# ID: I096835
# Name: Peter RUCKER 1
# Sex: M
# Birth: 1658 in Holland
# Death: 18 JAN 1742/43 in St. Marks Parrish, Orange Co., VA
# Change Date: 11 APR 2002 1
# Note:

    by Jean B. Robinson February 1995

    Peter Rucker, Immigrant to America, circa 1700, settled in Essex Co., VA. He married shortly thereafter and began the Rucker dynasty. b. ca 1675, in Europe d. ca 1744, Orange Co., VA(3) m. ca 1700, to Elizabeth ______ (maiden name unknown)birth date and place unknown d. ca 1752, Culpeper Co., VA, when Peter Rucker's estate was divided (D. B. 1, p.400, 21 Feb 1752, Culpeper Co., VA). The Ruckers lived in Essex County, later moving to Spotsylvania Co., where John Rucker purchased land for them. In 1734 Spotsylvania Co. became Orange, in 1848 it became Culpeper, and in 1793, Madison.

    Will of Peter Rucker

    Orange County, Virginia
    Will Book 1, p. 299
    Probated Feb. 23, 1743

    In the name of God amen
    I Peter Rucker of Saint Marks Parish in the County of Orange planter being weak in body but of pursued mind and memory knowing that it is appointed for all men once To die do make and ordain this my Last will and Testament in manner following: Imprimis I do order that all my Just Debts and funeral charges be paid and satisfied.

    Item I lend unto my beloved wife Elizabeth Rucker all my Estate both real and Personal During her natural life and after her Decease to be Devided in the following manner.

    Item I give and bequeath unto my beloved Daughter Margaret Tinsley and my Son In-law Isaac Tinsley a negro boy named Yerkshire to them and their heirs forever.

    Item I give and bequeath to my beloved Son Ephraim Rucker a negro Girl named Phillis to him and his heirs forever.

    Item I give and bequeath to my beloved Daughter Ann Cook and my son in law Shem Cook a negro girl named Jeney to her and her increase to them and their heirs forever.

    Item I do Desire that all the Remainder of my Estate both real and personal after my wifes Decease as aforesaid to be sold by my Exr. hereafter named at public auction to the highest bidder on six months credit for Current Money the Buyer giving Good Security and the money arising by Sale to be Equally Devided amongst my beloved Children by name as followeth Thomas Rucker, Elizabeth Pierce, William Rucker, Mary Offell, James Rucker, Ephraim Rucker and Ann Cook and to their heirs forever, and lastly I do Constitute and appoint my beloved Sons James Rucker and Ephraim Rucker to be my Whole and sole Executors of this my last will and Testament hereby revoking and Disannuling all other Testaments and wills by me made Confirming this and no other to be my Last will and Testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this 18 day of January 1743.

    Signed sealed. Published in the presence of

    Wm. Jackson X
    Wm. Offell (his mark - Peter Rucker)


    1. PETER RUCKER was born Abt. 1675 in Europe, and died Abt. 1744 in Orange Co, VA. He married ELIZABETH abt. 1700. She died Abt. 1752 in Culpeper Co, VA.

    Notes for PETER RUCKER:

    Immigrant to America, circa 1701, settled in Essex Co, VA. He married shortly after therefore starting the Rucker dynasty.

    The Ruckers lived in Essex County, later moving to Spotsylvania C0 , where John Rucker purchased land for them. In 1734, Spotsylvania Co, became Orange, in 1848 it became Culpeper Co, and in 1793, Madison Co.

    Footnotes:

    1. It was previously thought Peter arrived in 1690, but that was tak ing into consideration that immigrants had to be in the country fourt een years to be naturalized. However, the law now believed applicable in the early 1700's required only a four year residency and the fourteen year residency requirement for aliens was a late 1700's law. Final approval of Peter's petition for naturalization was granted on 8 May 1704, leading us to believe he arrived in the year 1700.

    2. No evidence has been found as to Peter Rucker's origin. His name is Germanic, yet he was naturalized with several French refugees, leading historians to believe he came from Alsace-Lorraine, an area that was part

    French, part German. In 1700, many French Huguenots arrived in Virginia.

