THOMAS BRUCE [#128], b. abt. 1630-1640, d. prob. Marlborough, MA between 1714 and 1721, m. MAGDALEN ____, d. after 1706.
Thomas Bruce was an early resident of Sudbury and Marlborough in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Much of what is known about him comes from land deeds of Middlesex County. He was a farmer and miller and had a wife Magdalen and sons David and Roger and probably Thomas.[5] The earliest record of him is a list of inhabitants of Sudbury, dated April 21, 1676, who sustained monetary losses during King Phillip's War. Thomas' loss was given as ten pounds.[6] He was still residing in Sudbury three years later when the Selectmen of Marlboro on June 9, 1679 agreed with Thomas Bruce that he would build and operate for the town's use a mill to be located near the confluence of Angle Brook and Stoney Brook to be in operation by January 1680 "if God permit". In return the town granted Thomas forty acres of land and ten acres of meadow. The agreement was signed by Abraham Williams for the town and "Thomas Breuis" for himself.[1/296]
The house lot of forty acres that Thomas received was described as being on the north side of Stoney Brook and, included within its western part, a portion of Angle Brook. The exact loaction would be difficult to determine today, since that area was flooded in 1898 under the Sudbury Resevoir.[1/2967] By the original agreement, the land was to revert to the town if Thomas were to cease operation of the mill for any reason except beyond his control. By 1702, however, the mill was at least partially destroyed making difficult his compliance with the agreement, and he requested, and "it was so voated that he be aqitted from any further engagement" and the land was granted to him free and clear.[1/297]
Thomas disposed of his land to sons David and Roger. "... Thomas Bruce of Marlburough in the County of Middlx in New England husbandman and Magdalen ... my wife ... For the naturall Love good will and affection we bare to our dutyfull Sone David Bruce of the abovesd Town and County husbandman ... Confirm unto our Said son David Bruce ... the one moiety or halfe part of Forty acres of Land ... within the ... abovesd Town ... as it was granted to me the Said Thomas Bruce by the abovesd Town; also the one ... halfe part of Ten acres of medow ... Scittuated in the abovesd Town of ye north side of Stony Brooke ... also the one ... half part of ye saw mill now in my possesion ..." January 29, 1699. Both signed by mark.[2/13:5] This would seem to have been a wedding gift of the parents to David as he married Mary Bigelow four days later.[5]
On Feb. 17, 1702 Samuel Ward of Marlborough granted "Thos. Bruce Senr, Miller" a meadow of three acres in Marlborough lying on both sides of Stony Brook.[2/16:601] In exchange for this property Thomas granted Samuel Ward several parcels of land. Thomas also described himself as "Thomas Bruce Senr, Miller" in this deed.[2/20:584] The Stony Brook section of Marlborough was later set off to form the town of Southborough. Thomas' son Roger, who lived in that area, was one of the petitioners for the new town.[5]
The relationship with Roger is born out by a deed dated April 13, 1706. "... I Thomas Bruce Senr ... for and in consideration of a fatherly love and good will which I have and do bear unto my loving son Roger Bruce both of us belonging and situate in the town of Marlborough ... by this Deed of Gift, give and confirm unto my loving son Roger Bruce ... the half part of my house lott which was granted to me by the town of Marlborough lying ... partly along Stony Brooke ... with all the housing and Corn Mill and half the said Sawmills which are standing thereupon ... and also my whole Estate ..." Thomas and Magdalen both signed by mark.[2/15:149] No will of Thomas Bruce has been found, and he probably never wrote one. It is likely he disposed of his estate in this and other deeds.[5]
His death date is unknown, but he was certainly living January 2, 1709-10 when he gave land to his grandson, as it seems, in anticipation of his death. "... I Thomas Bruce Senr ... Miller for and in consideration of love, good will and affection which I have and do bear toward my loving grandson David Bruce belongning to ye Town of Watertown in ye same county ... for Divers good causes and other weighty considerations moving me thereunto ... grant unto my loving grandson ... one half of all my right ... in the Common Land which was given to me the said Thomas Bruce by the aforesaid Town of Marlborough ... for building and maintaining a mill, according to an agreement with Said Town ...".[2/15:148] Thomas signed by mark. Magdalen did not sign this deed and may have died since 1706 when she signed the previous deed.[5] The "weighty considerations" may have been health related or may have been based on the fact that the town, growing and wanting to transfer common land to the newcomers, desired to be free of its obligations granted to earlier residents allowing them to take timber from this land. Samuel Bigelow, guardian and maternal grandfather of Thomas' grandson David, hired attorney John Sherman in 1710 to represent David's case to the town. The town had attempted to nullify Thomas' rights to the common land when he transferred his ownership. Settlement was reached and David Bruce was granted twenty acres in compensation for extinguishment of his half of the rights. In October 1714 Thomas was granted twenty acres in a similar action. The final action recorded by the town on the settlement of these claims was at a meeting May 8, 1721 when a committee was appointed to meet with John Sherman and agree on bounds of one acre of the twenty granted to Thomas and settle with his heirs.[1/299] Therefore Thomas Bruce died between 1714 and 1721.
The name of Thomas Bruce, Sr. appears on a tax list for the town of Marlborough in the year 1688. His tax was 9 shillings, 6 pence.[4] Thomas Bruce, Senior was one of twelve men assigned to the garrison of the West Regiment of Middlesex County in Marlborough on March 15, 1691-2. Isaac How's name was at the top of the list, so the garrison may have been at his house.[3] The term "Sr." did not have the same strict meaning 300 years ago as it does today. It had a broader meaning which could refer to the elder of two men of the same name whether they were related or not. Thus Thomas Bruce, Sr. did not necessarily have a son Thomas, although it can be assumed for lack of any other information.
Thomas may also have had a son John. He apparently omitted Thomas from a division of his estate and may have treated John in the same way. These children, if they were Thomas' children at all, may also have been provided for in some other manner. At any rate, John Bruce does not seem to have belonged to the Woburn Bruces, and his son John went to Brookfield as did some of the children of Roger, a known child of Thomas Bruce.[5]
It is a mystery where Thomas came from. One possibility is the county of Suffolk in England where the name is popular. Another possibility, and subject of some speculation, is that he was a Scottish prisoner taken by Lord Cromwell in the Battle of Dunbar in 1650 and then sent (or sold into servitude) to this country. Tradition in my family has it that the name (i.e. Bruce) was Scottish and we are related to Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, but this may be due to the fact that someone made the connection with no other evidence. Another intriguing possibility is the marriage found in the International Genealogy Index (IGI) between Thomas Bruce and Magdalen Evans 12 December 1652 in the Saint Martin-in-the-Fields Church in Westminster, London, England.[8] It seems, based on the marriage dates of their children, that Thomas and Magdalen would have been too young to have married in 1652, but the timing is not out of the question. And it's possible that they emigrated in the early 1670's with their youngest children.
Another family tradition passed down to me is that we descend from an Indian princess. The story goes that an early Bruce had some big dogs that prevented Indians from crossing the Bruce land. This early Bruce came out and called off the dogs, allowing the Indians to pass. He befriended the Indians and ended up marrying the chief's daughter. No evidence has been found to support this story.
REF: [1] New England Historic Genealogical Register, 1982 (pgs.294-301)
[2] Middlesex County Deeds
[3] New England Historic Genealogical Register, 1889 (pg.372)
[4] New England Historic Genealogical Register, 1882 (pg.192)
[5] The Bruce Family (Manuscript at NEHGS) - Winifred Lovering
Holman
[6] New England Historic Genealogical Register, 1881 (pg.219)
[7] The History of Marlborough - Charles Hudson, 1862
[8] IGI batch no. M001451, sheet no. 00 extracted from LDS
microfilm number 0560369 (parish records 1550-1653)
Children:
1. Thomas, b. prob. abt. 1665, no mention of him found as he prob. died young and unmarried 2. John, b. abt. 1667, m. abt. 1694 Elizabeth ____, d. prob. 1739 3. Roger, b. prob. abt. 1670, d. Southborough, MA 16 Dec 1733, m. Elizabeth Forbush, b. Cambridge, MA 16 Mar 1669, d. Southborough Apr 1746 4. David, b. prob. abt. 1675, d. Marlborough 22 Jul 1701, m. Watertown 2 Feb 1699 Mary Bigelow, b. 12 Sep 1677, d. Sudbury, MA 21 Feb 1707-8 Chil.: 1) David, b. 20 Dec 1700, m. 20 Feb 1727 Mary Brigham, b. 1701
ROGER BRUCE [#64], b. prob. abt. 1670, d. Southborough, MA 16 Dec 1733, m. abt. 1690 ELIZABETH FORBUSH (dau. of Daniel Forbush and Rebecca Perriman), b. Cambridge, MA 16 Mar 1669, d. prob. Southborough Apr 1746.
