Notes

[NI0002] Sources:

(1) The given name of Loud(e)n Bruce is sometimes recorded as Loud(o)n, Loudown, Loudan, Loud oun, as well as other spellings including Snoden. Census and other records show that he wa s a farmer and a carpenter.

(2) Greene County Magazine, Vol. 3, page 25 (1981), shows a transcription of the Orange Count y records for 1805:
"Ordered that the hands of James White, George Bingham, Henry Harvey, William Harvey, Richar d Harvey, Joshua Harvey, Thomas Marshall, Alexander Ogg, John Patterson, R ichard Lamb, Josep h Huckstep, John Ogg, Matthew Night (Knight), Isaac Walton, Peter Ogg, Louden Bruce, and Reub en Haines work on the road beginning at Bingham's Meeting house and extending to the fork i n the road by Louden Bruce's (house), and that James White be appointed overseer thereof."
The names of all of those men were included since they must have lived on the same road wher e Louden Bruce lived, and their names could be helpful in locating property where Louden, an d possibly his mother and grandmother, lived and died. See records which follow as well as no tes for those two ladies.

(3) A related record was found in the Albemarle County Minute Book for 5 Mar 1860 page 122 , " Loudon Bruce is appointed surveyor of the road on which R. S. Walter is now surveyor an d the road from Lindsay's Old Store to Lindsay's Turn Out is attached to said road, and Jame s H . Lewis, one of the Commissioners of this County is directed to examine and report what a dditional hands, if any, should be assigned to said Bruce. Also inquire and report whether a ny of the hands belonging to the Estate of Capt. James Lindsay, deceased (who lived in Albema rl e County) and not assigned to any surveyor and if not he shall assign them to the said Lou don Bruce."
Related comments were also made regarding the above matter on page 159, dated 2 Ma y 1860.

(4) Loudon B. Bruce, Sr. is shown in the 1830 Census for Orange County, VA, with one male, 5 - 10 years; one male 10-15 years, one female under 5 years, one female, 5-10 years, and one f emale 10-15 years. A person with this same name was also in the 1830 Census for Rockingham C ounty, VA.

(5) The names of the children of Louden Bruce, Sr., by his first marriage to Mildred Estes, a re from a Suit filed in Orange County, Virginia, on Tuesday 29 January 1828. It was designate d "Brown vs Estes" and was found in the Orange County Minute Book for 1825-1829; however, th e pages in this large volume were not numbered thus making it necessary to locate the five pa ge Court decision by date. Additionally, since it was very difficult to read, only the firs t part is transcribed below:

".....the Court being of the opinion that Littleton Estes is entitled to the lot upon which h e has erected a saw and grist mill as the part that was intended for Barnett Simmons (Seamond s?) at its value independently of the said improvenents, the said William Estes having so sta ted in his life time and induced the said Littleton to open his money in such improvements, a nd being further of the opinion that the said William Estes, the younger, is not entitled t o any of the land that the said intestate died, seized and prospered of doth adjudge, order a nd decree that one equal third part of the land which the said intestae died, seized and pros pered of be allotted to his widow, Frances Estes, and that the residue be divided into eleve n equal parts according to quality and quantity, the lot upon which the saw and grist mill, e rected by Littleton Estes, be valued as if owners were on it and that lot be assigned to th e son, Littleton Estes, under the contract with his father and Barnett Simmons, and one othe r lot be assigned to him in his own right and that one lot be assigned to each of the followi ng persons, viz.: to John Estes, to Elizabeth Cox, one lot to Lucy Cox, to Mary Harris, to Sa llie Harris, and one part to the children of Mildred Bruce, deceased, viz. Peachy, Mildred, L ouden, Sally, Lucy, Brightberry, and Elizabeth Bruce.

One lot to Merry Estes, one lot to Henry Gibson, and one lot to Susan Wood, and that the slav es belonging to the estate of the said intestate be divided into twelve equal shares........"

(6) A Loudoun B. Bruce is included in the 1840 Census for Greene County, VA, page 424, with o ne male, under 5 years, one male, 40-50 years (probably Louden), and one female, 20-30 year s . This must be Louden, Sr. and his second wife, Salina Shifflett Bruce, and their first ch ild, Alman.

(7) Loudon Bruce, 68 years, "carpenter," is listed on page 342 of the 1850 Census for Green e County, VA, along with his second wife, "Lina" (Salina), 38 years, and their four childre n : Alman (Almon) G. Bruce, 12 years; Goodman L. Bruce, 9 years; Berryman B. Bruce, 4 years ; and Fielding S. Bruce, 6 months.
52 Loudon B. Bruce 68 m Carpenter
Lina Bruce 38 f
Alman G. 12 m
Goodman S. 9 m
Berryman B. 4 m
Fielding S. 6/12 m

(8) Greene County, Virginia, Deed Book 2, page 399, dated 11 Jan 1842, is a record of the pur chase by Louden Bruce of a 45 acre parcel of land from William C. Knight and his wife Cather i ne. The land was located on Flat Gut Run in Greene County... "in a road that leads up to W illiam C. Knight's. The 1861 Greene County Land Tax Book shows Louden B. Bruce owning 40 acr e s of land... on the Blue Ridge." After Louden, Sr. died, the children of his second wife s old his 40 acre farm to Hastin Shifflett on 11 May 1872. See source (12) below for further d etails. It is thought that Louden Bruce's mother lived in the same area as the above noted 4 0 acre tract.

(9) Related information is also said to have been found in the Jackson Estes Bible, but we ha ve not yet seen it.

(10) The Greene County Record for 25 August 1977 includes an article titled, "Greene County ' s Patriot Ancestors, Chapter 17 - Captain Charles Bruce" by Woodie B. Parrott. Included i n the article is the following; "The writer has not endeavored to trace the relationship of C apt . Charles Bruce to Loudon Bruce. Loudon B. Bruce married Milly Estes, daughter of Willia m and Frances (Golding?) Estes, on September 10, 1807, and they lived in Celt in present Gree ne County. A descendant of this marriage, William Bruce, served as an enlisted soldier in th e Civil War, and resided on the east side of Rt. 603 in southern Greene County."

(11) In a visit to Greene County on May 20, 1999, with Mr. Woodie Brown Parrot as guide, we c oncluded that the old 225 acre tract of land that Louden, Sr. inherited from his mother was p robably located on Route 627 (Bacon Hollow Road) and that it probably was adjacent to the far m of Nathan Mallory. In 1842, Louden purchased a 40-45 acre tract from William C. Knight tha t also was located on Route 627 but higher up in Bacon Hollow near Flat Gut Run. Flat Gut Ru n is deep in Bacon Hollow at Flat Top Mountain. This was the tract that was sold by Louden' s heirs to Hastin Shiflett in 1872. (See reference 12 below). It is believed that Louden, Sr . may have also owned a tract of land on the south side of Route 602 in Greene County, near t he Albemarle County line. It is also believed that Louden, Sr. was possibly the builder of th e old Plunkett house (which still stands today) not far from the possible tract of land whic h Louden owned on Route 602.

(12) Four of the children of the second marriage of Louden B. Bruce, Sr. were mentioned in Gr eene County Deed Book 6, page 139, dated 11 May 1872. This document suggests that Louden Bru ce was deceased by this date and that the children of his second wife, Salina Shifflett, wer e selling property which "fell to them", as follows:

"This Indenture made this 11th day of May in the year of our Lord 1872, between John Bruce an d Henreitta, his wife; Alman Bruce and Sallie, his wife; Larkin Bruce and Pollie Ann, his wif e; and Berryman Bruce and Elizaan, his wife, of the County of Albemarle and the State of Virg inia, of the one part , and Hastin Shiflett of the County of Greene and same State, of the ot her part, Witnesseth, that the said John Bruce and Henreitta, his wife; Larkin Bruce and Poll ie Ann, his wife; and Berryman Bruce and Elizaan, his wife, for and in consideration of the s um of one hundred and twenty (?) dollars to them in hand paid by the said Hastin Shiflett, th e receipt whereof the said parties doth hereby acknowledge, have granted, bargained, Sold an d conveyed and by these presents, doth grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the said Hastin S hiflett, his heirs and assigns, a certain tract of land, or parcel of land containing forty a cres, be the same, more or less, lying in the County of Greene and being the same that fell t o the above named parties, and adjoining Hastin Shiflett, the above named purchaser, Lively M orris and Jeff Morris on Rocky River, to have and to hold the said tract or parcel of land wi th appurtenances thereto belonging to him the said Hastin Shiflett, his heirs and assigns, t o the only proper use and behoof of the said Hastin Shiflett, his heirs and assigns foreve r , and the aforesaid parties for themselves, their heirs and administrators, doth hereby agr ee to, and covenant, with the said Hastin Shiflett, to ever warrant and defend unto him, hi s heirs and assigns the title of said land. In Witness whereof the said John Bruce and Henre itta, his wife; Alman Bruce and Sallie, his wife; Larkin Bruce and Pollie Ann, his wife; & Be rryman Bruce and Elizaan, his wife, have hereunto set their hands and affix their seals the d ay and year above written."

Then the names and seals follow as shown: John Bruce, Alman Bruce, Henreitta Bruce, Sallie Br uce, Larkin Bruce, Pollie Bruce, Berryman Bruce. Note, there was no listing of Berryman's wif e, Elizaan Bruce, and her seal.

Another related fact is that the above Deed was delivered to Hastin Shiflett almost seven yea rs later on 23 December 1879.

Further, the names of two other persons are missing from the above list. They are Fielding Si mpson Bruce and Rebecca Bruce, both of whom are thought to be children of Louden Bruce, Sr. a nd his second wife, Salina Shiflett.

(13) The Marriage bond for Louden's daughter, Elizabeth, includes this man's name. For more d etail, see notes in this file under her name. I think it is highly probable that this is th e person who made the rope bed which was given to me by my mother, Lydia Cox Leake. I alway s understood that it had belonged to my mother's grandmother, Elizabeth (Betsy) Bruce Dunn.

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See the Greene County map towards the end of this book for probable locations of the above me ntioned sites.

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Special Note:

Between the death of his first wife, Mildred Estes, (before 1828) and his marriage to his sec ond wife, Salina Shifflet, (in April, 1837) there is some "tape recorded" evidence that Loude n B. Bruce, Sr. may have "consorted" with one Mary (Polly) Herring and that at least two chil dren resulted from that association, George Herring and his sister, Margaret Caroline Herring . Since Louden and Mary Herring were not married, the two children apparently assumed the "He rring" surname.

If anyone has any information which would verify this, we would appreciate hearing from you.
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We assume the following Chancery suit pertains to Louden B. Bruce, Sr. and not Jr. Louden, Jr . would have been only about 20 years old in 1833 when this suit took place, a bit young to h ave supposedly bought 170 acres of land in Rockingham County. However, we still have not dete rmined why Louden B. Bruce, Sr. was in Rockingham County and buying property there either.
This was the period between the death of his first wife (sometime before 1828) and his marria ge to his second wife (in 1837) and is around the time of his alleged association with one Ma ry "Polly" Herring, which supposedly resulted in the birth of one George Herring and his sist er, Margaret Caroline Herring. Mary "Polly" Herring is shown on the 1850 Rockingham County, V a. census as Head of Household, with her son, George, age 22, living with her. So it is possi ble that Louden, Sr. was in Rockingham County at this time because he and Mary "Polly" Herrin g were living together.

ROCKINGHAM COUNTY CHANCERY CAUSE
Louden B. Bruce ...... Plaintiff
against Benjamin Powell, James Powell, and Elizabeth his wife, Fanney Powell, Jarrard Powell , Chapman Powell, Jeremiah Powell, Honourias Powell an Infant under age by Henry J. Gambill h is Guardian adlitum, Turner Shiflet and Milley his wife, Robert Powell & Mary Powell, Widow . ... Defendants

THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA TO THE SHERIFF OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, Greeting: You are hereby co mmanded to summons Benjamin Powell, James Powell and Elizabeth his wife, Fanny Powell, Jeremi ah Powell, Jarred Powell, Chapman Powell, Honorias Powell, Turner Shiflet and Milly his wife , Robert Powell, children & heirs of Honorias Powell, dec'd and Mary Powell, widow of Honoria s Powell, dec'd, and George Baugher and Nicholas Baugher exers of Daniel Baugher dec'd and Ja mes Powell and Benjamin Powell exers with the will annexed of sd. Honorias Powell deceased, t o appear at the clerks office of our Superior Court of Law and Chancery holden for Rockingha m County on the first Monday of March next, to answer a bill in Chancery exhibited against th em by Louden B. Bruce and you are also hereby required to Notify the said Defendants that unl ess they shall answer the said bill, within four months thereafter, the Court will take the
same for confessed, and decree accordingly; and this they shall in no wise omit under the pen alty of L100 each. And have then there this writ. Witness HENRY J. GAMBILL, Clerk of our sai d Court at the Court-House the 9th day of January 1833 and in the 57 year of the Commonwealth . H. J. Gambill

Pursuant to a notice herewith enclosed I, Richard P. Fletcher, a master commissioner for taki ng depositions of the Circuit Superior Court of law and chancery for Rockingham County, proce eded, on the 21st day of June 1833 at the office of Rd. P. Fletcher in Harrisonburg in said c ounty, to take the following depositions to be read as evidence on the part of Louden B. Bruc e in a suit depending in the said court in which the said Louden B. Bruce is plaintiff and Be njamin Powel, J. P. Powel and others are defendants.

Jacob Baugher, a witness on the part of the plaintiff of lawful age being first duly sworn de poseth and saith:
Quest by Pltffs Counsel: Did you hear Honorias Powel the father of Jarred Powel and other def endants, say anything about having sold to Louden B. Bruce any land, if so, what land, and di d he say whether said Bruce had paid him for said land?
Ans: I heard him say that he had sold Louden B. Bruce all the land that he had bought of Geor ge & Nicholas Baugher, which they sold as executors of Daniel Baugher, which lays on the wes t side of the road which he made, leading from sd. Powels towards Nicholas Baughers' Mill. Ho norias Powel told me that sd. Bruce purchased said land of him for one hundred and fifty doll ars, that said Bruce paid him the first payment in a bond of one hundred dollars, and that th e bond, having been drawing interest amounts to one hundred and one dollars; that the sd. bon d was a bond executed by J. P. Sims and Washington White to the sd. Bruce, sd. Powel told m e that sd. Bruce had given him another bond on the same persons' for a hundred dollars, whic h he was to collect and pay himself out of, the last payment of fifty dollars, and after he p aid himself out of sd. bond the balance was to go towards a settlement of the accounts betwee n him and sd. Bruce.
v Quest by Same: Did Honorias Powel clear out the road you have named for his own use?
Ans: He said he did sir.
Quest by Same: Whose land does the tract sold to Bruce join on the lower or north side, whos e on the South West side, whose on the upper or south east side?
Ans: It joins on the lower or north side the tract that Honorias Powel bought of John Yancey , it joins Thomas Marshals' and Leonard Davis' land on the south west side, and Saml. Baugher s land on the upper or south east side, form said Samuel Baughers lands on the upper or sout h east side the said tract sold to Bruce is bounded by the road which I have mentioned leadin g from sd. Powels to sd. Nicholas Baughers' sd. Powel told me that he sold sd. Bruce no par t of the sd. road that he made it for his own use.
Quest by Same: Has Bruce been in possession of the land, ever since he bought of Powel and i s he yet in possession?
Ans: He was living on the land at the time he bought it of Powel and has lived on it ever sin ce to the present time.
Quest by Jared Powel, one of the Defts: Did my father say that Mr. Bruce had put the bonds yo u have spoken of, in his hands for him to collect and pay himself the price of the land?
Ans: The first bond he said was for the first payment but Mr. Powel said he had paid Mr. Bruc e ten dollars out of the amount of the first bond, and the second bond Mr. Bruce had put in h is hands to collect and pay himself the last payment for the land.
Quest by Same: Did you see my father receive the bond for the first payment of the land?
Ans: I did not see him receive any.
And further this deponent saith not.
Jacob Baugher

Nicholas Baugher, a witness on the part of the plaintiff, of lawful age having been first dul y sworn deposeth and saith:
Quest by Pltff Counsel: What land did you and George Baugher, as executors of Daniel Baughe r deceased, sell to Honorias Powel?
Ans: The land which Geo. Baugher and I sold to Honorias Powel as executors of Danl. Baugher , dec'd. sold to Honorias Powel, lies between the lands of Samuel Baugher, Leonard Davis, Tho mas Marshal and John Yancey's tract which he sold to
sd. Powel. And further this deponent saith not.
Nicholas his X mark Baugher

George Baugher, a witness on the part of the plaintiff, of lawful age, being duly sworn depos eth and saith:
Quest by Pltffs Counsel: Did Honorias Powel tell you he wished you and Nicholas Baugher as ex ecutors of Daniel Baugher, to make a deed to Louden B. Bruce, for the part of the land he bou ght of you and Nicholas Baugher as exer's of Daniel
Baugher, which he had sold to Bruce?
Ans: When Honorias Powel paid me & Nicholas Baugher as executors of Daniel Baugher, the las t payment for the land which he bought of us, as sd. exer's, he told me that he wished me, t o make a deed to Louden B. Bruce for the part of the said land which he had sold to the sai d Bruce, and a deed to the other part to himself.
Quest by Same: Did, Jared Powel forbid your making a deed to said Bruce for the said land?
Ans: I don't recollect that he did, but I know that he contended for the land. Benjamin Powe l did forewarn me from making sd. Bruce a deed for the said land, but he was intoxicated at t he time, and frequently at other times sd. Benjamin appeared very willing that the deed shoul d be made to said Bruce.
Quest by Jared Powel, one of the defts: Did you ever hear my father say what Mr. Bruce was t o give him for said land and what were the payments and what was to be the boundary of the sa id land?
Ans: I don't recollect of hearing him say what Bruce was to give him for the land and what we re the payments. I never heard him say what was the boundary of the land, but he told me tha t it was that end of the land on which the house that Lamb lived in was but, which he sold t o Bruce.
Quest by Same: When he told you to make a deed to Bruce for said land, did he tell you whethe r Bruce had paid him any money for said land?
Ans: No, I don't recollect that he did.
Quest by Same: Did my father tell you at the time mentioned in the last question, whether Mr . Bruce was then living on the land?
Ans: He did not tell me whether he was or not that I recollect of, nor do I recollect whethe r at that time Bruce lived on the sd. land, and further this deponent saith not.
George Baugher

Cost of Plaintiff in taking foregoing depositions June 3rd. 1833
To 1 L--p $ 18 cts
To attendance 1 day each by 3 witnesses @ 53 1.59
To 3 Hours services by comm. in taking depositions @ 62 1/2 1.87 1/2
3.64 1/22

Rockingham County the 25th. day of July 1833 between Louden B. Bruce ...... Plaintiff agains t Benjamin Powell, James Powell, and Elizabeth his wife, Fanney Powell, Jarrard Powell, Chapm an Powell, Jeremiah Powell, Honourias Powell an Infant under age by Henry J. Gambill his Guar dian adlitum, Turner Shiflet and Milley his wife, Robert Powell & Mary Powell, Widow .... Def endants
I have survey'd the Land Purchased by the Plaintiff of Honourias Powell deceased by meets an d bounds as directed in sd. Decree, a plat of which is hereunto annexed. Beginning at A a hig h white oak stump, Marshalls & Davises corner and also a corner of the Land the sd. decease d bought of John Yancey and running with a line of the latter N52E134 poles crossing a branc h of the Hawksbill to a chestnut & chestnut oak on the South side of the Road which leads fro m Honourias Powells to Nicholas Baughers at B thence along the South edge of sd. Road up th e mountain 122 poles to C to three chestnut oaks on a
line of the land the sd. deceased purchased of James Meadows and with the same S66E50 poles t o D a red oak and locust, thence S10W30 poles to E a chestnut oak and hickory corner to Samue l G. Baughers land and with his line S41 1/2W200
poles crossing the branch again to F said Marshalls and Davises line & with the same N18W19 6 poles to the Beginning; containing 170 acres. This survey was attended by the Plaintiff, an d by Jarrard Powell for the defendants, and it was
admitted by them, that the above boundary embraces the land described in the Plaintiffs Bill , all of which is respectfully submitted.
Joseph Mauzy, Sept. 14th, 1833
Fee for Surveying, ploting and calculating} $7.502

[NI0113] Sources:

(1) Mildred (Estes) Bruce was born in Orange County, VA. However, today the actual location o f her birth would have been in what is now Greene County, VA. Greene County was formed fro m a part of Orange County, VA, in 1838.

(2) Date of marriage of "Milly Estes and Loudown Bruce" was 10 Sep 1807. The bondsman was Wil liam Estes, her father. The minister was George Bingham, a Methodist minister, well know n i n the history of Greene County. This information was from "Orange County Virginia Marriag es , 1747-1850, by Vogt and Kethley, Iberian Pub. Co., Athens, GA (1990) page 27. It is poss ible that they were married in the Bingham Meeting House, but more likely that the actual cer emony was in the bride's home, as was the practice at that time.

The present location of Bingham Methodist Church is on Virginia State Route 810 just before i t passes from Greene County to Albemarle C ounty. The Lynch River passes under the road withi n a few yards of this location. It is about 5-7 miles north west of Earlysville and a greate r distance southwest of Stanardsville, VA .
Also from the Orange County Miscellaneous Returns of Marriages , 1801-1878: "I hereby certif y that on the tenth day of September, one thousand eight hundre d and seven, I joined togethe r Loudon Bruce and Milley Estes agreeable to the rites and ceremonies of our church." Signed : George Bingham.

(3) Greene County Magazine, Vol. 1, pages 61-62, April 1979 by Woodie B. Parrott: "The Fa mil y of William Estes, Sr.", provided the following:

"William Estes, circa 1745-1827, son of Samuel, Sr. and Mary Estes, served in the Revolutiona ry War, and owned property from Celt to the top of Bingham's Mountain. Estes married France s Cox, the daughter of William Cox, who lived near Celt." The issue of this couple is then li sted, and these family members will be included elsewhere in this compilation.

(4) The Greene County Magazine, Vol. 6, pages 23-24, 1989, "The Genealogy of Angus Clinton Es tes and Annie Minta (Deane) Estes by Kendall Estes", provides additional information about th e ancestors of Mildred Estes.

(5) William Estes, Sr., father of Mildred (Estes) Bruce, died intestate, which lead to litiga tion recorded in the Orange County Virginia Minute Book on 29 Jan 1828. The record said in p art, "Grandchildren of William Estes, Sr., were: (Children of Mildred Bruce, daughter, decea s ed) Peachy, Mildred, Sou--- (most probably Louden, Jr. , Sally, Lucy, Brightberry, an d Eli zabeth."

[NI0224] The following was received from Preston Leake on October 29, 2000 via email:

I have just completed and published a book of almost 400 pages on my COX ancestors and relati ves, and during research for that book found that the wife of William Estes was not Frances C ox, but was Frances Golding, daughter of William Golding. The basis for this change is prima rily a lawsuit, or an Amended Bill of Complaint designated, Estes and Golding vs Golding. I t was heard in Fredericksburg Circuit Court on 24 Sept 1823 (File 95), in Spottsylvania Count y, VA. I placed, in my Cox book, a full transcript of the Bill as presented to the Court bef ore Judge William Brown. It appears that the Estes and Golding families were neighbors.

[NI0335] Date of birth for Peachy Bruce is from the Jackson Estes Bible as published in the DAR magaz ine. She never married. Date of her will in Greene County, VA., Will Book 1, Page 8, (Sep 26 , 1833) was used to estimate her date of death.

Peachy was the sister of Louden Bruce, Jr., as evidenced by her will which is recorded in fu ll below:

"Knowing the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death, I, Peachy Bruse, of the County o f Orange and the State of Virginia, being in my right mind, though low in health, make this m y last will and testament.
After my just debts are paid, I will and bequeath my property, both personal and real, to m y brothers and sisters, to be equally divided among them, and I leave my brother, Louden Brus e, as my executor as witness my hand and Seal this 26 day of September, 1833."

Peachy (her mark) Bruse

Teste:
George N. Thrift
Littleton Estes
Mary Harris

"At a monthly court, held for the County of Greene at the Courthouse on Thursday the 14th da y of April, 1842, the last will and testament of Peachy Bruse, Deceased, was proven by the Oa th of Littleton Estes and Mary Harris, witnesses thereto, and is ordered to be recorded."

Will recorded in Will Book 1, Page 8, Greene County Courthouse.

[NI0390] Elizabeth "Betsy" Gordon and her husband, Tandy Bruce, were also 1st cousins.

[NI0396] "Lucy's" birthdate is found in a listing from John Hiram Lampton's family Bible. The date an d death place of Lucy is unknown, although her grandson, Harlan Bruce, stated in an oral hist ory to his nieces that Lucy and Barnet lived until at least 1863. See Barnet Bruce's bio fo r census information for Lucy.

[NI0399] Notes for CATHERINE BRUCE:

Little is known of Catherine personally except that she was the mother of all of Jesse Rhea' s children, and she died about 1844. She may have died in childbirth, and if so, the child al so died. Her youngest child on the 1850 census was James Henry Rhea (Ray) who was born in 184 1.

Her name is on several deeds selling land in Cooper County, Missouri.

She must have had a hard life. She left Clark County, Kentucky with her father, mother and si blings and married in Christian County, Kentucky in 1826. There she bore four children, and t hen again left her home and traveled to the new state of Missouri to settle near other relati ves who had removed from Clark County to the Cooper County area. After arriving in Missouri , she bore three more children, and died at the age of only 39 years. Her burial site has nev er been found, but it is believed she is probably buried in the New Lebanon Cemetery and he r grave was either never marked, or has toppled and been buried under 150 years of sod and ov ergrowth. There is also a smaller cemetery located in the section where Jesse and Catherine w ere living at the time of her death in which she might be buried. Perhaps someday her stone w ill be uncovered. I do not believe Jesse would have laid his beloved wife to rest without a s tone to mark her grave.

Burial: About 1844, Cooper County, Missouri

[NI0400] Said to have been killed by robbers in gold fields in California where he went with his broth er, cousins and uncles. Researchers believe the younger Tandy Bruce was named in honor of hi s older brother Tandy who died at about the time the younger was born.

[NI0401] Notes for ELIZABETH "BESSIE" BRUCE:

First information about this woman was supplied in an oral history by Harlan Bruce, son of Jo hn Benjamin Bruce who was the brother of Elizabeth Bruce Goode. History was given to his niec es when he was in his 90s. The information was passed on to researcher by Jean McCracken of N orth Bend, Washington. Little was known about Betsy until discovery of a notation in her brot her-in-law Jesse Rhea's blacksmith shop ledger. In the ledger, which is in the possession o f this researcher, is a notation as follows: "William Jones and Betsa Goode started to Nort h Grand River the 14th day of October 1852." Investigation of the census for Cooper County, M issouri, turned up the family, as follows:
District No. 23, Page 148A, Line 18, Dwelling No. 1103--ELIZABETH GOODE, age 38, born Kentuck y, Redman Goode, age 16, born Missouri; Henry Goode, age 14, born Missouri; Benjamin Goode, a ge 12, born Missouri; Thomas Goode, age 5, born Missouri; Nancy E. Goode, age 3, born Missour i. John H. Goode is not shown with the family. It is believed he went to California with som e of his brothers-in-law and nephews and apparently died there sometime between October 184 9 (when a notation is found in Jesse Rhea's ledger showing the sale to Jesse of a plank for s ixty-five cents) and February 1851 when Elizabeth Goode sold 46 acres in Cooper County, wit h dower title, to William Rickman, recorded Book V, Pages 35-36.

Elizabeth then took her family to the Mercer/Putnam County, Missouri area where her father an d most of his children had removed. In Putnam County, she married on 1 May 1855, William Scot t. The certification reads as follows:
Filed June 21st and duly recorded August 1855 by D. N. Thatcher, Recorder. This is to certif y that I, R. K. Baskett a regular Minister of the Gospel did on the first day of May A.D. 185 5 solemnize the rights of matrimony between William Scott and Elizabeth Goode both being o f a lawful age. Given under my hand this 1 day of May 1855. R. K. Baskett. (R.K. Baskett wa s Elizabeth's brother-in-law, husband of her sister Xantippia.)

Betsy is shown as a witness in a trial of her son Benjamin as late as June of 1859, but resea rcher has been unable to locate her on the 1860 census.

[NI0402] Sources:

(1) Anselina's name was also recorded as "Angelina," "Lina" and "Lisa, " which appeared in so me Census reports. Accordingly, it was easy to confuse her with Salina Shifflett, who appear s to have been the second wife of Louden Bruce, Sr., but we believe we have it correct in thi s document.

(2) Date and place of marriage are from Automated Archives, Inc., CD #229 and from Albemarl e County Marriages, Vol. 1, page 50, by Vogt and Kethley. The latter source indicates that t he marriage bond was dated, 24 Jan 1837 and the minister was Joseph A. Mansfield. The bondsma n was Elza Wood, the bride's brother. Witnesses were Ira Garrett, Elza S. Wood and Julia Woo d (the bride's sister). The bride's father, Levi Wood, gave consent.

(3) See 1850 Census data, under her husband's name. That data includes the names of five of t heir sons..

(4) Further reference was also found in Albemarle County, Virginia, Minute Book 18, for 1863- 1866. See pages 57-58 for the division of the slaves of Levi Wood among his five children , o r their spouses, or their descendants.

(5) A Law Suit brought by Louden Bruce, Jr. and his wife, Anselina Wood Bruce, "Styled Bruc e and wife v. Wood # 687 (1863)."

"To the Honorable Judge of the Circuit Court of the County of Albemarle: Your Complainants, L ouden Bruce and Anselina Bruce his wife, respectifully represent that Levy Wood, father of th e said Anselina, died in September 1867, leaving no will and no widow. The following stateme nt will show who his heirs are:

Item 5 is much more brief that the previous four Items. It is as follows: "Your complainan t , Anselina Bruce."

The document continues naming the other heirs of Elsy S. Wood; however, we do not know how t o deal with the apparent contradictory dates mentioned herein. Specifically, we have his deat h as 1856, but the above statement mentioned September 1867, and the suit appears to have be en brought in 1863. More research will be required to sort this out.

(6) Date of Anselina's death was provided by Jeanne Bruce James, but place of death was assum ed. I, (Preston Leake) have a letter written in 1851 by Louden, Jr. while he and his famil y were living in M echanicsville, Louisa County, VA, where Louden was a farm supervisor. I t appears that he continued to live in this location until his first wife's death.

[NI0408] Notes for XANTIPPIA BRUCE:

LANCASTER, MO. EXCELSIOR, Apr 16, 1909--Xantippe Bruce Baskett was born in Christian Co., Ken tucky, December 14,1825, died in Coatsville, April 7, 1909, aged 84 years 3 months and 24 day s.

She was married to Robert K. Basket in 1848 and to this union were born nine children, six o f whom are living: Josie Epperson, Ravanna, Mo.; J. D. Basket of Glen, Colorado; Nora A. Powe rs, Coatsville, Mo.; Malissa L. Sellers, Carlsbad, New Mexico; T. L. Baskett, Chillicothe, Mo .; Sadie M. Mitchell, Lancaster.

She united with the Baptist church early in life and has always lived a true and faithful chr istian life.

Funeral services conducted by Rev. Garr were held at the family home and the remains were lai d to rest in the Coatsville Cemetery.

LANCASTER EXCELSIOR, April 23, 1909--BASKETT

Once again the portals of heaven have opened wide to receive the soul of a Christian mother . On April 7th, after many weeks of intense suffering, the spirit of Mrs. Baskett of Coatsvil le, left that frail form and took its flight to thy eternal home, all the sorrows of earth go ne.

While the community deeply deplores the loss, heaven's reward is greater, and how sweet to kn ow that her life will be a light to direct the footsteps of the friends she left behind.

She numbered her friends by her acquaintances and no one knew her but to love her. She wa s a kind and loving mother and always endeavored to impress upon the minds of her children an d friends that true christian life, which she recognized as being so necessary to the develop ment of a higher plain of moral and social life.

She is gone but her good deeds still live, and will forever shine as beacon lights to those w ho would emulate her example.

Her life was a faithful one for in it was embodied all that was pure and ennobling, and throu gh all the years of her life, she was ever doing deeds of kindness.

That grandeur of character and christian charity, which characterized her whole life, will b e to others a guiding star to the true faith of Christ which she devoutly followed.

Her death was no less beautiful than her life, for she died as she had lived.

--A Friend

CARD OF THANKS--We desire to express our sincere thanks to the friends and neighbors who so k indly assisted us during the sickness of our beloved mother.

--Her Children

Burial: April 08, 1909, Coatsville Cemetery, Schuyler County, Missouri

[NI0409] Notes for LARENDA "RIN" BRUCE:

She married her cousin Benjamin Gordon, son of William and Sarah (Sally) Bruce Gordon.

She is shown on the 1850 census for District No. 96, being the whole county of Sullivan, Miss ouri, Page 333, Dwelling/Family No. 385, as follows:
Benjamin Gorden, age 25, born Kentucky, cannot read of write; LERANDY GORDEN, age 22, born Ke ntucky; Sarah Gorden, age 6, born Missouri; Santippie Gorden, age 5, born Missouri; William G orden, age 4, born Missouri; John Gorden, age 1, born Missouri. No occupation is given for Be njamin, but it is believed he was a farmer.

[NI0412] Notes for NATHANIEL SHEEPSKIN HAGGARD:

He is shown on the 1850 census for District No. 1, Clarke County, Kentucky, Dwelling/Family 1 4, as follows:
NATH'L HAGGARD, age 70, farmer, Re Val $7700, born virginia; Elizabeth Haggard, age 67, bor n Virginia; Mason Haggard, age 26, Re Val $80, born Kentucky.

Burial: 1866, Clark County, Kentucky

[NI0424] Benjamin's middle initial could be "S" instead of "F".
Some of the data for the Lamb family provided by Donna Scott of Sarasota, FL.

[NI0446] Sources:

(1) The name, Brightberry, was found for the brother of Louden, Jr. in Orange County Minute B ook for 1825-1829, under a law suit styled, "Brown vs Estes" and dated 29 January 1828. Th e five pages of this matter in the above book were not numbered making it necessary to look f or date instead. All seven of the children of Louden Bruce, Sr. and his wife, Mildred (Este s ) Bruce, were named, and are included in the notes for Louden Bruce, Sr.

(2) Louden Bruce Jr. was married first to Anselina Wood. Date for their marriage bond was 1 2 Jan 1837, and for their marriage, 30 Jan 1837, according to "Albemarle County Marriages, 17 80-1853," Vol. 1, page 50. Authors of the book were Vogt and Kethley. The minister was John G ibson, the bondsman, Henry Hall, and the witness was William W. Tompkins.
Norford shows the same marriage date, but the groom's name was recorded as, "Snoden B. Bruce. "

(3) Part of the family of Louden, Jr. by his first wife was listed in the 1850 Census for Lou isa County, VA, Dwelling 925 as follows: Louden Bruce, 39 years, Assistant Farmer, $1950; Ang elina, 35; William D., 13; Jeremiah E., 10; Robert L., 6; and Richard, 3. Ages of these memb ers of this family are based on this 1850 Census.

(4) In the 1860 Census, names of the first three sons were not included. Two additional son s were named, but dates for Louden and his wife were the same as reported in the 1850 Censu s , as follows: Louden, age 39 years, Farmer, value of real estate, $10,000, value of persona l estate, $10,000; Angelina, 35 years; Richard, 13 years (Note, he did age by 10 years.); Cha s (Charles), 8 years, and L. W. Bruce, four years. No reference was found in either of the Ce nsus reports for a son named, "Benjamin."

(5) I, (Preston Leake), have originals of two letters written on 29 August 1851 by Louden Br uce, Jr. to his sister, Betsy Bruce Dunn, who was a widow with four children at that time. T he letter was written from Mechanicsville, Virginia, a small village in Louisa County. Thi s first letter is quoted in full below, as originally written:

"Dear Sister,

I take this opportunity to rite you a few lines. We are all well except my sweled leg that p esters me a great deal, that with the business I manage has prevented me from coming to see y ou before this time. When these few lines come to hand, I will be glad for you to write me h ow you are getting along and if you are in distress about your worldly affairs and if I can d o anything for you. as far as I am able I will do the best I can for you Dear Sister.

I have heard that you have imbraced the religion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Chris, and I d o pray you to hold fast the promises set before you in the bible; read often in the bible; th ere is much Comfort to be enjoyed in so doing. remember me in your prears to god Dear Siste r . I still intend to Come and see you some day or other.

We have five boys and Anselina ways (weighs) two hundred. She sends her best love to yo u . I wish you to remember me to all inquirin friends. I often think of you and daily spea k of you and want to see you very much.

remaining your brother,"

Louden Bruce

"P.S. My best love to uncle Peter Gibson wishing him to do a favor for me if it meets with hi s approbation."

Attached to the above letter, on a separate piece of paper, dated "Sept 5th 1851" was the fol lowing from "Mechamisville, Louisa County, Va.":

"To Peter Gibson Nortonsville, Albemarle County, Va. (Post Paid)

"Dear uncle I wish you to carry this letter to my sister and arrange for her to send me an an cer. also to present the other to the Church at Binghams.

Your friend. L. B.

"To the Methodist Church at Binghams Meeting House

Dear Brothers and Sisters

I believe my sole was happily Converted to god on the first day of may 1831, and was immerse d by skidmore on 11 July of the same year and added to the Church. I was 18 years old at tha t time and I have bin trying to lead the life of a christian until the present and now feel d etermin to serve god as long as I live, altho I have never joined any Church since I left tha t neighborhood. I have bin living the life of an overseer and moving about but would advis e a ll my bretheren not to persu that course, and I am persuaded in my hart not to live so an y longer. therefour I appeal to the church for a letter if this requess mets your feelings a nd rules. I wish this letter red before the Church and if there is a letter granted me, I wi sh the circumstances of my immursion mention. therein I intend to attach my self to the bapt ist church at Mechanicsville. Dear brothers and sisters I desire an interest in your prear s and some of you who know me and feel disposed to put your names to the letter. Please direc t the letter to Mechanicsville, Louisa County, Va."

The above did not include a signature in addition to initials on the note at the top addresse d to his uncle, Peter Gibson. Incidentally, Peter Gibson was his uncle by Gibson's marriag e to Frances Estes, sister of Mildred Estes, who was the mother of Louden Bruce, Jr.

(6) Bea (Bruce) Hudson found the following in Edward C. Mead's "Historic Homes of the Southwe st Mountains (Albemarle County)" pages 235-236:

"On the east side of Edgeworth were the lands of Louden Bruce, which extended to Gordonsville ; he was famous for his fat cattle....".
Edgeworth is located east of the Southwest Mountains, east of Turkey Sag Road, on Peter's Mou ntain. That part of the County was part of Louisa County until 1761.

(7) A Law Suit was brought by Louden Bruce, Jr. and his wife, Anselina Wood Bruce concernin g land owned by Levy Wood, father of Anselina. Details are provided herein under the names o f Anselina, her siblings and their father.

(8) Further reference was also found in Albemarle County, Virginia, Minute Book 18, for 1863 - 1866. See pages 57-58 for the division of the slaves of Levi Wood among his five children , or their spouses, or their descendants.

"Lot No. 1 (of these slaves) is assigned to Loudon Bruce and Ann, his wife, consisting of Isa ac, $200; Darkey, $200; James, $1200; Amanda and her child, Jane, $1100, and Wilson $450, mak ing $3150.00. Distributive share share of each Legatee being $3,060. Excess in Lot No. 1 bei ng $90; pay to Lot No. 2, $10; to Lot No. 5, $60; and to Lot No. 3, $20, twenty."

(9) Louden B. Bruce, Jr. was married (2) to Amanda S. Hansbrough (Farrar) on 5 July 1873 in A lbemarle Co., Virginia. In the 1873 Marriage Register for Virginia, the bride was a "widow" f rom Prince William County, VA. Previously she was married to a Mr. Hansbrough. Her parents we re "Elijah and Margaret Farrar." The minister was Charles Quarles. Occupation of the groom w as given as "Farmer and C (or 6) Dealer," and his place of residence was "Albemarle County."

(10) Date and place of death are from Woods' "History of Albemarle Co., VA," page 406. We ha ve no way of knowing that the date of 1876 is assigned to the correct person, but we do kno w that there were in Albemarle County during this period two persons named Louden Bruce, a Sr . and a Jr. Senior was said to have been born on 16 Sep 1781. According to the 1850 Census , Louden, Sr. was 68 years old at that time. Louden, Jr. was born about 1813, according to hi s letter above and to the register of his second marriage. Thus he is most likely the one wh o died about 1876. See additional confirmation below.

(11) Mrs. Robert (Geraldine) McCall, a direct descendant indicated that the date of death fo r Louden, Jr. was 20 Dec 1875. See notes for his son, Richard, for further details.

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Albemarle County Deed Book 52, Page 123

"This indenture made this 7th day of October in the year 1853 between Wm. F. Gordon and Eliza beth, his wife, and Louden Bruce and wife, that the said husband? and wife for and in conside ration of the sum of two thousand seven hundred and twenty seven dollars in hand paid and sec ured to be paid, have bargained and sold and by these presents do present, bargain and sell t o the said Louden Bruce a certain tract or parcel of land lying in the County of Albemarle , adjoining the lands of James Lindsay and Wm. F. ______?, being part of the tract lately own ed by John Rogers, dec'd., containing by estimation two hundred and two acres more or less, e ast? of the main road leading from Charlottesville to Fredricksburg, and the said Gordon an d wife do hereby warrant the title to the said Louden Bruce and his heirs forever. In testimo ny of which they here presents and set their hands and seals this day of year aforesaid."

Wm. F. Gordon (seal)
E. S. Gordon (seal)

Note: The writing in this deed was very difficult to decipher; the name Louden could have bee n read as "LANDON" in several places. We have also made the assumption that this pertained t o Louden Bruce, Jr. and not Louden, Sr.
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[NI0468] Benjamin Bruce, born about 1811, was the son of Austin Bruce and Sarah Stevens (Srephens?). A ustin Bruce died shortly after his marriage, and Sarah soon married Durrett Bruce, her dead h usband's brother. Durrett raised Benjamin as his own son and he, Benjamin, was always known a s the son of Durrett and Sarah.

Benjamin Bruce was murdered by two of his slaves, his skull fractured by blows from a poker a nd shovel at his home near Renick, Randolph County, Missouri.

From: THE WEEKLY MISSOURI STATESMAN, November 26, 1858

On Saturday night last Mr. Benjamin Bruce, a single man residing in Randolph County near Reni ck, was brutally murdered by two of his negro men, one of whom we understand has confessed th e crime. Soon after the murder, Mr. Bruce was found dead on the floor of his room in his nigh tclothes, the back of his head fractured by blows inflicted with a poker and shovel. It appea rs that during the murderous assault Mr. Bruce defended himself and inflicted a serious thoug h not mortal gash with a knife across the face of one of the negroes and the arm of the other . Mr. Bruce was a brother of Mrs. R. G. Leonard of this place. The murderers were arrested an d brought before Justice Butler who committed them to the Huntsville jail. Great excitement p revails in the neighborhood; and to prevent violence Judge Hull has called a special term o f the Circuit Court for their trial on Friday next, December 3. Of course, therefore, the spe cial term of our court for the trial of Mr. Taylor is postponed.

More About BENJAMIN BRUCE: Burial: November 1858, Oakland Cemetery, Randolph Co., Missouri

[NI0476] Temperences' maiden name may have been "Ballard".

[NI0488] His death date taken from REGISTER OF KENTUCKY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 1949, Clark County Deaths , as follows:
William B. Bruce, age 35, died 24 March 1861 of consumption, born Clark County Parents S(T)an dy and Elizabeth Bruce.

It is a family tradition that William's wife put gypsum in his coffee and he died of the pois oning, which would probably have been entered in the official records as "consumption."

His marriage to Martha Rout Bruce is recorded in Clark County, Kentucky; witness was Willia m Suggett, Jr.; surety was Eli Bruce. "Martha A. Bruce (gives her own consent in writing) md . William Bruce, son of Elizabeth Hukill who gives her consent." Martha had previously been m arried to Sanford Bruce on 4 June 1844.

[NI0524] William David Bruce's middle name could also have been "Dick". We have seen it written bot h ways so are unsure which one is correct.

The Roster of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865, Orange County, VA, included the name of Willia m D. Bruce in the Gordonsville Grays, Company C, 13th Virginia Infantry. Further details ca n be found in "13th Virginia Infantry" by David F. Riggs, published by Howard in 1988. The fo llowing can be found on page 104:
"William D. Bruce, born 1838(?), farmer. Enlisted Apr 19, 1861 at Harpers Ferry in Compan y C as private. Absent Dec 24, 1861 to Jan 19, 1862 and May 6, 1862 to Jul 12, 1862. Bruce wa s wounded in the right thigh on Apr 29, 1862 at Second Manassas. His leg was amputated and h e was retired to the Invalid Corps on Jan 9, 1865 and assigned to Richmond on Jan 25, 1865. H e was declared "totally disabled" on Mar 2, 1865".

Mrs. Jeanne Bruce James, a direct descendant, located the grave site of William D. Bruce in G reene County, VA, on Route 603, 0.4 mile from its intersection with Route 602. She said the o ld homeplace and ruins of the house are still apparent. Dates of birth and death are from th e tombstone of William David Bruce, which Mrs. James found.

