Col. Ambrose Rucker

A Patriot of the American Revolution for VIRGINIA with the rank of LIEUTENANT COLONEL. DAR Ancestor # A099452

http://sarsat.org/HistoricalAccounts/patriotbiographies/ambroseruck...

A Biography of Ambrose Rucker

A Biographical Sketch of Lt. Col. Ambrose Rucker (Ancestor of Col. Joseph M. Ware, San Antonio Chapter)

Colonel Joseph M. Ware is a direct descendent of Ambrose Rucker, a Member of the Committee of Safety; Virginia House of Delegates; Committee on Propositions and Grievances; Lt. Col. Battalion Cmdr, Va. Militia.

Ambrose Rucker was born about 1725 in Orange County , Virginia, one of the twelve children of John Rucker and Susannah Coghill. On the death of his father in 1742, he inherited approximately 5000 acres in Albermarle County and around 1760 he took up residence in that part that became Amherst County the following year. He was then appointed Lt in the Virginia Militia. He was a substantial citizen of the county and when relations with England worsened, was appointed to the Committee of Safety and to the Virginia House of Delegates.

When the War broke out he was appointed Captain of Militia. His company guarded some of the thousands of British and Hessian prisoners from Saratoga that were held at Albermarle Barracks. Later he was promoted to Lt Col and commanded a battalion. In 17xx, while attending the House of Delegates meeting in Charlottesville, he narrowly escaped capture by the infamous Tarleton and his Dragoons. Ambrose, although he was 6' 6" and weighed 303 pounds, outran his pursuers while mounted on his sturdy hunter .

Ambrose could have been said to had a "good war" but it was marred by the loss of his oldest son, Reuben, killed in action in the last year of the war. Daughter Rosamund was a girl of three when she lost her father. Ambrose died in 1807.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=115365396

Birth: Jan. 20, 1724 Norfolk City Virginia, USA Death: Dec. 14, 1807 Amherst County Virginia, USA

• *************************************** Ambrose Rucker was the son of— John Rucker (1680-1742) [s/o Peter Rucker and Elizabeth Rucker] and Susannah Phillips (1684-1742) [d/o William Phillips and Susannah Williams Phillips]

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Ambrose Rucker was husband of— Mary Tinsley Rucker (1738 – 1806) {d/o of -- Edward Tinsley (1700-1782) [s/o Thomas Tinsley and Sarah Jackson Tinsley] and Margaret Tinsley (1705-1782)}

Children of Colonel Ambrose Rucker and Mary Tinsley Rucker (list is work in progress)— (all children born in Amherst County, Virginia)

Reuben Rucker (m. Margaret McDaniel) Margaret "Peggy" Rucker (m. John McDaniel) Mary Tinsley "Molly" Rucker (m. James Burford) Charlotte Rucker Frances "Frankey" Rucker (m. John Lee) Ambrose Rucker Jr. (m. Margaret McDaniel) (m. Elizabeth Lucas) Winifred Rucker (M. Benjamin Plunkett) Isaac Rucker (m. Mary Higinbotham) (m. Mary Ann Christian) (m. Mary Wingfield) Elizabeth "Betty" Rucker (m. James Marr) Sophia Rucker (m. Robert Paschal Jennings) Caroline Rucker (m. John Hansford) Matilda Rucker (m. Alexander Marr) Sarah Sally Rucker (m. John Marr) Benjamin Rucker (m. Sally Harris)

Residences and Occupations--

By 1751, Cololnel Ambrose Rucker founded Rucker's Chapel in Amherst County, Virigina. It was one of the first Anglican (present-day Episcopal) churches in Amherst County. It was also known as Harris Creek Church and later known as Saint Matthew's Church. It stood on a part of a 5850 acre tract his father John Rucker, patented in 1745. The Church served its congregation until 1817, when the members moved to Ascension Church in Amherst.

By 1781, he owned (patented) thousands of acres of land in Virginia and Kentucky.

Colonel Ambrose Rucker and his Family were close friends with Virginia Governor Thomas Jefferson (later President of the USA).

