Marjorie OF CARRICK

   Another name for Marjorie was Magaretha Canmore Gravin OF CARRICK.²⁰⁷⁴

   FamilySearch ID: L8MB-67P

  General Notes:

LifeSketch
Marjorie Mac Niall, Countess of Carrick was the oldest daughter and heiress of Niall Mac Dhonnchad, 2nd Earl of Carrick and his wife Margaret Stewart. She was born about 1252 at Turnberry Castle, in Carrick, Scotland. Marjorie had 3 younger sisters. Having no sons, Marjorie's father turned leadership of the clan over to his nephew Roland de Carrick on 12 September 1255. Marjorie's father died in 1256 and Marjorie succeeded him as 3rd Countess of Carrick, suo jure, meaning 'in her own right'. Because Marjorie did not gain the title through marriage but held it by right of inheritance herself, any husband would hold the title of Earl only thru his marriage to her.

Marjorie married Adam of Kilconquhar before 1269 (some records state before October 1266) making Adam jure uxoris Earl of Carrick. Marjorie and Adam had one child, a daughter named Martha born about 1269/1270. Martha was their only child as Adam Kilconquhar died in 1270/1271 at Acre, Palestine, while on crusade.

Marjorie and Adam had one child, a daughter:
Isabel of Kilconquhar, married Sir Thomas Randolph of Strathdon, Chamberlain of Scotland and Sheriff of Roxburg; mother of Thomas Randolph, First Earl of Moray.

A companion of Adam of Kilconquhar, named Robert de Bruce, arrived at Turnberry Castle to inform Marjorie of her husbands death. Legend has it that the young Widow was so taken with him that she had him held captive until he agreed to marry her. Other versions say she encountered him while he was hunting on her lands. They married at Turnberry Castle in 1271. Unfortunately, they did not gain permission to marry from King Alexander III as was required. Learning of their marriage, the king seized her castle and all of her estates. They were only restored to her after paying a large fine in atonement.

Robert de Bruce, already Lord of Annandale, then was confirmed as Jure uxoris Earl of Carrick.
Marjorie and Robert had 11 children together (11 that survived to adulthood):

- Isabel Bruce (1272\endash 1358), married King Eric II of Norway.
- Christina Bruce, married, Sir Christopher Seton, then Sir Andrew Murray.
- Robert the Bruce, King of Scots
- Mary Bruce, married Niall Campbell, then Alexander Fraser of Touchfraser and Cowie.
- Margaret Bruce, married William Carlyle
- Niall or Nigel Bruce, executed 1306 in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, England.
- Edward Bruce, High King of Ireland
- Thomas Bruce, executed 1307.
- Alexander Bruce, executed 1307.
- Matilda Bruce, married Hugh, Earl of Ross
- Elizabeth Bruce, married William Dishington

Marjorie mac Niall de Brus, Countess of Carrick died before November 1292. At that time her husband Robert de Brus, 6th Lord of Annandale, and jure uxoris Earl of Carrick, transferred Carrick to their oldest son, Robert.

Marjorie's children lived in a time of much turmoil in Scotland and were embroiled right in the middle of it.

Marjorie's oldest son, famously, lived to become King Robert I of Scotland.

Her daughter Isabel Bruce, married Eric II of Norway and became Queen of Norway.

Her son Edward became High King of Ireland for a time.

Sadly her other sons were executed during the Scottish Wars for Independence.

All of her daughters married well and most had children.

Marjorie's husband of 21 years survived her and married several more times but had no more children. He died in 1304.

  Noted events in her life were:

1. She resided at Turnberry Castle, ancestral seat of the Earls of Carrick between 1253 and 1292. ²⁰⁷⁵

2. Title of Nobility: 3rd Countess of Carrick, between 1256 and 1292,.

Marjorie married Earl Robert IV DE BRUCE 6th Lord Of Annandale in 1271 in Maybole, , Ayrshire, Scotland. (Earl Robert IV DE BRUCE 6th Lord Of Annandale was born on 11 July 1243 in , Annandale, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland ²⁰⁷⁴, christened on 6 November 1243 in Fetteresso, , Kincardineshire, Scotland,²⁰⁷⁴ died on 15 March 1304 in , , Cumberland, Scotland ²⁰⁷⁴ and was buried in April 1304 in Abbeytown, Cumberland, Cumbria, England ²⁰⁷⁴.)

  Marriage Notes:

Robert Bruce married Marjory Countess of Carrick at Turnbury Castle in 1271.

According to medieval legend, Marjorie held the visiting knight Robert de Brus captive until he agreed to marry her. The marriage between Marjorie and Robert in 1271 conveyed to him both the castle and the earldom.

Marjorie next married Adam OF KILCONQUHAR in 1269 in , , , Scotland.²⁰⁷⁵ (Adam OF KILCONQUHAR was born about 1250 ²⁰⁷⁵ and died about 1270 in Acre, Jerusalem, , Judea ²⁰⁷⁵.)