Early Life
William Bruce was the son of
William Bruce and
Jane Fleming of
Airth in Stirlingshire. He was born between 1578 and 1597, being underage when his grandfather
Sir Alexander Bruce died in 1598 (William's father, also
William Bruce, died during the lifetime of Alexander). William's mother was
Jean/Jane Fleming, daughter of
John, 5th Lord Fleming.
Life and Family
From
Lands and Lairds1:
Sir William Bruce, first baronet of Stenhouse, was under age when his grandfather, Sir Alexander, died in 1598, whereupon, his uncle, Mr. Robert Bruce of Kinnaird, was appointed his guardian. William Bruce received from his grandfather the "Stanehouse," or "Staneleigh," and built the present mansion house. This property had usually been the heritage of the heirs apparent of the house of Airth, but from this time it was separated from the Airth estate and became the territorial designation of a distinct branch, and has, until recently, continued in its possession. William Bruce was created a baronet of Nova Scotia, 26th June, 1629. He married a daughter of John Baillie of Letham, heiress of Letham, by whom he had a daughter, Janet Bruce, who inherited Letham from her mother, and was called "Lady Letham."
Sir William married secondly, Rachel, daughter of Archibald Johnston of Hilton, and relict of John Jackson, merchant burgess of Edinburgh, who was infeft in Stenhouse, and by her had two sons, William, his heir, and James, who married Anna, daughter of Robert Bruce of Kinnaird, with issue.
Death
William died in 1630.
Footnotes
[1]
Lands and Lairds of Larbert and Dunipace Parishs, John C. Gibson, Glasgow (1908); Bruce of Stenhouse, pages 15-27
Abt 1590 - 1630 (~ 40 years)