Broun Baronets
Encyclopedia
The Broun Baronets are a branch of the ancient Broun of Colstoun
family whose estate near Haddington
, East Lothian
, remains to this day in the possession of a cadet family
.
. Sir David le Brun was one of the witnesses, with King David I of Scotland
, in laying the foundation of Holyrood Abbey
on May 13, 1128. He devised to that abbey certain "lands and acres in territories de Colstoun" for prayers to be said for "the soul of (King) Alexander, and the health of his son."
, refers to the story of the pear as something "which we cannot pass over" and mentions that "one of the ladies of the family took a longing for the forbidden fruit while pregnant and inflicted upon it a deadly bite", following which a period of dire financial crisises affected the family and the pear turned rock hard, the teeth-marks still preserved. Martine also mentions it: "the legend of the Colstoun enchanted pear, still preserved, has been long known in the history of the Brouns of Colstoun.""
, married a daughter of Sir David Murray of Stanhope and had, with a younger son George (ancestor of the present-day baronets), to whom he granted by charter the barony of Thornydyke, an elder son - Sir Patrick Broun, 1st Baronet, who was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia on February 16, 1686, with a remainder to his heirs male forever.
His eldest son and heir Sir George Broun, 2nd Baronet, (d.1718), married a daughter of George Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Cromartie
, and left an only daughter who inherited the estate, while the baronetcy went to the male heir.
The family thus became split between the heirs male and the heirs of line, the title devolving upon the Broun of Thornydyke family in Berwickshire
, and the estates upon the heiress who married George Broun of Eastfield, again uniting older strands of the same family.
Clan Broun
Clan Broun also known as Brown is a common Scottish clan name, it was located primarily in Lowland Scotland.-Origins of the Name:As well as the name being Scottish, Broun or Brown is also common name in Old English charters from an adjective meaning brown or dark red. It also occurs in Old High...
family whose estate near Haddington
Haddington, East Lothian
The Royal Burgh of Haddington is a town in East Lothian, Scotland. It is the main administrative, cultural and geographical centre for East Lothian, which was known officially as Haddingtonshire before 1921. It lies about east of Edinburgh. The name Haddington is Anglo-Saxon, dating from the 6th...
, East Lothian
East Lothian
East Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh....
, remains to this day in the possession of a cadet family
Cadet branch
Cadet branch is a term in genealogy to describe the lineage of the descendants of the younger sons of a monarch or patriarch. In the ruling dynasties and noble families of much of Europe and Asia, the family's major assets – titles, realms, fiefs, property and income – have...
.
Origins
Early in the twelfth century a Walterus le Brun flourished in Scotland. He was one of the barons who witnessed the inquisition of the possessions of the church of Glasgow made by Earl David in 1116, in the reign of his brother, Alexander I of ScotlandAlexander I of Scotland
Alexander I , also called Alaxandair mac Maíl Coluim and nicknamed "The Fierce", was King of the Scots from 1107 to his death.-Life:...
. Sir David le Brun was one of the witnesses, with King David I of Scotland
David I of Scotland
David I or Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim was a 12th-century ruler who was Prince of the Cumbrians and later King of the Scots...
, in laying the foundation of Holyrood Abbey
Holyrood Abbey
Holyrood Abbey is a ruined abbey of the Canons Regular in Edinburgh, Scotland. The abbey was founded in 1128 by King David I of Scotland. During the 15th century, the abbey guesthouse was developed into a royal residence, and after the Scottish Reformation the Palace of Holyroodhouse was expanded...
on May 13, 1128. He devised to that abbey certain "lands and acres in territories de Colstoun" for prayers to be said for "the soul of (King) Alexander, and the health of his son."
Colstoun pear
George Broun of Colstoun married Marion Hay (d.1564), second daughter of Sir John Hay, 2nd Lord Hay of Yester, ancestor of the Marquess of Tweeddale, and she brought with her the pear as dowry. Lord Yester, in handing over the pear told his new son-in-law that as long as it was preserved the family would flourish until the end of time. Accordingly the pear has been carefully preserved in a silver box as a sacred palladium. Many writers comment upon the pear: Lord Fountainhall relates that in September 1670 he called upon the Brouns "who talk much of their antiquity and pear they preserve." Fountainhall's descendant, Sir Thomas Dick LauderThomas Dick Lauder
Sir Thomas Dick Lauder of Fountainhall, 7th Baronet, FRSE FSA was a Scottish author. He served as Secretary to the Board of Manufactures , on the Herring Fisheries Board, at the Royal Institution for the Encouragement of the Fine Arts, and as Deputy Lieutenant of both counties of Moray and...
, refers to the story of the pear as something "which we cannot pass over" and mentions that "one of the ladies of the family took a longing for the forbidden fruit while pregnant and inflicted upon it a deadly bite", following which a period of dire financial crisises affected the family and the pear turned rock hard, the teeth-marks still preserved. Martine also mentions it: "the legend of the Colstoun enchanted pear, still preserved, has been long known in the history of the Brouns of Colstoun.""
Baronetcy
George Broun, feudal baron of Colstoun in the reign of King Charles ICharles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
, married a daughter of Sir David Murray of Stanhope and had, with a younger son George (ancestor of the present-day baronets), to whom he granted by charter the barony of Thornydyke, an elder son - Sir Patrick Broun, 1st Baronet, who was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia on February 16, 1686, with a remainder to his heirs male forever.
His eldest son and heir Sir George Broun, 2nd Baronet, (d.1718), married a daughter of George Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Cromartie
George Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Cromartie
George Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Cromartie FRS , known as Sir George Mackenzie, 2nd Baronet from 1654 to 1685 and as The Viscount of Tarbat from 1685 to 1703, was a Scottish statesman....
, and left an only daughter who inherited the estate, while the baronetcy went to the male heir.
The family thus became split between the heirs male and the heirs of line, the title devolving upon the Broun of Thornydyke family in Berwickshire
Berwickshire
Berwickshire or the County of Berwick is a registration county, a committee area of the Scottish Borders Council, and a lieutenancy area of Scotland, on the border with England. The town after which it is named—Berwick-upon-Tweed—was lost by Scotland to England in 1482...
, and the estates upon the heiress who married George Broun of Eastfield, again uniting older strands of the same family.
Incumbents
- Sir Patrick Broun, 1st Baronet c.1630-1688
- Sir George Broun, 2nd Baronet d.1718
- Sir George Broun, 3rd Baronet d.1734
- Sir Alexander Broun, 4th Baronet d.1750
- Sir Alexander Broun, 5th Baronet d.1776
- Sir Richard Broun, 6th Baronet 13 Dec 1781
- Sir James Broun, 7th Baronet 12 Mar 1768-30 Nov 1844
- Sir Richard Broun, 8th Baronet 22 Apr 1801-10 Dec 1858
- Sir William Broun, 9th Baronet Jul 1804 -10 Jun 1882
- Sir William Broun, 10th Baronet 18 Dec 1848-23 Oct 1918
- Sir James Lionel Broun, 11th Baronet 1875-8 Aug 1962
- Sir Lionel John Law Broun, 12th Baronet 25 Apr 1927-10 Aug 1995
- Sir William Windsor Broun, 13th Baronet 11 Jul 1917- 29 Mar 2007
- Sir Wayne Broun, 14th Baronet b. 23 Jan 1952