Like his father, Roger Bruce was a miller, and he inherited some of his father's mills. He later bought another corn mill from James Taylor situated on Stony Brook. The records sometimes called Roger "husbandman", which indicates he must have had a farm to supplement his livelihood in addition to the mills. Roger's parents, Thomas and Magdalen Bruce and brother David are also mentioned in these records. Roger signed the deeds, Elizabeth signed by mark.
During the French and Indian War, in 1711, Roger Bruce and Isaac Woods were assigned to Jonathan Newton's garrison in Marlboro.[9/110] In another record Roger stated that his dwelling house was on the easterly side of Stony Brook. He and fortynine others, representing their families, petitioned the General Court to set off the Stony Brook area as a seperate town because the house of public worship in Marlborough was at too great a distance to travel to each week. The Court consented, and on July 6, 1727 the town of Southborough was established. The town was originally in Middlesex County but fell within Worcester County when that county was established in 1731. Thus land deeds of the town are found in both counties.
No marriage record for Roger and Elizabeth has been found, but Katherine Fahey was able to discover Elizabeth's maiden name through another source. On June 24, 1715 Samuel Forbush mentioned his "Kindsman Abijah Bruce" in a deed. Abijah was the son of Roger. The connection between Samuel and Abijah was made clear by the April 27, 1746 entry in Rev. Ebenezer Parkman's diary. "On the Occasion of The Death of my Honoured Mother and Several other Bereavments (Ex. gr. Captain Forbush and Mrs. Byles mourn for the loss of their sister Bruce and Ensign Bruce and Mrs. Miller the Loss of their Mother; ...)".[4/135] Captain Samuel Forbush and Rebecca (Forbush) Byles, wife of Joseph Byles, were the children of Daniel Forbush. They had only one sister, and she was named Elizabeth, for whom no marriage record exists. The other two named persons in the entry, Ensign Abijah Bruce and Sarah (Bruce) Miller, wife of James Miller, were the children of Roger Bruce and his wife Elizabeth. Elizabeth (Forbush) Bruce obviously died toward the end of April 1746.[5]
The vital records of Southborough give the date of Roger's death as Sept. 16, 1733, but since he signed his will on December 8, 1733 and the heirs agreed to the terms of the will on December 25 of that year,[8] the correct date would most likely be December 16 rather than September 16.
REF: [1] Middlesex County Deeds
[2] Worcester County Deeds
[3] Marlboro, MA Vital Records
[4] The Diary of Rev. Ebenezer Parkman - Francis G. Walett,
1974
[5] Research by Katherine Fahey and Winifred Pelley
[6] Westborough, MA Vital Records
[7] Southborough, MA Vital Records
[8] Worcester County Probate Series A Docket 8553
[9] The History of the Town of Marlborough - Charles Hudson,
1862
[10] The Bruce Family (Manuscript at NEHGS) - Winifred Lovering
Holman
[11] The New England Historic Genealogical Register, 1982 (pgs.301-303)
Children:
1. Samuel, b. Marlborough, MA 24 Mar 1691, d. Holden, MA 16 Dec 1741, m. 1720 or 1721 Elizabeth Townsend, b. Boston 1 Oct 1692, d. 10 Mar 1746 Chil. (b. Marlboro, MA): (from Norris' website) 1) Jerusha, b. 20 Oct 1721, m. 25 Sep 1744 Gershom Newton; 2) Sarah, b. 13 Aug 1723; 3) Joseph, b. 4 Dec 1726, m. Westborough 15 Dec 1752 Sybil Shattuck; 4) Samuel, b. 4 Jul 1729, m. Betty Whitney; 5) Roger, b. 30 Sep 1734, m(1) 18 Apr 1761 Zerviah Thurstin, m(2) Boylston, MA 11 Oct 1809 Ruth Bond 2. Abijah, b. Marlborough 27 Nov 1693, d. Westborough, MA 2 Dec 1774, m. Marlborough 14 Jan 1718-9 Mary Woods, b. Marlborough 13 Mar 1687, d. Westborough 26 Mar 1775 3. Elisha, b. Framingham, MA 14 Sep 1695, m. Marlborough 18 Jun 1718 Silence Newton Chil.: (from Norris' website) 1) Jotham, b. Worcester 13 Apr 1720, m. Miriam Newton, b. abt. 1720; 2) Rebecca, b. Worcester 6 Mar 1722; 3) Hephzibah, b. Marlboro, MA 30 Dec 1725, m. Southboro 9 May 1745 Amos Darling, b. abt. 1725; 4) Elisha, b. Southboro 7 May 1731, m(1) 8 Jan 1754 Ruth Parmenter, m(2) 4 May 1762 Esther Buck 4. Rebecca, b. Framingham 22 Feb 1698, d. prob. unm. before her father 5. Sarah, b. Framingham 2 Mar 1700, d. Westborough 29 Jul 1747, m. abt. 1721 James Miller, d. Westborough 10 Jan 1765 6. Daniel, b. Marlborough 22 Feb 1701-2, d. 1790, m. Marlborough 1 Dec 1732 Bathsheba Bowker Chil. (b. Marlboro, MA - from Norris' website): 1) Ruth, b. 22 May 1733; 2) Abraham, b. 23 Dec 1735; 3) Lucy, b.6 Nov, 1737; 4) Benjamin, b. 24 Dec 1739; 5) John, b. 29 May 1744, d. Jan 1844, m. Martha Moore; 6) Betty, b. 22 Jun 1746; 7) Mary, b. 9 Aug 1748; 8) Daniel, b. 21 Sep 1752, d. aft. 1805, m. Mary Bruce 7. Thomas, b. Marlborough 5 Jan 1704-5, bapt. Marlborough 1 Mar 1704-5, d. Bolton, MA 2 Mar 1743-4, m(1)? 1726 Mary Livermore, m(2) abt. 1730 Sarah ____ Chil. (b. Westborough, MA): (from Norris' website) 1) Sarah, 24 Oct 1732; 2) Lucy, b. 16 Oct 1733, d. 15 Sep 1740; 3) Zerviah, b. 9 Sep 1734; 4) Phinehas, b. 19 Feb 1736; 5) Susannah, b. 6 May 1739, d. 7 Sep 1740; 6) Ebenezer, b. 19 Jul 1740; 7) Elijah, b. 11 Nov 1741, m. 30 Jan 1778 Eunice Rice; 8) Submit, b. 31 Jan 1743; 9) Elizabeth, b. Bolton, MA 1 Nov 1743; 10) Lucie, b. Bolton 28 Jan 1744 8. Hannah, b. Marlborough 18 Feb 1706-7, m. Southborough 3 May 1731 Joseph Townsend 9. Deliverance, b. Marlborough 9 Sep 1709, d. prob. before her father 10. David, b. Marlborough 9 Jun 1711, d. after 1772
ABIJAH BRUCE [#32], b. Marlborough, MA 27 Nov 1693, d. Westborough, MA 2 Dec 1774, m. Marlborough 14 Jan 1718-9 MARY WOODS (dau. of Isaac Woods and Mary Maynard), b. Marlborough 13 Mar 1687, d. Westborough 26 Mar 1775.
