In the Journals of the House of Lords, for Wednesday, Feb. 19th, 1772, the following appears: "Upon reading the petition of John Gotthelf Rucker, praying that his name may be inserted in the Bill, instituted, "An Act for Naturalizing Arnold Meyer and Peter Beotesur," it is ordered that the said Petition do lie on the table till the said Bill be read a second time. Journals for the House of Lords for June 2nd, 1794, "Upon reading the Petition of Daniel Henry Rucker, next of kin and natural Guardian of John Anthony Rucker, an Infant, son of Theophihes S. Rucker, by Louisa Dorathea, his wife, born at Hamburgh, praying leave to bring in a bill for the naturalization of the said John Anthony Rucker. It is ordered that leave be given to bring in a bill according to the prayer of the said petition. According, the Lord Bishop of Bangor, presented to the House a Bill, entitled: "An Act for the Naturalization of John Anthony Rucker, an Infant." The following Ruckers were naturalized by Naturalization Acts now kept in the House of Lords: John Anthony Rucker, No. 25, George II; Daniel Henry Rucker, No. 29, George III; John Gothelf Rucker, No. 78, George III; Conrad Rucker, No. 80, George III; John Anthony Rucker II, No. 267, George III; John Peter Rucker, No. 6, George IV. I might say just here that John Anthony Rucker, of West Hill near Wandsworth, in the County of Surrey, Daniel Henry Rucker, of MincingLane, in the city of London, Esquire and John Anthony Rucker Junior of Mincing Lane were merchants doing business in London from 1793 to 1805. James Rucker, of Bridgeport, County Dorest, Gentleman were also in business in London in 1779. John Anthony Rucker, Esquire, of West Hill, Wandsworth, County of Surrey, died on May 19th, 1804, age eighty-five years. On April 25th, 1805, Daniel Henry Rucker, Esq., of West Hill, Wandsworth, married to Caroline, third daughter of Henry Gardiner, Esq., of Downe Lodge. On May 12th, 1806, Sigmund Rucker, Esquire, of Hunter Street, Brunswick Square, was married to Lucy, Youngest daughter of Henry Gardiner, Esq., of Downe Lodge, Wandsworth. On March 15th, 1810, John Rucker, Esq., of Montague, was married to Anne, eldest daughter of the late Stephen Bancroft, Esq., on June 14th, 1818, J. D. Rucker, Esq., of the Old South Sea House, Broad Street, died in his thirty-sixth year. You are already wondering why I have lingered on so many of these records when they do not connect with our branch of the family as is shown in this issue, but presently you will be able to determine my reason. Peter Rucker, the emigrant of the early Seventeenth Century and the branch from which this book is based, is not the only branch of the family which is located in America. One other branch which I have found descends from the above-John Anthony Rucker of England are American Ruckers of today. Among this line and descendants are found some of those Ruckers in and around Grosse Ille, Michigan. A Captain Rucker, an old steamboat Captain, now retired, is found to be a direct descendant of this line and also others in the northern portions of our country. From all the above records one at once settles the fact of our origin as being no other than of German Nobility. The exact location of the family or residence of Peter Rucker before his arrival in America has never been ascertained, but from the many pointing arrows one is led to believe that he was German by birth and fled during the devastation in Germany and France to England where he was allowed by petition to sail for the new territory across the Atlantic to the Colony of Great Britain called America. In a petition to the Majesty in England it is proven that the name Rucker appears among those asking the privilege to settle in America about the first of the seventeenth century, finding our Peter, an emigrant which is disclosed by his naturalization (a copy in this issue) one conjectures that we have found one and the same Rucker but have nothing with which to prove such a belief. Lastly, may I say that in 1905, William Arthur Rucker, of Kinsington, England, was Knighted by reason of his research work in Oxford University. The wife of this Sir Arthur Rucker was Theresa, who was much interested in her husband's family only a few years back and who was living at my last information in Kinsington, England. It also appears that Robin Rucker was in the British Air Service during the World War and his brother in the navy. These two boys seemed to have been nephews of the Sir William Arthur Rucker above mentioned. This alone proves that England is not entirely devastitated of the Rucker name and blood. I trust that some more experienced and capable researcher may some day be able to trace the complete connection of the family. From these facts we must leap from our scattered records to the time we reach the American soil in the early Seventeenth Century, where we find our Peter Rucker on record. It is the desire of the author that the name may continue in the limelight and that better records may be kept of the family of the future generations than has been kept of the past. CHAPTER II. NATURALIZATION OF PETER RUCKER FROM HOUSE OF BURGESSES, RECORDS OF VIRGINIA (This is an exact copy.) PREFENT. His Excellencies, William Byrd, John Lightfoot, Robert Carter, John Cuftis, Phillip Ludwell, Henry Duke, Robert Quary, John Smith, Esq., The peticon of Teliffe Alvertfon for Naturalizacon, read and referred to ye confideracon of the Houfe of Burgeffes-The peticon of Jno. Veillon, Peter Fonyeilles, John Dep, Francois Colonies Jaqueline Jaques, Bartholomew