The Rue Family - Second Century in USA

Second Century of Rues in America

The second century since the year of the immigrant, Francois LaRue's, birth began inauspiciously, without any particular cause for note or celebration. It was a laborious time in the American colonies of Great Britain, when colonists still labored under the yoke of oppression and independence had hardly yet been dreampt of.

Children of Matthew Rue, son of Francois LaRue, included:

1. John Rue, reportedly born 1679, but also reported to have been age 43 in the 1706 census of Staten Island (yielding 1663); married Paternell ____. John received a grant of land near the falls of the Delaware on 17 November 1699. John Rue was a freeholder on Staten Island in 1702 and a constable in 1707. In his will dated 6 January 1756, John Rue refers to himself as a yoeman of Matchaponex, Middlesex County, in the Eastern Province of New Jersey. "There is no inventory, which may indicate that John had been dead some years before probate," says Stokes.

John and Paternell bore the following children (order uncertain):

a. Matthew Rue; married Margaret Dove (daughter of Alexander Dove, born 1663 in Shropshire, England; died in Monmouth County, New Jersey on October 7, 1732, and Jane his wife, born 1671 and died in Monmouth County, 9 November 1754; both are buried in Topenamus graveyard). In noting the death of Margaret Rue, the register of Christ Church at Shrewsbury, New Jersey reads: "Burials 1748 -- Apr. 29, Mrs. Rue wife of Mr. Matthew Rue. Her daughters Elenore and Jean were baptized same day aged 2 mo." Seven years later, Matthew married Margaret Mount, daughter of Matthias Mount and widow of James Herbert. His will, dated 1 February 1755, leaves to his wife Margaret a sizable estate. Matthew died prior to 1756.

1. Joseph Rue

2. William Rue, born about 1707; married Elizabeth, who together bore the following children (order uncertain; baptisms from Christ Church records, Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, New Jersey):

A. Elizabeth

B. Eleanor, married 14 March 1763 William Perrine

C. Ann, married James Abrahams

D. John

E. Matthias, baptized 28 June 1747 age one year

On 8 December 1762, John and Mathias Rue of Monmouth County, wards, children of William Rue of said county, deceased, make choice of guardian: "We the under subscribers do choose Jas. Abraham Jr. for a guardian to at in place of mother deceased." This document was signed by Ellen Rue and Ann Rue, who were of age, and John Rue and Matthias Rue. Fellowbondsman was Jas. Abraham, Sr. Dated 28 June 1766, Matthew and Rachel Rue of Monmouth County, children of William Rue of said county, choose as guardian William Perrine of Upper Freehold, said county. Fellowbondsman: John Rue of said county (NJ Archives, wills, 4:367).

F. Matthew, baptized 28 October 1750

I. Matthew Rue, son of William, was a private in Capt. Kenneth Hankinson's Company, First Regiment, Monmouth Militia, and with Sgt. William Johnson was taken prisoner at the Battle of Navesink, 3 February 1777. After being conveyed to New York, Matthias died in prison 28 February 1777 (records of Adjutant Gen. of N.J.). On 22 March 1777, his wife Elizabeth (Gaston?) was appointed administrator of his estate with James Gaston as fellowsbondsman (NJA, Wills, 5:437). Sergeant William Johnson was married to Ann Perrine, daughter of John Perrine (Tory John) and Mary Rue, and thus his wife was a first cousin of Matthias. The testimony of Sergeant Johnson establishing the date of Matthias Rue's death is recorded in Book of Miscellaneous Records at Monmouth County Clerk's office, Freehold, New Jersey.

G. Rachel, baptized 29 October 1752

H. Mary, baptized 3 July 1757

3. John Rue

b. William Rue

c. John Rue, born about 1709. The name of his first wife has not been found. He married a second time May 20, 1751, Scyte Boice, widow of Luke Voorhees (NJMB). His will is dated September 4, 1777, and from it we obtain the names of his children. It was probated 16 November 1795, and the inventory of his estate taken 30 January 1796, totaling 1157.5.6 pounds. The will provided that his wife Seythe receive 100 pounds and be maintained by son John, who received all land except 27 acres "whereon Mathias Johnson now lives," which was to be sold. The family was to continue on this plantation until daughter Lydia turned 18 and daughter Seity Craig to live with the rest of the family. Executors were son John and cousin Mathew, son of Mathew.

