This is the second in our Conflict - Bruce Series. In the first post, Conflict: Which Bruce Line Is Correct, If Either?, we presented conflict and the research question. In this post we delve into the sources that are attached to Azariah Benjamin Bruce at FamilySearch to see if we can find an answer to our question.
Our research question is, “Which Bruce, Azariah or Robert, is the correct father of Isaac Jones Bruce, if either?” Azariah Benjamin Bruce and Martha “Patsy” Keeling are listed as the parents of Isaac Jones Bruce in the FamilySearch tree. Let’s look at the data on Azariah from that tree. We’re looking specifically for documents that show Isaac Jones Bruce as his son. There are currently 22 sources attached to the record for Azariah Benjamin Bruce. The sources include land purchases, marriage records, service records, census records, war payroll, local history, military minutes, and burial records. As we examine each record we see that no official record shows Isaac Jones Bruce, or any Isaac for the matter, as son of Azariah. Azariah is listed as Isaac’s father in FindAGrave just as he is in FamilySearch.
There is a local history book that was published in 1883 that mentions Azariah and some details about his life as well as his children as recorded or happened in Jefferson County, Illinois. The books is referenced in FamilySearch that is a link to the booking provided by Ancestry. The link points to the section about “M.D. Bruce” which is included below. It was Jefferson County where Azariah settled, raised his children, died, and is buried. The local history book is called, History of Jefferson County, Illinois. It was edited by William Henry Perrin and published in 1883. Of Azariah Bruce is written:
Azariah Bruce came in 1823, and succeeded William Hix on the Salem road, four miles north of town. He was a native of Halifax County, Va. He went to Tennessee, and married a Keelin in Wilson County. [FamilySearch data shows marriage in Virginia. But it is a marriage bond record https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9XF-2995-N?i=30&cc=4149585 image 31 on the right.] He served two terms as County Commissioner, lost his wife in July, 1853, and died himself in March, 1854. Of his children, Sally was married to Hardy Maxey; Nancy, to Harvey Pace; Polly, to Jehu Maxey; Betsy, to John Baugh now in Texas; Armstead W. lives in Wayne County; Marquis, north of Rome, in this county; John, in Gallatin; Leonard W., in Webber, and Savanner in this township; Melissa died in youth; Harmon died in Wayne County in 1868 (298/9).
We see that the children of Azariah and Patsy, both living and deceased, are listed. It is clear and important to note that there is no Isaac among them in this local history. Further entries in the history include short bios of some of Azariah’s children. The M.D. In the next paragraph must be Marquis. FamilySearch has him as Marquis De LaFayette Marcus Bruce.
M.D. BRUCE, farmer, P.O. Dix, was born in Wilson County, Tenn., March 19, 1812, to Azariah and Patsy (Keeling) Bruce, natives of Virginia, he the son of Michael Bruce, a native of Scotland. In Virginia, Azariah Bruce was married to the mother of our subject, and in 1801 emigrated to Tennessee. During his residence in Tennessee, he enlisted in the army, serving in the war of 1812, being at the battle of New Orleans. In 1823, he emigrated to Jefferson County, Ill., and continued to follow his chosen profession of farming, taking quite a pride in keeping his farm in perfect order. He died in this county about 1854, his wife having died a short time before. He had passed his seventy-seventh year of age, and had of served a number of terms as County Commissioner. He was the father of thirteen children, eight of whom still survive, six residing in this county. Our subject has resided in this county since 1823, and received his education in the early schools of the county. He served during the Black Hawk war, and also in the Mexican war. During the latter, he was engaged in the battles of Cerro Gordo and Vera Cruz. January 12, 1838, he settled on his present farm of 100 acres. He entered land from the Government at $1.25 per acre. February 13, 1834, was married to Jane Brown, a native of Smith County, Tenn., and daughter of James and Sally (Clayborn) Brown, natives of South Carolina. He died in Tennessee a short time before the birth of Mrs. Bruce. About 1828 or 1830, Mrs.Brown moved to this county, and died about 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Bruce have had ten children, six of whom are still living - Francis M. (deceased), Charlotte, Sally (deceased), Martha A., James D., Malissa, Mary (deceased), Samantha (deceased), Alice and Azariah. For many years he and wife have been members of the Christian order. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Rome Lodge, No. 394, and has represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge. In politics, he is a Democrat, and takes an active part toward securing the success of his party (80).