(the above is from the notes of Preston Leake)

On May 20, 1999, Preston Leake, Woodie Parrott, my wife, Gernie, and myself visited the abov e mentioned site and took a picture of the house ruins, but did not visit William's gravesite .
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From:
To:
Subject: Wm. Bruce child of Louden
Date: Monday, November 10, 2003 9:46 PM

I am a great granddaughter of William Bruce, son of Louden Bruce, I have copies of William' s service records from the War Between the States. William was not a Captain, he was wounde d at the 1st Battle of Manassas, and lost his leg.

I was reading the Shifflet Family History page and found the statement regarding William. Wi lliam's grave is on the "old home place" at 603 with a damaged headstone. If you have any co ntacts in Greene County that could offer a name of someone who perhaps repair the stone I wou ld greatly appreciate a reply.

In the meantime William's service records were obtained from UDC Headquarters in Richmond, VA . I also have a picture of him.

Thank you in advance for forwarding my request for help to repair William's headstone.

Anne Hall Howard

[NI0530] Notes for JESSE RHEA:

All of Jesse's children were by his first wife, Catherine Bruce. This is proven by the entrie s in the Hall family Bible now in the possession of Mrs. Evelyn Camblin, 201 Taylor, Sterling , CO 80751. His marriage to Mary Foster Smith is proven by minister's return to courthouse, b ut researcher has been unable to find proof of third marriage to Margaret _______(Tucker?), e ven though she appears with Jesse in the 1880 Cooper County census.

A recent discovery of information in a Bible record in the possession of a great-grandchild o f Robert Rhea, oldest son of Jesse and Catherine, indicates that Jesse and a brother Robert w ere the children of James Ray and a woman named Cash. Much research is necessary to complet e and corroborate this information.

A court record with no county or filing information sent to researchers by Carl T. Ray, 404 N avaho Lane, Kingsport, TN 37664, states that Jesse and Robert were bound to a blacksmith Joh n W. Lemaster in Maury County, Tennessee on 19 October 1815.

The 1820 census for Maury County, Tennessee shows John W. Lemaster with five young men livin g in his home, no wife, and three slaves. A biography of the Lemaster family states that Joh n W. Lemaster married in 1821.

The 1830 census for Christian Co., Kentucky, Page 13, shows Jesse as follows:
2 males under five years of age; 1 male 20-30; 1 female 20-30. On the same page is Barnett Br uce, father of Catherine Bruce Rhea.

Jesse and Catherine owned land in Christian County along the county line near Logan County, K entucky. In Logan County, there is another family of Rheas including another Jesse Rhea, bu t no connection has ever been found between these two families, unless they might have been c ousins, nephews of the mysterious James Ray. Note the different spellings of the name. It i s said that people named Ray often took up the spelling of Rhea as a sign of respect to thei r Irish ancestors.

The 1840 census finds Jesse and his family in Cooper County, Missouri, Page 4 (119), as follo ws:
1 male under five (Jesse, Jr.); 1 male 5-10 (John); 2 males 10-15 (Robert and William); 1 mal e 30-40 (Jesse); 1 female under 5 (Lucretia); 1 female 5-10 (Melissa); 1 female 30-40 (Cather ine). Barnet and Lucy Bruce live nearby, as well as two of Catherine's married sisters, Eliza beth (Goode) and Larenda (Gordon).

During the 1830s and 1840s, there were a number of transactions buying and selling land in Co oper County. Many relatives of the Bruces and Lamptons had relocated to Missouri, and there s eems to have been a lot of land speculating going on amongst them. Apparently some of them re ceived land grants for service in the War of 1812.

The 1850 census for Cooper County, Missouri, District No. 23, Dwelling/Family No. 1037, Jesse 's family is shown as follows: Jesse Rea (looks like Red on record), age 48, blacksmith, RE V al $300, born Kentucky; Mary, age 45, born Kentucky; Melissa, age 18, born Kentucky; Jane, ag e 14, born Kentucky, attended school; Jesse, age 12, born Missouri, attended school; Van Bure n Smith, age 10, born Missouri, attended school; Mary S. Smith, age 8, born Missouri, attende d school; James H. (Rhea), age 6, born Missouri. (The record shows a ditto mark under the nam e Smith for James H., but he is in reality the son of Jesse. Van Buren and Mary are Jesse's s tepchildren, the children of his second wife, Mary Jane Foster Smith, widow of John Smith.)

In 1852, Jesse mortgaged all his personal property, probably to finance his sons' trip to (o r return from) the California goldfields. He was able to redeem the mortgage and keep his bel ongings.

In 1849 Jesse purchased from William B. Jones, a blacksmith shop and general store. The ledge r he used for his accounts has survived and is in the possession of this researcher. The boo k not only contains a record of the accounts of his customers, but was also used as a sort o f journal in which Jesse made notations of local happenings, such as the school house burning , the first battle of the Civil War at Boonville, his sister-in-law Betsy Goode's leaving t o go to Putnam County, Missouri, where her parents and several siblings had moved, letters re ceived from his sons and others in California, and other very interesting items of news.

The 1860 census for Lebanon Twp., Cooper County, Missouri, P.O. Fair Point, Family No. 359, s hows Jesse as follows:
Jesse Ray, age 55, farmer, RE Val $960, PP Val $400, born North Carolina; Mary Ray, age 55, b orn Virginia; M. E. Ray, age 26, born Kentucky; J. H. Ray, age 18, born Missouri.

The 1870 census finds Jesse and Mary living alone in Hickory County, Missouri. They were appa rently there five or six years. The following real estate transactions were found at the Hick ory County courthouse:

JESSE RHEA, instrument dated 13 September 1865, recorded 4 November 1865, purchased the follo wing land, to wit: NE1/4 SE1/4 less one acre, Section 8, Twp. 38, Range 23 and Section 9, Twp . 38, Range 23.
and, instrument dated 26 November 1877, JESSE RHEA, grantor, and STATIA RHEA, grantee, the ab ove property in Section 9. (Statia Rhea was Jesse's daughter-in-law.)
and, instrument also dated 26 November 1877, JESSE RHEA, grantor, and THOMAS J. SMITH, grante e, the above property in Section 8 and part of Section 9. (Thomas Smith was a stepson of Jess e, son of his second wife Mary Jane Foster Smith.)

The 1880 census for Cooper County, Missouri, Page 212, Dwelling 246/Family 248, shows Jesse a s follows:
Jessee Rhea, age 76, married, blacksmith, born North Carolina, father born Virginia, mother b orn Virginia; Margaret E. Rhea, age 54, wife, married, keeping house, born Virginia, father b orn Virginia, mother born Virginia; Louella Tucker, age 11, daughter, single, born Missouri . (This child is obviously a stepdaughter of Jesse.)

No record has ever been found of the marriage of Jesse and Margaret Tucker, although in the r ecords of Pettis County, Missouri, a tax lien is shown against one Margaret Rhea in the 1890 s on property owned in Smithton, Missouri. Jesse must have left his wife (or vice versa) as h e lived with his daughter Melissa Hall at the time of his death. Perhaps Margaret also live d there. No record of a divorce has been found.

Jesse is buried in the Smithton Cemetery about one mile north of the small town. His headston e reads simply Jesse Ray (sic) 1804-1887. He is buried near his daughter and her husband, Mel issa and George Hall, and their son Jessie Lee Hall.

A family story tells of Jesse's misadventures in his youth. The following was written by Evel yn McDonald Camblin, granddaughter of Melissa and George Hall. Over the years the names of th e places traveled to and from may have been confused, as well as other embellishments added i n the telling and retelling of the story. It is believed, however, that the basic story lin e holds true and gives us the reason for the difficulty in tracing Jesse's parentage.

THE CROSSROADS

Mrs. Rhea, a widow with two sons, was invited to join a wagon train which would travel west f rom the southern part of Virginia(?) Much preparation and excitement grew in the planning fo r this journey by both mother and sons. They were to ride in the first covered wagon, traveli ng over the Cumberland Mountains, seeking a fortune in Tennessee(?)

After two days of traveling, the first wagon was far ahead of the wagons in the train. They c ame to a fork in the road. What to do so that the next wagon would know which way to turn? Mr s. Rhea decided to put the two boys out to wait for the second wagon. She told them to ride i n the second wagon until they made camp that evening.

Jesse and Robert waited for awhile, and seeing another wagon with a family camping near thei r assigned station, they decided to investigate. They found a family and children with whom t hey could play. When the second wagon, which they were assigned to guide, ever came we will n ever know because the boys joined the newfound family and went back to Virginia(?).

Mrs. Rhea was devastated by the loss of her sons. With no possible communication, she resigne d herself to the fact that her sons were dead.

Jesse was invited to stay in the home of a blacksmith and learn the trade, which he did. Hi s brother became a printer.

When Jesse was twenty-one years old and working at his trade, a farmer asked him to help hau l grain to an elevator for him. While he was unloading the grain, he could hear a lady singin g a song which he had heard his mother sing when he was a young boy. When the grain was unloa ded, he went to the miller and asked, "Who is that I hear singing?" To his great surprise, th e miller said, "Oh, that's an old widow lady named Rhea. She lives over in that little house. " Jesse was speechless. He slowly walked over to the little house and knocked on the door. H e was shocked when the door was opened and there stood his mother. He did not tell her abou t the other brother, fearing the shock would kill her. Waiting a few days, he came back wit h his brother and there was a joyous reunion.

Jesse was my Great-Grandfather, and I know this story to be true. I have heard it told and re told by my mother's family for as long as I can remember. I have one of a set of forks whic h Jesse made in his blacksmith shop. The handle is bone from a deer which he shot.

I am confused as to whether the boys, Jesse and Robert, went back to Virginia with their newf ound family or into Kentucky.

Jesse Rhea and Catherine Bruce were married September 24, 1826. Melissa Evaline Rhea, my gran dmother, was born in Hopkinsville, Kentucky on November 25, 1832. She was the fourth child o f Jesse and Catherine Rhea. There may be an error in the first part of the story.

I wrote this story for a National Genealogy class and was highly praised for it, but I was wa rned that it could easily be embroidered over the years by those who told and retold the stor y. Therefore, I am confused about the area in which Jesse Rhea and his mother lived.

I would certainly love to know who Jesse Rhea's mother was, and also his father and any othe r relatives which would help with my genealogy. {END}

NOTE FROM TERESA WALKER: A recent find by Maurice Woolsoncroft, Lawrence, Kansas, indicates t hat the father of Jesse and Robert was James Ray/Rhea and his mother was a Mrs. Cash. This in formation is from the family Bible of a descendant of Robert Rhea, son of Jesse Rhea, who liv es in Hawaii. Also discovered was a date of October 1815 when Jesse and Robert were bound ou t to John W. Lemasters in Maury County, Tennessee, to learn the blacksmith trade.

Research indicates that the family may have lived in Davidson County, Tennessee (Nashville ar ea), where it is indicated the two boys were born. The trip spoken of in the preceding articl e may have been from Davidson County, Tennessee to Mercer County, Kentucky, where a James Ra y had lived prior to acquiring a land grant in Tennessee. If the story of the orphan boys i s true, which appears to be somewhat accurate, the family with whom they went was probably he aded in the opposite direction, which is why the boys ended up in Maury County. Jesse was ind eed a blacksmith, but nothing is known of his brother at this time.

Jesse met his wife in Clark County, Kentucky which is right next to Mercer County. His wife' s family moved to Christian County where Jesse and Catherine were married in 1826.

Burial: 1887, Smithton Cemetery, Pettis County, Missouri

[NI0533] Notes for ROBERT RHEA:

Robert Rhea volunteered for the Mexican War and was with a group that left Boone County, Miss ouri in May 1846, went to St. Louis, stayed for three weeks and returned to their homes. Hi s company, commanded by Capt. Joseph L. Stevens, Third Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Infantry , was never called to go to war even though Robert served for one year.

From: HISTORY OF THE STATE OF KANSAS-1833-A. T. ANDREAS Vol. 1, Pp 738-739.

ROBERT RHEA, farmer and stock raiser, southeast of Section 31, Township 2, Range 15, P. O. Sa betha, Nemaha County, was born in Christian County, Ky., July 11, 1827, but lived in his nati ve state only until his eighth year, his parents removing to Cooper County, Mo., where Mr. Rh ea resided for thirteen years. Thence he removed to Platte County in the same state, where h e resided until the fall of 1854, when he became a resident of Kansas, locating near Woodlawn , Nemaha County, where he engaged in farming and where he resided two years. Then he remove d to Walnut Township, Brown County, where he has resided since. He is a member of Sabetha Lod ge, No. 162, AF&AM, and was one of the charter members of this lodge. He was Constable of Wal nut Township five years and a member of the Board of School District No. 74, Brown County, th ree years. Mr. Rhea participated in the War of the Rebellion as a member of Company H, (Capt . Aaron McGill), Twenty-Second Regiment, Kansas Volunteer Militia, and was enlisted in Apri l 1864, at Seneca, Nemaha County, and discharged at the same place November 2, 1864. Owing t o the exposure and hardships he endured while in the service, Mr. Rhea contracted a disease f rom which he suffers today. He is also a veteran of the Mexican War, having enlisted in May , 1846, in Cooper County, Mo., in a company commanded by Capt. Joseph L. Stevens in the Thir d Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Infantry. He served one year in this regiment and was discharg ed at Boonville, Mo., in May, 1847. He was married in Platte County, Mo., October 8, 1850, t o Miss Elizabeth Magill, a native of Clay County, Mo. They have had nine children, seven of w hom are living--Melissa (married to Richard Blodgett, a native of Ohio, and a resident of Nem aha County); Sallie M., Mary Frances (married to Marion Pringle, a native of Iowa, and a resi dent of Nemaha County); Florence E., Robert, Edward, Morrill and Alonzo F.

Mr. Rhea owns a fine upland farm on Grasshopper Creek, or Delaware River, as it is now called . It contains 159 acres, is all surrounded by substantial fences, is in a good state of culti vation, and is well supplied with water, having wells, springs, and the river, which flows th rough the northeast corner of the farm. The orchard covers two acres and contains 100 apple , fifty peach, and a few Siberian crab trees. The improvements are fair and consist in part o f a six-room frame dwelling, stock stable and lots, corn-cribs, etc. Near the house is a hand some grove of native timber. Mr. Rhea devotes his attention principally to raising corn, hog s and cattle. He raises from 3000 to 4000 bushels of corn yearly, keeps twenty-five to fort y head of stock cattle, forty to fifty hogs and four head of horses. Mr. Rhea is one of the o ld pioneers of Kansas, an honest and sturdy farmer and a useful and popular citizen. Pleasan t Valley Schoolhouse, District No. 74, is built on what was once a portion of Mr. Rhea's farm . It is a neat frame structure, was erected in 1880, and cost with furniture, etc., about $60 0. It has a seating capacity of forty, and is well furnished. The first and present school of ficers were and are: Robert B. Dye is the teacher at present in charge of the school; Rhea, D irector; Charles Culverhoss, Clerk and Henry Monroe, Treasurer

From: The COURIER-TRIBUNE, Seneca, Kansas, Thursday, June 19, 1941, Page 5--HISTORY OF COAL C REEK (by B. P. Redmond) - THE RHEAS

Coal Creek had the distinction of having one of the very first settlers of Nemaha County an d one of its most historic characters. He was the venerable Dr. Rhea who settled on the las t open quarter section in the colony, the northwest quarter of 28 in Red Vermillion, four mil es northwest of America City.

The Rhea ancestry dates back a thousand years to a clan named McCarty, near Lake Rhea, Irelan d. The clan divided in three parts. The division continuing to live near the Lake assumed th e name "Rhea." Dr. Rhea was born in Christian County, Kentucky in 1827 and died in Fresno, Ca lifornia, in 1916 in his 90th year. At seven he moved with his parents to Missouri. When th e Mexican War broke out he was the first man to enlist from Boone County, Mo. He served wit h distinction through the war, being once severely wounded and left for dead upon the battlef ield by a young physician who afterward became famous at Centralia.

Later, when the Mexican War was over, he married Elizabeth Magill. That was about 1851. She w as a cousin of the late Dr. I. H. Magill of Corning. They had nine children: William, Melissa , Jesse, Sallie, Mary, Florence, Robert, Jr., and Alonzo.

Dr. Rhea, with his young wife and two small children, William and Melissa, moved to the prese nt site of Woodlawn in November, 1855. He immediately built a log cabin which is said to be s tanding intact at the present time. That winter came near proving to be the end of the Rhea f amily. The relatives, who helped move them, went back to Missouri to bring the family a suppl y of food for the winter from the nearest store on the Missouri River. Before they could star t on the return trip with the supplies that virtually meant life or death to the family, on e of the old-fashioned blizzards swept down from the north and made long distance travel acro ss the trackless prairies and the bridgeless creeks in the deep-frozen snow an impossibility.

The Rhea family ate their last morsel of food New Year's day, with the exception of some saue rkraut. That was all the food left to feed the two little children, the mother who was expect ing another child and the father and provider.

All the distraught father could do was to catch a rabbit now and then, cut some slippery el m bark for the little ones to chew upon and await the agonizing end. He had no lumber with wh ich to make coffins nor pick and spade to dig graves for his expected dead if he outlived the m! On March 24, 1856, the long hoped-for load of supplies came into sight across the muddy, t rackless prairies and their lives were saved just as the last spark was ready to flicker ou t of their emaciated bodies.

Mrs. Rhea, who had been at the point of death several times from starvation during the long h eart-breaking winter vigil, gave birth to her third child, Jesse, on April 1, 1856, just eigh t days after the life-saving food came. Such was a part of the life experience of one heroi c mother and her equally heroic husband in the first days in Nemaha County.

All this terrible hardship did not cause the Doctor's patriotism to cool or lag. He joined th e Kansas Militia during the border days troubles. His regiment was attached to the Union arm y and did some stiff fighting resisting the Price raid in Missouri and eastern Kansas.

The story has been repeated several times to the writer by old timers of Kansas that the elec tion day, 1864, Dr. Rhea and John Martin, who was afterward made sheriff of Nemaha County, an d Henry Monroe went to the polls near Sabetha to vote the Democratic ticket. They were met b y a mobster gang who told them that if they tried to vote that way they would be hanged. The y were refused admission to the polls. The three defied the gang and told them they could g o where they could cut no ice.

Mr. Martin took some brown paper in which he had wrapped some sugar for his family and tore i t into ballot sized strips on which they wrote names of the men they wished to vote for. Dr . Rhea, Mr. Martin and Mr. Monroe marched into the polls and deposited the brown paper ballot s in the ballot box and defied the opposition to try to hang them, or even take a shot at the m.

Such was an election in Kansas in the days of real he men.

The writer was not informed what became of Mr. Martin's sugar. Dr. Rhea came to the Coal Cree k neighborhood about 1884 with his five younger children. Some of the children have joined th eir parents on the evergreen shores.

Melissa married Richard Blodgett in the Woodlawn-Capioma neighborhood.

Sallie married Oliver Burke and is living in Dodge City, Kans. Florence married a Mr. Wilhelm , a businessman in Fresno, California.

Edward M. became quite a noted school teacher in Nemaha and Marshall counties during the nine ties. He was noted as an athlete of considerable skill and ability. After leaving the school s of Nemaha and Marshall counties he held the position of Professor and Physical Director o f the South Denver High School in Colorado, He and his brother, Alonzo, were good old-time fi ddlers and furnished much of the music at the social gatherings in their vicinity. He has a w ife and three children and is now managing a tree nursery at Dodge City, Kansas.

Alonzo, the youngest child, assisted his father on the farm until his father disposed of it . He was and still is a musician of some note. His hobby is making high class violins. He mar ried Miss Joan Redmond in about 1898. He took the job of street car conductor in Topeka fo r a few years. He then tried farming in Florida but did not like it as well as good old Kansa s and came back to his native state. He took up ranching near Garden City nearly 40 years ag o and is now an "Old Timer" out there. He has retired and is working at his hobby, making vio lins, in Garden City. They have four children: Myrtle, Eugene, Francis and Mildred. Myrtle i s married and is living in Colorado where her husband is working in the gold mines. Francis h as a position in the sugar beet factory in Garden City. Mildred is a graduate of the Garden C ity High School and has a good clerical position in a mercantile establishment in Garden City . Eugene is an artist and paints pictures of considerable merit.

The Robert Rhea family is shown on the 1880 census for Walnut Twp., Brown Co., Kansas, P.O. W alnut, Page 15, SD3, ED15, Dwelling123/Family 133, as follows:
Robert Rhea, age 53, farmer, married, born Kentucky, father born Tennessee, mother born Kentu cky; Elizabeth Rhea, age 50, wife, keeping house, born Missouri, father born Kentucky, mothe r born Missouri; Sallie Rhea, age 20, daughter, single, at school, born Kansas, father born K entucky, mother born Missouri; Mary F. Rhea, age 18, daughter, single, at home, born Kansas , father born Kentucky, mother born Missouri; Florence E. Rhea, age 15, daughter, single, a t home, born Kansas, father born Kentucky, mother born Missouri; Robert Rhea, age 13, son, a t home, born Kansas, father born Kentucky, mother born Missouri; Edw. Rhea, age 9, son, at ho me, born Kansas, father born Kentucky, mother born Missouri; Alonzo Rhea, age 8, son, at home , born Kansas, father born Kentucky, mother born Missouri; James Acker, age 24, Boarder, sing le, farmer, born Cannady (Canada), father born Ohio, mother born Cannady.

Burial: Fresno Co., California

[NI0535] Some records show this man's first name as "John", however the Louisa County, VA census fo r 1850 lists "Jeremiah, age 10". His birthplace may have been Louisa County, VA.

[NI0536] From courthouse in Boonville, Cooper County, Missouri, Book _____, Page 375, comes the follow ing deed record:

This Deed, made and entered into this 14th day of March 1868, by and between John Rhea and St atia A. Rhea, his wife, of the County of Hickory & State of Missouri, parties of the first pa rt and J. C. Berry and I. B. Berry of the County of Cooper and State aforesaid, Witnesseth: T hat the said party of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of Eight Hundred Do llars to them paid by the said parties of the second part, the receipt of which is hereby ack nowledged, do by these presents grant bargain and sell convey and confirm unto the said part y of the second part, the following described tract or parcel of land situated in the Count y of Cooper in the State of Missouri towit; Their undivided one fourth interest in the Nort h West quarter of Section 32; also the East half of the North East quarter ot Section 31, al l in Township 46, and Range 18, containing Two Hundred and Forty (240) Acres more or less, T o have and to hold the same, together with all rights, privileges and appurtenances to the sa me belonging, or in anywise appertaining unto the said party of the second part and to thei r heirs and assigns forever; the said party of the first part hereby covenanting that their h eirs executors and administrators shall and will warrant and defend the title to the premise s to the said party of the second part and to their heirs and assigns forever, against the la wful claims of all persons whomsoever. In Witness Whereof, the said party of the first part h ave hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written, W.S. Rev. Stam p $1.00.

/s/ John Rhea {Seal}

/s/ Statia A. Rhea {Seal}

State of Missouri, County of Cooper:
s.s. Be it remembered that on this 14th day of March A.D. 1868, before me the undersigned , a Notary Public in and for said County, came John Rhea and Statia A. Rhea his wife, who ar e personally known to me to be the same persons whose names are subscribed to the foregoing i nstrument of writing as parties thereto, and they acknowledged the same to be their act and d eed for the purposes therein mentioned, And the said Statia A. Rhea, having been by me on a n examination apart from her said husband that she executed the same freely and without compu lsion or undue influence of her said husband. In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my han d and notarial seal the day and year last above written.

/s/ Hugh A. B. Johnston

Notary Public

State of Missouri, County of Cooper:
s.s. This Instrument was filed for record in my office on the 21st day of October 1868. Witne ss my hand and official seal.

/s/ W. W. Taliaferro, Clerk

By R. W. Whitlow, DC

[NI0537] Melissa Eveline Ray Hall died in 1905 and is buried in the Smithton Cemetery next to her husb and and son Jesse L. Hall, and two graves away from her father, Jesse Rhea (Ray).

It is said that Melissa Rhea was well trained as a nurse and "granny doctor" and that she wor ked and studied with a doctor near Boonville when she was young. Her first husband apparentl y abandoned her, and she was forced to seek a divorce. She was blind in one eye.

The following story was written by Evelyn McDonald Camblin, granddaughter of Melissa Evelin e Rhea Hall.

MELISSA EVELINE RHEA - A TRIBUTE TO MY GRANDMOTHER by Evelyn McDonald Camblin.

Melissa Eveline was born in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, 25 Nov 1832, the daughter of Jesse Rhea a nd Catherine Bruce. Very soon after her birth, the Rhea family, Robert, William, John, Meliss a and their parents moved to New Lebanon in Cooper County, Missouri. In 1836, Lucretia Jane ( called Jancy) and in 1836, Jesse Jr., were added to the Rhea family.

Melissa, being a devout Baptist, made her first "Profession of Religion" at "Old Bethlehem Ba ptist Church" at age 16. She was very interested in medicine and planned very early in life t o be a nurse. The only way for Melissa to obtain this dream was to become an apprentice in th e home of a local physician, which she did. She was kind and considerate to everyone. Very so on she became a favorite of every one of the Doctor's patients.

One morning, during the Civil War, she was busy getting the Doctor's home office ready for th e day when she saw some Confederate soldiers "snooping" around the grounds. She hurriedly hi d the Doctor in the upstairs closet and seemed busy when the soldiers opened the door. They w ent through the house and "jabbed" their bayonets in all the boxes in sight and then ordere d Melissa to cook their breakfast. Petrified with fright she obeyed their command. They at e a hearty breakfast and after finishing their breakfast, they thanked Melissa and gave he r a Confederate $10 bill with this admonition--"This bill isn't worth anything now, but it ma y be later." This accomplished, they left the house and Melissa never saw them again. Littl e did she know that her grandchildren would enjoy showing the bill in their school rooms.

The Rheas were "Tobacconists" and farmers in Missouri. Melissa told many tales of how the bro thers would chase her with tobacco worms. She loved her family very much. One day during harv est she was helping prepare the food and the boys were out in the yard playing "Shinny," whic h is much like our present game of golf, only they use a long branch from a tree with a shor t piece on the end, cut to make a club and they try to hit a can as far as they can, over th e heads of the players on the other team. Melissa was asked to go out and call the men to din ner and as she approached the game, one of the boys drew back to strike the can and raked on e of Melissa's eyes out of her head. For the rest of her life, she could see only out of on e eye. This was a terrible tragedy, but Melissa didn't let it get her down. She continued t o work with the medical profession.

Jesse Jr. made a pledge to Melissa that he would always care for her until his death.

Jesse went, with several companions, to the "Gold Rush." They drove in a covered wagon to Cal ifornia and on the way back he became very ill and died out on the plains of Kansas. They ha d to bury him by the side of the road at the base of a large oak tree. They brought two brace lets of pure gold which he, Jesse, had wanted Melissa to have.

Before Jesse Jr. left on the trip to California, he and a group of friends decided to consul t a fortune teller. She said to them, "You chased a rabbit in a thicket on your way over here , didn't you?" They said, "Yes," and the fortune teller looked at Jesse and said, "You will g o on this journey but you won't come back." On the way home the group laughed and "pooh-poohe d" her prediction. Seems she was right.

Melissa continued her medical work until June 1867 when she married a fine young man from Vir ginia. George W. Hall had just been mustered out of the Confederate Army at Boonville, Missou ri, and by chance met Melissa. He was a very find Christian gentlemen, being a member of th e Baptist faith. Melissa said, "He was the most handsome man" she had ever met. He wore whit e pants, a tall silk hat and a quilted satin vest. A frock-tailed coat completed his ensemble . George, in turn, said Melissa had "the most beautiful skin he had ever seen. She also was g racious and lovely."

The Halls moved to Smithton, Missouri, which is in Pettis County. Melissa continued to practi ce her favorite work in helping sick people. Before a regular doctor came to Smithton, Meliss a delivered many babies. "Mrs. Hall" was the first named called when anyone was ill or neede d help in delivering a baby.

Melissa conceived and delivered five children, of which Caroline Virginia was my mother. Henr y was her oldest, then came Rebecca Jane, Stacie, Jessie Lee, and Caroline.

Melissa was an ardent church worker, as was her husband. George W. Hall was superintendent o f the Baptist Sunday School in Smithton for many years.

When Melissa died all her children and her husband were at her bedside. It was an emotional s cene as Melissa greeted all her relatives who had died, as her life ebbed away. A fine Christ ian woman had gone to her rest after ministering to many people while she lived.

Jessie Lee Hall died at 16 from the wrong medicine a druggist had prepared. The story is tol d that the druggist was drunk and mixed the wrong medicine. All the other children lived to m aturity and raised families.

I feel it is my loss that I did not know Melissa Rhea Hall. I know she was a fine person beca use everyone praised her.

I am named for Melissa Eveline, although my parents Angelicized it and I am Evelyn instead o f Eveline. {END}

[NI0539] He is said to have died on the return trip from the California gold fields where he went wit h two of his brothers and some uncles and cousins. He is said to be buried along the trail so mewhere in what is now Kansas.

He is shown on the 1850 census for Cooper County, Missouri, District No. 23, Dwelling/Famil y 1037 with his parents and siblings, as follows:
Jesse Rea (looks like Red), age 48, blacksmith, RE Val $500, born Kentucky; Mary, age 45, bor n Kentucky; Melissa, age 18, born Kentucky; Jane, age 14, born Kentucky attended school; JESS E, age 12, born Missouri, attended school; Van Buren Smith, age 10, born Missouri, attended s chool; Mary S. Smith, age 8, born Missouri, attended school; James H., age 6, born Missouri . (James H. has a ditto after his name indicating his surname as Smith; however, he was a Ray .) Van Buren and Mary S. are the children of Jesse's second wife, Mary Jane Foster Smith, wid ow of John Smith.

Burial: Kansas Territory

[NI0540] Notes for JAMES HENRY RAY:

From Jesse Rhea's old ledger book which Carrie Ray Phillips had in her possession comes the f ollowing, written by Carrie when her beloved "Papa" died: "James Henry Ray was borned in Coop er County in the year of 41. He would have been 73 yrs. old Dec. 22. James Henry Ray died Thu rsday, Dec. 17, 1914, was buried at Providence Church. Preacher Joe Dewitte preached the fune ral. The songs were Jesus, Lover of My Soul and Rock of Ages and Think of the Home Over There ."

Carrie told her grandchildren many wonderful stories about her "Papa" and his adventures. H e must have had a wandering foot as his first child was born in Texas, after which time the f amily came back to Missouri where the next seven children were born in various counties. Some time between 1889 and 1891, the family again went to Texas where their last son was born an d on 5 March 1893, Annie Belcher Ray died at the birth of her stillborn daughter, Anna May Ra y. Carrie remembered many events of their journey back to Missouri after the death of her mot her. Researcher has been attempting to collect some of those stories from various cousins bef ore they are lost forever.

James Henry Ray was a musician and it is said he never went anywhere without his fiddle. Th e only known picture of him is with a group of people in Beaman, Missouri in about 1912. Sur e enough, he has his fiddle with him. One of Zetta Ray Thompson's daughters told researcher t hat her grandfather died at their home near Knob Noster. (Here, I must say that all of the Ra y family were and are very superstitious, and believed in signs, omens, etc.) The granddaught er said that on the night James Henry died, the strings went down on his fiddle. (Meaning tha t the fiddle was totally out of tune.)

He is the only brother in his family to spell the name RAY instead of RHEA.

He is shown on the 1850 census for District No. 23, Cooper County, Missouri, Dwelling/Famil y 1037, as follows:
Jesse Rea (looks like Red on census), age 48, blacksmith, Re Val $500, born Kentucky; Mary, a ge 45, born Kentucky; Melissa Ray, age 18, born Kentucky; Jane, age 14, born Kentucky, attend ed school; Jesse, age 12, born Missouri, attended school; Van Buren Smith, age 10, born Misso uri, attended school; Mary S. Smith, age 8, born Missouri, attended school; JAMES H. REA (sho wn as Smith on census record), age 6, born Missouri.

He is shown on the 1860 census for Lebanon Twp., Cooper County, Missouri, P.O. Fair Point, Fa mily 359, as follows:
Jesse Ray, age 55, farmer, RE Val $960, PP Val $400, born North Carolina; Mary Ray, age 55, b orn Virginia; M. E. Ray, age 26, born Kentucky; J. H. RAY, age 18, born Missouri.

On the 1900 census for Bowling Green Twp., Pettis County, Missouri, Page 16A, SD7, ED94, Shee t 13, Dwelling/Family 43, he is found as follows: JAMES H. RAY, born Dec 1840, age 59, widowe r, born Missouri, parents born Ireland (his grandparents were, not his parents), farming a re nted farm; Carrie C. Ray, daughter, born May 1879, age 21, single, born Missouri, parents bor n Missouri; Maudie M. Ray, daughter, born July 1874, age 15, single, born Missouri, parents b orn Missouri, attended school 5 months; Hattie L. Ray, daughter, born Mar 1876, age 13, atten ded school 5 months, born Missouri, parents born Missouri; Zettie L. Ray, daughter, born Jul y 1889, age 10, attended school 5 months, born Missouri, parents born Missouri; Joseph S. Ray , son, born June 1891, age 8, born Missouri, parents born Missouri, did not attend school.

He is buried at Providence Cemetery, Pettis County, Missouri, near his daughter Lucy and he r son Leslie Erwin.

The following are items from newspapers at the time of James Henry Ray's death:

From: WARRENSBURG (MO) WEEKLY STANDARD-HERALD, Friday, Dec. 11, 1914, Page 1, Knob Noster not es: Uncle Jimmy Ray is quite sick at the home of his daughter, Mrs. C. W. Thompson, north o f this city.

From: WARRENSBURG (MO) WEEKLY STANDARD-HERALD, Friday, Dec. 25, 1914, Knob Noster notes: Uncl e Jimmy Ray, aged about seventy years died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. C. W. Thompson , after an illness of several weeks, Thursday, December 18, six miles north of this city. Th e remains were taken to Cliffton for burial.

From: KNOB NOSTER (MO) GEM, Dec. 24, 1914, Thursday, Page 1, Column 1, JAMES HENRY RAY BURIE D NEAR SMITHTON FRIDAY--James Henry Ray, 74 years old, died at the home of his daughter, las t Thursday morning of heart disease. He was buried at 3 o'clock Friday afternoon from Provide nce Church a few miles north of Smithton. Those who attended the funeral from here were Mr. a nd Mrs. C. W. Thompson, Mrs. Null of Hutchinson, Kan., and Mrs. Maud McGrath of Kansas City.

More About JAMES HENRY RAY:

Burial: December 1914, Providence Cemetery, Pettis County, Missouri

[NI0541] Notes for JOHN H. GOODE:

His name was supplied by Harlan Bruce, son of John Benjamin Bruce, in an oral history given h is nieces when in his 90s. The information was passed on to researcher by Jean McCracken of N orth Bend, Washington. Harlan Bruce stated that John Goode was a minister and an athlete. Ref erence has been found to John Goode's ministry in some marriage records of Morgan County, Mis souri. He is shown to have been a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

John H. Goode is shown as one of the buyers at the estate sale of Tabitha Lampton, his wife' s grandmother, in 1837 in Cooper County, Missouri.

John is shown in Jesse Rhea's ledger for his blacksmith shop in Cooper County, Missouri. A re ference is shown in October of 1849 in which Jesse bought a plank from John Goode for sixty-f ive cents. No further reference is made to John Goode in the ledger, although John's son Henr y is shown as late as 1882.

John and Elizabeth's marriage is shown in Christian County, Kentucky.

The 1840 census for Cooper County, Missouri, District No. 4, shows JNO. GOODE, apparently liv ing next door to his father-in-law, with two sons under five, one son 5-10, himself, age 30-4 0, one daughter, age 5-10, and his wife, age 20-30.

It appears that John Goode went to California with some of his wife's family.

A notation in a newspaper makes a reference to John Goode having a store in California. His w ife and children are shown on the 1850 census for District No. 23, Cooper County, Missouri. H e probably was deceased by the time of the census, or at least by 25 February 1851 when his w ife sold a piece of property,
with dower title, in Cooper County, Missouri, recorded in Book V, Pages 35-36. It is believe d he died in California, but there is no positive proof at this time.

[NI0542] Notes for WILLIAM M. SCOTT:

Little is known about William M. Scott. He has not been located on any census records. His ma rriage to Elizabeth Bruce Goode was recorded in Putnam County, Missouri. His great-grandson , Raymond Scott of Fort Worth, Texas, says that his grandfather stated that William died in 1 862 when Houston Oliver Scott was only 7 years of age. He apparently died in Iowa, although n othing has been located to definitely establish the time or place.

There is a deed in Putnam County, Missouri, in 1856, signed by William M. Scott and Elizabet h Scott.

This is the only definitive information we have about this man.

[NI0543] Notes for JOHN REDFORD (OR REDMON) GOODE:

His name was supplied by Harlan Bruce, son of John Benjamin Bruce, in an oral history given t o his nieces when in his 90s. Harlan Bruce stated that Redford got mixed up with the James bo ys and was killed.

The 1840 census for Cooper County, Missouri, District No. 4, shows JNO. GOODE, apparently liv ing next door to his father-in-law, with two sons under five, one son 5-10, himself, age 30-4 0, one daughter, age 5-10, and his wife, age 20-30.

He is on the 1850 census for District #23, Cooper County, Missouri, Page 148A, Line 18, Dwell ing No. 1103, as follows: Elizabeth Goode, age 38, born Kentucky; REDMAN GOODE, age 16, bor n Missouri; Henry Goode, age 14, born Missouri; Benjamin Goode, age 12, born Missouri; Thoma s Goode, age 5, born Missouri; Nancy E. Goode, age 3, born Missouri.


An E-mail from Donna Rose of the James-Younger Gang group states as follows, per my request t o their organization: "Thank you for your interest in our James-Younger Gang website. I am so rry to say I can't find any mention of Redmon/Redford Goode in any of my books. I even looke d in books that list members of the Civil War guerrillas that the James brothers and Younge r brothers rode with. The best I could do were a J. R. Goode and a William Goode. Both were C onfederate soldiers from Missouri. I will keep your information on file and if I come up wit h anything, I will contact you. Good luck with your research. If you come up with any more cl ues, send them and I'll have another look. /s/ Donna James-Younger Gang" (end)

Information has been located on him as a rather notorious guerrilla leader in southeast Misso uri after deserting the Confederate Army.

He is shown on the 1860 census for Marion Twp., Newton County, Missouri, Page 86, Dwelling 57 1/Familes No. 573/574, with his father-in-law's family, as follows:
Middleton Harmon, age 63, farmer, PP Val $2645, born Virginia; Juliet Harmon, age 56, born Vi rginia; Catherine Harmon, age 19, born Missouri; John Harmon, age 17, born Missouri, attende d school; Virginia Harmon, age 14, born Missouri, attended school. (574 on same Dwelling) Joh n R. Good, age 26, farmer, born Missouri; Madaline Good, age 23, born Virginia; John Good, ag e 2, born Missouri; Wm. Newell, age 21, farm laborer, born Pennsylvania.

From: JASPER COUNTY, MISSOURI, IN THE CIVIL WAR, compiled by Ward L. Schrantz, 1923, Page 188 , Guerrilla Warfare--Price's Raid:

In early July Major Burch at Neosho reported that there had been a force of 100 guerrillas op erating in Jasper and Newton counties but that he had been hard after them and believed he ha d driven them away. They were commanded by Lieut. J. R. Goode and "the notorious Stecker." Bu rch mentions having killed a Kansas guerrilla named Conrad during these operations.

Page 193, Guerrilla Warfare--Price's Raid:

On August 2 the guerrilla, Lieut. Goode, mentiond heretofore as operating in Jasper and Newto n counties, was killed on Diamond Grove Prairie. Papers found on Goode at his death showed th at he had been an officer of the Eleventh Missouri Infantry in the confederate army. He had b een given a thirty-day furlough in January, 1864 and seems never to have returned to the arm y but instead remained in this region, setting himself up as an independent guerrilla chief . Major Burch's report of his death follows:

"I have the honor to inform you of the death of the notorious guerrilla chief, Lieutenant Goo de. He was killed on the second by Captain Ozias Ruark, Company L, Eighth Cavalry, Missouri S tate Militia.

"I started my forage train on the first with twenty mounted men under command of Lieutenant H unter, Company H, Eighth Cavalry, and twenty men on foot under command of Captain Ruark, on t he Diamond Grove prairie after forage in Goode's range.

"When the train was loaded it proceeded with twenty mounted men, Lieut. Hunter in command, fo r this post (Neosho), leaving the infantry concealed in the brush unknown to any person. Th e latter maneuvered around in the vicinity of a spring known as a favorite resort of Goode an d his band and concealed themselves.

"They had not remained long in ambush before Goode and two others came along. They mistruste d danger at hand and one remarked, 'There is some one in the thicket,' but the words were har dly spoken till the sharp report of a revolver was heard, and Goode rolled from his horse dea d. The ball penetrated the left side of his lower lip and range upward.

"You will find enclosed herein the papers found on the person of Lieutenant Goode with the li st of names of the desperadoes under his command. The individuals whose names you will find o n the list are citizens of this county and whose families are here yet."

The names given on the list of members of Goode's band were as follows: J. R. Goode, Calowa y Johnson, J. W. Scaggs, T. H. Hawkins, T. V. Parnell, E. M. Martin, James Ramsey, W. F. Ray , John Harmon, Taylor Buskirk, Hiram Mayfield and Monroe Hewitt. On the same paper containin g the names, Captain Ruark had written that most of the men named resided in the southern par t of Jasper and the northern part of Newton counties. (end)

More About JOHN REDFORD (OR REDMON) GOODE:

Military: Was lieutenant in Confederate Army. Deserted to become guerilla in Jasper County, M O

[NI0544] His name was supplied by Harlan Bruce, son of John Benjamin Bruce, in an oral history provide d to his nieces when in his 90s. Harlan stated that Henry Goode was an upstanding citizen an d was County Commissioner at one time.

The 1840 census for Cooper County, Missouri, District No. 4, shows JNO. GOODE, apparently liv ing next door to his father-in-law, with two sons under five, one son 5-10, himself, age 30-4 0, one daughter, age 5-10, and his wife, age 20-30.

He is shown on the 1850 census for District No. 23, Cooper County, Missouri, Page 148A, Lin e 18, Dwelling/Family 1103, as follows:
Elizabeth Goode, age 38, born Kentucky; Redman Goode, age 16, born Missouri; HENRY GOODE, ag e 14, born Missouri; Benjamin Goode, age 12, born Missouri; Thomas Goode, age 5, born Missour i; Nancy E. Goode, age 3, born Missouri.
Henry's father, John H. Goode, is not shown with the family. It is believed he was deceased b y the time of the census or was away in California. He apparently died sometime between Octob er of 1849 when an entry is shown in his brother-in-law Jesse Rhea's blacksmith shop ledger i n which Jesse bought a plank from John Goode for 65 cents, and February, 1851, when Elizabet h sold a piece of property, with dower title, to William Rickman, recorded in Book V, Pages 3 5-36.

Several entries in Jesse Rhea's ledger contain the name of Henry Goode. He was apparently th e only son who stayed in Cooper County when his mother went to Putnam County in 1852.

The 1860 census for Lebanon Twp., Cooper County, Missouri, P.O. Fair Point, Page 53, Dwelling /Family 360, shows Henry as follows: H. W. GOODE, age 24, farmer, RE Val $125, born Missouri ; Emily Goode, age 16, born Missouri.

The 1880 census for Rose Hill Twp., Johnson County, Missouri, Page 6, SD6, ED96, Dwelling/Fam ily 7, shows the Henry Goode family as follows:
HENRY GOODE, age 43, married, house carpenter, cannot read or write, born Missouri, father bo rn Kentucky, mother born Kentucky; Mary Goode, wife, age 39, keeping house, born Missouri, fa ther born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky; Sarah Goode, age 19, daughter, single, born Missour i, father born Missouri, mother born Kentucky; Minor Goode, son, age 12, works on farm, atten ded school, born Missouri; Marya Goode, daughter, age 9, attended school, born Missouri; Will iam Goode, son, age 7, attended school, born Missouri; Neal Goode, son, age 5, born Missouri ; Nanna Goode, daughter, age 2, born Missouri.
Shown as living either in the same home or on the same farm is the following family: John Ami ck, age 56, farmer, born Indiana, father born North Carolina, mother born North Carolina; Mar y A. Amick, wife, age 51, born Missouri, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky; Nancy Am ick, daughter, age 26, suffered from Spin M.G. (Spinal Meningitis?), born Missouri, father bo rn Indiana, mother born Kentucky; George B. Amick, son, age 24, born Missouri; Louisa J. Amic k, daughter, age 22, born Missouri; Adelaid Amick, daughter, age 20, born Missouri; Eller Ami ck, daughter, age 18, born Missouri; Millie S. Amick, daughter, age 15, born Missouri; Molli e A. Amick, daughter, age 12, born Missouri; and Joseph Steel, son-in-law, widowed, age 27, w orks on farm, born Missouri, father born Missouri, mother born Missouri. It is unknown whethe r this family was related to the Henry Goode family.

On the 1900 census for Cooper County, Missouri, Lebanon Twp., Henry is shown with his wife an d two of his children, living on the next farm from his son Neal. The record is on Page 139 B and 140A, Dwelling 81/Family 85, SD7, ED52, Sheet No. 5. He is shown as age 64, married 3 1 years, and farming on his mortgaged farm. This time he is said to be able to read and write .

