Individual Details
John Bruner
(26 Nov 1762 - 14 Nov 1835)
Bruner Family
By Joyce Whitman
P.O. Box 655, Lenoir, N.C. 28645
Transcribed with her permission by
Theodora De Ford, 7719 S. Mooresville Rd., Camby, In 46113
Internet Email: bltdeford@aol.com
Published in: Ancestral News Vol 24, Number 2, Page 80
John Bruner was our ancestor who settled in Kentucky. There was a Peter Bruner in Mercer Co. in 1791 for he signed for his daughter Rachel to marry March 7, 1791. Another daughter Mercy married July 13, 1791, and a third daughter married Sept. 12,1791. This Peter Bruner was a prominent and well to do person. He was a delegate to the 2nd. Kentucky Constitutional Convention from Mercer Co. Kentucky in 1799. He died in 1801. His will does not mention a John Bruner so it is unknown how he was related to our John. Peter was bom in 1733 and our John was bom in 1763. Were they brothers? or Uncle and Nephew? Anyway, John's son, born in Mercer Co. Jan. 30, 1971 was Peter Bruner. It is logical to assume there was a relationship.
It's believed that John was bom in Pennsylvania but lived in New Jersey at the time of the American Revolution. On a affidavit for a pension for John Fulkerson for service in the American Revolution, John Bruner said that he and John Fulkerson were neighbors in New Jersey. John Fulkerson was married to Margaret Bruner in Sussex Co. New Jersey in 1774. How were Margaret Bruner and our John related? (Note TD. John's brother Phillip Fulkerson ma Elizabeth Bruner in 1775, Sussex Co. N.J. but how were the Bruners related?)
In the Mercer Co. Kentucky records of Nov. 26, 1793 it is mentioned that John Bruner was in a group of men to help keep a road open. Also in 1793, George Sconce was bound out to John Bruner on a tax list in Mercer Co. In 1795 he is listed as having 2 horses and 5 cattle.
Mercer Co. records of March 22, 1796 state that John Bruner was granted a license to keep a tavern at his home in Danville. Danville, which had been laid off in 1784, became the center of the intellectual, political, and religous life in Kentucky. A court house was built in Danville and the District Court met there. Danville was a busy and lively place and no doubt taverns very popular. There were laws which the tavem keeper had to follow after his license had been granted. The Tavern, or ordinary Keeper had to provide good wholesome and clean lodging and diet for travelers. Suitable provender or pasturage for horses were required. The Law also stated that "the Keeper shall not suffer or permit any unlawful gaming in his house, nor suffer any person to tipple or drink more than is necessary, or at anytime suffer any disorderly or scandalous behavior to be practiced in his house". Tavern rates and prices were fixed by county justices for liquors, lodging, diet, stablage, procender and pasturage. Licensees had to be renewed each year. (note: TD I have the license records for John)
In the Mercer county records of March 28, 1797 it is recorded "indenture from John Allison to John Bruner was proved by Samuel Ewing, Thomas Crawford and John Miles, witnesses thereto and ordered recorded. Indenture from John to Thomas Crawford was acknowledged and ordered and recorded".
Then on March 27, 1798 "indenture from John Bruner and Pamely Bruner, his wife to Thomas Crawford was proved by David Knox and Samuel Ewing, witnesses thereto and dower relinquished, and ordered recorded." (this is the first mention of John's wife.)
An interesting bit of information is in a newspaper clipping in the Bruner Harrordsburg Public Library. It states that the following people are buried in the Shaker graveyard, Pleasant Hill, Mercer Co. Kentucky:
Calvin Bruner, born Jan 6,1795 in Mercer Co. died 1818
Ruth Bruner born Nov. 19,1772 in New Jersey, died 1812
Polly Bruner, born Mercer Co. 1797, died 1813
This shows the Bruners were from New Jersey and were in Kentucky in the 1790's. But how were they related to our John Bruner?
By 1800, John Bruner is on the census of Nelson Co. Kentucky. It would be interesting to know why he left Mercer Co. The Fulkerson family also moved to Nelson Co. from Mercer Co. The Bruners, Fulkersons and McGrews were very closely associated for many generations.
(Note" TD. some of the Fulkersons were still in Nelson Co. in 1850 per Census records).