In 1821, (after the death of Colonel Ambrose Rucker), Patrick Henry represented Rucker Family's interests in a legal dispute with the Rucker's neighbor, and Thomas Jefferson testified in the suit to prove the legal dispute in favor of the Rucker Family.

Military and Public Service--

He served as a Captain in the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War. In 1766, he received a commission as Lieutenant in Amherst County Militia Company. In 1766, he was appointed and served as Justice of the Peace in Amherst County, Virginia. In 1778, he was appointed and served as Sheriff of Amherst County. In 1781 - 1782, he served in the Virginia Legislature House of Delegates during the Revolutionary War representing Amherst County.

In 1791, he was active in the process to establish the Warminster Academy in Amherst County, Virginia. Colonel Ambrose Rucker was appointed one of the first trustees of this Academy. (Source: "The Beginnings of Public Education in Virginia", 1776-1860: Study of Secondary Schools in Relation to the State Literary Fund, Volume 187, page 123)

Last Will and Testament--

The Will of Col Ambrose Rucker was written, signed, and sealed on 3 Dec 1803; and after his death it was probated on 21 Dec 1807. His personal and real wealth was considerable. The Will left proportions to his wife, children, grandchildren, other family members, and their heirs forever. Some of the property included: money (in British pounds and shillings), furniture, livestock, buildings, farm equipment, land, and negro slaves.

The Will allocated some of his land for a family cemetery-- "It is to be observed that I reserve half an acre for a grave yard is now fixed to belong to my Family forever..."

(Source: Amherst County, Virginia, Will Book 4, pg 479)

Death and Burial--

Colonel Ambrose passed away after reaching age 84 years. He was about 6 feet 6 inches in height and his weight was about 300 pounds. He was a pioneer in Virginia who left a legacy to his Family and descendants and blazed a path in the History of the USA.

Sources--

"The Rucker Family Genealogy with their ancestors, descendants, and connections", compiled by Sudie Rucker Wood from original records, letters, and other material collected over a period of thirty years.", published 1932 by Old Dominion Press, Inc., in Richmond, Virginia.

GEDCOM Source

@R-2141244835@ U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Ancestry.com Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.Original data - Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls 1,2204::0

GEDCOM Source

http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=sarmemberapps&h=528816&ti=0&i... Birth date: 1730 Birth place: Orange Death date: 21 Dec 1807 Death place: Amherst Residence date: Residence place: United States 1,2204::528816

GEDCOM Source

@R-2141244835@ U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Ancestry.com Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.Original data - Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls 1,2204::0

GEDCOM Source

http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=sarmemberapps&h=423395&ti=0&i... Birth date: Birth place: Amherst, Virginia Residence date: Residence place: United States 1,2204::423395

GEDCOM Source

@R-2141244835@ U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Ancestry.com Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.Original data - Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls 1,2204::0

GEDCOM Source

http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=sarmemberapps&h=528816&ti=0&i... Birth date: 1730 Birth place: Orange Death date: 21 Dec 1807 Death place: Amherst Residence date: Residence place: United States 1,2204::528816

GEDCOM Source

@R-2141244835@ U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Ancestry.com Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.Original data - Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls 1,2204::0

GEDCOM Source

http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=sarmemberapps&h=423395&ti=0&i... Birth date: Birth place: Amherst, Virginia Residence date: Residence place: United States 1,2204::423395

GEDCOM Source

@R-2141244835@ U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Ancestry.com Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.Original data - Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls 1,2204::0

GEDCOM Source

http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=sarmemberapps&h=423395&ti=0&i... Birth date: Birth place: Amherst, Virginia Residence date: Residence place: United States 1,2204::423395

GEDCOM Source

@R-2141244835@ U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Ancestry.com Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.Original data - Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls 1,2204::0

GEDCOM Source

http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=sarmemberapps&h=528816&ti=0&i... Birth date: 1730 Birth place: Orange Death date: 21 Dec 1807 Death place: Amherst Residence date: Residence place: United States 1,2204::528816

GEDCOM Source

@R-2141244835@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created.

GEDCOM Source

Ancestry Family Trees http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=24158011&pid...

GEDCOM Source

@R-2141244835@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created.

GEDCOM Source

Ancestry Family Trees http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=24158011&pid...