James Robert Bruce Sr. (1720 - abt. 1795)

Born 20 May 1720 in Leochel-Cushnie Parish, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret Ann Purdie (McMahon) Bruce — married 10 Jun 1744 in Winchester, Frederick, Virginia

Descendants

Died about 1795 at about age 74 in Bardstown, Nelson, Kentucky, United States

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Biography

James Bruce Sr. migrated from Scotland to Virginia.

James Bruce Sr. performed Patriotic Service in Pennsylvania in the American Revolution.

Birth

Date: 20 MAY 1720.

Place: Leochel-Cushnie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.^[1]

Baptism

24 AUG 1720.

Leochel-Cushnie, Aberdeen, Scotland.^[2]

Immigration

James immigrated from Scotland to the United States about 1740.

Marriage

Husband: James Bruce

Wife: Margaret McMahon

Date: 10 Jun 1744

Place: Winchester, Frederick, Virginia, USA

Margaret is the daughter of William (McMachen) McMahon (1690-1749) and Elizabeth (Blair) McMachen (abt.1700-1788). She died about 1796 in Nelson County, Kentucky.

Children

William A. Bruce (1745-1818)

John Bruce (1745 - 1816)

Mary Elizabeth (Bruce) Anderson (1744-1806), married Thomas Anderson.

James Bruce (1750 - 1814)

Margaret Hannah (Bruce) Cox (1750-bef.1808), married David Cox.

Jane (Bruce) Wiley (1758-1846), married William Marshal.

Nancy (Bruce) Percifull (1756-aft.1820), married Samuel Perciful/Percival.

Ann Bruce (1758-1800), married Samuel Glass.

George Bruce (1760-abt.1800), married (1) widow Biggs, (2) Mary Garnett/Barnett, (3) Matty Gaskill.

James Robert Bruce II (1760-1835), married Mary "Polly" Runyan.

Sarah (Bruce) Carman (1762-1838), married Joshua Carmen.

Death

Date: 1795

Place: Bardstown, Nelson County, Kentucky, United States^[1]

Unverified Research Information

James and his father were carpenters, building many of the houses in Brucetown, Virginia. James was also a surveyor. As noted above, Hugh Parrell willed land to John Bruce. As a result, James Bruce received 310 acres from Lord Fairfax on April 12 and 14, 1760. James's land was located on what is now the south side of Redbud Run served by Frederick County High 656, north from Virginia Highway 7 on the southeast part of the tract.

James moved his family to the north branch of the Potomac in present Alleghany County, Maryland circa 1764, and then to Pennsylvania, settling on land in Pennsylvania purchased from Margaret's brother along the Monongahala River. James received an appointment from the Governor as an Ensign in the militia. During the 1780s, James and his oldest five children moved from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania to Nelson County, Kentucky. James was on the tax list on August 30, 1800 in Nelson County, Kentucky.

Margaret was either the daughter or sister of Colonel William McMahan/McMahon. She was not mentioned in William's will as an heir, but it may be because she had received her inheritance earlier. One researcher states that Margaret received household furnishings and a bond servant at the time of her marriage. A McMahon researcher provided the following: (12) "I received some info from a cousin which discloses a reason that Margaret McMahon, who m ca 1744 James Bruce, was not mentioned in her father William McMachen's (McMahon) will. A cousin, Ruth Hurst (our family genealogist who died 31 Dec, 1996), told me that Margaret received household furnishings and a slave (actually a bond servant) at the time of her marriage to James Bruce. . . . I got a list of 4 actions by Frederick Co Court Order Book which ties in with Ruth's statement that dau Margaret obtained her inheritance when she mar. James Bruce, c 1744. (13) This data was transcribed by E. T. Stoncipher, a Bruce desc. who knew and corresponded with Ruth and lives in San Antonio. Virginia got it from Stoneciper. Ruth said Margaret received inheritance in form [of] household articles and a slave (the slave could have been an indentured servant, Elizabeth King) at the time of her marriage to James Bruce. . . . The only thing missing is the actual transfer of her Indenture bond from Wm McM to James Bruce which had to occur between 29 Aug 1744 and 5 Aug 1746

