Charles Bruce (abt. 1786 - abt. 1878)

Born about 1786 in Virginia, United States

Descendants

Died about 1878 at about age 92 in Grant County, West Virginia, USA [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: DK Clews [send private message]

Biography

Charles Bruce is a part of US Black heritage.

• Ancestor of noted professor, Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr.^[1]
• Married Mary whose last name is probably Wood. (abt 1765-?)^[1]

The Bruce family was owned as slaves by Abraham Vanmeter (d.1823) who emancipated Joe, Sarah and some of their children in his Will in 1820. 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.^[2]

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.^[3] Refer to Joe Bruce's Profile for further detail about the Bruce family in slavery.

It is in Charles' Will that we learn the name of Abraham Vanmeter as 'master' of the Bruce family slaves.

Charles was born into slavery ca. 1758 in Virginia. His parents were Joe and Sarah Bruce, slaves owned by the Abraham Vanmeter family.

At the time of the 1820 census, Charles, his parents and siblings were living as slaves of Abraham Vanmeter in Hardy County, Virginia.^[4] He was emanicipated in 1823 at the time of Abraham's death.

In 1840, Charles is shown as the head of the household in Hardy County, Virginia. Besides himself, the household included seven other family members who were listed as "free colored persons." These other family members probably included his wife, five children, and possibly his mother or his wife's mother. His neighbors included his brothers, Jacob, Hannibal and Solomon, each the head of their own household.^[5]

Charles and his wife Mary remain in the Hardy County, Virginia area in 1850,^[6] probably on the same parcel of land given them by Abraham Vanmeter's wife when she died in 1841, and they continued on the same property in 1860, when Charles and Mary were enumerated in a household with all of their adult children exept for Isaac. There was also a young girl named Harriet Duke living with them. Her relationship is not yet known, but it's possible that she was a granddaughter. The entire family and a number of their neighbors were enumerated as "mulatto."^[7]

The western portion of Hardy County, Virginia eventually became Grant County, West Virginia.^[8] Charles, his three sons, and his daughter Ann [sic] were living on the family farm in 1870. Mary must have died after the 1860 census, as she is not listed with the family.^[9]

Charles drafted his will on 17 Feb 1857, and in it he names his wife, Mary Wood, the beneficiary of his house, one third of his land, and some household items. Upon her death, his estate and belongings were to be passed to "my three sons, as herein devised." In the next section, he names his sons: Emmanuel, Abraham, and Isaac; and his two daughters: Anna and Betsy. He also names his "master," Abraham Vanmeter and bequeaths to "all my sons and daughters any claim that may be due me from my master, Abraham Vanmeter's, estate ..." The will is witnessed by Jacob Vanmeter, Jr., Jonathan Cunningham, and John Hardy.

It's believed that Charles died on 17 Sept 1878 in Grant County, West Virginia.^[10] In 1880, his three sons are listed in a household together, but he is not shown.^[11] However, his will was not offered for probate until 15 Jul 1889.^[12]

Research Notes

• Emanuel and Abraham are listed as "mulatto" in the 1850 Census; while the race of Charles and Mary has been left blank.^[6] Previously, the family has been listed as "free colored people." It's not clear what the empty race indicator is intended to mean on this census listing, but it was common to leave it blank to indicate "white." It's also interesting to note that one of their sons is named Abraham. Could he have been named after Abraham Vanmeter? Is it possible that this could also indicate that he is Abraham Vanmeter's son by Mary?

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Gates, H.L., wr. "We Come From People." African American Lives 2 Episode 3. PBS. 13 Feb 2008
2. ↑ "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.
3. ↑ "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.
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. ↑ "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHB9-S4Y : 20 August 2017), Charles Bruce, Hardy, Virginia, United States; citing p. 130, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 562; FHL microfilm 29,687.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8D7-1K2 : 12 April 2016), Charles Bruce, Hardy county, part of, Hardy, Virginia, United States; citing family 1306, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).(Considered “White” with same family)
7. ↑ United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M41H-XSF : 12 December 2017), Charles Bruce, 1860.
8. ↑ History of Grant County, West Virginia
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZH7-1ZG : 2 January 2021), Charles Bruce, 1870.
10. ↑ Grant County, West Virginia, Register of Deaths unknown vol #, pg # 221, Charles Bruce, 17 September 1878; West Virginia Division of Culture and History, database with images, "Vital Research Records - Deaths" (http: //www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_dcsearch.aspx : accessed 10 February 2021)
11. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6RL-32L : 14 November 2020), Emanuel Bruce in household of Isaac Bruce, Grant, West Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district ED 40, sheet 217A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,255,402.
12. ↑ Will probated July 15, 1889. West Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1724-1985; attached to this profile.