William Bruff (1741-1802)
MSA SC 3520-175
Biography
Born: ca.
1741 in Talbot County; probably eldest son.
Native: at least second generation.
Resided: in
Queen Anne's County, 1764; Island Hundred,
Queen Anne's County, 1778; Baltimore Town,
1795.
Died:
between July 21 and
November 13, 1802, in Baltimore City.
Family Background
Father: Richard
Bruff (?-1760), of Talbot County.
Mother: Rachel, widow of (name unknown).
Brother: Richard
Stepbrother: Jonathan (surname unknown).
Sisters: Mary; Lucy; Rachel; and Rebecca.
Married: first, by 1765 Catherine (1743-?), daughter
of Maj. Nathan Wright (?-1767) and wife Mary
(?-1773); stepdaughter of (first name unknown)
Bruff; granddaughter of Charles Wright (?-1720);
niece of Robert Norrest Wright (?-ca. 1746/47).
Her brothers were Turbutt Wright (ca. 1741-1783); Robert (1756-?). Her sister was Mary
(1746-1754).
Married: second, by 1794 Catherine, widow of Nicholas Jones (?-1791), of Baltimore
County; she moved to Dorchester County after
Bruffs death.
Children
Son: William, Jr.
Private Career
Education: literate.
Religious Affiliation: Anglican; Methodist.
Social Status and Activities: Gent., 1770; Esq., 1778.
Occupational Profile: planter; merchant, 1762;
merchant in partnership with Richard Tilghman
Earle (1728/29-1788) and his brother James
Earle, in the firm of Richard T. Earle & Co.,
which was in existence from 1772 to 1775; merchant in Baltimore City, in partnership with Daniel Chambers, in the firm of Chambers & Bruff,
1799; merchant in Baltimore City, in partnership
with William Bruff, Jr., in the firm of William
Bruff & Son, by 1802, at which time they liquidated all their assets to pay their creditors.
Public Career
Legislative Service: Convention,
Queen Anne's County, 9th, 1776 (election voided
on August 16, 1776, because the freemen of Queen
Anne's County appointed the election judges contrary to the resolves of the 8th Convention; reelected and seated); Lower House, Queen Anne's
County, 1777 (Claims 1, 2; Grievances 1; Elections 2), 1777-1778 (resigned on October 31,
1777; reelected to the 2nd session; Elections 2;
Grievances 2, 3; Claims 2, 3), 1778-1779 (Manufactories 1; Claims 1), 1779-1780 (Grievances 1-3;
Tax Commissioners 1, 2), 1780-1781 (speaker 1, 2;
resigned as speaker on June 11, 1781, when "indisposed"; reappointed on June 14, 1781).
Other State Office: Special Council for the Eastern
Shore (in case of invasion it was empowered to act
in place of the governor and Council), appointed
1780.
Local Office: Committee of Correspondence, Queen Anne's County, elected 1774; justice, Queen Anne's County, commissioned 1777,
1778, 1779, 1780 (did not qualify); justice, Orphans' Court, Queen Anne's County, commissioned 1777 and 1778; St. Luke's Parish Vestry,
Queen Anne's County, in office 1784; board of
trustees, Methodist Church, Queen Anne's
County, elected 1794; commission to build a
courthouse and jail, Queen Anne's County, period
of service unknown.
Stands on Public/Private Issues: manumitted seven slaves between 1785 and
1797.
Wealth During Lifetime
Personal Property: assessed value £587.0.0, including 24
slaves and 30 oz. plate, 1783; 10 slaves, 1790; sold
8 slaves and 1 servant, part of the assets of William Bruff & Son, to pay debts, 1802.
Land at First Election: 815 acres in Queen Anne's
County (365 acres through first marriage, 450
acres by purchase).
Significant Changes in Land Between First Election and Death: owned a total of 1,138 acres in Queen Anne's County, 1783; at least 211 acres in Baltimore
County, plus 2 lots in Baltimore City through his
second marriage, by 1794; placed a tract of unknown acreage in Cecil County, 200 acres in
Queen Anne's County, and a lot and house in
Baltimore City in trust for his wife between 1794
and 1801; owned a total of 659 acres in Queen Anne's County, plus 1,116 sq. ft. in Baltimore City,
1798; sold 652 acres in Baltimore and Queen Anne's counties, plus a wharf and building on Fell's
Point, Baltimore City, plus 570 acres on the Scioto
River, Northwest Territory, all the real property
assets of William Bruff & Son, to pay debts, 1802.
Wealth at Death
Land: all
lands, except those held in trust for his wife, had
been sold to pay the debts of William Bruff & Son.
Return to William Bruff's Introductory Page
|
Tell Us What You Think About the Maryland State Archives Website!
|