Roger Bruce^[1]

1670 - 1733  (63 years)

• Name	Roger Bruce
  Birth	1670	Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA   [2, 3, 4]
  Gender	Male
  Residence	1733	Southborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA   [5]
  Death	16 Sep 1733	Southborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA   [2, 3, 6, 7]
  Person ID	I1230	Master
  Last Modified	1 Jul 2018

  
  

  Father	Thomas Bruce,   b. 1637, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland d. 1714, Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA (Age 77 years)
  Mother	Magdalen Evans,   b. 1640, London, London, England d. 1709, Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA (Age 69 years)
  Marriage	12 Dec 1652	Saint Martin In The Fields, Westminster, London, England   [8]
  Family ID	F2096	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Elizabeth Forbush,   b. 16 Mar 1669, Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA d. 27 Apr 1746, Worcester, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA (Age 77 years)
  Marriage	1690	Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA   [2, 3, 9]
  Children	+ 1. Samuel Bruce,   b. 24 Mar 1691, Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA d. 16 Dec 1741, Holden, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA (Age 50 years) + 2. Abijah Bruce,   b. 27 Nov 1693, Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA d. 2 Dec 1774, Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA (Age 81 years) + 3. Elisha Bruce,   b. 14 Sep 1695, Framingham, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA d. 10 Jan 1770, Hopkinton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA (Age 74 years)   4. Rebecca Bruce,   b. 22 Feb 1698, Framingham, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA d. 16 Dec 1733 (Age 35 years) + 5. Sarah Bruce,   b. 2 Mar 1700, Framingham, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA d. 29 Jul 1747, Westborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA (Age 47 years) + 6. Daniel Bruce,   b. 22 Feb 1701, Framingham, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA d. 13 Feb 1790, Berlin, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA (Age 88 years)   7. Thomas Bruce,   b. 5 Jan 1704, Framingham, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA d. 1743, Bolton, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA (Age 38 years)   8. Hannah Bruce,   b. 18 Feb 1706, Framingham, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA d. Yes, date unknown   9. Deliverance Bruce,   b. 9 Sep 1709, Framingham, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA d. 1733 (Age 23 years)   10. David Bruce,   b. 9 Jun 1711, Framingham, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA d. 1772 (Age 60 years)
  Family ID	F772	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	2 Jul 2018

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 1670 - Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA Marriage - 1690 - Marlborough, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA Residence - 1733 - Southborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA Death - 16 Sep 1733 - Southborough, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Notes