(Sat 29 Aug 1744) Wm McMachen, Gent. brought into court his servant maid Eliz. King for having a Bastard Child. She agreed to serve 1&1/2 yrs additional Indenture to pay for upkeep of the child. Church Wardens bind Child to Wm McM. (Tues 5 Aug 1746) Elizabeth King, Servant to James Bruce agreed to serve said Master 3 yrs aft her former Time of Servitude is expired. 1 yr for trouble of supporting "Base born Child. 1 yr for J B paying her fine and 1 yr for entering bond to Church Wardens for keppin child off parish support

(Tues 13 Aug 1751) Eliz. King made oath in court that Samuel Conyer begat her bastard child and Sheriff was to summon him to appear and post bond to support child. Also Eliz. King failing to give security for payment of Fine for bearing bastard child went to Pub. Whipping post for 25 lashes. (This might be her second child?) (Tues 4 Aug 1752) On petition of Elia. King against James Bruce complaining that she is illegally detained by him as a servant. J. B. to appear tomorrow. (Wed 5 Aug 1752) Parties heard; is opinion of Court that Eliz King is free.

James' grandson wrote his Memoirs in 1851: (14) "My first recollection that I have of my ancestors was hearing my grandfather, James Bruce, telling that himself and a younger brother, George Bruce, came from Scotland about the year 1740. My grandfather located in Winchester, Virginia. He was a house carpenter by trade, and I have heard him say that he built the first frame house that was ever built in that town. About the year 1744 he married a Margaret McMahon and moved to the north branch of the Potomac in Maryland. He continued there, following his trade and farming until he raised a large family of children. My father, William Bruce, was the eldest. He was born the 14th day of February, 1745. He had two sons younger than my father and six daughters, viz., Elizabeth, who married a man by the name of Thomas Anderson; Margaret, who married David Cox; Jane was married to a William Marshall; Nancy, that married Samuel Percifull; Ann, who married Samuel Glass; and James, who married one Polly Runyan, and George, that married the widow Biggs.

"My father married a widow Percifull, and the youngest daughter, Sally, married a Joshua Carmen, a Baptist preacher, a man of excellent character and a considerable speaker. He moved to the state of Ohio about fifty years ago, raised a large family and died at a good old age-about eighty-five. From the above enumerated uncles and aunts there has sprung an almost innumerable multitude. They mostly moved to Kentucky at an early day and settled in Nelson County. My father, soon after marrying my mother, moved to Monoghahela and settled about fourteen miles above Pittsburgh, between the mouths of Peteso Creek and Newels Store, now Elizabethtown. It was then the haunt of Indians and forts were the only place of safety for the families of those hardy pioneers. I had two sisters older than myself, that were born in the fort, and myself, the third child, soon after they ventured to their farms. I was born the Sixth of August, 1776, one month and two days after Independence was declared. I can, with the Apostle Paul, say that I was free born, while our forefathers had to obtain their freedom by their blood and treasure. During the Revolutionary War, my father was frequently called upon to perform military service. The first that I recollect him talking about was being stationed at a place then called Catfish Camp, called after an old Indian chief, near a place now called Washington, and not far from a place on the Monongahela then called Red Stone. My father served then in the capacity of lieutenant. The next service he performed was under General George Rogers Clark. He commanded a company under the veteran soldier to Louisville; was absent from home some five or six months."

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/151955321/james-bruce: accessed 28 January 2024), memorial page for James Bruce Sr. (1720–1795), Find a Grave Memorial ID 151955321; Burial Details Unknown; Maintained by Deana Watson (contributor 49553944).
2. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYX2-HYK : 16 September 2021), James Bruce, 1720.

• "United States Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL6Y-NPSC : Thu Nov 09 01:42:23 UTC 2023), Entry for James Bruce, Feb 1778.
• "United States Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL6Y-4XWM : Wed Nov 08 23:04:31 UTC 2023), Entry for James Bruce, Jul 1779.
• "United States Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL6Y-QF2H : Thu Nov 09 01:21:06 UTC 2023), Entry for James Bruce, 14 Jan 1780.

See Also:

• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LR27-58W
• "History of Lewis County, Kentucky", Ragan, O. G, https://archive.org/stream/historyoflewisco00raga#page/374/mode/2up