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Joe Bruce (abt. 1760 - abt. 1830)

Dr. Joe Bruce
Born about in Virginiamap [uncertain]
Son of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of — married [date unknown] [location unknown]
Descendants descendants
Died about at about age 70 in Virginia, USAmap
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Profile last modified | Created 1 Jul 2016
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Biography

US Black Heritage Project
Joe Bruce is a part of US Black heritage.

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]

  • m. Sarah ?? (abt 1775- abt 1830)[6]
  • Joe got permission from the General Assembly to remain in the state until the passing of Elizabeth Vanmeter[6]
  • Petition to remain in the state was rejected after Elizabeth Vanmeter's death, but they stayed and were shielded by prominent white landholders in the area who had signed their petition to remain[6]

Sources

  1. 1.0 1.1 "West Virginia Will Books, 1756-1971," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJD5-N36J : 12 March 2018), Abraham Vanmeter, 1820; citing Hardy, West Virginia, United States, Will book, v. 03 1819-1825, page 248, Jackson County Clerk, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 816,672.
  2. "West Virginia Will Books, 1756-1971," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJD5-N3XC : 12 March 2018), Elizabeth Vanmeter, 1836; citing Hardy, West Virginia, United States, Will book, v. 07 1839-1845, page 202, Jackson County Clerk, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 816,674.
  3. "West Virginia Will Books, 1756-1971," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-HRGD-X?cc=1909099&wc=Q8BW-M7L%3A179686301%2C179759901 : 22 June 2016), Hardy > Will book, v. 004 1825-1829, page 344 > image 183 of 222; citing Jackson County Clerk, West Virginia.
  4. "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLY-WHC : accessed 9 February 2021), Abraham Vanmeter, Hardy, Virginia, United States; citing p. 1193, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 137; FHL microfilm 193,696.
  5. West Virginia County, District and Probate Courts; Notes: Wills, Vol 4-6, 1825-1839, Image 264.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Gates, H.L., wr. "We Come From People." African American Lives 2 Episode 3. PBS. 13 Feb 2008

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Categories: Virginia, Free People of Color | Virginia, Slaves