John Bruner, along with Jacob Fulkerson, Phillip Fulkerson, and Thomas Bolden were witnesses to the will of Daniel Techenor in Nelson Co. in 1803.
This "indenture made this 28th day of Feb. 1804, between John Gray of the County of Logan of the one part and John Bruner of the County of Nelson of the othe part. both of the State of Kentucky, witness that for and in consideration of $242 1/2 in hand paid to said Gray the receipt where of is hereby acknowledged he hath sold, granted and confirm and doth by these presents sell, grant, convey and confirm unto said Bruner a certain tract or parcel of land containing 48 acres and a half by survey be the same more or less lying and being in Nelson Co. on the waters of Plum Run, a branch of Simpson's Creek adjoining the land on which Nicholas Langford now lives and bounded as follows: beginning at a Hickory and two dogwoods near Langford's fence thence with 40. East 186 poles to two ironwoods Buckeye Hickory and Honey Locust near Peter Finchman's fence, North 13 degrees, East 38 poles to middle of the main road leading from Joe Gardeners to Springfield, thence along middle of said road towards Gardeners to a line of the original survey thence South 50 degrees West to beginning, to have and to hold the afore said tract or parcel of land with its appurtenances to said Bruner and his heirs forever to his or their proper use. Written in Presence of Richard Redman, Nicholas Langford, William Gray."
Just as he had in Mercer Co. John Bruner kept a tavern in his dwelling house in Nelson Co. He was granted licensee in 1811, 1812 and 1813.
The county made the rules for keeping a tavem and also set the rates. At the time John Bruner ran a tavern in his home in Nelson Co. the rates were:
For a warm dinner 37 1/2
For a warm breakfast or supper 25
For a cold breakfast, dinner or supper 17
For lodging in clean sheets 12 1/2
For whiskey or peach brandy per half pint 12 1/2
For french brandy or rum 50
For cider or beer per quart 12 1/2
For wine per quart 2.00
For oats or corn per gallon 12 1/2
For stablage and hay per night 37 1/2
For pasturage per night 12 1/2
Ordered that tavern keepers within this county be governed by the above rates so as not to exceed them."
John Bruner moved from Nelson Co. to Grayson Co. after 1828. His daughter Pamela married David Wells Aug. 7, 1826. Then on March 28, 1828 his daughter Mary married Ruben Davidson in Nelson Co. (Note: TD I have also seen this and it said mother Elizabeth Black, Father John Bruner) In the 1830 Census of Grayson Co., it is interesting to note that the Fulkersons also were in Grayson Co.
Note TD: I found John Bruner in Grayson Tax list first listed in 1830 Clifty Grayson co. 1831 150 acres valued at $100. Listed as Beaver Dam. 1833 100 acres value $150. In the 1834 John has 100acres, Adam and Peter are listed. Adam with 100 acres value $100, Peter 317 acre. In 1836 Peter 292, Plum Run value $800, Adam l00 acres value $150. The Fulkerson are listed in Grayson Co. in 1813, John and Fulkard. Records from microfilm from the LDS in Indiana Historical society, as much as could be read.
John is on the 1834 tax list for Grayson Co. In 1836 he signed the affidavit for John Fulkerson. But John is not on the 1840 census For Grayson Co. he died sometime between 1836 and 1840 but when? (Note: Td. I have in a letter from Edna Zerkle the date of 1835, her research is very early, without today's added convenience. She also said he was buried in Beaver Dam Baptist Church Cem., but I can't find any records going back that far now!) Where is he buried? What became of Pamely, his wife? More research is needed. It would also be interesting to know if he kept a tavern in his home in Grayson Co. (Note: Td Grayson Co. courthouse was burned many times, once during the war by Confederate soldiers on 12/24/1864, another by accident in 1896, and another in 1936. So records are scarce (Note TD I've seen where Perrnelia Bruner applied for a pension with Thomas as her guardian, if I could get these records maybe all would come together! I've sent, never heard, but am going to try again. I've sent them off again Nov. 9, 1998.)
