Dear Listers, I am descended from Betsy Bruce Drake who married a Vallandingham in Scott Co., KY about 1787. Betsy gave 4 of her sons the Bruce middle name. There was Henry Bruce Val., George Bruce Val., John Bruce Val., and William Bruce Val. Betsy had two daughters, Anne and Mary. These names all coincide with names of a VA Bruce family. A Henry Bruce was Betsy's cousin, he said in his diary. Thus, I have concluded that Anne Bruce was Betsy's mother. Anne's family's records do not show this marriage, but they do show that Anne died at the right time in or near Culpeper Co., VA William Bruce of Stafford would have been Betsy's grandfather. Since the Vallandinghams were very religious, it appears they married whenever the opportunity offered itself, rather than shacked up. Betsy was born in Culpeper, VA, where the Henry Bruce family held sway (between there and Stafford). So My Betsy Bruce Drake was either a Bruce or was severely demented. Tom the bewildered