Stephen A. Ruddell (1768 - 1845)

Born 19 Sep 1768 in Frederick County, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Susannah C. (David) Ruddell — married 6 Jul 1808 in Bourbon Co., KY

Descendants

Died 12 Oct 1845 at age 77 in Ursa Township, Adams County, Illinois, USA

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Biography

He was born on 19 Sep 1768 in Frederick County, Virginia and was the son of Elisabeth (Bowman, 1735–1815) and Isaac Ruddell (1732–1812).

Stephen A. Ruddell first married on 02 Aug 1797 in Bourbon County, Kentucky, USA to Catherine Kingery.

Stephen A. Ruddell married secondly on 06 Jul 1808 in Bourbon County, Kentucky, USA to Susanna(h) David ^[1] (1780–1831).

He was ordained in 1810.

Rev. Stephen Ruddell was one of the early settlers of Adams County, Illinois, USA. About 1829 he that founded the Ursa Christian Church there.

Stephen A. Ruddell married thirdly married on 06 April 1834 to Rachel (Nightsmith or Highsmith) Wood(s) (1797–1871). ^{[2] [3]}

He died on 12 Oct 1845 and was buried on the family farm in Ursa Township, Adams County, Illinois, USA.

A Memorial grave marker was placed at New Providence Cemetery (near Ursa) in Ursa Township, Adams County, Illinois, USA - just NE of the McAdams Family Vault in the old part of the cemetery. ^[4]

One of his sons was an Officer in Company B, 78th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry during the American Civil War.

Children

1. a) Abram Ruddell, b: 1798
2. a) Isaac Ruddell, b: 1801
3. a) Rebecca, b: 1802
4. a) Paul Ruddell, b: 1805
5. a) Sarah Elizabeth (Ruddell) Crawford 1807–1872
6. b) John Mulherin Ruddell 1812–1896
7. b) Catherine (Ruddell) Nichols 1814–1886
8. b) Stephen Duley Ruddell 1816–1891
9. b) William David Ruddell, b 1817.
10. c) Susannah (Ruddell) Grimes 1834–1900
11. c) Amanda Van (Ruddell) Groves 1837–1892
12. c) Abigail Highsmith Ruddell, b 1838
13. c) Mary Elizabeth (Ruddell) Jordan 1840–1903.

Research Notes

Many have researched his lineage and not all agree on some details.

Surname also seen as Ruddle at times.

Parents had a mill and fort in Bourbon County, Kentucky, one place cited as birthplace for Rev. Ruddell.

Sources vary on his birth date and place. Some say Virginia and some say Kentucky. Some specify a county. Each is a reliable source, and each differs.

His own memoir states he was "born about 1771 to pioneer settlers, on the western frontier where Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky border one another." Parts of Virginia later *became* Kentucky.

Sources

1. ↑ Kentucky Compiled Marriages 1802-1850
2. ↑ Missouri Marriage Records 1805-2002 with officiator: A. Gordon, Justice of the Peace; original handwritten ledger does not say Miss or Mrs. - just Rachel Woods
3. ↑ Missouri Compiled Marriages 1754-1850
4. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #19154551 for Rev. Stephen Ruddell, b: 1768 Kentucky, USA; d: 17 Oct 1845 Ursa, Adams County, Illinois, USA; buried: New Providence Cemetery, Ursa Township, Adams County, Illinois, USA; with photo of Memorial grave marker which states that he and wife#2, Susan David, were both buried on the family farm in Ursa Township (Susan in 1831 and Steven in 1845). There is an inscription on the back of the memorial marker at New Providence that reads ...

   "Stephen was captured by Indians at age 12 during the Revolutionary War when Ruddell's Station in Kentucky was attacked by the British under Capt. Bird. While a captive, he was adopted by the Indians, he had all white blood washed out and was made a Warrior. He married a squaw and returned to Kentucky. After the Treaty, he was ordained a Minister of the Gospel in 1810 and founded the Ursa Christian Church".

• Ancestral File #531S-KP compiled by Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as of 1998; Family History Library

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Ruddell-41 was created on 14 Sep 2010 through the import of 124-DeCoursey.ged

• WikiTree profiles Ruddle-13 & Ruddell-110 were created on 10 Jul 2011 by Marilyn Cardwell through the import of MarilynCardwellGedcomJuly2011.ged