Children of John Rue and unknown first wife were:

1. John, married Mary, daughter of John Smock

2. Eleanor

3. Rebecca

4. Elizabeth

5. Mary, born 19 March 1737; married John Perrine on 3 June 1756 (NJMB and SOTC, p. 392); died 18 April 1824. John Perrine was born 20 October 1722; died 26 April 1804. John is buried in Hoffman Hill Cemetery and Mary in Old Tennent Cemetery. The following record abstracted in NJA wills 5:390 gives the details: "Oct. 12, 1779, Hanna Perrine of Monmouth Co., ward, daughter of John Perrine, of said county, deceased. Said ward makes choice of her mother Mary Perrine as her guardian. Fellow bondsman, William Johnson. The Surrogate states that after signing the bond the parties informed him that the father of Hannah Perrine is not dead, but has joined the enemy at New York, that the estate left to said Hannah was left by a relation long since deceased, and that her father went to the enemy."

See also the New Jersey Gazette, 8 March 1780:

"Let the Publick Beware. Whereas the Commissioners for selling the Confiscated estates in the county of Monmouth etc. have in this paper of the first of March instant advertised among other things for sale `a well improved farm containing 300 acres lying in Upper Freehold' which they are pleased to suppose belongs to John Perrine, now with the enemy; But this may assure the publick that the said farm doth not, nor ever did belong to the said John Perrine; but that the same is the property of and was duly devised to John, Peter, Matthew and Joseph Perrine, sons of the said John the Refugee, in and by the last will and testament of their grandfather, John Perrine, deceased, as will fully appear by the said will, duly proved and remaining in the Secretary's office at Burlington. -- Therefore, in behalf of the said devises, now under age, the subscribers, guardian of the said children, and the executors of the estate and of the said deceased, do forewarn all manner of persons from purchasing the same, as they are determined to defend the said devisees' estate, according to the laws of this free and independent state. Mar. 6, 1780, Mary Perrine, guardian, James Perrine, Joseph Perrine, Executors."

Children of John Rue and Scythe Boice:

6. Seythe, married Samuel Craig

7. Ann, married John VanWinkle

8. Lydia (under 18 when her father's will was made)

d. Joseph Rue, born about 1711; married Sarah

1. Abigail Rue, born 1735 in South Amboy; married Henry Perrine on 10 November 1757 (who was born 22 July 1730 and died 6 July 1816); died 22 October 1803 at Trenton. Abigail and Henry lived in New York City (see H.D. Perrine, Daniel Perrine the Hugenot).

2. Matthew, died before 24 March 1768

3. Ann

4. Mary, baptized Christ Church, Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, New Jersey, 25 April 1747
5. William, baptized Christ Church, Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, New Jersey, 3 December 1749

6. John

7. Joseph, born 19 June 1751; married Elizabeth Liscomb on 9 February 1785 (who was born in New York City, 5 September 1760, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Adams) Liscomb and died 25 August 1845); died 15 April 1826. Both are buried in the yard of the Presbyterian church at Pennington, Mercer County, New Jersey. Joseph Rue began theological studies with Rev. William Tennent before 1777, continued under Rev. John Woodhull, and was licensed at Allentown July 25, 1781. He had graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University in 1776. On 19 October 1785, he was installed paster at Pennington, which relationship continued for 41 years. His children were:

A. Thomas Liscomb Rue, born 7 November 1785

B. Sarah Rue, born 5 February 1790

C. Eliza Adams Rue, born 4 December 1797

D. Joseph Woodhull Rue, born 17 August 1803

Joseph's part in Leonard's Mine, in Somerset County, New Jersey, was left to his three sons. Executors were wife Sarah, friends William Laird Sr., and Matthew Rue, blacksmith. The estate was inventoried at 366.17.8 pounds on 6 June 1765. On 24 March 1768, the executors record payment to Margaret Rue, daughter of Matthew Rue, deceased.

2. Matthew Rue, born about 1681, he is listed as 25 years of age in the 1706 census of Staten Island.

3. James Rue

While John and Matthew each settled in New Jersey, James settled in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The descendants of James follow below.