His marriage to Emily Louise Colbert, his first wife and mother of his first two daughters, i s recorded in Morgan County, Missouri in Book 1833-61, Page 310, and small red book at Page 9 2. They were married by H. P. Cathey, J.P.

His birth and death dates were taken from his headstone in New Lebanon Cemetery near Ottervil le, Cooper County, Missouri.

His marriage to Mary L. Lewis is recorded in Book C, Page 337, records of Cooper County, Miss ouri. The marriage was performed by John Thompson, J.P.

Granddaughters of Henry Goode state that he was married a third time to a widow, Mrs. Liza (o r Lisa) Shirley. Record has not yet been found for this marriage.

More About HENRY WOODSON GOODE:

Burial: September 1909, New Lebanon Cem., Cooper County, Missouri

[NI0545] Notes for BENJAMIN E. GOODE:

His name was supplied by Harlan Bruce, son of John Benjamin Bruce, in an oral history given t o his nieces when in his 90s. Harlan stated that Benjamin got into trouble with the law and w as sent to Wisconsin or Michigan as a member of a prison tree cutting gang, probably the equi valent of a "chain gang."

Benjamin Goode is found on the 1840 census for Cooper County, Missouri, with his parents an d brothers, as a son under age 5. He is shown in 1850 in Cooper Co., District No. 23, Page 14 8A, Line 18, Dwelling/Family No. 1103, with his mother and siblings, as follows:
Elizabeth Goode, age 38, born Kentucky; Redman Goode, age 16, born Missouri; Henry Goode, ag e 14, born Missouri; BENJAMIN GOODE, age 12, born Missouri; Thomas Goode, age 5, born Missour i; Nancy E. goode, age 3, born Missouri.

He is found on the 1860 census for Putnam Co., Missouri, Medicine Twp., P.O. Newtown, Page 17 8, Dwelling 1232/Family 1102, as follows:
BENJ. E. GOODE, age 21, laborer, RE Val $300, PP Val $1200, born Missouri, cannot read or wri te; Mary Goode, age 18, born Missouri; Granville Goode, age 5/12, born Missouri; Thomas Goode , age 15, farm laborer, born Missouri. (Thomas and Benjamin are brothers.)

In 1855, in Putnam County, Benjamin had been charged with attempted murder, and his uncle, He nry Owsley, who lived on the next farm, was charged as an accessory. The charge reads as foll ows:
State of Missouri, Putnam County--To the Sheriff of Putnam County Greeting: Whereas Benjamin e E. Goode and Henry Owsley was brought before the undersigned Justice of the Peace charged w ith having on or about the 26th day of November AD 1855 at the County of Putnam Benjamine E . Goode shot with intent to kill James M. Clay of said County & Henry Owsley charged with bei ng accessory to the same crime and after examination had in the form of law touching the sai d charges and accusations, it is adjudged that the said offense has been committed and that t here is probable cause to believe the said Benjamine E. Goode and Henry Owsley to be guilty t hereof and whereas the said Benjamine E. Goode and Henry Owsley has not offered sufficient ba il for their appearance to answer said charge, you are therefore commanded forthwith to tak e the body of said Benjamine E. Goode and Henry Owsley and them convey to the jail of said Co unty, if none in said county to the nearest jail in the adjoining county the keeper whereof i s hereby commanded and required to detain said Benjamine E. Goode and Henry Owsley in custod y in said jail until they shall be thence discharged according to law.

Given under our hands and seals this 13th day of December AD 1855.

Isaac F. Busby, J.P.

William P. Shanklin, J.P.

The following was also found:
State of Missouri, County of Putnam--The State of Missouri to S. H. McAlister, John Beard, Wm . Beard, Clara Beard & Barnett Bruce, W. P. Shanklin, I. F. Busby--Greeting: You are hereby c ommanded, that all excuses and delays set aside, you be and personally appear in our Putnam C ircuit Court, on the 3rd day of the next term thereof, to be holden at the courthouse in Unio nville, in said county, it being the 20th day of October, 1858, then and there to testify, an d the truth to speak, in a certain matter of controversy, pending in said court, wherein Henr y Owsley is Plaintiff, and James M. Clay is Defendant, on the part of the Plaintiff.

Hereof fail not at your peril; and the officer or person executing this Writ is commanded t o have the same at the time and place aforesaid, with his certificate endorsed hereon: In tes timony whereof I, Daniel N. Thatcher, clerk of said Putnam Circuit Court, have hereunto set m y hand, and affixed the seal of said court, at my office in Unionville, this 11th day of Octo ber, 1858.

Signed, D. N. Thatcher by W. A. Shelton, deputy.

This was a suit of defamation of character. Henry Owsley lost the case and had to pay costs . In 1861 Henry moved his family to Washington Territory.

Three more court cases have been found against Benjamine Goode. One is for buying deer skin s from a slave without the permission of the slave owner. This was taken all the way to the s tate Supreme Court where it was finally dismissed.

The other two cases are for stealing a wagon and later a horse. Those documents are too lon g for transcription here, but are filed with this family's records.

The marriage record for Benjamine Goode and Mary Susan Mildred Smith (daughter of Mary Jane F oster Smith, who married Jesse Rhea, Benjamin's uncle) is found in Book C, Page 186 of the re cords of Cooper County, Missouri. They were married by Minor Neal, Minister of the Gospel, a t the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in New Lebanon, Missouri, near Otterville.

Benjamin, his wife, nor his son Granville, have not been located on further census records. I n the 1860s in Cooper County, the brothers and sisters of Mary wished to sell inherited land , and stated in their petition that they were unable to locate Benjamin and Mary and believe d them not to be in the state.

He is shown as a security for the marriage of his sister to Vincent Stufflebean in Davis Coun ty, Iowa.

[NI0547] MURDER AND LYNCH LAW (Brief abstract here. See newspaper account.)

Thomas Goode and George McIntosh murdered an old gentleman named Mapes by beating him to deat h and then taking his body to the woods and hanging it from a tree. Mapes' wife Louisa was th e instigator of the murder and was said to have tied the old man's hands while the men beat h im. Also arrested was a young man named Thomas Bennett. Mapes' children told authorities wh o had murdered their father. The four were arrested and tried by a Justice's Court and eleve n armed guards were assigned to transport the prisoners to Boonville to the jail. The party s topped north of Otterville to spend the night. At that time about sixty men made their way t o the house where the prisoners were being held. They all wore masks. They seized Goode and M cIntosh and left. The next morning the two bodies were found hanging from the same tree to wh ich they had hung the old man. Louisa Mapes and Thomas Bennett were taken on to Boonville t o jail.

[NI0557] Sources:

(1) Date of birth is estimated from her marriage bond, dated 21 Dec 1838, which includes affi rmation by her father Louden Bruce, that "Elizabeth is over 21." This suggests 1817 as her po ssible year of birth; however, she may have been born in 1819 if information on page 460 of t he 1860 Census for Albemarle County, VA, is correct. Thus 1818 seems a reasonable compromis e date. Her place of birth is thought to have been in that part of Orange County, which in 1 838 became Greene County.

(2) Albemarle County, VA, Marriages 1780-1853 by Vogt and Kethley, page 99 recorded Betsy's d ate of marriage. Witnesses for her marriage were Ira Garrett and Anselina (Shiflett) Bruce , t he second wife of Louden Bruce, Sr. Some records show her as Salina or Ancelina Shiflett . Betsy's father had married Salina Shiflett on 30 Apr 1837, about 20 months before his daugh ter' s marriage. Louden Bruce, Jr., brother of Betsy Bruce, married Anselina Wood, and thes e two ladies and this father and son are confused in many records. However, we are reasonabl y sure that we now have it correct.

(3) See also Norford "Marriages of Albemarle County and Charlottesville, VA", page 47, for c onfirmation of the date of this marriage. The same date, 21 December 1838, was given, and he r name, Elizabeth Bruce, and that of her spouse, Lewis Dunn, were also found on Automated Ar c hives, CD-ROM #004 (1994).

(4) While in the Albemarle County Courthouse in August 1996, we found the actual, original Ma rriage Bond for Elizabeth Bruce and Lewis Dunn. It is quoted it in full because the variation s in the spelling of individual names are interesting:

"Know all men by these presents, that we, Lewis Dunn and Louden Bruce are held and firmly bou nd unto David Campbell, Governor or Chief Magistrate of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and hi s successors in office, in the just and full sum of one hundred and fifty dollars, current mo ney, to which payment well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves jointly and severally, fir mly by these presents. Sealed with our seals, and dated this 21st day of December 1838."

"The condition of the above obligation is such, that, whereas there is a marriage shortly int ended to be held and solemnized between the above bound Lewis Dunn and Elizabeth Bruce of Alb emarle County. Now if there be no lawful cause to obstruct said Marriage, then the above obli gation to be void, or else to remain in full force and virtue.

"Witness: Ira Garrett, Lewis Dunn, Louden Bruce, 21 Dec 1838 aff. made before me by Louden Br uce as to the age of Elizabeth Bruce. Signed: Ira Garrett, CC (Clerk of Court)"

Then the following was written by hand and signed as will be noted:

"Mr. Irie garrett Clerk of the County Court of Albemarle please isure licens to Lewis Dunn a s I have given him my assent to marry my daughter Elizabeth. Loudoun B. Bruce Dec. 20, 1838"

"Signed: Louden Bruce, Anselina Bruce." The minister was Benjamin Creel.

(5) Their marriage was recorded in Albemarle County, Virginia Marriage Register, 1806-1868, o n page 74 as 21 Dec 1838.

Note: The following narrative is by Preston H. Leake, a descendant of this branch:

(6) According to my mother, Lydia Cox Leake, Betsy's husband, Lewis Dunn died in August 185 0 , just 12 years after their marriage, and almost 40 years before his wife's death. He was a bout 30 years of age when he died, and their youngest child, Sarah Mildred, was just 18 month s old. They had three older children. Their two sons, Leroy E. Dunn died 9 Jul 1862 after bei ng wounded at the Battle of Malvern Hill east of Richmond, VA, and Henry Marshall Dunn, die d 24 August 1862, about one month after being wounded during the Battle of Gaines Mill durin g the Civil War. Thus, Betsy (Bruce) Dunn was left with two daughters, Lucy and Sarah Mildre d Dunn, who became my grandmother.

Elizabeth Bruce Dunn was called "Betsy". She became quite a community asset and an independe nt lady. My mother wrote extensively about Betsy Dunn, and I have those notes for inclusion a t a later time. For now I will note that Betsy acquired 100 acres of land and a cabin; the n later she bought another 12 acres. She personally plowed, planted and harvested crops fro m this land, helped neighbors who were sick and, of course, cared for her own two daughters.

Additionally, I should add that Betsy made the gray and blue checked quilt, or bed spread tha t my mother gave me. It was said that Betsy raised and sheared the sheep, cleaned, spun an d dyed the wool, and then wove the quilt in two parts, which were subsequently joined togethe r.

It is also possible that she owned the old rope bed which I inherited from my mother. The 18 50 Census for Greene County, VA, lists Loudon Bruce, father of Betsy (my mother's great grand father), as a "carpenter", and he may have been the person who made this bed. A person knowle dgeable in furniture of that period thought the bed was made around 1800-1840. Thus, Louden B ruce, Sr. is a significant candidate for the one who may have made this bed.

Alternatively, the bed could have been made by Horace Cox, my mother's grandfather. I think t his is less likely, even though he is said to have made other furniture, including, probabl y , the chest of drawers we now have.

Horace Cox may have made these two pieces of furniture, the bed and the chest about 1850, o r earlier, but since Lewis Dunn died about 40 years before his wife, and since both his son s died during the Civil War, it is more likely that these two pieces of furniture were fro m t he home of Betsy Bruce Dunn, whose declining years were spent with my grandmother, Sara h Mildred Dunn Cox. Accordingly, I think it is more likely that the furniture maker was eithe r, Lewis Dunn, who was born before 1817, or Louden Bruce, who was born about 1782.

Finally, I am reasonably sure that Elizabeth Burce Dunn and her husband, Lewis Dunn, were bur ied near their home, which continued to serve as a residence in August 2001. It was located i n Albemarle County, VA, on Davis Shop Road, Route 671, about 3/4 mile from its intersection w ith Route 664. The house is large, probably 10 rooms, had white weather board, with a fron t porch. At one end was one brick chimney and on the other two brick chimneys. In the yar d was a somewhat older looking building, made of logs and later covered with vertical board s . This building had a very large rock chimney base and a smaller upper portion. Two othe r buildings were also located nearby. One, to the right and beyond the house, was a large tw o story barn, and the other, said to have been a store and/post office was near Route 671. L ocal people said another building had been blown away many years ago, but they did not know t he relative size or function of this structure.

Letters written in 1861, now in my possession, confirm that a great wind storm went through t he area during that time.

Records found by Sylvia Jones, church historian, at Longwood Baptist Church (now Chestnut Gr o ve), Earlysville, VA, indicate that Elizabeth Dunn was baptized, or transferred her members hip to Union Church (also called "Chestnut Grove" and "Longwood"), in Nov 1857. (Her parent s were married by Rev. George Bingham in Bingham Methodist Church located on the Lynch Rive r near Nortonsville, and she may have been a member there before joining this church.). Churc h records also note that Elizaabeth Dunn died in June 1890.

In 1833 John Early gave land for "Earlysville Union Church" where all religions could meet. T he Baptist shared the church with the Methodists and the Presbyterians. The Baptist called t hemselves members of "Chestnut Grove Baptist Church" because of the chestnut trees on the pro perty. According to Sylvia, "In 1879 Chestnut Grove moved to the present (2001) location an d carried the name with them. The area where Chestnut Grove Baptist Church is now located wa s in earlier days the "Longwood" area, and the Longwood Post Office was in the house whic h i s now the Longwood Farm. Many older people used both names and referred to the church a s either Longwood Church or Chestnut Grove Church."

Three of Betsy's children were baptised and became members of this church: Leroy F. Dun n o n 9 Nov 1859, Lucy F. Dunn in Nov 1862, and S. M. Dunn in August 1864.

Here are quotes from the minutes Chestnut Grove Church records during 1861-1862:

April 1861 - Within two weeks of Virginia's secession, Brother Twyman said that, "In as mu c h as a Volunteer Company was being raised in Earlysville and included members of our churc h , he moved that we resolve to offer daily supplication to Almight God for their protectio n and that those who are members of this church may not forget their duty to themselves and t o God while in service to their country." This was carried on a motion of Brother Fray.

1862 - Church records noted that "nearly half of the men of the church were serving in the A rmy. A five-day-long revival was held which resulted in several conversions, including thre e soldiers who had been wounded and were home on furlough."

[NI0558] Both Richard Bruce and his wife, Mary Alice, are buried in Maplewood Cemetery, near Gordonsv ille, VA. Birth and death dates are from their tombstones.

[NI0564] Was called "Barney" because of his resemblance to his grandfather, Barnet Bruce.

[NI0569] Amanda S. Hansbrough's maiden name was apparently "Farrar". In the 1873 Marriage Record fo r Virginia, she was listed as a "widow", 49 years of age, from Prince William County, VA. Pre viously she was married to a Mr. Hansbrough. Her parents were listed as "Elijah and Margare t Farrar".

Date of marriage is from Norford, page 16, from Automated Archives, CD-ROM #4, Albemarle Coun ty, and from the Albemarle County Register of Marriages for 1873.

No children have been found as a result of this marriage.

[NI0580] Preston H. Leake, a descendant of this line, prepared the following narrative:

Date of marriage (21 Dec 1838) of Lewis Dunn and Elizabeth Bruce is from Albemarle County, Vi rginia, Marriages, 1780-1853 by Vogt and Kethley, page 99. The minister was Benjamin Creel a nd the bondsman was Louden Bruce (He was Elizabeth's father.), who affirmed that Elizabeth wa s over 21. Witnesses were Anselina Bruce (Relation not stated, but she may have been the seco nd wife of Louden Bruce, Sr., father of the bride, or Anselina may have been the first wife o f Louden Bruce, Jr., the bride's brother.) and Ira Garrett, who was Clerk of Court.

The next official record found which mentioned "Lewis Dunn" was in Greene County Deed Boo k 2 , pages 96-97, dated 7 Mar 1840. Mildred (Estes) Bruce, his mother-in-law had died, he r property, 97 acres, had been sold for $585.58 and a division of the estate among the heir s was recorded. The following persons were mentioned: William and Mildred (Bruce) Estes, Luc y Bruce , Sally Bruce, LEWIS DUNN and his wife Elizabeth (Bruce) Dunn, and, finally, Brightbe rry Bruce.

The third official record found for this gentleman was his purchase of 102 acres of land on
1 March 1844 as recorded in Albemarle County Deed Book 41, pages 390-391. The land was purch ased from "James Goins and Rebecca, his wife, for four hundred and eight dollars, current mon ey." It was located on the waters of Buck Mountain Creek and bounded by properties which wer e at that time owned by Edmond Davis, Caleb Norris, Thomas Marshall, and Henry Mallory, eac h of whom was named in the above noted deed.

Notes found in my mother's Bible indicate that Lewis Dunn died about 18 months after his four th and youngest child, Sarah Mildred Dunn, my grandmother, was born in Feb 1849. Some of my m other's notes appear to name this gentleman as Ira Dunn, but the 1850 Census for Albemarle Co unty, VA, lists him as "Henry Dunn"; accordingly, one might use both given names in this file , thus designating him as, "Henry Lewis Dunn or Lewis Henry Dunn." He was under 30 years ol d when he died. Additional details are recorded below.

The 1850 Census, page 190, for Fredericksville Parish, Albemarle County, VA, includes the fol lowing, "Henry Dunn, age 27, Male (Farmer, value of property $500); Elizabeth Dunn, age 26; L eroy Dunn, age 10; Henry Dunn, age 8, Lucy Dunn, age 6; and Mildred Dunn, age 4." The famil y was in dwelling No. 485 which indicated the order of visitation by the census taker. All o f the above names fit what we know about this family, except "Henry Dunn," age 27. It is fro m this Census that I have recorded here the name for him as: "Henry Lewis Dunn."

The 1860 Census, page 460, for Fredericksville Parish, Albemarle County, VA, includes the fol lowing, "Elizabeth Dunn, age 41; L. E. Dunn, age 19 (farm laborer); H. M. Dunn, age 17; L . F . Dunn, age 13; and S. M. Dunn, age 11. All persons were designated as "born in Virginia. "

From these two reports, one can see that: (1) Henry Dunn (my mother called him "Lewis", whic h was probably his other given name) was born about 1823 and had died before the 1860 Censu s , (2) Elizabeth, his wife, was born about 1819 to 1824 (Based on the date of marriage show n above, the earlier birth date seems more reasonable, especially since her father affirmed t hat she was more than 21 years of age.) (3) Leroy E. Dunn was born 1840 or 1841, (4) Henry Ma rshall Dunn was born 1842 or 1843; Lucy F. was born 1844 or 1847, and Sarah Mildred Dunn wa s born 1846 or 1849. In fact I know that Sarah was born 18 Feb 1849. For the purposes of the se records, I will use the dates from the 1860 Census.

Lewis Dunn is thought to have died from cholera or typhoid fever and to have been buried in t he yard near the location of the house built in 1875 by his daughter, Sarah Mildred (Dunn) C o x and her husband Elijah Cox.

In 1997, the home, built in 1875, was still being used as a residence. It was located in Albe marle County, VA., on Route 671, also called "Davis Shop Road," about one mile from its inter section with Route 664. Route 671 forms a "T" with Route 664.

[NI0582] Family information for Charles Bruce, Jr. is from "Bruce Historical Paper #2" by Michael v. S tambach-Bruce.

[NI0588] Family information for Harding Bruce is from "Bruce Historical Paper #2" by Michael v. Stamba ch-Bruce.

[NI0591] The following narrative was prepared by Preston H. Leake. Leroy Edward Dunn was his granduncl e.

After my mother's death in 1987, my wife, Ann Kelly Leake, found a bundle of sixty letters, m ost of which were written by and written to Leroy E. Dunn. Ten letters were written by his y ounger brother, Henry Marshall Dunn; two letters to his brother and eight to his mother. N o letters written to Marshall were found. All of these letters had been at our home, in an o ld trun k with some blankets and quilts. To my great surprise, twenty-three of those letter s were written to Leroy and somehow were returned to his mother, apparently after his death.

Ann wanted to go to the house, where I was born, and where my mother lived for 72 years, to l ook for treasures which she felt would be there. Ann found a number of things, but this bundl e of letters was to me the most significant of her "treasures." The collection is truly a tr easure which reflects life of two Confederate soldiers and something of what life was like fo r the family and friends of these men. I am very grateful to Ann for taking the time to driv e the 200 mile round trip to Charlottesville and to go through what had looked to me to be pi les of trash. I was the executor of my mother's estate, but, at that time I had neither the i nclination, nor the time to "look for treasures," but I am most pleased that Ann did.

The letters were written mostly from the Richmond, VA, area during 1861-1862 while these youn g men were serving in the Confederate States Army. Copies were given to the Virginia Histori cal Society in 1994, and I have retained the originals, all of which have been transcribed . The full text will be placed with appropriate persons or organizations.

I personally transcribed all of the letters, notes, poems and hymns. By July 1998, I was wel l on the way to making a book of this collection. At that time it consisted of 240 pages, bu t may double that size when copies of each original letter is added to the book.

During December 1994, I had found a number of religious tracts which were signed by "Lero y E . Dunn," "Henry Marshall Dunn," and "Sarah Mildred Dunn." Some were dated "April 1860" . This additional information removed any doubt I may have had about the names of the member s of this Dunn family. Church records supplied by Sylvia Jones, Historian for Chestnut Grov e Baptist Church in Earlysville, VA, show that Leroy e. Dunn was baptised on 9 Oct 1861 and b ecame a member of this church. see notes under his mother's name for further details.

Leroy E. Dunn died as a result of chest wounds received during the last of the Seven Days Bat tles east of Richmond, VA. According to a publication "57th Virginia Company by Charles W. Su blett, page 57, he "enlisted 22 June 1861 in Charlottesville in Company "H" Corp. Present thr u Dec 1861; on detail thru Apr 1862, present Jun 1862. Died July 9, 1862 of chest wounds rece ived at Malvern Hill," which was located in the eastern part of Henrico County, about one mil e from the James River. The area is well marked by the National Park Service.

It thus appears that Leroy was wounded on July 1, 1862, when the Battle of Malvern Hill was f ought, but lived another eight days. Accordingly, he was in Richmond at the time of his deat h and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, as I learned in November 1999, while at the Museum o f the Confederacy. Their Library staff provided a copy of a page from a hand written log of , "Daily Burials at Oakwood Cemetery. That was an amazing find and confirms notes I made duri ng a conversation with my mother about 1982. During late June and early July 1862 many, (abou t 35, 000) Confederate and Union soldiers were killed or wounded while the "Seven Days Battle s" wer e being fought east of Richmond, and I know that many were buried on the battle fields . Others were buried in mass graves in the Hollywood and Oakwood Cemeteries.

I now know that Leroy's death actually occured in Chimbarozo Hospital No. 1, Richmond, VA, ac cording to records found while in the National Archives, Washington, DC, on 9 Feb 1995.

Those records stated that, Leroy E. Dunn was enlisted as a private in Charlottesville, VA, o n 22 July 1861 by Capt. Magruder for one year in Co. H, 57th Virginia Infantry. On 31 Augus t 1861, Leroy was "last paid by Capt. Hardy, and then paid next by Capt. W. B. Smith on Dec 3 1, 1861. The same card shows that, Leroy was "Absent in Sufolk, VA, pro-verbal order, Col . L . A. Armistead. On detached service since Feb 20, 1862; promoted to Corporal from a priva te by Regt. Order No. 31 dated Feb. 17, 1862. Pay due him as a private for 1 mo. & 16 days. " His service record dated June 30, 1862 says, "Pay due him as Corp. to May 8, 1862". Next, t hese records show that Leroy was, "Wounded in the chest in the Battle of Malvern Hill (or Cre w s Farm), Va. July 1, 1862." He was "Admitted to Chimbarozo Hospital No. 1 on July 4 and die d July 9, 1862."

There is another card which shows that Leroy was born in Albemarle County, VA, and died in Ri chmond, VA. It also shows that his mother, Elizabeth Dunn filed a claim on Feb 24, 1863, Cert ificate 8572, and that the amount found due her was $25.46. Other records indicate that thi s was only for back pay. Reference is made on these cards to, "Confed. Archives, Chap 6, Fil e No. 78, page 116", and to "Series 1, Vol. 11, part 2, page 853. The "Reference Card" say s , "See Manuscript No. 1906.

A document, prepared when he enlisted on 22 July 1861, recorded the following:

"Leroy E. Dunn, rank: private, age: 21, eyes: grey, hair: black, height: 5 feet 11 inches, bo rn: Albemarle Co., Virginia, occupation: farmer."

In one of these pieces of correspondence, reference was made to Edward Dunn, and in the conte xt of the writing, I am almost sure the reference was to Leroy E. Dunn. If I am correct hi s middle name was Edward, and I have used that herein.

After death, Leroy was placed in the soil of Oakwood Cemetery, Richmond, VA. As a young ma n , after his father's death in 1850, Leroy had worked in the soil of Albemarle County, VA , t o help cultivate food for his mother, a younger brother, and their two younger sisters . Now he has become part of that earth east of downtown Richmond, VA, about one mile from Ch imborazo Hill. Now that I know the location of his burial, it has become hallowed ground, an d hi s spirit lives on in my mind. I honor his sacrifice and cherish these recollections.

PHL



Leroy E. Dunn died as a result of chest wounds received during the last of the Seven Days Bat tles which took place in late June through Jul 1, 1862, east of Richmond, VA. According to th e publication "57th Virginia Company" by Charles W. Sublett, page 57, Leroy "enlisted Jun 22 , 1861 in Charlottesville, VA in Company H. Present thru Dec 1861; on detail thru Apr 1862, p resent Jun 1862. Died Jul 9, 1862 of chest wounds received at Malvern Hill", located in the e astern part of Henrico County, VA.

(from the notes of Preston Leake)

[NI0602] The following narrative was prepared by Preston H. Leake. Henry Marshall Dunn was his grandu ncle.

After my mother's death in 1987, a bundle of letters written by Henry Marshall Dunn and his b rother, Leroy E. Dunn , were found, tied with a ribbon in an old trunk. The letters by thes e young men were written mostly from the Richmond, VA, area during 1861-1862, while they wer e serving in the Confederate States Army. Copies were given to the Virginia Historical Societ y i n 1994, and I have retained the originals for use in preparing transcriptions. Full text s of those transcriptions will be placed with the appropriate persons or organizations.

By July 1998, I had almost completed a book titled, "Life is very unsertain and death is shur e." The title of the book is a quote from letter #17, written by Leroy, and the book include s extensive material to place the letters in the context of what was going on during the tim e each letter was written.

During December 1994, I found, among my mother's files a number of old religious tracts tha t were signed by, "Leroy E. Dunn," "Henry Marshall Dunn," and "Sarah Mildred Dunn." Some wer e dated "April 1860". This additional information removes any doubt we may have had previous ly about the names of these members of this Dunn family.

Henry Marshall Dunn was a confererate soldier who had "died of the fever" according to storie s I had heard while growing up in our home where my grandparents had lived. It is well know n that, of the more than 600,000 Union and Confederate soldiers who died during the Civil Wa r , about two thirds of whom died of typhoid, measles, pneumonia, infections, intestional inf ections and other non-violent causes. Marshall, as his relatives called him, died of typhoi d fever, according to his Compiled Military Records.

On Nov 8, 1994, I found a book titled "56th Virginia Infantry" by William A. Young and Patric ia C. Young. It was published in 1990 by H. E. Howard. On page 139 reference was made to "H enry M. Dunn, Company H; wounded in action at Gaines Mill (east of Richmond, VA, on 27 Jun e 1 862). Admitted to Chimborazo Hospital (also in Richmond, VA) on 28 July 1862 with remitte nt fever; died 16 Aug or 24 Aug 1862 of typhoid fever. Death claim filed by his mother, Eliza beth Dunn on 25 Feb 1864."

All of this was confirmed during a visit to the National Archives in Washington, DC, on
9 Feb 1995. I learned further that Marshall had been at Chimborazo Hospital No. 3 in Richmon d, VA, and that is where records say he died on 16 or 24 August 1962. Both dates of death ar e shown in his records, which also confirm the cause of death was "typhoid fever". In thes e documents reference was made to Confederate Archives, Chapter 6, File No. 105, page 22, a n d to Chapter 10, File No. 8, page 62.

These records also show that "Elizabeth Dunn, mother, on 25 February 1864" filed "Claims of D eceased Officers and Soldiers from Virginia which were filed for settlement in the Office o f the Confederate States Auditor for the War Department." No detailed record of her claim wa s located, and I never learned whether any compensation was provided during that turbulent ti me of the war or later during other difficult times of the reconstruction.

The book by the Youngs, cited above, gives a full account of the movements of the 56th Virgin ia. Men in Company "H" came primarily from Albemarle County and were called the "White Hall G uards;" Their enlistment began 15 July 1861 under John Michie. The White Hall Guards were acc epted into Confederate Army service 29 July 1861 and reorganized 3 May 1862. Captains were Jo hn Augustus Michie, James C. Wyant and Henry Clay Michie.

Reference is made on page 37 to the presence of the 56th Virginia in early May 1862 at Chaffi n's Bluff. I have a letter written on 8 June 1862 by Marshall Dunn from that location to hi s mother, Elizabeth Dunn.

The family story is that he was buried in the Confederate Cemetery in Richmond, and I confirm ed in November 1999, while at the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, VA, that he was buri ed in Oakwood Cemetery. Library staff provided a copy of a page from a hand written log title d, "Daily Burials at Oakwood Cemetery, Richmond, VA."

I also know that about 20,000 Confederate soldiers were buried in unmarked graves at Hollywoo d Cemetery and a similar number at Oakwood Cemetery nearer Chimborazo Hospital where he die d . It was a major find for me to learn the general area within Oakwood Cemetery where Marsha l l was buried! I found no marked graves, but that hand written log brought closure for me.

I know that during late June and early July 1862 many Confederate and Union soldiers were kil led while the "Seven Days Battles" were being fought east of Richmond, and I know that many w ere buried on the battle fields where they died. Others were buried in mass graves in the tw o cemeteries noted above. So now I know that the family stories are correct, and I know whi c h "Confederate Cemetery" became the final resting place for Marshall. That knowledge help s bring closure for me for this young man whose life was sacrificed.

Many of Marshall's experiences are recorded in the ten letters he wrote during the relative l y short time he served before his death. Those letters were preserved for more thatn 135 ye ar s and have now been transcribed for the purpose of making them part of a book which is bei ng prepared. His letters are numbered: 35, 39, 42, 43, 45, 47, 48, 52, 54 and 58. Added t o those ten letters will be about 50 other letters, and some fragments of letters, written b y a total of 20 persons during the period from 1851 to 1862. What a treasure!

[NI0604] This persons first name could be spelled "Silvah".

[NI0606] This persons first name could be spelled "Silas".

[NI0613] Sources and narrative: (Supplied by Preston H. Leake)

(1) My mother was the source of the main portions of these comments. Sarah Mildred Dunn wa s the last of four children, two boys and two girls, born to Henry Lewis Dunn and El izabet h (Betsy) L. (Bruce) Dunn. Her father died when she was about one year old, and her two broth ers were mortally wounded in 1862 during the Civil War, when she was 12 or 13 years of age.

(2) Church records supplied by Sylvia Jones, Historian for Chestnut Grove Baptist in Earlysvi lle, VA, show that Sarah M. Dunn was baptised there during Aug 1864 and became a member of th is church. See notes under her mother's name for further details.

Following that war Betsy Dunn and her two daughters, Lucy and Sarah Mildred, stayed on the fa mily farm of 112 acres and scratched a living from the soil of northwestern Albemarle Count y , VA. After Sarah's marriage, she and her husband bought Lucy's share in their mother's est ate, built a new house on the property, and continued to live there.

(3) I have a copy of the Marriage License for Sarah M. Dunn and Elijah D. Cox, who were "auth orized to join together in the Holy State of Matrimony, according to the rites and ceremonie s of your church, or religious denomination, and the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia . " It was dated 12th day of February 1872 and signed by H. B. Burney, Clerk of the Court, Al bemarle County, VA.

The marriage took place, according to the above noted License, on 15 February 1872 in "the re sidence of Mrs. Elizabeth Dunn, the bride's mother." The license further recorded that the g room, Elijah Decatur Cox, was 24 years of age, single, white, a farmer, born in Albemarle, th e son of Horace and Elizabeth Cox.

The bride was 23 years of age, single, white, born in Albemarle, the daughter of Lewis and E l izabeth Dunn. "The minister celebrating the marriage was Roy Temple."

(4) More from my mother: Shortly after their marriage on 15 Feb 1872, this couple lived on pr operty owned by a Dr. Birckhead, whose residence was on what was called in 1996, Pritchett Ro ad. This road intersects with Proffit Road, about one mile east of Route 29. Elijah worked a bout one year for Dr. Birckhead, who provided housing and paid Elijah $100 per year and, my m other said, some pork meat. Later Elijah and Sarah moved back to Shafter and in 1873 purchase d 51 acres of land from Sarah's sister, Lucy, and her husband, James L. Kidd; see Albemarl e C ounty Deed Book 68, page 304, dated 11 Nov 1873. The Deed included a life-time tenure b y Sarah's mother. The other 51 acres were given to Sarah and her husband on 2 Aug 1886 by S arah' s mother, Betsy Bruce Dunn, with the requirement that the property not be sold during B etsy's life time; see Albemarle County Deed Book 87, pages 3-4.

In 1875, Sarah and Elijah built a ten room house with four chimneys on this property. The hou se was still standing on 16 June 1999, was well preserved and was occupied. Shortly, they ope ned a country store and ran the Shafter Post Office located on this property. I understand th at they ran the Post Office only when the U.S. President was a Republican. In about 1890 or 1 891, after Betsy Bruce Dunn's death, this property was turned over to their oldest daughte r , Mary Elizabeth (Cox) Davis and her family. However, actual transfer was not completed un til 16 Jan 1928, as recorded in Albemarle County Deed Book 214, pages 97-100.

The remainder of the family moved to Proffit, VA, near the railroad. Elijah moved in 1890 an d Sarah, Lillian and Lydia followed him in 1891. Elijah built a house for his family in 189 1 and another country store at about the same time. Then in 1915, he had another home buil t . It may have been designed by Robert Henry Leake, my father's uncle, but it was construct ed by Mr. Robert Wood. Again, the Cox family also ran the post office at Proffit when the R epublicans were in office. I have the original certificate, dated 1 October 1891, showing th e appointment of Sarah M. Cox as "Post Master at Proffit, Albemarle County, Virginia," and an other similar document dated 13 May 1897. See details below.

About 1902 Elijah Cox, Sarah's husband, developed what we know today as Parkinson's Diseas e , but was called at that time, "Creeping Paralysis". He was unable to move about, but conti nued to help guide operations of the family businesses.

Sarah Mildred became primarily responsible for the physical operations of the family stor e a t Proffit, VA, for 20 years or more, because her husband's disability. She also ran the P ost Office when the Republicans were in office. At that time such positions were by politica l appointment. I have the original of the document, 17 by 22 inches, dated 1 October 1891 sh owing the appointment of Sarah M. Cox "Postmaster at Proffit in the County of Albemarle, Stat e of Virginia." It said further, "Now know ye, That confiding in the integrity, ability and p unctuality of the said Sarah M. Cox, I do commission her Postmaster"... etc. It was signed b y John Wanamaker, Postmaster General of the United States. the second certificate dated 13 M ay 1897 had similar comments. I have heard many stories which confirm that Grandma Cox, in w hatever position she found herself, was known for her attention to detail and for being hones t and fair with all persons.

As noted above, the postmaster (or mistress) had to declare themselves to be of the same nati onal party as the president in office at the time. Benjamin Harrison, Republican, was in offi ce from 1889 to 1893, and was followed by a Democrat, Grover Cleveland (1893-1897). He in tu rn was followed by a series of Republicans who were: William McKinley (1897-1901); Theodore R oosevelt (1901-1905), and William Taft (1909-1913). The next president was Woodrow Wilson (19 13-1921), a Democrat. From this I have concluded that Grandma Cox was post mistress from 189 1 to 1893, and then from 1897 to 1913. She may have gotten the job again when William Hardin g was president (1921-1923) and even when Calvin Coolidge had the office (1923-1925). Howeve r, I am unsure of the last dates since Grandma died in December 1925, and I know that she wa s not well during her last year of life.

Sarah Mildred (Dunn) Cox died before I was born, but I heard much about her as I was growin g up in the same house she and her husband had chosen to have built about 1915. One of thos e stories had its origin during the Civil War.

Henry Lewis Dunn, her father, had died about 1850, before the Civil War started. Also, Sarah ' s brother, Leroy, enlisted for service in the CSA in June 1861 in the 57th Virginia Infant ry . He died of wounds received at Malvern Hill in July 1862. There was another brother named , H enry Marshall Dunn, who enlisted in the 56th Virginia Infantry. Marshall was wounded a t Gaines Mill in July 27, 1862 and died of complications of the wounds and of typhoid fever i n August 1862, while at the Chimbarazo Hospital East of Richmond, VA. Thus, in 1862 my grea t grandmother, Betsy Bruce Dunn, and her two daughters, Lucy and Sarah Mildred, aged 13, wer e the only ones left at home when Sheridan's troops may have come raiding into the area wher e they lived, near Nortonsville, VA. Alternatively, Union soldiers, under General Custer, mo st likely came to the home of Elizabeth Bruce Dunn and her daughters in Feb 1864. See the re ference below:

(5) The Magazine of Albemarle County History, Civil War Issue, Vol. 22, pages 31-33 (1963-196 4). A Charlottesville correspondent who signed his dispatches under the pen name, "Monticell o" sent several news items of an engagement. The relevant ones were dated March 1 & 2, 186 4 and designated, "The Raid Upon Charlottesville." The news item was called, "Special corres pondence of the Republican." It is quoted in part below from page 31 of Vol. 22. We know th at Custer's raid took place on 29 Feb 1864 at Rio Hills, north of Charlottesville.

On March 1, "Monticello" reported that, "The enemy took off from Col. J. J. Bowcock all of hi s slaves, but three women, and all of his meat and corn. They also carried off slaves of Mrs . Susan Michie and Mr. Wilhoit, on whose farm they camped last night; they also took six slav es of A. J. Farish, and all of his horses. They took as prisoners, William Smith, overseer o f Dr. Michie, and Frank Austin, one of the artillery men who was at home; they called him ou t of the house, and took him off. The slaves of Dr. Rogers and Col. R. G. Crank were also st olen. It is reported that the enemy burnt a public house at Longwood belonging to Mr. Eddin s . The rail fencing around the farms of Col. Bowcock's at Earlysville and vicinity were bur ned by the ruthless invaders."

Then on March 2, "Monticello," the correspondent, also named James Burnley, Dr. Cooke, Micha e l and William Catterton as losing stock provisions, etc."

(6) Sylvia Jones, Church Historian for Chestnut Grove Church, connected some of these peopl e to modern times. For examples, the home of Andrew J. Farish is now called, "Rutledge Plac e ." It is located on Earlysville Road. The first wife of Andrew Farish was Patsy Crank, da ughter of George Crank. Col. Richard G. Crank was the son of George Crank. He was also th e brother of Patsy (Crank) Farish, Elizabeth (Crank) Twyman, and Sarah (Crank) Michie. Col . John J. Bowcock lived at what was the corner of Earlysville Road and Dickerson Road befor e it was changed when the Albemarle County Airport was built, and finally, Dr. Rogers lived o n Buck Mountain Road.

(7) Susan DeAlba, "Country Roads of Albemarle County, Virginia, Self Guided Tours, page 4 9 . "About two miles from the turn, in a wooded area on the left, Custer and his men stoppe d at Woodlawn, the Twyman family home. The house cannot be seen from the road. George Twyma n built his home in 1750, and his descendants inhabited Oaklawn until 1965. During their visi t, Custer's men kicked in the doors of handmade cupboards in a desperate search for food. Th e Yankees moved on, the war ended and the Twymans were left with nothing but their house wit h its empty cupboards."

(8) In my book, "Life is Very Unsertain and Death is Shure," page 175 is Letter # 58, dated J une 8, 1862. It was written by Sarah's brother, Henry Marshall Dunn to their mother and say s in part,
"I hear that they was siezing horses up there to go to Winchester to hold what Jackson take n from the Yanyees. I want you to write me word whether they taken ary one from you or no t . I hear they have taken one from a Mrs. Dunn, but didn't know whether it was you or Aun t Betsy. I think it will be a hard case if they take me and Leroy away and then go back an d get what is left behind."

In the same book, page 177, Letter #60 was written by Elizabeth Bruce to her son Leroy on Ju ne 9, 1862. Here is just one paragraph from that letter:
"It is a very distressing time up here; they say the Yankeys is got over the mountains and te aring peoples things to pieces. They say they went to old Mr. Longs last week and even tor e his bed to pieces. I saw Mr. cypes (?) yeaterday; he said he expected they had all his thi ngs in possession; that he had been away frome for a week, but he was going to the top of th e mountain and turn his horses out in an old field and take out through the woods where ther e is no road, nor path, and try to get home last night."

(9) Going back to what I heard from my mother, The family story is that the Union soldiers to ok all the meat from the smoke house and then burned it to the ground. They killed all the pi gs, taking only some of the dead hogs with them, and as they were leaving, rounded up the cat tle and horses and drove them away as well. The cattle were probably slaughtered and eaten l ater. I recognize that over the years details of this story may have become exaggerated, bu t I also know from the emotional tone of what I heard from my mother, that it was a very trau matic experience for my grandmother, Sarah Mildred Dunn Cox, her sister, Lucy and their mothe r, Betsy Bruce Dunn.

I heard this story many times from my mother and wondered how frightened those two teenaged g irls must have been to see Union soldiers come to their home and and strip it of many thing s they needed to live. I also wondered how the family survived after the loss of their food s upplies, cattle and work horses. However, there is one thing I never had to wonder about. I t was this: When my mother told this story, she still carried a degree of rage at what happen ed in 1862, or more likely in early 1864, when General Custer and 1,500 of his cavalry, wit h about 2500 horses, passed through the area on their way to the Battle of Rio Hills on 29 Fe b 1864, or from that battle..

My mother would quite often quote the following poem:

Tis like stirring living embers,
When at eighty one remembers
All the achings and the quakings
Of the times that stir men's souls.

When I talk of Whig and Tory,
When I tell the Rebel story,
To you the words are ashes,
To me they are burning coals.

We know that Custer and his men fought briefly at Rio Hill north of Charlottesville, that h e burned the bridge over the Rivanna River, and burned the mill being operated by Abraham Lou is Hildebrand, my paternal great- grandfather. Then this Union cavalry appeared to have retr aced its tracks through Earlysville and then spent the night in Wilhoit, located a few mile s north of Earlysville. As they moved through the country side they continued to "live off t he land," by stealing food, and horses for themselves, as well as animal feed, from the loc a l inhabitants. He and his men had been on the move since 1:00 AM on the morning of Feb 29 , 1 864. Some 100 slaves and 50 or 60 prisoners, along with 500 stolen horses were also in C uster's retreat. Another source stated that Custer returned with "a wagon load of hams."

I am not sure when the above raid of the Dunn home occurred, but I have offered two occasion s when it could have taken place; however, I do know that during July 1,1862, one of Sarah Mi ldred's brothers, Leroy, was mortally wounded at Malvern Hill, east of Richmond, VA, during t he last of the Seven Days Battles. The other brother, Henry Marshall Dunn died of typhoid fev er, as noted above, after being wounded at the Battle of Gaines Mill on 27 Jun 1862.

Certainly this family knew personally that "war is hell", as the Union General Sherman, is re ported to have said. Many more details of the family's experience during that war may be fou nd in book I completed in 2001. It was titled, "Life is Very Unsertain and Death is Shure" a nd was built around more than sixty letters written by and to Sarah's two brothers, whose nam es were noted above.

My grandmother, Sarah Mildred Dunn Cox, died of pneumonia, according to my mother, at the fam ily home in Proffit, VA, at 6:30 PM. However, Sarah's Certificate of Death gives the cause o f death as "General debility due to old age." It indicates further that she was "76 years , 9 months and 25 days of age; a merchant." Her obituary was published in the Charlottesvill e Daily Progress and included the following:

"MRS. E. D. COX DIES AT PROFFIT - Had Been a Merchant There For 34 Years. Mrs E. D. Cox, fo r thirty-four years a merchant at Proffit, died at 6:30 o'clock last evening, after an illnes s of several months. Mrs. Cox was before marriage, Miss Sarah Mildred Dunn, of Albemarle, an d was seventy-six years of age. Before coming to Proffit she conducted merchantile busines s for twelve years near Nortonsville. Her husband died three years ago.

Mrs.Cox was the last member of her family, two brothers having been killed during the Civi l W ar, while a sister died soon after the war. Two daughters survive -- Mrs. James Davis o f Earlysville and Mrs. Perry H. Leake of Proffit, Virginia.

