93788595_0cb47629-b7fe-4dd9-8b90-4042490fc122

Rucker, Benjamin 1 2a 3a 4a 5 6 7 8a

Birth Name Rucker, Benjamin
Gender male
Age at Death 82 years, 1 month

Narrative

All of Benjamin's children left Virginia and became the early settlers of Middle Tennessee 1796-98. The four boys married four Reade sisters from Bedford Co. VA. The oldest daughter, Sophia, married Joseph Burrus of Amherst Co. and joined them about 8 or 10 years later. Her sister. Lucy married Zachariah Dawson. They traveled with the two older brothers and purchased land with them in Davidson and Rutherford counties. Dawson died within a year or two. A former childhood sweetheart, John McDaniel, went west to reconnect with her, married her, adopted her children and brought them all back to Virginia. The third sister seems to have also gone to Tenn. but no records seem to have survived her. Perhaps she and her husband, (?) Brown, did not survive long. Bennett, the youngest son, seems to have stayed in Virginia with his aging parents untii they passed away, after 1808. All four brothers, James, Thomas, Gideon, and Bennett built large plantations and became promonent builders of the new state.

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Married Abt. 1756 to Elizabeth Bennett Rucker. Known as Betsy Rucker. History of the Rucker Family. Whitley, Edythe Johns Rucker, 1900-) 1927. Will of Benjamin Rucker, dated 20 Nov 1808, probated 22 Feb 1810, mentions: wife Betty, and children: James, Thomas, Gideon, Lucy McDaniel, Willie Brown, Millie, Sophia Burruss and Bennett Rucker. The Rucker Family. 1932, Old Dominion Press, Inc. Richmond Va. Compiled by Sudie Rucker Wood. Ruckers and Connections. 1927 Hermitage Printing Co. Nashville, Tenn. Whitley, Edythe Johns Rucker, 1900- Above two books are in the Virginia State Library, Archives CS 71.R887 1927 CS71.R887 1932 COP. 3

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/collaborate/LZKS-QB5

Events

Event Date Place Description Sources
Birth 1728 Orange, Orange, Virginia, British Colonial America   9a
Death 1810-02-01 Amherst, Virginia, United States   9b

Age: 82y

Christening 2009-03-29 22:10:55    

Relation to the center person (verch Gwrgeneu, Gwerfyl) : fifth cousin eighteen times removed (down)

Parents

Relation to main person Name Birth date Death date Relation within this family (if not by birth)
Father Rucker, John16801742
Mother Phillips, Susanna1678-11-23(Deceased)
    Brother     Rucker, Peter 1722 1794-06-00
    Sister     Rucker, Margaret 1723 1801
    Brother     Rucker, John II 1725 1781
    Sister     Rucker, Sarah 1728 (UNKNOWN)
         Rucker, Benjamin 1728 1810-02-01
    Sister     Rucker, Winifred 1730 (UNKNOWN)
    Brother     Rucker, Reuben 1735 (UNKNOWN)
    Brother     Rucker, Ambrose 1735-07-13 1803-12-03
    Brother     Rucker, Isaac 1737 (UNKNOWN)
    Brother     Rucker, Anthony 1740 1821-01-27

Families

Family of Rucker, Benjamin and Bennett, Elizabeth
Married Wife Bennett, Elizabeth ( * 1734 + 1810-02-01 )
   
Event Date Place Description Sources
Marriage about 1756 Culpeper, Virginia, British Colonial America   9c
  Children
Name Birth Date Death Date
Rucker, James1758-09-041819-09-10
Rucker, Lucy17631839-05-17
Rucker, Mildred1766
Rucker, Thomas1770-05-271848-03-03
Rucker, Sophia1775-07-071835-02-26
Rucker, Gideon1777-05-061842-02-07
Rucker, Bennett1779-05-311862-10-09

Source References

  1. D Blocher.GED
  2. Nick Hayes: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=hayes-drake&id=I576067 Nick Hayes & Sue Drake - root and branch
      • Source text:

