Obit for Jacob Bruner written by grandson Dr. John Hamilton Bruner, president of Hiawassee College
OBITUARY OF JACOB BRUNER:Jacob Bruner, a soldier of the American Revolution, died at his residence in the North part of Greene County, Tennessee, on the tenth day of August 1847, in the 85th year of his age. ( he started his 85th Year May 29th) He was born at Fredericktown, Maryland in 1763. During the memorable struggle for American Independence, he was twice called into the service of his country; and after serving out times for which he was called, while doubts were enterained as to the eventful preponderance. Under such dobious circustances, Jacob Bruner became a volunteer again and rushed to the drooping standard of his outraged country; and a third time he joined her armies. He was never, however, in any noted battle. The
fortunes of the war called him away from the main army to quash the Troy
insurrections in the Jerseys to guard prisoners of war. When the war was over and his country free, he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Cline, about the 22nd year of his age. Sometime afterwards he established himself as a hat manufacturer in Millerstown (now Woodstock), Shanandoah County, Virginia. Here, as also subsequently in Tennessee, he was employed as a teacher of both English and German students in the same school. About the year 1797 (fifty years ago) he embraced the religion of the meek and lowly Jesus; and united with a sect called "The United Brethren", "Dutch Methodist", or "Oberbiners" from their leader, the
celebrated Mr. Oterbine. But on removing to Tennessee, in 1804 he was thrown beyond the territorial boundary of his church, into a Methodist community and soon he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He became a member of a little class in his neighborhood; and when it pleased the authorities of the church to merge this little class into one on the border of another neighborhood, he did not remove his name, but said to his son, in allusion to his infirmities, "It is not worth while to join that class, as I cannot attend." He remained, however, a faithful christian; and never omitted family devotions if it was possible for him to attend to them. Before his bodily infirmities prevented, he was often tent holder for Camp meetings, where some of his children were happily and powerfully converted to God. Among those converted was his son, John, who lived faithfully till called into the service for his country in the War of 1812, when he left his friends and the home of his youth, singing a transporting hymn; but he left to return no more; his remains reposed in a rough grave at Lookout Mountain where he fell. The remaining eleven of the twelve children of Jacob Bruner, yet lines and though scattered abroad, they will unite with their windowed mother, in lamenting the death of old Jacob--for he has not lived in vain as most of his children and many of his grandchildren are members of a church and several of them officers there as leaders, exhorters and preachers in Tennessee and other states. He had long seemed unusally dead to this world. His treasures being in Heaven, his conversation was generally on religious subjects. He had long lived in the expectation of death, but feared it not--with him to live was Christ and to die was gain. The day before his death he was taken with a great weakness, but complained of no pain. To the companion of his early life, the angel of mercy in his afflictions, he said, "Mother, (for this was the term he usually appled to his aged consort) I reckon you will soon lose your old man; you must try to be faithful to meet me again." At another time he said, "Mother, my heart is fixed Glory to God." He talked but little during his last illness, but he would occasionally sing verses of his favorite hymns. Among others, he sang the following with much pathos and devotion "Let other stretch their arms like seas, and gasp in all the shore. Grant me
the visits of Thy face, and I desire no more." He sang, "Come, my Jesus from above and feed my soul with heavenly love." "This is all that I want," he added. While laying calmly, he said, "My Savior and my God, glory to Thy name." Soon after this, his powers of speech failed him almost entirely; and within a few hours, he breathed his last without a struggle or a groan. Thus, my Grandfather "fell asleep".by John Hamilton Bruner
My 4th great grandfather Jacob Bruner. Jacob was in the Rev War, having enlisted in November 1779 at Frederick County,
Maryland. He served as a Minute Man and Private. He served until 1780 and in the spring of 1881.
Shortly after his marriage they moved to Millerstown, now Woodstock, Shenandoah Co., Virginia. There he established himself as a hat manufacturer and taught English and German.
Later in 1804 they moved to Greene Co., Tennessee. It was at Jonesboro, Greene Co., Tn. he received a pension # W332 issued 20 Feb 1833. Jacob is buried near the northwest corner of his farm. Information on the children of Jacob is came from his personal Bible.
http://greenevillesun.com/story/303165
Revolutionary War Vet Receives Final Honor
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Published: 7:36 AM, 05/04/2009 Last updated: 9:47 AM, 05/04/2009
Source: The Greeneville Sun
BY BILL JONES
STAFF WRITER
LOST MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY -- About 30 people gathered on rain-swept Bald Ridge here on Saturday morning to honor a Revolutionary War veteran who spent the last four decades of his life in northern Greene County.
