Mary Bruce (1800)

Born 1800 in Virginia, United States

Biography

Mary Bruce is a part of US Black heritage.

The Bruce family was owned as slaves by Abraham Vanmeter (d.1823) who emancipated Joe, Sarah and some of their children in his Will. 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] Refer to Joe Bruce's Profile for further detail about the Bruce family in slavery.

In 1820 Mary was living with his family as slaves of Abraham in Hardy County, Virginia.^[3]

Sources

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. ↑ "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.