        # ID: I576067
        # Name: John Rucker
        # Given Name: John
        # Surname: Rucker
        # Sex: M
        # Birth: 1680 in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England
        # Death: 28 JAN 1741/42 in St. Mark's Parish, Orange Co., Virginia
        # Event: alt Birth ABT 1701 Essex Or Orange Co., Virginia 1
        # Note:

        In the year 1700 four shiploads carrying seven hundred passengers sailed f rom Gravesend, England, for the journey to the colonies. The ships land ed in Jamestown 1700. John and his brother Thomas were the leaders of t he passengers. The vessel in which John was sailing was wrecked in Jamesto wn Bay off the coast of Virginia and John floated for three days on a pie ce of driftwood, being picked up by a passing vessel. John's reward for h is role in bringing so many settlers to the new world was a grant from t he King of England of 5850 acres in what was then Orange County (now Amher st County including land that is now home to Sweet Briar College.)

        John became a naturalized citizen in 1702 by a proclamation of the Gener al Assembly.

        With John Lightfoot established St. Mark's Parish, in Orange County (now G reene County). Scott, in his History of Orange, says "John Lightfoot and J ohn Rucker were ordered to pitch on a place near some good spring" in 173 1. Scott ways this is the old church near Ruckersville in Greene County.

        John was a vestryman and very influential member of the church. He was a C aptain in the Colonial Militia of Orange County in 1740. He deeded land f or Rucker's Chapel in 1745.

        John had 12 children. In his will he left 1 shilling to his daughter Marga ret Smith. He greatly disapproved of her marriage to Isaac Smith.

        Feby. 6, 1734. John Rucker of St. Mark's Parish, Spots. Co., to Peter Ruck er, Elizabeth Rucker, Peter Rucker, Jnr., and Ephraim Rucker. 20 pounds st erling currency, 420 acres--remainder of a patent granted said John Rucke r, in St. Mark's Par., Spots. Co. "Peter and Elizabeth Rucker, during the ir Natural lives, and afterwards to Peter Rucker, Junr., and Ephraim Rucke r," etc. Witnesses: G. Home, Joseph Delaney, John Johnson.

        Feby. 6, 1733-4. John Rucker of St. Mark's Pa., Spots. Co., "to my siste r, Mary Rucker," love and affection and 1 pound sterling, To "Mary Ruck er and William Offall, her lawful husband," etc., etc. 100 acres in St. Ma rk's Parish Spots. Co. Dated, Feby. 6, 1730. Recd. Feby. 6, 1733-4. Witnes ses: G. Home, Joseph Delaney, John Johnson.

        March 5, 1733. John Rucker of Spots. Co. to Phillip Stockdale of St Anne 's Par., Essex Co. 21 pounds sterling 5 shillings currency and 6000 lbs. t obacco 703 acres--150 acres thereof part of a patent granted said Rucker A ugt. 17, 1727, and 553 acres part of a patent granted Thos. Rucker June 1 6, 1730, and sold and made over to said John Rucker, as by Deeds, Feb y. 5, 1732. In Spots. Co. Thomas Chew, James Cox, Charles Stevens, witness es. Susannah, wife of John Rucker acknowledged her dower, etc.

        His will:

        In the name of God Amen. I John Rucker of St. Marks Parish in the coun ty of Orange a Planter, being weak in body but of perfect mind and memo ry and knowing that it is appointed to all men to die once, do make and or dain this my last will and testament in manner and form following:

        Imprimis I do order that all my just debts and funeral charges be paid a nd satisfied . Item: I give to my well beloved wife Susannah Rucker four N egro by name of Bristol , Tony, Doll and Sue and one third part of my hous ehold and furniture and stock horses excepted, one horse I give to my wi fe named Roger. The four mentioned Negro to remain my wife's no longer th en her widowhood after to be sold and divided as the rest of my Estate her eafter mentioned.

        Item. I give to my son Peter Rucker one black horse called Jockey and h is choice of my guns.

        Item. I give to my son John Rucker one grey Horse called Oglesby and a g un the next choice after his brother.