John Bruner lived during an exciting time in our country's history. He was bom in Pennsylvania in 1763, the year that the Seven Years War in Europe ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. It was this treaty that recognized the Mississippi River as the boundary between the British Colonies and Louisiana Territory that France had ceded to Spain. Ten Years later the Boston Tea Pary took place. That same year, 1773, when John was 10 Years old, Daniel Boone led a party of settlers into Western Virginia which later became Kentucky. In 1774, the First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia. That same year James Harrod from Pennsylvania along with 32 other men, established Fort Harrod in Kentucky.
John Bruner was 12 years old when the American Revolution began in April, 1775. It is believed the Bruners left New Jersey for Kentucky in the 1780's. In 1783 Revolutionary Army soldiers were issued script certificates entitling them to tracts of land west of the Appalachians. Is this why so many from Pennsylvania and New Jersey went to Kentucky? Is this why the Bruners went to Kentucky?
In 1791 the Bill of Rights became United States Law and was the year Peter Bruner was bom in Kentucky. By the 1800's the Bruners had moved from Mercer Co. to Nelson Co. The Library of Congress was established that Year. Thomas Jefferson became President in 1801 and Johnny Appleseed arrived in the Ohio Valley. In 1803 The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the United States and the following year, 1804, Lewis and Clark began their famous expedition and John Bruner bought 48 acres of land in Nelson Co. John's son, Peter, was in the war of 1812 which ended in 1815. How did all these important events affect the life of John Bruner? How did he react and what were his thoughts?
John Bruner lived during the terms of eight Presidents:
George Washington 1789-1797
John Adams 1797-1801
Thomas Jefferson 1801-1809
James Madison 1809-1817
James Monroe 1817-1825
John Quincy Adams 1825-1829
Andrew Jackson 1829-1837
Martin Van Buren 1937-1841 (John died between 1836-1840)
John Bruner had seven children: five sons and two daughters:
John, Peter, Adam, William, Oliver Hazard Perry, Mary and Pamelia(Pennelia)
By Joyce Whitman
P.O. Box 655, Lenoir, N.C. 28645
Transcribed with her permission by
Theodora De Ford, 7719 S. Mooresville Rd., Camby, In 46113
Internet Email: bltdeford@aol.com
Published in: Ancestral News Vol 24, Number 2, Page 80
John Bruner was our ancestor who settled in Kentucky. There was a Peter Bruner in Mercer Co. in 1791 for he signed for his daughter Rachel to marry March 7, 1791. Another daughter Mercy married July 13, 1791, and a third daughter married Sept. 12,1791. This Peter Bruner was a prominent and well to do person. He was a delegate to the 2nd. Kentucky Constitutional Convention from Mercer Co. Kentucky in 1799. He died in 1801. His will does not mention a John Bruner so it is unknown how he was related to our John. Peter was bom in 1733 and our John was bom in 1763. Were they brothers? or Uncle and Nephew? Anyway, John's son, born in Mercer Co. Jan. 30, 1971 was Peter Bruner. It is logical to assume there was a relationship.
It's believed that John was bom in Pennsylvania but lived in New Jersey at the time of the American Revolution. On a affidavit for a pension for John Fulkerson for service in the American Revolution, John Bruner said that he and John Fulkerson were neighbors in New Jersey. John Fulkerson was married to Margaret Bruner in Sussex Co. New Jersey in 1774. How were Margaret Bruner and our John related? (Note TD. John's brother Phillip Fulkerson ma Elizabeth Bruner in 1775, Sussex Co. N.J. but how were the Bruners related?)
In the Mercer Co. Kentucky records of Nov. 26, 1793 it is mentioned that John Bruner was in a group of men to help keep a road open. Also in 1793, George Sconce was bound out to John Bruner on a tax list in Mercer Co. In 1795 he is listed as having 2 horses and 5 cattle.
