Hello Sackett Searchers: Yes, I'm back home after spending Christmas with my 94 year old father-in-law. In the genealogy library at genealogy.com I found what appears to be another error in Weygant's information. For 310-Hannah Sackett he has her husband as John Reynolds (page 66). In "Loyalists of the American Revolution," Volume II, American Loyalists (Laforey-Zubly), Page 246; Ruggles, John. Of Hardwick, Massachusetts. Son of General Timothy Ruggles. In 1778 he was proscribed and banished. He settled in Nova Scotia, and died there. His widow, Hannah, only daughter of Dr. Thomas Sackett, of New York, died at Wilmot, Nova Scotia, in 1839, aged seventy-six. His only son, Captain Timothy Amherst Ruggles, of the Nova Scotian Fencibles, died at the same place in 1838, at the age of fifty-six. Three daughters were alive in 1839. ------------------------ Page 250 John Ruggles fled from his home at Hardwick (where he had twelve deer in the park of his father's property) to Boston, in April, 1775, and was appointed a lieutenant in one of the companies of the Loyal Associated Volunteers until the evacuation of the town by the British. Subsequently he served as a volunteer in Edward Winslow's corps in Rhode Island. Mentioned in his memorial as witnesses at Annapolis, Nova Scotia, are his wife Hannah Ruggles [daughter of Dr. Thomas Sackett, of New York] and Phebe Sackett [doubtless his niece]. Joseph Ruggles, formerly of Hardwick, and Israel Conkey, of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, are also men- Page 251 tioned. His claim is endorsed rejected, March 6, 1786. (A.O. 13/51; A.O. 12/10, ff. 345-9) He was the son of Timothy Ruggles (q.v.) and died in Nova Scotia, in 1795. (Stark, op. cit., p. 229) The information for the father of John Ruggles is as follows: Brigadier General Timothy Ruggles was Colonel of the first Provincial Regiment of two battalions and commander-in-chief of all troops of Massachusetts throughout the war with France in North America from 1755 to 1765, and took the French General, Dieskau, prisoner. For his services he was granted 1,500 acres of land by the General Court, a gift which was only to be confiscated by the State of Massachusetts at the Revolution.* At the end of this war he was chosen Speaker of the House of Representatives. General Sir Jeffery Amherst wrote of him to Governor Pownall from Crown Point, November 19, 1759, that he had on every occasion during the campaign done everything that he could for the good of the service and that he was "a zealous, diligent, and good man, and I should not do him justice if I did not mention him to you as such." Ruggles was appointed with Otis and two others a representative of Massachusetts at the Stamp Act Congress at New York and distinguished himself by his zeal an fidelity in supporting the dignity of the Crown and the just rights of Parliament. On returning home he was reprimanded byh the House of Representatives for his unfaithful discharge of his duty at this Congress, and in reply he requested leave to publishe his reasons for his conduct, a leave which was at first granted but was afterwards refused. The worthy Ruggles, however, published his reasons at his own expense and risk and he maintains that the puglication quieted people in general, though many of the more violent people remained his political enemies, and visited him with their resentment and persecution. Yet his polularity was still so great that he was re-elected to the House of Assembly. As a reward for his fidelity to the Crown at the Stamp Act Congress he was appointed an Inspector of unclaimed lands in New Hamshire. (A.O. 13/75; A.O. 12/10, ff 76-84, 330-5.) Sir John Wentworth, formerly Governor of New Hampshire, afterwards Governor of Nova Scotia, in evidence in support of the claim of General Ruggles, stated that he was appointed Deputy Suveryor of Woods in 1771 and that his acceptance of the nomination of Mandamus Councillor rendered him obnozious. He was the means of more persons remaining loyal in Massachusetts than any other man. The King's American Dragoons were raised principally by his influence, though the command was given to Benjamin Thompson (q.v.). (A.O. 12/10, ff. 76-84, 330-5) Colonel Thomas Gilvert (q.v.), who had known him for about forty years, stated in an affidavit that this loyalist was noted in the province *An account of the potash farm given to Ruggles in 1764 is in Mr. Blake's "History of Princeton, Mass., pp. 46-59 Page 252 for his particular attention to improving his stock of