Among those in attendance were local Jacob Bruner descendants Joyce Smith and her brother, Stanley Weems. A second Weems brother, Kyle R. Weems, of Chattanooga, also took part in the ceremony hosted by the Martin's Station, Va., chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.
Smith, who now lives in Greeneville with her husband, Wendell, helped organize the Saturday morning grave marker dedication service for her ancestor. Before the ceremony she said she had learned only recently that Jacob Bruner was buried atop Bald Ridge, a conical, grass-covered hill that once marked the northwest corner of Bruner's farm.
"I've lived most of my life in the Lost Mountain Community and I didn't learn that until recently," Smith said.
Smith's brother Stanley Weems, who lives along Lost Mountain Pike not far from the Bruner grave site, said he was "honored" to take part in the ceremony that officially marked the final resting place of his Revolutionary War soldier ancestor.
Joyce Smith also noted that many other northern Greene County families are descended from Jacob Bruner. Family names with Bruner ties, she said, include Bailey, McLain, Strong, Ward and Woolsey, in addition to Weems.
Other Bruner descendants traveled from as far as Texas and Georgia to attend. One of the Georgia descendants in attendance was Dennis Russell, who brought to the service a .31-cal. precussion-cap rifle that had been built by Bruner's son Samuel between 1830 and 1840.
Russell said he happened upon the rifle in 1994 at a "farm sale" in Fall Branch and purchased it after learning that it was built by one his ancestors and passed down through the Bruner family.
The last Bruner descendant to own the rifle had been the late Bonnie White of the Lost Mountain community, Russell said. After White's death, the rifle had been part of the "lifetime collection" of Paul R. Ryan, of Fall Branch.
CEREMONY DESCRIBED
The Saturday morning "grave marking ceremony," which had to be hastened because of the threat of heavy rain, was led by Thomas Coker, president of the Martin's Station Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.
The ceremony also featured remarks about Jacob Bruner from William Cheak, the chapter's vice president. Cheak, a Kingsport resident who also owns a farm in Lee County, Va., said he also is descendant of Jacob Bruner and had a personal interest in seeing that his "third great-grandfather's" grave was officially marked as that of a Revolutionary War veteran.
Rev. Sidney Barkley offered the invocation and closing prayer's for the ceremony. In so doing, Rev. Barkley offered thanks for Jacob Bruner's military service to his country and also asked God's blessing for the Bruner descendants.
Also taking part in the Saturday morning ceremony were representatives of the Watauga and Kings Mountain Chapters of the Sons of the American Revolution. Those groups, and Bruner descendants, placed wreathes at Bruner's grave on Saturday morning.
Martin's Station SAR President Thomas Coker asked the audience near the end of the service to be mindful of "the principles that he [Bruner] held sacred."
BRUNER BACKGROUND
Jacob Bruner, Cheak told the assembled Sons of the American Revolution members and Bruner descendants, was born in Fredericktown [now Frederick], Md., in 1764 and served twice with patriot forces in the Revolutionary War.
Cheak also told those in attendance during Saturday morning's grave marker dedication that Jacob Bruner's war service was mostly in the Frederick, Md. area, "guarding Tory (British loyalist) prisoners.
An obituary written for Jacob Bruner at the time of his death on Aug. 10, 1847, by his grandson, Rev. John Hamilton Bruner, president of Hiwassee College, said the elder Bruner was never "in any noted battle."
The obituary also indicated that during his war service, Jacob Bruner was sent to what is present day New Jersey "to quash the Tory insurrections ... and guard prisoners of war.
He married Margaret Cline in Frederick, Md., and shortly thereafter they moved to Millerstown [now Woodstock], Va., where he became a hat manufacturer and teacher of German and English, Cheak told the audience.
In 1804, the Bruners moved to Greene County with all of their children.
"He found his beautiful homesite on the banks of Lick Creek in the Lost Mountain community," descendant Joyce Smith noted before the ceremony.
Jacob Bruner had received his Revolutionary War pension in 1832 and died in 1847, Cheak told the audience.
Bruner was burned on the northwest corner of his farm, Cheak said later, noting that he determined the location of graves of Bruner, his wife, Margaret, and their son, Samuel, from research.
Descendant Smith said only fragments of original grave markers were found at the site before Cheak had modern markers installed recently.
The property where the graves are located is now part of the Larry and Brenda Crum farm, Smith said.
Ten of Jacob Bruner's 12 children survived him, according to Smith. His son John had been killed during the War of 1812 and buried outside Greene County, according to the SAR.