Depuys, Ifaac, ffiguier, John Roffett and Paul Drapier was read and referred to ye confideracon of the Houffe of Burgeffes. The Petitiones of Cyprian Prou, Peter Rucker, and Ifaac Garret praying for Naturalizacon were feverally refented and read and Ordered That ye fame be referred to ye Confideracon of the Houfe of Burgeffes. The peticon of Mary Greenfield praying leave to fill part of her land for her Subfiftance, her hufband having left her, read and referred to the confideracon of the houfe of Burgeffes. Robert Carter, Esq., adfent. Order That the clerk of the general affembly carry the following meffage to the Houfe of Burgeffes together with the papers relating to ye ffrench Refugees, Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the Houfe of Burgeffes. His Ecellancy and the honorable Council A meffage from the Houfe of Burgeffes to his Rxcellancy by Mr. Robert Bolling and others who brought the following refolve. By the Houfe of Burgeffes. Monday 24, 1704. CHAPTER III. PETER RUCKER, the emigrant, is of German nationality. We are unable to say authentically that Peter was born in Germany or France. We believe however, that we might be safe in saying he was of German birth. From the preceding chapter of the Rucker family, you will learn that the Ruckers who went to England from other countries were in every instance from Germany or their territory. We believe therefore, that Peter was a German born Rucker. As to who his father was, research has not been complete sufficiently to establish. It is likely he is the son of a Thomas Rucker, or a John Rucker, but neither has been proven. Although records and research has failed to prove any of these facts, we still believe that Peter, perhaps with his father and family fled from Germany or France during the uprising between Catholic and Protestants in 1685 to 1700. In England, there has been found that thousands of these refugees came to that country to make their homes. After a short stay in England they were sent by the crown to various Colonies. Among these Colonies was that large and wonderful territory called America. It was to this Colony that thousands of these people were sent from England, either by their own act or by that of England itself. Among a list of these settlers in England and its territory we find as early as 1700 the name Rucker. We therefore conjecture that this same mentioned Rucker is no doubt our Peter and family who were among the early settlers and promiment people of Colonial Virginia. (Note preceding chapter of foreign facts.) (Legislative Journals of the Council of Colonial Virginia, Vol. I, page 390, and Journals of the House of Burgesses, pages 47 and 48, and Hugenots Immigration and Settlers by R. A. Brock.) All Hugenots or such settlers were naturalized by proclamation in 1702, thus being given as the reason Peter Rucker was issued naturalization papers in the year 1704. It is perhaps true that Peter was a resident of American Territory before 1702, but had not been so long enough to allow the proclamation to grant him naturalization without special application, which was read and presented to the House of Burgesses April 24, 1704. (See copy of Naturalization of Peter Rucker.) Peter Rucker was the first generation of the family in America, yet he was not the first Rucker in America, so far as records have revealed. You will note in the following chapters that we find two of the sons of Peter Rucker recorded in America before Peter is located on records. This being true and from other points you will find scattered through this history you will see that John and Thomas Rucker came to America about 1699. It is for this reason I say that Peter was not the first Rucker in America but the oldest generation, John and Thomas being the first Ruckers recorded as having placed a foot on American soil. Peter brought with him his wife, Elizabeth Fielding. We know that she must have migrated with her husband as the fact of their sons coming first shows that Peter and Elizabeth were married and had a family before their arrival in America, and also that perhaps all of their family was born in the foreign. country. It is quite evident all except perhaps the youngest one or two. Peter Rucker settled in Essex County, Virginia, which was later Spottsylvania County, Virginia .(Spottsylvania was formed from Essex, King William, and King and Queen County in 1720, and Orange County was formed from Spottsylvania County in 1734.) On Jan. 18th, 1743, Peter Rucker wrote his will, same being probated Feb. 23rd, 1743. (See will of Peter Rucker.) Issue: 1. JOHN, who migrated to Virginia before 1702 or about 1700 and who married Sussannah Phillips. (See Jane Lloyd's will in Virginia.) She was the grandmother of Sussannah (later). 2. THOMAS, who came at the same time as John, settled near the same section as John. He married Elizabeth Tinsley (late). 3. WILLIAM, married either a Miss Honar or a Miss Hannah. Came with his father (later). 4. JAMES, married Margaret when he came to America (later). He settled with his father 5. EPHRAIM, married Margaret Vawter (later). 6. MARGARET, married Isaac Tinsley and moved with her brother William in 1758 to Amelia County, Virginia. It has been very hard to trace the girl's connection as far back as this. You will note however in the records given in this book much touching on this line. 7. ANN, married Shem Cook, moved to Amelia County, Virginia, about 1758, with her brother William and sister Margaret. ELIZABETH, married Pierce or Pearce. 9. MARY, married William Offall. (See various items in this book on this line.) |