Mercer Co. records of March 22, 1796 state that John Bruner was granted a license to keep a tavern at his home in Danville. Danville, which had been laid off in 1784, became the center of the intellectual, political, and religous life in Kentucky. A court house was built in Danville and the District Court met there. Danville was a busy and lively place and no doubt taverns very popular. There were laws which the tavem keeper had to follow after his license had been granted. The Tavern, or ordinary Keeper had to provide good wholesome and clean lodging and diet for travelers. Suitable provender or pasturage for horses were required. The Law also stated that "the Keeper shall not suffer or permit any unlawful gaming in his house, nor suffer any person to tipple or drink more than is necessary, or at anytime suffer any disorderly or scandalous behavior to be practiced in his house". Tavern rates and prices were fixed by county justices for liquors, lodging, diet, stablage, procender and pasturage. Licensees had to be renewed each year. (note: TD I have the license records for John)
In the Mercer county records of March 28, 1797 it is recorded "indenture from John Allison to John Bruner was proved by Samuel Ewing, Thomas Crawford and John Miles, witnesses thereto and ordered recorded. Indenture from John to Thomas Crawford was acknowledged and ordered and recorded".
Then on March 27, 1798 "indenture from John Bruner and Pamely Bruner, his wife to Thomas Crawford was proved by David Knox and Samuel Ewing, witnesses thereto and dower relinquished, and ordered recorded." (this is the first mention of John's wife.)
An interesting bit of information is in a newspaper clipping in the Bruner Harrordsburg Public Library. It states that the following people are buried in the Shaker graveyard, Pleasant Hill, Mercer Co. Kentucky:
Calvin Bruner, born Jan 6,1795 in Mercer Co. died 1818
Ruth Bruner born Nov. 19,1772 in New Jersey, died 1812
Polly Bruner, born Mercer Co. 1797, died 1813
This shows the Bruners were from New Jersey and were in Kentucky in the 1790's. But how were they related to our John Bruner?
By 1800, John Bruner is on the census of Nelson Co. Kentucky. It would be interesting to know why he left Mercer Co. The Fulkerson family also moved to Nelson Co. from Mercer Co. The Bruners, Fulkersons and McGrews were very closely associated for many generations.
(Note" TD. some of the Fulkersons were still in Nelson Co. in 1850 per Census records).
John Bruner, along with Jacob Fulkerson, Phillip Fulkerson, and Thomas Bolden were witnesses to the will of Daniel Techenor in Nelson Co. in 1803.
This "indenture made this 28th day of Feb. 1804, between John Gray of the County of Logan of the one part and John Bruner of the County of Nelson of the othe part. both of the State of Kentucky, witness that for and in consideration of $242 1/2 in hand paid to said Gray the receipt where of is hereby acknowledged he hath sold, granted and confirm and doth by these presents sell, grant, convey and confirm unto said Bruner a certain tract or parcel of land containing 48 acres and a half by survey be the same more or less lying and being in Nelson Co. on the waters of Plum Run, a branch of Simpson's Creek adjoining the land on which Nicholas Langford now lives and bounded as follows: beginning at a Hickory and two dogwoods near Langford's fence thence with 40. East 186 poles to two ironwoods Buckeye Hickory and Honey Locust near Peter Finchman's fence, North 13 degrees, East 38 poles to middle of the main road leading from Joe Gardeners to Springfield, thence along middle of said road towards Gardeners to a line of the original survey thence South 50 degrees West to beginning, to have and to hold the afore said tract or parcel of land with its appurtenances to said Bruner and his heirs forever to his or their proper use. Written in Presence of Richard Redman, Nicholas Langford, William Gray."
Just as he had in Mercer Co. John Bruner kept a tavern in his dwelling house in Nelson Co. He was granted licensee in 1811, 1812 and 1813.
The county made the rules for keeping a tavem and also set the rates. At the time John Bruner ran a tavern in his home in Nelson Co. the rates were:
For a warm dinner 37 1/2
For a warm breakfast or supper 25
For a cold breakfast, dinner or supper 17
For lodging in clean sheets 12 1/2
For whiskey or peach brandy per half pint 12 1/2
For french brandy or rum 50
For cider or beer per quart 12 1/2
For wine per quart 2.00
For oats or corn per gallon 12 1/2
For stablage and hay per night 37 1/2
For pasturage per night 12 1/2
Ordered that tavern keepers within this county be governed by the above rates so as not to exceed them."
John Bruner moved from Nelson Co. to Grayson Co. after 1828. His daughter Pamela married David Wells Aug. 7, 1826. Then on March 28, 1828 his daughter Mary married Ruben Davidson in Nelson Co. (Note: TD I have also seen this and it said mother Elizabeth Black, Father John Bruner) In the 1830 Census of Grayson Co., it is interesting to note that the Fulkersons also were in Grayson Co.
