Sir Alexander Bruce of Stanehouse

ALEXANDER BRUCE OF STENHOUS

According to the late Major William Bruce Armstrong, writing in his account of the Bruce Earls of Eligin and Ailesbury for the Scots Peerage: "Alexander of Stanehous and Airth, who in an original birthbrief from Charles I., dated 23 July 1633, to Adam Bruce, ancestor of the Comtes de Bruce in France, is styled ' legitimate son of Sir Robert Bruce of Clackmannan, Knight.' It is evident from the charter of 1394 to his father, Sir Robert Bruce of Clackmannan, that at that date Alexander was not born, as the remainder was, after David his lawful son, to Thomas his [natural] son, there being no mention of Alexander. Alexander was the founder of the baronial house of Bruce of Airth, and was ancestor of the following cadet branches, viz. Earlshall, Kinnaird, Auchenbowie, Powfoullis, Lethbertshiells, Waltoun, Comtes de Bruce in France, Kincavel, Bangour, Stenhouse, Newtoun, Benburb, and Downhill." The Scots Peerage III: 469

Death

Alexander Bruce of Stenhouse, here treated, died before 11 October 1485. RMS 1424-1513: 978

Marriage

Alexander Bruce of Staehouse, here treated, married a lady named Janet They were married before 26 December 1437. NRS: GD11/14

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

26 December 1437: Charter by King James II with consent of Mary his Queen, to Alexander Bruce of stanehouse, and Janet his wife; of the lands of Leithbertshiels and of the Stanelethe with the pertinents thereof lying in the County of Stirling - To be holden by the said Alexander Bruce and JANET his wife, and the heirs to be procreated between them whom failing, his dearest and lawful heirs whatsoever; of the King and his Successors, in fee & heritage for payment of £5 money of Scotland at the usual terms by equal portions - Dated at Edinburgh. National Records of Scotland. Papers of the Bruce Family of Kennet, Clackmannanshire, reference GD11/14

                   2

26 December 1451: Charter by which James II, King of Scots, with the consent of his wife Queen Marie, confirms that he has given the lands of Leithbertschelis, and of the Stanelethe, in the sheriffdom of Stirling, to ALEXANDRO LE BRUSE of the Stanehous, and JONETE his spouse. The charter issued by James II, King of Scots, was confirmed on 29 June 1489, in a charter issued under the Great Seal of Scotland by James IV, King of Scots. RMS 1424-1513: charter number 1863

                    3

23 March 1452: Charter by Alexander "de Broyse de Stanhouse" who confirms to the meritorious Holyrood Abbey, for the leasing in fee-farm of lands in "Erth" [Airth, Stirlingshire], and grants them one oxgang of land called "Le Soulislande" within its boundaries, in the district of "le Redheuch" [Redheugh ?], in the shire of Strivilyng [Stirling], with the right of common pasture with free ingress and issue ("libero introitu et exitu"), all the rights and easements. Alexander and his heirs warrantee this grant to the Abbey. At Edinburgh, 23 March 1452.
Witnesses: John of "Calentyr"; Malcolm "Forestare"; Robert of "Kyncade"; Michael "Androson"; Robert" Boyde" [Boyrd]; Alexander "Forestare"; Robert of "Kennadee" [?Kennedy]; with several others [no names]. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Maule Family, Earls of Dalhousie, reference GD45/13/270

                   4

21 August 1461: Charter by Alexander Broys [Bruce] of Stanehouse [Stenhouse] who confirms to Holyrood Abbey, in pure and perpetual alms, one oxgang of land with its appurtenances, all its rights and easements in "Le Sowlis Lande", in the barony of "Inveravane" in the shire of Linlithgow [West Lothian], due to the leasing and for the fee-farm of 5 oxgangs with their appurtenances assigned to him and his heirs by Holyrood Abbey in the toun and district of "Erth Maior" [Airth?], in the barony of "Brochtoune" [Broughton?], in the shire of Stirling. At Edinburgh. Witnesses: James, lord Levingston [Livingston], chamberlain of Scotland; James Hamilton; Mr Robert Hamilton, rector of Monyabrok; William Levyngstoun [Livingston]; Robert Faresyth [Forsyth], esquires; Thomas Layng [Laing], notary public; Robert Merschel [Marshal] National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Maule Family, Earls of Dalhousie, reference GD45/13/272

                   5

12 February 1463: Charter by Agneti de Arth, daughter and one of the heirs of the deceased Sir William of Arth of Plane, made in favour of Alexandro Forestare de Torwode. Witnessed by ALEX. BROISE DE STANHOUSE and others RMS 1424-1513: charter number 978