        Item. I give to Thomas Wright Belfield one lot in Fred K urg No.5 to him a nd his heirs forever.

        My desire is that one half of my land on the branches of the James River m ay be sold by my Executors for six months credit to the highest bidder lik ewise my wagon and five horses and horse kinds in the same manner in ord er to pay my debts. I likewise leave my dwelling house and land thereun to adjoining to be sold at the direction of my Executors if my debts cann ot be complied with, if they can the dwelling house and land to rema in my wife's during her widowhood and if she marrys to be sold by way of a uction.

        Item. I give to my well beloved sons Peter Rucker , John Rucker , Ambro se Rucker, Benj. A. Rucker, Rueben Rucker, Isacc Rucker, Anthony Rucker a nd to their heirs forever half the land I hold in the branches of the Jam es River to be equally divided between the seven brothers.

        The rest of my Estate I desire may be equally divided between my beloved c hildren as follows: Peter Rucker, John Rucker , Sarah Rucker, Winifred Ruc ker, Ambrose Rucker, Benj. Rucker, Rueben Rucker, Isacc Rucker, Anthony Ru cker, Mildred Rucker, Phebe Rucker to them and their heirs forever.

        Item I give to my daughter Margaret Smith one shilling Sterl.

        And lastly I do constitute and appoint my beloved wife Susanah my Execut or and my beloved son Peter Rucker and my beloved friend George Tayl or my whole and sole Executors of this my last will and testament hereby r evoking and disallowing all other wills and testaments by me made and conf irming this my last will and testament. In witness thereof I have now s et my hand and seal this XI day of January 1742.

        Signed and Sealed and Published in the presence of: Robert Seagre Joseph H awkins Richard Cross.

        John Rucker Seal

        # _UID: 2024B686D90B3844A70A2068F4A3C0A11137
        # Change Date: 29 MAR 2009 at 22:10:55

         

         

        Father: Peter Rucker b: 1661 in France-Germany
        Mother: Elizabeth Fielding b: 1660 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England

        Marriage 1 Susanna Phillips b: 23 NOV 1678 in Clun, Shropshire, England

        * Married: BEF 1707 1
        * Change Date: 29 MAR 2009

        Children

        1. Has Children Peter Rucker b: ABT 1722 in Essex Co., Virginia
        2. Has No Children Margaret Rucker b: ABT 1723 in King And Queen Co., Virginia
        3. Has Children John II Rucker b: 1725 in Orange Co., Virginia
        4. Has No Children Sarah Rucker b: ABT 1728 in King And Queen Co., Virginia
        5. Has No Children Winifred Rucker b: ABT 1730 in King And Queen Co., Virginia
        6. Has No Children Benjamin Rucker b: ABT 1733 in Spotsylvania County, Virginia
        7. Has No Children Reuben Rucker b: ABT 1735 in Orange Co., Virginia
        8. Has Children Ambrose Rucker b: 13 JUL 1735 in Spotsylvania County, Virginia
        9. Has Children Isaac Rucker b: ABT 1737 in Orange Co., Virginia
        10. Has Children Anthony Rucker b: ABT 1740 in Orange Co., Virginia

         

        Sources:

        1. Title: D Blocher.GED
        Note:
        Merged 29/03/2009 22:10
        Date: 2 APR 2009

      • Citation:

        e-mail: n.hayes@cardale.co.uk

  3. Benjamin Rucker, "Find a Grave Index"
      • Source text:

        Name Benjamin Rucker
        Birth Date 1730
        Death Date 25 Jun 1808
        Event Type Burial
        Photograph Included N
        Note Contains Biography

        ---

        Capt. Rucker was an attorney at law, sheriff of Amherst County Virginia, justice of the peace and a solder in the Revolutionary War. He married Elizabeth Bennett in 1756 at Culpepper,Virginia. Benjamin and his brother Anthony were inventors of the James River Bateau a boat designed to transport tobacco down river.

