Son of John Bruce and Elizabeth Povall Clay.

Married:
(1) Elizabeth "Betsy" (Hensley) Bullett (1780, VA-Sep 1853, IA) on 25 Mar 1814, Jessamine County. She was previously married to Wilson Bullett on 11 Jun 1802, Mason Co., KY.

Children:
Henry Clay Bruce (1815, Garrard Co., KY-1848, Macomb, McDonough Co., IL) #128911848
Richard Preston "Pickle" Bruce (15 May 1818, Lexington, Fayette Co., KY-1 Oct 1909, Winterset, Madison Co., IA) #84121189
Elizabeth Henley (Bruce) Webb (1820, KY-1897, Staunton, Macoupin Co., IL)

(2) Sarah "Sallie" Cofrin (1800, MD-1870s, Mason Co., KY)

Children:
Horatio M. Bruce (1833)
Robert Grant Bruce (1840-bef. 1908) m. Sarah Smith #126029288

In the "History of Lewis County, Kentucky", the biographical sketch of Richard P. Bruce states that he married in Garrard Co., KY., but was at Jessamine County. He moved to Indiana, but it was Illinois. His wife and children all died of fever and ague, but census data suggests his children survived and lived in Illinois, Missouri and Iowa, that his first wife Elizabeth survived and lived and died in Iowa without her husband, was with her son Richard and family. and died there in September of 1853. Richard's second wife Sarah lived her final years as a widow in Mason Co., KY. Richard Bruce had a small farm on Cabin Creek, where he died.
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1820 Census (Garrard Co., KY)
Richd P Bruce
Males - 26 thru 44: 1
Males - Under 10: 3
Females - 26 thru 44: 1
Females - Under 10: 1

1830 Census (Lexington, Fayette Co., KY)
Betsy Bruce
Males - 15 thru 19: 2 (Henry & Richard)
Females - 40 thru 49: 1 (Elizabeth)
Females - 10 thru 14: 1 (Elizabeth)

In 1830, Richard returned to Vanceburg, Ky.

1840 Census (Brown Co., IL)
Mrs E Bruce
Males - 20 thru 29: 1
Females - 60 thru 69: 1
Females - 20 thru 29: 1

1840 Census (Northern Division, Mason Co., KY)
Richd Bruce
Males - 60 thru 69: 1
Males - 5 thru 9: 1
Males - Under 5: 1
Females - 40 thru 49: 1
Females - Under 5: 1

Richard Bruce had a small farm on Cabin Creek, Maysville, Mason County, where he died in 1841.

1850 Census (Mount Sterling, Brown Co., IL)
Betsy Bruse 60 VA Real Estate: $2,000

1850 Census (Dist. 2, Mason Co., KY)
Sarah Bruce 50 MD
Horatio M Bruce 16 Idiot
Robert P Bruce 11

1860 Census (Dist. 2, Mason Co., KY)
Sarah Bruce 59 MD
Horatia Bruce 25
Robert Bruce 21

1860 Census (Center, Madison Co., IA)
Richard P Bruce 42 KY (s/o Richard & Elizabeth)
Judith N Bruce 38
Francis M Bruce 16
Mary J Bruce 14
Georgie Ann Bruce 12
Susan V Bruce 10
Robert S Bruce 8
Caroline M Bruce 6
Martha A Bruce 4
Henrietta Bruce 2

1870 Census (Orangeburg, Mason Co., KY)
Sarah Bruce 68 MD
Horatio Bruce 37
Robert Bruce 30

1870 Census (Douglas, Madison Co., IA)
Richard Bruce 52 KY (s/o Richard & Elizabeth)
Judith A Bruce 48
Georgana Bruce 22
Susan V Bruce 20
Robert S Bruce 18
Caroline M Bruce 16
Martha A Bruce 14
Henrietta Bruce 12
Nancy B Bruce 8
Cora M Bruce 6

1880 Census (Orangeburg, Mason Co., KY)
Robert Bruce 40 Self (Head) (s/o Richard & Sarah)
Sarah Bruce 34 Wife
Brunetta Bruce 8 Daughter
Patrick H. Bruce 6 Son
Dolla Bruce 4 Daughter
Buddy Bruce 2 Son

1900 Census (Quincy, Lewis Co., KY)
Robert G Bruce 61 Head (s/o Richard & Sarah)
Sarah E Bruce 54 Wife
Thomas Bruce 21 Son
Robert Bruce Jr 18 Son
Dillie Bruce 14 Daughter
Mary Bruce 11 Daughter
Charles M Farley 3 Grand Son (Grandson)

1908 &1920 City Directory - Portsmouth, Ohio
Sarah E Bruce (wid Robert)
Elizabeth Bruce, Decd.