Lydia Bruce

John married Mary Potter on 11 Jan 1732 in Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. Mary was born on 11 Sep 1709 in Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA; died on 26 Feb 1785 in Brookfield, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Elizabeth Bruce in 1694 in Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. Elizabeth was born in 1674 in , , Massachusetts, USA; died in 1739 in Framingham, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 13 Aug 1637, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland

Notes:

Thomas BRUCE was born between 1630 and 1640 in Scotland or England. He died probably between 1714 and 1721 in Marlborough, MA, probably. Thomas is the earliest Bruce discovered in Marlborough to date (1676).

Known Events:

1676:
NEHGR 35:218-219: The earliest record of Thomas is when in 1676, Thomas Bruce is among those petitioners sustaining losses in the Sudbury Indian Fight (King Phillip's War) of 1676 He is also among those petitioning the general court as a distressed inhabitant of Sudbury.

1679:
MJR--Middlesex County Deeds, p. 296: The Selectmen of Marlboro agreed with Thomas Bruce that he would build and operate for the town's use a mill to be located near the confluence of Angle Brook and Stoney Brook to be in operation by January 1680. In return, Thomas was granted 40 acres of land and ten acres of meadow. The agreement was sign by Abraham Williams for the town and "Thomas Breuis" for himself. By original agreement the land was to revert to the town if Thomas were to cease operations of the mill. By 1702, however, the mill was at least partially destroyed, and at his request, and it was so voted that the land be granted to him free and clear.

1688:
NEHGR 36:51: In 1688, Thomas Bruse Jr. and John Bruse and Thomas Bruse are among those listed in Marlborough for Taxes under Andros.

1691:
NEHGR: 43:372: Thomas Bruse, Sr. is among those settled at the garrison at Marlborough, Middlesex Co. 1691/2

NEHGR40:400: Thomas Brewes is mentioned several times as those of Sudbury involved in King Phillip's war and having sustained loss.

1699:
MJR--Middlesex County Deeds, p. 296: On January 29, 1699, Thomas and Magdalen, "my wife," disposed of his land and part interest in his saw mill to sons David and Roger.

1702:
MJR--Worcester County Deeds 16:60, 20:584: Samuel Ward of Marlborough exchange land in which Thomas Bruce describes himself as "Thomas Bruce Senr, Miller."

1706:
MJR--Worcester County Deeds, 15:149: On April 13, 1706, Thomas Bruce Senr, in fatherly love, gives Roger halft part of his house lot granted by the town, with all the housing and Corn Mill and half of Sawmills standing thereon, and also, "my whole Estate . . ."

1709-10
MJR--Worcester County Deeds 15:148: Thomas was still alive at this date, for he disposes of land to his grandson, David, including "one half of all my right" in the land which was gven to him for building and maintaining a mill. He mentions with the document that he makes this grant for "Divers good causes and other weighty considerations moving me thereto . . ." It is obvious that Thomas is uncomfortable for some reason with events in his life. Magdalen did not sign this will, and it could be conjectured that as she signed earlier documents, she was by now deceased.

1710-1721:
MJR-Middlesex County Deeds, p. 299: An attorney was hired in 1710 by Samuel Bigelow, guardian and maternal grandfather of Thomas' grandson David, to represent his interest against the town which wished to nullify earlier land agreements with early residents--David, through Thomas, was among those so affected. A settlement was reached and David was granted twenty acres, in exchange for extinguishment of his half of the rights. In October, 1714, Thomas was granted twenty acres in a similar action. Finally in a meeting of May 8, 1721, a committee was appointed to agree on the bound of one acre of the twenty granted to Thomas and to settle with his heirs. Therefore, Thomas died between 1714 and 1721.

NEHGR 63:224: Colonial Records of Marlborough: Referencing the reserved land at Fort Meadow, A "commeetty" is to call John Shearman to show the bounds of an acre of meadow Granted to Thomas Bruce. Thomas Bruce is also those among those shown to have been issued a "primitive" grant.
Children were: John (2) BRUCE, Thomas (2) BRUCE, Roger(1) BRUCE, David BRUCE.

