William Stone Bruce (1805 - 1883)

Born 18 Aug 1805 in East Randolph, Orange County, Vermont

Ancestors

Husband of Mahala (Gay) Bruce — married 24 Feb 1830 in Randolph, Orange, Vermont

Descendants

Died 10 Jan 1883 at age 77 in Big Suamico, Brown, Wisconsin

Biography

William Stone Bruce was born on August 13, 1805, in Randolph, Vermont, the child of Levi and Mary Polly. He married Mahalley Gay and they had five children together. He died on January 10, 1883, having lived a long life of 77 years.

Name

William Stone Bruce ^[1][2]

Birth

13 August 1805 • Randolph, Orange, Vermont, USA ^[1]

Marriage

24 February 1830 William married Mahala Gay in Randolph, Orange, Vermont, USA ^[1][2]

Children

William and Mahala had children: ^[1]

1. Charlotte Olivia Bruce 1832–____
2. Albert Bruce 1833–1909
3. Harriet E. Bruce 1835–1851
4. Emily A. Bruce 1839–____
5. Mary D. Bruce 1847–____

Residence

1850 Randolph, Orange, Vermont, USA ^[1]

Death of W.S. Bruce

January 12, 1883

Wm. S. Bruce, of Big Suamico, Wis., died at his home January 10th,1883. He had a complication of diseases, dropsy troubling him for a number of years, but for the last two years, dyspepsia and asthma have been at their deadly work, and at last succeeded in accomplishing their errand. He was a great sufferer, being in almost constant pain,and at times was unable to take the least nourishment for forty-eight hours, but through it all he was patient and kind to all around him. A few hours before his death the pain ceased and he passed away without a struggle, simply going to sleep in the arms of his Master in whom he put his whole trust. "In former years he was a member of the Baptist Church, but since coming to this state (there being no Baptist near) he worshiped with the Methodists; although he did not become a member, he lived a conscientious, upright every-day Christian, and died fully believing that his soul would go direct to the God who gave it.

He was born at East Randolph, VT Aug. 18th, 1805. Married to Mahala Gay Feb. 24th, 1830. Moved with his family to Big Suamico, Sept. 1856, which has since been his home. His wife died Nov. 27, 1869. He was again married Aug. 8, 1871, to Mrs. Mary Knapp, of Lynn, PA, but he never had the pleasure of seeing her, as he lost his eye-sight before their meeting.

He was very finely educated, and was a teacher for a number of years before coming to this state, but since his occupation has been chiefly farming. He has held various town offices and was town treasurer for eight years in succession, and until his blindness obliged him to relinquish it. By industry and economy he acquired considerable property.

He leaves besides many friends a wife and four grown children, Albert Bruce, Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Brown of Iowa and John H. Bruce, of this place to mourn his loss. Although he will be sadly missed in this community, we know that our sad loss will be his great gain.

The funeral will take place today (Friday) at 2 p.m."

Source: Unknown paper clipping included in "Morris Erwin Bruce and Maud Ella White Bruce and Their Relatives" sent to D. (Williams) Smith by SusanGrummon/>

Will

Note: Much of this will is illegible, indicated by hyphens.

I William S. Bruce of the town of Suamico in the county of Brown and state of Wisconsin make this my last will. I give, --- --- ---- with--- estate and --- real and personal, --- --- to say: to my wife Mary A. Bruce I give one third of --- my estate and property, real and personal, I also give to her from Arthur R---- Bruce's share of my property who is a son of Willie G. Bruce and my deceased daughter,Mary --- --- , the amount --- may --- on two certain promissory notes, principal and interest at the time of --- --- --- notes --- one hundred dollars bearing --- --- --- interest and signed by W.G. Bruce,the --- of said notes is dated October 16, 1876 for the sum of two hundred dollars ---ten per cent interest and signed by W. G. Bruce ------ and endorsed by John Bruce. I appoint Emm--- B. B---- of the city of Fort Howard in Brown County and State of Wisconsin executor of --- my will. In witness whereof --- --- signed and sealed --- --- and declared ---instrument as my will at this city of Fort Howard, Wisconsin on this twenty third day of June A. D. 1881. (signed in a shaky hand Wm S. Bruce and 'seal' - other names not legible.) The said William S. Bruce, --- --- city of Fort Howard on said twenty third day of June A.D. 1881.