The interment will be held a 3 o'clock this afternoon at Longwood Cemetery, near her old hom e place, not far from Earlysville." [Longwood Church is also called Chestnut Grove Baptist Ch urch and is located at the intersection of Buck Mountain Road and Simmons Gap Road as noted b elow.]

Both Sarah M. (Dunn) Cox and her husband, Elijah Decator Cox, were buried in the cemetery mai ntained by the Chestnut Grove Baptist Church near Earlysville, VA. The cemetery is located a bove road level on the left, just before one gets to the church after passing old Broadus Woo d High School, now used as a Junior High or Elementary School. The church sits in a fork in t he road, between Routes 663 and 664. The cemetery property begins just before and nearer th e left fork, Route 664.

I visited their graves on August 21, 1994 and again in July 1996, and Feb, Aug 1997, and Octo ber 2000. The tombstones were horizontal as intended, and the grass appeared to be mowed regu larly. It was easy to read the inscriptions, which included only their names and dates. T h e graves were located toward the back of the cemetery and to the left, or toward Earlysvill e , as one enters the cemetery.

[NI0614] "Ray" may not be correct for this persons last name.

[NI0615] Family information for Austin Bruce is from "Bruce Historical Paper #2" by Michael v. Stambac h-Bruce.

[NI0624] Initial source: Eugene Powell.

A descendant of this couple, Edward K. Frost, 312 N. Tilden St., Richmond, VA 23221; Tel. (8 0 4) 355-0638 also provided very helpful confirming information.

Edward's uncle, Tom Hicks, remembered hearing that the "B," in William B. Estes, may have sto od for "Braxton."

The 1850 and 1860 Census reports for Orange County recorded that William Estes was 37 and 4 7 years old, respectively. Both reports listed him as a "Farmer," and the 1860 report includ ed: Value of real estate as, $3758, and personal property as $6088. For 1870, after the Civi l War, neither of these values was recorded; however, by 1880, the names of three servants we re added to the Census data. They were: Jack Goodwin, Sam Hunter and Nells Patterson.

On 7 March 1998 Tom Hicks and I (Preston Leake) drove from his home in Richmond to the Madiso n Run area of Orange County. He showed me the location in a cow pasture of the graves of Wil liam Estes, his second wife, Rachel, and others. Since he was not able to walk the several h undred yards to the grave sites, I went alone easliy dodging the cow chips, but a little unne rved by a Jersey bull that came rushing into the area. Fortunately, he did not object to my b eing in HIS pasture.

William's gravestone had been broken and was lying in a jumble on the ground. That of Rache l , his wife, was still erect but tilting; others were flat as originally placed. Photos o f each was taken, and those dates were used in this file. The location of these graves was o n Route 643, Cox Mill Road, about one-half mile south west of its intersection with Route 63 9 , also called Madison Run Road. This burial area is at the top of a hill before the road d escends down toward a stream, which used to be called Mallory's Ford, but was in 1998 calle d Mountain Run.

William Estes built, owned and operated a mill on this stream, and after his death the mill w as acquired by his son-in-law, Benjamin Cox, who had married his daughter, Martha (Mollie ) D . Estes. As will be noted, the road now passing through this area was named, "Cox Mill R oad. "

The four children listed under William Buck Estes and his second wife, Rachel Ann Tatum, ar e apparently her children from a previous marriage and thus would be William Buck Estes' step -children. Her previous married name is unknown, thus these childrens last name is listed a s "Estes" until this is clarified.

[NI0631] Family information for George W. Bruce is from "Bruce Historical Paper #2" by Michael v. Stam bach-Bruce.

[NI0635] The minister for the marriage of Lucy Bruce to Nicholas Bell Estes was Benjamin Creel and th e bondsman was Philip S. Fry.

In a letter written on 3 Apr 1862, Eliza M. Estes said, "Uncle Nick has joined an artillery c ompany and is near Liberty Mills." So it appears that N. B. Estes served the CSA during the C ivil War.

Nicholas and Lucie lived in Albemarle County, VA, near the county line with Greene county.

His date of death, as recorded in Greene County, Virginia Graveyard Survey, Vol. 1, page 4 6 , was 23 April 1874; however, location of the cemetery is in Albemarle County, near the cou nty line. In 1995 the property, located at the end of a road called "Estes Trail," was owne d b y Luis Aszod.

[NI0646] Date and place of marriage are from, "Marriages of Louisa County, Virginia (1815-1861)", com piled by Kiblinger and Abercrombie and published by Central Virginia Newspaper, Inc., Orange , VA., (1989), Page 106. The minister was Willis Huckstep (Baptist), surety was Charles B. Ho pkins and the witness was Polly Uleyate, the bride's mother. The bride's father, Paul Uleyat e, was deceased.

[NI0655] Family information for Willis Wilson Bruce is from "Bruce Historical Paper #2" by Michael v . Stambach-Bruce.

[NI0668] This person's given name was Sarah. Date of her birth was based on the 1850 Census for Oran ge County, Virginia.

Sarah married William Estes on 29 Sept 1842, according to Orange County Virginia Marriages (1 747-1850), by Vogt and Kethley page 150. Iberian Publishing Co., Athens, GA (1990). The minis ter was Benjamin Creel, witness, William Chapman and the bondsman was Robert U. Brooking. T h e marriage bond was dated 26 Sep 1842. This same date and place of marriage for Sarah Bruc e and William Estes was also found in Automated Archives, Inc., CD-ROM #229 (1994).

[NI0669] Source: Beatrice Bruce Hudson.

Notes by F. L. Robinson, Minister, dated 23 Dec 1931, are as follows: "Mr. Paul Bruce, aged a bout 70, died at his home near Campbell of pneumonia on Tuesday Dec 22, 1931; member of Prid d y's Creek Baptist Church. Service at house; buried in family burying ground." This appear s to be near Zion's Cross Road in either Louisa or Fluvanna County.

[NI0680] Source for the Samuel Early Bruce family: Preston Leake's notes.

[NI0691] Notes by F. L. Robinson, Minister, state, "Miss Molly (Mary) Bruce, aged about 86, died of s udden heart failure sometime between Mar 3rd and Mar 5th at her home near Campbell, in whic h she lived by herself. She was found dead on the floor Wednesday, March 5th, 1947 at 9:30 A. M. Member of Methodist Church; Service and Committal both at Zion Cross Roads. Burial by th e undertaker and Pall Bearers only, in the family cemetery near her home. The roads being imp assable, the Minister and congregation did not go to the grave. Assisted by Rev. Dean, Pasto r of Zion Church".

(from Preston Leake's notes)

[NI0710] Notes for JOHN BENJAMIN BRUCE:

The following two letters were sent to researcher by Jean McCracken, 11002 428th Ave. SE, Nor th Bend, WA 98045. They are letters written by John B. Bruce, Jr. to his mother and his siste r on January 9, 1880:

Wakeeny Kansas January 9th 1880

Dear Lilly Bruce: Dear Sister as you have got back among old friends and associates you wil l forget to write me if I do not remind you of it. I was greatly in hopes that all of you cou ld come to see me some time next summer but I now fear I will never experience that pleasure . All are well at present. Your Nephew Edwin Belden Bruce can talk a little can say a good ma ny words quite plainly he is the prettiest child you ever saw he is fat and chubby just lik e some baby pictures you have seen. My wife is the prettiest woman you ever saw but you mus t not let her know that I said so to you for I am going to send you her picture sometime soo n as I can get a chance to have one taken. I may send your nephew's picture too. Give my lov e to all the old neighbors and friends & reserve a portion to yourself and all the family fro m Your Brother J.

Tell everybody and his sweetheart to write to me. I like to get letters away out here on th e American Desert just as well as though I lived in a civilized country.

Your Big Brother Johny

Wakeeney Kansas Jan 9' 1880

J. B. Bruce Esq

Cleopatra, MO

Dear Father Your welcome letter recd in due time was extremely glad to hear from you and hea r that you had a safe journey and arrival. Was also glad to hear that you may make somethin g out of it although Pattent Right Business is a very hard business to manage successfully. E d Madden is the best hand I know of for such business. Guess everything is greatly changed si nce you left Putnam Co--You ought to go and see Huse Ballard he wants to see you. Write me al l the news when you write again. If I had been in your place and wanted to go to Mo I would h ave went down in the south west part of the state. Mr. Roberts has been in Chicago for severa l weeks. He is now in Wisconsin. I do not know what I shall do untill he returns--I may sta y here and I may go to Texas. What are your objections to Texas. This is a more windy countr y than Sedgwick Co. as it is several hundred feet higher and devoid of timber for many miles . But the winters are not unpleasant because they are very dry. All are well hoping to hear f rom you all soon again I am as ever Your Dutiful Son

J. B. Bruce, Jr.

[NI0719] Notes for ALONZO DILLON BRUCE:

He was called "John L." because he looked like John L. Sullivan. He drove a tourist stage coa ch at Yellowstone Park for many years.

[NI0727] Notes for REV. ROBERT K. BASKETT:

He is shown on 1850 census of Dodge/Putnam County as a Baptist clergyman. He evidently ha d a first marriage as Xantippia's obituary states they were married in 1848. In 1850 there ar e two daughters shown: Sarah, age 6 and Mary J., age 4. The name of his first wife is unknown .

He and Xantippia lived in Putnam, Mercer, Adair, and Macon Counties in Missouri and evidentl y a short time in Iowa as one child was born there.

[NI0733] Notes for SONORA ANNA BASKETT:

From: LANCASTER EXCELSIOR, Thursday, December 6, 1923--Mrs. Robert Powers, aged about 65 year s, died at her home in Coatsville Tuesday, Dec. 4, 1923 after a long illness. She had an oper ation performed several months ago, from the effects of which she never recovered. She wa s a sister of Mrs. Sam Mitchell of Lancaster. Funeral services are being held today and buria l will be in the Coatsville Cemetery. An obituary will probably appear next week.

Thursday, December 13, 1923, Page 1--Mrs. Nora Anna Baskett was born June 4, 1857, died Decem ber 4, 1923. She was married to R. F. Powers April 27, 1889.

She united with the Coatsville Baptist Church at the age of 20 and has always lived a Christi an life. She leaves to mourn her departure a loving husband, one brother and three sisters: J . D. Baskett of Lucerne, Mo.; Lissa Sellers of Carlsbad, N. Mex.; Josie Epperson of Ravanna , Mo.; and Mrs. Sam Mitchell of Lancaster, Mo. and a host of friends. The funeral was conduct ed at the home in Coatsville on Thursday, December 6, by Rev. Thurman Andrews and the remain s were laid to rest in the cemetery east of town. May God bless and comfort the sorrowing one s.

CARD OF THANKS

We do hereby return our sincere thanks to the friends and neighbors who so willingly favore d us during the illness and after the death of our wife and sister. Also for the beautiful fl oral offerings.

R. F. Powers, Mrs. S. H. Mitchell, Mrs. S. J. Epperson, Mrs. M. L. Sellers, and J. D. Baskett .

Burial: December 06, 1923, Coatsville Cemetery, Schuyler County, Missouri

[NI0736] Notes for TANDY L. BASKETT:

THE CHILLICOTHE CONSTITUTION, Friday, Nov. 22, 1912--DEATH INVADES BASKETT HOME

Well Known Jeweler Passed to Rest. Called to his reward Friday morning at 1:00 after lingerin g illness.--

Death invaded the Baskett home on West Calhoun street Friday morning and took one of Chillico the's prominent and influential business men--Tan L. Baskett.

Mr. Baskett passed peacefully away at one o'clock surrounded by his wife and son, Clell, an d three sisters, who were called here on account of his serious illness. The funeral will b e held from the home Saturday afternoon at 3:30, Rev. F. P. Davidson conducting the services . Interment will be made in Edgewood Cemetery.

The decedent was a native of Missouri, being born in Adair county, near Kirksville July 25, 1 864. He resided there for many years with his parents and in later years entered the jewelr y business at Gordon, Iowa. He later moved to Unionville, where he engaged in the jewelry bus iness which he continued for eight years, and then moving to Chillicothe eight years ago, whe n he opened a jewelry store on the north side of the square, which has been conducted by th e Basketts since, with the exception of a few months last winter.

Mr. Baskett was married in Lucerne, Mo., Dec. 12,1889 to Miss Nettie Wells. To this union on e child was born, Clell L., who with his mother survives. Four sisters, Mrs. Josephine Eppers on of Ravannah, Mo., Mrs. Nora Powers, Coatsville, Mo., Mrs. Melissa Sellers, Carlsbad, N.M. , and Mrs. Saba Mitchell of Lancaster, Mo. survive, and one brother, James Baskett of Lucerne , Mo.

Mr. Baskett had been failing health for fourteen months. During the summer he was able to b e out in the open air in a buggy, but the the past two months he had been unable to leave hi s home. His condition had been critical for the past two weeks. In the death of Mr. Baskett , Chillicothe loses one of its best business men. He was always to the front on a propositio n which would better the city, whether he was directly benefited or not. He was a man that al ways believed anything that was a benefit to the city was a benefit to him. He will be greatl y missed in business circles.

He was a member of the Baptist church and had lived a good clean life.

Burial: November 23, 1912, Edgewood Cemetery, Livingston County, Missouri

[NI0746] Per Preston Leake's notes, Larry Edward Bruce is buried at Grace Episcopal Church, Cismont , Albemarle County, VA and dates used for birth and death are from his tombstone.

[NI0779] Other information suggested that this gentleman moved to Louisa County, VA. The place of hi s marriage, Louisa County, confirms such a move. See also notes herein for his wife. His dat e of birth was provided by Jeanne Bruce James.

Mrs. Beatrice B. Hudson, 138 Glenwood Road, Hampton, VA 23669-1824, is a great-granddaughte r of Brightberry Bruce, and was the source of information about many of the descendants of Br ightberry Bruce.

[NI0824] Izada's (sometimes spelled "Isaty") name was recorded as Eliza Ann in Greene County, VA Dee d Book 6, Page 139, on May 11, 1872.

Date of Izada's marriage to Berryman Benjamin Bruce was found in the Greene County Magazine , Vol 5, Page 20 (1984-1985). Their source was Greene County, Virginia Marriage Records, 1865 -1870.

The 1900 Rockingham County, VA census states that Berryman and Izata had 12 children in all.

[NI0841] Notes for MARTHA ANN ROUT:

Daughter of James Rout and Eleanor Rout, and widow of Sanford Bruce, son of Eli B. and Nanc y (Rodes) Bruce. (When she married Sanford Bruce, Benjamin Rout is shown as her guardian, ind icating that her father (and perhaps her mother, also) was deceased.

She is shown on the 1860 census for Winchester District No. 2, Clark Co. Kentucky, Page 86, D welling/Family 599, as follows: William Bruce, age 33, hotel keeper, RE Val $2500, PP Val $31 20; born Kentucky; MARTHA A. BRUCE, age 33, born Kentucky; May S. Bruce, age 15, born Kentuck y; James T. Bruce, age 12, born Kentucky; William W. Bruce, age 9, born Kentucky; John Bruce , age 6, born Kentucky; John P. Hukill, age 21, bar keeper born Kentucky; Joseph Loinas, ag e 60, waggoner, born Maine; John Gorden, age 20, clerk, born Kentucky; Alfred Gardner, age 25 , clerk, born Kentucky; Samuel Harrison, age 26, butcher, born Kentucky.

[NI0846] Reseacher and descendant of this line, Donna (Ritz) Medlar, has this gentleman's name as 'Geo rge Richard Bruce'.

[NI0868] Microfilm at Virginia State Library Archives, Death Certificates for Rockingham County, VA ( 1860). This source recorded the cause of death as "worms" when John was 13 years of age.

(from Preston Leake's notes)

[NI0890] Sources:

Sources: (1) Greene County Marriages recorded the minister for the marriage of Lucy Bruce t o Nicholas Bell Estes as Benjamin Creel, and the bondsman was Philip S. Fry.

(2) Her middle name "Lucie," was from her tombstone.

(3) Powell, page 3 recorded the bride's age as 26; however, it appears that she was 22 year s of age.

(4) Lucie's date of death, was recorded in Greene County, Virginia Graveyard Survey, Vol . 1 , page 46, as 4 Dec 1901.

[NI0891] Donna Medlar has William Henry Bruce's death year as 1956.

[NI0902] The 1900 Rockingham County, Va census records this ladies' name as "Mamie B."

According to notes found on the SHIFFLETT Family Web Page, Minnie Bruce was probably marrie d three times. After the death of her first husband, George W. Shifflett, she supposedly marr ied Moses Struther Shifflett on Oct 1, 1908. Moses Struther Shifflett was born Jan 30 1877, d ied Jul 22, 1916, and was the son of Wesley Amos and Jenetta Snow Shifflett.
About 1922, she supposedly marries for the third time to John I. Yeager, a widower who was bo rn in Witchita, Kansas.

[NI0909] Notes for STATIA ANN BERRY:

She is shown on the 1860 census for the Town of Syracuse, Morgan County, Missouri, Page 127 ( 640), Dwelling 895/Family 856, as follows:
Melissa Berry, age 50, Re Val $6000, PP Val $850, born Kentucky; Clifton Berry, age 22, bor n Missouri; Sicia A. (Stacia) Berry, age 20, born Missouri, attended school; Ibzan Berry, ag e 17, born Missouri, attended school; W. Bauker (or Banker), age 25, wagon maker, RE Val $50 , PP Val $150, born New York.

[NI0940] Notes for MALVINA MELISSA GRISSOM/GRISHAM:

Researcher has located her marriage to James Henry Ray in Morgan County, Missouri, 1864. Afte r her divorce from James Henry Ray, she married Thomas Kerns in Pisgah, Cooper Co., Missour i on 30 July 1871. To this union was born a daughter, Mamie, who married Harry Sorg, Sr. Marv in Mistler, grandson of Clara Ray Seat, sent researcher information in 1985. Melissa's marria ge to Thomas Kerns is recorded in Cooper County in Book E, Page 98. They were married by Joh n P. L. Massey, O.B.P.

She is shown on the 1860 census for the Town of Syracuse, Morgan County, Missouri, Page 128 , Dwelling 901/Family 802, as follows: Edmund Grisham, age 59, farmer, RE Val $400, PP Val $7 040, born Kentucky; Amanda Grisham, age 50, born Kentucky; MELISSA GRISHAM, age 13, born Miss ouri, attended school; Marion Grisham,(male), age 11, born Missouri, attended school; Jo Barb er, age 22, born Iowa; James Frazier, age 23, born Tennessee.

She is shown on the 1870 census with her son and daughter in Boonville, Cooper County, Missou ri.

She is shown on the 1880 census for Boonville, Cooper County, Missouri, SD6, ED138, Dwelling/ Family 12, Morgan St., as follows: Thomas Kerrans, age 33, married, works on railroad track , born Missouri, parents birthplace not shown; MELISSA KERRANS, age 32, wife, keeps house, bo rn Missouri, parents born Kentucky; Clara Ray, age 15, stepdaughter, at home, born Kansas, pa rents born Missouri; John Ray, age 12, stepson, at home, born Missouri, parents born Missouri ; Mary A. Kerrans, age 9, daughter, born Missouri, parents born Missouri.

[NI0943] Notes for ANNA MAY (ANNIE) BELCHER:

Very little is known of Anna May Belcher Ray, who was called Annie. This researcher believe s that James Henry Ray married Annie Belcher in Texas, as their first child Lucy was born the re. The family then returned to Missouri where several more children were born before removin g once more to Texas where the last two children were born. Annie died in childbirth and is b uried somewhere in Texas with the child she bore. Her husband brought his family back to Miss ouri to live and they all grew up in Pettis Co., Missouri.

Carrie Ray Phillips told her children and grandchildren that her mother was 1/4 Cherokee Indi an. The only census on which she has been found (1880) states that she was born in Virginia.

More About ANNA MAY (ANNIE) BELCHER:

Burial: 1893, Texas

[NI0956] More About MARY MAUDE RAY:

Burial: November 1954, Crown Hill Cem, Pettis Co., Missouri

Ed McGrath was of the banking family of McGraths in Sedalia, Pettis Co., Missouri. He and Mau de were married only a few days when Maude decided marriage was not for her. It seems she did n't know what kind of shenanigans married folks were involved in, and when she found out, sh e said none of that for her. Ed brought her home and they never lived together again. They we re never divorced, and as far as is known, never spoke again. However, Maude left Ed a legac y in her will, probably because the marriage was still legal, and if she did not name him, h e could have inherited her entire estate.

[NI0963] Notes for BENJAMIN JOSEPH (BEN) RAY:

From ledger book of Jesse Rhea which was in the possession of Carrie Ray Phillips is the foll owing: Ben Joe Ray born June 26, 1891, died May 1, 1936 at Bothwell Hospital, Sedalia, MO. Pr eacher was Dod Thomas.

From the Sedalia Democrat, Sunday, May 3, 1936: BENJAMIN J. RAY--Benjamin J. Ray, 45 years ol d, World War veteran passed away at the Bothwell hospital about midnight Friday night, follow ing a lingering illness. He had been a patient at the hospital for several days.

Surviving him is a daughter, Miss Leta Mae Ray, Houstonia, Mol; and six sisters, Mrs. Clara S eat, Marshall, Mrs. Rowena Null, 512 East Fifth Street, Mrs. Carrie Phillips, Beaman, Mrs. Ma ude McGrath, Chicago, Mrs. Hattie Dillard, 2023 South Grand Avenue, and Mrs. Zetta Thompson , 622 East Fifteenth Street.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 o'clock Monday afternoon at the McLaughlin Funeral Chap el with the Reverend Zeb Thomas, officiating.

Pall bearers will be members of the Pettis County Post American Legion. Burial will be in Cro wn Hill Cemetery. (End)

Ben Ray's military record as received from the Archives Branch, Office of the Adjutant Genera l of Missouri reads as follows: No. 5521, Ray, Ben J., Army Serial No. 3.768.240; white; Resi dence 662 E. 15th St., Sedalia, Missouri; Inducted at Sedalia, Mo. on July 17, 1918; Place o f birth Pettis Co., Mo.; Age or date of birth June 26, 1891. Organizations served in, with da tes of assignments and transfers: 18 Rct Co., Jefferson Bks, Mo to discharge. Grades, with da te of appointment: Private. Engagements --, Wounds or other injuries received in action: None . Served overseas--No. Honorably discharged on demobilization Dec. 16, 1918. In view of occup ation he was, on date of discharge, reported 0% disabled. Remarks: None. (End)

Pettis County, Missouri, Criminal Court Records, Book M Index, Cause No. 15139: Filed 24 Febr uary 1921, Burglary and Larceny, BENJAMIN RAY, Dismissed by Court.

Pettis County, Missouri, Criminal Court Records, Book M, Page 188, 9 June 1921, Cause No. 151 89--State of Missouri v. Benjamin Ray, Burglary and Larceny--Now, at this day comes the Prose cuting Attorney for the State, and also comes the defendant herein, in person, in custody o f the Sheriff of this County, and in the presence of his Attorney and Counsel in open Court , Whereupon said Defendant pleads guilty of the crime of burglary, and being now inquired o f by the Court how he will acquit himself in this behalf says for his plea that he cannot den y being guilty of the crime of burglary in manner and form as charged in the information here in, and pleads guilty thereto, which said plea the State accepts and the Court fixes the puni shment of Defendant at imprisonment in the penitentiary for a period of two (2) years for bur glary and dismisses as to larceny, and being now asked by the Court, if he has any legal caus e to show why judgment should not be pronounced against him according to law and still failin g to show such cause, it is therefore sentenced, ordered and adjudged by the Court that the s aid Defendant Benjamin Ray having entered a plea of guilty as aforesaid, be confined in the P enitentiary of the State of Missouri for the period of two (2) years from the 9th day of June , 1921, and that the Sheriff of this County shall, without delay, remove and safely convey th e said Defendant to the said Penitentiary, there to be kept, confined and treated in the mann er directed by law, and the Warden of said Penitentiary is required to receive and safely kee p him, the said Defendant, in the penitentiary aforesaid until the judgment and sentence of t he Court herein be complied with, or until the said Defendant shall be otherwise discharged b y due course of law. It is further considered, ordered and adjudged by the Court, that the St ate have and recover of said defendant the costs in this suit expended, and that execution is sue therefor.

From: Sedalia Democrat, date unknown: FUGITIVE TAKEN IN CUSTODY AFTER AN EXCITING CHASE--Be n Ray, a Sedalia young man claimed by authorities to be the hardest man in Pettis County to p lace under arrest, was taken in charge Thursday afternoon by Constable A. M. Hampton and depu ty Roy Simmons, after the officers had chased him from the home of his sister in the 600 bloc k of East Fifteenth street to Twenty-third street and Brown avenue. Five shots were fired b y the officers, but none took effect.

Ray is charged with burglarizing the home of R. T. Bruce, near Beaman, Mo., last September an d taking a shot gun, some money and clothing valued at $35. He was arrested at the time by th e constable of Beaman township, but broke away before lodged in jail. Two other warrants wer e issued for him, but officers were never able to locate him.

Thursday afternoon Constable Hampton learned that Ray was at the home of his sister, Mrs. C . W. Thompson, on East Fifteenth street. Taking his deputy he went to the home. Ray was stand ing on the porch and as Hampton approached Ray bolted, ran through the house and west on Fift eenth street. Hampton started after him when he was caught by several women in the home who p leaded with him "not to kill Ray." Pulling away from the women who were holding to his clothe s, Hampton started in pursuit, and soon had the residents of that part of town out watching t he race.

After the fifth shot Ray stopped and threw up his hands. They were badly cut from going ove r barbed wire fences and his clothes were torn.

He was arraigned before Justice of the Peace Kruse Thursday afternoon and his bond fixed at $ 2,500 in default of which he was lodged in the county jail.

(End)

More About BENJAMIN JOSEPH (BEN) RAY:

Burial: May 1936, Crown Hill Cemetery, Pettis County, Missouri

[NI0971] Notes for MARY L. LEWIS:

She is daughter of Joshua and Dicey Lewis.

From: BOONVILLE WEEKLY ADVERTISER, 17 September 1909--Mary Goode, wife of Henry Goode, died a t her home near New Lebanon August 8th. She was 60 years old. She was a member of the Cumberl and Presbyterian Church. She was buried in the New Lebanon Cemetery.

More About MARY L. LEWIS:

Burial: August 1900, New Lebanon Cemetery, Cooper County, Missouri

[NI0979] Notes written by Donna Ritz Garland.
Aunt Reba was alot of fun. She had the best personality! Her favorite saying was "Hells Bel ls". I can still hear her saying that. She loved her beer, gambling and listening to me pla y the guitar. I had better not go to visit her unless I had my guitar with me. Her favorit e song was "Walking the Floor Over You".
Aunt Reba died in Baltimore, but wanted to be buried with her husband in Richmond, Virginia . She is buried in the Riverview Cemetery in Richmond. Towards the end of her life, she ha d lost most of her vision and always wore sunglasses to hide that. She would also wear a bal lcap. She lived with her daugher, Barbara Evelyn, who lived in Ellicott City, Maryland, unti l her death.

I have Aunt Reba's death certificate on file. It states she died of Septicemia ( Renal Failu re I think)

More About REBA BELLE SHIFFLETT:
Cause of Death: Cancer ( CHF)
Cemetery: Riverview Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia
Information from: Dana (Bryant) Carr, 3rd cousin

[NI0981] He never married. His nieces say that Wick did not like to work, but he sure did like to danc e. The nieces say that Neal was the only one of the brothers who worked hard. The others wer e loafers.

[NI0985] Notes for MARY SUSAN MILDRED SMITH:

She was the daughter of Mary Jane Foster Smith, who was the second wife of Jesse Rhea. She i s shown in the household of her stepfather in the 1850 census for Cooper County, Missouri.

She married Benjamin Goode, the son of Jesse Rhea's first wife Catherine Bruce's sister, Eliz abeth Bruce Goode. Her marriage to Benjamin is recorded in Book C, Page 186, Cooper County, M issouri. They were married by Minor Neal, Minister of the Gospel, at the Cumberland Presbyter ian Church in (New) Lebanon, Missouri.

She is shown on the 1860 census for Putnam County, Missouri, Medicine Twp., P.O. Newtown, Pag e 178, Family 1102.

[NI1001] Salina ("Lina") Shifflet was the grand-daughter of Bland Shifflet of Orange County, VA., bor n about 1751.

Dates for the marriage bond, 12 Jan 1837, and the marriage, 30 Apr 1837, are from, "Albemarl e County Marriages, 1780-1853" Vol. 1, page 50. Authors of the book were Vogt and Kethley. Th e minister was Rev. John Gibson, the bondsman, Henry Hall, and the witness was William W. Tom pkins.

Norford shows the same marriage date, but the groom's name is shown as, "Snoden B. Bruce."

Children from this union appear to include those listed in Greene County Deed Book 6, page 13 9, dated 11 May 1872:

(1) Alman Bruce; born about 1837; married Sally.
(2) Larkin Bruce; born about 1838; married P olly Ann.
(3) Goodman L. Bruce; born about 1841; no reference to a wife's name was given [This is the s ame person as (2) since the "L" in this name is thought to stand for "Larkin"].
(4 ) Berryman Bruce; born about 1846; married Eliza Ann.
(5) Fielding Bruce; born 1850; no reference to a wife's name was given.
(6) Rebecca Bruce; born about 1852; no reference to a husband's name was given.
(7) John Bruce; born about 1855; married Henrietta.

It is possible that another child, #8, William S. (L.?) Bruce, is also a member of this famil y , but he was not mentioned in the above Deed.

[NI1006] Information was taken from the 1870 census for Putnam County, MO. Name was difficult to disce rn, could possibly be "Lucana" or "Lucianna".

[NI1025] Don't know if this is the same Ray Campbell that Georgia Nell's sister, Sydney Lee, was marri ed to or not.

[NI1113] Sources:

(1) The 1860 census for Rockingham County, VA, page 419, included the following for househol d 607/594:
"William S. Baugher, age 30, farmer; Evaline, age 24; George Powell, age 23, farm laborer (Th is George Powell is most likely the brother of Sarah Jane Powell, who was the first wife of A lman Bruce, listed next in this household in 1860. PHL); Alman Bruce, age 23, farm laborer; F rances Maiy (?) age 32, seamstress; and Peter McCauley, age 21, farm laborer."

We have not learned why Alman Bruce was in Rockingham County and in this household during tha t period just before the Civil War. We do know that he married Sarah Powell, who was, most l ikely, the sister of the George Powell named above. It was also established that Alman and S arah Jame Powell were married in Rockingham County, VA; see notes under her name.

(2) In 1870, five years after the Civil War, the Census for Albemarle County, Fredericksvill e Parish, HH 1941, enumerated on 12 Sep 1870, and provided to me by Bea Bruce Hudson, includ e d the following: Almon Bruce, age 33, farmer, value of real estate, $1500; value of person a l property, $190; born Virginia. Sarah J., age 32, keeps house (first wife); George W., ag e 5, at home, William H., age 3; Sallie, age 7/12, born Feby (1870); John F., age 19, works o n farm. (I have assumed that John F. Bruce was the youngest brother of Alman Bruce. PHL)

(3) Ten years later, on 22 June 1880, the Census taker came again and reported the followin g on page 110, HH 271/275, for Almond Bruce, farmer; Carolyn, age 30, (second) wife, keeps ho use; George W., age 15, son, farm laborer; William, age 12, son, at school; Cordelia (Sallie ) , age 10, dau., at school; Percival, age 8, son; (no name, age 11/12 (Born about Aug 1879 , but must not have lived.) This census also included as part of this household the following : Mary Powell, age 30, sister-in-law; Lucy Sandridge, age 40, seamstress; and George Cunoway , age 25, black male, farm laborer.

(4) The 1900 Census (Soundex) for Albemarle County, White Hall District, sheet 22, line 51 re corded the following: Almon Bruce, born Jan 1838, age 62; Carolyn, wife, born May 1850, age 5 0; George W. (son by first wife) born 1865, age 35; John L., son, born 1880, age 20 and Rober t, son, born Feb 1881, age 19.

(5) Alman (or Almond, Almon, or Olmon; records have shown each of these four spellings.) Almo n Bruce is said to have moved from the Valley of Virginia to Browns Cove in 1875. He purchase d "Headquarters", Bright (?) Brown's estate in Browns Cove on 18 June 1875, according to Albe marle County, VA, Deed Book 70, page 143 (1875).

"This deed made the 18th day of June in the year 1875 between Wm. Fretwell and Lewis S. Campb ell - Trustees, under a deed of Trust executed to him by Richard A. Noel, Trustee, dated 19 O ctober 1864 and duly recorded in the Clerks Office of Albemarle County Court, of the one par t and ALLMAN BRUCE of the other part. ________? trustees as aforesaid, for and in considerati on of the sum of one thousand five hundred dollars to them in hand paid, the receipt whereo f is hereby acknowledged. They, the said Wm. Fretwell and Lewis S. Campbell, Trustees, as afo resaid, do and each of them doth grant and convey with general warranty of title, unto the sa id Allman Bruce, a certain tract or parcel of land, lying and being in the County of Albemarl e in Brown's Cove, adjoining the lands of Horace Brown and others and is part of the land for merly owned by Thomas H. Brown, dec'd, in his lifetime containing two hundred acres - a pla t whereof is hereunto annexed and made a part of this deed.
On witness whereof, we hereunto set our hands and annex our seals this day and date written a bove."

W. G. Fretwell (seal)
Lewis S. Campbell (seal)

Note: Lewis Campbell was apparently living in Amherst County at the time he attested to thi s deed, since he appeared before the Clerk Of the Amherst County Court to do so.

(6) This is confirmed by an article published in The Charlottesville Virginia Daily Progres s on 13 Oct 1976, written by John Ramsey Blake. (Blake married Juila Bruce, grandaughter o f A lman, through his son, Amos P. Bruce.) Alman was a farmer, and he and twenty to twenty-f ive of of his descendants are buried in a family grave yard at Headquarters near Browns Cove , V A. The farm is located off of State Route 810 on Blackwell Hollow Road, Route 629. In M arch 1999, when we last visited, the property was owned by John Pflug. His family did not ob ject to our visiting the graves. The cemetery is behind and to the right of the house as on e drives into the area. It was located about fifty yards beyond the house, up a slight rise w here 20 to 25 gravestones were found. Among the persons buried there were the following: Tw o o f Alman's sons, George W. Bruce by his first wife, and John L. Bruce by his second wife , as w ell as Bernard Bruce, son of Robert L. Bruce. (See complete list later in this book).

A descendant of Benjamin Brown, Brightberry Brown, is said to have begun work on his homeplac e, which would later be named SHeadquartersT, in 1769. Brightberry Brown was also responsibl e for building of Brown's Pike, a toll road which passed from the mouth of Brown's Cove up ac ross the Blue Ridge and into the valley to the West. The road was used until 1934 when the Sh enandoah National Park was opened to the public and halted traffic across the mountains excep t by federal and/or state highways.

During the Civil War the old house was lived in by one of Benjamin's grandsons, Thomas H. Bro wn. On June 9, 1862, following a battle at Port Republic, SStonewallT Jackson brought his bri lliant Shenandoah Campaign to a close and left the Valley to join Robert E. Lee at Richmond . That night he pressed his army eastward up the slopes of the Blue Ridge and descended via B rown's Pike into Brown's Cove past the home site of Thomas H. Brown. Legend says that Jackso n used the Brown home as a command post to organize his army for their move to Richmond. Sinc e that time the place has been called SHeadquarters.T Thomas H. Brown is said to have turne d his inventive skill to making and fitting artificial limbs for those who lost arms and leg s during the war, letting the amputees live there while they learned to use the artificial li mbs.

NOTE: In a letter dated June 9, 1999, Woodie Brown Parrott (a descendant of the Brown famil y and a resident of Greene County) said the following in regards to the name "Headquarters" g iven to his ancestor's place in Albemarle County:

"....regarding the statement that Capt. Brightberry Brown of Brown's Cove began working on hi s home, "Headquarters," in Brown's Cove, in the year of 1769. However, Brightberry was only s even years-old in 1769, a bit young for building houses. "Headquarters" is so old that nobod y knows for a fact who built it".

Woodie continues, "In the days when the Browns ruled the Cove, the house now called "Headquar ters" was called "Mountain View", and the house now called "Brightberry" was then called "Hea dquarters". So things stood for many, many years. It wasn't until modern times (around the m id-1900's or so) that a real estate company stole the name "Headquarters" from the house no w called "Brightberry". That left the real "Headquarters" with no name, so that's when it wa s named "Brightberry". And so the two old mansions now stand under their respective misnomers ."

Woodie goes on to say, "I would like to know what Alman Bruce called "Headquarters" during th e era of his ownership, if you're ever able to find that information. Alman owned it before t he switch in names, so he certainly didn't call it "Headquarters" either."

Capt. Brightberry Brown did build the original wing of the house now called "Brightberry", ac cording to Woodie's letter.

Thomas H. Brown died in 1872 and the place called SHeadquartersT was acquired by Alman M. B ruce on June 18, 1875, according to Albemarle County, VA. Deed Book 70, Page 143 (1875).

The Alman M. Bruce family owned the "Headquarters" place for about 80 years, until sometim e around 1955.

(7) Lucille Bruce, granddaughter of Alman, said "Headquarters" had 13 or 14 rooms, some wit h beautiful hardwood floors made with wide boards, three stairways, and several fireplaces . She loved the place, and thought the building, about 100 yards away, just across the river , had been "Headquarters" for the Brown family. In 1999, that building was referred to as "B rightberry," which is the given name of one of the Brown boys and also one of the Bruce boys.

(8) Names of some of the children listed herein for this family were recorded in Albemarle Co unty, VA, Deed Book 317, page 467.

[NI1138] Vernon was a Lieutenant in the U. S. Army during World War II. He was employed by the C&O Rai lroad for 44 years.

[NI1145] Notes by Donna Ritz Garland:
Nelson had split up with his wife. He was very depressed about this and killed himself wit h a handgun in a bedroom of his parents home. According to Lynwood Shaw, he put a pillow t o his head to silence the gun and pulled the trigger. Aunt Mamie had tried to wake him sever al times the next morning until she pulled the covers back and saw the blood.

I have an article on file and it states Nelson died of self inflicted wounds and was shot i n the chest.

More About NELSON SHIFFLETT:
Cause of Death: Suicide, shot himself in the bedroom of Uncle Rob's house
Cemetery: Mt. Olivet Cemetery

[NI1191] Place of death was at 804 State Street, Pekin, IL. (confirmed by Michelle Bruce).

[NI1194] Marriage register lists this gentleman's surname as "Shaver".

[NI1199] Reuben Black Garrison and his second wife, Susan Morris, had at least seven (7) children, al l born in Albemarle County, VA.
Reuben is buried in the Prize Hill Cemetery in Albemarle County, and Susan is buried in the P ort Republic Cemetery in Rockingham County, VA.

[NI1203] 1. James Austin Garrison b. 1820 Albemarle Co., VA d. 28 Jul 1874 Albemarle Co., VA married 1 2 Dec 1842 Albemarle Co., VA Sarah Jane Taylor b. Jul 1826 Albemarle Co., VA; d. aft. 1900 Al bemarle Co., daughter of Jonathan and Eliza Ann Taylor.

James Austin Garrison and his wife Sarah Jane Taylor are buried at the top of Brown's Gap, o n land that is now part of Shenandoah National Park, but was once Garrision land. On the 185 0 Albemarle Co. census, Eliza Taylor age 60 is listed in their household. Sarah Jane Taylor G arrison, and her daughter Sarah, were midwives. They delivered many of the babies in the area .

[NI1206] Both George D. Frazier and his wife, Polly A., are buried in the Mission Home Cemetery, Albem arle County, VA.

[NI1213] Information on the Oscar William Bruce line is from Michelle Bruce, (e-mail: unclebuck@bitwi sesystems.com) whose husband is a direct descendant of this line.

Re: BRUCE in Peoria Co., IL
Posted by: Cynthia Brock (ID *****7367) Date: April 11, 2003 at 08:13:48
In Reply to: Re: BRUCE in Peoria Co., IL by Clyde F. Conner, Sr. of 4531

Layton Earl Bruce's first wife was Ella Catherine McCallister.
Ella was born 30 Aug 1873 and died 30 Jun 1938.
Layton Earl Bruce and Ella Catherine McCallister has another son, Oscar William Bruce (born 1 6 Feb 1894, died 25 Oct 1976). Oscar William Bruce married Hennie Florence Morris.

[NI1214] Nathaniel David Sours was buried at MountainTop Christian Church cemetery.

[NI1224] Sources:

(1) Larkin Bruce (and his wife, Pollie Ann) are mentioned repetitively in Greene County Dee d Book 6, page 139, dated 11 May 1872, along with his brothers, John (Henrietta), Alman (Sall ie), and Berryman (Elizaan) Bruce. The first name of each man's wife was in the Deed and is s hown above in parenthesis.

(2) This gentleman may have had the nickname "Turkey", or "Turk" and if he was so called, h e was in the 57th Virginia Infantry, Company H, according to Charles Sublett, authur of a boo k published by Howard. On page 52 of that book was recorded the folowing:
"Bruce, Turkey G. ; enlisted 16 Sept 1861 in Stanardsville in Company H. He never reported. " He may also have been in the 23rd Regiment of the Virginia Cavalry as a private, Compan y N from 20 Jan to 31 Oct 1864. His name appears on the muster roll, dated 5 Dec 1864, for t he period 20 Jan to 31 Oct 1864. After the Civil War, he was a farmer.

(3) The 1870 Greene County Census listed Larkin, Polly Ann, and children, Texas Ann, Jan e B . and Reuben D. Bruce. Larkin supplied the following agricultural information: 15 acre s of improved land; 25 acres of woodland; $100 value of farm, one milch cow; made 50 pound s of butter on the farm for the year 1869; livestock worth $15; six fleeces ( but there was n o reference to sheep); harvested 6 bushels of Irish potatoes; produced $25 worth of orchard p roducts . Total value of farm products was $190 for the year 1869.

(4) See Source (12) in the notes for Larkin's father. That is an Indenture for the sale of in herited property by most of the children of Louden B. Bruce, Sr. to Hastin Shifflet. The pro perty mentioned is thought to have been the place where Larkin and family were living befor e it was sold in 1872.

(5) Larkin was buried in Powell Cemetery, Brown's Cove, Whitehall area of Albemarle County, V A, but his tombstone was not inscribed, according to a book prepared by the Greene County His torical Society and available at the Greene County Courthouse in 1998. Actual location of th e cemetery is near the building which for many years has been called "Headquarters." This bui lding and associated property was purchased by Alman Bruce in 1875 and in 1999 was owne d b y the Pflug family. See notes under Alman Bruce for additional details.

Larkin's grand-daughter, Elizabeth Bruce, was sure that his name was Goodman Larkin Bruce.

Deed showing when the Bruce family sold the property they inherited from their father, Louden , Sr.:

"This indenture made this 11th day of May in the year of our Lord 1872, between John Bruce an d Henrietta, his wife, Alman Bruce and Sallie, his wife, Larkin Bruce and Polly Ann, his wife , and Berryman Bruce and Elizaan, his wife, of the County of Albemarle, and State of Virginia , ________ of the one part, and Hastin Shiflett of the County of Greene and same State, of th e other part, witnesseth, that the said John Bruce and Henrietta, his wife, Alman Bruce and S allie, his wife, Larkin Bruce and Polly Ann, his wife, and Berryman Bruce and Elizaan, his wi fe, for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred and twenty dollars to them in hand, pa id by the said Hastin Shiflett, the receipt whereof, the said parties doth hereby acknowledge , have granted, bargained, sold, and conveyed, and by these presents, doth grant, bargained , sell and convey unto the said Hastin Shiflett, his heirs and assigns, a certain tract or pa rcel of land containing forty acres, be the same, more or less, being in the County of Green e and being the same that fell to the above named parties, and adjoining Hastin Shiflett, th e above named purchaser, Lively Morris, and Jeff Morris, on Rocky Run, to have and to hold, t he said tract or parcel of land, with the appurtenances thereto belonging, to him, the said H astin Shiflett, his heirs and assigns, to the only proper use and behoof of the said Hastin S hiflett, his heirs and assigns forever, and the aforesaid parties for themselves, their heirs , executors and administrators, doth hereby agree to, and covenant with, the said Hastin Shif lett, to ever warrant and defend unto him, his heirs and assigns, the title of said land. I n witness whereof the said John Bruce and Henrietta, his wife, Alman Bruce and Sallie, his wi fe, Larkin Bruce and Polly Ann, his wife, and Berryman Bruce and Elizaan, his wife, have here unto set their hands and affixed their seals, the day and year above written".
John Bruce (seal)
Alman Bruce (seal)
Henrietta Bruce (seal)
Sallie Bruce (seal)
Larkin Bruce (seal)
Polly Ann Bruce (seal)
Berryman Bruce (seal)

It is interesting to note that Elizaan Bruces' (Berryman's wife) seal is not on this document .

[NI1243] The following was found in Augusta County Deeds (105-72):

a "boy" is deeded to Larkin and Polly Bruce.

Dec. 15, 1894, John A. Shiflett, "give, grant, and confirm"....my infant boy, John Walker Shi flett, born Feb. 10, 1894, to Larkin and Polly Ann Bruce."

Apparently the boy's mother died in childbirth and Larkin and Polly Ann had been caring for t he infant ever since.

Larkin and Polly Ann agreed to "clothe, educate, and care....for the infant "as their own" ch ild and leave him a portion of their estate."

