Joe Bruce was a slave, owned by Abraham Vanmeter in Hardy County, Virginia. He, along with his wife and some of his children, were emancipated when Abraham died in 1823. He bequeathed to his wife Elizabeth, Joe's children Jacob, George, Solomon and Amelia Bruce, to keep for her "natural life and at her death to be emancipated", essentially splitting the Bruce family.[1] The widow Elizabeth died in 1841 and having no children of her own, bequeathed her entire estate, including over 1,600 acres of land to Joe and Sarah's children, assigning a specific allotment of property to each child as outlined in her Will.[2]
Abraham notes in his will, "Considering the great hardships of slavery to which an unfortunate class of beings among us is doomed, and wishing as much as (in consideration of their faithful servitude to me) in my power lies to ameliorate their condition. It is my Will & Desire that all my Negro Slaves be at my decease completely emancipated agreeable to the existing Laws of this Commonwealth."[1] This, despite the fact that he bequeaths 4 of his slaves to his wife Elizabeth in this same Will.
The inventory of Abraham Vanmeter's estate lists the value of Joe Bruce and his family as follows:[3]
Negro Joe | $200 |
Sara, Joe's wife | $225 |
Charles | $400 |
George | $500 |
Jack (Jacob) | $400 |
Isaac | $400 |
Solomon | $400 |
Andrew | $400 |
Hannibal | $300 |
Rebecca | $300 |
Milly (Amelia) | $300 |
Mary | $275 |
In 1820 Joe was living with his family as slaves of Abraham in Hardy County, Virginia.[4]
In his Will, Abraham had arranged for a Legacy payment of $400 for the Gates' children that was divided and paid to them in 1829.[5]
Joe is a direct ancestor of noted professor, Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr.[6]
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Categories: Virginia, Free People of Color | Virginia, Slaves