Early Life
Edward Brice was born around 1659, most likely to
Robert Brice (of
Castle Chichester), making him the grandson of
Edward Bryce.
Burke's
4 indicates that Edward:
matriculated [showed his right by descent to an existing coat of arms] in Edinburgh in 1693, proving his descent from the house of Airth.
This matriculation is available from the Court of the Lord Lyon and reads:
To all and singular whom these presents do or may concern, I Sir Alexander Areskine of Cambo Knight & Baronet Lyon King of Armes considering that by the twenty one act of the third session of the second Parliament of King Charles the Second of ever blessed memory I am impowered to visit the whole armes of Noblemen, Prelates, Barons and gentlemen within this Kingdom and to distinguish them with congruent differences and to matriculate the same in my books and registers and to give arms to vertuous and well-deserving persons and extracts of all armes expressing the blazon thereof under my hand and seal of office which Register is by the said Act ordained to be respected as the true and unrepealable rule of all armes and bearings in Scotland to remain with the Lyon Office as the public Register of the Kingdom.
Therefore conform to the tenor of the said Act of Parliament I testify and make known that the coat armoriall appertaining and belonging to Captain Edward Brice (alias Bruce) second lawfull son to Robert Brice, of Castle Chichester Esquire in Ireland whose father Mister Edward Brice (or Bruce) was a lawfull son of the family of Bruce of Airth in Scotland and which Robert is now represented by Randall Brice of Lisburne Esq. in the county of Antrym in Ireland, and approven of and confirmed by me to him is matriculated in my said publick register upon the day and date of these presents and is thus blazoned viz The said Captain Edward Brice (or Bruce) for his achievement and ensign armoriale bears or a saltyre and cheif gules with a mollet in the dexter canton of the first (this being the old coat of the said house of Airth) all within a bordure waved as the second, on a helmet befitting his degree with a mantle gules, doubled argent and wreath of his colours is set. For his crest an arme from the elbow holding a cutlace. The motto is an escroll above Do Well, Doubt Nought. Which coat above-blazoned I declare to be the said Captain Edward Brice (or Bruce) his coat and bearing.
In testimony whereof I have subscribed this extract and caused append my seal of Office hereto at Edinburgh the tenth day of July and of our Soveraigne Lord and Lady King William & Queen Mary their reighne the fyfth 1693
.
A similar, but briefer, entry is available from
ScotlandsPeople, being a register of coat of arms at the Court of the Lord Lyon.
Note that many modern commentators dispute such a descent from Bruce of Airth.
Career
Edward was a
Belfast merchant and shipowner, most likely helped with capital from his father Robert, who was a wealthy man in his own right. Edward fled Belfast during the Jacobite wars and went to Scotland to raise a company. He eventually returned to Belfast and was elected Burgess in 1697 and sovereign in 1707 but he declined to qualify himself. Edward was MP for Dungannon 1703-1713. In 1715 he is described
2 as a Captain of "Upton's Horse", perhaps a Cavalry Brigade out of Castle Upton (see
Family Life).
Edward acquired in 1718 the Kilroot estate from his nephew Randal, son of his brother (also called Randal), which is how it entered into this side of the family's estates. A copy of a search requested of the Registery Office from
The National Library of Ireland reads as follows:
Search for all acts by any person named Brice from 1708, to affect the lands of Kilroot or Castle Chichester in the County of Antrim.
[1] Lease and release 26 & 27 August 1718, whereby Randal Brice of the Inner Temple London released unto Edward Brice of Belfast Esq. the towns and lands of Kilroot, Ballylig, Ballyvenusten, Ballyricardmore, Beltide and Ballyvallagh, Ballygowanmore, Ballynelrakagh, & quarters of land in the Barony of Dunluce, and a moiety of 13 quarters of land in the Barony of Cary and one moiety of his two lots in Capel St and one moiety of the two houses in Cole's Alley, and a core acres of land in Kilroot & the mansion-house of Kilroot & the eleven score acres belonging to same & all other lands in Ireland to which said Randal was entitled.
The Memorial of this Deed is witnessed by Charles Brice of Belfast Esq.
[2] Deed of Annuity 28 August 1718, whereby Edward Brice of Belfast gave unto Randal Brice of the Inner Temple London an annuity of £200 per annum chargeable on Kilroot & other lands.
The Memorial is witnessed by Captain Charles Brice.
[3] Lease 11 Sept 1733 whereby Arthur Hill Esq. did demise unto Charles Brice of Castle Chichcester the Lands of Castletown and Templefin in the Co. Antrim, at the yearly rent of £10.
Family Life
Edward married first Dorothy Upton, some time before 1690. They had a daughter, Dorothy, born around 1690 who married Henry Maxwell in 1713.
Secondly, Edward married
Jane Dobbs in 1718 and they had:
- Mary Elizabeth, who died aged 2 in 1726
- Edward, born c. 1721, who married firstly Rose Stewart and secondly, Jane Smith Adair
- Alexander
Note that one of the pedigrees at the
National Library of Ireland3 gives his wife as Jane Knox, sister of Thomas Knox. Whilst this is possible (Edward's sister Mary married Thomas Knox) this is the first and only time I've seen this marriage mentioned so I discount it.
Death
Edward died on the 11
th August 1742, aged 83. He was buried at
Templecorran, County Antrim.
Footnotes
[1] Belfast Merchant Families in the Seventeenth Century, Jean Agnew
[2] e.g. New 1st Edition (1847) - Bruce of Scoutbush and Killroot
[3] Registered Pedigrees Vol. 15, Genealogical Office Manuscripts Collection, National Library of Ireland, Department of Manuscripts. Page 192 (
http://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000530338#page/192/mode/1up)
Abt 1659 - 1742 (~ 83 years)
[2] 