II. James Rue; married Mary; died 1759. They are buried together on the VanSant farm, Bensalem Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. James is described in records as a yoeman farmer. The following children are remembered in his last will and testament: (See Genealogical and Memorial History of New Jersey, Francis Bazley Lee (1910), p. 523

1. Richard Rue

2. Matthew Rue, died prior to 1770.

3. Samuel Rue

4. Joseph Rue

5. Mary Rue

6. Catherine Rue

7. Elizabeth Rue

8. Sarah Rue

9. John Rue

In his will, dated 18 December 1759 and proved 1 January 1760, James provides for his daughter, Sarah Rue, eldest son Richard Rue, daughters Katherine, Elizabeth, Sarah and Mary (wife of Timothy Roberts); sons Richard, Matthew, Samuel, and Joseph. Son John is described as "so long absent supposed to be dead."

III. Matthew Rue, Bucks County, Pennsylvania; married Mary Towne; died before 1770. Buried in the Rue graveyard, Milford Mills (near Hulmeville, Middletown Township), Bucks County. Mathew's will, dated 2 July 1770, proved 15 November 1770 (executors: wife Mary, son Richard, and John Bessonet) provides daughter Mary and her daughter the use of the house where she lives in Trenton, and each of her sons 40 pounds. Daughter Catharine, 100 pounds. Sons Benjamin and Lewis (sons of son Mathew). Their mother, widow of son Mathew; granddaughter, Mary Ramsey; granddaughter Rebecca (oldest daughter of Benjamin Town); grandson Mathew (son of Richard); and children of son Lewis (decd.), five pounds each.

1. Matthew Rue, died before 1770

2. Mary Rue, married Thomas Case of Trenton, NJ

3. Richard Rue, married Jane VanDyke in 1735

4. Catharine Rue, married Benjamin Towne

5. Lewis Rue, married Rachel VanSant about 1736; died in 1751 or 1752 (will probated 4 April 1752).

IV. Matthew Rue, born 17__ in Bucks County; died prior to 1770.

1. Benjamin Rue

2. Lewis Rue

X. Lewis Rue, the son of Matthew Rue, was born after 13 Jun 1753, as he was not yet 21 on that date in 1774 when he asked the Bucks Co. Orphans' Court to appoint his brother Benjamin his guardian for purposes to take care of the property left him by his grandfather Matthew (Bucks Co. O.C. #504). Lewis Rue married Christiana TAYLOR, the daughter of John TAYLOR. They had at least two grown children by 19 Apr 1806.

For much of the information contained hereunder pertaining to Lewis Rue and his immediate family we are indebted to William Utermohlen, Esq. of Alexandria, Virgnia, a descendant of Richard Rue who has published portions of his Rue research and has more in press.

Lewis is believed to have been the private Lewis Rue in Major McILVAIN's Company of Bristol township, Bucks County on 9 Oct 1775 (the same company in which Benjamin Rue served). Lewis was definitely of Bristol township on 28 Jul 1777 when he conveyed 50 acres to his brother Benjamin, and also resided there when he corrected the deed on 4 May 1779 (Bucks Co. LR 29:55). (Capt. Benjamin Rue's pension application.)

The 1779 tax list for Tinicum Island in the Delaware River, then part of Ridley township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, but after 1789 part of Delaware County, shows a Benjamin and Lewis Rue. Lewis was taxed on 70 acres. Two Lewis Rues appear in the 1780 Ridley tax list. Lewis Rue was among the residents of Tinicum who petitioned in May 1780 for the island to be set off as a separate township. He does not appear in taxlists for Tinicum later in the 1780s.

On 20 Apr 1787, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania let to Lewis Rue of Chester County "the meadow upon Mud Island in the River Delaware and the house thereupon" for seven years at a rent of Ł15 the first year and Ł30 for each year thereafter (Phila. Co. LR D-18:335). Rue was also to have "the use and benefit of the wharves on said Island and the Fisheries," as well as "the Common use of the wharf belonging to the State on State Island for the purposes of going and returning to Mud Island." Rue was promised Ł100 for purposes of repairing the facilities on Mud Island. The monies appropriated were to be spent "first to under pinning the house next to the Wharf and doing such repairs to the wall at the north Corner as are Essentially Necessary and then to such other repairs of the Buildings there as may be agreed upon."

On 2 Jun 1792, Lewis Rue agreed with his wife Christiana and her trustee, John Grantham, "on account of sundry unhappy differences between them" that they should separate and live apart from one another and that Christiana should hold her own property as if she were single, Lewis Rue to be free from any charge for maintenance and to be indemnified from her debts and contracts (Del. Co. LR A:510).