| 16. ArtemasBruce
|
32. Abijah Bruce |
64. Roger Bruce |
128. Thomas Bruce | 129. Magdalen ____ |
| 65. Elizabeth Forbush |
130. Daniel Forbush ?-1687 | 131. Rebecca Perriman ?-1677 |
|
|
33. Mary Woods |
66. Isaac Woods |
132. John Woods c.1610-1678 | 133. Mary Parmenter c.1610-1690 |
| 67. Mary Maynard |
134. John Maynard c.1630-1711 | 135. Mary Gates 1636-1678 |
Abijah Bruce served in the military. From Rev. Ebenezer Parkman's diary we have that Abijah was a Sergeant in September 1740 but was an Ensign by July 1744. He made Lieutenant in August 1748 and must have been in Captain Baker's Company as on October 11, 1748 Parkman "dined with the South Company Officers - Lt. Bruce had the Command by Means of Captain Bakers being engag'd as one of the Referrees upon the Case of Messers [William] Nurse and [Cornelius] Cook.".[2/184] Abijah doesn't appear in any Massachusetts Military records but might be found in the Westborough Militia records. To show what the soldiers and even the populace had to contend with during the French and Indian Wars, this July 1745 entry from Parkman's diary is included. "Ensign Bruce (who went up to Fort Shirley to bring back his son Jonathan) return'd - and informs that last Friday about 10 a.m. Mr. William Phipps was kill'd by the Indians about 30 Rods from the Garrison at [Putney] (nigh which lives Mr. Nehemiah How who went from Grafton) and his Body was treated inhumanly, Scalp'd, his Heart taken out etc.".[2/121]
Abijah Bruce was moderator of the town meetings in 1735.[6/465] In January 1749 some land was bought for the purpose of building a new meeting house in the town of Westborough. The house was to be fifty feet long by forty feet wide with posts 23 feet high. In April it was ready for raising and accordingly the precinct voted on the 17th "to provide Half a barrel of Roum, by the cost and charge of the precinct, for the Raising of the frame of the meeting-house which the precinct voted to build ...". Capt. John Maynard, Lieut. Simeon Tainter, and Lieut. Abijah Bruce were voted to be a committee to take care to provide the Roum for raising the frame of the meeting house.[6/1334]
Abijah at one time kept a tavern (during the 1750's at least). It was located on the road between Westborough and Marlborough about two miles from the center of Westborough.
A letter written by Abijah Bruce, dated at Westborough June 5, 1772, reads "Whereas my brother David Bruce of Southb'r is a person Naturally wanting Understanding and not capable of taking care of himself and there being some Estate left by our hon'd Father Roger Bruce late of Said Southb'r Decd for the Support of said David who is not Capable to manage the Same for that purpose. These are to desire your Hon'r to enquire into the truth of the above & appoint Him the said David a Guardian". Signed Abijah Bruce by mark, witnessed by Artemas Bruce and Isaac Johnson.[3](Docket 8511)
Abijah apparently had a violent temper. In several places in Parkman's diary Abijah is mentioned as having "warm Speech" or answering "Sharply, and coarsely, and asking ... with great Anger". A good example of his temper is found in the diary from June 1755 when Rev. Parkman forgot to mention to the congregation Abijah's desire for prayers for his sick wife. "Lieutenant Bruce came into my House, and the Storm abroad was great, Thunder, Lightening, and Rain. Yet the Storm of Brother Bruce's Passions was more grievous; uttering many bitter and grievous Things; neither could I at all lay his Passionate Heat by anything I could Say. He went away talking and in a Rage, notwithstanding it was the Sabbath, and the Storm which Should have Struck Terror, into each of our Hearts. I could not Suffer him to go away in Such a Frame. I put on my Great Coat, and went to the Meeting House, ready to declare it was not with Design that I omitted the Note, but through forgetfullness - as I went I Spake to him at the Stables to Mollifie him - and entreated him and all others that were there to go into the Meeting House; but neither of them did. When I got into the Meeting House I was Somewhat out of Breath by my running through the Rain. There were many more in the Meeting House (probably) than I expected: Yet I then conceiv'd it best for the prevention of further Mischief to declare that it was thro my Infirmity and no otherwise that his Case was Neglected: I also mention'd to them the Reason of my coming to Speak of it to them, viz. the violent Anger which he was in, and continued in, though I did all in my Power to Compose and Satisfie him: and that he assur'd me he would never bring me any Papers (to desire Prayers) any more. When I return'd from the Meeting House, he being Still at the Stables, I Stop'd there again and there labour'd to pacifie him: but all was in Vain. So that I left him with telling him that I had done and Said enough (and indeed it was too much) I would not trouble my Self any more. This was a just Chastizement from God upon me, for my own Sloth and Negligence! the Lord be mercifull to me a Sinner!" The next day "I made it my Business to Visit Mrs. Bruce. ... As to Lieutenant Bruce, he now receiv'd me civily - no word of yesterday; only when I parted while I had him by the Hand I told him I would not have any Difficulty between him and me, and he answer'd Smiling, 'with all my Heart'".[2/290] Abijah finally apologized a month later to Rev. Parkman for his outbursts, "Lieutenant Bruce here and acknowledg'd he did amiss on June 22 and what he said was writ and sign'd.".[2/292] But maybe he had good reason to be angry afterall. His wife Mary remained ill the rest of the year and was very close to death.
By Parkman's diary we have that Abijah died on December 2, 1774. "Lieut. Bruce dies about 2 o'clock p.m. He was nigh 81. was born Nov. 27. O.S. 1693".[5/158] And the entry for March 27, 1775 "... Calld at Mr. Stone's & desired him, if he should be sent for by those concerned, to attend the Funeral of old Mrs. Bruce, who dyd on ye 26th, aged 88 & one Day".[5/210]
REF: [1] The First Parish Church of Westborough Records
[2] The Diary of Rev. Ebenezer Parkman - Francis G. Walett,
1974
[3] Worcester County, MA Probate
[4] Westborough Vital records (Bruce births on pg.29)
[5] Diary of Reverend Ebenezer Parkman (copied by S.I. Briant
in 1906 - in Westborough Public Library)
[6] The History of Westborough - Town of Westborough, 1891
Children:
1. Mary, b. Marlborough 4 Oct 1719, bap. 19 Jun 1720, m. Westborough 20 Nov 1740 Simon Tainter 2. Elizabeth, b. Marlborough 4 Nov 1720, bap. 18 Jun 1721, m. Westborough 10 May 1739 Richard Barnes, Jr., b. Marlborough 12 Feb 1716-7 3. Charles, b. Westborough 13 May 1722,[4] m. Westborough 21 Jan 1742-3 Martha Coburn 4. Ephraim, b. Westborough 15 Nov 1724,[4] m. Westborough 5 Oct 1744 Mary Maynard, d. Westborough 13 Jan 1801 Chil.: 1) Zipporah, b. Westborough 7 Feb 1753 5. Jonathan, b. Westborough 4 Sep 1726,[4] m. Westborough 24 May 1749 Hannah Beeman, b. Westborough 23 Apr 1730 6. Artemas, b. Westborough 20 Dec 1728,[4] d. Newfane, VT 31 Jul 1811, m. Westborough 20 May 1756 Mary Latiny, b. abt. 1732, d. Newfane, VT 29 Sep 1811 7. Abigail, b. Westborough 2 Jul 1730,[4] m. Westborough 7 Apr 1752 Merodach Baladan Smith
ARTEMAS BRUCE [#16], b. Westborough, MA 20 Dec 1728, d. Newfane, VT 31 Jul 1811, m. Westborough 20 May 1756 MARY LATINY, b. abt. 1732, d. Newfane, VT 29 Sep 1811.
| 8. Elijah Bruce
|
16. Artemas Bruce |
32. Abijah Bruce |
64. Roger Bruce c.1670-1733 | 65. Elizabeth Forbush 1669-1746 |
| 33. Mary Woods |
66. Isaac Woods 1655-1720 | 67. Mary Maynard c.1659-1689 |
|
|
17. Mary Latiny |
|
||
| |
Artemas and Mary Bruce grew up in Westborough, MA but moved to Newfane, Vt. in the 1770's. The Gazetteer and Business Directory of Windham County, Vermont (1884) claims that Artemas went to Newfane from Westborough in 1774. Newton in his History of Marlborough (1930) holds the same assertion but may have based his research on the Gazetteer. On the other hand, the History of the Town of Newfane 17741874 (1874) states that Artemas arrived in Newfane Sept. 20, 1776. Sources of this information are not given, but a search of land records seems to lend weight to the 1776 date. Artemas and Mary Bruce of Westborough sold land in Westborough on March 8, 1776.[4/83:480] On May 20, 1776 Artemas Bruce "of Westborough" bought a 100 acre tract of land in Newfane from Josiah Randall.[2/1:265] It may be the case that both claims are correct. That is, Artemas may have visited Newfane in 1774 to inspect the area as a potential place to move. He may then have moved his household in 1776. That he moved his entire household in 1774 is very unlikely as in both deeds of 1776 he is styled as Artemas Bruce of Westborough. It is also quite unlikely that he would not sell his original land until two years after moving.