John, known as Walker, was a student at the Miller Manual Labor School, Albemarle County, VA. , in 1910.

[NI1245] Most of the information on Berryman Benjamin Bruce's descendants was provided by Donna (Ritz ) Medlar, who is a descendant of this line.

Berryman Benjamin Bruce is buried in McGaheysville, VA.

The 1900 Rockingham County, VA census also had listed the following Bruce family. I have no t tied this Richard to any of our Bruce family yet, however, I did not want to lose the inf o so am recording it here for now.

Richard Bruce, b. May 1850 m. about 1871 (Farmer)
+ Elizabeth, b. Apr 1856
Emily C., b. Apr 1883
Richard T., b. Feb 1885
William H., b. Jan 1887
Jennetta M., b. Sep 1889
Joseph H., b. Sep 1890
Walter F., b. Dec 1894
Jameson D., b. Aug 1897
Harrison, b. Aug 1899

This family was reported living in the Elkton, VA area.

[NI1256] Other researchers list John Fielding Bruce as Simpson Fielding Bruce and his birthyear as 18 47.

[NI1258] Robert M. Frazier, 72

HARRISONBURG -- Robert Melvin Frazier died Monday (Jan. 26, 2004.) He was born Feb. 20, 1931 , at Augusta County, to Miley J. and Dealie (Morris) Frazier.

Mr. Frazier was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include two brothers, Vernon Fraz ier and the Rev. Homer Lee Frazier of Grottoes, and three sisters, Pauline Lucas, Sarah Thorn ton and Frances Lam, also of Grottoes.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Full Gospel Lighthouse Tabernacle, Elkton. Burial wil l be at Pleasant Hill Church of the Brethren Cemetery near Harriston. Visitation will be fro m 7 to 8 p.m. Friday at Kyger Funeral Home, Elkton.

[NI1273] Lester G. Bruce, 47


STAUNTON -- Lester Grant Bruce, of 1302 Barterbrook Road, died Monday (Oct. 13, 2003) at hi s home. He was born April 27, 1956, at Rockingham County, to Grant and Alice Jane (Morris) Br uce.

Mr. Bruce was preceded in death by three brothers, Robert, Sammy and John Bruce. Survivors in clude four brothers, Billy Bruce of Verona and Earl, Elwood and Paul Bruce of Staunton, and t hree sisters, Betty Lucas of Staunton, Madeline Bruce of Verona and Arene Bruce of Rockbridg e County.

A service will be at 11 a.m. Friday At McDow Funeral Home.

[NI1280] Date of Henrietta Powell's marriage to John Bruce is from CD #4 prepared by Automated Archiv es , Inc. (1994), which was confirmed by reference to a microfilm found at the Library of Vir ginia: Bureau of Vital Statistics, Marriage Index, Husbands, (1853-1859) A to Z. This film a lso contained marriage dates as late as 1877.

[NI1281] Source: Mrs. Jeanne Bruce James

[NI1283] L. W. (Woody) Bruce's death date could be Oct. 8, 1899 instead of 1890. Source: Mrs. Jeann e Bruce James (per Preston Leake's notes).

[NI1293] Mrs. Jeanne Bruce James found the grave site of Mary Angeline (Cox) Bruce and provided date s from her tombstone.

In Greene County, VA, Will Book 2, pages 434-435 (1925), there is a record of the will of Mar y Cox Bruce. In that will four children and one granddaughter were named. The children were : Jim Bruce, Julia Sims, Fink Bruce, and Bessie Bickers. Others listed as "heirs" were Elizab eth Bruce, who married Ellis Wood, and Mattie Vivian Bruce, who married William H. Crawford . There was no reference to Otis Bruce in this will.

(from the notes of Preston Leake)

[NI1294] Source for the Finks Dick Bruce family information: Mrs. Iva Jeanne (Bruce) James.

[NI1300] Notes for Reuben Davis Bruce:

1870, Greene Co., Va., Census, Child, age 2.

1998, Bruce Family information from Ms. Barbara (Smith) Bruce of Richmond, Va.
e-mail: [email protected]
Marriage certificate in possession of Dennis Way, great-grandson, lists 25 June 1891. Albema rle Co., Va., Marriage records lists 30 June 1891. Actual Marriage Date was 2 July 1891. 190 0 census in Augusta Co., Va., with Maggie, and children Minor ( Aug. 1894) and Davis (July 18 99), three other children having died. 1910 census in Rockingham Co. with children Minor Hob art, age 13, Enock D., age 10, Nattie B., age 6, and Earnest F., age 2. Maggie died 1916. R euben remarried to Laura Keyton on 10 July 1918 in Greene Co., Va.

20 Feb. 1926, Reuben was killed on his way home from the store - "full of Spirit" according t o the coroner's report - when he was hit by a train.

[NI1302] Sources: (Supplied by Preston H. Leake)

(1) Church records supplied by Sylvia Jones, Historian for Chestnut Grove Baptist in Earlys ville, VA, show that Lucie F. Dunn was baptised there during Nov 1862 and became a member o f this church. See notes under her mother's name for further details.

(2) Date of marriage is recorded in Norford, page 114 and from Automated Archives, CD-RO M # 0 04 (1994). The Albemarle County Register of Marriages, recorded ages of the couple an d the name of the person preforming their marriage ceremony as J. M. Anderson.

(3) Albemarle County Deed Book 68, page 304, dated 11 Nov 1873 is a record of the sale o f " a tract of land which is supposed to contain fifty one acres, it being a portion of the l and conveyed by James Goins and Rebecca, his wife, to Lewis Dunn by Deed bearing date 1st Mar ch 1844 and of record in the County Court of Albemarle upon which his widow Betsy Dunn now re sides, by virtue of a life time tenure, all for the sum of six hundred dollars .... to have a nd to hold free from any incumberances whatsoever, subject to the life time tenure of the sai d Betsy Dunn, unto the said Elijah D. Cox & Sarah M., his wife," etc.

My translation of the above Deed is that Lucy Dunn Kidd and her husband, James L. Kidd, sol d one half of the 102 acres purchased by her father, Lewis Dunn, to Lucy's sister, Sarah Mild red Dunn Cox, and her husband, Elijah D. Cox. It appears that each of Betsy Dunn's daughter s had been given 51 acres of land by their mother, Betsy Bruce Dunn, subject to her life-tim e tenure of the land.

(4) Lucy Dunn and James Kidd were married on 19 July 1873 just four months before this transa ction. As of April 1997, I have found no further record of this couple, but I continue to lo ok. On 16 Sept 2001, Sylvia Jones, Church Historian for Chestnut Grove Baptist Church, previ ously called Longwood and before that Union Church, found church records indicating that Luc y Dunn was baptized there in Nov 1862, but her name was no longer in the church records afte r 1873.

(5) On 8 Jan 1998, while at the Library of Virginia, I found a microfilm of Albemarle Count y , Virginia, Marriages. To my great surprise the record noted that James Kidd was a widowe r and that he was born in Charlotte County, Mississippi. I was unable to find even the exista nc e of a Charlotte County in Mississippi, and reviewed the matter with my son, Lawrence an d his wife Jett. They were living in Mississippi at the time, and Jett is a native of that st ate.

(6) The date, 16 Mar 2000, was a break through day regarding Lucy (Dunn) Kidd. On that d a y I found in my mother's files an original copy of the obituary for my grandmother, Sarah M ildred (Dunn) Cox, Lucy's sister. It was most likely published in a Charlottesville paper. I t said in part:

"Mrs. Cox was the last member of her family, two brothers having been killed during the Civi l War, while a sister died soon after the war. Two daughters survive -- Mrs. James Davis, o f Earlysville, and Mrs. Perry H. Leake of Proffit."

At this stage in my life (70 years of age) I have tried to recall anything which might have b een pertinent to Lucy Dunn. I have pictures of her. She was beautiful! I have a letter wri tten by her in 1862 to her brother, Leroy, when he was in Richmond, VA, serving in the CS A . We have the date of her marriage in April 1873 and the above deed, dated seven months la ter in November 1873, for Lucy's sale of 51 acres of land to her sister, Sarah, and Sarah's h usband, Elijah Cox. I also recall asking my mother where Lucy lived after her marriage to Jam e S. Kidd, and I think she said, "in Eastham, VA." Eastham was about five miles from Charlot tesville on Route 20, but I found no pertinent records.

I searched census reports for 1870, 1880 and 1890 for Albemarle County, VA. Lucy was recorde d in the 1870 census with her mother and sister, but I found no reference to James Kidd and h is wife, Lucy, in the other two reports. My present conclusion is that Lucy probably died aft er 1873 and before 1880. It is possible that she died in childbirth before 1880, or from on e of the diseases such as typhoid. She had survived the Civil War and the trauma of seeing he r family's horses, cows, pigs, chickens, and cured meat stolen by Union troops under Genera l Custer when they came foraging to the home where she, her sister, Sarah, and their mother l ived in February or March 1864.

Whatever the circumstance of Lucy's death, I now understand better why so little reference wa s made in my presence to my mother's only aunt, Lucy (Dunn) Kidd. How sad!

(7) Apparently James L. and Lucy (Dunn) Kidd had at least one child in Albemarle County, V A . Reference to this child was found on microfilm at the Library of Virginia on 27 Apr 2000 . Title of the film was, "Albemarle County, VA, Deaths, 1875." Cause of death wa s recorde d as "Bronchitis," and age at death was, "one year and four months." Neither the chi ld's nam e nor sex was recorded in this source. Names of parents were J. L. and Lucy Kidd, and sourc e of the information was the child's mother.

[NI1303] Sources: (Supplied by Preston H. Leake)

(1) The Albemarle County Register of Marriages was the primary source of information about Ja mes L. Kidd; however other marriage records show his middle initial as an "S" or a "T". The r egister of marriages also recorded his place of birth as "Charlotte Co., Miss," his occupatio n as a miller and the names of his parents. He was the son of James P. and Lucy J. Kidd.
It also mentioned that he was a widower.

Unfortunately, I have not found a county in Mississippi named, "Charlotte."

(2) The Roster of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865, Vol. IX. edited by Janet B. Hewett, Broadf oot Publishing Co., Wilmington, NC (1996) includes several Confederate soldiers named James K idd. A James S. was in the 44th Virginia Infantry, Company G, I.

Three persons named James Kidd were from Mississippi: James H. was in the 34th Infantry; Jame s R. in the 5th Infantry AQM; and Cpl. James T. was in the Mississippi Infantry, 3rd Batalli o n (St. Troops) Company D. All of this is just for future reference, since none of it seem s to fit for the James Kidd in question.

[NI1311] Layton Early worked as a farmer and a security guard.

[NI1322] Mary Bird (Bruce) McAllister
From an article in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, July 25, 1957

Brown's Cove, Va.--An 80-year-old woman here entertains herself in the evenings by playing he r banjo and singing songs, some of which date back as far as the 16th century.
Mrs. Mary Bird McAllister likes to sit on the porch with her banjo and recall songs she and n ine brothers and sisters learned from her mother while she was growing up at her home in thi s Albemarle community.
And if she has an audience, Mrs. McAllister will explain the story of the song in her own wor ds and add her own interpretation of the events recited in the ballad.
"There's a song about a young man named Jimmy Randal," she will recall. "He came home one nig ht and his mother noticed right away that something was wrong. Old timey people were sharpe r than they are now. She asked what was wrong and he tells her he's had fried eels and onion s at his sweetheart's. But it was really a rattlesnake she fed him."
Then Mrs. McAllister sings the centuries-old ballad, "Lord Randal." Or she may be reminded o f another young man--this one was bitten by a rattler. "But he killed it 'fore he died," sh e explains. Then she sings a rare, serious version of "Springfield Mountain." This ballad, co ncerning the death of a young man in Massachusetts in 1761, according to folklorists is the o ldest American folksong that can be traced to an actual incident and date.
Mrs. McAllister is one of the last of the traditional ballad singers of the Southern mountain s. According to a New York folklorist who visited her recently, her language encompasses wor ds and phrases that closely resemble Elizabethan English.
Music has always been important in Mrs. McAllister's life. She sings when she's happy, when s he's lonesome or sad. She says that "any old song" is her favorite. Sometimes she plays som e of her lively banjo songs for friends. "You should see 'em cutting shines when I play," sh e says. "I can't hardly play for laughin'."
Mrs. McAllister taught herself to play her brother's banjo when she was about 10. "I'd stea l it out and take it behind the house where I'd play it," she laughed. "When he found out tha t I could strike tunes on it, he'd let me have it then whenever I wanted it."
Once she made her own banjo. "I took an old banjo neck and put pasteboard on the rim," she sa id. "I used white thread for strings--white thread is stronger than black--Man! The first tim e my daddy heard me play that one night, he got out and danced it."
Mrs. McAllister was married when she was nearly 15. "We ran off to Hagerstown to get marrie d because his (her husband's) father was against him getting married," she recalled. The coup le had eight children, two of whom are now living, and she has eight grandchildren. Her husba nd died in 1951. She lives with relatives, Mr. and Mrs. Alton Yates, in the house in which sh e was born. The house is at the foot of a mountain.
The songs Mrs. McAllister learned from her family concern American historical events as wel l as the usual ballad themes of love, hate and death.
One of the Civil War ballads she sings is about the defense of Richmond against McClellan i n May, 1862. She says she learned this song from her father who fought in the Civil War. Sh e also sings songs from the War of 1812 and the Mexican War.
Mrs. McAllister's storehouse of folksongs was discovered by Paul Clayton, a folksinger and ba llad collector who owns a cabin near her home. While passing by one evening, he saw her sitti ng on the porch playing her banjo. After chatting with her a short while, he discovered tha t she knew rare versions of many of the older ballads.
He has made recordings of about 50 of her songs from which the Library of Congress's Archiv e of American Folk Song has made copies for permanent preservation.
Note: The Library of Congress Archive of American Folk Song was contacted in 1999 and their r eply indicated that they did not have any recordings made by Paul Clayton.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Article from the Charlottesville Daily Progress
Brown's Cove Woman Picks And Sings Folk, Ballads Of The Good 'Ol Mountain Variety
By Boyce Loving

What passes for mountain ballads when country musicians twang out the accompaniments on guita rs, fiddles and banjos and whine out the words nasally often is the composition of some tunes mith and lyricist in Nashville, Tenn., capital of this country's hillbilly arias.

Mrs. Mary Bird McAllister of Brown's Cove, however, is not such a mountain musician. To begi n with, she sings principally the ballads she learned from a musician brother and other mount ain folk. She also is said to employ the true tones of ballad music. And her voice is neith er nasal nor twangy.

Mrs. McAllister, who is 80 years old April 7 of this year, was born in the house in which sh e now lives. She stays with a cousin, Mrs. Alton Yates, although the elderly singer has no t always lived in her present residence. The daughter of Larkin Bruce, she married Lem McAll ister and lived at Harriston, Augusta County, and at Grottoes, Rockingham County, until her r eturn to her old home four or five years ago. Her husband died in June, 1951, she said she h ad never been far from home and visited Charlottesville only when she was a patient at the Un iversity Hospital to have cataracts removed from her eyes eight or 10 years ago

Learning To Play;
How did Mrs. McAllister learn to play the Banjo? She said her brother, Grant, owned and play ed a banjo and when he was away from home she would "borrow" his instrument and thus taught h erself to play it. She also took a wooden hoop, attached a stiff piece of cardboard to it fo r a head (or skin), her brother fashioned a neck with keys for her out of a piece of wood an d she waxed cotton string for the strings. She stated that when she fitted the homemade inst rument with a bridge she could play it as well as her brother's "store boughten" banjo. Sh e started playing at the age of 10, she explained.

The octogenarian mountain musician recalled the days when apple butter "stewings", or biling s ", and corn shuckings were social events of her community. Both events, she said, were fol lowed by square dances at which fiddlers, banjo and guitar players furnished the music. Mrs . McAllister plays many of the traditional ballad tunes heard at these neighborhood gathering s.

Teasingly the writer asked Mrs. McAllister if she ever smoked a clay pipe. "No," she replied , "but I used to chew tobacco." She explained that she would get thirsty when she accompanie d her father into the mountains to pick huckleberries and that he started giving her a smal l piece of his chewing tobacco to allay her thirst. From that she picked up the habit and us ed to "borrow" a chew of tobacco now and then from the pockets of her brothers. She said sh e also used to take an occasional "nip" of mountain dew, produced in abundance in her communi ty when she was a girl. She gave up chewing and nipping when she joined the Pentecostal Chur ch, which forbids both indulgences, she was quick to explain.

Nimble Fingers;
Mrs. McAllister's fingers are extremely nimble for one her age and it is fascinating to watc h her strum the banjo, patting her foot in time as she plays and sings in a pleasantly low vo ice. Occasionally, she forgets some of the words of the songs, but Paul Worthington, a stude nt and collector of folk music, has made tape recordings of more that 50 ballads sung by th e elderly woman to her own accompaniment. The recordings have been copied by the music divis ion of the Library of Congress and will be preserved for future generations.

Worthington, who plays the guitar and sings many ballads and folk songs, is restoring a log c abin up the mountains a bit from the house in which Mrs. McAllister lives. He said there i s evidence that his cabin may be a portion of the original "Trinidad", first of the Brown hom es in Brown's Cove. The house in which Mrs. McAllister lives, mainly built of logs, was th e overseer's house at "Headquarters" another of the early Brown residences. "Headquarters" s everal years ago was purchased from the Bruce family, owners for nearly 100 years, by Mr. an d Mrs. George H. Scott of Fredericksburg, who have almost completed restoration of the hous e where the state papers of Virginia are said to have been concealed when Tarleton came to Ch arlottesville to try to capture Jefferson and members of the Virginia General Assembly.

War Veteran
The Brown's Cove singer said her father fought in the Civil War. Asked how many Yankees he k illed, she said, "Nary a one", adding that they didn't kill any of him, either, although he d id suffer an injury while away from home in the war.

Mrs. McAllister is the mother of eight children only two of whom are living - Charles of Grot toes and Mrs. Mary Grimm, RFD 1, Waynesboro. She also has two living brothers, Early of Peor ia, Ill., and Simpson of Harriston.

One of Mrs. McAllister's sisters, Texas Ann, was a well-known folk dancer who died a short wh ile ago. It will be seen, then, that her musical skill is a family trait. She also plays th e accordion but does not own one.

A Lively one for her 80 years, Mrs. McAllister said the men "are as pretty as ever and the gi rls are still good-looking." She added that she yet may marry a rich husband and have all o f this world's goods she desires.

About two weeks ago Mrs. McAllister and Paul Worthington played and sang ballads at a "finge r dinner" given at "Headquarters" by Mrs. John N. Stearns, 1930 Barracks Rd., and Mrs. Scott . Mrs. Stearns and Mrs. Scott are sisters, both descendants of the Browns who gave their nam e to the Cove. Worthington and Mrs. McAllister were supplemented by Dr. Arthur Kyle Davis, U niversity of Virginia professor of English and mountain ballad anthologist, who played an aut o harp and sang several of the traditional Scottish highland ballads.

Special Interest;
One of the songs Mrs. McAllister sang should be of special interest in this area. It is "Bla ckwell's Hollow", a community near White Hall. The words follow:

"I'm going away and you're going to follow;
I'm going down to Blackwell's Hollow, baby.

All round the mountain looks so cold,
Can't make a dollar to save my soul, baby.
Going to sit in the parlor with a fan,

Tell, Joanna I'm a ladies man, baby
Shootin' a rabbit ain't no sin,
I'm a-goin' to shoot one whenever I can, baby.

What you going to do when the cold wind blows, baby?
What you going to do when the cold winds blow, baby?
What you going to do when the cold winds blow, baby?

I'm going away and you're going to follow;
I'm going back to Blackwell's Hollow, Baby."

This is not an exact reproduction of the ballad, but it is as close as the writer was able t o copy it when Mrs. McAllister played and sang it.

It is fortunate, that in these days, when new things seem to attract more than the old, ther e has been found a representative of the old school of mountain music, much of which was tran sported bodily and intact from Scotland by the Virginia settlers. It is this same traditiona l music and words, some of the lyrics of which are to be found in Percy's "Reliques of Ancien t English Poetry", that Mrs. McAllister has learned by heart and has preserved until Balladee r Worthington captured them on tape recordings. Both are to be congratulated for their contr ibutions to Virginiana and the preservation of the ballad.

Some of the songs Mrs. McAllister sings, of course, had their origin in the early days of th e Virginia colony and are as genuine ballads as those brought over from the "old country" -th ey grew out of local situations; their authors are unknown; their tone usually is elegiac; th ey are ballads in meter form; and otherwise they confirm to this type of folk music and song.
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[NI1327] The minister for the marriage of Mildred Bruce to William Estes was Benjamin Creel and the b ondsman was Littleton Estes, who was a uncle of both the bride and groom. (from Preston Leake 's notes)

[NI1328] This gentleman is said to have lost his eyesight early in his life and thus was referred t o as "Blind Bill". He and his wife, Mildred, lived on about 100 acres of land which was deede d to him by his father, John Estes. in 1848.
Both William and Mildred were buried on their homeplace located on Preddy's Creek in the sout heast corner of Greene County, VA.
(from Preston Leake's notes).

[NI1333] George Bruce's parents and siblings are unknown at the present time. It is very likely tha t he was from the Northern Neck, VA Bruce family. This family lived in the Northern Neck coun ties of Richmond, Lancaster, King and Queen, and Westmoreland in the mid to late 1600's and s ome of them migrated westward thru Caroline, Hanover, and Spotsylvania counties on into Orang e, Culpeper, Louisa, Madison, Greene, and Albemarle.

Michael v. Stambach-Bruce, in his "Bruce - Historical Papers #2", speculates that John Bruc e (1687-????) of Dark Run, son of Henry Bruce,Sr. (1664-1727) is the best candidate as the p rogenitor of the later Bruce families of Orange, Culpeper, Albemarle and other counties. Thi s is not proven satisfactorily so the search for George Bruce's parentage continues.

However, if Stambach-Bruce is proven right, then the following shows the parents and sibling s of the John Bruce that he speculates is the progenitor of the later Bruce families.

1 Henry Bruce, Sr b: Abt. 1664 in North Farnham, Richmond County, VA d: June 07, 1727 in No rth Farnham, Richmond County, VA
..+Mary Morton b: Abt. 1665 in Northumberland County, VA m: Abt. 1683 in Richmond County, VA
.........2 Henry Bruce, Jr. b: Abt. 1683 in North Farnham, Richmond County, VA d: Abt. 171 8 in North Farnham, Richmond County, VA
.............+Susannah Stewartm: Abt. 1703 in Richmond County, VA
.........2 Andrew Bruceb: Abt. 1685 in North Farnham, Richmond County, VA
.........2 John Bruceb: Abt. 1687 in North Farnham, Richmond County, VA
.............+Unknownm: Abt. 1707
.........2 William Bruceb: October 13, 1689 in North Farnham, Richmond County, VA
.........2 Mary Bruceb: April 13, 1692 in North Farnham, Richmond County, VA
.............+Mark I. Thorntonb: September 22, 1686 in North Farnham, Richmond County, VAm : Abt. 1712 in Richmond County, VAd: Abt. 1721 in North Farnham, Richmond County, VA
.........2 Elizabeth Bruceb: Abt. 1694 in North Farnham, Richmond County, VA
.........2 Joseph Bruceb: Abt. 1696 in North Farnham, Richmond County, VA
.............+Katherine Taylorb: Abt. 1700 in North Farnham, Richmond County, VAm: April 3 0, 1728 in Richmond County, VA
.........2 Benjamin Bruceb: Abt. 1698 in North Farnham, Richmond County, VA
.............+Elizabeth (Hannah) Marks d: Aft. 1809

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Sources:

(1) In Orange County Deed Book 7, page ??, 23 Feb 1742, there is a record of a transaction be tween Benjamin Cave and George Bruce, both of Orange County, VA. For five pounds, current mon ey, Cave sold to: "George Bruce and his wife, Elizabeth, and the heirs of her body lawfully b egotten forever one certain tract of land situate, lying and being in Orange County in the fo rk of the Rappidanne River, the same containing by supposition sixty-two acres more or less a nd bounded as follows (to wit):

"Beginning at a certain Branch, called the Black Walnut Branch ... the Caves ... where the Br uces and Caves lines cross the said Branch and running thence with the said Cave's line a nor theast course to the said Cave's backline southeast to the aforesaid Branch thence down to t h e ... courses of the said Branch to the beginning together with all houses, orchards, garde ns , fences, woods and underwoods, waters and watercourses, thereunto belonging or in anywis e appurtaining."

"To have and to hold the said land ... the said George Bruce and Elizabeth, his wife and heir s of her body, etc., etc. Both of them, George Bruce and Elizabeth, his wife" had lawful l y purchased the land from Benjamin Cave. Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of: J ohn Noel, Darby Quinn, Joseph Emmons and Richard Quinn; 23 February 1742.

(2) On the same day, 23 Feb 1742, there was another related transaction recorded in Orange Co unty, Virginia Deed Book 7, page 112. This one was between Richard Quinn and George Bruce. I n essence Richard Quinn sold to George Bruce and Elizabeth, his wife, for ten pounds, curren t money, forty seven acres, more or less, bounded as follows:

"Beginning at two white oaks and a red oak sapling in Benjamins Cave's line above a spring, r unning thence north seventy-six degrees west seventy-nine poles to the river, thence down th e several courses of the said river to the mouth of the Black Walnut Branch thence up the sai d Branch in several courses to the said Benjamin Cave's line thence with the said Cave's lin e northeast to the beginning.... Witnesses were: Benjamin Cave, Darby Quinn and Joseph Emmon s .

(3) Further reference was found to the marriage of George Bruce and Elizabeth Quinn in Orang e County, VA, prior to 1742. See Orange County Deed Book 10, pages 517-518 (month, day, ???).

(4) Then, on 31 March 1747, as recorded in Orange County, Virginia Deed Book 10, page 517, D a rby Quinn gave to his, "well beloved daughter, Elizabeth Bruce, all and singular the part s and parcels of My Estate as follows: "Slaves, and endentured servant, cattle, horses, sheep , hogs, a bed and other furniture, household pots, tables, dishes, chairs, pails, one Great B ible , two axes, hoes, cotton, wheat sieve, etc., etc.

Witnesses were: Robert Sharman and Lucy Sharman.

(5) From the Orange County DB 13, page 195, 23 Jul 1761
"This indenture made the twenty third day of July in the year of one thousand seven hundred s ixty one between Richard Beale and Elizabeth his wife of St. Thomas Parish in Orange of the o ne part and George Bruce of Brumfield Parish in Culpeper County of the other part...60 pound s current money paid by George Bruce...one certain tract or parcel containing by estimation e ight hundred acres be the same more or less and being part of a tract of land containing 100 0 acres granted to John Madison Gent of King and Queen County the patent bearing date of th e twenty eighth day of September one thousand seven hundred twenty eight lying and being in O range parish of St. Thomas. Viz, beginning at Capt. John Eamons........(it goes on to describ e the properties borders).

Signed: Richard Beale, Elizabeth Beale

Proved at court held on the twenty third of July 1761
Teste: George Taylor COC

(6) However, it appears from Orange County Deed Book 16, page 40, (1776-1778) that on 28 O c t 1772 George Bruce and Elizabeth Quinn were separated. Documents show a division of thei r property; she got one third of the property, and he got the remaining two thirds as detaile d i n the quote below:

(7) Deed Abstracts of Orange County, VA, 1759-1778, Deed Book 16, page 40, 24 Feb 1742 as not ed above, were abstracted and published by Ruth and Sam Sparacio (1986):

"An Act of Agreement between George Bruce and Elizabeth, his wife, hereby make absolute to he r own disposal of the following articles from George Bruce forever. Elizabeth Bruce is neve r to come upon George Bruce for any maintenance nor interrupt him for any part of his Estat e . Elizabeth receives Negroes, Jane and Simon, and a full third part of all my other Estat e . .. to be divided by two men that we shall hereafter choose. George Bruce to have two part s a nd Elizabeth one part. Both agree under penalty of 500 Pounds damage to abide by these p resents, dated 28 Oct 1772. Oaths of Thomas Burrus and Thomas Ballard; recorded 26 Nov 1772. "

(8) It also appears that after the above noted separation, George Bruce went to Montgomery Co unty, VA, in the western part of Virginia. Supporting this possibility is Orange County Dee d Book 21, page 279, 26 Oct 1797. This document recorded the sale by George Bruce, of Montgo mery County, VA, to William Bruce, of Orange County, for 100 pounds, 800 acres formerly purch ased from Richard Beale, as recorded in Orange County Deed Book 13, page 195 on 23 Jul 176 1 . (See Number 5 above). Montgomery County, VA, is probably where he died.

This is an interesting transaction which links George Bruce and William Bruce. Were they brot hers or was William the son of George? It is known that William died in Giles County, VA, dur ing January, 1814, and his descendants are a matter of record. They have a family Bible whic h clearly names George as the father of William, but no further identification of George wa s made.

(9) The name, George Bruce, was also found in Augusta County in transaction with Benjamin Cav e.

(10) See Orange County Deed Book 18, page 459-460 and Deed Book 10 page 517. In each referenc e, names of slaves are the same as those named above: Jane and Simon.

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NOTE: Orange County, VA was formed in 1734 from Spotsylvania County, VA.
Albemarle County was formed in 1744 out of Goochland County lands.
Greene County, VA was formed in 1838 from Orange County, VA.
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[NI1334] Notes from Preston Leake:

Automated Archives, CD#4, recorded the marriage of a Lucie Bruce to a Noah Shiflett on Jul 14 , 1894 in Albemarle County, VA. This note is for further consideration only, since a positiv e connection has not been made.

[NI1335] Isaiah was buried in the Ruckersville Cemetery, Ruckersville, Greene County, VA.

(from Preston Leake's notes)

[NI1336] Microfilm at Virginia State Library Archives, Death Certificates for Rockingham County, VA ( 1860). This source recorded the cause of death as Scarlet Fever when Keeny was 8 years of age .

(from Preston Leake's notes)

[NI1337] Microfilm at Virginia State Library Archives, Death Certificates for Rockingham County, VA ( 1860). This source recorded the cause of death as Pneumonia when Authur was 4 months of age.

(from Preston Leake's notes)

[NI1338] Mary Catherine Bruce's death date is from the Culpeper County, VA Death Records, pages 6 an d 8.

(from Preston Leake's notes)

[NI1344] Notes from Preston Leake:

According to Mrs. Jeanne Bruce James, "Willie" Bruce may be another name for Mattie Vivian Br uce, however, there continues to be some question as to whether this is one or two persons.

[NI1346] There is some question as to whether Otis Bruce is a member of this family.

[NI1348] Source of information for William Crawford: Mrs. Jeanne Bruce James

(per Preston Leake's notes)

[NI1349] Source for this family: Mrs. Jeanne Bruce James.

[NI1351] Annie Elizabeth (Dickerson) Bruce's tombstone was located in Maplewood Cemetery near Gordons ville, VA. Dates of birth and death were taken from that tombstone.
Marriage date of R. L. Bruce and Annie E. Dickerson is from the Greene County Magazine, Vol 5 , (1984-1985), page 19. Related information for this couple was collected from the 1865 Green e County Marriage Register.

Children, if any, have not been identified.

(from Preston Leake's notes)

[NI1361] Sources and narrative: (Provided by Preston H. Leake)

The mother of Elijah Cox died within about one year of his birth in 1848, and his father marr ied again about six years later in 1854. Elijah was the youngest child in this first famil y , and one can only guess how those first important six years were spent.

We do know that he had little or no formal schooling; however, after marriage his wife did te ach him the basics, and he appears to have developed a good grasp of arithmetic.

After their marriage he worked for Dr. Birckhead, built a new ten room house in Shafter, star ted a store in Shafter, and may have run a Post Office.

In 1890 Elijah bought property in Proffit, VA.

He and his wife ran a total of two general stores, each associated with a post office. One i n Shafter and the other in Proffit, VA. They also opened a third store which was located in o r near Charlottesville. His store manager in Charlottesville was a Mr. LeTellier, but ther e was trouble getting the persons who bought on credit to pay their bills at that store. Fo r the other two stores, I believe he obtained wholesale "goods" initially from Charlottesvill e. After moving to Proffit he traveled to Washington, DC, regularly to sell eggs, cured ham a nd other pork products, as well as vegetables and fruits in season. While there, he also purc hased many of the items that subsequently were sold in the store at Proffit. The store at Sh after was later given to the Coxes' oldest child, Mary Elizabeth, and her husband, James Davi s. They continued to "run" that store and the Post Office for some years.

We know that there were changes in his physical condition sometime after 1900, and the famil y story is that a log of wood had rolled over and broken open the skin of one hand. I was to ld that, a few days after the accident, Elijah had felt good enough to sharpen a saw and tha t some of the iron filings got into his open wounds. Shortly thereafter, about 1902 or 190 3 , he began to have symptoms of "Paralysis agitans", or creeping paralysis. Today, we thin k h e developed Parkinson's Disease and that the metal filings had nothing to do with his lon g-lasting illness.

I have a letter post marked, Sunday, 21 July 1907, from Alexandria, VA. It was written by Mis s Ulher who referred to herself as a nurse and was associated with The National City Scho o l of Chiropractic. The letter head included the following: For Information Address Dr. Alm a C. Arnold, The Heatharium. The letter was addressed to "Mr. E. D. Cox, Proffit, Va," and i s quoted in full below:

"My dear Mr. Cox,
I have been wanting to write to you ever since I received your letter but you well know how b usy I am always. Well I am home now for a rest and glad to say one that I really need. Ther e were only 2 house pratintious (?) in the Santatorium when I left there on the 17th. I miss ed you very much after you left. I really think if you had staid longer you would have bee n so much better in every way. Miss Taylor left last Friday & so did Mrs. Hoffman. I hope y ou are enjoying living with your family now. Please thank your wife for letting me know yo u got home safely. This weather is auful in the City. With kindest regards . Always your fri end & nurse, Miss Uhler"

After this experience, I think my grandfather spent a short time in a facility in Ashevill e , NC, but did not experience any improvement in his condition. My mother told me that he re turned home where he was cared for during 23 years. My mother, Elijah's daughter, said she be came the one primarily responsible for his care. She was about 14 or 15 years old when she be gan to take care of her father.

During part of that time, 1916 to 1923, Lydia was married and had three sons. My sister an d I were born in 1925 and 1929, respectively, after the death of our grandfather; so I can te ll only what I heard over the years. I have a copy of his Certificate of Death (#3410), whic h recorded that he was the son of Horace Cox and Elizabeth Wood, that he was a merchant who d ied at age 74 in his residence at Proffit, VA, on Feb 1st 1923 of "general debility." My mo t her's notes indicate that he died at 10:30 AM.

Elijah and his wife, Sarah, are buried beside each other in the Chestnut Grove Baptist Churc h Cemetery several miles north west of Earlysville, VA. Well inscribed tombstones clearly id entify each of them. "Notes" under his wife's name in this file provide information about t he location of this cemetery.

[NI1364] Sources and narrative by Preston H. Leake:

Date of marriage is from CD-ROM #4, prepared by Automated Archives, Inc., (1994) GRS 3.03. Bu rial was at the Buck Mountain Episcopal Church at Earlysville, VA.

When I was about ten years old, during the period my mother was recovering from an operatio n to remove her entire stomach because it was cancerous, Aunt Mary came to live with us for s everal weeks. I over heard many comments about my mother, but the one that troubled me the m ost was that, "Lydia had only about six months to live." I had heard that during the operati on when my mother's stomach had been removed and her esophagus was attached to her small inte stine . I think Aunt Mary recognized my concern and wanted to do something for me.

She was an outstanding seamstress, had taught this and related matters at Blue Ridge Industri al School several miles from Nortonsville, VA, and decided to make a quilt top for me. The d esign was called, "Lone Star," and it was one large colorful star on a white background. I n time the top was completed, and while my mother was recuperating from the operation and try ing to adjust to the absence of a stomach, there were many days when several ladies includin g , Aunt Mary, my Mother, my father's sister Ethel (Leake) Rose, and my father's sister in la w , Ollie (McCauley) Leake gathered around a quilting frame. They did all of the work by han d to make the final quilt, and now in October 2000, sixty years later, I still have and admir e the quilt, started by Aunt Mary and completed by her, my mother and the other relatives jus t mentioned. It is a treasure to me and makes me realize what those ladies were doing to sho w their support for a young lad who thought his mother would be gone in a matter of months.

In fact my mother lived until 1987, forty seven years after she was given six months to liv e .

[NI1365] Notes from Preston H. Leake:

James Edward Cox was killed when a steam powered threshing machine exploded and a piece of me tal struck his head as he was watching these activities. He was just 14 years old at the tim e of his death. We have a piece of framed slate with his name carved in the wooden part an d assume that he used it for school studies.

The family story is that James was buried in the yard of the family home in Cedamere, Shafte r , Albemarle County, VA. This property is located on the right side Route 671 after going a bout 3/4 mile from its intersection with Route 664. The house was painted white and in reason able condition when I last saw it in August 1996. The occupant was Mr. and Mrs. James Kerr, w ho were renting it from the owner, an elderly lady named Mrs. Morris.

[NI1366] Notes by Preston H. Leake:

This lady was an excellent student. I have some of the papers she wrote, and they show a crea tive style. They also include notes of commendation by her college instructors.

Lillian attended Longwood Normal Teacher's College where she graduated in 1898. Next, she tau ght school in Albemarle County and came home on weekends to visit her family in Proffit, V a . On one of these trips, I was told by my mother, a bird flew up and frightened her horse . Lillian fell from the horse during the confusion and subsequently "contracted spinal mennen gitis" and died. Her death was devastating to my grandmother because James, her only son, ha d been killed about 10 years earlier when a steam engine, used to power a threshing machine , exploded, sending a piece of metal through his head.

[NI1368] Narrative by Preston H. Leake:

Lydia Viola Cox was born at Shafter, Albemarle County, VA, the fourth and last child of Elija h Cox and Sarah Mildred Dunn Cox. Her parents ran a store and were responsible for the Pos t Office; however, before Lydia was one year old, her father, and later the family, move d t o Proffit, VA, to be near the Southern Railroad station there. They owned property whic h bordered the railroad track, and the station was about 1/4 mile away. A home and a countr y stor e were built, and Lydia grew up in Proffit. In fact, she lived the remaining 96 year s of her life in this very same location, which included a "new" house built in about 1916.

One of the persons who had a profound effect on my mother was a lady named Mrs. A. L. C. Birc khead (born 27 Feb 1863), her school teacher. Mrs. Birckhead taught at Proffit School. She w as the only school teacher my mother ever had during the six years of her education. Almost a ny conversation with my mother would include some reference to Mrs. Birckhead or to somethin g she had said.

My mother grew up essentially as an only child. Mary, her oldest sister, was eighteen years o lder, married and stayed in Shafter, VA, to run the other family store. Her brother, James, w as killed when a steam engine exploded one year before my mother's birth, and her sister, Lil lian, died after being thrown from a horse when my mother was 8 or 9 years old. As a resul t of all this family tragedy, my grandmother, who continued to operate the store and post off ice, was very protective and tried to keep Lydia nearby. However, this little extrovert wan ted to be with other children, and was forever slipping away to a neighbor's house. The poin t I am trying to make is that she loved to be with and talk to people, and that attribute w a s a dominant characteristic during her entire life. She had many friends and developed the m easily.

Lydia Viola Cox and Perry Hansford Leake were married very early in the morning (about 5 A M ) of September 20, 1916 in a private ceremony in her parents' home in Proffit, VA. He wa s 28 and she was 26 years of age and both wanted to avoid the usual things done to newlywed s as they were beginning their honeymoon. They were able to board an early train to Washingt on , DC, where they spent about one week. Persons present for the ceremony were her parents , Elijah D. and Sarah Mildred (Dunn) Cox; Alma J. Smith, a school teacher who was boarding i n th e Cox family home at the time; Eliza J. Flannagan, a servant and very good friend of Lyd ia's ; and Ethel Maude Leake, Perry's sister. The minister for the ceremony was Rev. Richar d L. J ames.

Jumping ahead to more about Lydia's character, early in 1978 I received a letter from Anna Ma e (Spencer) McCauley, a member of Maple Grove Christian Church. This was the church where m y father and mother had attended for years, and where all five of us had attended as childre n . Anna Mae said a "special church service was being planned for Feb. 26, 1978," and it wa s to be "Miss Lydia Day, as a surprise for her. We want this to be a happy occasion because o f the joy your mother has brought to all of us here." It was delightful to be there, to part icipate in the service, and to hear positive and heart warming comments about our mother b y a variety of people.

In more recent times while looking over some of my mother's files, I found a 1983 Christmas c ard from Verona Leake, my father's neice, who later married Rev. Roger Browning, minister o f Maple Grove Church. Verona said: "When I think of Love, I think of you, Aunt Lydia. I hop e you will have a joyous Christmas. I know that it will be filled with love, for there are s o many people who love you; and you love everybody."

And one month after my mother's death, in the December 1987 issue of "Maple Leaf," a monthl y publication from Maple Grove Christian Church, three Church members wrote short comments ab out my mother, and I think those comments are well worth preserving here:

Sonny Harlow said: "One of my fondest memories of Mrs. Lydia Leake was the first time I met h er. I was a stranger in her church and she made me feel at home. She had a tremendous impac t on the lives of all who came in contact with her. She did not try to change anyone in a di rect way but lived an exemplary life. One felt that the Lord had to be present wherever sh e went. From the first day she called me "my boy" and 35 years later, I was still "my boy " t o her. She was everyone's friend and we will miss her tremendously."

Sandy Lewis said: "I first met "Miss Lydia" when she was 95 years old. My amazement was at he r love of life in general. She attended worship services every Sunday morning, she would hav e lunch with the pastor as they drove to Skyline Drive, and she would enjoy riding around wit h her niece, Beth. She once broke her shoulder and within 3 weeks was sitting on the secon d row again. She was an inspiration to those of us who felt it was a "chore" to get things d one. A visit to her home was always exciting. She received every person with an exclamatio n of joy. You were always made to feel welcome at every visit. She loved to talk.... and te lling about her past life with her husband and children was better than any bedtime story yo u ever heard. I'll miss "Miss Lydia" very much. She was an example of what God wants a Christ ian to be like; she will never know what an inspiration she was to the people she came in con tact with."

Cheri Cunningham said: "Miss Lydia" is the name I always called her. She was not a blood rela tive as far as human relations are figured, but she was my sister in Christ. She taught me th e meaning of Agape, true Christian love. You can place "Miss Lydia's" name in I Corinthian s 1 3:4 without changing the meaning of this verse. The strength, gentleness, and faith tha t this lady had was remarkable. She allowed Christ to shine through her in a manner few of u s learn to do. Every time you went to Miss Lydia's home, you would walk away with more love t han you went with. This love was given freely to all: young, old, relative, friend, or strang er. She was able to make the 23rd Psalm come alive. Goodness and mercy followed her all the d ays of her life and now she is dwelling in the house of the Lord forever."

My mother enjoyed being with people of all ages, and she enjoyed life even though there wer e several occasions when her health, even her life, was in serious question. The first I reme mber occurred about 1939 when I was about ten years of age and she was forty-nine. It starte d with stomach pain, then nausea and vomiting which continued for some months before medica l attention was sought. I remember some days when I seemed to be the only one around. She wo uld lie down on the living room couch because she felt very weak and tired and would short l y ask me "to run and get the basin." What came up was awful!

Without going into all the gory details, it was determined that my mother had stomach cance r , and the entire stomach was removed by Dr. C. Bruce Morton (1900-1985), a surgeon at the U niversity of Virginia Hospital. She was in the hospital for about two weeks, and during thi s t ime I heard the adults talking about the doctors saying that "Mrs. Leake would live no lo nger than about six months." That was pretty scary stuff for a ten year old to hear. Dr. Mor ton had removed the stomach, connected my mother's esophagus to her small intestine, and sewe d her back together. She returned home weak and pale; ate baby food every one or two hours , a nd gradually began to be up and about. She lived forty-seven years longer, outlived Dr . Morton by two years as well as several other doctors who had attended her over the years. M y mother depended upon the Lord as a source of strength during difficult times and had an eve ry day special relationship which intensified and became more personal as the years rolled by .

Notes made by her, in one of her many Bibles, had the following: "Psalm 86 was read to me a s I lay in bed at U. Va. Hosp. on Dec 13, 1938 by Mrs. Clark of Ruckersville. I asked her t o read my Bible, as doctors ordered me to not move or talk for an hour. Since then I've re a d it many times and found comfort." On Oct 21, 1986, she added this additional note, "Whe n I am dead, I desire the 86th Psalm read. A lady in the hospital read it to me out of thi s Bible the morning I was to be operated on. The Bible opened at this Psalm. I love it, hav e read it OH! many times. It suits me and my Life. I really don't think I have enemie s . I have friends, Black and White, Poor and Well off. God has given his ear to me many ti mes, answering my prayers."

Since her stomach was totally removed, her body had no way to provide the hydrochloric acid r equired to help digest her food. To overcome this deficiency, she was told to take a measure d amount of a dilute solution of this acid by mouth. Since it was not easy to obtain the aci d at the drug stores, my oldest brother, Norman, who was a chemist, prepared the solutions o f the correct concentration for her use before each meal. After he graduated from the Univers ity of Virginia and moved to Philadelphia, I began to prepare the hydrocholric acid solutions . Norman was twelve years older that I, but by the time he moved away, I was also on the wa y to becoming a chemist and felt comfortable with the new responsibility.