OBITUARY OF JACOB BRUNER:Jacob Bruner, a soldier of the American Revolution, died at his residence in the North part of Greene County, Tennessee, on the tenth day of August 1847, in the 85th year of his age. ( he started his 85th Year May 29th) He was born at Fredericktown, Maryland in 1763. During the memorable struggle for American Independence, he was twice called into the service of his country; and after serving out times for which he was called, while doubts were enterained as to the eventful preponderance. Under such dobious circustances, Jacob Bruner became a volunteer again and rushed to the drooping standard of his outraged country; and a third time he joined her armies. He was never, however, in any noted battle. The
fortunes of the war called him away from the main army to quash the Troy
insurrections in the Jerseys to guard prisoners of war. When the war was over and his country free, he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Cline, about the 22nd year of his age. Sometime afterwards he established himself as a hat manufacturer in Millerstown (now Woodstock), Shanandoah County, Virginia. Here, as also subsequently in Tennessee, he was employed as a teacher of both English and German students in the same school. About the year 1797 (fifty years ago) he embraced the religion of the meek and lowly Jesus; and united with a sect called "The United Brethren", "Dutch Methodist", or "Oberbiners" from their leader, the
celebrated Mr. Oterbine. But on removing to Tennessee, in 1804 he was thrown beyond the territorial boundary of his church, into a Methodist community and soon he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He became a member of a little class in his neighborhood; and when it pleased the authorities of the church to merge this little class into one on the border of another neighborhood, he did not remove his name, but said to his son, in allusion to his infirmities, "It is not worth while to join that class, as I cannot attend." He remained, however, a faithful christian; and never omitted family devotions if it was possible for him to attend to them. Before his bodily infirmities prevented, he was often tent holder for Camp meetings, where some of his children were happily and powerfully converted to God. Among those converted was his son, John, who lived faithfully till called into the service for his country in the War of 1812, when he left his friends and the home of his youth, singing a transporting hymn; but he left to return no more; his remains reposed in a rough grave at Lookout Mountain where he fell. The remaining eleven of the twelve children of Jacob Bruner, yet lines and though scattered abroad, they will unite with their windowed mother, in lamenting the death of old Jacob--for he has not lived in vain as most of his children and many of his grandchildren are members of a church and several of them officers there as leaders, exhorters and preachers in Tennessee and other states. He had long seemed unusally dead to this world. His treasures being in Heaven, his conversation was generally on religious subjects. He had long lived in the expectation of death, but feared it not--with him to live was Christ and to die was gain. The day before his death he was taken with a great weakness, but complained of no pain. To the companion of his early life, the angel of mercy in his afflictions, he said, "Mother, (for this was the term he usually appled to his aged consort) I reckon you will soon lose your old man; you must try to be faithful to meet me again." At another time he said, "Mother, my heart is fixed Glory to God." He talked but little during his last illness, but he would occasionally sing verses of his favorite hymns. Among others, he sang the following with much pathos and devotion "Let other stretch their arms like seas, and gasp in all the shore. Grant me
the visits of Thy face, and I desire no more." He sang, "Come, my Jesus from above and feed my soul with heavenly love." "This is all that I want," he added. While laying calmly, he said, "My Savior and my God, glory to Thy name." Soon after this, his powers of speech failed him almost entirely; and within a few hours, he breathed his last without a struggle or a groan. Thus, my Grandfather "fell asleep".by John Hamilton Bruner
My 4th great grandfather Jacob Bruner. Jacob was in the Rev War, having enlisted in November 1779 at Frederick County,
Maryland. He served as a Minute Man and Private. He served until 1780 and in the spring of 1881.
Shortly after his marriage they moved to Millerstown, now Woodstock, Shenandoah Co., Virginia. There he established himself as a hat manufacturer and taught English and German.
Later in 1804 they moved to Greene Co., Tennessee. It was at Jonesboro, Greene Co., Tn. he received a pension # W332 issued 20 Feb 1833. Jacob is buried near the northwest corner of his farm. Information on the children of Jacob is came from his personal Bible.
http://greenevillesun.com/story/303165
Revolutionary War Vet Receives Final Honor
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Published: 7:36 AM, 05/04/2009 Last updated: 9:47 AM, 05/04/2009
Source: The Greeneville Sun
BY BILL JONES
STAFF WRITER
LOST MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY -- About 30 people gathered on rain-swept Bald Ridge here on Saturday morning to honor a Revolutionary War veteran who spent the last four decades of his life in northern Greene County.
