Major William Bruce
1776-1854
Source: Wesley Cauble,
Disciples of Christ in Indiana, p.161
The Life Of William Bruce
William A. Bruce II was born August 6, 1776 in Elizabethtown, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Captain William A. Bruce, Sr. (1745-1818) and Mary Lucas (1745-1805). William's father served as a lieutenant in the Maryland troops; also served under George Rogers Clark. He was born in Maryland and died in Nelson County, Kentucky. (North American Family Histories, 1500-2000 Vol. 141, 1918, Entry 140229.)
William Jr. was married three times. His first wife was Barbara ???? who he married in 1790. He was then married to Sara Sally Polke October 23, 1798 in Shelby County, Kentucky. It was reported that in September, 1782, she was taken by Indians when Kincheloe's Station was attacked. Many men and women were massacred during the attack. But, she was taken and spent a year among the Indians before being released. After Sallie's death in 1818, he married once again to Nellie "Hettie" Ritchie Holmes (1794-1868) on January 27, 1818 in Knox County, Indiana. By these women it is reported that Bruce fathered 25 children. (Source: Ancestry.com)
He came under the teachings of Alexander Campbell in the Millennial Harbinger, and founded a church of Christ in Bruceville, Indiana in 1832. He led in the organization of the Bruceville Church. Clarence B. Kessinger is a grandson and H. B. Holloway of the United Christian Missionary Society, is a great-grandson. (Disciples Of Christ In Indiana, Wesley Cauble, Page 201). The following from Wesley Cauble's book, The Disciple of Christ in Indiana is of particular importance,
"It will be impossible to mention all of the churches in Indiana that came to the New Testament position in the early days, but the Knox County group must be recognized. On August 6, 1851, at the celebration of his seventy-fifth birthday, Major William Bruce read a paper concerning the early days in Indiana. This has come down to the present time. Among other things he says, "In the spring of 1805 I loaded my wife, my plunder, and my four children on horseback and came from Jefferson County, Kentucky, to Vincennes." His father had been a commander in George Rogers Clark's army protecting Louisville, Ky. William Bruce served as major in the army soon after his arrival and protected Vincennes from the Indians.
In the fall of 1805 Major Bruce bought two hundred acres of land on the site of the present town of Bruceville. This place was named for him. In the fall of 1807 he collected twelve or thirteen Baptists in the neighborhood and organized them into a church. This took place in his own home. They called it the Wabash Baptist Church. Later, when a large number of his wife's family moved to the Maria Creek neighborhood the Bruces united with this church. The Maria Creek Baptist Church seems to have prospered greatly for a number of years, but the question of creeds disturbed its peace. Major Bruce says, "A few of us at Bruceville petitioned for letters of dismissal. At that time the church numbered one hundred and seventy. Suspicion got afloat that we intended to be constituted on the Scriptures without any creed or confession of faith. The spirit of persecution commenced and on the day we were constituted some twenty more broke off from them and came to us. The old members kept leaving them and joining with us. Our church soon numbered one hundred. The good Lord still blesses us."
Then he goes on to say, "The persecuting spirit of a few leading members of the mother church had reduced her to a mere skeleton." B. F. Keith, M. D., wrote a history of the Maria Creek Baptist Church, which is very illuminating concerning many important matters of that day. The church was organized in May, 1809, and was a member of the oldest Baptist association in Indiana. At the February meeting, 1812, Peter Hansborough, of Kentucky, presented letters asking for admission into the church. William Bruce and others objected because he held slaves. Action was deferred one month. At the March meeting all the members save Mr. Bruce were willing to receive this man. Bruce was unwilling to continue in the church with slaveholders.
The record says, "He, Bruce, is considered no more a member with us." But it goes on to say that they have no objections to his moral character as a Christian. In July, 1816, Bruce was restored to the fellowship of the church. The record is silent concerning the slaves.
A brief correspondence relative to the beginning of the Bruceville church should be noted:
"Bruceville, February 17,1832
"To the Church at Maria Creek
"Dear Brethren:
"Hoping that it will be for the honor of our divine Master and our own convenience and comfort, we request of you (if you think us worthy) letters of dismission, in order that we may be constituted a church of Christ at Bruceville: and as we are so circumstanced that it is not convenient for us to attend we have sent our request by our beloved brethren David Lemen and Andrew Burn-sides—(Signed) William Bruce, David Lemen, Andrew Burnsides, Ovid Macy, Jane Burnsides, Lucindie Macy, Nancy Howard, Rebecca Simpson."