This experience confirmed her will to live and served her well in later years when she had pn eumonia, broke first one hip and then the other, broke an arm, then a collar bone, crushed so me vertebra in a fall, etc. My point is that each time she had one of these difficulties, he r reaction was to say that, "I showed them in 1939 and I will show them again." She continue d to thrive on her faith in God and her ability to overcome the slings and arrows of outrageo us fate. She was quite a lady!

On a lighter note, my mother depended on several things in later years to help her over physi cal problems that arose from time to time. Among these were Pepsi Cola and aspirin. Two exam ples will illustrate their use.

As my mother went through her 80s, and perhaps even before, her heart would race to 130 to 14 0 beats per minute while she was sitting or lying down. Additionally, while all this was goin g on, her heart would skip beats, and she would begin to sing "Nearer My God to Thee." I wit nessed this on more than one occasion, and responded to her usual request for a Pepsi and a n aspirin. On the day before her death, she felt very faint and could not sit up. She reque sted the usual, which I gave her, and before we reached UVa Hospital by car, she was sittin g up in the front seat and began to tell me about a restaurant we had just passed. She name d all the people who had joined her for a recent meal there and talked of many other thing s . The doctor, who was head of the geriatrics department, made a thorough examination and sa id she was in excellent health for a person her age. He could not explain the "episode" earl ier that day, but said it might be a good idea to keep her in the hospital over night for obs ervation. My mother refused to stay. We stopped at Long John Silvers, her favorite restauran t , got dinner and then drove home. All of this took place on November 12, 1987. The next d ay I drove to North Carolina.

I had been out of town on November 11, in Charlottesville on November 12, and was driving hom e from Reidsville, NC, on November 13, 1987, when my wife, Ann, received the call from Proffi t, VA, that my mother had died during the time I was on my way back home. I think that Peps i and the aspirin, and especially her strong will, delayed her death on November 12 just lon g enough for me to come to her home in Proffit, Virginia, one more time, so that we could sa y what became our final goodbyes.

My mother died 13 November 1987 while being held in the arms of Earline Lewis, the wife of on e of my childhood friends, Buddy Lewis. Mother was buried as requested in the Maple Grove Ch r istian Church Cemetery beside my father. They had chosen that grave site because it was cl ose to the road since she had said many times, "I always like to watch the cars go by." Ma y she rest in peace.

Rev. Roger Browning officiated at her funeral service and Teague Funeral Home was responsibl e for final arrangements.

[NI1389] Elizabeth (Mary) could be a daughter of Jonathan Ashworth of Lunenburg County, VA. See a por tion of his will shown below (supplied to me by Kim Smith) which mentions his grand-daughter , Elizabeth Bruce, among others.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Clyde,

Here is a copy of his WILL and not a DEED OF GIFT as I had mentioned earlier. Jonathan did h ave a Deed of Gift in which he gave land to grandsons Jonathan Abbot and John Anglin, but Eli zabeth Bruce is not mentioned in this. I am enclosing the portion of his WILL that mention s her.

6 Nov 1759, Lunenburg Co, VA, WB 1-282

...Item I do give and bequeath unto my well beloved GRANDDAUGHTER ELIZABETH BRUCE one hundre d acres of land as it was laid off by Sherwood Walton it being part of the aforesaid pattente d land and lyes on both sides of Sandy Creek joining the land layed off for Edward Morefiel d since conveyed by me to a second purchase from Morefield and I do in case the said ELIZABET H BRUCE should dye (sic) without heir lawfully begotten of her body give the said hundred acr es of land to my three sons John, Samuel, and Isaac Ashworth to be equally divided amongst th em.

Also I found a Robert Brues listed on a Tithes List in 1750, Lunenburg Co, VA, pgs 148 & 149:

Charles Allin
Joel Allin
Robert Brues 5 tithes (son in law??)
Lenard Ashworth 1 tithe
Samuel Abbit 1 tithe (son in law)
Alexander Strange 1 tithe
Isaac Ashworth 1 tithe
Samuel Ashworth 1 tithe
Frances Ansey 1 tithe (Francis Linsey)
John Ashworth 2 tithes
David Gwin
Zachariah Ashworth
John Handcock 7 tithes
Edward Morefield, Constable
John Morefield 1 tithe

Thanks again for responding so quickly. If I should ever come across any kind of difinitiv e proof about Elizabeth's mother I will be glad to share it with you.
Do you have any idea who this Robert Bruce is though?
Thanks again.

Kim Smith
Jan. 30, 2001

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Dear Sir,

I'm writing concerning your homepage concerning George Bruce and Elizabeth Quinn. I'm tryin g to find out if Mary, the wife of Darby Quinn, was in fact a daughter of Jonathan Ashworth . Jonathan has three un-named (as yet) daughters. We know this because he left a Deed of Gif t naming grandchildren Jonathan Abbott, John Anglin, and Elizabeth Bruce. Any help you can gi ve me will be greatly appreciated.

Kim Smith
[email protected]
Jan. 29, 2001

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------
I have also seen one reference that claims Elizabeth (Mary's) maiden name was "Ashton".

[NI1395] Mary was previously married to Samuel Joseph Durrer and was buried beside him. Her marriag e to Isaiah Estes was recorded by the Clerk of the Circuit Court, Greene County, VA, Page 125 , line 12, on Mar 1, 1868. The ceremony was performed by Rev. John N. Fox.

(from Preston Leake's notes)

[NI1398] per Preston Leake, information about the family of Oscar FitzAllen Estes was provided by hi s grand-daughter, Hazel Julian Estes.

[NI1400] On April 1, 1912, Larkin Bruce marries Alice Shifflet, age 30, widowed. The ceremony is perf ormed at Staunton, VA. Alice later identifies herself as Alice Lewis Bruce in some records an d has a daughter with the last name of Lewis, so we are assuming that Shifflet was her maide n name and Lewis was her married name.

[NI1409] According to Woodie Brown Parrott, Upshur James Bruce is buried at Riverview Cemetery in Cha rlottesville, VA and his birth and death dates are from his tombstone and are corroborated b y his obituary in a local newspaper.
The newspaper obituary spelled his name "Upsher" but his tombstone inscription has "Upshur" . Uphur was living in Dundalk, MD at the time of his death.

[NI1410] According to Woodie Brown Parrott, Clarence W. Bruce and his wife, Mittie, (full name unknow n) are buried in the Riverview Cemetery in Charlottesville, VA. Their birth and death dates a re from their tombstones.
Also according to Woodie, they had an adopted daughter whose name is unknown at the present t ime. In his late years, Clarence lived with his adopted daughter and son-in-law on Buck Mount ain Road just north of Earlysville, VA.

[NI1411] Source:

Source: Bureau of Vital Statistics, Marriage Index, VA, Husbands, 1853-1859, A to Z, on 16 m m microfilm at the Library of Virginia. This source recorded place of and age at marriage, a s well as full name, and it contained information on marriages as late as 1879.

[NI1422] George W. Bruce is buried in the Bruce Family Cemetery located at the "Headquarters" farm ne ar Brown's Cove, Albemarle County, VA., and his birth and death dates are from his tombstone.

Miss Lucille Frances Bruce said that George W. Bruce never married and that he lived with he r father's family and worked as a partner with him. She added, with warm feelings, that "he w as like a second father to me", relating how he helped her and was not as stern as her father . Her father was John Loudan Bruce, a half-brother of George.

George W. Bruce was buried at "Headquarters", and dates of his birth and death were from hi s gravestone. See notes under his father's name for location of "Headquarters".

The census for 1900 recorded his birth date and age as September 1865, age 35, which is not c onsistent with the dates from his gravestone. The latter were used herein.

[NI1429] Two of William Hume Bicker's children, William and Mary Virginia, are listed per Woodie Brow n Parrott's letter dated June 9, 1999. According to Woodie, William Hume and Bessie Bruce Bic kers may also had one or more additional children who died in infancy.

[NI1431] Mattie Bickers marriage record is per Woodie Brown Parrott, abstracted from Greene County, V A. marriage records.

[NI1433] Sources:

(1) The 1870 and 1880 census reports for the family of this William Bruce showed him to be ag e 3 years in Sep 1870 and 12 years in Jun 1880. Thus he would have been born between June an d September 1867.

Accordingly, the information below does not apply to this William Bruce, but is being kept he re as a reminder to determine which one it does match.

(2) Microfilm at Virginia State Library Archives, Death Certificates for Rockingham County, V A (1860). It appears that William H. Bruce had an older brother, William Bruce, who died of d iphtheria at one year of age, on 28 July 1860. Parents were Almon and Sarah Bruce. We know i t was not unusual to give a younger child the same name as a deceased older child.

[NI1438] James Davis was buried in the cemetery of Buck Mountain Episcopal Church in Earlysville, V A , and dates are from his gravestone.

[NI1444] Sources:

22 March 1738
Orange County Deedbooks 3 & 4
"David Phillips and his wife, Mary, of St Mark's Parish, Orange County, to Darby Quinn of Dry sdale Parish, King & Queen County...200 acres in fork of Rappadanne River...on a branch of Be autiful Run, corner to Nicholas Christopher."

Darby Quinn's Will, 31 March 1747

Darby Quinn, of Orange County (VA) .. give ... to my daughter, Elizabeth Bruce,. . parcels o f my Estate as follows: (viz) Negro, Robin and Nego, Jane, and all the service hereby endentu re of a .. woman named, Catherine McCoy, nine head of cattle, one mare, one horse , four hea d of sheep, sixteen hogs, one feather bead and furniture, two iron pots, one smal l chest, on e table and pewter dish,, one pewter basin, two pewter plates, two chairs, one was hing tub , two pails, one Great Bible, two axes, one candle stick, ten pewter spoons, one raw hide, on e side of tanned leather, one large bollte, two earthen muggs, seven mislings of ba con (basc on?), sixteen hundred pounds of tobacco, twelve barrells of Indian corn, two geese , one hand some great augre, one spinning wheel, ten pounds of cotton unspun, one iron pestle , one iron , one grubbing hoe, two weeding hoes, two hilling hoes, one frying pan, one fine whest sieve , one course sieve, one plough hoe, one iron chair, one pint bottle, one iron form , one bric k band, three case knives and forks, one cotton and Haymes, one rendering tub, fou r bushel s of rue, four wooden noggins, one pepper box, which said Negroes, goods and chattels , I giv e to my daughter, Elizabeth Bruce with all the increase for the future of said negroes ; sam e with all the future increase if the above said cattle, and all the future increasd of sai d mare to have and to hold the said Given and Granted Negroes, Goods and Chattels to her , m y said Daughter, Elizabeth Bruce, her heirs and assigns."

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 31st day of March in the year o f our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and forty seven.
Darby Quinn...
Witnessed by Robert Sharman and Lucy Sharman.

(2) Orange County, VA, Deed Book 7, page 112, date 23 Feb 1742. This concerns purchase of la n d bordering property owned by Benjamin Cave. Richard Quinn sold to George Bruce and his wif e , Elizabeth Bruce, (Elizabeth was Richard Quinn's sister) forty seven acres on the Rapida n River in Orange County , VA. The transaction was witnessed by Darby Quinn, father of Elizab eth.

(3) See notes under her husband's name and note the rather unusual fact that George Bruce an d Elizabeth Quinn Bruce were separated. This division of property was recorded on 28 Oct 177 2 , according to Orange County, VA, Deed Book 16, page 40.

(4)ELIZABETH (QUINN) BRUCE'S WILL:
From Deed Book 18, Page 459, Orange County Courthouse, Orange, VA.

On 1 Dec 1785, Elizabeth Bruce gave to her, "beloved daughter, Betty Bruce: All that tract o f land whereon I now live together with my two negroes (to wit) Jane and Simon, all the good s and Estate that I now or hereafter may hold of have, be it of what kind or quality what-so- ever, reserving to myself quiet and peaceable possession of the same for and during my life a nd that in twelve months after my death, the Betty Bruce pay to my son George Bruce, ten poun ds current money of Virginia and one feather bed and furniture and also to my daughter, Marth a, one cow and calf which said Estate I give to my daughter, Betty Bruce and to her heirs o r assigns forever in witness whereof I set my hand this first day of December 1785."

As an aside, the 1782 Census for Orange County includes a person named Eliza Bruce with 4 whi te and 2 Black persons. This may be herself, three children and the two slaves named above.

(5) The above Deed was recorded in "Orange County Court, VA, on Thursday the twenty third da y of March 1786. This Deed of Gift from Elizabeth Bruce to Betty Bruce was acknowledged by t he said Elizabeth and ordered to be recorded." See Orange County Deed Book 18, page 459, 2 3 March 1786. One might normally assume that Elizabeth Quinn Bruce would have dead by this t ime, but other data suggests that she lived until 13 Sep 1793.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
From Orange County Order Book Number 6, 1747-1754

A Deed of Gift from DARBY QUIN to RICHARD QUIN was proved by the Oaths of ROBERT SHERMAN an d LUCY SHERMAN, the witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded.

Note: Richard Quinn was Elizabeth (Quinn) Bruce's brother.

A Deed of Gift from DARBY QUIN to ELIZABETH BRUCE proved by the Oaths of ROBERT SHERMAN and L UCY SHERMAN the witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[NI1445] Names of some of the children listed in this family were recorded in Albemarle County, VA, D eed Book 317, page 467. Others were as recalled by Miss Lucille Bruce when she was 83 years o f age. (This needs to be checked to assure that all names were so listed)

Date of Cordellia Bruce's marriage to Eugene Powell was from CD #4 prepared by Automated Arch ives, Inc. (1994). Her nieces and nephews called her "Aunt Dealie." One niece, Lucille Bruc e, said she was a "very dear soul" in spite of all of her troubles.

Eugene and Cordelia (Bruce) Powell were first cousins; their common ancestor being Sinclai r ( St. Clair) Powell. (The basis for this is information about the Powell family was provide d to me by another Eugene Powell, who, in April 1999, lived in Greene County and had an exten sive collection of data about many families, including this one.) Eugene and Cornelia had, a s best as we can tell, eight children. Three of those children, Lillian, Hilma and Lloyd, we re born blind, or nearly so, and three others, Ellick, Richard and Helen, are thought to hav e died at an early age from tuberculosis. Only two children, Hilma and Lloyd, both blind, li ved longer than their parents. Having become aware of these unfortunate details has made m e understand in a most sympathetic way what Lucille Bruce meant when she mentioned that her " Aunt Deely was a very dear soul, in spite of all of her troubles." It is impossible to know , after all of the years, whether there may have been a common cause for the health problem s suffered by this couple's children, but it does seem to reinforce the old admonition of no t marryin g one's close relatives.

Cordelia was buried at "Headquarters", and the dates of her birth and death were from her gra ve stone. May she rest in peace. The location of "Headquarters" can be found in notes unde r her father's name.

[NI1451] Narrative by Preston H. Leake:

At the time of my father's birth, the minister for the Disciples of Christ congregation wa s a Rev. Perry. He was admired and respected so much by John and Betty Leake, my father's pa rents, that they named their fourth child and second son after Rev. Perry.

My father was a member of Maple Grove Christian Church since early childhood. His father an d mother had given the land on which the Church was built and my grandfather supervised const ruction using mostly volunteer labor. My father was Church Elder, Trustee, Chairman of the Of ficial Board, Sunday School teacher and Superintendent, almost to the end of his life, a s I ( Preston, his son) recall. He "loved the Church and gave himself unstintingly through s teward ship, talent and substance to his Lord", as stated in his obituary, rings true to me . But in more practical terms, since he was a very practical man, he repaired any part of th e church building that needed repairs. He dug drainage ditches, as needed, and generally mad e himself available to do almost anything to maintain the church property, and more important ly to preserve harmony within the church, while being regularly involved in administration o f the church.

I was pleased to find in my mother's Bible a letter dated 19 Sept 1982 from Rev. Allen Stange r, who was a student pastor at Maple Grove Christian Church in Sept 1932. He said of my fath er: "Few men I've ever known did I admire as much as I did Mr. Perry Leake. He was a man amo ng men. At the Communion Table, he may have had his equal but never his superior."

He also did similar work at "The Tabernacle" in Gordonsville, VA, for little or no pay; I hel ped with this work one spring just before the annual summer sessions began. It was also routi ne for ministers to stay at our home when they came for their usual weekend visits or durin g revivals.

My father's early education was at a schoolhouse in his parents' yard, under a tutor hired b y his parents to teach all their children. For some reason, public school was considered unsa tisfactory. He went on to college, but in 1910 while attending Lynchburg College in prepara t ion to become a veterinarian, he caught measles which "settled in his eyes". Whatever the d iagnosis, he had difficulty reading from then on and complained of "floaters" in his eyes a s long as I can remember.

I also remember his comments about hazing which was attempted at Lynchburg College. He woul d not tolerate any such activity and told me that he kept a baseball bat in his room to disco urage anyone who might want to "try" him. He had been named as dorm monitor to help contro l the problems of hazing and to assure curfew compliance.

I found notes in my mother's Bible, at the beginning of Romans, chapter 12. These notes conf irmed that my father had memorized the whole chapter, and while in college, was required to w rite it out from memory. In doing so he correctly wrote all the words, but left out one peri od. He received a grade of 99 on the paper. More important than the grade, I think, are th e words. I believe he must have taken much of the chapter to heart, because he certainly foll owed many of its admonitions.

He did not continue his college education but worked for his father for almost no pay until h e was 21 years old, as did most of his brothers. He told me that when he was 21 years of ag e , his father gave him a five dollar gold piece, which was the most money he had had up to t hat time.

I have seen him angry, but I never saw him afraid. He told of an experience which took plac e before his marriage and while he was working for his father. Late one evening when he was r eturning from Charlottesville, VA, driving a wagon pulled by two horses and containing item s purchased for resale in his father's store, he crossed the South Rivanna River by going thr ough a covered bridge. It was dark outside and even darker in the bridge. About midway throug h the bridge someone grabbed the horses' bridles, stopped them and demanded money and who kno ws what else. My father knew his horses well, and they knew him. He tightened the reins an d , in his quiet but firm voice, called his horses by name and told them to move out. They d id , and in the process probably ran over one or more persons. He said he heard and felt th e wagon wheels bump over something. Dad continued on home with all of his load and was not p ursued. He was left with memories of a close call which he would relate to me and others fro m time to time. The above incident occurred very near where his mother had lived as a chil d and w here her father operated a mlll.

He earned a living as a farmer (we sold milk around Proffit), as a carpenter, a blacksmith , ( He put shoes on his own horses and on those belonging to other people in the Proffit, V A area .), as a wheelwright and as a seller of firewood. I know from watching that he coul d do almost anything --- except fix an automobile. He was quite often called by neighbors t o attend, at no charge, to sick animals including horses, cows and pigs. He delivered many ca lves and assisted other animals when their mother was having trouble with delivery. As I cam e of age, he allowed me go with him and to help with these activities.

On a related matter, we once had a sow that gave birth to more than 10 pigs, but she did no t produce milk for them. My father made a trough-like device of wood and bored holes throug h one side. Each hole was large enough to hold a glass baby bottle with a rubber nipple . M y sister, Naomi, and I were assigned the responsibility of milking Cortney, one of our mi lk cows, 4 to 6 times a day, mixing that milk with molasses, and feeding those 10 pigs. The y survived and so did we. (I later used this same system when a Great Dane dog, which we owne d, de livered about 10 or 12 puppies but was too sick to feed them.)

At "hog killing time" after the temperatures were lower during the Fall, neighbors for mile s around brought their slaughtered hogs to our home to scald, remove their hair and to gut th em. My father had all the necessary facilities and shared them, so far as I know at no charg e.

Much labor was exchanged during the 1930s, 40s and 50s, and I have referred to "hog killing t ime" as the "highlight of the social season in Proffit," as I was growing up. The men did th e outside work, and after the hogs were cut into hams, shoulders, pork chops, trimmings, etc . , the women would cook the fat to make lard and "cracklings", that part of the fat left aft er removal of most of the lard. The trimmings were ground using a sausage mill, turned by ha nd, to make sausage, which was then cooked by the wives and children, who usually put it in s ealed glass jars, filled with lard, for storage. (I still have the sausage mill that we use d and I turned as a child.) The tenderloin was cooked and stored the same way.

I remember an incident which reminds me of my father's strength of character, which was evide nt not only with humans but also with animals. He and I were in the woods cutting trees for f irewood when I was in my early teens. My father wanted me to learn to "handle the team", i. e ., the horses. My job at the moment was to get them to pull a large log to a better locatio n for loading onto the wagon. Unfortunately I could not get the horses to pull together; firs t one would pull and then the other, but the log did not move. My father watched this for a w hile without saying anything, but when I asked for help, he took the reins, called the two ho rses by name, tapped them gently with the reins to signal "pull now", and they did just tha t , no fuss, no bother, no loud noises; they just leaned into the traces and moved out. The y responded with coordinated action for him, and I learned a lesson in management that day, i .e. , one good way to get things done is to radiate confidence in those who are actually doin g the work. My father was firm but gentle with those horses, with me and with just about eve rybody. However, he had little patience with people who would not work. Later in his life , I think he came to appreciate that some people were not "trifling" or "lazy" as he would sa y, but did not work as well as he did because they may not have felt well.

He had strong feelings about discipline at home and at school. He told me on more than one oc casion that if I got spanked at school by the teacher, I could expect to get another spankin g from him when I got home. That is amazing to even think about now in the twenty first cent u ry.

He had problems, as long as I can remember with "sick headaches", probably migraines. They we re debilitating. Often he would send me to the local store, Proffit Exchange, to get a "BC P o wder." He took that pain killer, and kept on going; however there were occasions when he co uld not continue. During WW II, he was employed as a carpenter in Alexandria, VA. He lived wi th some relatives, ate poorly, slept under marginal conditions, and overworked because of th e supervisor's time pressure and because of his own desire to excel. He had a "spell", as m y mother called it and was transferred by ambulance to the University of Virginia Hospita l . They did not deliver a diagnosis that I remember, but sent him home to rest. I don't bel ieve he went back to Alexandria, but should say that this serious incident was one of mayb e a half dozen such incidents he experienced over the years.

One of these took place when Norman, my oldest brother, was about 8 years old. The story is t hat my father called Norman to his bedside and told him that in case of my father's death, No rman would have to take on greater responsibilities for the family which consisted at that ti me of our mother and 3 or 4 children. Fortunately, my father lived for more than 45 years!

My father also had serious problems with varicose veins, and on doctor's recommendation, ha d them "stripped". His legs continued to be full of pooled blood. I don't know if this proble m contributed to his death, but I do know that death came after he suffered several strokes a nd heart attacks.

My father was a Democrat, even though he never mentioned this orientation to me. For many ye ars, the voting precinct was in a room of our home, or in one of the buildings that our famil y owned.

Norman recalled the presidential election in 1928 when he was 10 years old. The Proffit preci nct officials, at the end of the day, decided to give him a ballot to mark. Norman voted fo r Hoover, a Republican, causing a great deal of laughter and ribbing because Perry's son wa s not voting like his father. My father kept up with local politics, was recognized as a gen tleman of some stature in the community, and many people asked his advice on matters, especia lly if it had to do with some action to be taken related to the church, with farming and anim als, or with the community.

My father's favorite song was, "Life's Railroad to Heaven." I have known of the song for a l ong time, but knew it only by part of the first line. However, on 18 Jan 1998 I heard the fol lowing on the radio:

(1) Life is like a mountain railroad with an engineer that's brave, We must make the run succ essfull from the cradle to the grave. Watch the curves, the fills and tunnels, never falte r , never quail; Keep your hand upon the throttle and your eye upon the rail.

(2) You will roll up grades of trial; you will cross the bridge of strife; See that Christ i s your conductor on this lightning train of life; Always mindful of obstruction, do your dut y , never fail; Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail.

(3) You will often find obstructions; look for storms of wind and rain; On a fill, or a curv e , or a trestle they will almost ditch your train; Put your trust alone in Jesus; never falt er , never fail; Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail.

(4) As you roll across the trestle. spanning Jordan's swelling tide, You behold the Union Dep ot into which your train will glide; There you'll meet the Superintindent, God the Father, Go d the Son, With the hearty joyous plaudit, "Weary pilgrim, welcome home."

Refrain

Blessed Savior, thou wilt guide us 'til we reach the blissful shore, Where the angels wait t o join us in Thy praise forever more.

Perry Hansford Leake died at home about 9 PM, on 18 Feb 1964 according to my mother's note s , and went "Where the angels wait to join us in Thy praise forever more."

Final arrangements for my father were made by Hawkins Funeral Home in Charlottesville, VA, an d he was buried in the Maple Grove Christian Church Cemetery on the Proffit Road. My mother w as buried beside him some 23 years later. My memories of him are a source of great satisfacti on.

[NI1454] Narrative by Preston H. Leake:

After earning his Ph. D., Norman's first employer was Rohm and Haas in Philadelphia, PA. He w orked there from June 1946 to Dec. 1948, when he accepted a job which lead to the position o f Research Director at S. E. Massengill Co. in Bristol, TN. He and his family lived at 245 Sh irley Drive in Bristol.

In 1959 he moved to Winston-Salem, where he became Research Associate Professor of Reproducti ve Biology at the Bowman Gray School of Medicine. His research concerned the metabolism of ca rbohydrates and fats during pregnancy. While Nixon was President, there was a fundamental cha nge in the amount and type of scientific work funded by government agencies, and Norman's wor k was terminated because of lack of funding. Norman changed jobs again, but this time it wa s not necessary to make a physical move.

In August 1971, he became Director of the Toxicology Laboratory at the Bowman Gray School o f Medicine. He was employed to analyze and identify "street drugs" confiscated by law enforce ment officers in Forsyth County and the City of Winston-Salem, NC. Norman was able to provid e analyses in much less time, thus expediting the court proceedings after arrests had been ma de. In 1994 as Norman approached 76 years of age, he continued this work. He was highly comm ended for his competence and for the fact that his work had dramatically shortened the time r equired to process many court cases involving illicit drugs.

Norman is author or co-author of 42 scientific publications, seven patents and is cited in ma jor scientific publications including: American Men and Women of Science and World Who's Wh o in Science.

During January 1996, the doctors discovered that Norman had multiple myeloma, a type of bon e cancer which was in the bone marrow. It was extremely painful for almost ten months. He s uffered a brain-stem stroke on October 31 and went to be with our ancestors on Sunday Novembe r 3, 1996, while in the Forsyth County Hospital, Winston-Salem, NC. A memorial service was h eld in St. Paul's Episcopal Church on Saturday 9 Nov 1996, in the same city. Burial of his a shes followed immediately after the service in a plot located inside a quadrangle of St. Paul 's Church. Final arrangements were handled by Frank Vogler and Son Funeral Home located o n R eynolda Road, Winston-Salem, NC.

[NI1455] Narrative by Preston H. Leake:

Keith was born in our home at Proffit, Virginia, the second of Perry and Lydia (Cox) Leake ' s five children. All five were born at home.

My earliest recollections of Keith are of watching him work on and play with radios and moto r cycles. He started playing with electricity and electrical devices during his teen years o r earlier, and made a life-time career of his interests in radio, television and, later, in h igh fidelity and stereophonic sound systems. He was also quite an able and effective mechani c for bicycles, motorcycles, automobiles and anything that used an internal combustion engin e .

In 1950, according to Hill's Charlottesville City Directory, Keith was employed as a repairm a n for Lewis Radio Service, located on 5th Street between Main and Market Streets. He was l iving at Proffit at the time and made the 20 mile round trip each day to the establishment ow ned and operated by Mr. Pat Lewis, who was a neighbor in Proffit, VA.

Keith told jokes and funny stories, and was also quite a practical joker. Sometimes he woul d use electronics for part of the surprise. He made quite an impression on the day of his gra duation from Earlysville High School. He had taken math classes under Miss Alice Elam, who wa s an outstanding and dedicated teacher as well as a strict disciplinarian. Keith wanted to ex press his appreciation, but the joker in him got in the way. He had built a device which wou ld produce a high voltage electric charge using two "D" cell flashlight batteries. The uni t fit on his belt, in the back, under his jacket. Wires ran to a switch in his left hand, an d to a plastic ring, having a copper button facing his palm, on his right hand.

Keith verbally expressed his warm appreciation to Miss Elam, extended his right hand to confi rm his remarks, and when he grasped her hand, he turned on the device and gave her a real jol t of electricity. For Keith, it was fortunate that he had already graduated; otherwise she m ight have blocked his receipt of a diploma. I should say that she was not the only one to b e so treated. He made a number of rings using the cellulose acetate from tooth brush handle s , and many of these had that little copper contact which delivered the electric shock to ma ny unsuspecting people. On the day of graduation he had already shocked a number of his fell ow graduates, and one of them may have dared Keith to do the same to Miss Elam.

When he was a student at Earlysville High School, Keith drove the school bus for several year s until he graduated. This was during the WW II period when older persons were unavailable fo r such jobs. (For the record, he received from the Albemarle County Selective Service Boar d , on 9 Nov 1945, a notice of classification of "2 A F", "Indefinitely", from Hugh Clark.)

For many years a motorcycle could have been Keith's trademark. I remember a Harley Davidso n " 74" that he owned. He even had a side car for it and took our mother and many other peopl e for rides. He also owned a four cyclinder "Indian" motorcycle. He took a spill on one of h is " Harleys" which tore his clothes and left a few bruises, but he never received any reall y serious injuries during this phase of his life to my knowledge.

Later he worked in the Safeway Stores as a meat cutter, was a short order cook for a while, a nd operated a lathe to make bearings and other auto parts; but his area of greatest and longe st interest was electronics and sound systems. In Charlottesville, he was employed by Lewis R adio, Carter's Music Store and by The Music Center.

It was through his interests in high fidelity systems and the music played on these systems t hat Keith met the true love of his life, Eva Soto-Figuero. She came looking for recordings an d high fidelity equipment in The Music Center where he worked, and after a while both of the m agreed they could make beautiful music together. Keith and Eva were married in 1958 and i n 1963 they moved to Winston-Salem, NC.

In 1966 they purchased a lovely home on Waterford Road overlooking a lake with ducks and gees e. Eva continued her research in microbiology using the electron microscope as her primary i nvestigative tool, and Keith was employed first by Electronic Wholesalers, later, by 21st Cen tury Electronics and, finally, by another electronics and sound systems company, Treyer-Yelve rton, from which he eventually retired.

During this period they traveled extensively in Europe, Mexico and in Central and South Ameri ca.

Some time during the late 1970's Keith began to exhibit physical characteristics eventually r ecognized by his physicians as Parkinson's Disease. When our grandfather Cox had this proble m , it was referred to as "creeping paralysis". That is an apt description of the the way th is dysfunction developed in Keith. He gradually lost the graceful movements of his feet fo r which he was well known; he could think but had difficulty getting the words out of his mou th , and he gradually lost his ability just to operate his stereo system. What a loss!

In 1990, Keith fell at their home and broke one wrist. Then during Christmas 1991, while vis iting us, he fell and broke a hip. After release from the hospital, Eva made every effort t o obtain additional help so that she could care for him at home. The help was not dependabl e , and after about three months Keith was moved, in May 1992, to the Brian Center, a nursin g home in Winston-Salem, NC. At that time, Keith was unable to walk or readily feed himself . He did respond in a variety of ways to what was going on around him, but in his own words w as "a prisoner in his own body."

Through Keith's last years, Eva, his wife of almost thirty-seven years, did, I believe, ever ything possible and many things which are almost unimaginable. She spent many hours with hi m every day for three years and stayed in touch with the nursing staff to make sure that they , too, were providing the best possible care. Eva was and is a true gem!

On May 16, 1995, Keith developed massive internal bleeding, apparently from a perforated ulce r. Doctors thought it to be inoperable, provided pain killers, oxygen and fluids, but Keit h finally succumbed during the early hours of May 18, 1995. His body was cremated by Vogle r a nd Son Funeral Home in Winston-Salem, NC, and his ashes were buried on July 8, 1995, nea r his parents, his brother, Milton, and his sister, Naomi, at the Maple Grove Christian Churc h Cemetery located north of Charlottesville beside Route 649, also called Proffit Road, abou t one half mile east of its intersection with Route 29.

I dug the small grave required for the urn containing Keith's ashes and said a few words abou t him as we listened to recordings of music that Eva knew to be some of his favorites. It wa s a delight, in one sense of the word, to encourage the 15 to 20 invited people to reminisc e with the group about Keith. Each person present spoke of him as unique; some said "witty, " or friendly, or loving and caring. Often repeated were the words "gentle" or "gentleman. " Some related stories of how he had helped repair a radio, a bicycle, a TV, or how he had b rought a spark to their lives with his humor and jokes. It was a good experience to celebrat e the life of a much loved and loving person.

As we finished, for that day, sharing our recollections about Keith, I filled the little gra v e and committed him to the earth from which each of us came. Roger Browning, pastor of Map l e Grove Christian Church, said the final prayer of that day, 8 July 1995.

About a month later, Eva returned from Winston-Salem, NC, with a gravestone for Keith. I s e t the stone in concrete at the place where his ashes were buried, and we recalled again th e p leasure of sharing life with him and the emptiness each had felt since Keith departed thi s ea rth.

[NI1456] Miss Lucille Bruce provided information about this gentleman's given names; she said it wa s Amos Pierce, while other sources showed his first names as, "Percy" and "A. Percival." Th e 1880 census recorded his name as "Percival," age 8. "Percy" is on his tombstone and is use d herein. Miss Bruce said, "He was such a GOOD man."

He and his wife were buried in the cemetery of Mt. Moriah Presbyterian Church at White Hall , Albemarle County, VA which I (PHL) visited on 14 July 2001. Dates herein are from their to mbstones.

[NI1457] Narrative by Preston H. Leake:

"Chief Master Sergeant Richard M. Leake, Sr. .. has received his second award of the U.S. Ai r Force Commendation Medal at McConnell AFB, Kansas."

"Sergeant Leake was decorated for meritorious service as sergeant major for the 355th Tactic a l Fighter Wing at Takhil Royal Thai AFB, Thailand. He is cited for his outstanding organiza tional ability and devotion to duty."

"The sergeant is an administrative superintendent at McConnell in a unit of the Tactical Ai r Command."

"He was assigned to the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II and is also a veter an of the Korean War. Sergeant Leake served during the Taiwan and Cuban crises."

Milton was also active in the Viet Nam War, spent about two years in Tehran, Iran; spent som e time at McConnell AFB, Wichita Falls, KS (1969); at Langley Air Force Base, Langley, VA, an d at Tyndall Field, FL, 1944).

According to headlines in The Wichita Eagle for June 27, 1969, "AF Sergeant to Direct Parade . " The article said in part, "In his 25 years of military experience, Chief Master Sergean t Richard Leake, has been around a parade or two." "He will be around to run a big one comin g this Sunday in his capacity as assistant parade marshall as Wichita kicks off its centennia l celebration with the Pageant of Progress Parade, starting at 3 p.m."

"Sgt. Leake of the 835th Air Division at McConnell AFB, is filling in for District Court Judg e Robert L. Morrison, parade marshall, who was admitted to the hospital this week."

"Sgt. Leake will be in charge of the marshalling area at Murdock and Main Streets and will ge t the parade started and baby it through to the end. 'I was quite honored to be asked to fil l in', he said Thursday. 'Judge Morrison had it well planned and organized. Thanks to Rober t Cory (parade committee chairman) and his committee, you'll see a good parade Sunday.'"

This record of his military career is far from complete, but one more letter will provide som e idea of the way Milton's officer viewed his deportment, dependability and contribution s t o the Air Force and its civilian community.

It was from Leroy J. Manor, Colonel, USAF, Commander, McConnell AFB, dated
13 August 1969 and addressed to, "Mrs. Perry H. Leake". It said:

"Dear Mrs. Leake, A few days ago I had the pleasure of officiating at a ceremony wherein you r son Richard reenlisted for another term of duty with the Air Force. This was importan t t o me because Richard is a key member of my staff. As Executive and Protocol Officer, h e is virtually my right-hand man. His thorough knowledge of military procedures coupled wit h his very fine reputation with civic leaders of the Wichita community would make him a diffi cult man to replace. He coordinates the important job of community relations for me in addit ion to his other work."

"To give you an idea of his reputation in the community, he was asked a short time ago to b e the Parade Marshal for a large Centennial parade held in the city of Wichita. This was a t remendous task, particularly since at the time they asked him there was little time left, an d the planning had been rather nebulous. Richard took the reins and organized the whole affa ir beautifully. The parade which lasted almost two hours and was observed by many dignitarie s , including Governors from eleven Midwestern States, went off without a flaw. The City offi cials were high in their praise of Richard which, of course, was good for the Air Force."

"I want you to know that we at McConnell Air Force Base are proud of Chief Master Sergeant Ri chard M. Leake, Sr. I wish you could have been here for the reenlistment ceremony, but sinc e you couldn't be, I am sending a picture of the occasion which I thought you might like to h ave. Sincerely, Leroy J. Manor, Colonel, USAF, Commander."

While at McConnell, Milton was appointed Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge during a period w hen President Johnson visited the Base, and it was on this occasion that the two men came t o know each other. Milton loved to tell stories about what he had to do to get the Presiden t to follow proper protocol during that visit.

During the 1970s, Milton began to experience heart difficulties. In 1980, he had open ches t surgery, including a by-pass operation at McGuire Veterans Hospital. A day after the operat ion, I spoke with his surgeon, Dr. Zent Petri, who told me that about 95% of the people who h ave this operation come out with significant improvement, about 2% die and the remainder liv e but are disabled. Dr. Petri said, "Your brother is in that last category and I am sorry . " During the operation they had found an aneurysm on his heart. Standard procedure was t o cut out the thinned area and sew the heart back together. In Milton's case the aneurysm wa s backed up by a big clot on the inside of his heart. Dr. Petri did his best to remove all o f this, but when the operation was complete and Milton's heart was started again, we found th at he was blind, could not speak and was paralyzed in his left arm and right leg. After mont hs in the hospital he was released sitting in a wheel chair, very depressed. In time he recov ered most of his capabilities and even drove his automobile and pickup truck. His short ter m memory was very compromised, and he never fully recovered the use of his right leg.

During his last years Milton was all around the Charlottesville area. He was president of th e Rivanna Ruritan Club and a member of V.F.W. Post #1827. He renewed his relationship with hi s first son, Dicky, and Dick's family. I think he genuinely loved Lynda, Dicky's wife, becau se he did many things to please her. He also visited his mother daily, attending to anythin g and everything around the house where she lived, running errands and doing whatever he coul d to make her comfortable and happy.

The doctors also discovered an aneurysm on his aorta during the by-pass operation but could n ot correct it at that time because of its location. Later, further surgery was deferred becau se they thought his condition would not allow another operation, this time from his back.

Milton died at his home sometime one evening after he had phoned to tell his 92 year old moth er good night. She was the last person who heard his voice. His funeral service was conducte d by Rev. Roger Browning at Maple Grove Christian Church where he had attended as a child, an d his three brothers, Norman, Keith, and Preston were among the pall bearers. Final arrangem ents were made by Hawkins Funeral Chapel, Charlottesville, VA.

His tombstone inscription is: "C M Sgt. US Air Force, WW II, Korea, Vietnam." Burial is nea r his parents at the Maple Grove Christian Church Cemetery on Route 649 about 1/2 mile east o f the intersection with Route 29, north of Charlottesville. His Social Security No. is 228-1 6 -8959.

[NI1458] Narrative by Preston H. Leake:

Like her three older brothers, Naomi attended Proffit Elementary School and Stony Point Hig h School. She also attended Earlysville High School, but she was restless in high school, dr opped out about 1940 and never graduated. She had artistic abilities, drew likenesses of peo ple and painted using oil paints, but never seriously pursued any of these capabilities.

She worked as an office assistant in Charlottesville for Dr. Via, who was a dentist; she als o worked in other capacities around that city. Later she moved to Richmond, VA, where, I thin k, she worked for one of the tobacco companies. It was during this period on a blind date, p robably in April 1942, that she met Walter McNulty, literally a candidate for the priesthoo d , and from Long Island, NY. They were married on October 10 of that year when this young la dy , raised as a Protestant, was eighteen. He was twenty two years old.

Walter, because of health problems, had dropped out of his studies to become a Roman Catholi c priest. He registered for the draft, but since no call came, he enlisted on March 17, 194 2 in Upton, NY. He was sent to Fort Eustis, VA, to Washington, DC, to Florida, then Texas, b ack to Florida and then to Richmond, CA, in preparation for duty in the Pacific Theatre of Wo rld War II as a radio operator. I don't know at what point in all these moves he and my sist er were married, but I do know that she joined him in Texas. Eventually he was transported t o Sydney, Australia, and to New Guinea, where the health problems, similar to muscular dystro phy, that made him drop from the seminary, made him unable to serve in the armed forces. H e was returned to the U.S., probably in 1945.

I do have a letter from Naomi to Keith, dated May 1944, in which she said, "Guess you know th at I am working over in New Jersey. Look, brother don't laugh, I mean WORK! Testing 18 cyli nder airplane engines. Some dirty job. But you never called grease dirt. Crawling around o n cat walks 30 feet from the floor, putting up or taking down an engine is not play. In fac t I stay scared stiff -- too bad about me, Huh???" ( Another Rosie the riveter??) "May be hom e any day now. I never know what I'll do next. Which ever way the spirit moves me. Can't see m to settle at any one thing."

Naomi and Walter were separated in 1948 or 1949 and divorced a few years later. They agreed t hat she would keep their daughter, "Cookie", as she had been called from birth, and that Walt er would raise their son, Thomas, named after our brother, Thomas Keith Leake.

Naomi was married twice more but had issue only from her first marriage.

Her second marriage was to Lyle Hiatt in 1951, and they lived initially at 608 Littlepage Str eet and later at 1300 Washington Avenue in Fredericksburg, VA. Lyle was a certified accountan t and had for years owned a firm in Fredericksburg, VA, where he served many small businesse s in and around the area.

After several years they moved to Florida where he continued to do accounting for business cl ients in Palm Beach Shores. Their address was 126 Linda Lane. Unfortunately, Lyle's health fa iled, and he turned to the idea of teaching with the hope that it would be less stressful.

First he earned a Masters Degree in business, finance or accounting. He had obtained a positi on on the staff at a college in Jackson, Tennessee, and that is where his heart gave up in 19 63.

In 1966 Naomi married Rudy Tomlin, who was employed in Clifton Forge, VA, by the C & O Railro ad. They lived in Clifton Forge, and that is where she died.

Her death came about nine years after her father's, but fourteen years before her mother die d . My mother never understood why God had "taken her daughter", and on many occasions aske d me to help her to know if this was "God's will." I knew that my mother had stayed with he r parents until they died; I knew that she had nursed her father, who had Parkinson's Disease , for 23 years, and I knew that her mother had lost a 14 year old son and a 21 year old daugh ter , but I had no answer for my mother, who had lost her only daughter. Those were excruciat ing discussions, and I could only share her loss.

Naomi's body was cremated and then buried in the Maple Grove Christian Church Cemetery, nea r her father's and mother's graves, on the Proffit Road, Route 649, about 1/2 mile east of it s intersection with Route 29, north of Charlottesville, VA. Hill and Irving of Charlottesvil le, VA, were in charge of final arrangements.

[NI1477] Date of her birth is from her tombstone, which is beside her husband's grave.
Date of her marriage is from the Louisa County, VA Marriage Register #3, page 86, line 22. Th is record also indicates that she was 16 years old when married. (from Preston Leake's notes)

[NI1478] John Loudan Bruce is buried in the Bruce Family Cemetery located at the "Headquarters" far m near Brown's Cove, Albemarle County, VA. Dates of his birth and death dates are from his to mbstone located there.
Lucille Bruce said that her father, John Loudan, owned a farm of about 150 acres in Brown's C ove, VA., where he raised, with the help of relatives, corn, wheat, cattle, and a variety o f vegetables and fruit. His half-brother, George, was a partner who cooperated with John in r unning the farm.

[NI1489] Miss Lucille Frances Bruce, at age 83, (in March 1999) remembered some of the names of the c hildren of Robert L. Bruce and his wife, Mollie Beddow. Those children are listed above wit h their parents. Miss Bruce said that the family lived in Brown's Cove, VA., about 200 yard s from the Brown's Cove Methodist Church. "Bob". as he was called, owned a house and about on e acre of land. He was a tenant farmer. She said he and his wife had about nine children. I t is assumed they were all born in Brown's Cove, VA.

(From Preston Leake's notes)

[NI1511] On Eugene J. Powells' and Cordelia S. Bruces' marriage record, he states he was born in Gree ne County, VA.
Both Cordelia S. Bruce and her husband, Eugene J. Powell, are buried in the Bruce Family Ceme tery, located at the "Headquarters" farm near Brown's Cove, Albemarle County, VA.

[NI1522] According to Lucille Bruce, her mother, Fannie, received her college training in elementar y school education at the University of Virginia and Madison College in Harrisonburg, VA. Sh e then went on to teach at Mount Fair School in Brown's Cove, VA., for about 37 years. She ma y have also served as postmistress at Brown's Cove, VA., for an extended period with her husb and's half-brother, George Bruce, acting as assistant postmaster.
Fannie (Maupin) Bruce was buried in the cemetery of Wesley Chapel in Free Union, VA.

