The Barony of Clackmannan

1334 – 1358 Thomas Bruce - 1st Baron of Clackmannan [NO CHARTERS SHOW THIS MAN, HOWEVER Sharon D 2023]

Thomas Bruce became the Baron of Clackmannan and was granted the castle and lands of Grassmainston, Gartlove, Wester Kennet, Hillend, Carsehill, Greys, Park Meadow, Dryfield, Tullygarth, Pitfoulden and others within the Sherrifdom of Clackmannan from his cousin King David II as a reward for organising an uprising against English rule.

Barony passed from father to son

1358 – 1403 Sir Robert Bruce - 2nd Baron of Clackmannan

Sir Robert Bruce inherited the Barony after his father's death. As a minor when his father died, he was put under the care of "appropriate men" who were Sir Robert Erskine & Sir John de Menteith. He received his charter for the lands of Clackmannan from King David II in December 1359. He received a further charter for the lands of Rait, in Perthshire from King David II in January 1368. He received a third charter for the Lands of Kennet, Grassmainston, Pitfoulden, Carse & Gragory from King Robert II in October 1375. Sir Robert granted a charter for the lands of Kennet, Pitfoulden and Cruicket to his youngest son who became Thomas Bruce 1st of Wester Kennet, Pitfoulden and Cruicket.

Sir Robert Bruce was captured and killed on 23rd July 1403 at the Battle of Shrewsbury.

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EDWARD Bruce (-killed in battle Dundalk 14 Oct 1318). John of Fordun’s Scotichronicon (Continuator) records that "Eadwardus de Bruce, frater domini regis" entered Ireland in 1315 and was chosen "rex totius Hiberniæ"[1062]. Created Earl of Carrick shortly before 24 Oct 1313 by his brother. He landed at Carrickfergus 25 May 1315, and was crowned King of Ireland 2 May 1316. John of Fordun’s Scotichronicon (Continuator) records that "rex Hiberniæ Eadwardus, frater germanus domini Roberti Scottorum regis" was killed in battle 14 Oct 1318 at "Dundalk in Hibernia"[1063]. Betrothed (Papal dispensation 1 Jun 1317) to ISABEL, daughter of WILLIAM Earl of Ross & his wife Eupheme ---, but the marriage never took place. The Papal dispensation for the marriage of "Edwardi de Brux comitis de Catrilz" and "Ysabellis nate…Gulielmi comitis de Ros", issued by Pope John XXII, is dated 1 Jun 1317[1064]. Mistress (1): ISABEL, daughter of JOHN of Strathbogie Earl of Atholl & his wife Margaret of Mar. Mistress (2): ---. The name of Edward's second mistress is not known. Edward Bruce had one illegitimate son by Mistress (1):

a) ALEXANDER Bruce (-killed in battle Halidon Hill 19 Jul 1333). Created Earl of Carrick in [1330] or soon after. John of Fordun’s Scotichronicon (Continuator) records that "Alexandrum de Bruce comitem de Carrik" was among those captured when King Edward Balliol was defeated "XVII Kal Jan" in 1332 at Annan[1065]. The Liber Pluscardensis names "Alexander de Bruys comes de Carrick" among those killed in battle at Halidon Hill in 1333[1066]. m as her first husband, ELEANOR Douglas, daughter of ARCHIBALD Douglas Regent of Scotland & his wife Beatrice Lindsay of Crawford. She married secondly (before 1349) James Sandilands of Calder (-before 1358), thirdly (before 1364) William Towers of Dalry, fourthly (before 1368) Duncan Wallace of Sundrum, and fifthly (dispensation 18 Mar 1376) as his second wife, Patrick Hepburn of Hales ([1321]-after 1402).

Edward Bruce had one possible illegitimate son by Mistress (2):

b) [THOMAS de Bruce . The primary source which confirms his parentage has not yet been identified. Ancestor of the Bruce family of Clackmannan.]

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/SCOTLAND.htm#RobertIdied1329A

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BRUCE, EARLS OF ELGIN AND AILESBURY Balfour Paul, James, ed. (1906). The Scots Peerage, Vol. III. Edinburgh: David Douglas. pp. 467–468. ISBN 0-9711966-2-1.

Thomas de Bruys is the first of this family that can be distinctly proved to have been in possession of Clackmannan. He died before 1348, in which year the lands of Clackmannan were in possession of Marjorie Charteris, his widow, she having a third, the remainder being in the possession of his son and heir Robert de Bruys, during whose minority Sir Robert Erskine and John Menteith had a grant of his ward. The exchequer account audited March 1359-60, but extending over the whole period from Easter 1348, shows that in 1359-60 Thomas had been dead at least eleven years, that his widow was then alive, and his son and heir Robert was under age. It seems probable that Thomas de Bruys, one of the associates of Robert the Steward, Guardian of the realm, whom he joined with the gentry of Kyle, and whose important services in organising an armed resistance to the English in 1334, are adverted to by Fordun and others, was identical with this Thomas of Clackmannan. Such services as his could hardly have failed of recognition by the Crown, and the accounts already referred to show that he had at one time, not defined, been in possession of a large portion of the Crown lands in the county of Clackmannan.