Among those in attendance were local Jacob Bruner descendants Joyce Smith and her brother, Stanley Weems. A second Weems brother, Kyle R. Weems, of Chattanooga, also took part in the ceremony hosted by the Martin's Station, Va., chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.
Smith, who now lives in Greeneville with her husband, Wendell, helped organize the Saturday morning grave marker dedication service for her ancestor. Before the ceremony she said she had learned only recently that Jacob Bruner was buried atop Bald Ridge, a conical, grass-covered hill that once marked the northwest corner of Bruner's farm.
"I've lived most of my life in the Lost Mountain Community and I didn't learn that until recently," Smith said.
Smith's brother Stanley Weems, who lives along Lost Mountain Pike not far from the Bruner grave site, said he was "honored" to take part in the ceremony that officially marked the final resting place of his Revolutionary War soldier ancestor.
Joyce Smith also noted that many other northern Greene County families are descended from Jacob Bruner. Family names with Bruner ties, she said, include Bailey, McLain, Strong, Ward and Woolsey, in addition to Weems.
Other Bruner descendants traveled from as far as Texas and Georgia to attend. One of the Georgia descendants in attendance was Dennis Russell, who brought to the service a .31-cal. precussion-cap rifle that had been built by Bruner's son Samuel between 1830 and 1840.
Russell said he happened upon the rifle in 1994 at a "farm sale" in Fall Branch and purchased it after learning that it was built by one his ancestors and passed down through the Bruner family.
The last Bruner descendant to own the rifle had been the late Bonnie White of the Lost Mountain community, Russell said. After White's death, the rifle had been part of the "lifetime collection" of Paul R. Ryan, of Fall Branch.
CEREMONY DESCRIBED
The Saturday morning "grave marking ceremony," which had to be hastened because of the threat of heavy rain, was led by Thomas Coker, president of the Martin's Station Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.
The ceremony also featured remarks about Jacob Bruner from William Cheak, the chapter's vice president. Cheak, a Kingsport resident who also owns a farm in Lee County, Va., said he also is descendant of Jacob Bruner and had a personal interest in seeing that his "third great-grandfather's" grave was officially marked as that of a Revolutionary War veteran.
Rev. Sidney Barkley offered the invocation and closing prayer's for the ceremony. In so doing, Rev. Barkley offered thanks for Jacob Bruner's military service to his country and also asked God's blessing for the Bruner descendants.
Also taking part in the Saturday morning ceremony were representatives of the Watauga and Kings Mountain Chapters of the Sons of the American Revolution. Those groups, and Bruner descendants, placed wreathes at Bruner's grave on Saturday morning.
Martin's Station SAR President Thomas Coker asked the audience near the end of the service to be mindful of "the principles that he [Bruner] held sacred."
BRUNER BACKGROUND
Jacob Bruner, Cheak told the assembled Sons of the American Revolution members and Bruner descendants, was born in Fredericktown [now Frederick], Md., in 1764 and served twice with patriot forces in the Revolutionary War.
Cheak also told those in attendance during Saturday morning's grave marker dedication that Jacob Bruner's war service was mostly in the Frederick, Md. area, "guarding Tory (British loyalist) prisoners.
An obituary written for Jacob Bruner at the time of his death on Aug. 10, 1847, by his grandson, Rev. John Hamilton Bruner, president of Hiwassee College, said the elder Bruner was never "in any noted battle."
The obituary also indicated that during his war service, Jacob Bruner was sent to what is present day New Jersey "to quash the Tory insurrections ... and guard prisoners of war.
He married Margaret Cline in Frederick, Md., and shortly thereafter they moved to Millerstown [now Woodstock], Va., where he became a hat manufacturer and teacher of German and English, Cheak told the audience.
In 1804, the Bruners moved to Greene County with all of their children.
"He found his beautiful homesite on the banks of Lick Creek in the Lost Mountain community," descendant Joyce Smith noted before the ceremony.
Jacob Bruner had received his Revolutionary War pension in 1832 and died in 1847, Cheak told the audience.
Bruner was burned on the northwest corner of his farm, Cheak said later, noting that he determined the location of graves of Bruner, his wife, Margaret, and their son, Samuel, from research.
Descendant Smith said only fragments of original grave markers were found at the site before Cheak had modern markers installed recently.
The property where the graves are located is now part of the Larry and Brenda Crum farm, Smith said.
Ten of Jacob Bruner's 12 children survived him, according to Smith. His son John had been killed during the War of 1812 and buried outside Greene County, according to the SAR.