  Roger BRUCE was born about 1670 in Marlborough, MA. He was noted as a miller with grants, etc. He died about 16 Dec 1733 in Southborough, MA. Land Records are given for this person in the Roman Genealogy. Other sources include by Roman: History of Marlborough, Mass. Charles Hudson, 1862. Middlesex County Deeds. NEHGR, 1982, Fahey et all, Thomas Bruce of Sudbury and Marlborough," Thomas disposed of his forty-acres house lot and ten acres of meadow by deed of gift to his sons Roger and David. To David he gave the Northern half (Middlesex Deeds 13: 5,6,) and on April 13, 1706, the southern portion went to Roger. (Middlesex Deeds 15: 149, 150). Roger Bruce was born possibly about 1670 and is stated to have died 16, December, 1733, (Vital Records, Southborough, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849, [Worcester, Mass, 1903], but his will was signed 8 Dec. 1733 and proved 7 Feb. 1733/4 [Worcester County, Massachusetts, Probate, Series A, file 8553]. He does not appear with John Bruce on the 1688 Andros Tax List. About 1690 he married Elizabeth Forbush. The author above suggests that he may have been living in the household of his father at the time. He came with his parents from Sudbury to Marlborough and was living there in 1691 when his first child was born. In 1695 he removes to Framingham, returning to Marlborough by 1701. During the next fifteen years, there is no clear record of him, but it is assumed he, for the major part, operated the mills at the original site. In 1711 he has a child born in Southborough. Roger's will disposed of his possessions to living children, not mentioning Rebecca and Deliverance, thus they were probably deceased. Samuel was not mentioned, however he had received land earlier. He was married to Elizabeth FORBUSH in 1690 in Marlborough, Middlesex, MA.(442) Roman only names her as Elizabeth. Adams names her as Elizabeth Gould Children were: Samuel BRUCE, Abijah BRUCE, Elisha BRUCE, Rebecca BRUCE, Sarah BRUCE, Daniel BRUCE, Thomas BRUCE, Hannah BRUCE, Deliverance BRUCE, David BRUCE. Like his father, Thomas, Roger Bruce wa a miller, and he inherited some of his father's mills. He later bought another corn mill from James Taylor situated on Stony Brook. The records sometimes called Roger "husbandman", which indicates he must have had a farm to supplement his livelihood in addition to the mills. Roger's parents, Thomas and Magdalen and brother David are also mentioned in these records. Roger signed deeds, Elizabeth signed by mark. In 1711 during the French and Indian War, Roger Bruce and Isaac Woods were assigned to Jonathan Newton's garrison in Marlboro. In another record Roger stated that his dwelling house was on the easterly side of Stony Brook. He and fortynine others, representing their families, petitioned the General Court to set off the Stony Brook area as a seperate town because the house of public worship in Marlborough was at too great a distance to travel each week. The Court consented, and on July 6, 1727 the town of Southborough was established. The town was originally in Middlesex County, and fell within Worcester County when it was established in 1731. As a result land deeds of the town are found in both counties. On june 24, 1715 Samuel forbush mentioned his " Kinsman Abijah Bruce" in a deed. Abijah was the son of Roger. The connection between Samuel and Abijah is made clear by the April 27, 1746 entry in Rev. Ebenezer Parkman's diary. "On the Occasion of The Death of my Honoured Mother and Several Bereavments (Ex. gr. Captain Forbush amd Mrs Byles mourn for the loss of their sister Bruce and Ensign Bruce and Mrs Miller the loss of their Mother;...) Captain Samuel Forbush and Rebecca (Forbush) Byles, wife of Joseph Byles, were the children of Daniel Forbush. They had only one sister, and she was named Elizabeth, for whom no marriage record exists. The other two named persons in the entry, Ensign Abijah Bruce and Sarah (Bruce) Miller, wife of James Miller, were the children of Roger Bruce and his wife Elizabeth. Elizabeth (Forbush) Bruce obviously died toward the end of April 1746. The vital records of Southborough give the date of Roger's death as Sept. 16, 1733, but since he signed his will on December 8, 1733 and the heirs agreed to the terms of the will on December 25 of that year, the correct date would most likely be December 16 rather than September 16. * Thomas Bruce transferred ownership of his home and mills by deeds to his sons David and Roger. David received his portion on 29 Jan. 1699. Roger received the southern half of Thomas' house lot and five acres of meadow in several pieces at Stoney Brook and at Pine Brook with all the housing and corn mill and half of the sawmill standing thereon with the streams thereto belonging; also his whole estate, all his moveables, utensils, irons, etc.. On 6 Nov. 1717, Roger Bruce of Marlborough purchased a corn mill and adjoining fulling mill, house, buildings, etc. on Stoney Brook from James Taylor for L55. On 4 Jan 1727, Roger and wife Elizabeth sold this property, plus two acres, to John Britton for L60. On 4 Dec 1726, Roger Bruce, miller, sold to his son Samuel Bruce for a sum of money ten acres iin Southborough where Samuel lived. Source: Middlesex County, Mass. Land Transactions By a deed dated 11 Feb. 1731, acknowledged 21 Apr. 1732 and recorded 16 Jan 1733/34, Roger Bruce and wife Elizabeth sold for L110 to Jonathan Newton ten acres. This was probably the remainder of Roger's forty-acre house lot. Source: Worcester County, Mass. Land Transactions According to the Southborough Vital Records, Roger died on 16 Sep 1733; but his will was signed 8 Dec 1733 and was proved 7 Feb 1733/34. Perhaps he died on 16 Dec 1733. He mentioned his wife Elizabeth, sons Abijah, Daniel, Thomas, Elisha and David, and daughters Sarah, wife of James Miller, and Hannah Townsend. Source: Worcester County, Mass. Probate Records Roger's eldest son, Samuel, was not mentioned in the will. Roger had previously established Samuel on a farm and there was no reason to leave more property to Samuel. Roger married Elizabeth Forbush before 1691, when their first son, Samuel, was born. Elizabeth Forbush's identity was discovered through an entry dated 27 Apr 1746 in The Diary of Ebenezer Parkman, 1703-1782, in which "Captain (Samuel) Forbush and Mrs. (Rebecca) Byles mourn the lost of their sister Bruce and Ensign (Abijah) Bruce and Mrs. (Sarah) MIller the Loss of their Mother..." Source: The Diary of Ebenezer Parkman, 1703-1782 Roger Bruce may have been born in the vicinity of Sudbury, Mass. However, the first record of