Biography

Last updated 28 March 2025

John Bruce, son of Thomas Bruce (d. 1725), was christened on 7 September 1690 at Portsoy, Fordyce Parish, Scotland, and died 24 September 1748 at Brucetown, Frederick County, Virginia.

John brought his family to America after 1727. He immigrated about 1730 to Chester Co, Pennsylvania. He may have lived for some time in southeastern PA.

John was popularly called "John Bruce of the Shenandoah" and was the founder of Brucetown in Frederick County, Virginia.[1].

He was married to Sarah PARRELL in 1709 in Leochel Cushnie, Aberdeen, Scotland. Sarah Parrell was born about 1695 in Scotland. She died in Bruceville, Frederick Co, Virginia.[4] after 1748.

John's first three children were christened in the Church of Scotland (Presbyterian) as John was.

Children of Sarah Parrell and John Bruce:

From https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:John_Bruce_%286%29

1. Mary Bruce, christened on 3 Jun 1715 at Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Married William Albin 1737; William probably being from Chester Co, Pennsylvania.
2. James Bruce, christened on 20 May 1720 at Leochel-Cushnie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Married Margaret McMahon
3. George G. Bruce, christened on 27 Apr 1722 at Cruden, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Married Rachel Littler died 1800 Frederick Co, Virginia.
4. John Bruce, christened on 27 Apr 1722 at Leochel-Cushnie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Twin of George. Died young.
5. Anne Bruce, (probably) on 1725 Leochel-Cushine, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Married James McCoy c 1747, died 1808 probably Union town, Pennsylvania.
6. Margaret Bruce, christened on 5 Mar 1727 at Leochel Cushnie, Aberdeen, Scotland. Married Richard Carter before 4 Nov 1747; Richard being from Bucks Co, Pennsylvania.

John wrote and signed a will on 4 Nov 1747. John wrote and signed a will on 4 Nov 1747. "At the time John Bruce wrote his will (Will Book 1, page 205), his youngest son and daughter were probably unmarried. Mention in the will of a partially completed house and barn on George's 140 acres could be an indication that George was contemplating marriage at that time. He willed 150 acres ("the plantation I now live on") to his wife, Sarah and son George. His will mentioned daughters Margaret Carter (wife of Richard) and William (son-in-law) and Mary Albin. His will of 4 Nov 1747 was entered 1 Nov 1748 records of Frederick Co, Virginia."[10]

He died on 23 Sep 1748 in Brucetown, Frederick County, Virginia in an epidemic that was rampant in the Winchester area. He had an estate probated on 1 Nov 1748, the same day his will was proven. He had an estate probated on 1 Nov 1748 in Frederick Co, Virginia; he willed 300 acres of land to John James and George Bruce, his sons.

content to clean up

Was his death connected with the defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie at Culloden and subsequent flight? (((( Crystal Bruce's answer to this question: No. Bonnie Prince Charlie wasn't born until Dec. 31st, 1720. John Robert Bruce already came to the New World and was settling in present day Virginia around the time Bonnie Prince Charlie was born in Italy. He helped to settle modern Brucetown, VA with his wife, other friends and family from Scotland, and his children. It appears he came to the New World, possibly sailed back to Scotland for unknown reasons and then came back to the New World for good until his death at age 58. Scotland was going through many horrible situations during this era. Actions and situations tied to James Francis Edward "The Old Pretender" Stuart, Prince Of Wales, famine, battles, farming/ranching practices and England's Parliamentary decisions during this time may have very well attributed to the decision of leaving Scotland and helping to settle America especially with offers of patented land to settlers in the lower Shenandoah Valley that were issued under the seal of the Colony of Virginia and were grants from the Crown. ))))

In "JB of the Shenandoah"; there is the following: "Among the 70 grantees receiving patents on 12 Nov 1735, there were many Irish: the Albins from County Meath, the Neills of County Lurgan; the Calverts from County Dromgora."

"The earliest available record of John Bruce of the Shenandoah is 18 Aug 1740 when he, along with Hugh Parrel and Robert Calvert, were appointed to appraise the estate of Micah Shepherd. Mention of William McMechan and John Littler as buyers of several articles at the estate sale as well as the names Parrel and Calvert confirm that this John Bruce lived in the Winchester area."

"At the time John Bruce wrote his will (Will Book 1, page 205), his youngest son and daughter were probably unmarried. Mention in the will of a partially completed house and barn on George's 140 acres could be an indication that George was contemplating marriage at that time. John Bruce died 23 Sept 1748 apparently in an epidemic that was rampant in the Winchester area. His will of 4 Nov 1747 was entered 1 Nov 1748 records of Frederick Co, VA."

It goes on to state that his two eldest daughters later married into families remaining in Chester and Bucks counties, Pennsylvania. Those would be Mary Bruce m William Albin c 1737; William probably being from Chester Co, PA. And Margaret Bruce m Richard Carter before 4 Nov 1747; Richard being from Bucks Co, PA. It also states that George Bruce who married Rachel Littler died 1800 Frederick Co, VA. and that Anne Bruce b c 1724 Scotland or Ireland m James McCoy c1747 and that she died 1808 probably Uniontown, PA.