By Marjorie Charteris he had issue a son and heir, Sir Robert de Bruys, who succeeded him. He must have been born ante 1348, and was still a minor under the guardianship of Sir Robert Erskine and John of Menteith in 1359-60. In pursuance of the revocation5 of all grants of Crown lands resolved on by Parliament in 1357, the Sheriff reported that he had assumed possession of these lands on behalf of the King, but a large proportion of the lands in question, Clackmannan included, were regranted by King David to Robert de Bruys, who had on 9 Decernber 1359' a Crown charter, dated at Perth, of the lands and barony of Clackmannan and others, in which he is styled ' dilectus consanguineus noster.' He had also a Crown charter of the lands of Kennet 20 October 1365, and on 17 January 1369-70 lhe had a Crown charter of the lands of Rait in Perthshire ; in these charters also he is termed ' con- sanguineus.' He died before or about 1389, as his son had then succeeded to Clackmannan, having married Isabel, daughter of Sir Robert Stewart of Durisdeer and Innermeath [some say of Rosyth], and sister of Sir Robert Stewart, who fell at Shrewsbury, and by her had issue two sons, viz. : —
1. Sir Robert, who succeeded.
2. James, was rector of Kilmany in Fife, and consecrated Bishop of Dunkeld in the Abbey of Dunfermline, 4 February 1441-42. On 30 March 1444, as one of the mandatories of the Pope, he confirmed an agreement between the Abbot of Dunfermline and the burgh of Perth. In this year he was made Chancellor of the Kingdom, and was styled 'con- sanguineus ' by King James II. in a royal charter 1444. On the death of Bishop Cameron of Glasgow he was translated to that see, but died in 1447 before his consecration.

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In 1334 he organised a rising against English rule, along with Robert II, 7th High Steward. As a reward, he was granted the demesnes of Clackmannan.

Sir Thomas Bruce, 1st Baron of Clackmannan married Marjorie Charteris of Stenhouse. Received the lands of Clackmannan from his cousin King Robert II as a reward for which he was granted for organising a rising against English rule in 1334. He died in 1358/9.

Note: Many Bruces today descend from many of these family branches, that started with this Thomas Bruce. It is questionable as to who Thomas' father was. Some say from King Robert's brother Edward's son Thomas, others say from Robert Bruce a cousin or illegitimate son of King Robert and some say another Thomas Bruce of Clackmannan (nephew of King David Bruce). Whichever it may be, we will never know for sure. However, he was a descendant of the Scottish Bruces.

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Sir Thomas Bruce, 1st Baron of Clackmannan, married Marjorie Charteris of Stenhouse. He received the lands of Clackmannan from his cousin King Robert II as a reward for which he was granted for organising a rising against the English rule in 1334. It is not known who Thomas' father was. Possibly King Robert's brother Edward, or perhaps from Robert Bruce a cousin or illegitimate son of King Robert.

For further information on Sir Thomas Bruce's descendents, see: http://stirnet.com/HTML/genie/british/bb4fz/bruce02.htm

- Norman Sutherland

Note: It has also been told Sir Thomas Bruce, 1st Baron of Clackmannan was son of Sir John de Bruce. -Crystal Bruce

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According to Lord Andrew Douglas Alexander Thomas Bruce the 11th Earl of Elgin in an interview in 2013: "First, the root of the Bruce Family Tree has several branches, one of these went to King Robert's son,, King David ll and then died out because he had no male heir. However, he had appointed Thomas Bruce of Clackmannan Tower as his heir and we are all descended from this branch which we are pretty certain comes from King Robert's grandfather's time. I am the 37th generation from Adam de Brus of Normandy."

Bruce family lineage: "Sir Thomas Bruce, 1st Baron of Clackmannan married Marjorie Charteris of Stenhouse. Received the lands of Clackmannan from his cousin King Robert II as a reward for which he was granted for organising a rising against English rule in 1334. He died in 1358/9. Note: Many Bruce's today descend from many of these family branches, that started with this Thomas Bruce. It is questionable as to who Thomas' father was. Some say from King Robert's brother Edward's son Thomas, others say from Robert Bruce a cousin or illegitimate son of King Robert and some say another Thomas Bruce of Clackmannan (nephew of King David Bruce). Whichever it may be, we will never know for sure. However, he was a descendant of the Scottish Bruce's."

In 1334 he organised a rising against English rule, along with Robert II, 7th High Steward. As a reward, he was granted the demesnes of Clackmannan.

Sir Thomas Bruce, 1st Baron of Clackmannan married Marjorie Charteris of Stenhouse. Received the lands of Clackmannan from his cousin King Robert II as a reward for which he was granted for organising a rising against English rule in 1334. He died in 1358/9.

Note: Many Bruces today descend from many of these family branches, that started with this Thomas Bruce. It is questionable as to who Thomas' father was. Some say from King Robert's brother Edward's son Thomas, others say from Robert Bruce a cousin or illegitimate son of King Robert and some say another Thomas Bruce of Clackmannan (nephew of King David Bruce). Whichever it may be, we will never know for sure. However, he was a descendant of the Scottish Bruces. Sir Thomas Bruce, 1st Baron of Clackmannan, married Marjorie Charteris of Stenhouse. He received the lands of Clackmannan from his cousin King Robert II as a reward for which he was granted for organising a rising against the English rule in 1334. It is not known who Thomas' father was. Possibly King Robert's brother Edward, or perhaps from Robert Bruce a cousin or illegitimate son of King Robert.

For further information on Sir Thomas Bruce's descendents, see: http://stirnet.com/HTML/genie/british/bb4fz/bruce02.htm

- Norman Sutherland

Note: It has also been told Sir Thomas Bruce, 1st Baron of Clackmannan was son of Sir John de Bruce. -Crystal Bruce

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Bruce,_1st_Baron_of_Clackmannan