Source: copy of handwritten will and addition sent to me by Susan Grummon.

Probate

In Probate County Court Brown County In Re: William S. Bruce deceased John H. Bruce c --- vs William S. Bruce deceased The statement of John H. Bruce --- --- by W. C. --- --- ---respectfully shows --- on or about the 15th day of April A D 1881 this claimant began working for the said deceased at his request as a farm or day laborer. Upon the farm of said deceased in the town of Suamico, in said County.--- --- deceased --- --- agreed with this claimant --- --- --- --- ---a --- --- on for such work --- and services. that the claimant continued to work for the said deceased --- --- --- --- on or about the 15th day of April 1883. That --- said --- -- and is --- worth the sum of twenty six dollars per month and that there is now --- due to the claimant by reason thereof from the estate of said deceased the sum of six hundred and twenty four (624) dollars with interest thereon at the rate of 7 percent per annum from April 15, 1883, no part of which has been paid. Therefore the claimant prays that his said claim be allowed and for judgment --- --- ---. that Mary A. Bruce executor of the will of the said deceased pay the said amount to him out of the assets of --- said---. W C --- Attorney for John H. Bruce State of Wisconsin County of Brown. John H. Bruce being duly sworn upon --- --- --- --- he is the claimant above named.--- --- --- --- --- the above and foregoing --- of his claim against William S. Bruce deceased and --- --- --- --- --- --- the --- is true--- --- own knowledge. Subscribed and Sworn to before me the 20th day of Feb 1884. W.C. ----J. H. Bruce ----"

source: Copy of handwritten document sent to D. (Williams) Smith by Susan Grummon

Sources

• 1850 United States Federal Census Year: 1850; Census Place: Randolph, Orange, Vermont; Roll: M432_926; Page: 234B; Image: 464.

Household Members: Home in 1850: Randolph, Orange, Vermont, USA. Family Number: 351.

William S Bruce; Age, 44; Birth Year, abt 1806; Birthplace, Vermont; Race, White; Gender, Male.

Mahala Bruce; Age, 42; Birth Year, abt 1808; Birthplace, Vermont; Race, White; Gender, Female.

Charlotte O Bruce; Age, 18; Birth Year, abt 1832; Birthplace, Vermont; Race, White; Gender, Female.

Albert Bruce; Age, 17; Birth Year, abt 1833; Birthplace, Vermont; Race, White; Gender, Male.

Harriet E Bruce; Age, 15; Birth Year, abt 1835; Birthplace, Vermont; Race, White; Gender, Female.

Emily A Bruce; Age, 11; Birth Year, abt 1839; Birthplace, Vermont; Race, White; Gender, Female.

Mary D Bruce; Age, 3; Birth Year, abt 1847; Birthplace, Vermont; Race, White; Gender, Female.

• Ancestry.com, Vermont, Vital Records, 1720-1908 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.

Original data: State of Vermont. Vermont Vital Records through 1870. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts.

State of Vermont. Vermont Vital Records, 1871–1908. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts.

William S Bruce; Gender, Male; Marriage Date, 24 Feb 1830; Marriage Place, Randolph, Vermont, USA; Card Type, Groom; Spouse Name, Mahala Gay.

William Stone Bruce; Gender, Male; Birth Date, 13 Aug 1805; Birth Place, Randolph, Vermont, USA; Card Type, Birth - Nale; Father Name, Levi Bruce; Mother Name, Polly _____.

• Births, Deaths, Marriages 1786-1888 Book B Randolph, Orange, VT.
• 1860 Census, Reel # M6531400, Suamico, Brown County, Wisconsin.
• Record of Randolph, VT Town Clerk, Book B, p 34.
• W.S. Bruce"s Probate File, Co. Clerk's Office, Suamico, Brown County, Wisconsin 9 April 1883. M.L. Martin County Judge, Record Book Vol 3, p. 5.
• Federal Mortality Census 1870.

Footnotes

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} 1850 US Census
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} VT Vital Records