John Bruce (son of Thomas Bruce/Bruice) was christened in the Church of Scotland (Presbyterian) on 7 Sep 1690. In Aberdeen Scotland, three of John's children were also christened: James on 20 May 1720, George or 27 Apr 1722 and Margaret on 5 Mar 1727. [Source: LDS Microfilm of Parish Records of Church of Scotland.]

John Bruce brought his family to America probably by way of Ireland after 1724. It is considered that John may have lived for some time in southeastern PA before settling his family in the Winchester, Frederick County, VA area between 1731 and 1735, under guidance of Joist Hite's son. [Source: Frederick Morton, The Story of Winchester in Virginia, p. 43]. For John to have established credibility among his peers by 1740, he would have had to live in the Winchester area for at least a few years, or to have been their neighbor in a former place of residence. Yet another reason would be that John's two oldest daughters later married into families remaining in Chester and Bucks counties in PA.

During the 1730's, the offer of patented land to settlers in the lower Shenandoah Valley, near the Opequon, attracted many Scot-Irish. Patents were issued under the seal of the Colony of Virginia and were grants from the Crown, free of any obligation of feudal services to the Fairfax family, who claimed the land as lords/proprietors of the Northern Neck of Virginia. [Source: George W. Vale, Genealogy of the Walker & Littler Families, p. 281)

Among the 70 grantees receiving patents on 12 Nov 1735 were many Irish families (the Albins of County Meath, the Calverts from County Dromgora) as well as John Bruce -- his land adjoining the land owned by the Calverts, Hugh Parrell, William Albin, James Carter and George Hollingsworth. [Source: T.K.Cartmell, Shenandoah Valley Pioneers, p.18)

John Bruce was in Orange County, VA by 1735, when the following

judgements were recorded:

1/ John Bruce vs Francis Williams. For debt 3 pounds, 10 shillings, 8 pence, in tobacco at 12 shillings per ct wt to 588 lbs of tobacco. Summons to Francis Williams, July 17, 1735, returned July 17, 1735 by Wm Henderson, Deputy Sheriff.

2/ Henry Willis, Esq vs John Bruce, account with John Bruce, peddler, 1735, for 12 lbs, 12 shillings, 5 3/4 pence. Willis asks damages to 15 lbs.

3/ Summons to John Bruce, peddlar, May 18, 1736 by Gideon Marr. Judgement.

4/ George Stuart vs John Bruce in 1736. For divers cattle -- John Bruce detained and for the other animals etc. How did the defendant come by the animals?

On 24 July 1740 he was appointed to make an inventory of the estate of Michael Sheppard, deceased; Hugh Parrell, Robert Calvert and William Glover were delegated also and any three of them were required to form the audit commission. (Source, Orange County, Virginia Court Book 2, page 210)

John Bruce was a landowner, farmer and operator of a grist mill. He died in an epidemic that was rampant in the Winchester area. John, Sarah and family came from Scotland after 1724. Between 1737 and 1740, he settled on Opecuon Creek near Winchester, VA. By 1740, John Bruce and Mary Littler (George Bruce's mother-in-law) were operating grist mills, sawmills and carding/fulling fills. This 255-acre tract is located on Turkey Run, a branch of Opequon Creek (headwaters Evan Thomas/Branson Spring). The SE corner of the 255 acres is present-day Brucetown. Frederick County Highway 667 (Braddocks Road/Great Road from Winchester VA to Shepardstown West Virginia) and Highway 672 cross the south and east section of this tract. A landowner and farmer, he operated a grist mill on Turkey Run, NE of Winchester.

With other families settling in the area, the community became a flourishing little village known as Brucetown (in NE corner of Frederick Co, 8 miles NE of Winchester, near border of Berkley Co, West Virginia.

Sources: Per Elden Wilson, 9505 Farragut Drive NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111-1349

1. "John Bruce of the Shenandoah" by Violet Laverne Bruce, 1987.

2. "Genealogy & History", VOL 107, Washington DC, Dec 1952.

3. Letter, 26 Feb 1979 of Willard P. Horseman, 2025 E. Lincoln

Street, Bloomington IL 61701, Letter L-103, Document D-50 4. "Some Early Settlers" by Mary Cousins McCabe (p30 - John's date of death)

In 1748, Hugh Parrell willed 300 acres of land to John Bruce; Parrell engaged James Wood to survey this land (recorded at the time as 402 acres) on 10 Mar 1735/36. James and George Bruce, sons of John Bruce, commissioned another survey on 26 April 1753. (Source: Cognetes, English Duplicates of Lost Virginia Records, p. 118; Joyner, Northern Neck Warrants and Surveys, Frederick County, Virginia, Volume II, p. 21) Out of this survey, George received 315 acres and James received 310 acres from Lord Fairfax on 12 and 14 April 1760. (Source: Gray, Norther Neck Grants K-103, K-104)

John was deceased by 1 Nov 1748 when his will (written 4 Nov 1748) was proved in Frederick County Court, Virginia. He willed 150 acres ("the plantation I now live on") to his wife, Ann and son George. His will mentioned daughters Margaret Carter (wife of Richard) and William (son-in-law) and Mary Albin. (Source: Frederick County Will Book 1, page 205)

- Becky Petteys

One of the beneficiaries under Hugh PARRELL's will, dated October 5, 1748, was John BRUCE, who was described in the will as Hugh's "loving kinsman." The nature of Hugh's kinship with John BRUCE is not clear. In about 1709, John BRUCE married a woman named Sarah PARRELL in Scotland. Sarah was born in Scotland in about 1709, and was about 15 years older than Hugh. [Source: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, International Genealogical Index ®, Copyright © 1980, 2002, data as of July 5, 2005.]

