Search for content in message boards

Legend of the Ruark Brothers

Legend of the Ruark Brothers

Posted: 28 Jun 2012 1:26AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Ruark, Calvert, Lord Baltimore
Curious about this legend, I did a bit of looking around on the internet and decided to share what I found.


There is a legend that the first RUARKS in America were 3 or 4 brothers who were retainers of Cecil Calvert, the 2nd Lord Baltimore, and they were horse trainers whom Lord Baltimore brought over from his estate in Ireland. (James, John, William, and perhaps Major) It is said James (and John?) stayed in Worcester Co. Md, William Thomas and Major went to Dorchester Co., MD. From there the Ruarks migrated all over the country.

I have been doing some research into this via the internet.

While it is true that Cecil Calvert, Lord Baltimore was granted the territory of Maryland by Charles I of England, Lord Baltimore himself never made it to the colony - in a late change of plans, Lord Baltimore decided to remain in England to plead his rights to the colony with the King in the face of challenges from the propriators of Virginia. Instead, Lord Baltimore send two of his brothers, Leonard and George, in his stead. His brother Lenard was the first govenor of Maryland. Lord Baltimore did govern the colony, through his brother Leonard and deputies (including his son Charles), from England, sending colonists and giving detailed instructions for the governance - most notably promoting religious tolerance in the colony.

Baltimore originally send two ships with his brothers and loaded with colonists and workers to populate the colony - over 300 people.

It seems to be generally accepted that the earliest known Ruark in the New World was James Ruark, born about 1672 in Ireland.

Cecil Calvert, Lord Baltimore sent his first 2 ships off to the territory called Mary's Land in the winter of 1634 (before James Ruark was born), then Baltimore died November 30, 1675. I think it is obvious that this James Ruark was unlikely to have been one of the brothers supposedly send to Maryland by Lord Baltimore, however it is quite likely he could be a son or relative of one of the legendary original Ruark brothers, or that he came over on a later ship, as the Calverts ran the Maryland colony for more than one hundred years.

Cecil Calvert's father was George Calvert, the 1st Lord Baltimore. One website gives the origin of his title thus: "In February 1625, King James I retained him as a member of the Privy Council and created him Baron of Baltimore, First Lord Baltimore, in the Kingdom of Ireland." This first Lord Baltimore came to Virginia with his family for a time, before the charter for Maryland was granted (which, incidentally, was after George died), and several locations note that he brought his retainers. I wonder if the first Ruarks were possibly part of George's retainers, rather than Cecil's.

I wonder if James Ruark b.ca 1672 was really born in Ireland or if he was actually born in Virginia or Maryland.

Incidentally, there is a town called Ruark in Middlesex Co., VA. I have not yet discovered it's orign.

Re: Legend of the Ruark Brothers

Posted: 28 Jun 2012 2:52AM GMT
Classification: Query
The earliest Ruark men I have personally found in the records are:
1) James, who appears in Somerset Co for the first time (that I know of) in 1709. He was probably married there by 1707, and he registered his cattle mark in 1711. He owned no land. He was likely deceased by 1723.
2) Timothy, probably born in the 1670s; mentioned in a 1741 deposition by his widow Mary Ruark of Dorchester Co, who gave her age as 60. I have not thoroughly researched in Dorchester Co so there may be earlier records for Timothy.

There was also a John Rook in Prince George's Co, MD who estate was probated in 1712. He gave testimony there in 1711, giving his age as 47 (b. c1664).

There was a point in time (late 1800s to early 1900s) when hereditary societies (and coats-of-arms, etc.) were all the rage and family "historians" sought to enhance and embellish their lineages. I try to just take these stories with a grain of salt and go where the evidence takes me.

Re: Legend of the Ruark Brothers

Posted: 28 Jun 2012 3:11AM GMT
Classification: Query
I meant to include the following from "Early Settlers of MD" by Gust Skordas:
John Rooke transported 1665.
Cornelius Rowark transported 1674.

The Somerset Co Judicial records also mention Patrick Ruwark, servant of John Brown, in March 1709/10. In 1728 he gave a deposition giving his age as 40 (b. c1688).