There was also an Artemas Bruce who was the constable of Newfane in 1776 and an Artemas Bruce, Jr. who was constable in 1777, 1778, 1787, and 1788. The term "Jr." was often used to distinguish between two men of the same name even though they were unrelated and was attached to the younger man. Since Artemas did not have a son named Artemas, it can be assumed there was another man by that name in town, and he was most likely the son of Artemas' brother Ephraim. Notice the constable of 1776 was Artemas Bruce and not Artemas Jr. The lack of the suffix indicates that either the elder Artemas was the constable or that there was only one man of that name in town at the beginning of 1776. Since it is much more likely that the same man was the constable in the above listed years, this would add further proof that Artemas and Mary moved to Newfane later in 1776.
Artemas' brother Ephraim lived in Shrewsbury, MA where he died in 1770. His son Artemas was 19 at the time. Revolutionary War records show service by Artemas Bruce of Shrewsbury and Artemas Bruce of Newfane.[7/2:717] The Shrewsbury service is obviously that of the nephew, while that of Newfane is probably the nephew. Further research could settle whether Artemas the ancestor served in the war while a resident of Newfane.
Artemas' wife was Mary Latiny. Her origin is unknown, but she appears to have been an orphan. The record of her baptism establishes that she was a foster child. "July 17, 1737 Mary (otherwise Thankfull) Latiny a child committed by the Select Men to the care of Simon Tainter and his wife was baptised.".[1] She joined the Westborough Church on March 14, 1756, two months before her marriage to Artemas.[1] From the baptism record it would seem that she was given the name Thankful at birth but was probably called Mary by her foster parents. However, this is only a guess. Unfortunately, a search of Massachusetts records of the time shows no person of the name Latiny anywhere. Hemenway claims that Mary died Aug. 29, 1811, aged 78,[11/478] which would make her four years old at the time of her baptism. This is consistent with the record. The baptism called her "a child". Had she been much younger, she would have been refered to as an infant. The question arises, "Who took care of her during those early years, and how did she come to the care of the selectmen?" A search of the records of the early selectmen might shed some light on her background.
On September 19, 1779 Artemas was in Westborough requesting assistance of his former neighbors as his house in Vermont had recently burned down. A collection was taken up for him.[9/167] Artemas established the first sawmill in his part of Newfane on the brook just south of his house on what is now Bruce Brook Road.
REF: [1] Westborough Church Records
[2] Newfane, Vt. Deeds
[3] Newfane, Vt. Records
[4] Worcester County Deeds
[5] History of the Town of Newfane 1774-1874, 1874
[6] Gazetteer and Business Directory of Windham County, Vermont
- Hamilton Child, 1884 (pg.262)
[7] Soldiers and Sailors of Massachusetts in the Revolutionary
War, 1896
[8] The Diary of Reverend Ebenezer Parkman - Francis G. Walett,
1974
[9] The Diary of Reverend Ebenezer Parkman - Harriette M. Forbes,
1899
[10] Westborough Vital Records (Bruce births on pg.29)
[11] Vermont Historical Gazetteer, Vol. V, Part 2 - Abby Maria
Hemenway, 1891
[12] Ancestry World Tree Project
Children:
1. Asa, b. Westborough 30 Mar 1757,[10] m.[12] Hannah Wilder, b. abt. 1765 Chil. (likely others)[12]: a) Abigail Bruce, b. VT 1787, d. 1864, m. Job Austin 2. Elijah, bap. Westborough, MA 20 Jan 1760,[10] d. Marlborough, VT 16 May 1835, m. 6 Jan 1781 (int.) Abigail Whitney, b. Grafton, MA 11 Apr 1763, d. 13 Jul 1847 3. Ephraim, bap. 3 Jan 1762, m. Polly Crowl 4. Lavina, bap. Westborough 10 Jun 1764[10] 5. Preserved, bap. Westborough 1 Mar 1767[10] 6. Polly (possibly the Mary, bap. Westborough 5 Feb 1769[10]) 7. Abigail, bap. Westborough 5 Feb 1769[10] 8. Mary, bap. Westborough 22 Sep 1771[10] 9. Mansfield, bap. Westborough 5 Sep 1773[10]
ELIJAH BRUCE [#8], bap. Westborough, MA 12 Jan 1760, d. Marlborough, VT 16 May 1835, m. Westborough (int. 6 Jan 1781 "Elijah Bruse of Newfain"[8]) ABIGAIL WHITNEY (dau. of Nathaniel Whitney and Abigail Joslin), b. Grafton, MA 11 Apr 1763, d. 13 Jul 1847.
| 4. Orison Bruce
|
8. Elijah Bruce |
16. Artemas Bruce |
32. Abijah Bruce 1693-1774 | 33. Mary Woods 1687-1771 |
| 17. Mary Latiny |
|||
|
9. Abigail Whitney |
18. Nathaniel Whitney |
36. Nathaniel Whitney 1696-1776 | 37. Mary Child c.1700-1776 |
| 19. Abigail Joslin |
38. Joseph Joslin 1699-1761 | 39. Katherine Read 1707-? |
Elijah Bruce was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and is listed as having several residences which somewhat confuses the facts. From the Vermont Revolutionary War Rolls Elijah is listed as serving in Capt. John Petty's Co., Col. William Williams regt., having entered Aug. 29, 1777 and serving 16 days at 2.10.0 per month. He received 1.6.8 as his pay. This would place him in Newfane at the time and that he moved there with his parents is almost certain. Yet records from 1780 place him in Westborough, MA. This record is especially interesting as it is a descriptive list of men raised to reinforce the Continental Army for the term of six months, agreeable to resolve June 5, 1780. He is described as living in Westborough, 20 years old, five feet eleven inch stature with ruddy complexion.[2/2:711] It should not be surprising that he was in Westborough at this time. He had spent most of his life there, had many relatives there, and his soon to be bride lived in the next town.
The descriptive list goes on to state that Elijah arrived at Springfield (Massachusetts presumably) on Aug. 25, 1780 and marched to camp Sept. 7, 1780 under the command of Ensign Simmonds. Elijah is also found on the list of men raised for the six month service and returned by Brig. General Paterson as having passed muster in a return dated Camp Totoway Oct. 25, 1780.[2/2:711] He further appears on a pay roll of Capt. Josiah Fish's Co. of Foot in the 1st Regt. of Militia in Gen. Fletcher's Brigade, commanded by Col. Stephen Bradley. During the month of September 1782 this company assisted "the sheriff in carrying into execution the law etc." Elijah served five days from Sept. 16 to the 20th. Later that year he appears again: "The following is a true list of the officers and soldiers who marched to Brattleboro in the muster Dec. 24, 1782, pursuant to orders received from Col. John Sergeants of said Brattleboro to suppress insurrections and disturbances then subsisting in those parts under the command of Lt. Ward Eager". His service was for four days and 12 miles giving total pay as 10 shillings.
These disturbances from late 1782 stemmed from the earlier dispute between New Hampshire and New York with regard to which colony had jurisdiction over the territory now called Vermont. New Hampshire claimed the territory lying to within 20 miles east of the Hudson River. New York's claim was for the territory lying west of the Connecticut River. Starting in 1749, New Hampshire's Governor began issuing land grants in the disputed area, which came to be known as the New Hampshire Grants. However, in 1764 a royal decree declared the Connecticut River as the boundary between New Hampshire and New York. Thus the New York government considered this to mean the New Hampshire grants were annulled and ordered the settlers to repurchase them from New York. Most refused to comply, and in 1767 a second royal order forbade the granting of disputed lands until further instructions were received from the crown. However, with the long lapses of time that could go by waiting for word to cross the Atlantic, New York continued to grant lands not previously repurchased. A convention of settlers was held at Bennington, and it was determined that the settlers were to resist by force any processes of the New York courts to eject those holding New Hampshire charters.
