Hans George Ruch, Sr.

Hans George was born in Zutzendorf, a small village in the European Northern Alsace (now known as Zutzendorf, Bas-Rhin, France), on December 29, 1682. This information was recently (1999) found, and thus verified, by Luise Green. It is on LDS microfilm as part of an old record of the Zutzendorf Church. The same record indicates he was truly the son of Melchoir RUCH .

Other old records show that on November 13, 1704 in Uhrwiller, of the Northern Alsace, he married Catharina BURKHARD. Catharina BURKHARD was born probably about 1685-1690. She is the daughter of Johann BURKHARD.

In 1707, somewhere still in the Northern Alsace, he married Catharina REISS. Catharina REISS was born in the Northern Alsace about 1687. She was the daughter of Balthaar REISS.

George brought his wife (Catharine) and family to America by way of Rotterdam Holland and the British merchant ship "Samuel", arriving in Philadelphia at age 48 on 17 Aug 1733. (This age record tends to disagree slightly with the old Zutzendorf Church record and indicates he was born about 1685).

On arrival in the colonies all "foreigners" (they were Germans in an English colony) were required to report immediately to the local courthouse at the port of entry to take an oath of allegiance to the British Crown. This courthouse, (in the case of our Ruch family) is thought to have been the very Philadelphia courthouse where the Liberty Bell once hung and where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were drafted. It is now known as "Independence Hall". [this may be incorrect. The State House, aka Independence Hall, was built between 1732 and 1753, so it would not have been in use as a courthouse in 1733. Hans Georg's son Michael did take his oath at that building many years later as an adult, so perhaps this part of the story is a little confused.]

Hans George and his family settled in America in Whitehall Township, an area that is now just north of the town of Allentown in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.

Wife Catharina died not long after her arrival in America (probably about 1733-34).

About 1734, in Northampton County Pennsylvania, he married Susanna.

On July 28, 1741 his third wife Susanna appeared on the baptismal record of Frederick Traxel at the Egypt Reformed Church of Northampton County Pennsylvania.

He and Susanna attended the Jordan Lutheran Church which today still stands as a much newer structure, but still upon its original site at what is now Walberts, Pennsylvania.

Hans George died in 1769 and was buried at the Cemetery associated with this church.

His tombstone still existed as late as 1939. A photograph of it is in the published history of Jordan Lutheran Church.

During a 1992 visit to the church and its cemetery a thorough search was made for the stone. As can be seen, it had a very distinctive shape. But it could not be located. It had apparently finally succumbed to the long passage of time.

There has been a controversy surrounding the photographed inscription in German on the tombstone. As can be seen, it clearly gives his death date as 1769 and mentions that he died at 104 years of age.

The ship passenger records which give his age at the time of his arrival in Philadelphia (age 48 in 1733) as well as the old Zuztendorf Church birth - baptism record dates have convinced this compiler that the tombstone (for some peculiar reason) was inscribed in error and that George would have actually been 84 years old at the time of his death in 1769, not 104.

-- Phil Knox

"Jorg Ruch's wife Katharine, and mother of Michael Rugh was born in 1687 presumably in Germany. She died in 1735 soon after their arrival in America. They arrived with a family aboard the ship "Samuel" on August 17, 1733, port of Philadelphia. Their names can be found in the passenger list in "Pennsylvania German Pioneers" Vol I, by Strassburger and Henke" -- R. C. Worley

Strassburger & Hinke Vol 1 p 106-108: List 29 A, Passengers imported in the Ship Samuel, Hugh Percy, Master, from Rotterdam. Qualified Aug. 17, 1733.

Jerick Rouk, Senr. 48
Catharina Rouk 46
Jerick Rouk, Junr. 24
Hans Jacob Rouk 17
Michael Rouk 10
Maria Eve Rouk 8

"At the Courthouse of Philadelphia, August 17, 1733. Ninety Palatines, who with their Families, making in all Two hundred and ninety one Persons, were imported here in the Ship Samuel of London, Hugh Percy, Master, from Rotterdam, but last from Deal, as by Clearance thence." From the Minutes of the Provincial Council, printed in Colonial Records, Vol. III, p. 515.

Strassburger & Hinke Vol 1 p 110: List 29 B, Palatines imported in the Ship Samuel, of London, Hugh Percy, Master, from Rotterdam, but last from Deal, as p. clearance thence. Qualified Augt. 17th 1733.

Hen Seire (HR) Rook
Hanns Gerg Ruch
Hans Jacob (O) Ruch

Strassburger & Hinke Vol 1 p 111: List 29 C, At the Courtho of Philadelphia, Aug. 17th 1733... The Palatines whose Names are underwritten, being imported in the Ship Samuel, Hugh Percy, Master, from Rotterdam, but last from Deal, did this day take and subscribe the Oaths to the Governement, viz.

Hans Jurg (H) Ruck
Hans Gerg Ruch
Hans Jacob (O) Ruch

Sources
http://home.earthlink.net/~pknox/hansgeo.html (DEAD LINK)
https://web.archive.org/web/20161210165719/http://home.earthlink.ne...
LDS microfilm #1069495, Kirchenbuch, 1653-1819, Evangelische Kirche Zutzendorf https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/303356?availability=Family%...
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=131925535
Look Behind Your Mirror, Some Descendants of Michael Rugh, by Ramona Cameron (Mrs Donald W.) Worley, printed 1976 by The Printery, 733 St. Louis Rd., Collinsville Ill. 62234
Ruch-95 was created by Nichole Martinez through the import of Young Family Tree.ged on May 2, 2014.
Source: S-1328845888 Repository: #R-1555524849 Title: Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Note: 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. Page: Ancestry Family Tree Data: Text: http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=42835253&pid...
Repository: R-1555524849 Name: Ancestry.com Address: http://www.Ancestry.com Note:
Pennsylvania German Pioneers, by Strassburger and Hinke

Hans George and his second wife, Catharina had the following children:

1. Hans George Jr.
2. Hans Jacob
3. Michael Sr.
4. Marie Eve

Hans George and third wife Susanna had the following children:

1. Catherine was born in Whitehall Township, Northampton County (Now Lehigh County), Pennsylvania about 1735.
2. Conrad was born in Whitehall Township, Northampton County (Now Lehigh County), Pennsylvania about 1737. Conrad is thought to have moved to Western Pennsylvania in adulthood. Probably to the Indiana County area.
3. Anna was born in Whitehall Township, Northampton County (Now Lehigh County), Pennsylvania about 1738.
4. Mary was born in Whitehall Township, Northampton County (Now Lehigh County), Pennsylvania about 1739.
5. John (Johannes) Sr. was born on (October or December) 7, 1740.
6. Lorentz (Laurence) (1744-aft 1828)
7. Peter

https://web.archive.org/web/20161210165719/http://home.earthlink.ne...