                   6

11 October 1485: Charter by which Robert Broys de Stanehouse confirms that he has made provision for priest to serve in his parish church of Erth, which had been constructed by the deceased Alex. Broys, his grandfather (avum suum).The charter was witnessed by his uncles (avunculis), viz. Alex. Brois, Luca Brois, Edwardo Brois and Robert Brois. RMS 1424-1513: charter number 1628

                   7

29 June 1489: Charter by King James IV to Robert Bruce of Stanehouse Confirming Charter GD11/14 by King James II with consent of Mary his Queen to Alexander Bruce of the Stanehouse, his grandfather, of the lands of Stanehouse. Witnesses Robert Bishop of Glasgow George Bishop of Dunheld William Bishop of Aberdeen Colin Earl of Argyle Chancellor Patrick Earl of Bothwell Master of the Household William Earl of Errol Constable of Scotland John Lord Glammis and others - Dated at Edinburgh. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Bruce Family of Kennet, Clackmannanshire, reference GD11/21

Note: This taken from Great Seal Record B. XII No 140.

Evidence from the Laing Charters

1 December 1458: Charter by Malcolm of Kinbuk of that Ilk granting to Alexander Broyse [Bruce], son of Alexander Broyse of Stanehouse, the whole lands of Kinbuk, in the earldom of Strathern and shire of Perth, for the marriage contracted and solemnised between the younger Alexander Bruce and Marjorie, daughter of the granter : To be held to them and their lawful heirs of the preceptor of Torphichen of the order of St. John of Jerusalem, in fee and heritage, rendering to the superior 20s. yearly. And if Alexander and Marjorie die without lawful heirs, the lands shall remain with Alexander and his heirs whomsoever, until the granter and his heirs repay to them, within the parish church of Stirling, the sum of £173. 6s. 8d. Scots, which the elder Bruce paid to the said Malcolm for the contract of marriage. And if the lawful heirs of Alexander and Marjorie die without issue, the lands shall, upon payment of said sum, revert to the granter, his heirs, or assignees. Dated at Dunblane, 1st December 1458, before William, James, John, and Maurice Drummond, squires ; Mr. John Cristinson, chancellor of the church of Dunblane, Malcolm Johnson, dean of Lismore, Thomas Nicolson and John Spans, chaplains, and James of Redhuch, burgess of Stirling. Seal appended, in good condition ; a chevron, with a buck's head in base. Legend : ' Macolmus de Kynbuc' Laing Charters: charter number 143

Printed Evidence

1. Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum. The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1424-1513. Edited by James Balfour Paul, FSA. Scot. (H. M. General Register House, Edinburgh, 1882), 1153 pp. including indices and errata
2. Calendar of the Laing Charters, A.D. 854-1837, belonging to the University of Edinburgh. Edited by the Reverend John Anderson, Assistant Curator of the Historical Department H. M. General Register House, Edinburgh. (James Thin, Edinburgh, 1899), 1053 pp. including indices

Genealogy

1. The Bruces of Airth and their Cadets. By Major William Bruce Armstrong (Printed for Private Circulation, Edinburgh, MDCCCXCII), 128 pp. plus Appendix, index and errata
2. 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), 617 pp. plus errata

The Bruces of Airth and their cadets by Armstrong, William Bruce p 14-6

It would appear then that the first of the family of Bruce of Airth, of whom we have any authentic account, is Alexander Bruce of Stanehouse ; that he was a son of Robert Bruce who was executed, January 7, 1449-50, and grandson of Edward Bruce and Agnes de Erth, seems from the following facts to be most improbable.

We find Alexander Bruce of Stanehous obtaining a charter from Lawrence, lord Abernethy, 21 January 1449-50 [just two days after his reputed father was beheaded], of a piece of land in Stanehous.

Alexander de Bruse of the Stanehous had, 26 December 1451, a Charter from James II. to himself and his spouse Jonete of the lands of Lethbertscheilles, etc. [Reg. Mag. Sig. , Lib. xii. No. 140.] https://archive.org/details/brucesofairththe00arms/page/n36/mode/1u...

Then in December 1451 he gets a charter from James ii. of the lands of Lethbertscheillis, etc.

• Alexander de Broyce de Stanehous had a Charter, 21 January 1449-50, from Alexander, lord Abernethy, of a piece of land in the town and territory of Stanehous. [Sixth Report, Hist. MSS. Com., Part ii. p. 185 ] https://archive.org/details/brucesofairththe00arms/page/n36/mode/1up?q=janet+livingston&view=theater''
  

Again in 1452, 1456, 14G4, he gets charters from the Abbot of Holyrood and James II. of portions of Airth, which was probably the first footing of the Bruce family in that place.