In 1770 the grand jury at Albany, New York indicted as rioters some of the settlers who had attended the convention and several were arrested in 1771. To protect themselves the settlers in several towns formed committees of safety, and it was decreed that no New York officer should take anyone out of the district without the consent of the committee. To enforce these rules, an organization called the Green Mountain Boys was formed under the leadership of Ethan Allen and others. In 1774 New York offered a 100 pound reward for the capture of Ethan Allen but to no avail. In April 1775 a convention met at Westminster and proclaimed the territory independent of New York but declared itself willing to let the King decide if a new colony was to be formed or if it should be annexed to another.
However the King became concerned with more important matters shortly thereafter (like the start of the Revolution) and nothing was done in regard to Vermont. Thus in January 1776, less than a year after the outbreak of hostilities between the British and the colonists, a convention at Dorset sent a commission to the Continental Congress, requesting that the New Hampshire Grants be made a seperate state. Congress refused. The following year another convention met, declared the territory to be an independent state with the name New Connecticut, and again asked and was refused admission. In June 1777 the name was changed to Vermont, from Les vertes Montes, French for green mountains, and a constitution similar to that of Pennsylvania was adopted, but with a clause that prohibited slavery. The militia was assigned the task of keeping the law and order within the boundaries of the new nation. Some units of the Vermont Militia served with the Continental Army as the contribution of independent Vermont, an ally of the new United States of America.
In 1779 New Hampshire and New York again began to press their claims on Vermont. New Hampshire's claims were settled in 1782, when it was decided that Vermont's eastern boundary was to extend along 200 miles of the Connecticut River. However, a minority party within Vermont continued to present the idea that merger with New York would have been a better idea than a seperate state. One active center of this agitation developed in the township of Guilford, directly south of Brattleboro. Refusal to pay taxes and other disturbances broke out, and finally the Vermont government called up the unit of Militia headquartered in Brattleboro to deal with the situation before it worsened. This was the militia to which Elijah Bruce belonged. Had this militia action failed in its aim before sustained violence broke out, the history of this part of New England may have been written in a vastly different key than we know today. Matters did deteriorate further until in 1783 Ethan Allen was sent to Guilford with the Militia to impose martial law and collect taxes. This was referred to as the "Guilford War". Eventually, most of those opposed to Vermont rule, the "Yorkers", left town and moved to New York. Such were the disturbances that brought Elijah Bruce's company of militia to play an important part in Vermont's history.
Another record of Elijah's war experiences comes to us from a story told by Anson Collins to Charles Arthur Bruce in September 1933. Collins was about 80 at the time and was said to know more of the Newfane area history than any other person. As the story goes, Isaac Barrett of Chesterfield, NH had stopped at the Bruce cabin, asking directions to Bennington. Word from General John Stark of a threatened British invasion was late in reaching him because of delay due to Tories. He had started direct for Bennington instead of Massachusetts and had apparently gotten lost. Elijah said he could better show Barrett than tell him how to meet up with the Army. Thus, after molding some bullets and waiting for bread to be baked, they started off over the hills of southern Vermont to the impending confrontation. Arriving near Bennington, they heard firing and decided to store their packs in a nearby hollow tree, One said, "I guess we can find the tree when we come back." The other replied, "If we don't come back, we won't need to."
Further along they met others gathering who were in need of leadership. Someone called to Barrett and suggested he lead them as "he knew the soldier's business". Thus Isaac Barrett formed the group and advanced them to the fight where he reported to the first officer he met, Colonel William Williams of Wilmington. Collins had nothing to say about the actual battle, but he did report that Elijah had a bullet hole in his coat and Isaac a hole in his hat.
The Battle of Bennington was an important part of the American revolution for the United States. It was the aim of the British to cut the colonies in two by seperating New England, already blockaded by sea, from the southern colonies (or states, depending on your viewpoint). A tripronged plan was formulated to effect this objective. General John Burgoyne was sent south from Montreal to Albany. General Barry St. Leger was to march east from Lake Ontario through the Mohawk Valley and meet Burgoyne in Albany. And General Howe was to come up the Hudson River from New York City and join up with the other two armies. The plan failed as St. Leger was defeated long before he was halfway to Albany, and he retreated for Canada. Lord Germaine had overlooked dispatching Howe up the Hudson. Ignorant of the plan to cut off New England, Howe sailed for the Chesapeake Bay and Philadelphia and thus did not reinforce Burgoyne.
Left as the only army, Burgoyne, leading seven thousand men, met with initial successes. In early July he took Fort Ticonderoga and later that month reached the upper Hudson. Waiting there for supplies from Montreal, he sent 800 Hessian dragoons and Indians, under the command of Colonel Friedrich Baum, to capture the American supply base at Bennington. On August 16, 1777, the Americans, led by General Stark, decisively defeated the British forces, including reinforcements dispatched by Burgoyne after the battle had begun. British casualties were 207 killed and wounded, and 600 men taken prisoner. American casualties were 14 killed, 42 wounded. The victory cost Burgoyne not only 800 men, but it also stimulated American Militia enlistments. This battle led to two defeats of Burgoyne in September and to his final surrender of over five thousand men on October 17.
That the story by Anson Collins is close to the truth seems very likely. However stories have a habit of changing to some degree over time. Newton agrees with the story in that in his book he states Elijah fought in the Battle of Bennington. Yet the Vermont Revolutionary War Rolls put Elijah's entrance date as August 29 - two weeks after the battle. Perhaps the record is incorrect in that the date was actually the day of discharge, meaning he entered on the 13th. Isaac Barrett's name also appears on the New Hampshire Revolutionary War Rolls, but there is no mention of him in connection with the Battle of Bennington. Again, this does not disprove the story from Anson Collins, but sheds enough doubt about its accuracy, especially with regard to the bullet holes in the clothing.
Abigail Whitney, the wife of Elijah Bruce, was only 13 years old when her father died. Her uncle Eli Whitney was made her guardian. He was a huge man of about 300 pounds and also the father of the inventor, Eli Whitney. Eli the inventor was only two years younger than Abigail, and it is likely they spent some of thier childhood together. In 1789 Abigail and her husband Elijah Bruce "of Newfain in Windom County, Yeoman and State of Vermont" sold to Eli Whitney of Westborough for seven pounds Abigail's dowry from the estate of her father, "Nathaniel Whitney late of Grafton deceased".[5/108:306]
REF: [1] Marlborough, VT Records
[2] Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary
War, 1896
[3] Vermont Revolutionary War Rolls
[4] Worcester County Probate (Series A Docket 65069)
[5] Worcester County Deeds
[6] Research by Reverend Arthur Bruce Moss
[7] Research by Charles Arthur Bruce
[8] Westborough, MA Vital Records
[9] South Newfane Cemetery, gravestone transcriptions by Charles
Marchant, manuscript in Newfane Town Clerk's Office
[10] Wilmington, VT Records
[11] 1880 Federal Census
[12] Family Info from 1) Irvin Bruce;
[13] 1870 Federal Census
[14] George Alvin and James Preserved Bruce of Marlboro, Vermont
Their Ancestors and Descendents - George Gordon Robert
Bruce et. al., 1994
Children:
1. Rev. Mansfield Bruce, b. 11 Apr 1781, d. Wilmington, VT 4 Feb
1843, m. Shrewsbury, MA 24 Sep 1805 Grace Goddard (dau. of
Dea. Banjamin Goddard)
Chil.: (from Norris' website)
A) Elijah Bruce, b. Marlborough 18 Apr 1808,[1/1:77] m.