(From Preston Leake's notes)

[NI1533] We met this lady in the summer of 1998 at the Windham retirement home in Crozet, VA., where s he has lived since about May 1996. She said her place of birth was at "Headquarters Farm" whi ch is the name of the actual building located in Brown's Cove in Albemarle County, VA. It i s situated on Route 629 a short distance off of Route 810. The home was constructed in at lea st two stages, the first was of wood with white weatherboard siding, while the second part wa s two stories of brick. It was started in 1769 by members of the Brown family, in later year s owned by a descendant, Thomas H. Brown. After the death of Thomas Brown in 1872, the plac e was purchased by Lucille's grandfather, Alman M. Bruce, in August, 1875. Behind the house t here is a family cemetery, containing the graves of about 25 members of the Bruce family an d their relatives. (See complete list later on in this book).

The unusual name "Headquarters" is thought to have originated because General Stonewall Jacks on used the home for his headquarters in 1862 during a brief period of the Civil War. Miss Br uce said the home has 13 or 14 rooms.

At the time of our interview with Lucille, she was 83 years old with good recall of certain p ast events, but like most of us who are no longer teenagers, she had problems with short-ter m memory. She was being monitored and treated for diabetes at that time.
She told us she had been employed for many years (fifteen to twenty years, she thought) at Ac me Visible Records in Crozet, Virginia, as a Stock Clerk, and then moved on to become the pos tmistress at Brown's Cove, Virginia, where she was born and continued to live until 1996.
She said that both her mother, Fannie Susan (Maupin) Bruce, and grandmother, Virginia Carolin e (Sprinkle) Bruce, had each been the postmistress at Brown's Cove.
The Brown's Cove United Methodist Church was for years a significant part of her life. Miss B ruce taught Sunday School, helped with the church's homecomings, held each year on the last S unday in July. Sometimes she would read a poem that she had composed for the occasion. Other s told us, "she was one of the pillars of the church." She said her favorite part of the Bibl e was Psalm 121 and began to quote it: "I will lift up mine eyes to the hills, from whence co meth my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth."
When asked about the subject matter of her poems, she said they had to do with friends, and w ith nature, such as the magnificent changes in the forest as the leaves put on a spectacula r performance each Fall. The beauty of snow in the Winter was also one of her favorite subjec ts. As we were looking through her Bible for information about her family members, a folded s heet of paper was found, and, to her surprise, it was one of her poems, written on July 13, 1 990, about a friend named Ginny. It is quoted in full below.

TO GINNY MY FRIEND

My friend, my pal, my buddy,
A friendship that's cherished most dear,
Down through the years we've traveled,
Midst memories that linger near.

The things we do together,
Seem to draw us closer each day.
Oft times through trials and tribulations,
As we travel down life's highway.

She is generous, kind and loving,
Doing all that she can,
To reach a hand of kindness,
By helping her fellow man.

To know her is to love her,
Just giving a word of cheer,
For those who seem so lonely,
She's a comfort to be near.

We all have comfort in knowing,
She's a loyal and trusting friend,
Always near in a crisis,
To help when there are fences to mend.

The love for her church and her neighbors,
Is far beyond compare,
Her loyalty to those who know her,
Will follow her everywhere.

To me she's always a buddy,
A friend and cherished Pal,
Matters not what roads we might travel,
She's just an Old Virginia Gal.

Written by an old friend, Lucille Bruce, 7-13-90


Up-date--Sadly, Miss Lucille Frances Bruce died at the Windham retirement home in Crozet, Vir ginia, on August 4, 2000.

[NI1555] Notes for George Bruce, Jr.:

In the Fayette County, KY Will Book 'A', dated Oct 1808, recorded Nov 1808:

Wife: Temporance Bruce

Daughters: Helby, Parmelia, Polly Grant

Sons: Warren, Waddle, Benjamin

Executor: Samuel Blair, Temporance Bruce

Witnesses: Alexander Colbard (Colvard?), James Gibson

[NI1616] Buried at Harriston, VA.

[NI1644] Buried in the Shifflet burial ground in Rockingham County, VA. (near Grottoes, VA)

[NI1655] Minor Hobart Bruce moved to Perry County, PA in the 1920's where he was a farmer and auction eer.

[NI1666] No spouse of Elizabeth "Betty" Bruce has been identified; it is possible, of course, that sh e never married.

Sources:

Gift of property from ELIZABETH (BETTY) BRUCE to her son, LOUDEN B. BRUCE, Sr.:

(1)From deed Book 23, Page 62, Orange County Courthouse, Orange, VA.

"Know all men by these presents that I, Betty Bruce, of County of Orange, and State of Virgin ia, for and in consideration of natural love and affection I bear for my son, Louden B. Bruce , as well as for the consideration of one dollar to me in hand, paid at or before the consent ing and delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have given, g ranted, and by these presents do give and grant unto the said Louden B. Bruce, his heirs, exe cutors, and administrators forever: two negros, to wit:, Jane and Simon, together with all th e rest of my estate, including two hundred and twenty five acres of land on which I now live , and my sister, Martha Bruce, now lives, and I, the said Betty Bruce, for myself, my heirs , executors, and administrators, the said land, negros and other property unto the said Loude n B. Bruce, his heirs, executors and against the claim of myself, my heirs, executors, and ag ainst the claim or claims of all and every person or persons whatever, shall and will warran t and forever defend by these presents, and I do covenant and agree with my said son, Loude n B. Bruce, that he shall have immediate possession of all the property herein before given a nd granted him. In testimony whereof, I have here unto set my hand and affixed my seal this 2 1st day of August, in the year eighteen hundred and three."
Betty Bruce

Witnesses:
James Goodall
Leonard Davis
Hastin Colyer

At a Court held for Orange County at the Courthouse on Monday the twenty sixth day of Septemb er 1803, this Deed of Gift was proved by the oath's of James Goodall, Leonard Davis, and Hast in Colyer, the witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded.
Teste:
Reynolds Chapman, Clk

(2) See also Orange County Deed Book 24, pages 493-494, for a transaction between Louden Bru c e and John Higden.

(3) Compare Deed Book 18, pages 459-460.

[NI1667] Enoch Davis Bruce moved to Dauphin County, PA

[NI1678] Nattie Bee Bruce was born April 2, 1904, the son of Reuben Davis Bruce and Margaret (Maggie ) Lamb.
Sadie Pearl Shifflett was born Dec. 25, 1909, the daughter of Benjamin V. Shifflett and Gerni e Florence
Coleman.

Nattie Bee's mother died when he was twelve. They were living in Rockingham County, VA. at th at
time. After his mother's death, he lived mostly with his Aunt Jane, his father's sister, at H arriston, Augusta County, VA. This is where he met Sadie Pearl. Her parents moved to Harristo n when she was nine years old. Nattie Bee and Pearl often saw each other at the home of mutua l friends, and when she was about fifteen, he started coming to her house with her brothers a nd some other young people. When he was 21 and she not quite sixteen, they ran off to Hagers town, MD., and were married there on August 17, 1925. Her sister, Eliza, and Nattie Bee's cou sin, Simpson "Smug" Morris, went with them and were their marriage witnesses.
They made the trip to Hagerstown, without her parents knowledge, in a Model T Ford. This wa s a round
trip of about 200 miles, which at that time and in a Model T, would not have been an easy tri p.

They made their home in Harriston, VA. on a rented farm of about 25 acres, growing and cannin g much of their food. Sadie Pearl also made almost all the clothes for the children as they a rrived. We still have the foot-operated sewing machine she used to make those clothes. Natti e Bee worked in factories in Waynesboro, VA., a distance of some 25 miles from their home. Of tentimes, he would walk the distance (some 4-5 miles) to the main road, Route 340, to catc h a ride to work, in good weather and bad, and then walk it again on the return trip after hi s shift.

They saved what money they could, and in 1946 were able to purchase a house with 2 acres of l and at Crimora, VA., which is about 10 miles south of Harriston. They became members of the F orest Chapel Church of Brethren, whose members welcomed them and their children as family. Be fore moving, they had lived too far from a church to attend regularly, but they had Bible stu dy/reading at home and the children were daily reminded of the watchfulness and the love of t he Lord. They had nine children, to whom they showed much love and Christian guidance. They m ade a happy home for their children and were affectionate to each other, family, and friends.

Nattie Bee died Dec. 28, 1968 from a heart attack. Sadie Pearl died Aug. 17, 1994. They bot h are buried in the Forest Chapel Church of the Brethren cemetery at Crimora, Augusta County , VA.

[NI1689] Ernest F. Bruce was killed in a mine accident sometime before 1911.

[NI1757] Lillian Edna, like two of her siblings, was born blind and attended the Virginia School fo r the Deaf and Blind in Staunton, VA., according to her cousin, Miss Lucille Frances Bruce.

[NI1758] Miss Lucille Frances Bruce said that Sarah Belle and her family lived with her mother, Corde lia. Sarah Belle was buried at "Headquarters Farm" in Brown's Cove, VA., and her birth and de ath dates are from her tombstone.

(From Preston Leake's notes)

[NI1759] Ellick's early death may have been caused by tuberculosis.

[NI1760] Miss Lucille Frances Bruce said that Hilma was born blind and had attended the Virginia Scho ol for the Deaf and Blind in Staunton, VA. As Hilma grew up, she was capable of doing many th ings. For example, she could do fine work such as knit, and also played the piano beautifully . She became a mother and raised one child.

Hilma was buried at "Headquarters Farm" in Brown's Cove, VA and her birth and death dates ar e from her tombstone located there.

(From Preston Leake's notes)

The following is an excerpt from George Foss' article "From White Hall To Bacon Hollow":

"A visit to Mrs. Hilma Yates' place: the road passes from interstate superhighway through de generative stages till a hand lettered sign STo YatesT points off the road down a twisting ru tted car path full of boulders and deep holes which test the underpinnings of the sturdiest v ehicle. You couldn't get there by mistake. You must really be looking for Mrs. Yates' plac e to find it. And although I've been there many times and stayed for as long as a week at a t ime, I've never been there for a day that someone did not come to visit. Not just neighbor fo lk from down the road but people from Charlottesville and Staunton and from as far away as Fl orida and Illinois. There is a steady stream of tortured vehicles bouncing up and down the ru ts STo YatesT. Mrs. Yates is a friendly and hospitable person.

Hilma enjoys her stream of visitors and often boasts of the distances they come to visit. He r favorite recollection is of two men who drove in from West Virginia on a bet. One, who kne w he had a sure thing, bet the other that he knew a woman who could thread a needle with he r tongue. They drove up the torturous road and Mrs. Yates performed the trick which she had l earned in a school for the blind children set up by missionaries in the district.

Mrs. Yates, almost totally blind, goes about her Sin houseT tasks in a confident and steady b ustle. Any visitor is sure to be presented with heaping plate of biscuits with home churned b utter and apple butter from a neighbor's kettle. Meals inevitably include Shog meatT of som e kind, fried apples and thick pan gravy. No one remains hungry at the Yates.

Hilma seems to be as much a part of the Blue Ridge Mountains as the hills themselves. She wa s born at SHeadquarters,T the big house that was once the center of the large Brown landholdi ng. She still lives on the old place in a log house which was once the overseer's home in sla very days. The original house consisted of a large main room, a kitchen and dining room and a n upstairs loft of bedrooms. This has been added to over its long span and now is a ramble o f rooms and additions which house the family as well as boarders and visiting friends. Hilma' s immediate family includes her brother Lloyd and her husband Al. Al was an outsider, not fro m Brown's Cove or even from Virginia. He came from the far away north, from Maine. He came t o Virginia, fell in love with Hilma and with the Blue Ridge and stayed. Al does all manner o f carpentry and odd jobs. Except for an occasional difference in speech pattern or accent, h e is indistinguishable in hospitality and graciousness from Hilma, Lloyd and all their neighb ors whom Hilma refers to as S us hilly billys.T

Lloyd Powell is Hilma Yates' brother and the same congenital disease that had blinded Hilma h as robbed Lloyd of all but a faded bit of vision. Lloyd takes care of all the outside chore s from working the garden and chopping firewood to milking the cows and slaughtering the hog s in the fall. Lloyd is a very quiet man who will spend hours just listening to the songs an d stories which pass about in the front room of his and Hilma's home. Lloyd is a consummate s tory teller and likes a joke or tall tale as much as anyone. If properly encouraged, especial ly if he is unaware of the recording machine, he can spin out a yarn with masterful timing an d pace in a voice so soft and modulated that it is like a musical performance. His speech i s a striking example of local dialect. Even a short response to a query about what he is doin g in the garden--SPullin' up weedsT--will rise and fall as gently as the hills.

For years, Lloyd unswervingly resisted all attempts to get him to sing. He protested that h e knew no songs. Finally after literally years of coaxing, he admitted to knowing a few song s which he learned when he was young from some fellows passing through. But they were Snot fi ttin'.T Finally after a great deal more badgering and having been solemnly assured that the r ecording machine was not anywhere near, he agreed to sing--SNow this song is called, 'Pull u p yore dress and I'll do the rest, under the bamboo tree!'T

Marybird McAllister served as my initial point of contact and the focal point of my interes t during my first trips into the Brown's Cove area. She is the archetypal mountain woman. He r age (SI'm the oldest one in Brown's Cove.T) and life story have combined to make her almos t an anachronism, the last of a species on the verge of extinction. Marybird could neither re ad nor write. (SMa and Pap never sent me to school. I wish they had of. I know I could of lea rnt.T) She was married at fourteen and bore eight children. She was forced to care for her ch ildren alone for a long period during the absence of her husband, Lem. She carried in her min d a large repertoire of songs which she constantly added to, and she never grew tired of sing ing, playing her banjo or listening to others make music.

In her late years she boarded with Hilma Yates, a first cousin once removed, and it was at Mr s. Yates' that I spent many evening listening and recording the songs Marybird pulled from he r long memory. Sometimes Marybird would ask us to write a letter for her. Her dictation woul d be a blend of personal notes, sayings and homilies quoted verbatim, and rhyming couplets ex tracted from one or another of her songs. The result was much like a literary crazy quilt lik e the ones she sewed together from countless scraps and pieces.

Marybird's perfect foil was Hilma's husband, Al. The two spent countless hours in intense bic kering. Al, a transplanted northerner from Maine, was not totally attuned to Marybird's South ern mountain ways and beliefs. The constant smoldering feud intensified upon the arrival o f a television set at the Yates. Al would become livid when Marybird broke into an old balla d right in the middle of one of his favorite shows. And Marybird resented the intrusion of su ch a disruptive device (SHe turns that thing on and you cain't make music in here.T)
She was delighted to point it out to visitors, however, and her concept of its electronic int ricacies was startling. S Watch Al there, he can turn them knobs and make 'em sing or dance o r whatever. Makes 'em do whatever he wants.T

Once during a break in singing and recording the TV was playing away. A popular crooner cam e on the screen in one of those dub-over arrangements where three harmony parts are pre-recor ded. So there was the singer mouthing his one melody line as out poured a perfectly blended q uartet arrangement of his own voice. Marybird sat bolt upright and her dim old eyes brightene d and she sat in rigid attention till the number was over. Then Marybird, who in her youth mu st have been a magnificent singer sighed, SLord, I never knew anyone could sing like that.T

[NI1761] Miss Lucille Frances Bruce said that Lloyd was born blind, but as he grew up was capable o f doing many things on the farm where they lived after he attended the Virginia School for th e Deaf and Blind in Staunton, VA. For example she recalled that Lloyd regularly put shoes o n horses and "never made a mistake". He also could milk cows.
Lloyd is buried at "Headquarters Farm" and his birth and death dates are from his tombstone l ocated there.

(From Preston Leake's notes)

[NI1762] Richard is thought to have died young from tuberculosis.

[NI1764] Helen continued to live in her parent's home, located about one-half mile from "Headquarters ". Dates shown for her birth and death are from her gravestone in the "Headquarters" cemeter y in Brown's Cove, VA. She is thought to have died from tuberculosis.

(From Preston Leake's notes)

[NI1765] Date of marriage was from Norford, page 21.

[NI1767] According to her obituary, Julia Bruce was the daughter of Amos Percy Bruce and Bertha Baber . She was a graduate of Mount Fair High School and a long-time member of Brown's Cove Unite d Methodist Church. She was buried at Mount Moriah Methodist Church with Rev. Frank Schumake r officiating.

[NI1770] According to her sister, Lucille, Mary Evelyn as a child was called "Ebelyn" by her father . As an adult she taught at a business school in the Valley of Virginia. The subject matter i ncluded shorthand and skills which would have been appropriate for a young lady of that perio d who wanted to work in a business office.

(From Preston Leake's notes)

[NI1772] Bernard Bruce's birth and death dates are from his tombstone located at "Headquarters Farm" , Brown's Cove, VA.

[NI1777] Martha Bruce apparently never married.

[NI1784] Alton M. Yates was born in Maine and was buried at "Headquarters Farm", Albemarle County, VA . His birth and death dates are from his tombstone located there.

[NI1785] Edward was buried at "Headquarters" in Albemarle County, VA. According to Miss Lucille Bruce , Edward was killed in an automobile accident. His birth and death dates are from his gravest one.

[NI1788] Subject: Re: George Bruce, et. al.
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 20:48:46 -0500
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]

Pete,

Good to hear from you.

I just received a picture of John Ramsey Blake and his wife, Julia Bruce Blake, from Rev. Fra nk Schumaker, who officiated at each of their funerals. On the back of the picture it said " Taken on our 50th wedding anniversary, 24 Dec 1981." So now, through the magic of arithmetic , we have the date of their marriage: 24 Dec 1931.

John Blake was an interesting gentleman. He was an outstanding craftsman, made fine furnitur e, and was hired to remodel "Headquarters" after his wife and others sold the property in 19 55. Julia owned a one-third share. John also wrote a number of letters to the editor of th e Charlottesville Daily Progress and two articles about the Browns and "Headquarters". He sa id the Bruces, starting with Almond, owned the property for 80 years, from 1875 to 1955.

All the best to you and Gernie,

Preston

Other Sources: Miss Lucille Frances Bruce, who said this gentleman did "beautiful wood work".

[NI1790] Lewis Allen Wood was killed during World War II.

[NI1794] Bernard Daniel, called "Bernie", died from injuries received in an automobile accident on Dec 1, 1993 in Charlottesville, VA.

[NI1805] Charlotte (Harner) Drumheller was a daughter of John Berkely and Mary Agnes (Weade) Harner.
She was buried April 12, 1999 in Augusta Memorial Park, Fishersville, VA.

[NI1842] According to Michelle Bruce, Harlen William Bruce and Mary Anna Lee Trapp were later divorce d; Harlen William re-married but she does not know his second wife's name; only that she wa s called "Babe". He had no children from his second marriage.

[NI1849] Ella Catharine McAlister's parents names are from Michelle Bruce, Pekin, IL.

[NI1875] John Alrich Josephson and Frederika Wilhemina Peterson came to America on the same ship; mar ried after they arrived. They came to America about 1880-1885 from Gutenburg, Sweden. The abo ve is per Meredith Louise (Josephson) Bruce, their grand-daughter, who currently (1999) live s in Amesbury, MA.

[NI1888] DARBY QUINN'S WILL
-----------------------------------
July 23, 1747 -- Darby Quinn, for love and goodwill, give, grant to my beloved daughter, Eli zabeth Bruce, all of my estate, as follows: negro Robin, negro Jane, and time of service o f a sow and all the service hereby indentured of a woman named Catherine McCoy, cattle, on e horse, one mare, 4 head of sheep, hogs, one featherbed and furniture, 2 iron pots, 1 smal l chest, one table, etc., one great Bible, 1600 pounds tobacco, Indian corn, great augor an d spinning wheel, 10 pounds cotton, etc. I give to my daughter Elizabeth Bruce.

Darby Quinn

Witnesses:
Robert Harman (could this be "Sherman"? - see below)
Lucy L. Tharman (could this be "Sherman"? - see below)
(Their marks)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From Orange County Order Book Number 6, 1747-1754

A Deed of Gift from DARBY QUIN to RICHARD QUIN was proved by the Oaths of ROBERT SHERMAN an d LUCY SHERMAN, the witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded.

A Deed of Gift from DARBY QUIN to ELIZABETH BRUCE proved by the Oaths of ROBERT SHERMAN and L UCY SHERMAN the witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other mention of Darby Quinn's plantation on Beautiful Run:

SOrange County embraced St. Mark's Parish in 1734 when it was formed. In 1740, "for the conve nience of the Minister and people" the Parish divided and Orange County was made into a new P arish called St. Thomas Parish.T

SThere were three early churches in St Thomas Parish - Pine Stake, Middle or Brick Church an d the "Upper Church".T

SUpper Church was situated near "Old Cove's Ford" and was the oldest of the three. The Middl e Church was situated on a farm now owned by J. P. Taylor near where the Church Run Road cros ses Church Run and was built earlier than 1740, and the "Pine Stake"Church stood about a mil e and a half east of Everona, and the spot can be located at this time by some of the remain s of the old church. It was built prior to 1743, as an old petition in the Clerk's Office o f that date refers to it.T

The Clerk of Upper Church of St. Thomas Parish used to travel between Darby Quinn's Plantatio n and the River - it was used as a "horse way". This plantation is where Beautiful Run emptie s into the Rapidan River. He used this to go from his house to the Church. There is mention o f Mr. Quinn erecting a barrier at some point and the clerk petitioning to get the barrier rem oved because he had to go out of his way to go around the plantation.

S"During the Rev. War there was not a regular minister, but the Rev. Matthew Maury of Albemar le preached occasionally; Henry Frye, a Methodist , preached occasionally and James Waddell , the blind Presbyterian had charge for 2 years at the Old Brick Ch., and then Charles O'Neil l, from ca 1790-1800 and then again for a few years the Parish was without and then again Mat thew Maury cared from 1826 to ca 1830 Geo. A. Smith had charge of both St. Mark's and St. Tho mas preaching twice a month in St. Thomas.T

SSt. Thomas Church at Orange was built in 1833.T

[NI1938] Robert Bruce was stillborn.

[NI1963] Ben Shifflet's wife's name was gotten from Eugene Powell from Greene County, VA.

[NI1966] Laverta Jean (Bruce) Coffey was killed in an automobile accident. She is buried in the Mounta in Top Baptist Church cemetery at Love, VA. (at top of the Blue Ridge Mountains).

A Motherus Day Tribute to "Bubba" Jean (Bruce) Coffey

By Lynn Coffey May 10, 1998

Her name was Laverta Jean (Bruce) Coffey but her four children and several others she raise d affectionately called her "Bubba Jean", and the nickname stuck. In high school, the first t ime she laid eyes on a quiet blond-haired boy by the name of Saylor, she announced to everyon e, SThatus the boy Ium going to marry,T even though they had not been formally introduced. I t was something she knew in the depths of her heart and as fate would have it, they married r ight after graduation. Becoming Saylorus wife (or Billy, as his family called him), brough t a different way of life right from the start. Like so many young couples, they started ou t married life living with Billyus parents until they could build a house of their own in th e remote mountain village called Love. Always a homebody, Laverta wanted nothing more from li fe than to be a good wife to the husband she adored and called Smy honeyT, and to have his ch ildren. They had four: Teresa, David, Mike, and Rebecca, who were the delight of their mother us life. Laverta was a naturally shy woman when around people she didnut know, but at home o n her own turf, she was an outgoing lady with a quick wit, making everyone around her laugh . I made her acquaintance in 1980 when our family moved to Love and we became neighbors wit h the Coffey family. I remember interviewing them in 1983, taking their picture by an old ha y rake in the field next to their house, as I wrote a story about bluegrass music. The Coffey us were a family blessed with an abundance of talent in the musical field. From the playing o f stringed instruments to their beautiful vocals, they were always in demand at gospel sing s and church homecomings.Laverta played the upright bass and I can see her still, in my mind us eye, plucking those strings, singing in her low alto voice. She had short black hair strea ked with gray and merry brown eyes. Her ample lap was always filled with squirming children o r some type of animal, both of which sheud rise to the defense of if she thought someone wa s mistreating them. But what I remember best about Laverta was her laughter - rich and full b odied just like the rest of her. Just thinking of it, if I close my eyes, I can hear the soun d of her laughter even after all these years. I remember the time she slipped on the ice walk ing over to Billyus parents house one winter evening, severely breaking her ankle in the proc ess. A few days later I was delivering the Backroads to my mountain neighbors and came in th e door to see her laying on a hospital bed with her foot propped up. SCome on in and sign m y cast, S she yelled good naturedly, and she wasnut satisfied until I had written my John Hen ry and a bit of nonsense on it. Sometime in the middle 1980us, I began attending the little c ountry church on top of the mountain where the Coffeys were members. I loved sitting one ro w behind them, watching their crazy antics as they came in for services. At a time when my ow n marriage was disintegrating, and it pained my heart to see such unabashed joy in a family , it also strengthened my belief that good marriages were still possible. I watched as Lav ertaus quiet faith grew in the years that followed, and her children knew they had a mother t hat prayed for them each day. We began singing at church together along with her youngest dau ghter, Bec, and some of our practice sessions were pretty hilarious, as I remember.It fille d a void in my heart being around people who still knew how to laugh. Our friendship began t o grow as I found out we both shared the same interest in photography, and Laverta had set u p a makeshift film processing lab in the bathroom of her home where she developed the 5 b y 7 prints she took of the family. She had just begun going with me on some of my Backroads i nterviews when the unthinkable happened R Lavertaus life ended in an auto accident at the you ng age of 42. It completely devastated the family and the whole community, leaving us numbe d and raw. There were so many people at her funeral that they had to open the church window s and doors so the people standing four deep outside could hear the service. Healing was a sl ow process but gradually the family began to go on, their faith deepening through the tragedy . Five years later another unthinkable thing happened. The friendship that Billy and I had sh ared over the years as neighbors suddenly caught fire and we were married in the spring of 19 93. I found myself living Laverta's life, with a supportive husband, four more children, an d the grandchildren I know she would have loved and gathered in her lap. While we were movin g in our new cabin I came across the last studio portrait of Laverta and Billy in one of th e closets of his former home. I dusted it off, brought it home and put it on the wall where a ll our other family pictures hang, so everyone could see and know she is a welcome presence i n our home - a dedicated Godly woman who loved and prayed for her family. And that is why, o n this Motherus Day, Iud like to pay tribute to the special woman who will always be revere d and remembered by those who loved SBubba Jean.T

[NI1968] 1900, Greene County, VA census, living with father in grandmother's household, born Oct. 189 3, age 6.

Marriage date and location from Eugene Powell.

[NI1999] Information re Richard Quinn, Sr. and his wife and children is from a posting on the Quinn G enForum by Sherron Logan dated Feb 18, 1998. She states that James Quinn was her 5th great-gr andfather and that he and his family ultimately moved to Rockingham County, VA.
She also states that James' daughter, Mary Eleanor Madison Quinn (her 4th great-grandmother) , married Fielding Harrison, a son of Colonel Benjamin Harrison of Rockingham County, VA i n 1800, and in 1803 they moved to Christian County, KY. They lived there until about 1819 whe n they moved to Sangamon County, IL., where they remained.
The "Madison" in Mary Eleanor's name may indicate that Richard Quinn, Sr's wifes' last name w as Madison.

[NI2022] Calvin died at age 19 from injuries received in an automobile accident along Route 340 nea r Elkton, VA. He is buried at Augusta Memorial Park Cemetery at Fishersville, VA.

[NI2027] Notes for TEMPERANCE COLVARD:
Albemarle County Deed Book 15, Page 112

"The Commonwealth of Virginia to Rice Garland and Garland Carr...Justice of the Court of Albe marle County, Greetings, whereas GEORGE BRUCE and TEMPERANCE his wife, have conveyed unto Reu ben Wayt one certain lot or parcel of land lying and being in the Town of Milton and known i n the plan of said town by No. 3 and whereas the said Temperance cannot conveniently travel t o our County Court of Albemarle to make acknowledgment of the said indenture, these are there fore to command you that you go to the said Temperance and examine her privily and apart fro m her said husband whether she willingly signed and sealed the said writing and consents tha t the same shall be recorded in the Court of the County aforesaid and ____? her acknowledgmen t and consent so taken, you send and certify enclosed to the Justices of our County Court afo resaid together with this said indenture and this writing."

Witness: John Nicholas Clerk of said Court at the Courthouse
This third day of April, 1804 and in the 28th year of the Commonwealth

And underneath the above was written:

"We the undersigned have proceeded to take the examination of Temperance Bruce apart and fro m her husband and she acknowledges that her signature was voluntarily and of her own free wil l without restraint or threats from her husband."

Signed: Rice Garland, Garland Carr
Dated: April 2, 1805

George Bruce had bought this lot in the new town of MILTON some twenty years earlier. In th e book, "History of Albemarle County, Virginia" it states, (about the selling of lots) in par t, ".....the first disposed of was bought by Christian Wertenbaker, and among others who beca me lot holders were Joel Shiflett, Edward Butler, Richard Price, James and John Key, Willia m Clark, Jacob Oglesby, GEORGE BRUCE, and Joseph J. Monroe."
This was around the year 1789 so the George Bruce who bought the lot was probably the younge r George Bruce (Jr.).

From the Albemarle County WB, page 11:
Will of Benjamin Colvard, father of Temperance Colvard

"In the name of God amen. I, Benjamin Colvard, of the County of Albemarle and Parish of Frede ricksville, do constitute and appoint this my last will and testament.
Item: My will and desire in the ... Of all my debts to be duly paid.
Item: I give to my grandson Benjamin Bashford Colvard one bed and furniture in the possessio n of George Bruce, my son-in-law.
Item: All the remainder of my estate both real and personal I lend unto my loving wife, Susan na Colvard, during her natural life and after her decrease I desire all the same may be sol d and the money arriving therefrom to be equally divided among three sons, Will, Benjamin, an d George. Nicholas N. Lewis and Hudson Martin executors of this my will and testament in test imony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this eleventh day of Febuary 1786."

Signed: Benjamin J. Colvard

Sign, seal and publish in the presence of ....Payne, William Day, Nicholas N. Lewis, Jr., Ste phen Hughes

At a court held for Albemarle County, fourteenth day of April, 1786. The last will and testam ent of Benjamin Colvard was brought in Court and proved by the oaths of ...Payne, Nicholas N . Lewis, Jr. and Stephen Hughes, the three witnesses thereto and order to be recorded.

[NI2036] Notes for WILLIAM BRUCE:
Albemarle County Deed Abstracts, 1772-1776, pages 120-121

William Bruce purchased from John and Agnes Mullins on June 8, 1775, 300 acres of land in Alb emarle County adjoining "Benjamin Brown".
Note: Benjamin Brown was a brother of Captain Brightberry Brown of Brown's Cove, VA.

Albemarle County Deed Book 11 page 34 1794

"Know all men by these presents that William Bruce and Ann his wife of the County of Surry i n the State of North Carolina, do hereby appoint, constitute and nominate by these presents , ordain Richard Bruce of the County of Albemarle and the State of Virginia our lawful attorn ey to act and transact all and every kind of business which may have to do and transact withi n the State and Dominion of Virginia, but more especially for carrying into effect the sale o f a certain tract of land lying and being in the said County of Albemarle wherein we formerl y lived on the south end of the long mountain containing 300 acres by estimation to be the sa me more or less and bounded by a certain bounds mentioned in the deed made by John Mullins t o us and we hereby impower and authorize the said Richard Bruce, our said attorney, shall d o respecting the sale of the said land, as if it had actually been done by ourselves in perso n and the same shall forever bind us our heirs to firmly to abide and stad(sic) to any act ou r attorney shall do respecting the same. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands an d seals this third day of March, 1794."

Signed: William Bruce, Nancy Bruce
Witnesses: James Ballard, George Bruce, James Kennedy

Note: The fact that George Bruce witnessed this official transaction is another indication th at William Bruce is possibly George Bruce's son.

Orange County DB 21 page 279 26 Oct 1797
"This indenture made this twenty sixth day of October one thousand seven hundred and ninety s even between George Bruce of the State of Virginia and the County of Montgomery of the one pa rt and William Bruce of the State and County of the other part. Witness that the said Georg e Bruce for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred pounds in hand paid by the said Wi lliam Bruce the receipt whereof the said George Bruce doth hereby acknowledge hath bargaine d sold and confirmed unto the said William Bruce and his heirs for one certain tract or parce l of land lying in the County of Orange and State of Virginia containing 800 acres the same m ore or less being the tract of land I formerly lived on being the same land I purchased o f a certain Richard Beale and bounded at the present by the lands of Thomas Harvey, Thomas Da vis (dec'd), John Haney, Nathan Mallory, Joseph White, Alexander Ogg, and James Earlies an d I do hereby warrant and defend the right and title to the aforesaid tract of land free fro m the claim or claims of any person or persons whatsoever and do hereby make unto the said Wi lliam Bruce a good and lawful right in fee simple to the same him and his heirs forever toget her with all the appurtanances thereunto belonging to have and to hold the same for their pro per use and behoofs for ever with every privilege and emolument arising from the same. In wit ness whereof I have set my hand and seal on these presents the day and year above.
Signed: George (X) Bruce
In the presence of: John Myers, Frederick FH Helvie, Peter Helvie

Note: William Bruce's son, Garland, was married to a Mottlelena Helvey. Peter Helvie was he r father and probably Frederick Helvie was related also, possibly her brother or uncle.

At a court held for Montgomery County the seventh day of November 1797
"This deed of a bargain and late of from George Bruce to William Bruce was presented in cour t and proved by the oaths of John Myers, Frederick Helvie and Peter Helvie the witnesses ther eto subscribed and ordered to be certified to the County of Orange."
Teste: Charles Taylor CMC

At a court held for Orange County on the twenty seventh day of November 1797.
"This deed from George Bruce to William Bruce was certified to the court of Montgomery Count y and ordered to be recorded."
Teste: James Taylor COC

Orange County DB 21 page 404 25 Sep 1798

William Bruce sold to William Blakey for eighteen pounds 200 acres of the above named propert y. This 200 acres was bounded by lands of Nathan Mallory, Elizabeth Bruce, Thomas Harvey, Mar tin Collier, Thomas Davis (dec'd), and John Haney.
Signed by: William Bruce, Anna Bruce
Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of Alexander Ogg, Thomas Harvey, Bird Snow

Note: The Elizabeth Bruce mentioned in this deed is the daughter of George and Elizabeth (Qui nn) Bruce, Sr., therefore, if our supposition is correct, she would be William Bruces' sister .

Will of William Bruce
Giles County, VA
Will Book "A" page 125
"In the name of God amen I William Bruce of the State of Virginia and County of Giles being p erfect health of mind and memory and calling to mind the mortality of my body I commend my so ul to God that gavest? and my body to be buried at the discretion of my executors and as ____ ___? the worldly goods that it has pleased God to bestow on me I dispose of in manner and for m following: I give and bequeath to my beloved _____? wife Ann my whole estate both real an d personal during her widowhood and then to be equally divided between my six children Vincen t Bruce, Garland Bruce, Joshua Bruce, Elizabeth Fanning, Mary Thompson, and Susanah Bruce i n witness hereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this thirteenth day of October in the y ear of our Lord 1811."

I appoint Joshua Bruce my whole and sole executor.

Wlliam Bruce (seal)

Testee:
John Kerr
William Kerr
John Wray?

At Giles January Court 1814
This last will and testament of William Bruce, deceased, presented in court and proven by th e oaths of John Kerr and William Kerr, two of the witnesses thereto subscribed and ordered t o be recorded.
Testee: David French

[NI2038] Vincent Bruce, Virginia to Ohio
Posted by: vickie (bruce) bales
Date: July 24, 2000 at 23:28:35

I am looking for the descendants of Vincent Bruce and Elizabeth "Mattie" Hearne. Vincent b. D ec.21,1773 Va., died March 1839, Gallia/Lawrence Co., Ohio. Vincent married Elizabeth Hearn e the daughter of John Thomas Hearne and Ann Chesney, abt. 1798, Wythe Co., Va.. About 1815 t hey moved to Gallia, Ohio. In the 1840 census, Elizabeth was living in Lawrence Co.,Ohio.

[NI2039] The following excerpts are from the "Bruce Historical Papers #2" edited by the Right Reveren d Michael v. Stambach-Bruce and published by The Bruce Family Historical Society - 1993:

"In the manuscript, "Southwestern Virginia Bruces and A Few Allied Families" (not dated), com piled by Andrew Marion Bruce (Kentucky State Archives), the father of William, Richard, and C harles Bruce is given as George Bruce. (Sorry, I don't have a copy nor do I know how to ge t a copy). The source for this lineage appears to be straightforward and reliable. The lineag e is recorded in an old book which had been forwarded to Mr Andrew Marion Bruce by Miss Vivia n Bruce Huntsman of South Bend, Indiana. On the inside back cover of the book is written:"

"William D (or L) Bruce His Book
God gave him grace therein to look
Not only look but understand
Learning is better than house and land
When house and land is gone and spent
Then learning is most excellent
Garland Bruce"

Garland Bruce was the second son of William Bruce and Anne Nancy (Ballard) Bruce. Also, in th e same book, at the end of a chapter on page 337, is written:

"Mount Pleasant, Iowa, May 1st, 1858
My Great grandfather's name was George
My grandfather's name was William
My father's name was Garland
My name is Zachariah M. Bruce
My father's brothers were named Vincent and Joshua."

[NI2042] Re: Wythe-Bland CoVa -Joshua Bruce
Posted by: Carol Shaw Date: March 21, 1999 at 09:52:58
In Reply to: Re: Wythe-Bland CoVa -Joshua Bruce by BRENDA REPASS FINCH of 3898

Dear Brenda,
My information was primarily gathered from relatives who lived in WVa 20 years ago. I do hav e some dates but unable to tell you if they can be proven at this point. I recently moved t o Oregon and most of my research is packed away for now. This is what I have.
Joshea Bruce b.10-23-1778, from Albermarle, then Wythe Co. d.1865.Married Sarah Hearn b.179 4 d.1847. I believe they are buried on a Bruce farm. A son, John Bruce married Catherine Robi nett (b1805 d. after 1870) moved to Mercer Co. WVa @ 1850.They were farmers. I have a photo o f paintings done of them. William Bruce was one of their children(b.1839? in Va. d.19130. Mar ried to Mary A E Johnson then to Martha Hale(my line)They are buried at Pisgoh Cementary in M ercer Co. My grandfather, Charles L. Bruce was the last child of William and Martha. I hav e a photo of my grandfather with some of his brothers and sisters.My father was Randolph Bruc e and I am Carol Bruce.I would like to correspond with you about this family if we have a com mon interest in family . You may write me at [email protected] Thanks!Carol

[NI2052] Notes for CHARLES BRUCE:

In the "Bruce Historical Papers #2", 1991, Michael v. Stambach-Bruce has the following regard ing Charles Bruce:

"William Bruce of Albemarle County, VA., indebted to Charles Bruce on account - $38.50 - fo r which said William Bruce has assigned $100 note to said Charles Bruce that was due him by h is brother Charles Bruce of South Carolina for which the said Charles Bruce is to pay himsel f out of and between the balance to the said William Bruce."

As witness my hand this 15 Sept, 1804
Agent for Charles Bruce George ________?

Joshua Bruce (This name was also on the original document)

At another place in the same paper, Michael Stambach-Bruce writes:

"Charles Bruce (proven brother of Wm., in S.C. in 1804). This Charles was previously believe d to have been Charles Perry Bruce of Anderson Co., S.C., who has subsequently been identifie d with the Charles Co., MD family of Bruce. Charles, brother of William, may well be Charle s Austin Bruce of Greenville, S.C."
------------------------------------------------------
Charles Bruce, South Caroline
Posted by: vickie
Date: June 17, 2000 at 03:37:48

I am looking for information on a Charles Bruce who was born about 1745, died abt.1820, Gree r Co., South Caroline. He may have been the brother to William Bruce who was born 1752, Orang e/Albemarie Co., Va., died Jan.1814 in Giles Co., Va.. William married Anna Ballard. Charle s may have had a brother named Henry Bruce too.
Can anyone help me?
------------------------------------------------------
Re: Charles Bruce, South Caroline
Posted by: John Bruce
Date: June 26, 2000 at 13:10:33
In Reply to: Charles Bruce, South Caroline by vickie

charles austin bruce died 1833 and is buried at midford baptish church.Had sons joel,silas,ba ilous,
-------------------------------------------------------

Posted by: Anita McCray
Date: May 07, 2001 at 18:27:32

I am looking for info on Bailous Bruce, son of Charles Austin Bruce, I believe my Nancy Bruc e who m. George W Lovell may have been his daughter - she named one son, Bailous Lovell and w as living in St. Clair County AL in 1825 - there was a Bailous Bruce there in the 1830 census - I believe he was her brother who moved on to another part of Alabama.
Can anyone help?

Charles Bruce, Sr. probably had at least one more male child.

[NI2053] Source for Joel Bruce's wives and children:

"Bruce Historical Paper #2" by Michael v. Stambach-Bruce.

[NI2054] Was in Edgefield County, SC by 1860.

Family information for Silas Bruce is from "Bruce Historical Paper #2" by Michael v. Stambach -Bruce.

[NI2056] Was in Buncombe County, NC by 1810.

Family information for Bailous Bruce is from "Bruce Historical Paper #2" by Michael v. Stamba ch-Bruce.

Bailous' first name has also been spelled "Baylis".

[NI2057] Notes for BENJAMIN BRUCE:
The descendant list for Benjamin Bruce was received from Teresa Walker, (email: twalker@iland .net).

In the Bruce Historical Papers #2, 1991, Michael v. Stambach-Bruce writes:

"Benjamin Bruce is presumed to have been a member of the Bruce of Dark Run set, Orange and Cu lpeper Counties, VA. The circumstantial evidence to support this assertion is very considerab le and rests on the facts that Benjamin's father-in-law lived adjacent to Darby Quinn, father -in-law of George Bruce of the Dark Run set; in addition, Ambrose Bush, who was a near cousin /nephew of David Bruce and the others of Dark Run, testified in the Rev. War pension applicat ion that his father, Phillip Bush (brother-in-law of David Bruce), had "lived neighbors to th em" for as long as he could remember, referring to Benjamin Bruce."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------
Benjamin Bruce, of Albemarle County, VA., married Mildred "Milly" Watts, born 1753, moved t o Clark County, KY in 1784. "Milly" Watts was the daughter of Jacob Watts. (See notes under M ildred Watts).

Their Children were:(1) Sarah Gordon
(2) Barnet Bruse
(3) Elizabeth Haggard
(4) Nancy Wills
(5) Austin Bruse
(6) David Bruse
(7) Agnes Wills
(8) Ely Bruse

Will of Benjamin Bruce. Family Bible of Jacob Watts. Information from Kathryn Owen, Historian , Clark Co., Kentucky.

Will of Benjamin Bruce, Clark(e) Co., Kentucky, admitted to court January, 1810, towit: "KENT UCKY, Clarke County, Be it remembered that the following are wills, inventories, etc., admitt ed to and order to be recorded by the Court of the County aforesaid commencing January 1810 a nd in the 18th year of the Commonwealth."

"Bruse's (sic) Will) In the name God Amen. I Benjamin Bruse of the County of Clark being bu t in a low state of (word omitted) but sound in sense and memory but calling to mind the unce rtainty of this mortal life do make this to be my last will and testament in manner & form fo llowing--Viz) I commend my Soul unto Almighty God who gave it to me and my body to be decentl y enterred at the descretion of my Executor.

Item As touching my worldly estate which it hath pleased God to bless me with I will and bequ eath it in the following manner and form. I give and bequeath unto MILLY BRUSE my dearly belo ved wife the negro man Charles and the negro woman Lets and my plantation and all my loose pr operty during her life and then whichever child the two old negroes is willing to life with t hey are to take them and pay each of my children seven dollars a piece so long as they are ca pable of labor and then the children is jointly to maintain them so long as they should live . My plantation and what property there is to be sold and the money equally divided amongst a ll my dear children. I give and bequeath unto my daughter SALLY GORDAN a negro boy and twent y dollars. I give and bequeath to my son BARNET BRUSE a negro boy Jery. I give and bequeat h a negro girl Winnie when she gives up the negro named Isaac to my daughter ELIZABETH HAGARD . I give and bequeath estate interlind by Benjamin Bruse unto my daughter NANCY WILLS a negr o girl by the name of Fan. I give and bequeath unto my son AUSTION BRUSE a negro boy name Isa ck and a bead (bed) and a cow. I give and bequeath to my son DIRRET BRUSE a negro girl name J in and a horse and a cow. I give and bequeath to my daughter AGNIS WILLS interlind and bea d a negro girl by the name of Lin. I give and bequeath to my son ELY BRUSE a negro girl by th e name of Linet and a horse saddle and bridle and a bead (bed) and furniture and a cow to rec eive it at the age of twenty one.

Item Lastly I constitute and appoint my friends David Hapton (Hampton) and Dollard Collins Ex ecutors to this my last Will and Testament and my dear wife as above hereby revoking all form er Wills by me made. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal thi s the Sixth day of December Eighteen Hundred and Nine."