Note TD: I found John Bruner in Grayson Tax list first listed in 1830 Clifty Grayson co. 1831 150 acres valued at $100. Listed as Beaver Dam. 1833 100 acres value $150. In the 1834 John has 100acres, Adam and Peter are listed. Adam with 100 acres value $100, Peter 317 acre. In 1836 Peter 292, Plum Run value $800, Adam l00 acres value $150. The Fulkerson are listed in Grayson Co. in 1813, John and Fulkard. Records from microfilm from the LDS in Indiana Historical society, as much as could be read.
John is on the 1834 tax list for Grayson Co. In 1836 he signed the affidavit for John Fulkerson. But John is not on the 1840 census For Grayson Co. he died sometime between 1836 and 1840 but when? (Note: Td. I have in a letter from Edna Zerkle the date of 1835, her research is very early, without today's added convenience. She also said he was buried in Beaver Dam Baptist Church Cem., but I can't find any records going back that far now!) Where is he buried? What became of Pamely, his wife? More research is needed. It would also be interesting to know if he kept a tavern in his home in Grayson Co. (Note: Td Grayson Co. courthouse was burned many times, once during the war by Confederate soldiers on 12/24/1864, another by accident in 1896, and another in 1936. So records are scarce (Note TD I've seen where Perrnelia Bruner applied for a pension with Thomas as her guardian, if I could get these records maybe all would come together! I've sent, never heard, but am going to try again. I've sent them off again Nov. 9, 1998.)
John Bruner lived during an exciting time in our country's history. He was bom in Pennsylvania in 1763, the year that the Seven Years War in Europe ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. It was this treaty that recognized the Mississippi River as the boundary between the British Colonies and Louisiana Territory that France had ceded to Spain. Ten Years later the Boston Tea Pary took place. That same year, 1773, when John was 10 Years old, Daniel Boone led a party of settlers into Western Virginia which later became Kentucky. In 1774, the First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia. That same year James Harrod from Pennsylvania along with 32 other men, established Fort Harrod in Kentucky.
John Bruner was 12 years old when the American Revolution began in April, 1775. It is believed the Bruners left New Jersey for Kentucky in the 1780's. In 1783 Revolutionary Army soldiers were issued script certificates entitling them to tracts of land west of the Appalachians. Is this why so many from Pennsylvania and New Jersey went to Kentucky? Is this why the Bruners went to Kentucky?
In 1791 the Bill of Rights became United States Law and was the year Peter Bruner was bom in Kentucky. By the 1800's the Bruners had moved from Mercer Co. to Nelson Co. The Library of Congress was established that Year. Thomas Jefferson became President in 1801 and Johnny Appleseed arrived in the Ohio Valley. In 1803 The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the United States and the following year, 1804, Lewis and Clark began their famous expedition and John Bruner bought 48 acres of land in Nelson Co. John's son, Peter, was in the war of 1812 which ended in 1815. How did all these important events affect the life of John Bruner? How did he react and what were his thoughts?
John Bruner lived during the terms of eight Presidents:
George Washington 1789-1797
John Adams 1797-1801
Thomas Jefferson 1801-1809
James Madison 1809-1817
James Monroe 1817-1825
John Quincy Adams 1825-1829
Andrew Jackson 1829-1837
Martin Van Buren 1937-1841 (John died between 1836-1840)
John Bruner had seven children: five sons and two daughters:
John, Peter, Adam, William, Oliver Hazard Perry, Mary and Pamelia(Pennelia)
Events
| Birth | 26 Nov 1762 | New Jersey or Pennsylvania | |||
| Marriage | 25 Aug 1785 | Virginia - Permelia ? | |||
| Death | 14 Nov 1835 | Grayson Co., Kentucky |
Families
| Spouse | Permelia ? ( - ) |
| Child | John Thomas Bruner (1787 - ) |
| Child | Mary Bruner ( - ) |
| Child | Peter Bruner (1791 - 1865) |
| Child | Permelia Bruner (1804 - 1860) |
| Child | Adam Bruner (1808 - 1874) |
| Child | William Bruner (1811 - ) |
| Child | Oliver Hazard Perry Bruner (1814 - ) |