         

         

      • Citation:

        "Find a Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVL7-P87L : 4 October 2023), Benjamin Rucker, ; Burial, , ; citing record ID 93788595, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

         

  4. Benjamin A Rucker, 'Geni World Family Tree' on MyHeritage
      • Source text:

        Benjamin A Rucker
        Birth: 1728 - Orange County, Virginia, Colonial America
        Death: Feb 1 1810 - Amherst County, Virginia, United States
        Father: John Rucker, I
        Mother: Susannah Lloyd Rucker (born Phillips)
        Wife: Elizabeth Rucker (born Bennett)
        Children: James Rucker, Bennett Rucker, Gideon Rucker, Thomas Rucker, Lucy McDaniel (born Rucker), Mildred Unknown, Sophia Burrus (born Rucker), Ransom Rucker
        Siblings: Reuben Rucker, John Rucker, Jr., Margaret J. Smith (born Rucker), Sarah Marr (born Rucker), Peter Rucker, Ambrose Levi Rucker, Winifred Rucker, Anthony Rucker, Phoebe Rucker, Mildred 'Milly' Hamm (born Rucker), Isaac Rucker, Margaret J Smith (born Rucker)

      • Citation:

        Geni World Family Tree
        MyHeritage.com [online database], MyHeritage Ltd.
        Benjamin A Rucker

  5. Will, 1808 June 26, page 2 of 2; Annex 1808 November 10, page 1 and 2, Amherst County, Virginia, Image 2 0f 3
  6. Probate, 1810 September 26, Amherst County, Virginia
  7. Will, 1808 June 26, Amherst County, Virginia, page 1 of 2, image 1 of 3
  8. Burial Site of Anthony Rucker believed found
      • Source text:

        "The James River Batteau was a shallow draft river craft used during the period from 1775 to 1840 to transport tobacco and other cargo on the James River and its tributaries in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It was flat bottomed and pointed at both ends. The length of the batteau varied greatly, 58 feet (17.5 m) being a common length. The bateau was propelled by batteaumen pushing with long sturdy poles. Alternate spellings of bateau include batteau, batoe and the plurals bateaux, batoes, and batteaux. Batteau is the French word for boat. In the colonial days, batteaus were used extensively in rivers throughout the eastern part of the United States, but the coverage of this article is confined to those that plied the James River in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

        Anthony and Benjamin Rucker were the original inventors and constructors of the James River Batteau in 1775. It was a boat essentially different from any before that time used on the rivers of Virginia. The Ruckers’ design was successfully patented many years after its development. The earliest known reference to the batteau comes from Thomas Jefferson’s account book, dated April 19, 1775. Jefferson had been present at the first launching, and forty-six years later he was witness to the successful patenting of the batteau by heirs of the Ruckers. George Washington also mentioned the bateau in his diary entry, dated April 7, 1791. Unfortunately, none of the original batteaus exist. Some remains were uncovered by construction workers at the site of the James River and Kanawha Basin.

        The five Rucker brothers were among the tobacco planters in Amherst County, Virginia. Anthony Rucker was a tobacco inspector for the county. The need to transport large hogshead of tobacco to the port at Richmond, Virginia, likely motivated the Rucker brothers to develop the bateau. It was just wide enough to accommodate standard hogsheads (barrels) across the floor. The tobacco hogshead became standardized by the 1760s and measured 48 inches (120 cm) long and 30 inches (76 cm) in diameter at the head. They held about 1,000 pounds (450 kg) of tightly packed tobacco. Larger batteaus could transport 10 or more hogsheads, depending on river conditions. Tobacco was a very profitable crop, and because of cheap slave labor vast amounts were produced by planters along the James River basin.

        The bateau became such a useful craft that it was also used for other cargo as well as passenger transportation. During the period of 1820 to 1840, at least 500 batteaus and 1,500 bateaumen operated on the James River between Lynchburg, Virginia and Richmond. Boatmen were nearly all slave and free African Americans. The use of the batteau sharply declined after 1840 when the James and Kanawha River Canal reached Lynchburg. The packet boat and rail took over the cargo.