O'Dell, Cecil, Pioneers of Old Frederick County, Virginia, Marceline, MO: Walsworth Publishing Company, 1995, pp. 246-247:

BRUCE

Hugh Parrell willed 300 acres to John Bruce in 1748; Parrell engaged James Wood to survey this land (recorded at the time as 402 acres) on 10 March 1735/36. James and George Bruce, sons of John Bruce, commissioned another survey on 26 April 1753. Out of the 402-acre survey, George Bruce received 315 acres . . . and James Bruce received 310 acres . . . from Lord Fairfax on 12 and 14 April 1760. George's 315 acres is on Ash Hollow Run, with part of Shenandoah Hills on the south leg of the land and Fairfax Road (Virginia Highway 7) and County Highway 656 on the southeast section of the tract. James' 310 acres is on the south side of Redbud Run served by Frederick County Highway 656, north from Virginia. Highway 7 on the southeast part of the tract.

John Bruce was in Orange County, Virginia by 24 July 1740 when he was appointed to make an inventory of the estate of Michael Sheppard, deceased; Hugh Parrell, Robert Calvert and William Glover were delegated also and any three of them were required to form the audit commission. John was deceased by 1 November 1748 when his will (written 4 November 1747) was proved in Frederick County Court. He willed 150 acres ("the plantation I now live on") to his wife Ann and son George. His will mentioned daughters Margaret Carter (wife of Richard) and William (son-in-law) and Mary Albin.

A John Bruce (son of Thomas Bruce/Bruice) was christened in the Church of Scotland (Presbyterian) on 7 September 1690. In Aberdeen, Scotland, three of John's children were also christened: James on 20 May 1720, George on 27 April 1722 and Margaret on 5 March 1727.

George and his wife Rachel Littler Bruce sold the 315-acre grant land to Robert Rutherford for 150 pounds on 4 April 1761. On 1 June 1761, George purchased 255 acres from his mother-in-law Mary Littler for 200 pounds; this land was part of a 420-acre tract situated on both sides of Evan Thomas Run. By 1740, John Bruce and Mary Littler were operating grist mills, sawmills and carding and fulling mills on this land. The 255-acre tract is located on Turkey Run, a branch of Opequon Creek (headwaters Evan Thomas/Branson Spring). The south corner of the 255 acres is present-day Brucetown. Frederick County Highway 667 (Braddocks Road/Great Road from Winchester, Virginia to Shepherdstown, West Virginia) and Highway 672 cross the south and east section of this tract

George Bruce (b. 1722 c.) was deceased by 30 June 1800 when his will (written 25 January 1797) was proved in Frederick County Court. He willed the dwelling house and other houses with a one-acre lot to his wife Rachel Bruce, "for her natural life." He bequeathed the section of the plantation northwest of the Great Road (Highway 667), with grist mill and all buildings, to his son George. He willed the remainder of the plantation on the southeast side of the road, with grist mill, sawmills and other improvements (including present-day Brucetown), to his son James. The will stipulated that James, who was downstream, was prohibited from raising the water level to the disadvantage of his brother George. James was also to receive land adjacent to and on the south side of the Monongahela River. George was instructed to pay his mother Rachel Bruce one-third of the mill and plantation profits and James was to pay her 10 pounds annually for the use of the sawmill. George willed five shillings each to daughters Sarah Walker and Leah Hanry. After the death of Rachel Bruce, daughter Rebeckah Chenowith was to receive the house and lot.

James Bruce (b. 1722 c.) and his wife Margaret sold their 310-acre grant land to Robert Rutherford for 275 pounds on 20 March 1763.

References

• https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:John_Bruce_%286%29
• https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Sarah_Parrell_%281%29
• http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/frederick/wills/b620001a.txt
• https://images.findagrave.com/photos/2017/101/134914737_1492033665.jpg
• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: May 10 2019, 15:31:15 UTC
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/134914737/john-robert-bruce
• http://www.gencircles.com/users/current/16/data/36158
• https://wc.rootsweb.com/trees/142357/I30981/john-bruce/individual (dead link)
• https://www.bradleyrymph.com/genealogy_bruce-john.pdf
• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Bruce-1290
• Bruce, Violet Laverne. John Bruce of the Shenandoah. Immigrant John Bruce of Frederick County, Virginia, and Descendants of His Five Children, Mary, Margaret, James, George, and Anne. (Decorah, Iowa: Anundsen Publishing Company. 1987). Out of print.< GoogleBooks search within >; https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/catalog/369392
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brucetown,_Virginia