• General Notes

  Perhaps the previous Peter Ruckett is to be identified with the Peter Rucker who was naturalized in Virginia in 1704. (I am now quoting from the "Underwood Family" by Ben Coke.) His nationality is said to be unproven but apparently he was not English if he were naturalized. The next most popular nationality was German, though at this date it might have been French (Huguenot).
  
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      At least one internet source indicates that Peter's father may have been a Thomas Rucker. Some sources also indicate that Peter may actually have been born in the vincinity of Alsace-Lorraine. "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 did 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. . .From Brook's 'Emigrants', 'Many emigrants from France and Holland went to London first, where the expense of transportation in America was borne by the Relief Committee of London. They settled along the Patomac,Rappahannock, and James Rivers. The French Huguenots were exempt fromtaxes for fourteen years.' Peter was paying tythes in 1704, thereforeif he were from France or Holland, he must certainly have been here by 1690." (The Rucker Family, Chapt 1, Edith Rucker Whitley, posted onMcDaniel-King, Elaine King Kubinski, Ancestry World Tree Project database)
  
      "Footnotes: 1. It was previously thought Peter arrived in 1690, but that was taking into consideration that immigrants had to be in the country fourteen years to be naturalized. However, the law now believed applicable in the early 1700's required only a four year residence 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." (McDaniel-King, Elaine King Kubinski, Ancestry World Tree Project database)
  
      "May have been born in Alsace, which was part of France at the time, but the name Rucker is of German or Dutch origin. Some sources state that Peter was a French Huguenot, while others claim he was born in Germany. Sources also give his father as either John or Ambrose Rucker. 1690 Peter Rucker emigrated to America aboard the ship 'The Rising Son'one of four sailing from Gravesent England with 700 passengers. ('TheRising Son' was a French ship captured by the British during a war with the French). The ship wrecked off the Virginia coast outside of Jamestown near the mouth of the James River. Peter and a few others were able to swim ashore." (Giants on the Earth, Betty Henderson, RootsWeb World Connect Project database)
  
      Peter Rucker "Had 10 children, most were born in the old country. Hiswife and six of their children arrived several years later. Born in Germany. Fled with his father and family from Germany or France during the uprising between Catholic and Protestants in 1685-1700. After a short stay in England, they were sent to the colonies. Was proceded in colonies by his two sons, John and Thomas. Many Huguenots were naturalized by proclamation in 1702. Peter was issued naturalization papers in1704. Since he had not been a resident long enough to qualify with special application, which was read and presented at the House of Burgesses 4/24/1704. Settled in Essex County, Virginia, which was later Spotsylvania County." (Weaver and Sanders Update, David Weaver, Ancestry World Tree Project database) "Rucker, Peter (c 1670/c 1743) Va; m. Elizabeth Fielding; Landowner" (Seventeenth Century Colonial Ancestors, Supplement I, p 52, On-Line Genealogy Library database) On 1736 June 15 - Peter Rucker was named as an executor in Thimothy Crosthwait's will. (Orange County Will Book 2, p. 229) .
  
      Reference (Will Book 1, p. 299) Orange County, Virginia - Will of Peter Rucker
  
      In the name of God amen, I, Peter Rucker of St. 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 andordain this my Last will and Testament in manner following:
  
      In primis, 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 bothreal and personal during her natural life and after her decease to bedivided 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 andtheir heirs forever.
  
      Item: I give and bequeath to my beloved son, Ephriam 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. hereafternamed at public auction to the highest bidder on six months credit for Curret Money the Buyer giving Good Security and the money arising by Sale to be equally divided amongst my beloved
      children by names as followeth, Thomas Rucker,Elizabeth Pierce, William Rucker, Mary Offell, James Rucker, Ephriam Rucker, and Ann Cook andto their heirs forever, and lastly I do Constitute and appoint my beloved sons, James Rucker and Ephriam 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 his mark, Wm. Offell, Peter x Rucker Mich. Holt mark
  
      At a court held for Orange County on Thursday ye 23 day of Febry 1743.
  
      The Last Will and Testament of Peter Rucker Dec'd. being presented into Court by James Rucker and Ephriam Rucker Exrs. Therein named and proved by the oaths of Wm. Jackson and Mich. Holt two of the Witnesses Thereto who also made Oath that they saw William Offell sign the same as an evidence and the sd Exrs. having severally Taken the Oath of an Exr. and having entered into bond with Mic. Holt, George Holt and Richard Maudin Junr., their Securities, before their due Execution thereof, Probate is
      granted them and the said will together with the Bond was admitted torecord. Test: Jonath Gibson
  
      Will Probated 23 Feb 1743: lists 9 children, Other souces suggest that his children included 1. John Rucker - b. 1701, 2. Peter - b. 1703,3. Thomas - b. 1705, 4. Elizabeth Pearce - b. 1707, 5. Margaret Tinsley - b. 1702, 6. William - b. 1706, 7. Mary Offell - b. 1704, 8. James- b. 1709, 9. Ephriam - b. 1712 and 10. Ann Cook - b. 1705.
  
      See "History of the Rucker Family" (1964); see also United AncestriesLinked Pedigrees CD-Rom (1992)
  
  
  
  
  
  Father: Ambrose Levi Rucker
  Mother: Elizabeth Ann Beauchamp
  
  Marriage 1 Elizabeth Fielding b: BET 1676 AND 1680 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England
  
      * Married: ABT 1700 in Germany 4
  
  Children
  
     1. Has Children John 'I' Rucker b: BET 1701 AND 1704 in Essex Co., VA. or England
     2. Has Children James Rucker b: BET 1706 AND 1709 in Essex Co., VA.
     3. Has Children Mary Rucker b: AFT 1700
     4. Has Children Ephriam Rucker b: BET 1700 AND 1720 in Essex Co., VA. or England
     5. Has Children William Rucker b: ABT 1715
  
  
  Sources:
  
     1. Author: RootsWeb - MyFamily.com Inc.
        Title: Electronic - Worldconnect (unverified)
        Repository:
              Name: Internet - http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com
        Note:
        Source Medium: Electronic
  
        Needs Verification
  
        Page: Terrill/Terrell Descendants From Early VA. Immigrants / John Terrill Wayland Jr. - johnway@abts.net
        Text: suggests that Peter was b. as late as 1675 (?)
     2. Author: RootsWeb - MyFamily.com Inc.
        Title: Electronic - Worldconnect (unverified)
        Repository:
              Name: Internet - http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com
        Note:
        Source Medium: Electronic
  
        Needs Verification
  
        Page: Dinnen, Dement, Marcum, Earles, Benson, Carson: Michael T. Mcintosh, 20 March 2006 - michaeltmcintosh@hotmail.com
     3. Author: Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints
        Title: LDS AFN (unverified)
        Publication: Name: Name: Copyright (c) 1987, June 1998;;
        Repository:
              Name: Family History Library, 35 N. West Temple St., Salt Lake City UT. 84150, USA.
        Note:
        Source Medium: Church Record
  
        Page: 1HBD-G5, 1HBD-6R
     4. Author: RootsWeb - MyFamily.com Inc.
        Title: Electronic - Worldconnect (unverified)
        Repository:
              Name: Internet - http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com
        Note:
        Source Medium: Electronic
  
        Needs Verification
  
        Page: Agor Connections: 12 March 2004
  
      
  

Details of Peter's family with Elizabeth Fielding