his father Thomas appeared in 1676 at Sudbury and it is therefore impossible to be certain of Roger's birthplace. Source: "Thomas Bruce of Sudbury and Marlborough, Massachusetts", The NEHGR, Vol. 1982 Thomas Bruce transferred ownership of his home and mills by deeds to his sons David and Roger. David received his portion on 29 Jan. 1699. Roger received the southern half of Thomas' house lot and five acres of meadow in several pieces at Stoney Brook and at PIne Brook with all the housing and corn mill and half of the sawmill standing thereon with the streams thereto belonging; also his whole estate, all his moveables, utensils, irons, etc.. On 6 Nov. 1717, Roger Bruce of Marlborough purchased a corn mill and adjoining fulling mill, house, buildings, etc. on Stoney Brook from James Taylor for L55. On 4 Jan 1727, Roger and wife Elizabeth sold this property, plus two acres, to John Britton for L60. On 4 Dec 1726, Roger Bruce, miller, sold to his son Samuel Bruce for a sum of money ten acres iin Southborough where Samuel lived. Source: Middlesex County, Mass. Land Transactions By a deed dated 11 Feb. 1731, acknowledged 21 Apr. 1732 and recorded 16 Jan 1733/34, Roger Bruce and wife Elizabeth sold for L110 to Jonathan Newton ten acres. This was probably the remainder of Roger's forty-acre house lot. Source: Worcester County, Mass. Land Transactions Accordin g to the Southborough Vital Records, Roger died on 16 Sep 1733; but his will was signed 8 Dec 1733 and was proved 7 Feb 1733/34. Perhaps he died on 16 Dec 1733. He mentioned his wife Elizabeth, sons Abijah, Daniel, Thomas, Elisha and David, and daughters Sarah, wife of James Miller, and Hannah Townsend. Source: Worcester County, Mass. Probate Records Roger's eldest son, Samuel, was not mentioned in the will. Roger had previously established Samuel on a farm and there was no reason to leave more property to Samuel. Roger married Elizabeth Forbush before 1691, when their first son, Samuel, was born. Elizabeth Forbush's identity was discovered through an entry dated 27 Apr 1746 in The Diary of Ebenezer Parkman, 1703-1782, in which "Captain (Samuel) Forbush and Mrs. (Rebecca) Byles mourn the lost of their sister Bruce and Ensign (Abijah) Bruce and Mrs. (Sarah) MIller the Loss of their Mother..." Source: The Diary of Ebenezer Parkman, 1703-1782 Dianne_Fraser Dianne_Fraser originally shared this to DKFraserfamilytree 01 Sep 2011 story Above information taken from Thomas Bruce of Sudbury and Marlboro, Massachusests by Pitman, Fahey and Newman Like his father, Thomas, Roger Bruce was a miller, and he inherited some of his father's mills. He later bought another corn mill from James Taylor situated on Stony Brook. The records sometimes called Roger "husbandman", which indicates he must have had a farm to supplement his livelihood in addition to the mills. Roger's parents, Thomas and Magdalen and brother David are also mentioned in these records. Roger signed deeds, Elizabeth signed by mark. Suring the French and Indian War, in 1711, Roger Bruce and Isaac Woods were assigned to Jonathan Newton's garrison in Marlboro. In another record Roger stated that his dwelling house was on the easterly side of Stony Brook. He and fortynine others, representing their families, petitioned the General Court to set off the Stony Brook area as a seperate town because the house of public worship in Marlborough was at too great a distance too travel each week. The Court consented, and on July 6, 1727 the town of Southborough was established. The town was originally in Middlesex County but fell within Worcester County when that county was established in 1731. Thus land deeds of the town are found in both counties. No marriage record for Roger and Elizabeth has been found, but Katherine Fahey was able to discover Elizabeth's maiden name through another source. On june 24, 1715 Samuel forbush mentioned his " Kinsman Abijah Bruce" in a deed. Abijah was the son of Roger. The connection between Samuel and Abijah was made clear by the April 27, 1746 entry in Rev. Ebenezer Parkman's diary. "On the Occasion of The Death of my Honoured Mother and Several Bereavments (Ex. gr. Captain Forbush amd Mrs Byles mourn for the loss of their sister Bruce and Ensign Bruce and Mrs Miller the loss of their Mother;...) Captain Samuel Forbush and Rebecca (Forbush) Byles, wife of Joseph Byles, were the children of Daniel Forbush. They had only one sister, and she was named Elizabeth, for whom no marriage record exists. The other two named persons in the entry, Ensign Abijah Bruce and Sarah (Bruce) Miller, wife of James Miller, were the children of Roger Bruce and his wife Elizabeth. Elizabeth (Forbush) Bruce obviously died toward the end of April 1746. The vital records of Southborough give the date of Roger's death as Sept. 16, 1733, but since he signed his will on December 8, 1733 and the heirs agreed to the terms of the will on December 25 of that year, the correct date would most likely be December 16 rather than September 16.

  
  

• Sources

  [S761] Yates Publishing, Ancestry Family Trees, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.), Ancestry Family Tree. http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=113533846&pid=26 [S58] Heritage Consulting, Millennium File, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2003.Original data - Heritage Consulting. The Millennium File. Salt Lake City, UT, USA: Heritage Consulting.Original data: Heritage Consulting. The Millennium File. Salt Lake City, UT, USA: ). [S815] Ancestry.com, U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700, (Ancestry.com Operations Inc), Genealogical Publishing Co.; Baltimore, MD, USA; Volume Title: Supplement to Torrey's New England Marriages Prior to 1700. [S910] Ancestry.com, The New England Historical & Genealogical Register, 1847-2011, (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.). [S1067] Flint, James, comp., Worcester County, Massachusetts, Probate Index, Vol. 1 & 2 A - Z, July 1731-1881, (Ancestry.com Operations Inc). [S338] Ancestry.com, Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.). [S1133] Ancestry.com, North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000, (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.), Book Title: History of the town of Marlborough, Middlesex county, Massachusetts, from its first settlement in 1. [S763] Ancestry.com, England, Select Marriages, 1538-1973, (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.). [S386] Edmund West, comp., Family Data Collection - Marriages, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2001.).