Thomas Bruce was an early resident of Sudbury and Marlborough in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Much of what is known about him comes from land deeds of Middlesex County. He was a farmer and miller and had a wife Magdalen and sons David and Roger and probably Thomas.[5]

The earliest record of him is a list of inhabitants of Sudbury, dated April 21, 1676, who sustained monetary losses during King Phillip's War. Thomas' loss was given as ten pounds.[6]

He was still residing in Sudbury three years later when the Selectmen of Marlboro on June 9, 1679 agreed with Thomas Bruce that he would build and operate for the town's use a mill to be located near the confluence of Angle Brook and Stoney Brook to be in operation by January 1680 "if God permit". In return the town granted Thomas forty acres of land and ten acres of meadow. The agreement was signed by Abraham Williams for the town and "Thomas Breuis" for himself.[1/296]

The house lot of forty acres that Thomas received was described as being on the north side of Stoney Brook and, included within its western part, a portion of Angle Brook. The exact location would be difficult to determine today, since that area was flooded in 1898 under the Sudbury Reservoir.[1/296-7]

By the original agreement, the land was to revert to the town if Thomas were to cease operation of the mill for any reason except beyond his control. By 1702, however, the mill was at least partially destroyed making difficult his compliance with the agreement, and he requested, and "it was so voated that he be aqitted from any further engagement" and the land was granted to him free and clear.[1/297]

Thomas disposed of his land to sons David and Roger.
"... Thomas Bruce of Marlburough in the County of Middlx in New England husbandman and Magdalen ... my wife ... For the naturall Love good will and affection we bare to our dutyfull Sone David Bruce of the abovesd Town and County husbandman ... Confirm unto our Said son David Bruce ... the one moiety or halfe part of Forty acres of Land ... within the ... abovesd Town ... as it was granted to me the Said Thomas Bruce by the abovesd Town; also the one ... halfe part of Ten acres of medow ... Scittuated in the abovesd Town of ye north side of Stony Brooke ... also the one ... half part of ye saw mill now in my possesion ..." January 29, 1699. Both signed by mark.[2/13:5]

This would seem to have been a wedding gift of the parents to David as he married MARY BIGELOW four days later.[5]

On Feb. 17, 1702 Samuel Ward of Marlborough granted "Thos. Bruce Senr, Miller" a meadow of three acres in Marlborough lying on both sides of Stony Brook.[2/16:601] In exchange for this property Thomas granted Samuel Ward several parcels of land. Thomas also described himself as "Thomas Bruce Senr, Miller" in this deed.[2/20:584] The Stony Brook section of Marlborough was later set off to form the town of Southborough. Thomas' son Roger, who lived in that area, was one of the petitioners for the new town.[5]

The relationship with Roger is born out by a deed dated April 13, 1706. "... I Thomas Bruce Senr ... for and in consideration of a fatherly love and good will which I have and do bear unto my loving son Roger Bruce both of us belonging and situate in the town of Marlborough ... by this Deed of Gift, give and confirm unto my loving son Roger Bruce ... the half part of my house lott which was granted to me by the town of Marlborough lying ... partly along Stony Brooke ... with all the housing and Corn Mill and half the said Sawmills which are standing thereupon ... and also my whole Estate ..." Thomas and Magdalen both signed by mark.[2/15:149]

No will of Thomas Bruce has been found, and he probably never wrote one. It is likely he disposed of his estate in this and other deeds.[5]

His death date is unknown, but he was certainly living January 2, 1709-10 when he gave land to his grandson, as it seems, in anticipation of his death. "... I Thomas Bruce Senr ... Miller for and in consideration of love, good will and affection which I have and do bear toward my loving grandson David Bruce belongning to ye Town of Watertown in ye same county ... for Divers good causes and other weighty considerations moving me thereunto ... grant unto my loving grandson ... one half of all my right ... in the Common Land which was given to me the said Thomas Bruce by the aforesaid Town of Marlborough ... for building and maintaining a mill, according to an agreement with Said Town ...".[2/15:148] Thomas signed by mark. Magdalen did not sign this deed and may have died since 1706 when she signed the previous deed.[5]

The "weighty considerations" may have been health related or may have been based on the fact that the town, growing and wanting to transfer common land to the newcomers, desired to be free of its obligations granted to earlier residents allowing them to take timber from this land.

Samuel Bigelow, guardian and maternal grandfather of Thomas' grandson David, hired attorney John Sherman in 1710 to represent David's case to the town. The town had attempted to nullify Thomas' rights to the common land when he transferred his ownership. Settlement was reached and David Bruce was granted twenty acres in compensation for extinguishment of his half of the rights.

In October 1714 Thomas was granted twenty acres in a similar action. The final action recorded by the town on the settlement of these claims was at a meeting May 8, 1721 when a committee was appointed to meet with John Sherman and agree on bounds of one acre of the twenty granted to Thomas and settle with his heirs.[1/299] Therefore Thomas Bruce died between 1714 and 1721.