horses, sparing neither pains nor expense in procuring the best sires, both English and foreigh, and English mares, by which means his stock had justly acquired the highest reputation of any stud in Massachusetts. He left more than 30 horses and choice mares. One of his best stallions was poisoned by the rebels. (A.O. 13/75) With his memorial and a schedule of his losses is a copy of Thomas's "Massachusetts Spy, Or, American Oracle of Liberty," containing a notice of the sale of Timotyh Ruggles's fine horses (about 20), 30 head of cattle and sheep and swine, by public vendue, by order of the selectmen and Committee of Correspoondence of Hardwick, at the house of Colonel Jonathan Warner,* innholder, Hardwick, on January 16, 1776. 9A.O. 13/75) General Ruggles, in a letter, dated from Boston, April 18, 1775, to a friend in England (perhaps Israel Mauduit), relating to his proposal to raise a regiment of 1,500 men to quell the rebellion, says "my heart leaps for joy to find the reception given by their Lordships to my proposals, and if those made to the Governor [Gage] are not acceptable, I hope he will alter them to his mind, as I have the most cordial inclination to contribute every thing in my power to convince these rebellious wretches of their folly and wickedness in despising the best Government both in Theory and administration that ever yet blest the earth we inhabit, and if it causes me as many wearisome days and Sleepness nights as five Campaigns did in the last War, I pray God my constitution may endure it, and my Country will be happy if Success attends his Majesty's Arms, if not many of us will lose our lives and be put out of our present miserable situation I am happy in finding all my best Officers now living, and that served with me last War, are zealously affected for this service; by which means I expect soon to recruit the Regiment after the General's proclamation is Issued for severing the Loyalists from the Rebels." "As there are several Vacancys in the Council here I could most heartily wish that the filling them, Smugglers might be avoided; as I am strongly apprehensive that many of our troubles have heretofore arisen from that source." (C.O. 5/154, f. 63#.) A copy of his proposals for raising a regiment of Light Dragoons is the Carleton Correspondence, folio 455. This loyalist was allowed compensation, #4,994, from his claim of #19,501 14s. and a pension od #150 until his death (A.O. 12/109; T. 50/8; A.O. 461/15.) In one of his memorials he declares that he was driven at the age of 75 into his fourth banishment, this time from New York to Nova Scotia in 1783. (A.O. 13/75.) A long inventory of his property includes a quantity of silver plate and a silver-mounted sword, his "old friend," and three of the best pews in the Meeting House at Hardwick. *Colonel in the alarm of April 19, 1775. Commissionede Brigadier, February 13, 1776. ("Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War.") Page 253 He was one of the "rescinders: (see page 58). Timothy Ruggles was born in 1711 and graduated at Harvard College in 1732. He commenced practice as a lawyer, first at Rochester, and at Sandwich in 1740, finally selling at Hardwick in 1753. He died in 1795 at Wilmot, Nova Scotia, where he was buried in the Church which he helped to erect by his contributions. His wife died in 1787 at the home of her eldest son at Hardwick. His eldest son, Timothy was also a loyalist, but was allowed by the General Court to remain on a part of the Ruggles estate at Hardwick. After his father's death he settled in Nova Scotia. His sons, John and Richard, were loyalists, and died in Nova Scotia. He was selected as Captain in command of a company of volunteers for an expedition to the Spanish West Indies; their services not being required, the company was dismissed. (Muster Rolls Series.) References: A.O. 12/99, f. 328; Ontario Archives op. cit., pp. 738-41, 790; Sabine, op. cit.; A Pamphlet on General Ruggles, by Henry Stoddard Ruggles, 1897; Stark, op. cit., pp 225-9; Proc. of Mass. Hist. Soc., and Ser., iv, 261. ========================== Best wishes for the new year; Thurmon

Thurmon, Thanks for posting the Hannah Sackett = John Ruggles data. I take it we are assuming that Weygant was misinformed about the name Reynolds and this should have been Ruggles - i.e. there is no suggestion that she married twice. Regards, Chris

Thurmon, Blanche, (& other sleuths), Where did we get to with the Crego mystery before Christmas? Did we come to any conclusions? Regards, Chris