Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury 1626-1685

On 4th July 1622 [his father] Thomas Bruce 1st Earl Elgin [aged 23] and [his mother] Anne Chichester [aged 17] were married at Holy Trinity Church, Minories [Map].

On 20th March 1626 Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury was born to Thomas Bruce 1st Earl Elgin [aged 27] and Anne Chichester [aged 21].

On 20th March 1627 [his mother] Anne Chichester [aged 22] died in childbirth. She was buried in the Church of St Peter and St Paul, Exton, Rutlandshire [Map]. In north aisle, a very classical monument for its date, black and white marble table tomb with shrouded effigy.

The inscription: "Anne, Wife to [his father] Lord Bruce, Baron of Kinloss [aged 28], Daughter of Sir [his grandfather] Robert Chichester [aged 49], Knight of the Bath, of an antient Family in the County of Devon, and of [his grandmother] Frances one of the two Daughters and Coheirs of John Lord Harrington, Baron of Exton, sole heir to her Mother. A Lady endowed with a natural disposition to Vertue, a true understanding of honour, most noble behaviour, perpetual cheerfulness, most elegant Conversation, and a more than ordinary conjugal affection. She was married iv. years and ix. months, and one only child named Robert Bruce. Weakened by that birth she died in Childbirth, the xx. day of March, in the xxii. year of her age, Anno Domini M. DC. XXVII. Erected and inscribed to the memory Of his most beloved, and most deserving Wife, by The Lord Bruce."

Anne Chichester: Around 1605 she was born to Robert Chichester and Frances Harrington. On 4th July 1622 Thomas Bruce 1st Earl Elgin and she were married at Holy Trinity Church, Minories [Map].

The Chichester Family Crest being a Heron with an Eel in its mouth.

On 12th November 1629 [his father] Thomas Bruce 1st Earl Elgin [aged 30] and [his step-mother] Diana Cecil Countess of Oxford and Elgin [aged 33] were married. She the daughter of William Cecil 2nd Earl Exeter [aged 63] and Elizabeth Drury Countess Exeter [aged 51].

On 21st June 1633 [his father] Thomas Bruce 1st Earl Elgin [aged 34] was created 1st Earl Elgin. [his step-mother] Diana Cecil Countess of Oxford and Elgin [aged 37] by marriage Countess Elgin.

Before March 1645 Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury [aged 18] and Diana Grey Countess Elgin and Ailesbury [aged 15] were married. She the daughter of Henry Grey 1st Earl Stamford [aged 46] and Anne Cecil Countess Stamford [aged 49]. He the son of Thomas Bruce 1st Earl Elgin [aged 46] and Anne Chichester. They were fifth cousins.

On 26th February 1654 [his step-mother] Diana Cecil Countess of Oxford and Elgin [aged 58] died. She was buried at the Ailesbury Mausoleum, St Mary's Church, Maulden [Map] which her husband [his father] Thomas Bruce 1st Earl Elgin [aged 55] commissioned.

In 1656 [his son] Thomas Bruce 3rd Earl Elgin 2nd Earl Ailesbury was born to Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury [aged 29]. He married (1) 31st August 1676 his fourth cousin Elizabeth Seymour Countess Elgin and Ailesbury, daughter of Henry Seymour and Mary Capell Duchess Beaufort, and had issue (2) 27th April 1700 Charlotte Argenteau Countess Elgin and Ailesbury and had issue.

On 31st December 1657 [his daughter] Mary Bruce was born to Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury [aged 31] and [his wife] Diana Grey Countess Elgin and Ailesbury [aged 27]. She married after 22nd March 1678 William Walter 2nd Baronet, son of William Walter 1st Baronet, and had issue.

In 1658 [his daughter] Christian Bruce was born to Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury [aged 31] and [his wife] Diana Grey Countess Elgin and Ailesbury [aged 28]. She married 9th June 1677 her half fourth cousin John Rolle and had issue.

Around 1660 [his daughter] Anne Bruce was born to Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury [aged 33] and [his wife] Diana Grey Countess Elgin and Ailesbury [aged 30]. She married 1672 William Rich 2nd Baronet, son of Thomas Rich 1st Baronet, and had issue.

On 21st December 1663 [his father] Thomas Bruce 1st Earl Elgin [aged 64] died. His son Robert [aged 37] succeeded 2nd Earl Elgin, 2nd Baron Bruce of Whorlton in Yorkshire. [his wife] Diana Grey Countess Elgin and Ailesbury [aged 33] by marriage Countess Elgin.

