1745 - 1833 (87 years)
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Name |
BRUCE Charles Austin |
Born |
30 Oct 1745 |
Romeo, Culpeper County, VA |
Gender |
Male |
Died |
31 Jul 1833 |
Greer, Greenville County, SC [1] |
Buried |
UNKNOWN |
The Bruce Family Cemetery 4020 North Highway 101, Greer, SC [2] |
Person ID |
I0090 |
Combo |
Last Modified |
22 Aug 2009 |
Father |
BRUCE George, b. Abt 1713, VA , d. Abt 1803, Montgomery County, VA (Age ~ 90 years) |
Mother |
QUINN Elizabeth, b. Abt 1720, Culpeper, VA , d. Abt 1793, Culpeper, VA (Age ~ 73 years) |
Married |
Abt 1738 |
Orange County, VA |
Family ID |
F0049 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
Family |
RAMSEY Margaret Hannah, b. Abt 1750, d. UNKNOWN, Greenville County, SC |
Married |
Abt 1765 |
Children |
| 1. BRUCE Andrew, d. Abt 1844, Greenville County, SC |
| 2. BRUCE Jeremiah, d. UNKNOWN |
| 3. BRUCE Joel, b. Abt 1785, South Carolina , d. 3 Feb 1840, Greenville County, SC (Age ~ 55 years) |
| 4. BRUCE Martha Jane, b. Abt 1800, SC , d. UNKNOWN |
| 5. BRUCE Bailous, b. 1770, d. UNKNOWN |
| 6. BRUCE Mary Jane, b. 1780, Greenville County, SC , d. 1870 (Age 90 years) |
| 7. BRUCE Charles Jr., b. Abt 1782, d. 21 Nov 1853 (Age ~ 71 years) |
| 8. BRUCE J. Hardin, b. 1786, d. Jul 1854, Greenville County, SC (Age 68 years) |
| 9. BRUCE Silas, b. Abt 1790, SC , d. Aft 1850 (Age ~ 61 years) |
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Family ID |
F0047 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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Headstones |
| Charles Bruce This headstone is part of the Bruce Family Cemetery in Greer, SC. It is the only marked grave. All others are field stones. |
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Notes |
- Peder says that Charles A. Bruce migrated to SC from VA before 1786.
In a letter to Thomas Jefferson dated June 7, 1823 Charles said he was born in Culpeper, VA.
From "Choctaw County Bruces, pages 164: Charles Bruce was one of the patriots captured on March 10, 1781, taken to a Tory station on Little River, tried for his life and sentenced to be hanged. He wa a soldier in Colonel Roebuck's command, was wounded at the fall of Charleston in 1780, later taken prisoner and held for a long time at Fort Ninety Six.
9/3/06 from Bea: Thanks for the photo of Charles' tombstone. I got to thinking about the Charles Bruce/William Bruce note that I told you about last time so I dug it out and it DOES say that Charles and William are brothers. This document is dated 1804. So now, we have brothers: Charles, Richard, George, and William. There may be more as there are more unattached Bruces in the area. Maybe between the four, we can find with some proof, or at least good circumstances, who their father is. As I am thinking on him, I recall something that may lead to the identity of his parents IF I can find the time to do some more research.
The Thomas Jefferson Letters at the Library of Congress contain several letters to and from Charles and Thomas Jefferson. Jamile has scans of the letters and their translations.
From Raymond Bruce in 2005: Charles is buried in the Bruce Private cemetery on Highway North out of Greer, SC, along with about 20 other family members who are marked only with field stones. Charles' grave is marked with dates and a reference to his Revolutionary War record. Charles was captured at the fall of Charleston in the war. He was tried by the Tories and sentenced to death. He was sent to Fort Ninety-Six and held there to be hanged. His wife went to Ninety-Six and helped him escape. Afterward he filed a claim for one horse, one saddle and one bridle which he lost during his escape. I do not know if he ever collected from the government or not. He came back to Greer and fammed until his death.
In the DAR index as of Feb 2006.