Re: Legend of the Ruark Brothers

Posted: 1 Jul 2012 1:13AM GMT
Classification: Query
If the James Ruark in Somerset is the James Ruark generally accepted to be b.ca 1672, this is the line I am researching for a friend: James (b.1672) > James (b.ca 1712) > Shadrack (b.1756) > John (b.1784) > Erastus (b.ca 1806) > Lewis E. (b.1843) > William (b.1873)> Lewis Thomas Ruark (b.1917). I've seen lots of trees with the first 4 generations, but not a lot of documentation to prove the birth dates and parent-child connections, other than that Shadrack's father was James, not John.

The Cornelius and Patrick names are new to me though. And is there any further information on the John Rooke you mentioned who was transported in 1665?

I've seen your research often quoted, Pam. I'm sure I can speak for many of us researchers when I say many sincere thanks for your diligent work and research.

Re: Legend of the Ruark Brothers

Posted: 1 Jul 2012 2:44AM GMT
Classification: Query
I don't claim to know everything about the Ruarks, but I'll share what I think based on the evidence:

1) James I: His children were apparently born between 1707 and 1718, so c1672 seems a bit early to me. But I don't have a strong opinion about it one way or another. There are no documents to associate any children with him. The names of the sons typically assigned to him come from the Somerset Co tax records, which begin in 1723. Those in the vicinity where James lived are believed to be his sons. James himelf is not listed in the 1723 tax records and is assumed to be deceased by this date. (There are quite a few other Ruarks in these tax records, in other parts of the county, who don't seem to be associated with James I. Perhaps they are related back up the line somewhere - or perhaps not.) Margery Ruark who married Thomas Bowlin in 1732 in Stepney Parish is also thought to be his daughter. John, Margery, and James are the only ones I feel confident saying were the children of James I.

2) James II: He appears for the first time in the 1734 tax records as a dependent of John Davis. The 1732 list is missing, and neither James Ruark or John Davis appears in the 1733 list. This means James Ruark turned 16 between the 1731 list and 1734, thus born c1716-1718. About 1750 he married Elizabeth Longo, sister of James Longo (MD Prerogative Court Abstracts for James Longo). James died about 1786 in Worcester Co (formed out of Somerset Co in 1742). His son Shadrack obtained a bond for administering his estate on 11 Feb 1786 (Worcester Co, MD General Index to Wills). Shadrack is identified as James' "only son and heir" in a 1789 deed when he sold his father's land (Worceser Co, MD Deed M: 529-530).

3) Shadrack: I can only say he was born by 1760. He was surely at least age 18 when took an oath of allegiance in Worcester Co in 1778. (Rev Patriots of Worcester and Somerset Cos, MD) His parents married about 1750, so he certainly could have been born between 1750 and 1760. He is likely the "Shedrach Ruwark" who was enumerated in the 1790 census in Washington Co, PA. I recently found an item in the "History of Franklin and Pickaway Cos, Ohio" (p. 196) that said Shadrack was a pastor who served the Methodist Episcopal Church in Dead Creek in Pickaway Co. I have nothing on him beyond this.

I have not tried to track down the men from those transportation records. There are so many immigrants who had the same surnames. Occasionally they are related, but most of the time they aren't.

Re: Legend of the Ruark Brothers

Posted: 1 Jul 2012 3:10PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Ruark, Rawlins/Rawlings
I wonder what Shadrack was doing in PA. I have several excerpts from various sources showing he was giving permission (?) to be a traveling minister and license to perform weddings in Ohio and Illinois.

A Shadery Ruark is on the 1781 list of Rev. soldiers from Maryland, by Peden, and we know he was still in Maryland in 1786 when he was named administrator for his father James' estate, and 1789 when he sold his father's land.

I also found this interesting bit of info:


http://www.rawlingsrollingshistory.com/2000/Dec2000.pdf
Newsletter: The Rawlin(g)s-Rollin(g)s Family History Association
Vol.13, Iss.4
Dec 2000

"From Steve and Colleen Daniels, 8500 Elm Avenue, Orangevale, CA 95662"

"JAMES RAWLINS first appears travelling with a party of settlers coming to Ohio 1800-1901, a young man in his twenties. One member of the party was Shadrack Ruark along with several sons, Arthur, James, John, Shadrack Jr. and perhaps others. He also had several daughters, among them ELIZABETH who married JAMES RAWLINS, no date available. After stopping in sevreral stops they finally homesteaded in what was then known as Geauga County, but which later was Lake County."