On 18th March 1664 Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury [aged 37] was created 1st Earl Ailesbury, 1st Viscount Bruce of Ampthill in Bedfordshire, 1st Baron Bruce of Skelton in Yorkshire. [his wife] Diana Grey Countess Elgin and Ailesbury [aged 34] by marriage Countess Ailesbury.

On 29th January 1666 [his son-in-law] Seymour Shirley 5th Baronet [aged 19] and Diana Bruce were married. She by marriage Lady Shirley of Staunton Harold in Leicestershire. She the daughter of Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury [aged 39] and Diana Grey Countess Elgin and Ailesbury [aged 36]. They were sixth cousins.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 2nd June 1666. In the evening come up the River the Katharine yacht, Captain Fazeby, who hath brought over my Lord of Alesbury [aged 40] and Sir Thomas Liddall (with a very pretty daughter [aged 7], and in a pretty travelling-dress) from Flanders, who saw the Dutch fleete on Thursday, and ran from them; but from that houre to this hath not heard one gun, nor any newes of any fight. Having put the soldiers on board, I home and wrote what I had to write by the post, and so home to supper and to bed, it being late.

On 10th November 1671 [his son-in-law] John Manners 1st Duke Rutland [aged 33] and Diana Bruce were married. She the daughter of Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury [aged 45] and Diana Grey Countess Elgin and Ailesbury [aged 41]. He the son of John Manners 8th Earl of Rutland [aged 67] and Frances Montagu Countess Rutland. They were third cousin once removed.

In 1672 [his son-in-law] William Rich 2nd Baronet [aged 18] and Anne Bruce [aged 12] were married. She the daughter of Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury [aged 45] and Diana Grey Countess Elgin and Ailesbury [aged 42].

On 15th July 1672 [his daughter] Diana Bruce died in childbirth. The child, named Robert, died the same day.

On 31st August 1676 Thomas Bruce 3rd Earl Elgin 2nd Earl Ailesbury [aged 20] and Elizabeth Seymour Countess Elgin and Ailesbury [aged 21] were married. She the daughter of Henry Seymour and Mary Capell Duchess Beaufort [aged 45]. He the son of Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury [aged 50]. They were fourth cousins. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry VII of England and Ireland.

On 9th June 1677 [his son-in-law] John Rolle and Christian Bruce [aged 19] were married. She the daughter of Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury [aged 51] and Diana Grey Countess Elgin and Ailesbury [aged 47]. They were half fourth cousins.

After 22nd March 1678 [his son-in-law] William Walter 2nd Baronet [aged 43] and Mary Bruce [aged 20] were married. The difference in their ages was 22 years. She the daughter of Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury [aged 52] and Diana Grey Countess Elgin and Ailesbury [aged 48].

John Evelyn's Diary. 25th November 1682. I was invited to dine with Monsieur Lionberg, the Swedish Resident, who made a magnificent entertainment, it being the birthday of his King. There dined the Duke of Albemarle, Duke of Hamilton [aged 47], Earl of Bath [aged 54], Earl of Aylesbury [aged 56], Lord Arran [aged 24], Lord Castlehaven [aged 65], the son of him who was executed fifty years before, and several great persons. I was exceedingly afraid of drinking (it being a Dutch feast), but the Duke of Albemarle being that night to wait on his Majesty, excess was prohibited; and, to prevent all, I stole away and left the company as soon as we rose from table.

On 20th October 1685 Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury [aged 59] died. His son Thomas [aged 29] succeeded 3rd Earl Elgin, 2nd Earl Ailesbury, 2nd Viscount Bruce of Ampthill in Bedfordshire, 3rd Baron Bruce of Whorlton in Yorkshire, 2nd Baron Bruce of Skelton in Yorkshire. Elizabeth Seymour Countess Elgin and Ailesbury [aged 30] by marriage Countess Elgin, Countess Ailesbury.

On 8th April 1689 [his former wife] Diana Grey Countess Elgin and Ailesbury [aged 59] died.

Before 1st January 1701 Henri Gascar [aged 66]. Portrait of Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury.

[his daughter] Diana Bruce was born to Robert Bruce 2nd Earl Elgin 1st Earl Ailesbury and Diana Grey Countess Elgin and Ailesbury. She married (1) 29th January 1666 her sixth cousin Seymour Shirley 5th Baronet, son of Robert Shirley 4th Baronet and Catherine Okeover Lady Shirley, and had issue (2) 10th November 1671 her third cousin once removed John Manners 1st Duke Rutland, son of John Manners 8th Earl of Rutland and Frances Montagu Countess Rutland.