From Raymond Bruce Feb 22, 2006: I believe the DAR website has some misinformation. This is why. On the marker it reads: "Charles Bruce, Colonel Roebuck's Regiment, South Carolina Militia...1820." On the Milford Baptist Church roll of members it states: "Charles Bruce departed this life July 31, 1833." He was a member there along with other members of his family. My Great Grandpa is buried in the Milford cemetery. I believe the 1820 date on the marker is when he served, not when he died.
1830 Census
Charles Austin Bruce living with his son Charles, Jr. in SC/Greenville County
From "The Upper Part of Greenville County, SC", pages 169-170 (Reminiscences, B. F. Perry)
"Old Charley Bruce, one of the earliest settlers of Greenville, and the ancestor of all the Bruces and Gilreaths in the county, was a 'character' well known in his day and time, in all the good people of Greenville. He lived to a very advanced age, and I remember him well when I came to Greenville to read law. He frequently came into the office where I was studying, and got me to write letters for him. He always dictated them himself, and would not permit me to alter or change his expressions in the slightest particular. He was known as "lawyer Bruce", from the fact that he was constantly in litigation, and sometimes managed his own cases in court. ... His chief pleasure seemed to be to expose guilt in any and every shape. He was indeed a terror to all evil doers. His appearance was striking. Small of stature, with a large head, Roman nose, thin features, and a frame which would endure any fitigue. He had been a gallant soldier of the Revolution; but his disposition to interfere with everyone lost him the respect of most of his acquaintances. He cared, however, precious little for that. By nature he was a born Ishmaelite. In speaking or writing, his language was terse and vigorous. He was a poet, too, and composed a great many doggerel lines. ...Old Charley was bordering on ninety when I knew him, and yet he would walk down to the village, a distance of fourteen miles from his residence on Tyger River.
Near Gilreath's Mill in the Bruce Burying Ground is the following Revolutionary marker: "CHARLES BRUCE, COLONEL ROEBUCK'S REGIMENT, SOUTH CAROLINA MILITIA...1820."
Charles Bruce lived near Milford Church on a small river which feeds a part of Lake Cunningham. Jamile looked up 1282 Milford Road, Greer where the church is located and can see a map that shows a small feeder stream, but the map does not tell the name of the river.
From Bea Aug 31, 2006
•First, I do not believe that his parents are George Bruce and Elizabeth Quinn although many people attribute him and several other children to them and very much disagree with me. I may be wrong, it certainly won't be the first time. My reason for thinking is that Elizabeth had a deed of gift to her children, George, Elizabeth and Martha. If Charles was one of her children, I believe she would have mentioned him. If you have any proof of their parentage, I would love to see it. I do believe his father was a George, I just don't know which one.
•I have Charles' wife listed as Hannah RAY. I have no documentation for that, only other researchers say so. If you could give me a source for Ramsey, I would be grateful.
•I was interested in your information about Charles. Very interesting indeed. It shows you have done your homework. I thought he was a well educated man. I was surprised to read that he dictated his letters. Have you seen his letter to Thomas Jefferson? If not, you can find it in the Thomas Jefferson Papers.
In this letter, he mentions his brother Richard. Richard was an infamous attorney in Albemarle Co., VA. He was educated, so I naturally thought Charles was also. The letter in the TJ Papers is handwritten and carries his signature. Richard is known to have a brother George. He is believed to have a brother William as he had close ties to him and purchased property that once belonged to him; also lived in very close proximity of where he (William) lived. Charles is also believed to have a brother William. There is a paper (I think it is in the Perry Bruce papers) that William sent Charles of South Carolina a sum of money and told him to take what he (William) owed him (Charles) out of it and witnessed by William's son. This William is the one that married Nancy 'Annie' Ballard. Some researchers use this as proof that William is brother to Charles even though the note does not give a relationship. The TJ letter mentions his imprisonment at 96, his daily walks to the court house, his birthdate, age, that his wife had recently passed, his childhood, and asked TJ to let him stay the night at his house when he comes to Charlottesville (VA).
From Raymond Bruce 9/6/06: My first cousin James was up from Atlanta this past week end. We visited the Bruce cemetery and I counted the field stones, there were 32. Mr brown had the grass (weeds) cut a little better than when we were there.
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Sources |
- Records of Milford Baptist Church.
- Jamile has a photo of headstone.
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