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.
State of Service: PA
Qualifying Service: Private / Patriotic Service
Author: Robert L. Knott Jr
Simon Peter Ruth was born in Springfield Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania in 1748. His father, Johann Georg Ruth, was born in Oberalben, Germany, part of the Palatinate, and immigrated to the New World in 1741, landing in Philadelphia. Johann moved north into Bucks County shortly after his arrival.
The area around Oberalben, including the municipalities of Kusel and Ulmet, was the home of quite a few immigrants who traveled to Pennsylvania in the early 1700s as part of the Pennsylvania German immigration. Many of the immigrants from this area also settled in Bucks County. When I was in the Air Force I spent a good deal of temporary duty (TDY) at nearby Ramstein Air Base. During one of those trips I had the pleasure of visiting Oberalben and several other villages in which some of my ancestors lived.
One interesting fact about Oberalben is that it is the home of the Emigrants Museum which documents families that left this village and emigrated to Pennsylvania. Among those emigrants that the museum touts are the ancestors of George Herman “Babe” Ruth. The bottom line to all this is that I’m a distant cousin of Babe Ruth, although I don’t know the exact relationship.
As I said, Johann Georg Ruth settled in Bucks County where my patriot ancestor was born and raised. Other descendants of Johann Georg moved west into Berks and Lancaster Counties, with some ultimately moving into Maryland (Babe Ruth’s branch).
Returning to my patriot line, Simon Peter Ruth served as a Private in the Bucks County Militia, as did several of my other ancestors, many of whom are related by marriage, including my Frederick ancestors, two of whom were in the Revolution. He died in 1838 and is buried in the Union Church Cemetery in Springfield Township. His son, John George Ruth, served in the War of 1812, as did another Frederick ancestor of mine. Patriotic service seems to be the common denominator of many of my Bucks County forbears, a fact which makes my very proud.
"....Peter was enrolled with the Springfield Company of Associators (Revolutionary War Volunteers) on Aug. 21, 1775. He was a private in Capt. Christopher Wigner's company of militia in 1781. He was assessed as a taxable in Springfield Twp., in 1779; in 1784 he was rated for 100 acres, 2 dwellings, 2 outhouses and 7 members in his family. On Aug. 4, 1791, he purchased from John Barclay, 109 acres and 88 perches for L 100, on which he and his family were already residing. This homestead was located along the public road leading from Bursonville to Cressman's Mill, about a mile from the former place.
"This is along the Northern edge of the trap rock region. On May 10, 1833, Mary Ruth, widow, renounced right of administering the Estate of her deceased husband in favor of her son, Samuel Ruth and Jonas Cressman. Instead of signing her name, she affixed her "mark," an "X" a very common custom for those who were unschooled or unable because of age or ill health. These administrators sold of the estate, 102 acres and 50 perches to Anthony Amey and wife Hannah, inn-keeper, of Rockhill Twp., of which Amey on the same date(Apr. 4, 1834) sold 60 acres and 43 perches to Abraham Gehman. On Apr. 19, 1834, the administrators conveyed 10 acres and 145 perches to Joseph Ruth and wife Sarah. This was evidently later the property of Ephraim Beidleman. There were 11 children."
! All quotes from Ruth Genealogy, Vol. 2, The Ruth Families, compiled by Warren R. Kriebel, 1981.
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