This means try your best to find siblings, associates,
or other people who can also be identified in the old country.
Watch for his occupation, religion, social status, and other
identifiers. An example was someone who had posted on the Internet
information that connected James Bruce and Margaret McMahon
to his, George Bruce, who left a Revolutionary War military
record indicating that his parents were James and Margaret McMahon
Bruce. He wanted us to find out if this were true or not. This
new information indicated that George was born in 20 May 1720
in Leochel Cushnie, Aberdeen, Scotland. As usual, no sources
were provided. With James and George Bruce being a common name
in Scotland we needed other identifiers.
The International Genealogical Index
indicated that George Bruce was born 2 Apr 1760 in Frederick,
Maryland as was his twin James. George died in 1800 and James
on 6 Jan 1835 but no places for the death were given in the
first entry. Older siblings were listed as Jane born 1752 in
Montgomery or Frederick, Maryland who died in 1813; Nancy born
1754 same place; and Ann 1756 same place. Nothing more was provided
on James but Margaret McMahon was listed as born 1727 in Scotland
and married 10 Jun 1744 in Winchester, Frederick County, Virginia.
No sources were provided.
The second entry in the The International Genealogical
Index indicated the same birth date and place for George, but
indicated he died after 1800 of Greene County, Ohio. His spouse
was Mary Barnett who he married in Maryland.
The third entry in The International Genealogical
Index gave no birth information for James and Margaret,
but listed another daughter Margaret born 1751 in Montgomery
or Frederick County, Maryland. [Since Montgomery County was
not formed until 1742, they must have been born in Frederick
County.] She died in 1807 in Nelson County, Kentucky. This record
also indicated that Jane also died in 1813 in Nelson County.
Finally it provided a complete death date of 6 Jan 1835 in Corydon,
Harrison County, Indiana for James Bruce, Jr. and indicated
he was buried in the Bruce Cemetery.
A fourth entry in The International Genealogical
Index indicated two more children for James and Margaret
McMahon Bruce: William born 14 Feb 1745 in Frederick, Maryland
who died 20 Aug 1818 in Vincennes, Knox County, Indiana and
was buried in Nelson County, Kentucky. Also a Sarah Bruce born
1 Jun 1762 Montgomery or Frederick County, Virginia [yes Virginia
this time] who died 25 Oct 1839 in Bellbrook, Greene County,
Ohio. Frederick County, Virginia is very close to the Maryland,
Virginia border so it would be possible for the families to
be moving back and forth due to Indian troubles in the area.
A fifth entry in The International Genealogical
Index included an exact birth date for James Bruce of 20
May 1720 in Scotland, a marriage of 10 Jun 1744 in Winchester,
Frederick County, Maryland, and a death in 1795 in Nelson County,
Kentucky. This was the first entry where Margaret was indicated
as having died in Nelson County, Kentucky. Only the children
Margaret, Jane, Nancy, Ann, and George were listed this time.
This last entry indicated it was James, not his son George born
in 1720, and that cleared up that misinformation.