• Alexander de Broyse de Stanehous had a Charter, 23 March 1452, from Archibald, abbot of Holyrood, and his convent, of five oxgates of land of Erth in the barony of Kerse.[ " Bruces and the Cumyns," p. 036. Air Writs, No. 1] https://archive.org/details/brucesofairththe00arms/page/n36/mode/1u...
  

Alexander is witness to a charter 12th February 1463-64, from Agnes de Erth to Alexander Forrester and Agnes Levynston ;

• Alexander de Broise of Stanehous and Jonet his spouse had a Charter from James II, 8 January 1456-57, of three oxgates of Erth on the north of the Peel. [Airth Writs, No. 2] https://archive.org/details/brucesofairththe00arms/page/n36/mode/1up?q=janet+livingston&view=theater''
  

this is the only transaction in which Alexander Bruce of Stenhous and his supposed grandmother Agnes de Erth, are mentioned together, as far as we know.

He is called Sir Alexander by Mrs. Gumming Bruce, but there does not appear to be any proof that he was a knight. His wife's name is proved to have been " Jonete," but there is no evidence [except a 17th century document

• Alexander de Broise of Stanehous had a Charter from the Abbot of Holyrood of six oxgates of Erth confirmed under the Great Seal 14G4. [Airth Writs, No. 3] https://archive.org/details/brucesofairththe00arms/page/n36/mode/1up?q=janet+livingston&view=theater''
  

found amongst the Blair writs, giving the genealogy of the Bruces of Airth from this Alexander downwards, but not tracing it further than to him] that she was a daughter of the Lord Livingston, as stated by Mrs. Cumming Bruce.
The genealogy before alluded to

• Reversion by Robert the Broys, son to the deceased Alexander Broys of the Stanehous, to Thomas Forestar of Carnok, 20 August 1487. [ Sixth Report, Historical mss. Commission, Part ii. p. 186.] https://archive.org/details/brucesofairththe00arms/page/n36/mode/1u..."
  

states that by Lord Livingston's daughter Alexander had no issue, and that he married secondly a daughter of Malcohn Forrester of Torwoodhead, and by her had six sons.

Alexander was dead in 1487.This is all we know for certain of Alexander Bruce of Stanehous, and from him the pedigree of the Bruces of Airth is complete down to Alexander, the last of the line, who died in 1665.
https://archive.org/details/brucesofairththe00arms/page/n36/mode/1u...

Alexandeu Bruce of the Stanehous and of Airth had numerous charters * from the Abbots of Holyrood and from James ii. and iii. and others, from 1451 to 1468; the charter^ of James ii. to him and his wife Janet, was confirmed to his grandson in 1489. Alexander died ante 1487.^ He is said to have married, first, Jonet, daughter of the first Lord Livingston, by wljo he had no issue ; that her name was Jonet, there is no question, but that she was a daughter of Lord Livingston's there is no proof except a memorandum ' amongst the Blair Writs. He is also stated, on the authority of the same memorandum, to have married, secondly, Margaret, daughter of Sir Malcolm Forester of Torwoodhead, and by her to have had issue six sons, viz. : —

1. John, died during his father's lifetime.
2. Sir Alexander of Brigham and Earlshall.
3. Edward of Kinnaird.
4. Lucas of Cultmalundie, who married" Katherine Barbour,co-heiress of Cultmalundie ; they had one son, >>Henry Bruce of Cultmalundie, who was killed ' at the siege of Bray in France, 1510, when this family ended.
5. Robert of Auchenbowie and Bynning.
6. David, incorrectly ^ called " of Kinnaird."

https://archive.org/details/brucesofairththe00arms/page/n42/mode/1u...

SIR ALEXANDER BRUCE OF AIRTH AND STENHOUSE

Sir Alexander Bruce of Airth and Stehouse, here treated, may be the same person as Alexander Bruce of Stanehouse and Airth

was the first of the house of Airth

ref ILG

• ________________
• 'Sir Alexander Bruce1
• 'M, #144179, d. 1488
• Father Sir Robert Bruce1 d. Jan 1450
• Mother Janet Livingstone1 d. bt 20 Oct 1422 - 31 Jul 1439
• ' Sir Alexander Bruce married Margaret (Janet) Forrester, daughter of Malcolm Forrester, 3rd Laird of Torwood and Margaret Harrower.1 Sir Alexander Bruce died in 1488 at of Airth & Stenhouse, Scotland.1
• 'Family Margaret (Janet) Forrester
• Children
  • Sir Alexander Bruce, 1st Laird of Earlshall+1
  • Sir John Bruce+ b. c 1435, d. 1483
• Citations
• 1.[S11649] Clan MacFarlane & Associated Clans Genealogy.
• From: http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p4801.htm#...
• _____________________

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