Thomas Bruff

• Born: 1760, Easton MD
• Marriage: Mary Bruff
• Died: 1816, New York City NY

  General notes:

Silversmith and jeweler

  Events in his life were:

• Apprenticed about 1773 to Joseph Bruff in Easton MD
  

• He worked from 1785 to 1791 as a silversmith and jeweler in Easton MD ⁴

• Advertised in the Maryland Herald and Eastern Shore Intelligencer, 26 Apr 1791, that he continued at his shop, adjoining Mr. Troth's Tavern, as a gold- and silversmith, making ". . . in the neatest manner, and on the shortest notice (at Philadelphia prices) all kinds of Gold and Silver Work."

• He worked from 1792 to 1803 as a silversmith and jeweler in Chestertown MD ⁴

• Advertised in the The Apollo or Chestertown Spy, 7 May 1793,
  "Gold and Silver Ware.—The Subscriber at his Shop in Chestertown, Nearly oppo­site The Printing Office, Makes and repairs the different kinds of Silver-Plate, Jewellery of Gold, Jewellery of Silver, and all other kinds of Gold and Silver-Ware; executes Devices with the Graver on Gold, Silver, Copper, and Type Metal; mends and rivets Silver and broken China Ware, so as to render it neat and strong as Ever: and various other branches in his line too numerous to mention. Particular attention will be paid to the elegance, as well as strength of Workmanship, and the greatest punctuality observed. The most fashionable and approved pat­terns for plate, and other work, will be constantly provided; excellent chapes and tongues, and other materials, are now on hand: and as he sells for ready cash only, the prices will be so reduced, as to put it out of the power of any person to furnish such articles upon better terms. Customers at a distance, and those who furnish gold or silver for large jobs, will be favored in the price of workmanship. Thomas Bruff. — N. B. Gems bushed with gold after the London method: and cash given for old gold and silver."

• Advertised in the New-Jersey Journal, 29 Sep 1801, under the heading "News to Silversmiths,”announcing his invention of a new device for creating three silver spoons simultaneously. “This machine must certainly be an object to silversmiths, as it not only saves labour, but subjects the workman to so little loss of metal.” He claimed his machine would produce as many spoons as forty hands might in an hour. In the 14 September 1801 issue of the Georgetown Advertiser, silversmith John Adam, jr. gave a testimonial to Bruff's machine, stating it could turn out a spoon from a flat bar of silver in a minute.

Thomas married Mary Bruff, daughter of Charles Oliver Bruff and Mary Letellier. (Mary Bruff was born about 1765 in New York City NY.)