Obit for Jacob Bruner written by grandson Dr. John Hamilton Bruner, president of Hiawassee College
OBITUARY OF JACOB BRUNER:Jacob Bruner, a soldier of the American Revolution, died at his residence in the North part of Greene County, Tennessee, on the tenth day of August 1847, in the 85th year of his age. ( he started his 85th Year May 29th) He was born at Fredericktown, Maryland in 1763. During the memorable struggle for American Independence, he was twice called into the service of his country; and after serving out times for which he was called, while doubts were enterained as to the eventful preponderance. Under such dobious circustances, Jacob Bruner became a volunteer again and rushed to the drooping standard of his outraged country; and a third time he joined her armies. He was never, however, in any noted battle. The
fortunes of the war called him away from the main army to quash the Troy
insurrections in the Jerseys to guard prisoners of war. When the war was over and his country free, he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Cline, about the 22nd year of his age. Sometime afterwards he established himself as a hat manufacturer in Millerstown (now Woodstock), Shanandoah County, Virginia. Here, as also subsequently in Tennessee, he was employed as a teacher of both English and German students in the same school. About the year 1797 (fifty years ago) he embraced the religion of the meek and lowly Jesus; and united with a sect called "The United Brethren", "Dutch Methodist", or "Oberbiners" from their leader, the
celebrated Mr. Oterbine. But on removing to Tennessee, in 1804 he was thrown beyond the territorial boundary of his church, into a Methodist community and soon he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He became a member of a little class in his neighborhood; and when it pleased the authorities of the church to merge this little class into one on the border of another neighborhood, he did not remove his name, but said to his son, in allusion to his infirmities, "It is not worth while to join that class, as I cannot attend." He remained, however, a faithful christian; and never omitted family devotions if it was possible for him to attend to them. Before his bodily infirmities prevented, he was often tent holder for Camp meetings, where some of his children were happily and powerfully converted to God. Among those converted was his son, John, who lived faithfully till called into the service for his country in the War of 1812, when he left his friends and the home of his youth, singing a transporting hymn; but he left to return no more; his remains reposed in a rough grave at Lookout Mountain where he fell. The remaining eleven of the twelve children of Jacob Bruner, yet lines and though scattered abroad, they will unite with their windowed mother, in lamenting the death of old Jacob--for he has not lived in vain as most of his children and many of his grandchildren are members of a church and several of them officers there as leaders, exhorters and preachers in Tennessee and other states. He had long seemed unusally dead to this world. His treasures being in Heaven, his conversation was generally on religious subjects. He had long lived in the expectation of death, but feared it not--with him to live was Christ and to die was gain. The day before his death he was taken with a great weakness, but complained of no pain. To the companion of his early life, the angel of mercy in his afflictions, he said, "Mother, (for this was the term he usually appled to his aged consort) I reckon you will soon lose your old man; you must try to be faithful to meet me again." At another time he said, "Mother, my heart is fixed Glory to God." He talked but little during his last illness, but he would occasionally sing verses of his favorite hymns. Among others, he sang the following with much pathos and devotion "Let other stretch their arms like seas, and gasp in all the shore. Grant me
the visits of Thy face, and I desire no more." He sang, "Come, my Jesus from above and feed my soul with heavenly love." "This is all that I want," he added. While laying calmly, he said, "My Savior and my God, glory to Thy name." Soon after this, his powers of speech failed him almost entirely; and within a few hours, he breathed his last without a struggle or a groan. Thus, my Grandfather "fell asleep".by John Hamilton Bruner
My 4th great grandfather Jacob Bruner. Jacob was in the Rev War, having enlisted in November 1779 at Frederick County,
Maryland. He served as a Minute Man and Private. He served until 1780 and in the spring of 1881.
Shortly after his marriage they moved to Millerstown, now Woodstock, Shenandoah Co., Virginia. There he established himself as a hat manufacturer and taught English and German.
Later in 1804 they moved to Greene Co., Tennessee. It was at Jonesboro, Greene Co., Tn. he received a pension # W332 issued 20 Feb 1833. Jacob is buried near the northwest corner of his farm. Information on the children of Jacob is came from his personal Bible.
http://greenevillesun.com/story/303165
Revolutionary War Vet Receives Final Honor
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Published: 7:36 AM, 05/04/2009 Last updated: 9:47 AM, 05/04/2009
Source: The Greeneville Sun
BY BILL JONES
STAFF WRITER
LOST MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY -- About 30 people gathered on rain-swept Bald Ridge here on Saturday morning to honor a Revolutionary War veteran who spent the last four decades of his life in northern Greene County.