        The James River batteau was designed for freight and for ease of navigation in the shallow rocky waters of the Upper James. Thomas Jefferson, in 1775, recorded the purchase of a batteau in his account book, stating, “Apr. 29. Rucker’s battoe (sic) is 50. f. long. 4.f. wide in the bottom & 6.f. at top. she carries 11. hhds & draws 13½ I. water.” Typical batteaus were thought to be about 58 feet (17.5 m) long, some shorter, some longer. They had no keel to interfere with navigating river rapids and were well adapted to shallow water, having a draft of about 12–18 inches (30–45 cm) when loaded. They measured 6–8 feet (1.8–2.4 m) at the beam. The sides varied from 18–24 inches (45–60 cm) in height. Very long planks, fastened to ribs, formed the sides and bottom. The nose cones were built and attached separately to facilitate maintenance since the ends of the bateau received abuse from the river rocks. The batteau had no rudder and was guided by long sweeps that engaged notches formed in the tip of the nose cones. The cargo versions had no seats. Passenger versions had a canopy and some had oar locks."

      • Citation:

        https://www.familysearch.org/memories/memory/113358101?cid=mem_copy

  9. LZKS-QB5 FamilySearch.org
      • Source text:

        Benjamin Rucker
        Birthdate: circa 1728 (82)
        Birthplace: Orange, Virginia, United States
        Death: June 25, 1810 (78-86)
        Amherst, Virginia, United States (or 11/20/1808)
        Place of Burial: Orange co.,Virginie
        Immediate Family:
        Son of Captain Johann Rucker, Sr. and Susannah Rucker
        Husband of Elizabeth Rucker
        Father of Rev. James Rucker; Thomas Rucker; Lucy McDaniel; Mildred Head; Bennett Rucker and 3 others
        Brother of Reuben Rucker; Margaret Smith; John Rucker, Jr.; Sarah Marr; Colonel Ambrose Levi Rucker and 7 others

        About Benjamin Rucker
        A Patriot of the American Revolution for VIRGINIA with the rank of CAPTAIN. DAR Ancestor #: A099469

      • Citation:

        https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LZKS-QB5

      • Source text:

        Benjamin Rucker
        Birthdate: circa 1728 (82)
        Birthplace: Orange, Virginia, United States
        Death: June 25, 1810 (78-86)
        Amherst, Virginia, United States (or 11/20/1808)
        Place of Burial: Orange co.,Virginie
        Immediate Family:
        Son of Captain Johann Rucker, Sr. and Susannah Rucker
        Husband of Elizabeth Rucker
        Father of Rev. James Rucker; Thomas Rucker; Lucy McDaniel; Mildred Head; Bennett Rucker and 3 others
        Brother of Reuben Rucker; Margaret Smith; John Rucker, Jr.; Sarah Marr; Colonel Ambrose Levi Rucker and 7 others

        About Benjamin Rucker
        A Patriot of the American Revolution for VIRGINIA with the rank of CAPTAIN. DAR Ancestor #: A099469

      • Citation:

        https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LZKS-QB5

      • Source text:

        Benjamin Rucker
        Birthdate: circa 1728 (82)
        Birthplace: Orange, Virginia, United States
        Death: June 25, 1810 (78-86)
        Amherst, Virginia, United States (or 11/20/1808)
        Place of Burial: Orange co.,Virginie
        Immediate Family:
        Son of Captain Johann Rucker, Sr. and Susannah Rucker
        Husband of Elizabeth Rucker
        Father of Rev. James Rucker; Thomas Rucker; Lucy McDaniel; Mildred Head; Bennett Rucker and 3 others
        Brother of Reuben Rucker; Margaret Smith; John Rucker, Jr.; Sarah Marr; Colonel Ambrose Levi Rucker and 7 others

        About Benjamin Rucker
        A Patriot of the American Revolution for VIRGINIA with the rank of CAPTAIN. DAR Ancestor #: A099469

      • Citation:

        https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LZKS-QB5