This shows that Azariah and Patsy were natives of Virginia which comports with the marriage bond, but conflicts with the idea from the Azariah paragraph above which says they were married in Wilson Country, TN. Of course, it appears they likely married in Virginia then settled for a bit in Tennessee. It appears that all of their children were born in Tennessee.
Mr. [Jesse] Maxey was married, April1, 1824, to Sallie Bruce, a daughter of Azariah B. Bruce (deceased). They have had eight children, five of whom they raised to maturity, viz.: Artamissa C.(deceased, leaving four children), Mary E., Martha E., Susan B. and Druscilla J. Our subject owns 136 acres of land, and has always been a farmer. He is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South (25).
[Jehu J. D. Maxey] was married, January 12, 1832, to Mary A. Bruce, a daughter of Azariah B. and Martha Bruce. They had but one child - James Henry - (deceased). Mr. Maxey owns 154 acres of land, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He is a worthy Methodist, of which church he has been a member since a boy, and has been a licensed exhorter in the church since 1841. He has been President of the Pioneer Association of Jefferson County for the past twelve years. Mr. Maxey spent much of his time for twenty years in hunting. Has shot many a deer standing in his saddle; shot deer running land his horse running also at full speed (66).
LEONARD W. BRUCE, farmer, P.O. Marlow, the pioneer of Webber Township, was born in Wilson County, Tenn., March 13, 1819 and is a son of Azariah Bruce (deceased), a native of Virginia, who brought his family to this county in 1826. Our subject attended school in a log cabin, sat on a split, and wrote on a slab, supported on pins in the wall. The cabin had no floor except "mother earth,” and the window was the aperture made by removing a log. In 1850, he married Caroline daughter of James Bridges. They had nine children, eight living - Mary, Rebecca, Adda, Roland, Hardy, Nannie, Ellen and Peter. Mr. Bruce owns 200 acres of valuable land. Is a member of the Masonic fraternity (74).
Here the author wrote that Azariah came to Jefferson County, Illinois in 1826, whereas before he wrote 1823. It seems it is more likely 1823 given other references in the book as well as in other documentation. It is also worth noting that none of the children carry on their father’s name by naming any son Azariah or Benjamin. It is also notable that none of the girls are named Patsy or Patricia after their grandmother.
We were unable to locate a will or probate record in our cursory searches for it. A typical will would list all the surviving children. So that would go a long way toward answering our question authoritatively. We did find Azariah and his Y-DNA line listed at FamilyTreeDNA member lineages. The group is 05-M269 (F), subgroup 311450. The lineage is:
- AZARIAH B. BRUCE was born in 1776 in Virginia. He died on 09 Mar 1854 in Jefferson County, Illinois. He married MARTHA PATSY KEELING in 1803 in Halifax, Virginia. She was born in 1778 in Virginia.
- Their son ARMSTEAD WASHINGTON BRUCE was born about 1810 in Tennessee. He married NANCY BYERS. She was born about 1813 in Tennessee.
- Their son ARMSTERD MARION BRUCE was born on 21 Dec 1850 in Wayne Co , Ill. He died on 10 Oct 1927 in MT Vernon, Jefferson Co. Ill an EMELINE BRUCE. She was born about 1850 in Illinois.
- Their son CLARANCE M BRUCE was born on 08 Jan 1874 in Illinois. He married LAURA L BRUCE. She was born about 1874 in Illinois.
- Their son JAMES HERBERT BRUCE was born on 20 Sep 1910 in Illinois. He died on 20 Oct 2004. He married LEONA M. BRUCE. She was born on 16 Aug 1911 in Wisconsin. She died on 02 Aug 2011 in Janesville, Rock, Wisconsin
This is only following one of Azariah’s sons, surely others continued the Y-DNA line. But it is interesting to see the Y-DNA links on this page.
So the source documents attached to Azariah Benjamin Bruce at FamilySearch where he is listed as the father of Isaac Jones Bruce, do not mention or support the connection. That does not mean that Azariah was not Isaac’s father. The local history book however also fails to show the connection. Again, while the book is a source that is close in time to the family, it is not absolutely reliable. We need more information. Next time, we can have a look at the sources associated with Isaac Jones Bruce at FamilySearch.