The name of Thomas Bruce, Sr. appears on a tax list for the town of Marlborough in the year 1688. His tax was 9 shillings, 6 pence.[4] Thomas Bruce, Senior was one of twelve men assigned to the garrison of the West Regiment of Middlesex County in Marlborough on March 15, 1691-2. Isaac How's name was at the top of the list, so the garrison may have been at his house.[3] The term "Sr." did not have the same strict meaning 300 years ago as it does today. It had a broader meaning which could refer to the elder of two men of the same name whether they were related or not. Thus Thomas Bruce, Sr. did not necessarily have a son Thomas, although it can be assumed for lack of any other information.

Thomas may also have had a son John. He apparently omitted Thomas from a division of his estate and may have treated John in the same way. These children, if they were Thomas' children at all, may also have been provided for in some other manner. At any rate, John Bruce does not seem to have belonged to the Woburn Bruces, and his son John went to Brookfield as did some of the children of Roger, a known child of Thomas Bruce.[5]

It is a mystery where Thomas came from. One possibility is the county of Suffolk in England where the name is popular. Another possibility, and subject of some speculation, is that he was a Scottish prisoner taken by Lord Cromwell in the Battle of Dunbar in 1650 and then sent (or sold into servitude) to this country. Tradition in the family has it that the name (i.e. Bruce) was Scottish and are related to Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, but this may be due to the fact that someone made the connection with no other evidence.

Another intriguing possibility is the marriage found in the International Genealogy Index (IGI) between Thomas Bruce and Magdalen Evans 12 December 1652 in the Saint Martin-in-the-Fields Church in Westminster, London, England.[8] It seems, based on the marriage dates of their children, that Thomas and Magdalen would have been too young to have married in 1652, but the timing is not out of the question. And it's possible that they emigrated in the early 1670's with their youngest children.

Another family tradition passed down is that we descend from an Indian princess. The story goes that an early Bruce had some big dogs that prevented Indians from crossing the Bruce land. This early Bruce came out and called off the dogs, allowing the Indians to pass. He befriended the Indians and ended up marrying the chief's daughter. No evidence has been found to support this story.



REF: [1] New England Historic Genealogical Register, 1982 (pgs.294-301)
[2] Middlesex County Deeds
[3] New England Historic Genealogical Register, 1889 (pg.372)
[4] New England Historic Genealogical Register, 1882 (pg.192)
[5] The Bruce Family (Manuscript at NEHGS) - Winifred Lovering Holman
[6] New England Historic Genealogical Register, 1881 (pg.219)
[7] The History of Marlborough - Charles Hudson, 1862
[8] IGI batch no. M001451, sheet no. 00 extracted from LDS
microfilm number 0560369 (parish records 1550-1653)

Children:

1. Thomas, b. prob. abt. 1665, no mention of him found as he probably died young and unmarried

2. John, b. abt. 1667, m. abt. 1694 Elizabeth ____, d. prob. 1739

3. Roger, b. prob. abt. 1670, d. 16 Dec 1733, Southborough, MA m. Elizabeth Forbush, b. Cambridge, MA 16 Mar 1669,
d. Southborough, MA in Apr 1746

4. David, b. prob. abt. 1675, d. Marlborough 22 Jul 1701, m.
Watertown 2 Feb 1699 Mary Bigelow, b. 12 Sep 1677, d. Sudbury, MA 21 Feb 1707-8 (Mary later married Thomas Read IV on 03 Dec 1701 in Sudbury or Wayland, Middlesex, MA

Chil.: 1) David Bruce, b. 20 Dec 1700, m. 20 Feb 1727 Mary Brigham, b. 1701 (David was the son or David Bruce and Mary Bigelow)

Thomas married Magdalen Evans on 12 Dec 1652 in Saint Martin In The Fields, Westminster, London, England. Magdalen was born in 1640 in London, London, England; died in 1709 in Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 5 Mar 1597, Clackmannan, Clackmannanshire, Scotland

Archibald married Marion Gray on 12 Jul 1625 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. Marion was born in 1600 in , , Scotland; died in , , Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Married: 20 Nov 1612

James married Barbara Wallace in 1595 in Lyn-milne, Clackmannan, Stirling, Scotland. Barbara was born in 1575 in Dunfermline, Fifeshire, Scotland; died in 1625 in , , Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]