Benjamin Bruce (Seal)

Signed and sealed in the presents of Elias Browning

Stephen (X his mark) Lewis

At a court held for Clark County 11nd January 1810--This Last Will and Testament of Benjami n Bruce Deceased was proven in Court by the Oaths of Elias Browning and Stephen Lewis witness es thereto subscribed and ordered to be recorded AND on the motion of Milly Bruce one of th e Executors in the said will named who made oath thereto as the law directs certificate is gr anted for her obtaining a probate thereof in due form giving security whereupon she togethe r with Barnett Bruce Austin Bruce William Gordan and Nathaniel Haggard entered into and ackno wledged their bond in the penalty of $5000 conditioned according to law for the due and faith full administration of the said decedent's estate and performance of his Will. Liberty bein g reserved for the other Executors therein named to join in the probate when they shall thin k fit.

Teste James P. Bullock

[NI2058] Notes for MILDRED WATTS:
Albemarle County Deed Book 11 Page 442

Deed of Gift from Jacob Watts to his daughter, Milly Bruce dated 7 Sep 1795

"Jacob Watts for and in consideration of love and parental affection.......I give to my daugh ter, Milley Bruce, one hundred acres of land situate, lying, and being in the County of Albe marle, it is a part of the tract wherein I now reside, adjoining the land of a certain Wm. Fr etwell on the little north fork of the James River".

Signed: Jacob Watts

Note: In this deed of gift, Jacob Watts also gives at least one hundred acres of land to al l his children.

Jacob Watts (father of Milly Watts) became the owner of more than eleven hundred acres on th e north fork of the Rivanna, near Piney Mountain. He was one of the early Methodist minister s of the county. He died in 1821, at the age of ninety years. His wife was Elizabeth, daughte r of the first Richard Durrett, and his children William, John, Elijah, Fielding, Mildred, th e wife of a Bruce, Mary, the wife of Hezekiah Rodes, Frances, the wife of Joseph Edmondson, N ancy, the wife of Henry Austin, and Agnes, the wife of John Huckstep.
The children of Elijah were Sarah, the wife of Kenza Stone, who removed to Bourbon County, Ke ntucky, Mildred, the wife of James Dickerson, Elizabeth, the wife of John O. Padgett, Nancy , the wife of Wiley Dickerson, and Frances, the wife of James Malone.

[NI2059] She is shown on the 1850 census for District No. 2, Clark County, Kentucky, Page 30 (59), Dwe lling 417/Family 418, as follows:
SARAH GORDON, age 75, RE Val $2000, born Virginia; Milly Cooper, age 13, born Kentucky. (A Co oper family is enumerated following Sarah Gordon, and Milly is probably a child of this Elean or Cooper (possibly a widow) and is living with Sarah as a helper.)

Burial: Clark County, Kentucky

[NI2060] State of Missouri,County of Mercer:
On this 14th day of April A.D. 1855 personally appeared before me Thompson B. Harrington, a j ustice of the peace within and for the County and State aforesaid, Barnet Bruce aged about se venty five years a resident of the County of Mercer in the State of Missouri who being duly s worn according to law relates that he is the identical Barnet Bruce who was a private in th e company commanded by Captain John Bush in the Seventeenth Regiment of Kentucky Militia comm anded by Col. Francisco in the war with Great Britain declared on the 18th day of June 1812 t hat he was drafted at Clark County in the State of Kentucky on or about the year 1812 or 181 3 for the term of six months & continued in active service in said war for the term of abou t forty days & was honorably discharged that he has heretofore made application for bounty la nd under act of 28 Sept 1850 and received a land warrant No. 23.641 for Forty acres which h e has since legally transferred & disposed of and cannot have return of.

He makes this deposition for the purpose of obtaining the additional bounty land to which h e may be entitled under the act approved March 3rd 1855 he also declares that he has not appl ied for nor received under this nor any other act of Congress any bounty land warrant excep t the one above referred to and the
one now presented.

Barnet (his X mark) Bruce [seal]

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I certify that Barnet Bruce a soldier having been mustered into the service of the United Sta tes in my company of Kentucky Infantry Detached Militia, composing a part of the 17th Regt. c ommanded by Lieut. Colonel John Francisco, to serve a tour of duty not exceeding six months , has completely performed the said tour by faithfully serving his country forty-three days . His government having concluded peace with Great Britain, has no further use for his servic es, therefore he is hereby honorably discharged.

I take this opportunity to give the said Barnet Bruce my most grateful thanks for his promp t obedience to my orders, and his good conduct in every respect, which was highly honorable t o himself and country.

John V. Bush, Capt. Commanding

March 23, 1815

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Power of Attorney to Haggard

Know all men by these presents that I Barnet Bruce of the County of Cooper and State of Misso uri & late of the County of Clarke and State of Kentucky, one of the legal heirs of Benjami n Bruce dec'd do this day appoint Nathaniel Haggard of the County of Clarke and State of Kent ucky my attorney in fact to transact all my business apertaining to said Estate and more part icularly to bargain sell and execute any instrument of writing that the laws of said State re quires in the sale of slaves, and particularly to sell a certain Negro woman of said Estate t o wit, Delphey and secure the title to the purchaser in every respect, as though I were prese nt to act for myself. Given under my hand this 4th day of November in the year of our Lord 18 33.

Barnet Bruce [Seal]

State of Missouri County of Cooper:
Be it remembered that at a County Court held within and for the County of Cooper aforesaid a t Boonville on the fifth day of Nov. in the year of our Lord 1833 the above and foregoing att ached deed, or warrant of attorney from Barnet Bruce of the County aforesaid to Nathaniel Hag gard of the County of Clarke in the State of Kentucky, was produced in open court by the sai d Barnet Bruce personally known to the said Court as the person whose name is subscribed to t he said Power of Attorney as having executed the same and by acknowledged to be his act and d eed for the purposes therein mentioned.

In Testimony whereof I Robert P. Clark Clerk of the County Court aforesaid have hereunto se t my hand and the seal of the said Court at Boonville this fifth day of November in the yea r of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty three, and of this State the fourteenth.

Robert P. Clark Clerk

State of Missouri County of Cooper:
I, Green Seat, presiding Judge or Justice of the County Court of the County aforesaid do here by certify that Robert P. Clark whose name is subscribed to the above and foregoing Certifica te and attestation is & was on the day of the date of the same Clerk of the County Court of t he County afore said duly commissioned and qualified as such to act and full faith and credi t is ought to be given to all his official acts as such and that his attestation aforesaid i s in due form of law. Certified this 5th day of Nov. A.D. 1833.

P.I.C.C.

State of Kentucky Accepted in Clarke Co., Kentucky by James S. Bullock)

From: Clark Co., Kentucky Court Index of Deeds--

1. Barnett Bruce & wife, etal to Jonathan Owen, 1817, Book 14, Page 202--25 acres, wife's nam e Lucy for. Lampton.

2. Barnett Bruce to Durrett & Eli Bruce, 1819, book 16, Page 246, 50 A. & P.B.

3. Barnett Bruce & wife, etal to Eli Bruce, 1821, Book 18, Page 199, 79 Acres

4. Barnett Bruce from Benj. Bruce Heirs, 1821, Book 18, Page 576, 45 Acres

5. Barnett Bruce from Wm. Gordon & wife, 1823, Book 19, Page 95, 5A. JSP

6. Barnett Bruce from Durrett Bruce & wife, 1825, Book 21, Page 126, Release

7. Barnett Bruce & wife to Nathaniel Haggard, 1825, Book 21, Page 257, 45A & 5A

8. Barnett Bruce & wife to Joseph Palmer, 1828, Book 23, Page 135, 1/10 int in lands of Jno L ampton

9. Barnett Bruce to Nathaniel Haggard, 1835, Book 26, Page 417, Power of Atty.

[NI2061] More About ELIZABETH WATTS BRUCE:

Burial: January 1853, Haggard Cemetery, Clark County, Kentucky

[NI2062] More About NANCY BRUCE:

Burial: January 1869, Clark County, Kentucky

[NI2063] Notes for THORNTON WILLS:

He is shown on the 1850 census for District No. 1, Clarke County, Kentucky, Page 82 (163), Dw elling/Family 471, as follows: THORNTON WILLS, age 69, farming, RE Val $3000, born Virginia ; Nancy Wills, age 65, born Virginia; Catherine Wills, age 36, born Kentucky, cannot read o r write; Simpson Wills, age 33, laboring, born Kentucky; James Wills, age 12, born Kentucky , attended school; Thomas Wills, age 8, born Kentucky, attended school; Margaret Wills, age 2 3, born Kentucky.

He is shown on the 1860 census for District No. 1, Clark(e) County, Kentucky, Page 10, Dwelli ng/Family 94, as follows: THORNTON WILLS, age 77, farmer, RE Val $6000, PP Val $8285, born Vi rginia; Nancy Wills, age 75, born Virginia; Catharine Parris, age 46, PP Val 100, born Kentuc ky; Erasmus Rupard, age 6, born Kentucky; Mary Rupard, age 9, born Kentucky.

Burial: 1864, Clark County, Kentucky

[NI2065] Sarah Stevens married, after Austin Bruces' death, Austin's brother, Durrett. Her son Benjami n Bruce was raised by his uncle Durrett(and stepfather) and mother.

More About SARAH M. STEVENS: Burial: August 1863, Randolph Co., Missouri

[NI2067] From: JEFFERSON CITY DAILY TRIBUNE, April 17, 1886, Page 4, Column 5

RANDOLPH COUNTY--ALMOST CENTENARIAN CITIZEN DURRETT BRUCE IS DEAD.

At his home in Moberly as was his longtime habit, he attended a prayer meeting at the Christi an Church of which he had been an exemplary member for 60 years. Being there and participatin g in its exercises it is said that about nine o'clock, and while the old man was on his fee t telling his brethren of those experiences and of the joy he had in them and of the great le ngth of days his Divine Master had vouchsafed unto him and that soon he would needs be calle d hence to render an account of his protracted stewardship and of his abounding readiness an d willingness to obey the summons and make the accounting; then at that very instant of tim e and while he stood erect, the usually dread summons came and the brave old Christian gentle man sank suddenly and quietly to the floor lifeless and a corpse. He was born in Fayette Co. , Kentucky March 1, 1789. --Huntsville (Missouri) Herald

He is buried in the Bruce family plot at Oakland Cemetery in Moberly, Missouri.

From: HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY, MISSOURI

PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP, Page 160

. . . . Durett Bruce, who came to the township in 1837 lived to a great age. He was born in F ayette County, Kentucky, eight miles south of Lexington, March 1, 1789. His father's name wa s Benjamin Bruce; he was a native of Scotland, and a kinsman of Robert Bruce, one of the Scot tish chiefs, whose deeds of bravery and feats of manhood have been immortalized by the incomp arable pen of Jane Porter.

Mr. Bruce married Miss Sarah Stephens, daughter of Col. Stephens, April 13, 1813. In 1834, Oc tober 10th, he came to Boone County, Missouri, and after raising two crops, he settled in Ran dolph County. Hearing that the wolves were numerous, and very destructive to sheep, he brough t with him to the county 15 sheep, 18 hounds, and a cur dog, and was never annoyed by wolve s after his arrival. He was in the War of 1812 and served under General William H. Harrison s ix months and Gen. McArthur four months.

In early life Mr. Bruce was apprenticed to the trade of locksmith, a pursuit which he followe d until he was past 95 years old. In 1869 he located in the then new town of Moberly, where h e died.

From: HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY, MISSOURI, 1882, by William F. Switzler,

Pages 559-560

PERCHE CHURCH - This church is owned and controlled by the Baptists and Christians jointly. I t is situated in the center of section 19, township 51, range 13. The Christian organizatio n was formed June 14, 1835. The original members were Wm. White and wife, Silas Riggs and wif e, James Williams and wife, Alfred Johnson and wife, Thomas McBride and wife, John White an d wife, Joel Bradley and wife, Gabriel Bradley and wife, DURRETT BRUCE AND WIFE, Nancy D. San ford, Margaret Clayton, Elizabeth Roberts, Mahala Ann Roberts, Caleb Woods, Nancy Swezer, Wil lis Clayton, Nicholas Roberts, Sarah White, Joel White and Emily Bradley. The first house o f worship was a log with a big fire place and chimney in each end. The first elders were DURR ETT BRUCE, Wm. White and John White. Among the pastors were William and John White, John McCu ne, Silas Naylor, and Minter Bailey. (Rest of article describes church building and Baptist c ongregation.)

59262 January 24, 1851, Durrett Bruce, Private

Capt. John Martin, 5 Reg Ken Vol, Col. W. Lewis, Vol 6 mo, dis June 28, 1814

War 1812, 2 Ser Capt. James Simpson, Batt Ky Mtd vol, Maj. P. Dudley Vol Summer 1814 dis Febr uary 1815, War 1812, discharge within 3 Auditors Office, Oct. 9, 1851. Durrett Bruce served u nder Capt. John Martin from 15th Aug 1812 to 15th Nov 1812 when discharged. Sgd B. F. Gallahe r, for B. Slade No. 2 Nov 1, 1851, Claimant, Huntsville, Mo 19.774 sent July 27, 1852

State of Missouri, County of Randolph--On this 8th day of January A.D. 1851 personally appear ed before me Clerk of the County Court of said County Durrett Bruce aged about sixty years , a resident of Randolph County in the State of Missouri; who being duly sworn according to l aw, declares, that he is the identical Durrett Bruce who was a private in the company command ed by Captain John Martin in the 5th Regiment of Kentucky Volunteers commanded by Col. Willia m Lewis in the war with Great Britain declared by the United States on the 18th day of June 1 812 and tha he volunteered at Winchester in Clarke County Kentucky (the date he does not reco llect) for the term of six months and continued in actual service in said company for six mon ths - and was honorably discharged at home on his return home he being sick and on parole.

Said Durrett Bruce also declares that he is that identical man who was a private in the compa ny commanded by Capt. James Simpson of a Battalion of Mounted Volunteers commanded by Major P eter Dudley in an expedition in upper Canada under the command of Brig. Genl. McArthur in th e said war with Great Britain. That he volunteered at Winchester in Clark County Kentucky i n the latter part of the summer 1814 to serve until discharged and continued in actual servic e for more than four months on said expedition and was honorably discharged on his return t o Kentucky. (Rest of document not available.)

This shall certify that Derritt Bruce has performed a tour of six months service under my com mand as soldier and has faithfully discharged his duty as a Soldier given under my hand and s eal at Winchester this June 28th, 1844.

/s/ John Martin Capt.

of one Company under William Lewis, Col.

Commandant of the 5 Rigt Kenty Volunteers

This is to certify that Durrett Bruce a private in Captain James Sympson's company of a Batta lion of Mounted Volunteers, commanded by Major Peter Dudley, was served a Tour on an expediti on into Upper Canada, under the command of Brig. Gen. M'Arthur; and by an act of the Genera l Assembly of Kentucky, entitled "An Act allowing tours of duty to certain Volunteers and Mil itia--approved 27th January, 1815," is entitled to credit for four tours of thirty days eac h - and having faithfully performed his duty as such, is hereby HONORABLY discharged.

Given under my hand at Frankfort, this 1st day of February 1815.

/s/ James Sympson, Captain

Peter Dudley, Major

Comd. Bat. Ken. Mount. Vol'rs.

State of Missouri, County of Randolph--On this 27th day of January A.D. 1852 before me Cler k of the County Court of said county personally came Derett Bruice aged about sixty one year s a resident of said County of Randolph and State of Missouri who being duly sworn accordin g to law declares that he is the identical Derritt Bruice who was a private soldier in Captai n John Martin company in the Regiment commanded by Col. William Lewis of Kentucky volunteers , as set forth in his former declaration heretofore made out and forwarded to the proper depa rtment that he volunteered as set forth in said declaration and served regularly on duty unti l he was taken sick about the 15th of November 1812 and was then placed in the hospital and w as dangerously ill until about the close of the campaign and after returning home he receive d a written discharge he thinks for the term of six months he makes this declaration to expla in the discrepancy between the roll and his declaration.

/s/ Derrett (X his mark) Bruice

Subscribed and sworn to before me Clerk of the County Court of said County this 27th day of J anuary 1852.

/s/ John J. Allan, Clk

The 1840 census for Randolph County, Missouri, Page 282, shows him as follows:
DURETT BRUCE, 1 male 20-30 (Benjamin); 1 male 50-60 (himself); 1 female 30-40 (Sarah); 3 slav es; 3 free colored; engaged in agriculture.

The 1850 census for Prairie Twp., Randolph County, Missouri, Page 251, Dwelling/Family 738, h e is shown as follows:
DURRETT BRUCE, age 59, farmer, RE Val $2000, born Kentucky; Sarah Bruce, age 56, born Kentuck y; Benjm Bruce, age 38, farmer, RE Val $1000, born Kentucky; Austin Bruce, age 34, farmer, bo rn Kentucky.

The 1860 census for Prairie Twp., Randolph County, Missouri, Page 15, Dwelling/Family 100, sh ows him as follows:
DERIT BRUCE, age 70, farmer, RE Val $1000, PP Val $5160, born Kentucky; Sarah Bruce, age 68 , born Kentucky; Austin Bruce, age 42, farmer, born Kentucky; John Briant, age 30, Railroad M anager, born Kentucky; Mary A. Briant, age 27, born Kentucky.
(The relationship of the Briants, if any, is unknown.)

The 1870 census for the Moberly, Randolph County, Missouri, P.O. Cairo, Page 15 (319), Dwelli ng 80/Family 88, shows Durrett as follows:
DERRETT BRUCE, age 81, retired, born Kentucky, father foreign born; Ann T. Leonard, age 51, k eeping house, RE Val $2500, PP Val $500, born Kentucky; Austin B. Leonard, age 17, born Misso uri; Austin Bruce, age 52, trader in cattle, born Kentucky; Wm. Bullard, age 14, black, domes tic servant, born Missouri; John B. Kihl, age 21, plasterer, born Pennsylvania; J. B. Campbel l, age 63, physician, RE Val $800, born Kentucky.
(It is assumed that the last two were boarders in the Bruce/Leonard home.)

Burial: April 1886, Oakland Cemetery, Randolph Co., Missouri

[NI2068] Notes for AGNES BRUCE:

She is shown on the 1870 census for Blue Ball Precinct, Clark county, Kentucky, P.O. Winchest er, Page 6, Dwelling 34/Family 35, as follows:
AGGIE WILLS, age 77, housekeeping, RE Val $1250, PP Val $450, born Kentucky. Living with he r are five former slaves, as follows: Lindsey Wills, age 50, black, farm laborer, PP Val $250 ; Sarah Wills, age 37, black, domestic servant; Jefferson Wills, age 14, black, farm laborer ; Walker Wills, age 12, black, at home; Lucas Wills, age 9, black. All were born in Kentucky.

Burial: November 1879, Clark County, Kentucky

[NI2069] Notes for ISAAC WILLS:

He is shown on the 1850 census for District No. 1, Clarke County, Kentucky, Dwelling/Family 4 68, as follows:
ISAAC WILLS, age 66, farmer, RE Val $2500, born Virginia; Agness Wills, age 57, born Kentucky .

More About ISAAC WILLS: Burial: October 1866, Clark Co., Kentucky

[NI2070] Marriage to Nancy Rodes proven by Albemarle County, Virginia Marriages, 1781-1929, W. L. Norf ord 1956.

His marriage to Temperance Dollard proven by Clark County, Kentucky marriage records, Courtho use, Winchester, Kentucky, as follows: Eli Bruce married Temperance Dollard 21 February 1828.

State of Kentucky, County of Clark, S.S.:
On this 31 day of March A.D. 1855, personally appeared before me, James Flanagan, a Justice o f the Peace, duly authorized to administer oaths within and for the County and State aforesai d, Eli Bruce aged 60 years, a resident of Clark County in the State of Kentucky, who being du ly sworn, according to law, declares that he is the identical Eli Bruce who was a private i n the Company commanded by Captain James Sympson Mounted Men in the Regiment of Kentucky Volu nteers commanded by Col. Peter Dudley in the War declared against Great Britain by the Unite d States in 1812 - that he volunteered at Clark County, Kentucky on or about the 1 of Septemb er A.D. 1814 for the term of time not recollected and continued in actual service in said wa r for fourteen days, and was honorably discharged at Detroit on or about the 10 day of Decemb er A.D. 1814 that he has heretofore made application for bounty land under the act of Septemb er 28th, 1850, and received a Land Warrant, No. not recollected, for Eighty Acres, which he h as since legally disposed of, and can not now return.

He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the additional bounty land to which h e may be entitled under the act approved the 3d day of March, 1855. He also declares that h e has never applied for nor received, under this or any other act of Congress, any bounty lan d warrant except the one above

mentioned. A. H. Buckner of Winchester, Ky. is my agent to prosecute this claim.

/s/ Eli Bruce

We, James H. G. Bush and Armistead Blackwell, residents of Clark Co., in the State of Kentuck y, upon our oaths, declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by El i Bruce in our presence, and that we believe, from the appearance and statements of the appli cant, that he is the identical person he represents himself to be.

/s/ James H. G. Bush

/s/ A. Blackwell

The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me on the day an d year above written; and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons; that th e claimant is the person he represents himself to be, and that I have no interest in this cla im.

/s/ Jas. F. Flanagan, J.P.

State of Kentucky, County of Clark, S.S.: I hereby certify that James Flanagan, Esq., befor e whom the above declaration and affidavit were made and executed, and who has thereunto subs cribed his name, was at the time of so doing a Justice of the Peace, in and for the County af oresaid, duly commissioned and sworn, and that his signature thereto is genuine. In testimon y whereof, I have hereunto signed my name and affixed the seal of the County Court for the Co unty aforesaid, this Sixth day of April 1855.

/s/ Willis Collins, Clerk

No. 3945, War of 1812, Survivor's Pension, Kentucky, Eli Bruce

Company - Capt. Jas. Simpson Regiment - Ky. Militia Lexington Agency

Rate per month - Eight Dollars, Commending February 14, 1871, Certificate dated

5 Sept 1871 and sent to Pension Agent, Act 14th February 1871.

Vol. Ky., Page 154 W.L. White, Clerk

On this first day of April A.D. one thousand eight hundred and seventy one, personally appear ed before me Will Beckner, Presiding Judge of the Clark County court, a court of record withi n and for the county and State aforesaid Eli Bruce, aged 76 years a resident of Winchester Di strict, County of Clark, State of Kentucky, who, being duly sworn according to law, declare s that he is married; that his wife's name was Temperance Dollard, to whom he was married a t John Gordon's in Clark County, Ky. on the 26th day of February 1828; that he served the ful l period of sixty days in the military service of the United States in the war of 1812; tha t he is the identical Eli Bruce who was enlisted in Captain James Sympson's company, Col. Pet er Dudley's regiment, Kentucky brigade, at Winchester, Kentucky, August 1814 and was honorabl y discharged at Detroit Michigan December 1814; that he served four months; that his regimen t rendevouzed at Urbana in State of Ohio and marched from there to Detroit in Michigan and fr om thence to Canada. That I have received two Land Warrants for 80 acres each for my said ser vices to the United States; That he, at no time during the late rebellion against the authori ty of the United States, adhered to the cause of the enemies of the Government, giving them a id or comfort; or exercised the functions of any office whatever under any authority, or pret ended authority, in hostility to the United States; and that he will support the Constitutio n of the United States; that he is not in receipt of a pension under any previous act; that h e makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the pension roll of the United St ates, under the provision of the act approved February 14, 1871, and he hereby constitutes an d appoints, with full power of substitution and revocation, James Flanagan of Winchester, Ken tucky, his true and lawful attorney . . . to prosecute his claim and obtain the pension certi ficate that may be issued; that his post office is at Winchester, County of Clark, State of K entucky; that his domicile or place of abode is 4-1/2 miles east of Winchester in Clark Count y, Kentucky.

/s/ Eli Bruce, Applicant

Attest: Jos. T. Tucker James R. Aldridge

Also personally appeared John H. Quisenberry residing in Clark County, State of Kentucky an d James M. Haggard residing in Clark County, State of Kentucky, persons whom I certify to b e respectable and entitled to credit, and who being by me duly sworn, say: They were presen t and saw Eli Bruce, the claimant, sign his name (or make his mark) to the foregoing declarat ion; that they have every reason to believe, from the appearance of said claimant and their a cquaintance with him, that he is the identical person he represents himself to be; that at n o time during the late rebellion against the authority of the United States did he adhere t o the cause of the enemies of the Government, giving them aid or comfort; and that they hav e no interest in the prosecution of this claim.

/s/ John H. Quisenberry

James. M. Haggard

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this First day of April, A.D. 1871, and I hereby certify t hat the contents of the above declaration, etc. were fully made known and explained to the ap plicant and witnesses before swearing; including the words Street, at No. and street and 5 er ased, and the words Clark County

State of Kentucky and 6 added; and that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosec ution of this claim.

/s/ W. M. Beckner

Presiding Judge of Clark Co. Court

State of Kentucky, Clark Co., S.S. - I, Sam Catherwood, Clerk of the County

Court for said County and State do certify that Will Beckner whose genuine signature appear s ---------------was then and now Presiding Judge of said Court, which is a court of Record i n and for said County. In witness whereof I hereto set my hand and affix the seal of said Cou rt at Winchester Ky, this first day of April 1871.

/s/ Sam Catherwood, Clerk

No. 6614 - Treasury Department, Third Auditor's Office Aug. 18, 1871.

Respectfully returned to the Commissioner of Pensions with the information that the rolls o f Capt. Jas. Simpson's company of Ky. Militia show that Eli Bruce served from 20 Sept 1814 t o 20 Nov 1814.

/s/ Allan Rutherford, Auditor

This is to certify that Eli Bruce a private in Capt. James Sympsons company of a Battalion o f Mounted Volunteers, commanded by Maj Peter Dudley, has served a Tour on an expedition int o Upper Canada, under the command of Brig Gen. M'Arthur; and by an Act of the Gen Assy of Ky , entitled "An act allowing tours of duty to certain Volunteers & Militia - apvd 27 Jan 1815 " is entitled to credit for 4 tours of 30 days each - and having faithfully performed his dut y as such, is hereby HONORABLY discharged. Given under my hand at Frankfort, this 1st day o f Feb 1815.

/s/ James Sympson, Captain

Peter Dudley, Major

Comd. Bat. Ken. Mount. Vol'rs

He is shown on the 1860 census for District No. 2, Clark(e) County, Kentucky, Page 67, Dwelli ng/Family 460, as follows:
ELI BRUCE, age 65, farmer, RE Val $2900, PP Val $8400; Temperence Bruce, age 60; John H. Bruc e, age 24, farmer; Eli Roberson, age 15. All were born in Kentucky.

He is shown on the 1870 census for Precinct No. 1, Subdivision No. 28, Clark Co., Kentucky, P age 31, Dwelling 212/Family 218, as follows:
ELI BRUCE, age 75, white male, retired farmer, RE Val $3900, PP Val $500, born Kentucky. He i s apparently living alone so it is assumed that Temperence Dollard Bruce had died before Jun e 1870.

From REGISTER OF KENTUCKY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 1951, Kentucky Veterans of the War of 1812--El i Bruce, Winchester, Ky. Attended 9th annual reunion, 1874, aged 79. Died February 1876 at ag e 81. Yeoman, 27 June 1874; TK, 21 June 1876. AG: Pvt., Capt. James Sympson's Co., 5th Mtd. V ol. Inf., 20 Sept-20 Nov 1814.

Burial: Clark County, Kentucky

[NI2072] Notes for RICHARD BRUCE:

The following e-mail was sent to Preston Leake by Bea Hudson:

From: [email protected]
To: Preston Leake [email protected]
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2003 07:37:12 EDT
Subject: Richard Bruce d ca 1813

Good morning, Preston, just a quick note before the children get up. I'm sending a piece o f info I found that gives in a nutshell an assessment of Richard Bruce.

British Mercantile Claims pp 160-61- Richard Bruce, Albemarle. �6.16.2 3/4, bond and account ; �5.19.19.10 1/2, account, Charlottesville Store. He was insolvent before the war as appear s by the sheriff's return on several executions against him of "No effects." About the peac e the whole of the property which he acquired during the war was encumbered by mortgages of w hich there were many. In 1784 and 1785 he was deputy sheriff in Albemarle and out of the pub lic monies paid some of his debts but many others went entirely unpaid and he entirely failed . In 1795 he commenced the practice of law and in that capacity received monies of his clien ts, some of which he converted to his own use and paid some of his debts out of it. In 1800 , he was expelled from the bar in all the courts which he attended on account of the impropri ety of his conduct in various instances. On the whole it may safely be asserted that he neve r had been able to pay his debts out of his own estate at any period since the peace and tha t there are now more debts due from him which were contracted before the peace than he has ev er been able to pay since.

In his will, he wanted his slaves and property used to pay off his debts and then sold. He s tipulated that his slaves were not to be hired out to "hard masters".

One other thing, the will of Richard Bruce was written in small letters and difficult to read . There is what looks like ink blots on it and in one place, there appeared to be a scraggl y or scribbling line which was illegible. Actually, I thought it was an underlined portion . Yesterday, I enlarged the copy and found that the scraggly, scribbling line read "and th e children of my daughter" and the daughter's name covered with an ink blot except for the fi rst letter which could (or could not) be a M. LDS lists a daughter Malinda and if it is Mali nda, the Albemarle Co marriage book records Malinda Bruce and Joshua Shiflett 22 Aug 1797 mi n Bernis Brown in Albemarle Co., VA.

Catch you later,
Bea Hudson
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Louisa County Deed Book 'C' pages 149-151 (1762)

Richard Bruce was married (1) Caty (Unknown). Richard and Caty witnessed a deed in Albemarl e County in 1769 between Robert Thompson (Father-in-law of Benjamin Brown) and Thomas Langfor d. Again in 1769, Richard and Caty witnessed the will of David Thompson (Brother-in-law of Be najamin Brown) of Brown's Cove.

In 1777, Richard married (2) the widow of David Thompson.

On 28 May 1803, Richard Bruce was a witness to the marriage of Peter Eades and Sallie Henders on Sandridge in Albemarle County, VA.

On 30 Aug 1794, Caty Bruce, daughter of Richard Bruce, married Harding Goolding in Albemarl e County, VA.

Albemarle County Order Book 1783 - 1785, page 28

"On motion of Richard Bruce, Deputy Sheriff, having a number of certificates received by form er orders of this court for which the additions of public accounts would not grant certificat es for want of being more fully explained he having now produced at this Court sufficient tes timony that the said certificates were his own....private property and not concerned with pub lic property....it is ordered that the same be certified."

British Mercantile Claims, page 160-161 (1784)

"Richard Bruce, Albemarle, L6.16.2 3/4, bond and account; L5.19.10 1/2, account, Charlottesvi lle store. He was insolvent before the war as appears by the Sheriff's return on several exec utions against him of "No effects." About the peace the whole of the property he acquired dur ing the war was encumbered by mortgages of which there were many. In 1784 and 1785 he was Dep uty Sheriff in Albemarle County, VA and out of the public monies paid some of his debts but m any others went entirely unpaid and he entirely failed. In 1795 he commenced the practice o f law and in that capacity received monies of his clients, some of which he converted to hi s own use and paid some of his debts out of it. In 1800 he was expelled from the bar in all t he courts which he attended on account of the impropriety of his conduct in various instances . On the whole it may be safely be asserted that he never had been able to pay his debts ou t of his own estate at any period since the peace and that there are now more debts due fro m him which were contracted before the peace than he has ever been able to pay since."

Augusta County, 1788

The will of James Culberton supposedly tells us that Richard Bruce was the brother of Georg e Bruce. (We assume this is a reference to George Bruce, Jr.)

Orange County Deed Book 10, page 51-53 (19 Sep 1789)

Richard Bruce apparently sold two parcels of land, one of 200 acres more or less, the other c ontaining 300 acres (this one purchased from his brother, William) to William Bell, John Walk er, John Minor, and Thomas Bell. This land was in Albemarle County, VA.

Witnesses were Hudson Martin, Peter Lott, Hastings Marks, Jr., and Thomas Divers.

8 Oct 1811
On the motion of Richard Bruce, it is ordered by the court that the hands under Joshua Shifle tt clear the road from Kid's creek to the Orange Line.

[NI2074] Gary Lee Hall Sun Aug 31 20:13:00 1997
Seeking information on DOVE, Booker (b. ca 1805 in Virginia) who married (June 18, 1827) Fran cis VAUGHN. They were married in Virginia. Booker DOVE was the son of George DOVE and Caty BR UCE. Their children are James W. (b ca 1829 in Va); Thomas J. (b. ca 1831); Sally (b. ca 1837 ); George R. (b. ca 1838); Francis B. (b. ca 1839 in Tenn); and Mary Catherine (b. ca 1841 i n Tenn). Booker is found in the 1850 Census of Rutherford County. Booker is in the 1860 David son County Census. Would like to know what happened to Booker, Francis and their children. Di d they move from Ruth/David Counties? When did they die and where are they buried?

[NF004] April , 1999

To date no marriage record has been found for Elizabeth (Betty) Bruce.

[NF516] 1 _SEPR
2 DATE 26 NOV 1772
2 PLAC Orange County, VA


The following Article of Agreement (separation) was found in Deed Book 16, Page 40, Orange C ounty Courthouse, Orange, VA.:

Article of Agreement dated Nov. 26, 1772, between George Bruce and Elizabeth, his wife --

I, George Bruce of Orange County, do hereby agree, bargain, and confirm an absolute right an d title, clear of all incumbrances to her - and behoof forever to her own disposal to have an d to hold the following articles from me, the said George Bruce, forever, and she this.
Elizabeth Bruce is never to come upon the said George Bruce for any maintenance but what is g iven to her by these presents, nor interrupt him, the said George Bruce, for any part or parc el of his estate, and the said George Bruce do give and confirm to the said Elizabeth Bruce t hese articles, viz., namely negro Jane and Simon, and a full third part of all my other estat e, real and personal, to be divided by two men that we shall hereafter choose, he, the said G eorge Bruce, to have 2 parts and the said Elizabeth one part, and we do both agree under th e penalty of 500 pounds damage to abide by these presents.
Signed
George Bruce
Elizabeth Bruce

Proved by oath of Thomas Burrus and Thomas Ballard.
Clerk, James Taylor
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The following persons may also be children of George Bruce and Elizabeth Quinn but this has n ot been proven conclusively. They are included here for reference only and need further resea rch.

1. CHARLES BRUCE, born about 1745 in Virginia, died about 1833 in Greer, SC

In the Bruce Historical Papers #2, 1991, Michael v. Stambach-Bruce has the following reg arding Charles Bruce:

"William Bruce of Albemarle County, VA., indebted to Charles Bruce on account - $38.5 0 - for which said William Bruce has assigned $100 note to said Charles Bruce that was du e him by his brother Charles Bruce of South Carolina for which the said Charles Bruce is to p ay himself out of and between the balance to the said William Bruce."

As witness my hand this 15 Sept, 1804
Agent for Charles Bruce George ________?

Joshua Bruce (this name was also on the original document)

At another place in the same paper, Michael Stambach-Bruce writes:

"Charles Bruce (proven brother of Wm., in S.C. in 1804). This Charles was previously bel ieved to have been Charles Perry Bruce of Anderson Co., S.C., who has subsequentl y been identified with the Charles Co., MD family of Bruce. Charles, brother of William, m ay well be Charles Austin Bruce of Greenville, S.C."
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Charles Bruce, South Caroline
Posted by: vickie
Date: June 17, 2000 at 03:37:48

I am looking for information on a Charles Bruce who was born about 1745, died abt.1820 , Greer Co., South Caroline. He may have been the brother to William Bruce who was bo rn 1752, Orange/Albemarie Co., Va., died Jan.1814 in Giles Co., Va.. William married Anna Bal lard. Charles may have had a brother named Henry Bruce too.
Can anyone help me?
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Re: Charles Bruce, South Caroline
Posted by: John Bruce
Date: June 26, 2000 at 13:10:33
In Reply to: Charles Bruce, South Caroline by vickie

charles austin bruce died 1833 and is buried at midford baptish church.Had sons joel,sil as,bailous,
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2. BENJAMIN BRUCE, born about 1750 in Albemarle County, VA., died Dec. 31, 1809
+Mildred Watts, born Mar 26, 1753, died after 1842, married Mar. 26, 1773

The descendant list for Benjamin Bruce was received from Teresa Walker, (email: twalker@ iland.net).

Benjamin Bruce moved his family to Clark County, KY about 1784.

In the Bruce Historical Papers #2, 1991, Michael v. Stambach-Bruce writes:

"Benjamin Bruce is presumed to have been a member of the Bruce of Dark Run set, Orange a nd Culpeper Counties, VA. The circumstantial evidence to support this assertion i s very considerable and rests on the facts that Benjamin's father-in-law lived adjacent to D arby Quinn, father-in-law of George Bruce of the Dark Run set; in addition, Ambrose Bush , who was a near cousin/nephew of David Bruce and the others of Dark Run, testified in th e Rev. War pension application that his father, Phillip Bush (brother-in-law of Dav id Bruce), had "lived neighbors to them" for as long as he could remember, referring to Benja min Bruce."
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Benjamin Bruce, of Albemarle County, VA., married Mildred "Milly" Watts, born 1753, sett led in Clark County, KY in 1784. Milly Watts was the daughter of Jacob Watts (See b elow).

Their Children were: (1) Sarah Gordon
(2) Barnet Bruse
(3) Elizabeth Haggard
(4) Nancy Wills
(5) Austin Bruse
(6) David Bruse
(7) Agnes Wills
(8) Ely Bruse

Note: An Eli Bruce married Nancy Rhoades in Albemarle Co on 29 March, 1819

Jacob Watts (father of Milly Watts) became the owner of more than eleven hundred acres o n the north fork of the Rivanna, near Piney Mountain. He was one of the early Methodist mini sters of the county. He died in 1821, at the age of ninety years. His wife was Elizabeth, dau ghter of the first Richard Durrett, and his children William, John, Elijah, Fielding, Mildr ed, the wife of a Bruce, Mary, the wife of Hezekiah Rodes, Frances, the wife of Joseph Ed mondson, Nancy, the wife of Henry Austin, and Agnes, the wife of John Huckstep.
The children of Elijah were Sarah, the wife of Kenza Stone, who removed to Bourbon Count y, Kentucky, Mildred, the wife of James Dickerson, Elizabeth, the wife of John O. Padgett , Nancy, the wife of Wiley Dickerson, and Frances, the wife of James Malone.
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Will of Benjamin Bruce. Family Bible of Jacob Watts. Info from Kathryn Owen, Historian , Clark Co., Kentucky.

Will of Benjamin Bruce, Clark(e) Co., Kentucky, admitted to court January, 1810, towit : KENTUCKY, Clarke County, Be it remembered that the following are wills, inventories, etc. , admitted to and order to be recorded by the Court of the County aforesaid commencing Januar y 1810 and in the 18th year of the Commonwealth.

Bruse's (sic) Will) In the name God Amen. I Benjamin Bruse of the County of Clark bein g but in a low state of (word omitted) but sound in sense and memory but calling t o mind the uncertainty of this mortal life do make this to be my last will and testament i n manner & form following--Viz) I commend my Soul unto Almighty God who gave it me an d my body to be decently enterred at the descretion of my Executor.

Item As touching my worldly estate which it hath pleased God to bless me with I will an d bequeath it in the following manner and form. I give and bequeath unto MILLY BRUSE m y dearly beloved wife the negro man Charles and the negro woman Lets and my plantation and al l my loose property during her life and then whichever child the two old negroes is willin g to life with they are to take them and pay each of my children seven dollars a piece so lon g as they are capable of labor and then the children is jointly to maintain them so long a s they should live. My plantation and what property there is to be sold and the money eq ually divided amongst all my dear children. I give and bequeath unto my daughter SA LLY GORDAN a negro boy and twenty dollars. I give and bequeath to my son BARNET BRUSE a negr o boy Jery. I give and bequeath a negro girl Winnie when she gives up the negro named Isaac t o my daughter ELIZABETH HAGARD. I give and bequeath estate interlind by Benjamin Bruse unt o my daughter NANCY WILLS a negro girl by the name of Fan. I give and bequeath unto m y son AUSTION BRUSE a negro boy name Isack and a bead (bed) and a cow. I give and beq ueath to my son DIRRET BRUSE a negro girl name Jin and a horse and a cow. I give an d bequeath to my daughter AGNIS WILLS interlind and bead a negro girl by the name of Lin. I g ive and bequeath to my son ELY BRUSE a negro girl by the name of Linet and a horse saddl e and bridle and a bead (bed) and furniture and a cow to receive it at the age of twenty on e.

Item Lastly I constitute and appoint my friends David Hapton (Hampton) and Dollard Colli ns Executors to this my last Will and Testament and my dear wife as above hereby revoking a ll former Wills by me made. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed m y seal this the Sixth day of December Eighteen Hundred and Nine.

Benjamin Bruce (Seal)

Signed and sealed in the

presents of Elias Browning

his

Stephen X Lewis

mark

At a court held for Clark County 11nd January 1810--This Last Will and Testament of Benj amin Bruce Deceased was proven in Court by the Oaths of Elias Browning and Stephen Le wis witnesses thereto subscribed and ordered to be recorded AND on the motion of Milly Bruc e one of the Executors in the said will named who made oath thereto as the law direct s certificate is granted for her obtaining a probate thereof in due form giving security wher eupon she together with Barnett Bruce Austin Bruce William Gordan and Nathaniel Haggard en tered into and acknowledged their bond in the penalty of $5000 conditioned according t o law for the due and faithfull administration of the said decedent's estate and performan ce of his Will. Liberty being reserved for the other Executors therein named to join in th e probate when they shall think fit.

Teste James P. Bullock
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3. WILLIAM BRUCE, born about 1752 in Albemarle County, VA., died between 1813-14 in Giles Cou nty, VA
+Anne Nancy Ballard, born about 1753, died after Oct. 1811, married about 1773

Albemarle County Deed Abstracts, 1772-1776, pages 120-121

William Bruce purchased from John and Agnes Mullins on June 8, 1775, 300 acres of land i n Albemarle County adjoining "Benjamin Brown". Note: Benjamin Brown was a brother o f Captain Brightberry Brown of Brown's Cove.

Albemarle County Deed Book 11 page 34 1794

"Know all men by these presents that William Bruce and Ann his wife of the County of Sur ry in the State of North Carolina, do hereby appoint, constitute and nominate by these pr esents, ordain Richard Bruce of the County of Albemarle and the State of Virginia our lawfu l attorney to act and transact all and every kind of business which may have to do and tran sact within the State and Dominion of Virginia, but more especially for carrying into effec t the sale of a certain tract of land lying and being in the said County of Albemarl e wherein we formerly lived on the south end of the long mountain containing 300 acres b y estimation to be the same more or less and bounded by a certain bounds mentioned in th e deed made by John Mullins to us and we hereby impower and authorize the said Richard B ruce, our said attorney, shall do respecting the sale of the said land, as if it had actuall y been done by ourselves in person and the same shall forever bind us our heirs to fi rmly to abide and stad(sic) to any act our attorney shall do respecting the same. In w itness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this third day of March, 1794."

Signed: William Bruce, Nancy Bruce
Witnesses: James Ballard, George Bruce, James Kennedy

See also the notes under CHARLES BRUCE above.
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4. RICHARD BRUCE, born about 1754 in Albemarle County, VA
+ (1)Caty (Unknown), marriage date unknown
(2) The widow of David Thompson in 1777

Louisa County Deed Book C pages 149-151 (1762)

Richard Bruce was married (1) Caty ??. Richard and Caty witnessed a deed in Albemarle Co unty in 1769 between Robert Thompson (Father-in-law of Benjamin Brown) and Thomas Langford.
Again in 1769, Richard and Caty witnessed the will of David Thompson (Brother-in-law o f Benjamin Brown) of Brown's Cove.

In 1777, Richard married (2) the widow of David Thompson.

On 28 May 1803, Richard Bruce was a witness to the marriage of Peter Eades and Sallie He nderson Sandridge in Albemarle County, VA.

On 30 Aug 1794, Caty Bruce, daughter of Richard Bruce, married Harding Goolding in Albem arle County, VA.

British Mercantile Claims, page 160-161 (1784)

Richard Bruce, Albemarle, L6.16.2 3/4, bond and account; L5.19.10 1/2, account, Charlott esville store. He was insolvent before the war as appears by the Sheriff's return on sev eral executions against him of "No effects." About the peace the whole of the property he acq uired during the war was encumbered by mortgages of which there were many. In 1784 and 178 5 he was Deputy Sheriff in Albemarle County, VA and out of the public monies paid some o f his debts but many others went entirely unpaid and he entirely failed. In 1795 he co mmenced the practice of law and in that capacity received monies of his clients, some of whic h he converted to his own use and paid some of his debts out of it. In 1800 he was expelle d from the bar in all the courts which he attended on account of the impropriety of his condu ct in various instances. On the whole it may be safely be asserted that he never had been abl e to pay his debts out of his own estate at any period since the peace and that ther e are now more debts due from him which were contracted before the peace than he has ever bee n able to pay since.

Augusta County, 1788

The will of James Culberton supposedly tells us that Richard Bruce was the brother of Ge orge Bruce.

Orange County Deed Book 10, page 51-53 (19 Sep 1789)

Richard Bruce apparently sold two parcels of land, one of 200 acres more or less, the ot her containing 300 acres (this one purchased from his brother, William) to William Bell , John Walker, John Minor, and Thomas Bell. This land was in Albemarle County.
Witnesses were Hudson Martin, Peter Lott, Hastings Marks, Jr., and Thomas Divers.

See also the reference to Richard Bruce in the notes for William Bruce above.
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5. UNKNOWN BRUCE, born about 1758

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