30 May 1832 Ruth Fay, b. abt. 1812[11]; res. Brooklyn, NY[11]
Chil.[11]:
1) Grace Bruce, b. abt. 1839, m. ____ Haight, d. bef. 1880
B) Betsey Bruce, b. Marlborough 2 Sep 1809,[1/1:77]
m. Origen Smith
C) Benjamin Goddard Bruce, b. Marlborough 3 Jun 1811,[1/1:77]
m. 17 Sep 1835 Bulah Goldthwait, d. 1860
D) Sally Bruce, b. Marlborough 8 Feb 1813,[1/1:77]
m. 5 Oct 1847 John S. Rice
E) Evelina Bruce, b. Marlborough 9 Nov 1814,[1/1:77]
d. 21 Jul 1817[9]
F) Isaiah Mattison Bruce, b. Marlborough 5 Sep 1817,[1/1:77]
m. 16 Sep 1858 Mary C. Beals
G) Syrena Bruce, b. 27 Aug 1820
H) Grace Maria Bruce, b. 11 Apr 1822, d. 13 Sep 1823
I) Eli Mansfield Bruce, b. 25 Apr 1825, m. 27 Sep 1843 Harriet M. Snow
b. abt. 1825; res. Philadelphia, PA[11]
Chil.[11](probably others):
1) Kate Bruce, b. VT abt. 1847, m. M. C. Shafford
2) Ella Bruce, b. PA abt. 1862
2. Joseph Whitney Bruce, b. 19 Nov 1782, d. 3 Apr 1842, m. 11 Jan 1806
Sarah Taylor (dau. of Isaac Taylor of Newfane), b. 1786
Chil.: (from Norris' website)
A) Betsey Bruce, b. 8 May 1807, d. 26 Dec 1811
B) Joseph Whitney Bruce, b. 28 Dec 1808, d. 13 Dec 1811
C) Cheselton Ellis Bruce, b. Marlborough 14 Nov 1810,[1/1:179]
m. 3 Apr 1836 Malena Burchard
D) Joseph Whitney Bruce, b. Marlborough 15 Jun 1813,[1/1:179]
d. 8 Feb 1842, m. 11 Apr 1839 Hannah C. Lipscom
E) Sarah Taylor Bruce, b. Marlborough 11 Sep 1815,[1/1:179]
m. Marlborough 20 Nov 1838[1/TR3:29] Jonas Woodward of
Halifax, VT
F) Eliza Lurana Bruce, b. Marlborough 21 Sep 1817,[1/1:179]
m. Marlborough17 Apr 1836[1/TR3:37] Daniel Bardwell of
Tunbridge, VT
G) Burleechee Latin Bruce, b. Marlborough 1 Sep, d. 6 Oct 1819
H) Elizabeth Taylor Bruce, b. Marlborough 22 Apr 1821,[1/1:179]
d. 2 Aug 1843,[9] m. Marlborough 10 Dec 1839[1/TR3:37] Edwin Streeter
I) Isaac Taylor Bruce, b. Marlborough 22 Apr 1821,[1/1:179]
m. 24 Feb 1842 Nancy Clapp
J) Nancy Jane Bruce, b. Marlborough 12 Sep 1825,[1/1:179] d.
3 Jul 1854, m. 2 Nov 1843 Stephen Gibbson
K) Harriet Hannah Bruce, b. Marlborough 25 Aug 1830,[1/1:179]
d. 17 Sep 1844
3. Preserved Bruce, b. Newfane 28 Jun 1784, d. Marlborough, VT 2 Apr
1865 of consumption and dropsy,[1/2b:6] m. 28 Feb 1808 Eleanor
Campbell (dau. of James Campbell and Charlotte), b. Worcester,
MA 9 Dec 1785, d. Marlborough, VT 13 Mar 1865
Chil: (from Norris' website)
A) Joseph Bruce, b. 10 Oct 1809, d. 11 Mar 1815
B) Sally Bruce, b. Marlborough 5 Nov 1811,[1/1:176] d.
Marlborough 26 Jan 1892[1/3:D19] apparently never married
C) Alvin Boyden Bruce, b. Marlborough 4 Oct 1813,[1/1:176] d.
Marlboro, VT 10 Jan 1893,[14] m. Wilmington, VT 3 Dec
1840[10/2:58] Hannah Ware, b. Wilmington 11 May 1814,[14]
d. Marlboro, VT 25 Dec 1894[14]
Chil.:
1) Hattie Ann Bruce, b. Marlborough 11 Feb 1841,[14] d. Marlborough
1 Jan 1902 age: 59y 11m 20d[1/4:8], m. Marlborough
22 Jan 1864[1] Warren E. Bruce (son of Orison Bruce and
Hannah Charter), b. 22 Jan 1837,[1/2:50]
d. Marlboro 21 May 1909
Chil.: see Orison Bruce family
2) Hannah Augusta Bruce, b. 4 Jun 1849,[14] d. 26 Apr 1937,[14]
m(1) Marlborough 24 Jan 1868[1] Alfred Worden (son of Roswell Worden and
Louisa), b. abt. 1839, m(2)[14] Gilbert Stancliff
Chil.[11]:
a) Wayland T. Worden, b. May 1870[13]
b) Archie P. Worden, b. abt. 1871
c) Clarence A. Worden, b. abt. 1872
d) G____ (a boy), b. abt. 1876
3) Lovica Ware Bruce, b. abt. 1851,[11] (6 Jan 1845 according to
[14]) d. Marlborough 1 Oct 1925[1/9:206], m(1) a Charter, m(2)
19 Jan 1905 Warren E. Bruce (see immediately above)
4) George Alvin Bruce,[14] b. Marlboro 26 Mar 1851, d. S. Charlestown,
NH 22 Apr 1909, m. Springfield, MA 3 Nov 1874 Abbie J. Kelsey,
b. Marlboro 23 Jul 1849, d. Williamsville, VT 15 Nov 1927
Chil.[14]:
a) James Alvin Bruce, b. Chralestown, NH 5 Sep 1880, d. St.
Petersburg, FL 26 Feb 1958, m. South Newfane, VT 4 Jan 1902
Edith Emma Brown, b. Michigan 15 Jan 1881, d. Brattleboro,
VT 18 Spe 1968
Chil.:
1) James Graham Bruce, b. Claremont 6 Sep 1904, d. St.
Louis, MO 24 Nov 1971, m. 1932 Kathryn Helen May Cloutier
2) Cedric Brown Bruce, b. Claremont 24 Jun 1908, d. Sarasota,
FL 8 Oct 1981, m. 1930 Ethel Mae Atwood
3) Philip Malcolm Bruce, b. Suffield, CT 3 May 1919, d.
Boston, MA 31 Jul 1986, m. 1943 Dorothy Marie Menard
b) Robert Hubbard Bruce, b. South Charlestown, NH 11 May 1885,
d. Claremont, NH 10 Nov 1971, m(1) Charlestown, NH 15 Jun
1910 Alice Eastman, b. Newport, NH 27 Jun 1890, d. South
Charlestown, NH 25 Mar 1912, m(2) Exeter, NH 31 Dec 1914
Grace Quimby, b. West Unity, NH 13 May 1883, d. Claremont
9 Jul 1983
Chil.:
1) George Gordon Robert Bruce, b. South Charlestown, NH
22 Jul 1911, m. 1935 Dorothy Hobbs
2) Irvin Quimby Bruce, b. Charlestown, NH 9 May 1916, m(1)
1939 Betty Hill, d. 1952, m(2) 1953 Betty Commings
3) Elsa Grace Bruce, b. Charlestown 5 Nov 1918, m. 1953
Edward Pinkham Tierney
5) James Preserved Bruce, b. 9 Apr 1854,[12/1] d. Marlborough
11 Sep 1932,[1/9:238] m.[14] 7 Jul 1906 Myra Annie Collins,
b. 23 Dec 1887, d. 27 Jan 1980
Chil.[14]:
a) Warren James Bruce, b. Marlboro 9 Aug 1910, m. 1940
Gladys Carne Reed
b) Everett George Bruce, b. Marlboro 24 Aug 1917, d. Ocoee,
FL 23 Mar 1986, m. 1939 Natalie Esther Sargent
D) Ann Bruce, b. 11 Apr 1817,[1/1:176] m. Marlborough 11 Nov
1839 [1/TR3:37] Alexander Webster of Royalston, MA
E) Eliza Ward Bruce, b. 18 Jan 1819, m. Brattleboro, VT 24 May
1843[14] Lucien Walcott
F) Mary Ann Bruce, b. Marlboro 27 Sep 1821, d. 25 Feb 1860, m(1)[14]
Wheeler Pierce, m(2)[14] William Davenport
G) Joseph Bruce, b. 11 Jan 1824, maybe m. Marlborough
14 Feb 1850[1/TR3:161] Mariam W. Brown. She m(2) Marlborough
11 Nov 1885[1/8:15] George Winchester ([14] has Joseph married
14 Feb 1850 to Marian Whitney)
H) James Preserved Bruce, b. Marlborough 10 Apr 1826,[1/1:176]
d. Marlborough 26 Jun 1830[1/1:176]
I) Charlotte Maria Bruce, b. Marlborough 29 Apr 1828,[1/1:176]
m.[14] Cyrus W. Wyman
J) Thomas Walter Ward Bruce, b. Marlborough 9 Jul 1831,[1/1:176]
m.[14] 27 Nov 1856 Sophia Norcross
4. Elijah Bruce
5. Catherine Bruce, m(1) Marlborough, VT 19 Oct 1808[1/TR1:299]
Joshua Phillips who enlisted in the U.S. Army of 1812 and was
shot in the battle near Sackett's Harbor, N.Y., m(2) Benjamin
Medcalf of Wilmington, VT
6. Lucy Bruce, m. Marlborough 25 Aug 1811[1/1:105] Josiah Parks
7. Martha Bruce, m. Marlborough 3 Nov 1817[1/1:120] James Kelsey
8. Cency Bruce, m. Marlborough 28 Apr 1817[1/1:119] Alfred Dunklee
9. Nancy Bruce, d. 15 Jul 1820, m. Marlborough 1 Jul 1817[1/1:119]
John Robbins
10. Emory Bruce, d. 4 Mar 1837, m. Marlborough 24 Oct 1825[1/TR2:174]
Almira Samson
Chil. (all b. Marlborough[1/1:161]):
A) Emory Francis Bruce, b. 5 Oct 1825, d. 11 Jan 1911,[9] m.