    3. Some people believe his wife's name was Fielding, but this has since been disproved. The surname Fielding came from Whitley's book and she has since admitted she was mistaken and that Fielding was not Elizabeth's maiden name. There is no evidence of a Fielding living near the Ruckers in Essex Co. The family Coghill has been researched and no evidence exists of a female named Elizabeth Coghill. Frederick Coghill's wife' s maiden name was Goss, but we can find no Elizabeth Goss.

    4. Names of children are from will of Peter Rucker, except for son John, who predeceased his father by one year, and Peter (see #5).

    6. The only record of son, Peter Rucker was in the Frederick Coghill deed, dated 28 Jan 1707/8 [Deed Book 13, p 91, Essex Co, VA]: "...for the kind love and affection I owe unto John, Peter and Thomas Rucker, sons of said Peter Rucker..."

    The Rucker Family by Edith Rucker Whitley
    Chapter One
    "Peter Rucker, first of the name, settled in Virginia about 1690. The tradition is that he was a French Huguenot, shipwrecked near the mouth of the James River, and that he swam ashore, living there for a time.
    A search of the land office does not show that he patented land there nor in Essex, where he was living in 1704, and paying tythes on 500 acres of land (Quit Rent). If he patented this tract of 500 acres, it was never recorded in the land office. Since no deeds appear in Essex County, he may have divided this land between his children before his death, for he does not divide it in his will. In 1743, his son William, sold 193 acres, "land received by inheritance."
    Peter Rucker may have been a French Huguenot, for he was naturalized with a number of Frenchmen. We know too that his children were Protestants. his son, John< in 1732, assisted in locating an Episcopal Church.
    There is a 'Legislative Journal of the Council of Colonial Virginia', Vol. 1, page 390, Monday, April 24, 1704, 'The petitions of Peter Rucker, Cypian Prou, John James Veillon, Teliffe Alverton, Peter Fouyeilles, Francis Colonis, Jacqueline Jaque, Bartholomew Depucy, Isaac ffiguier, and John Rossett, praying for naturalization, were read and ordered to be recorded; the same to be referred to the confederation of the House of Burgesses.'
    Also, in the 'Journals odf the House of Burgess' 1702-1712, page 74, monday, May 8, 1704, 'Upon consideration of the report of the said committee, upon the petition of Peter Rucker, Cypian Prou, and others-praying to be naturalized, the House agrees to the naturalization.'
    From Brook's 'Emigrants', "Many emigrants from France and Holland went to London first, where the expense of transportation to America was borne by the Relief Committee of London. They settled along the Potomac, Rappahannock, and James Rivers. the French huguenots were exempt from taxes for fourteen years." Peter was paying tythes in 1704, therefore if he were from France or Holland, he must certainly have been here by 1690.





Father: Ambrose RUCKER b: 1638 in Bavaria, Germany
Mother: Elizabeth Anne BEAUCHAMP b: 1642 in France

Marriage 1 Elizabeth FIELDING b: 1660 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England

    * Married: 1721 in Essex, Orange Co., VA

Children

   1. Has Children James RUCKER b: 1685 in Essex Co., VA
   2. Has Children Margaret RUCKER b: 1710 in Essex Co., VA
   3. Has Children John RUCKER b: 1680 in Essex Co., VA
   4. Has Children Ephriam Julius RUCKER b: 1705 in Essex Co., VA
   5. Has No Children Peter RUCKER , Jr. b: 1703 in Essex Co., VA
   6. Has Children Ann RUCKER b: ABT 1722 in Essex Co., VA
   7. Has Children Elizabeth RUCKER b: in Essex Co., VA
   8. Has Children Mary RUCKER b: ABT 1714
   9. Has Children Thomas RUCKER b: 1695 in Holland
  10. Has Children William RUCKER b: in Essex Co. Virginia


Sources:

   1. Title: desendents of marmaduke coghill.ged
      Repository:
      Media: Other
      Text: Date of Import: 3 Mar 2005