her son, £20 ; resting to Margaret Bruce, .£40; Robert Fleming of Mores, 40 merks ; James Bruce, 20 merks ; Henry Bruce, 10 merks ; Elizabeth Bruce, 32s ; and by which she bequeathed her soul to the omnipotent God, and the blessed Virgin Mary, and all Saints, and her body to be buried in the Parish Church of Gartalie ; 20 merks to Fleming of Mores ; and 41s to each of his lawful children ; .£40 to Margaret Bruce ; 10 merks to Henry Bruce ; and 10 merks to James Bruce ; and constitutes James Kinninmond, her brother, Robert Fleming of Mores, Sir David Christison, chaplain, and Alexander Gaw of Maw, her executors ; and Sir David Bruce of Clackmannan, knight ; and Henry Stuart of Rossyth ; to give up her testament. .

Nos. 50 and 51— Show that Patrick Bruce had died, that John Brace was now acting as laird of Wester Kennet, while his mother with whom he had a lawsuit referred to in No. 40, was now dead. It is not expressly stated that John was a brother of Patrick, but it is to be inferred, because Robert, who afterwards succeeded John as the next brother (No. 53) was the son of David Bruce and Margaret Kinninmouth, as Patrick also was.

No. 52.— 28th May, 1556— Precept of Seizin by David Bruce of Clackmannan, knight, directed to Patrick Bruce of Green and John Brady, for infefting Robert Bruce, brother-german of the deceased Mr John Bruce of Wester Kennet, in the lands of Wester Kennet, with their pertinents, lying in the Barony and county of Clackmannan, in terms of Precept from Chancery Witnesses : William Templeton, John Brydone, Walter Bruce, David Bruce, and Thomas Gardener.

No. 53.—12th June, 1556—Precept of Seisin,by David Bruce of Clackmannan, directed to Patrick Bruce of Green and John Brady, infeffcing Robt. Bruce, brother-german of the deceased Patrick, Mr John Bruce, in the lands of Wester Kennet, Pitfoulden, and Cruikitlands, lying in the Barony and county of Clackmannan. Witnesses : William Templeton, James Malcolm, Walter Bruce, Robert Harrower, Gilbert Blyth,Thomas Gardner in Clackmannan, Thomas Bruce, John Home, and William Primrose.

From the circumstances of two infeftments being necessary to complete Robert Bruce's title as heir to his brother John, it would seem that the estate had been divided, and that the claim made in No. 42 was founded on a grant made by David Bruce of part of the estate of Wester Kennet to his second son John. Now that John had died without issue, Robert, as heir to him, and Patrick acquired right to both parts of the estate, and they were now again united..https://deriv.nls.uk/dcn23/9494/94948513.23.pdf

16 June 1568: Contract of Marriage between Robert Bruce of Kennet, as taking burden for Margaret Bruce, 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 Wester Kennet, 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 in the close, and the garden on the west side of the peace allenarly, and in like manner the said Robert Bruce obliges himself, to convey them his lands, Tenements and acres, within the country and freedom of Clackmannan, under burden of his own liferent and Elizabeth his spouse, and shall sustain the said Archibald and Margaret, together with a servant and nurse when such occurs, during his (the said Robert) lifetime and pay to the said Archibald £20 money of Scotland 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, as the terms therein mentioned etc. Dated at Stirling This Contract somewhat decayed. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Bruce Family of Kennet, Clackmannanshire, reference GD11/60

Note: It appears by Nos GD11/83 & 88 that Archibald Bruce, son of David Bruce of the Green, was afterwards married to Griselle Foster.

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