In reply to this letter the Maria Creek Baptist Church gave them the privilege of establishing a church of Christ "in the manner that to them seemed most agreeable to the laws of Jesus Christ as set forth in the New Testament ; and to release such other brethren as might desire to be constituted with them in their constitution; she hopes and believes that to dismiss all orderly pious members as may choose to join said constitution will tend to peace and harmony."
The Maria Creek Baptist Church was a mother to many early churches most of which later accepted the position of the Reformers. Dr. Keith says, "In February, 1833, a number of members living on Shaker Prairie requested and obtained letters for the purpose of organizing a church; the whole church, after its organization, went over to the Reformers."
In an address at the semicentennial of the Vincennes Christian Church, June 15, 1883, James Polke says, "In 1809 a Baptist Church was organized on Maria Creek, fifteen miles north of Vincennes with thirteen members. They could not meet in the church during the War of 1812. They had to meet in forts. About 1827 the Christian Baptist began to be read by Abner Davis and David Watford. This led to a division. The Bruceville Christian Church was organized in 1832, the Christian Church at Maria Creek in 1833, and the Vincennes Church the same year. These seem to have been daughters of the old Maria Creek Church.
"The following preachers who labored among the Baptists became preachers of primitive Christianity: Abner Davis, David Walford, Brice Fields, Albert T. Law, Maurice R. Trimble, and John B. Hayworth." Mr. Polke said in the Vincennes Address that he was the only living member who went into the Maria Creek Christian Church when it was first organized. (Wesley Cauble, Disciple of Christ pgs. 62 - 65)
William Bruce passed from this life April 23, 1854 and burial followed in the family plot in Bruceville Cemetery.
-Scott Harp, 08.30.2024
Millennial Harbinger
1833, Number IX, Volume IV, page 476
Martha Yager shared this July 15, 2010 on Ancestry.com
The Vincennes Sun Commercial, Vincennes, Indiana
February 28, 1930 pages 1,7
(CLICK ON ARTICLE TO ZOOM IN)
The Vincennes Sun Commercial, Vincennes, Indiana
December 16, 1851 pages 13,16
(CLICK ON ARTICLE TO ZOOM IN)
The Vincennes Sun Commercial, Vincennes, Indiana
Wednesday, November 11, 1961 page 4
(CLICK ON ARTICLE TO ZOOM IN)
Local Advertisement
The Sun, Vincennes, Indiana
March 30, 1976, page 5
Directions To Grave
North of Evansville, Indiana, head north on I-69 28 min (29.9 mi) to exit 27 from I-69. Turn left onto IN-168 W. Go 8 min (7.4 mi) Follow US-41 N to IN-67 N/N Indiana 67 in Vincennes Township. Take the IN-67 N exit from US-150 W/US-41 N 34 min (34.9 mi). Continue on IN-67 N/N Indiana 67 to Bruceville. Turn left on Cross St/Davis Road. Head north out of town to Bruceville Cemetery. At the rear of the cemetery, look to the southeast section -- the real old graves-- there will be some trees and bush growths (behind it in east side is another lake-- The graves of Wm Bruce are the 2nd to last graves-- the last graves are partially in the trees and bushes.
GPS Location
38°45'49.8"N 87°24'48.9"W
or D.d. 38.763820,-87.413578
Wm T. Bruce
DIED
March 25, 1877
40 Y's 7M's 13 D's
In Memory Of
Sally Bruce
who departed this
life September 2, 1818
In Memory Of
C. C. Bruce
Departed This
life September 27, 1833
Aged 1 yr 6 mos & 2 days
In Memory Of
Kitty Ann
Departed this life
May 27, 1825
Aged 13 Yrs, 1 Month & 1 Day
In Memory Of
Wm. D. Bruce
who departed this
life august 16, 1836
aged 35 years, 4 months, and 19 days
Father
William Bruce
Died
April 23, 1854
Aged
77 yrs 8ms 17ds
Photos Taken 09.09.2014
Webpage produced 08.29.2024
Courtesy Of Scott Harp
www.TheRestorationMovement.com
Special Recognition: Special thanks to Larry Miles for finding the grave of William Bruce and family. Also, for making these available to be published on TheRestorationMovement.com.