Malina Williams, b. 10 Oct 1828, d. 6 Jan 1911[9]; res. Newfane[11]
Chil.:[9] (probably not complete list)
1) Lucena A. Bruce, b. 9 Nov 1850, d. 16 Dec 1928, m.
Henry W. Moore, b. 19 Dec 1847, d. 17 May 1922
2) Frank E. Bruce, b. 20 Feb 1859, d. 28 Aug 1941, m.
Ada M. Knapp, b. 15 Apr 1866, d. 1 Oct 1938
B) Eli Eliott Bruce, b. 23 Sep 1828
11. Eli Bruce, b. Dec 1801, d. Marlborough 8 Feb 1825,[1/1:17] aged
23 yr. 1 mo. and 19 days,[9] m. Lucy Stearns (dau. of
Amos Stearns and Lucy Fletcher), b. Chesterfield, NH 21 Apr 1802,
d. Marlborough, VT 3 Mar 1891[9]
Chil.:
A) Eli Fayette Bruce, b. Marlborough 20 Dec 1824,[1/1:17] d. Newfane,
VT 5 Jul 1899, m. Mary Ann Timson; maybe the
Eli F. Bruce in New York, NY (Manhattan) in 1880 with wife Mary
A. (age 54), 22 year old daughter Eva E. Bruce, who was b. in NY,
and niece Eliza Bellows[11]
12. Orison Bruce, b. Newfane, VT 4 Dec 1803, d. Marlborough,
VT 3 Jul 1869, m. Marlborough 20 Feb 1825[1/1:150] Hannah Charter,
b. Marlborough, VT 7 Apr 1803, d. Marlborough 3 Jun 1884[1/3:D3]
Chil.: (see below)
13. Abigail Whitney Bruce, b. 2 Apr 1806, d. Marlborough 21 Jun
1884 age 78, m. Marlborough, VT 22 Mar 1829 Nehemiah Willis
Fisher (son of Nehemiah Willis and Lucretia Marsh), b. Marlborough
23 Jun 1805, d. Marlborough 6 Dec 1859 age 53y 5m 13d
Chil: (from Norris' website)
A) Elijah Bruce Fisher, b. 30 Sep 1829
B) Ephraim Lyman Fisher, b. 8 Jan 1831
C) John Henry Fisher, b. 24 Aug 1833, m. 11 Sep 1860 Sylvia Jane Peck
D) Melissa Caroline Fisher, b. 30 Apr 1837, m. 14 Dec 1862
Lyman Dana Moulton, b. abt. 1837
E) Marthaette Abigail Fisher, b. 14 Aug 1838, m. George Barney Hall, b. 1836
F) Mansfield Bruce Fisher, b. 14 Jun 1841
G) Eleanor Serepta Fisher, Marlboro, VT 30 Oct 1843, d. Ada, Kansas
10 May 1924, m. 20 Dec 1861 Henry Gilbert Baldwin, b. 1836, d. 1894
H) Joseph Elliot Fisher, b. 26 Jan 1847
I) Harriet Adelia Fisher, b. 30 May 1849
ORISON BRUCE [#4], b. Newfane, VT 4 Dec 1803, d. Marlborough, VT 3 Jul 1869, m. 20 Feb 1825 HANNAH CHARTER (dau. of James Charter and Phoebe Phillips), b. Marlborough, VT 7 Apr 1803, d. Marlborough 3 Jun 1884.[1/3:D3] She m(2) 9 Nov 1871 John Goodenow.
| 2. Charles Henry Bruce
|
4. Orison Bruce |
8. Elijah Bruce |
16. Artemas Bruce 1728-1811 | 17. Mary Latiny c.1732-1811 |
| 9. Abigail Whitney |
18. Nathaniel Whitney 1728-1776 | 19. Abigail Joslin 1735-? |
|
|
5. Hannah Charter |
10. James Charter |
20. George Charter ?-1745 | 21. Sarah Case 1703-aft.1765 |
| 11. Phoebe Phillips |
22. John Phillips 1734-1805 | 23. Jane Ellis 1738-1832 |
By his death record, Orison Bruce, farmer, died of consumption. He was a resident of Marlborough, Vt. at the time. His will was dated March 27, 1869, and he gave his estate to his wife Hannah Bruce, and after her decease to his son Charles Henry. On Dec. 18, 1869 the estate was appraised at $1147.25, which included farming tools, animals, and wood cutting tools.[2/25:395] According to Hannah's death record, she died of dropsy of the liver. In his will Orison mentioned his "beloved wife" Hannah and his son Charles H. Bruce. He also recommended his wife care for a Bruce boy during his minority. The name is difficult to make out, but it looks like it begins with "Ora.." Perhaps this was Oratus, who has a marker in the Collins Cemetery in Marlboro near other Bruces.[8] The relationship of Orison and Hannah to the boy is not provided. James Charter was named as the executor, and the witnesses where B.E. Morre, King D. Charter, and Mary B. Charter.[2/25:341]
Orison and Hannah had two sons who were Civil War soldiers. Warren E. Bruce was a teamster and was mustered into the Massachusetts 13th Infantry Regiment as a private in Company K 16 Jul 1861 and was mustered out 1 Aug 1864. He was on duty in the quarter-master's department after 13 Mar 1863. George A. Bruce was a corporal in the Vermont 16th Infantry Regiment, Co. I, enlisting 20 Sep 1862, mustered in 23 Oct 1862, and mustered out 10 Aug 1863.[10] Some enlistments were for nine months, others three years. It appears George's enlistment was of the former and Warren's the latter. Both men would have been present at the Battle of Gettysburg.
George A. Bruce was in Black Hawk, CO as early as 1871 when he appeared in the Rocky Mountain Gazetteer as a teamster in Black Hawk.[14] He appears in Black Hawk, Colorado (Gilpin County) in the 1880 census with wife Sarah and children Grace and Earl. George and Sarah also appear in the Denver, CO censuses of 1900-1920 (1930 not checked yet). In 1900 both were listed as born in Vermont as were their parents. Furthermore George was listed as born in June 1842, which would tend to solidify the case for this being our George. In 1880 his occupation was given as "Retail liquor dealer". In 1900 George and Sarah were living in Denver. George was a "saloon keeper", and Sarah was the mother of five children, none of whom were still living. She appeared in the 1870 census for Black Hawk, CO as the wife of John Bruce and the mother of four year old Alena and 5 month old Grace. Both she and her husband were born in Vermont and the children in Colorado. John's occupation was "miner". Sarah was either 27 or 29 years old at the time.[13]
Son John Charter Bruce was listed as a gold digger in Colorado in the 1864 records of his son in Marlboro. It might seem possible that he was the John Bruce in Black Hawk, CO in 1870. His brother George was in that small town in 1880 and married to John's widow, so George may have followed John out west. However in the census John was 38 years old whereas John C. would have been 40 at the time, and this John was also listed as having foreign born parents, so there is some doubt.[13] John also appears in the Gazetteer of 1871 as a mining operator in Chase Gulch.[14] No grave site has been found for John.