I had assumed this was a move from Maryland to Ohio, but I probably should go back and re-read the file and see if it indicates where the party was coming from.

I have him in Ohio at least between 1804-1816, then a land purchase in Illinois in 1819, but in the 1820 census he was in Ohio. In 1822, 1827 and 1830 he was in Ohio, then another land purchase in Illinios in 1838, and living in Illinois in the Illinois 1840 state census. Then died in 1846 in Illinois (buried there).

Of course this could also be Shadrack Sr. and his son Shadrack. We know the Shadrack who handled his father's estate in Maryland was the one who was married to Rebecca, and this is presumed to be the same Shadrack who moved to Ohio. I don't have anything from Illinois info to indicate Shadrack's wife there. I have not researched Shadrack Jr., but the direct line I am working on, from Shadrack, continues through Illinois with Shadrack's son John, b.ca 1784. I have Shadrack's son Shadrack b.ca 1792, but I don't have any documentation to prove this date at this time.

Re: Legend of the Ruark Brothers

Posted: 1 Jul 2012 5:09PM GMT
Classification: Query
In that time period no one went anywhere in a straight line. They had to follow the few, established migration routes. It he was an itinerant minister then he was probably making his way north and west to find work. Getting from Worcester Co, MD in March 1789 to Washington Co, PA by 1790 seems like a reasonable amount of territory to cover with a family. Men frequently stayed a few years here and there along the way, determining if it was worth staying or if they should move on.

Looking at the census records, I'm confused about the records you show for Shadrack Sr. The man in the 1820, 1830 and 1840 census could not be Shadrack Sr. That man is shown in 1820 as being born between 1775 and 1794, and that year of birth is consistent with the man shown in 1830 and 1840. He would have to be Shadrack Jr. It looks to me like Shadrack Sr. was deceased by 1820. It opens up the possibility that the 1818 record I mentioned in my early message (from the History of Franklin and Pickaway Cos, OH) goes with Shadrack Jr.

Re: Legend of the Ruark Brothers

Posted: 5 Apr 2013 5:46PM GMT
Classification: Query
My ancestry can be traced back to James Ruark of Dorchester Co., MD. The majority of the Ruarks in Dorchester County, Maryland. Every male Ruark from Dorchester County, through testing with Familytreedna, has the same Y line, and are close enough that they share a common male ancestor in the recent past-by recent I mean in the last 300 years. Our line of Ruarks has also matched with several O'Rourkes in Ireland, but what was most interesting to us is that we had a direct match with Ruarks in Kentucky and Indiana, who trace their ancestry back to a family including a Peter and Timothy Ruark, who were born in Maryland but by 1800 were living in Caswell County, NC.

Re: Legend of the Ruark Brothers

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 7:39PM GMT
Classification: Query
I married into the Ruark's of Indiana. I am very new at this but beliefe I have gottenas far back s a Hery Rark (Rowark) 1780 DOB in MD. died in 1852 in TN. Would be very inerested in any info.

Also talked with a Navy guy, who was a Ruark (my husband, Bob Ruark was also career Navy) and he had found information stating that Ruark's immigrated from Ireland, two brothers one went to PA and one to NC (which were probably related to the author of "Something of Value" as he was from NC) Unfortunately, I have lost track of this Navyman.

Re: Legend of the Ruark Brothers

Posted: 19 Apr 2013 8:24PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Ruark
Hi. We are probably related as my line is also descended from Henry Ruark of Hooper's Island. The Ruarks on Hooper's Island were definitely seamen. In those days, the best sailors were ones who grew up sailing with their older relatives and learning the ways of sailing vessels, tides, etc. The men of Hooper's Island also built their own vessels. The ships were designed to be speedy as one of their means of earning a living was to sail down the Caribbean and return with lots of fresh fruit, such as pineapple. They also did a lot of shorter voyages carrying passengers and crew up to NY, Boston and down to Washington DC. The Ruarks were excellent carpenters ; I have record of an Edward Ruark owning a boat building business near 19th century Baltimore.
per page

Find a board about a specific topic