Rev Robert Bruce (of Kinnaird)

• Birth Notes
  • 
    The first of a new family of Bruce's of Kinnaird. He was born (it is supposed) at Airth castle c1554. Educated at the Universities of St. Andrews, Paris & Louvain and was intended by his father to follow the law. He completed his education at Edinburgh and began to practise law. He wanted to study Theology. His parents consented to his going nto the church only on his resigning the estate of Kinnaird, which he did. He wewnt on to become a member of  King James VI's Privy Council. (The next few paragraphs tell of his ups and downs during this, eventually leading to a falling out with the King).
    
    1629, Larbert Church having been neglected and left without a minister by the Bishops, he not only repaired it but preached every Sunday to large congragations.
    
    He died 13th August 1631 and was buried in the aisle of the church at Larbert and it is said that 4 to 5 thousand people followed his body to the grave. (There is a sketch in the book showing the gravestone).
    - source "The Lands and Lairds of Larbert & Dunipace Parishes", John C. Gibson, 1908, quoted by Anne Anderson.
    

• Death Notes
  • 
    
    Lanarkshire, Stirling, & Clackmannan: Commissariot Record of Lanark, Register of Testaments, 1595-1800 and Commissariot Record of Stirling, 1607-1800
    Mort Roll from 1781 in the Register House, Edinburgh.
      The Commissariot Record of Stirling. Register of Testaments, 1607-1800.
       "Pro re ecclesiastica."
    County: Stirling
    Country: Scotland
    Bruce, Mr. Robert, of Kinnaird, par. of Larbert 30 Nov 1631
    
    His gravestone, in Larbert Old Parish church:
    "The mortal remains of Mr. ROBERT BRUCE of Kinnaird
    Minister of the Gospel, 2nd son of Sir ALEXANDER BRUCE of Airth
    By JANET daughter of the 5th Lord LIVINGSTONE lie interred in this spot        
    At the foot of the pulpit of the first church in Larbert which he built, and from which he sought
    To make known the truth, as it is in Christ
    Born 1554 he died 1631 aged 77 years"