Among those in attendance were local Jacob Bruner descendants Joyce Smith and her brother, Stanley Weems. A second Weems brother, Kyle R. Weems, of Chattanooga, also took part in the ceremony hosted by the Martin's Station, Va., chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.
Smith, who now lives in Greeneville with her husband, Wendell, helped organize the Saturday morning grave marker dedication service for her ancestor. Before the ceremony she said she had learned only recently that Jacob Bruner was buried atop Bald Ridge, a conical, grass-covered hill that once marked the northwest corner of Bruner's farm.
"I've lived most of my life in the Lost Mountain Community and I didn't learn that until recently," Smith said.
Smith's brother Stanley Weems, who lives along Lost Mountain Pike not far from the Bruner grave site, said he was "honored" to take part in the ceremony that officially marked the final resting place of his Revolutionary War soldier ancestor.
Joyce Smith also noted that many other northern Greene County families are descended from Jacob Bruner. Family names with Bruner ties, she said, include Bailey, McLain, Strong, Ward and Woolsey, in addition to Weems.
Other Bruner descendants traveled from as far as Texas and Georgia to attend. One of the Georgia descendants in attendance was Dennis Russell, who brought to the service a .31-cal. precussion-cap rifle that had been built by Bruner's son Samuel between 1830 and 1840.
Russell said he happened upon the rifle in 1994 at a "farm sale" in Fall Branch and purchased it after learning that it was built by one his ancestors and passed down through the Bruner family.
The last Bruner descendant to own the rifle had been the late Bonnie White of the Lost Mountain community, Russell said. After White's death, the rifle had been part of the "lifetime collection" of Paul R. Ryan, of Fall Branch.
CEREMONY DESCRIBED
The Saturday morning "grave marking ceremony," which had to be hastened because of the threat of heavy rain, was led by Thomas Coker, president of the Martin's Station Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.
The ceremony also featured remarks about Jacob Bruner from William Cheak, the chapter's vice president. Cheak, a Kingsport resident who also owns a farm in Lee County, Va., said he also is descendant of Jacob Bruner and had a personal interest in seeing that his "third great-grandfather's" grave was officially marked as that of a Revolutionary War veteran.
Rev. Sidney Barkley offered the invocation and closing prayer's for the ceremony. In so doing, Rev. Barkley offered thanks for Jacob Bruner's military service to his country and also asked God's blessing for the Bruner descendants.
Also taking part in the Saturday morning ceremony were representatives of the Watauga and Kings Mountain Chapters of the Sons of the American Revolution. Those groups, and Bruner descendants, placed wreathes at Bruner's grave on Saturday morning.
Martin's Station SAR President Thomas Coker asked the audience near the end of the service to be mindful of "the principles that he [Bruner] held sacred."
BRUNER BACKGROUND
Jacob Bruner, Cheak told the assembled Sons of the American Revolution members and Bruner descendants, was born in Fredericktown [now Frederick], Md., in 1764 and served twice with patriot forces in the Revolutionary War.
Cheak also told those in attendance during Saturday morning's grave marker dedication that Jacob Bruner's war service was mostly in the Frederick, Md. area, "guarding Tory (British loyalist) prisoners.
An obituary written for Jacob Bruner at the time of his death on Aug. 10, 1847, by his grandson, Rev. John Hamilton Bruner, president of Hiwassee College, said the elder Bruner was never "in any noted battle."
The obituary also indicated that during his war service, Jacob Bruner was sent to what is present day New Jersey "to quash the Tory insurrections ... and guard prisoners of war.
He married Margaret Cline in Frederick, Md., and shortly thereafter they moved to Millerstown [now Woodstock], Va., where he became a hat manufacturer and teacher of German and English, Cheak told the audience.
In 1804, the Bruners moved to Greene County with all of their children.
"He found his beautiful homesite on the banks of Lick Creek in the Lost Mountain community," descendant Joyce Smith noted before the ceremony.
Jacob Bruner had received his Revolutionary War pension in 1832 and died in 1847, Cheak told the audience.
Bruner was burned on the northwest corner of his farm, Cheak said later, noting that he determined the location of graves of Bruner, his wife, Margaret, and their son, Samuel, from research.
Descendant Smith said only fragments of original grave markers were found at the site before Cheak had modern markers installed recently.
The property where the graves are located is now part of the Larry and Brenda Crum farm, Smith said.
Ten of Jacob Bruner's 12 children survived him, according to Smith. His son John had been killed during the War of 1812 and buried outside Greene County, according to the SAR.
