Thankyou Carole - especially for the 1842 letter - the older the source, the more interesting it seems. My family tradition - Shiers who stayed in Ireland - has the story close to yours, except that for the "Lutheran" - we had it that most were "Protestant" of some type, not all Lutheran, and that they adjusted to Anglicanism and John Wesley. I remember being shown a newspaper cutting from the 19th C, or possibly 18th C, when I was little (45 years ago) that my parents showed me describing the journey by ship to England of some of the Palatines. Despite going through everything we have I can't find it ! Anyway, thanks for your contribution Richard Shier > ** Original Subject: [IP] To The IP List > ** Original Sender: Crsashmo@aol.com > ** Original Date: Fri, 21 May 2004 18:43:22 -0700 (PDT) > ** Original Message follows... > > I can't quite understand the response I got to my the email I submitted. I > thought I was writing to the IP list. When I was told that "we had that bit > information", I found myself want to ask who "we" are. > > I am talking about the small blurb I wrote about Barbara Ruckle Heck. > > I think everyone should be able to contribute what they can and nothing > should be dismissed as not important or necessary. We all should be able to say > what we want even if it is repeated. > > I know that I don't contribute much to the list but that doesn't mean that I > don't read the information that is submitted and appreciate a lot that I learn > from people. > > My ancestor is not Barbara Ruckle Heck but she was my fifth great aunt. My > ancestor, John Ruckle, my fifth great grandfather and direct descendant, was a > brother to Barbara Ruckle Heck. My sixth great grandfather was Sebastian > Ruckel and my seventh great grandfather was Casper Ruckel. > > I have a lot of fun doing genealogy. When I was able I spent week upon week > searching through German Church Records on microfische searching for the > elusive Casper Ruckel. I have found through the records that the name is still > spelled Ruckel in Germany. > > I have an extract from a letter written by my fourth great grandfather Thomas > Ruckle in 1839: > > "The manner of spelling our name Ruckle was changed by the schoolmaster in > Ireland, who was an Englishman- it was originally Ruckel as spelled in New York. > There are other branches of the family in Ireland who spell the name Ruttle; > viz. -the Ruttles of Rathkeal, County Limerick, Ireland. (copied June 1888 by > Ida Allison.) > > Another extract from a letter written by Thomas Ruckle dated 1842, to Aunt > Sue or Grandma Allison reads: > The Ruckle Family. > > About the year 1709, seven thousand Lutheran Protestants were driven > from their habitations on the banks of the Rhine, by the French under Louis XIV, > a Catholic Prince; Queen Anne, with the Duke of Marlboro, having espoused > their cause and conveyed them to London, fifty families were encouraged to settle > as freeholders on Lord Southwell's estate in Ireland, with a view to > strengthen the Protestant interest in that country. > Your great-great-grandfather, Casper Ruckle, then aged about fifty, with > his wife, three sons and four daughters, were of this small colony. > Each man, woman, and child had a lot of eight acres, at five shillings > per acre for ninety-nine years. The Queen agreed to pay this rent for 21 years. > The colony in the heart of Ireland, married and intermarried among > themselves to the third and fourth generation.. They were Protestants, and members of > the Episcopal Church. Your father, grandfathers, and grandmothers on both > sides, aswell as my own, and all the Ruckles I ever saw, are the descendants of > this colony. > Prior to the year 1766, Philip Embury, his wife, Paul Hick, his wife, > and family, with a few more Dutch (rather German) Irish emigrants, arrived in > New York in hopes to better their fortunes in this country. Aunt Barbara Hicks, > alluded to above, was the old lady who threw the cards in the fire and > induced Mr. Embury to preach in New York, was my fathers sister, and one of the five > which formed the first chapter of Methodist Society in America. I could say > a great deal more, was it requisite, and flatter myself there is not a man of > the name now living, can give a more satisfactory information on this subject > than your friend and humble servant. > I can trace our family generations from the present through the various > branches down to the year 1660. > It's getting late, Imust close, farewell, > (Signed) Thos. Ruckle. > Baltimore. 1842. > > I may have written a copy of the above extracts years ago when the list was > first formed but I think it was worth repeating in case some of the newer > members haven't went far back into the archives. > > My 4th. great grandfather Thomas Ruckle also was an amateur artist. He drew > Ruckle Family Tree in 1835 that has survived and is owned by a Ruckle > descendant. > > The Ruckle/Ruckel/Ruttle line has been documented extensively but there is > still so very much more to learn. I try to document every piece of information > I find and include the sources. I have found that people doing genealogy all > over the world are some of the nicest and most helpful people. I have truly > made some very good friendships over the years. > > To my knowledge my husband is not related to Donald Richardson in Kingston. > But we have only went back on his lineage to the 1700's. Who knows his > ancestors might have came from Canada. By some strange coincidence his third great > grandfather's name was Canada Richardson. His name might be a clue!!!!! > > Good luck to everyone in their searches and I will try to contribute more in > the future when I can. > > Carole > > > P. S. I will send another email including the information for the Methodist > Meeting shortly > > > > > > > > > > ==== IRL-PALATINE Mailing List ==== > The greatest influence in your life, stronger even than your will power, > Is your environment. Change that, if necessary. Paramahansa Yogananda >** --------- End Original Message ----------- ** >