James Bruce, Sr. (b. circa 1784 - d. ?)
MSA SC 5496-50832
War of 1812 Refugee, Prince George's County, Maryland, 1814
Biography:
James "Jim" Bruce was born about 1784 in Prince George's County, Maryland to Sarah and James Bruce who were the slaves of Walter Dulany Addison.1 Jim would become the slave of Anthony Addison, a near relative of Walter D. Addison. Jim' s parents were manumitted by Walter D. Addison in 1793, but he remained enslaved by Anthony Addison.2 James Bruce was married to a negro woman called Nell who belonged to Mary Coombs living in the Swan Creek area of Prince George's County.3 Jim and Nell had two children, James and Betty.
In 1814, Jim's wife Nell and their two children escaped to the British fleets lying in the Potomac River.4 At the time of their escape Jim was hired out to Henry A. Callis, who was the nephew of his owner Anthony Addison.5 Jim left Callis' property and went to the home of Mrs. Mary Coombs to visit Nell and the children, which he was allowed to do "once a fortnight" or every two weeks.6 He was informed by Col. William Lyles, the father of Mrs. Coombs, that Nell and the children ran off to the British.7 Col. Lyles advised Jim that he should return to his master, but Jim left Mrs. Coombs home and joined his family on board the British vessels. Jim was around the age of 30 at the time he fled from Maryland.
The Bruce family successfully escaped to Nova Scotia by 1815. Jim Bruce and his family settled on the Windsor Road in Halifax, Nova Scotia.8 They lived near Richard Reeves and his family, who also escaped from Mary Coombs.9 Bruce also lived near Monday Goler and Jacob Goler who both escaped from Calvert County.10
Anthony Addison later filed a claim in 1824, for
reparations due to him from the loss of his enslaved man Jim Bruce.11 Jim was estimated to
be worth $800, but Maryland slave owners were only allowed
$280 in compensation for each slave that they lost to the British during the War of 1812.12
Henry Callis was a deponent in the claim filed by Addison and gave valuable
information about Jim. Addison recieved his $280 reparation because he
was able to prove the loss of his negro slave.
1. PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY COURT (Chattel Papers) 1794-1800, Walter Addison manumission of slaves [MSA C1174-4]
2. ibid.
3. Claim of Mary Coombs, Prince George's County, Case No. 715, Case Files. Ca. 1814-1828, entry 190, RG 76, National Archives, College Park.
4. ibid.
5. Claim of Anthony Addison, Prince George's County, Case No. 701, Case Files. Ca. 1814-1828, entry 190, RG 76, National Archives, College Park.
6. ibid.
7. ibid.
8. Commissioner of Public Records NSARM, RG 1 vol. 420 no. 133 (microfilm no 15464)
9. ibid.
10. ibid.
11. Claim of Anthony Addison, Prince George's County, Case No. 701, Case Files. Ca. 1814-1828, entry 190, RG 76, National Archives, College Park.
12. American State Papers, House of Representatives, 19th Congress, 1st Session, Foreign Relations: Vol 5, pg 806.
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