REF: [1] Marlborough, VT Town Records
[2] Windham County Probate Records
[3] Wilmington, VT Town Records
[4] South Newfane Cemetery, gravestone transcriptions by Charles
Marchant, manuscript in Newfane Town Clerk's Office
[5] Births Recorded in Charlestown, Sullivan County, New Hampshire
Town Reports: 1888-1895
[6] 1910 Federal Census
[7] 1920 Federal Census
[8] Collins Cemetery (Marlboro, VT), gravestone transcriptions
[9] 1900 Federal Census
[10] Revised Roster of Vermont Volunteers and Lists of Vermonters Who
Served in the Army and Navy of the United States during the War of
the Rebellion, 1861-66, Adjutant and Inspector-General's Office, 1892
[11] Springfield, VT Vital Records
[12] Mount Holly, VT Vital Records
[13] Federal Census for Denver, CO (1880-1920)
[14] The Foothills Inquirer (quarterly publication of the Foothills
Genealogical Society, Volume 9, Pg. 44, Spring 1989 - abstraction of
the 1871 Rocky Mountain Directory and CO Gazetteer for Black Hawk, (Gilpin Co., CO)
[15] Colorado State Records on-line: http://kiwi.state.co.us/archive/publicrecords.do
Children (all born in Marlborough, VT):
1. Orison, b. 24 Oct 1826,[1/1:159] d. Marlborough, VT
25 Feb 1858 of dyspepsia,[1/2b:2] m. 3 Sep 1848 Lucy
Bradley of Springfield, MA
2. John Charter, b. 18 Jun 1829,[1/1:159] d. 30 Sep 1874
according to Marion (Bruce) Waterman, m. Sarah Elliot, b.
Rutland, VT. John was a gold digger in the Colorado
Territory in 1864
Chil.:
A) John C. Bruce, b. Marlborough 20 Jun 1864,[1] d.
Marlborough 20 Aug 1864[1/2b:5]
B) Alena, b. Colorado abt. 1866, d. bef. 1880[13]
C) Grace L. Bruce, b. Colorado Jan 1870[13]
3. James Mansfield, b. 2 Oct 1831,[1/1:159] d. Marlborough, VT
29 Apr 1865[1/2b:6] "of dropsy"
4. Hannah Jane, b. 9 May 1834,[1/1:159] d. Brattleboro, VT
4 Aug 1861,[4] m. 1 Jan 1854 Thomas B. Morse
Chil.:[4]
A) John Frank Morse, b. Plainfield 21 May 1857, d. Brattleboro
2 Aug 1864
5. Warren Ellis, b. 22 Jan 1837,[1/2:50] d. Marlborough, VT
21 May 1909,[1/8:215] m. Wilmington, VT 22 Jan 1864[3/4:2]
Harriet A. Bruce (dau. of Alvin Bruce and Hannah Ware), b.
Marlborough 11 Feb 1842, d. 1 Jan 1902,[8] m(2) Bellows Falls,
VT 19 Jan 1905[1/8m:1] Lovica W. Charter, b. 6 Jan 1845, d.
1 Oct 1925[8]
Chil.:
A) Arthur Harvey Bruce, b. Marlborough 21 Oct 1868,[1] d.
Springfield, VT 26 Apr 1915,[11] m. abt. 1894 Hattie M. Hill,
b. Mount Holly, VT abt. 1868[5] (1 Jun 1869[11]), d.
Springfield, VT 7 Apr 1943[11]
Chil.:
1) Allyn Ellis, b. Charlestown, NH 17 Jul 1895,[5] d.
Springfield, VT 13 May 1959,[11] m. Springfield 2 Jun 1917[11]
Bessie May Comstock, b. 21 Aug 1896, d. Springfield, VT
10 Dec 1968[11] (according to [7] she was b. in NH)
Chil. (b. in Springfield, VT[11]):
a) Albert Elmer, b. and d. 1918
b) Robert Leon, b. 20 Oct 1919
c) Sherman Allyn, b. 16 Feb 1921
d) David Arthur, b. 5 Jan 1936
2) son, b. Marlborough 28 Mar 1897,[1/4] prob. d. young
B) Leon E., b. Marlborough 20 Nov 1876, worked as a baker at the
Northampton (MA) State Hospital and appears to have never married,
may have died prior to 1930 census
6. Charles Henry, b. Marlborough, VT 15 Sep 1839,[1/2:50] d.
Brattleboro, VT 1 Jul 1922, m. 3 Jun 1886 Julia Morell,
b. Pondville, VT 1 May 1864, d. Brattleboro 15 Dec 1934
7. George Arch, b. 10 Jun 1842,[1/2:50] bur. Riverside Cemetery, Denver
CO 14 Feb 1921, m. Gilpin County 3 Feb 1876[15/1:252] Sarah _____, b.
May 1843[13], res. Black Hawk and Denver, CO
Chil. (b. in Colorado)[13]:
A) Earl Leroy Bruce, b. 1879, buried Knights of Pythias Cemetery,
Central City, CO 22 April 1881, age 1 yr. and 6 months
8. Harriet Elizabeth, b. 21 Jan 1845,[1/2:50] d. 5 Jul 1915 of Bright's
disease,[12/9:223] m(1?) ____ Pierson (she had Pierson surname on her
1874 marriage record), m(2) Mount Holly, VT 24 Sep 1874 Charles
Wesley Priest (son of Ethan Priest and Hannah Crowley)[12/3:6] of
Belmont, VT. Civil War soldier in VT 2nd Regiment Infantry, Co. I,
d. Belmont, VT 31 Jan 1932[12/12:34](no issue)
CHARLES HENRY BRUCE [#2], b. Marlborough, VT 15 Sept 1839, d. Brattleboro, VT 1 Jul 1922, m. 3 Jun 1886 JULIA MORELL (dau. of Noah Morell and Lucy Ball), b. Pondville section of Newfane, VT 1 May 1864, d. Brattleboro, VT 15 Dec 1934.
| 1. Hattie E. J. Bruce
|
2. Charles Henry Bruce |
4. Orison Bruce |
8. Elijah Bruce 1760-1835 | 9. Abigail Whitney 1763-1847 |
| 5. Hannah Charter |
10. James Charter 1741-1821 | 11. Phoebe Phillips 1777-1863 |
|
|
3. Julia Morell |
6. Noah Morell |
||
| 7. Lucy Ann Ball |
14. James Ball 1796-1839 | 15. Lucy Stearns 1802-1891 |
Charles Bruce spent much of his life in Marlborough and Newfane and moved to Brattleboro from Springfield, MA in 1912. He also lived in Cincinnati, Ohio for five years. He had a real estate business at one time.[3] On the birth record of his son in 1888, Charles was listed as a farmer living in school district 11 of Marlborough.
Charles died in Brattleboro on Saturday evening July 1, 1922 at 10:40 in his home at 116 Elliot Street at the age of 82. Death was attributed to his advanced age and a general breaking down. Although not confined to his bed, he had not been in good health for several years prior to his death.[4]
REF: [1] Marlborough, VT Town Records
[2] Vermont Public Records
[3] Family Recollections, related Ada (Adam) Martin
[4] Brattleboro Newspaper Obituary
Children:
1. Charles Bruce, b. Marlborough 13 Aug 1888 (stillborn) 2. Eli Ellis Newman Bruce, b. Marlborough, VT 14 Oct 1891,[1/3:44] d. 26 Nov 1965, m. Apr 1916 Ada Elizabeth Burkhard 3. Hattie Elizabeth Julia Bruce, b. Williamsville, VT 6 Jul 1895, d. Brattleboro, VT 8 Sep 1965, m(1) Brattleboro, VT 7 Jul 1913 Frederick J. Adam, b. Brattleboro, VT 28 Aug 1890, d. Brattleboro 8 Aug 1928, m(2) 23 Jul 1929 John Cleveland, d. 12 Sep 1951
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