OBITUARY OF JACOB BRUNER:Jacob Bruner, a soldier of the American Revolution, died at his residence in the North part of Greene County, Tennessee, on the tenth day of August 1847, in the 85th year of his age. ( he started his 85th Year May 29th) He was born at Fredericktown, Maryland in 1763. During the memorable struggle for American Independence, he was twice called into the service of his country; and after serving out times for which he was called, while doubts were enterained as to the eventful preponderance. Under such dobious circustances, Jacob Bruner became a volunteer again and rushed to the drooping standard of his outraged country; and a third time he joined her armies. He was never, however, in any noted battle. The
fortunes of the war called him away from the main army to quash the Troy
insurrections in the Jerseys to guard prisoners of war. When the war was over and his country free, he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Cline, about the 22nd year of his age. Sometime afterwards he established himself as a hat manufacturer in Millerstown (now Woodstock), Shanandoah County, Virginia. Here, as also subsequently in Tennessee, he was employed as a teacher of both English and German students in the same school. About the year 1797 (fifty years ago) he embraced the religion of the meek and lowly Jesus; and united with a sect called "The United Brethren", "Dutch Methodist", or "Oberbiners" from their leader, the
celebrated Mr. Oterbine. But on removing to Tennessee, in 1804 he was thrown beyond the territorial boundary of his church, into a Methodist community and soon he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He became a member of a little class in his neighborhood; and when it pleased the authorities of the church to merge this little class into one on the border of another neighborhood, he did not remove his name, but said to his son, in allusion to his infirmities, "It is not worth while to join that class, as I cannot attend." He remained, however, a faithful christian; and never omitted family devotions if it was possible for him to attend to them. Before his bodily infirmities prevented, he was often tent holder for Camp meetings, where some of his children were happily and powerfully converted to God. Among those converted was his son, John, who lived faithfully till called into the service for his country in the War of 1812, when he left his friends and the home of his youth, singing a transporting hymn; but he left to return no more; his remains reposed in a rough grave at Lookout Mountain where he fell. The remaining eleven of the twelve children of Jacob Bruner, yet lines and though scattered abroad, they will unite with their windowed mother, in lamenting the death of old Jacob--for he has not lived in vain as most of his children and many of his grandchildren are members of a church and several of them officers there as leaders, exhorters and preachers in Tennessee and other states. He had long seemed unusally dead to this world. His treasures being in Heaven, his conversation was generally on religious subjects. He had long lived in the expectation of death, but feared it not--with him to live was Christ and to die was gain. The day before his death he was taken with a great weakness, but complained of no pain. To the companion of his early life, the angel of mercy in his afflictions, he said, "Mother, (for this was the term he usually appled to his aged consort) I reckon you will soon lose your old man; you must try to be faithful to meet me again." At another time he said, "Mother, my heart is fixed Glory to God." He talked but little during his last illness, but he would occasionally sing verses of his favorite hymns. Among others, he sang the following with much pathos and devotion "Let other stretch their arms like seas, and gasp in all the shore. Grant me
the visits of Thy face, and I desire no more." He sang, "Come, my Jesus from above and feed my soul with heavenly love." "This is all that I want," he added. While laying calmly, he said, "My Savior and my God, glory to Thy name." Soon after this, his powers of speech failed him almost entirely; and within a few hours, he breathed his last without a struggle or a groan. Thus, my Grandfather "fell asleep".by John Hamilton Bruner
My 4th great grandfather Jacob Bruner. Jacob was in the Rev War, having enlisted in November 1779 at Frederick County,
Maryland. He served as a Minute Man and Private. He served until 1780 and in the spring of 1881.
Shortly after his marriage they moved to Millerstown, now Woodstock, Shenandoah Co., Virginia. There he established himself as a hat manufacturer and taught English and German.
Later in 1804 they moved to Greene Co., Tennessee. It was at Jonesboro, Greene Co., Tn. he received a pension # W332 issued 20 Feb 1833. Jacob is buried near the northwest corner of his farm. Information on the children of Jacob is came from his personal Bible.
http://greenevillesun.com/story/303165
Revolutionary War Vet Receives Final Honor
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Published: 7:36 AM, 05/04/2009 Last updated: 9:47 AM, 05/04/2009
Source: The Greeneville Sun
BY BILL JONES
STAFF WRITER
LOST MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY -- About 30 people gathered on rain-swept Bald Ridge here on Saturday morning to honor a Revolutionary War veteran who spent the last four decades of his life in northern Greene County.
