John Bruce

     John Bruce was born on 30 April 1748 Virginia.¹ He was the son of John Bruce and Margaret Jones. John and Elizabeth Clay, daughter of Henry Clay and Rachel Povall, were married 28 June 1775 Charlotte County, Virginia, John Bruce and Elizabeth Clay, sec. Jno Clay.² John Bruce died 1827, Garrard County, Kentucky at age 78 years.
     He served During the Revolutionary War John Bruce enlisted 20 November 1776 in the Virginia Continental Line as a foot
soldier for the duration of the war. He was appointed corporal in Captain William Smith’s Company, 11th Virginia
Regiment, commanded by Colonel Daniel Morgan, 30 November of that same year. Promoted to Sergeant in August
1777, he was wounded “at Bethlehem” in October 1777 and was on furlough through May 1778 to recover from his
wounds. He rejoined his unit, now part of William Johnston’s Company under the command of Lt. Col. Cropper,
encamped at Valley Forge and was with them at White Plains, Newark and Pompton Plains through the end of 1778.
From January through April of 1779, he was once again on furlough, but rejoined the company at Middlebrook in May.
The Company, now under Lt. James Wright, as part of Gen. Woodford’s Brigade, 7th Virginia Regiment of Foot, moved
to Smith’s Clove, then Ramapough, ending at Haverstraw by 1 October 1779. John Bruce last appeared on the company
muster roll for November 1779, prepared while they were “camped near Morristown” and submitted 9 December 1779. between 20 November 1776 and November 1779.¹