The Bruce Baronets

THE BRUCE BARONETS, OF DOWNHILL, WERE THE LARGEST LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY LONDONDERRY, WITH 20,801 ACRES

PATRICK BRUCE, of Newtown, Stirlingshire, younger brother of Sir William Bruce, 1st Baronet, of Stenhouse, left issue, two sons, viz.

William, of Newtoun ;

MICHAEL, of whom presently.

The second son,

THE REV MICHAEL BRUCE (1635-93), who settled as a presbyterian minister at Killinchy, County Down, wedded, in 1659, Jean, daughter of Robert Bruce, of Kinnaird, and sister of Colonel Robert Bruce, of the Life Guards, who fell at Worcester, 1650.

The Rev Michael Bruce was driven, with other ministers, thence into Scotland by Colonel Venables and the parliamentarians, for his fidelity to the King. He returned to Killinchy, however, in 1669, after undergoing great hardships, and a long imprisonment in England and Scotland, and died in 1693.

He left a son,

THE REV JAMES BRUCE, Minister of Killyleagh, County Down, who espoused, in 1685, Margaret, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel James Traill, of Tolychin, County Down, by Mary his wife, daughter of James Hamilton, Viscount Claneboye, and died in 1726, leaving ten children, of whom,

Michael, his heir; ancestor of BRUCE OF BENBURB;
PATRICK, of whom we treat;
William;
Hans;
Mary; Eleanor; Magdalen.

The second son,

THE REV PATRICK BRUCE (1692-1732), Minister of Drumbo, County Down, removed for a time to Scotland, and afterwards succeeded his father as Minister of Killyleagh.

He wedded, in 1718, Margaret, daughter of James Hamilton, of Ladyland, Ayrshire, and had several children, of whom the eldest son,

JAMES BRUCE (1720-83), of Killyleagh, married, in 1762, Henrietta, youngest daughter of the Hon and Rev Dr Henry Hervey Aston Bruce (fourth son of John, 1st Earl of Bristol, by Catherine, sister and heiress of Sir Thomas Aston Bt), and had issue, 

HENRY HERVEY ASTON, his heir;
Stewart, cr baronet, 1812;
Frideswide, m, 1781, to Daniel Mussenden, of Larchfield.

Mr Bruce was succeeded by his elder son,

THE REV HENRY HERVEY ASTON BRUCE (1752-1822), of Downhill, County Londonderry, who was created a baronet in 1804, designated of Downhill, County Londonderry.

Sir Henry espoused, in 1786, Letitia, daughter of the Rev Dr Henry Barnard, and had surviving issue,

Frederick Hervey, b 1787, died unmarried;
JAMES ROBERTSON, of whom presently;
Henry William (Sir), KCB, Admiral;
Stewart Crawford.

Sir Henry was succeeded by his elder son,

SIR JAMES ROBERTSON BRUCE, 2nd Baronet (1788-1836), who married, in 1819, Ellen, youngest daughter of Robert Bamford Hesketh, and had issue,

HENRY HERVEY, his successor;
Robert;
Lloyd Stewart;
Louisa Elizabeth Margaret.

Sir James's eldest son,

THE RT HON SIR HENRY HERVEY BRUCE, 3rd Baronet (1820-1909), espoused, in 1842, Marianne Margaret, daughter of Sir Juckes Granville Juckes Clifton Bt, and had issue,

HERVEY JUCKES LLOYD, his heir;
James Andrew Thomas (Sir), KCMG.

Sir Henry was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR HERVEY JUCKES LLOYD BRUCE JP DL, 4th Baronet (1843-1919), High Sheriff of County Londonderry, 1903, Lieutenant-Colonel, Coldstream Guards, who married, in 1872, Ellen Maud, daughter of Percy Ricardo, and had issue,

HERVEY RONALD, his heir;
Percy Robert, Lieutenant-Colonel;
William;
Henry James.

Sir Hervey was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR HERVEY RONALD BRUCE JP DL, 5th Baronet (1872-1924), Captain, Irish Guards, who wedded firstly, in 1903, Ruth Isabel, daughter of Haughton Charles Okeover; and secondly, in 1916, Margaret Florence, daughter of the Rev Robert Jackson, and had issue,

HERVEY JOHN WILLIAM, his heir;
Ronald Cecil Juckes;
Beryl Margaret Gwladys.

Sir Hervey was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR HERVEY JOHN WILLIAM BRUCE, 6th Baronet (1919-71), who wedded, in 1949, Crista Irene Valentine, daughter of Chandos de Paravicini, and had issue,

HERVEY JAMES HUGH, his heir;
Lauretta Chinty.

Sir Hervey died in 1971 as the result of a motor accident, and was succeeded by his only son,

SIR HERVEY JAMES HUGH BRUCE-CLIFTON, 7th Baronet (1952-2010), Major, Grenadier Guards, who married firstly, in 1979, Charlotte Sara Jane, daughter of John Temple Gore, and had issue,

HERVEY HAMISH PETER, his heir;
Laura Crista.

He wedded secondly, in 1992, Joanna, daughter of Frank Pope, and had further issue, two sons.

Sir Hervey added the surname of CLIFTON in 1997, by Royal Licence.

He was succeeded by his son,

SIR HERVEY HAMISH PETER BRUCE-CLIFTON, 8th Baronet (b 1986), who succeeded to the title in 2010.

He is believed to live in South Africa.

DOWNHILL HOUSE, near Coleraine, County Londonderry, was built by the Rt Rev Frederick Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol and Lord Bishop of Derry.

After the Earl-Bishop's death in 1803, the estate passed to his cousin, the Rev Henry Bruce, who had acted as steward of the estate during his lordship's absences.

The Rev Henry Bruce's sister was Frideswide Mussenden, for whom Mussenden Temple was built, and which became a memorial after her death.

A centaur greeted visitors to the mansion house.

First published in December, 2010.