Ruhama (Nichols) Green (1769 - 1842)

Born 25 Oct 1769 in Jefferson Co., Virginia [uncertain]

Wife of Charles Bilderback — married about 1785 in Jefferson, Virginia Colony [uncertain]

Wife of John Green — married 15 Feb 1791 in Ohio County, Virginia

Descendants

Died 25 Sep 1842 at age 72 in Fairfield, Ohio, USA

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Biography

BIOGRAPHY OF RUHAMA NICHOLS BILDERBACK GREEN
Ruhama Nichols was born October 25, 1769 in Jefferson County Virginia. It is unclear whether she meant the present Jefferson County which wasn't formed until 1803 or another area of Virginia. To date we have not been able to locate Ruhama's parents. We do know that sometime during 1785, Ruhama married Charles Bilderback, a man who was 19 years her senior. She probably married him either in Washington County, Pennsylvania where Charles owned property or in Ohio County, Virginia (now West Virginia) where he made his final home. On August 5, 1788 Charles and Ruhamey Bilderback sold property abutting Moses Decker and the widow Van Metre to Ephriam and Lidey (Lydia) Bilderback. Ephriam and Lidey sold this land on May 2, 1791 to Charles and Asa Teale. Charles also sold land on Chartiers Creek, Washington Co., Pennsylvania to his father and mother (Ephriam and Lidey) on December 17, 1785 - since Ruhama's permission was not required, it is assumed that they were not yet married. Charles and Ruhama's son was supposed to be about 2 years old in June of 1789 (at the time of his father's death), therefore, Charles and Ruhama must have been married shortly after he deeded the Chartier's Creek property to his parents.
Many interesting stories about Ruhama have been written - her first husband was killed by Indians, in retribution for his own part in the slaughter of innocent Moravian Indians, and she was held captive for a period of time, from three months up to one year, reports vary. She was kidnapped in June 1789 and ransomed 9 months later which would have been March 1790. Ruhama married John Green February of 1791.
After Ruhama married Mr. John Green, in 1798, they emigrated to the Hockhocking Valley, and settled about three miles west of Lancaster, where she gave birth to the first white male child in Fairfield county, and where she continued to reside until the time of her death.
The Green Family Bible record shows that John and Rhuhama Green had three children born prior to 1798 - the year of their migration from Berkeley County, Virginia to Fairfield County, Ohio; and five children were born following the date of their arrival in Fairfield. Their first child, born after they came to Fairfield was named John Green, Jr., and the date of his birth was March 9, 1799. John Jr. grew to manhood on the farm three miles west of Lancaster and with his two brothers was executor of his father's will.
Ruhama died on September 25, 1842 after a short illness, at her home along Hunter's Run at the base of Beck's Knob. Here she was buried along with her beloved husband John. Although tombstones were purchased, they no longer exist. She lived a good long life, suffered hardships and shared many joys.

Excerpts from "From "Frank L.M. Wolford & Laura May Green, Their Ancestors & Descendants" Compiled by Loraine Russell Kerns & Alma Wolford Russell 2004.

The eight children of Ruhama Nichols Bilderback Green:

1. Ephraim Bilderback 1786
2. Martha (Bilderback) Green 1789
3. Sarah (Green) Green 1792
4. Deborah (Green) Williamson 1794
5. William Green 1797
6. John Green, Jr. 1799
7. Delilah (Green) Green 1804
8. Susan (Green) Green 1806
9. Rhoda (Green) Sprague 1808
10. Reginald Green 1811

Sources

• Hanaford, Mary Elisabeth Neal. Family Records of Branches of the Hanaford, Thompson, Huckins, ... and Allied Families (Rockford, Ill., 1915) Page 269-72

Last Will and Testament of RUHAMA NICHOLS BILDERBACK GREEN - 1840
In the name of God, Amen. I, Ruhama Green of Fairfield County in the State of Ohio, being in perfect health of body and of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding, considering the uncertainty of life, do make and publish this my last will and testament in the manner following, that is to say: First, my will is that the expense of my last sickness and funeral to be paid first; Second, all just debts by me owing at the time of my death; Third, I direct that all my movable property be sold and the money equally divided between my own daughter, the first Martha Green wife of William Green, 2nd, to the Debbe (Deborah) Williamson, wife of John Williamson, 3rd, to Deliah Green, wife of Jacob Green, 4th to Rhoda Sprag, wife of Nehemiah Sprag. My will is that the land I now live on, deeded to me by Jacob Beck containing fifty acres of land be sold at public sale to the best advantage and that the money be equally divided between my ten grandchildren which I shall now name and none others, viz; Not to be paid until it comes of age. That is, 1st to Ruhama Williamson, daughter to old William Green, 2nd to her husband, Abraham Williamson, 3rd to Smythe Green, Allen Green's wife, 4th to John Bilderback, E. Bilderback's son, 5th to Rhoda Green, daughter of Susan Green, 6th to Thomas Green, son of my son William Green, 7th Calvin Sprag, son of my daughter Rhoda Sprag, 8th to Ruhama Green, daughter to Deliah Green, Jacob Green's wife, 9th to David Green, son of Allen Green, 10th to Van Green, son of Rignal Green. And whereas, I hold a mortgage deed on my son William Green's land in Hocking County, my will is if said mortgage is not reduced in my lifetime, I give the said land to his son John Green, to be his own property, but he is to let his said father live on it until he gets his family raised. Lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint Jacob Beck of the county and state aforesaid to be the executor of this my last will and testament, reasking and annulling all former wills by me made. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this 22nd day of September, in the year of our Lord 1840.
Ruhama Green (X) her mark.
From Genealogy Park http://www.tissiers.com/Wills/greenruhama.html

See also:

• A Branch of the Green Tree by Robert M. Green

Gateway Press. 1978. 835 pages + 66 page index. No known digital version online. Hardcover copies are available through the Licking County Genealogical Society http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohlcgs2/lcgspub.htm (includes list of corrections for known errors)

"A Branch from The Green Tree" Compiled by Robert M. Green

• Frank L.M. Wolford & Laura May Green, Their Ancestors & Descendants

Compiled by Loraine Russell Kerns & Alma Wolford Russell 2004 One known digital version online is available at http://dennis-william-butt.com/. On his web site are also smaller individual pdf files broken out by families. The complete book is also available in pdf file from the author on CD or by email. 562 pages.

Title page of "Frank L.M. Wolford & Laura May Green, Their Ancestors & Descendants"