The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
Author: James Edward Mitchell
Angus Rucker was born in 1752 at Virginia (VA) Colony’s Culpeper County (Co.).* His parents were inventory and real estate appraiser, Ephraim Rucker [(1722-1796) Ancestor# P-282627] and Margaret Vawter (1724-1811) a daughter of John Vawter (1691-1752) a native of Spotsylvania (Spots) Co.* Ephraim’s neighbors in Culpeper County during Jan 1764 appear identified as James Barbour, Junr, Ancestor# P-108572; (Johann) Adam Gaar, P-333932; James Rucker, P-282632; Elliott Bohannon, P-117153; and, William Walker; source, An 18th Century Perspective: Culpeper County: A (separate) Appendix, Errata and Addenda, 1977 publ. by the Culpeper Historical Society, Inc., 1976, pg 86.
After Ephraim’s death, his inventory appears on record at the Courthouse located on Main Street in Madison Co.*, VA. Note to reader: Ephraim is a son of Peter (Rucker) the Émigré born during 1661 in the (1700) Holy Roman Empire, Kingdom of Bavaria. Peter is attributed as the founder of “Friendly Acres” at Rippin’s Run, Ruckersville, VA; source, http://www.markerhistory.com/ruckersville-marker-d-11/
Approximately at age 17, Angus married 1st Jane Allen (1750-1836) logically related to the allied Vincent Allen family of St. Marks Parish, Culpeper Co, a Wit.: Vincent Allen, et al in Will of Jacob Mitchell of Culpeper Co, dated 24 Jan 1777. Proven 18 Aug 1777; Legatees: Wife, Leah Mitchell and (Mitchell) children, including Cathy (Catherine) Allen. This union produced a daughter, Catherine Rucker born 27 Oct 1786 in *Culpeper Co. formed as Madison, 1792. Angus’ dau. Catherine married [William Early (1773-1839) son of Joseph Early, Sr.] at Madison Co., on 2 Feb 1804.
On 24 Aug 1806 at *Madison Co., Angus married 2nd Mary Susanna Graves b. 1758 a dau. of Thomas Graves and Sarah Delaney buried at their family tract now, Wolftown, Madison, VA. Angus Rucker, age 84, died at his farm home during 1836. On 19 May 2001, at Wolftown, VA, the Culpeper Minute Men Chapter SAR held a public grave marking ceremony to dedicate an upright SAR Bronze Lug at the slab of Captain Angus Rucker’s last resting site. Chapter Pres., Michael Lyman presented a small 13 Star American Flag to a direct descendant who attended the wreath laying in recognition of Captain Rucker’s Revolutionary War service; source, http://www.cmmsar.com/graves.html
Revolutionary War Service: Lieutenant Angus Rucker, age 25 was commissioned on 24 Jun 1777 in Captain Nicholas’ company, Colonel George Gibson’s 1st (VA) Rgt. of BrigGen’l. Peter Muhlenberg’s 1st (VA) Bgde.
Angus’ brother, Elliot Rucker, age 27, was a company Captain within the same 1st (VA) Rgt., commanded by BrigGen’l. Muhlenberg at the battle of Germantown, Pennsylvania (PA) when the American Continental army, Cmdr–in–Chief Gen’l. George Washington ordered a maneuvering attack on 4 Oct 1777 against 9,000 British troops led by Gen’l. William Howe. After Germantown, Angus Rucker’s company, Rgt., and Bgde. were marched to the nearby hills at Whitemarsh Twp. , north of Philadelphia, where they skirmished against Howe’s troops between 6-8 Dec. The Bgde continued marching to over winter at Valley Forge, PA on 19 Dec 1777 after crossing the Schuylkill River.
For six months, from Dec 1777 to June 1778, his Rgt. at Valley Forge, PA would be retrained, drilled and made ‘fighting’ ready by MajGen’l. Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben; source, Philadelphia 1777, Taking the capital by Osprey Publ. Ltd., Midland House, Oxford, Great Britain, 2007, see: Orders of Battle –American Forces, 1st Division (Major Gen’l. Nathanael Greene); 1st (VA) Bgde led by (BrigGen’l. Muhlenberg) 1st, 5th, 9th & 13th (VA) Rgts., pg 24.
On 3 Jul 1779, Angus Rucker was elevated in rank to company Captain and he continued in active service attached to the 1st (VA) Rgt. until the year 1780. Angus and many officers returned to Culpeper County, due to many officers, assigned to the Main Continental army. Angus received half–pay and eventually, was granted a pension -Angus Rucker S.19068 after 1831; source, http://revwarapps.org/s19068.pdf
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