Among those in attendance were local Jacob Bruner descendants Joyce Smith and her brother, Stanley Weems. A second Weems brother, Kyle R. Weems, of Chattanooga, also took part in the ceremony hosted by the Martin's Station, Va., chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.
Smith, who now lives in Greeneville with her husband, Wendell, helped organize the Saturday morning grave marker dedication service for her ancestor. Before the ceremony she said she had learned only recently that Jacob Bruner was buried atop Bald Ridge, a conical, grass-covered hill that once marked the northwest corner of Bruner's farm.
"I've lived most of my life in the Lost Mountain Community and I didn't learn that until recently," Smith said.
Smith's brother Stanley Weems, who lives along Lost Mountain Pike not far from the Bruner grave site, said he was "honored" to take part in the ceremony that officially marked the final resting place of his Revolutionary War soldier ancestor.
Joyce Smith also noted that many other northern Greene County families are descended from Jacob Bruner. Family names with Bruner ties, she said, include Bailey, McLain, Strong, Ward and Woolsey, in addition to Weems.
Other Bruner descendants traveled from as far as Texas and Georgia to attend. One of the Georgia descendants in attendance was Dennis Russell, who brought to the service a .31-cal. precussion-cap rifle that had been built by Bruner's son Samuel between 1830 and 1840.
Russell said he happened upon the rifle in 1994 at a "farm sale" in Fall Branch and purchased it after learning that it was built by one his ancestors and passed down through the Bruner family.
The last Bruner descendant to own the rifle had been the late Bonnie White of the Lost Mountain community, Russell said. After White's death, the rifle had been part of the "lifetime collection" of Paul R. Ryan, of Fall Branch.
CEREMONY DESCRIBED
The Saturday morning "grave marking ceremony," which had to be hastened because of the threat of heavy rain, was led by Thomas Coker, president of the Martin's Station Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.
The ceremony also featured remarks about Jacob Bruner from William Cheak, the chapter's vice president. Cheak, a Kingsport resident who also owns a farm in Lee County, Va., said he also is descendant of Jacob Bruner and had a personal interest in seeing that his "third great-grandfather's" grave was officially marked as that of a Revolutionary War veteran.
Rev. Sidney Barkley offered the invocation and closing prayer's for the ceremony. In so doing, Rev. Barkley offered thanks for Jacob Bruner's military service to his country and also asked God's blessing for the Bruner descendants.
Also taking part in the Saturday morning ceremony were representatives of the Watauga and Kings Mountain Chapters of the Sons of the American Revolution. Those groups, and Bruner descendants, placed wreathes at Bruner's grave on Saturday morning.
Martin's Station SAR President Thomas Coker asked the audience near the end of the service to be mindful of "the principles that he [Bruner] held sacred."
BRUNER BACKGROUND
Jacob Bruner, Cheak told the assembled Sons of the American Revolution members and Bruner descendants, was born in Fredericktown [now Frederick], Md., in 1764 and served twice with patriot forces in the Revolutionary War.
Cheak also told those in attendance during Saturday morning's grave marker dedication that Jacob Bruner's war service was mostly in the Frederick, Md. area, "guarding Tory (British loyalist) prisoners.
An obituary written for Jacob Bruner at the time of his death on Aug. 10, 1847, by his grandson, Rev. John Hamilton Bruner, president of Hiwassee College, said the elder Bruner was never "in any noted battle."
The obituary also indicated that during his war service, Jacob Bruner was sent to what is present day New Jersey "to quash the Tory insurrections ... and guard prisoners of war.
He married Margaret Cline in Frederick, Md., and shortly thereafter they moved to Millerstown [now Woodstock], Va., where he became a hat manufacturer and teacher of German and English, Cheak told the audience.
In 1804, the Bruners moved to Greene County with all of their children.
"He found his beautiful homesite on the banks of Lick Creek in the Lost Mountain community," descendant Joyce Smith noted before the ceremony.
Jacob Bruner had received his Revolutionary War pension in 1832 and died in 1847, Cheak told the audience.
Bruner was burned on the northwest corner of his farm, Cheak said later, noting that he determined the location of graves of Bruner, his wife, Margaret, and their son, Samuel, from research.
Descendant Smith said only fragments of original grave markers were found at the site before Cheak had modern markers installed recently.
The property where the graves are located is now part of the Larry and Brenda Crum farm, Smith said.
Ten of Jacob Bruner's 12 children survived him, according to Smith. His son John had been killed during the War of 1812 and buried outside Greene County, according to the SAR.
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