Lewis and Christiana were still husband and wife when her father died in late 1804 and they together executed the various deeds by which the three surviving daughters settled with Benjamin Rue and his two children and then divided the remaining property of John Taylor (Del. Co. LR H:87, 93, 478, 481, 485). They also joined in disposing of Christiana's inheritance. On 24 Mar 1806, they and the other heirs of John Taylor sold 30 acres of drained meadow to George Weed for $2800 (H:563). On 19 Apr 1806, Lewis and Christiana sold Thomas Smith most of Christiana's property on Tinicum for $5,500 (H:556). Christiana sold a final small piece of land without Lewis's participation on 16 Apr 1808, after her removal to Ohio, to Jeremiah Reeder for $700 (Del. Co. LR I:205). The grantee and Christiana's nephew Lewis apparently went back to Pennsylvania and recorded this deed, Lewis swearing to the authenticity of Christiana's signature. Reeder immediately sold the land for the same consideration.

Lewis's participation in these transactions was presumably necessary, regardless of the 1792 agreement, in order to assure the buyers and other heirs that he would not assert rights of curtesy and perhaps due to uncertainty over Christiana's right to contract on her own behalf. Their joint participation cannot, therefore, be considered evidence of a reconciliation, although either the continued efficacy of the 1792 agreement was doubtful or Lewis got greedy and had to be bought off, because Christiana and Lewis executed another separation agreement on 19 Apr 1806, this time with their son Thomas Rue acting on behalf of Christiana (Del. Co. LR H:540 & 542). Lewis was paid $500 under this agreement to renounce any interest in his wife's property. Lewis was called a "waterman" of Tinicum on 3 Dec 1804, when the first round of these documents was executed, but a "cordwainer" of the same place by 11 Dec 1805.

Shortly after the last of these transactions, Christiana departed for Ohio with her sons Thomas and Benjamin Rue, Jr. and her probable daughter Rebecca. By 28 Jun 1806, she and her sons were "of Warren Co., Ohio" when they purchased the southeast quarter (160 acres) of section 6 in Sycamore township, Hamilton Co., Ohio (abstract Hamilton Co., LR G-1:91). They were still of Warren County on 24 Jul 1806 when all three purchased 50 acres in section 23 of Columbia township, Hamilton Co., including an island in the Little Miami River and property known as "Covalt's Station" (abs. Hamilton Co. LR G:155). That same day, Rebecca married Daniel F. Reeder. Only two days later, Christiana was called a resident of Hamilton Co. when she bought part of Lot #69 in Lebanon, Warren County (Warren Co. LR 1:286). Three days later she bought a four acre lot in the west half of sec. 6, township 4, Warren Co. (Warren Co. LR 1:288). Christiana recorded another copy of her separation agreement with Lewis Rue at Cincinnati in the land records of Hamilton Co. on 16 Oct 1806 (LR D-1:246).

Lewis's whereabouts after the date of the 1806 separation agreement are unclear, although a Lewis Rue bought four lots in the west half of sec. 6, township 4, Warren County, Ohio and 150 acres in sec. 9 of that township between 5 Aug 1806 and 10 Sep 1806 (Warren Co. LR 1:286, 1:287 & 2:366). At least one of these lots was adjacent to land Christiana Rue bought at the same time (Warren Co. LR 1:288). This Lewis Rue could have been Benjamin's son by that name, who was then of age and is known to have gone to Ohio by 1808. In any event, Lewis Rue lost all this land, plus Lot #105 in the town of Lebanon, on 1 Jun 1809 pursuant to a sheriff's sale enforcing judgments obtained in January 1808 by Samuel M. Cray and Ichabod Corwin against Lewis Rue and Samuel Clinton and by Robert Benham against Lewis Rue and William Ferguson (Warren Co. LR 2:404). Each of these judgment creditors had sold Lewis part of the land he purchased in 1806 and I would guess that the land was purchased on credit, that Lewis was unable to make the payments and that Clinton and Ferguson served as his sureties when he was sued on the debt.

On 21 Nov 1808, Christiana, Thomas and Benjamin sold their 160 acres in Sycamore township (abs. Hamilton Co. LR I:41), but the transaction appears not to have been consummated, as they sold the same property on 10 Mar 1810 to Archibald Job of Virginia (Hamilton Co. LR H:425). Job reconveyed to "Christiana Rue & Sons" on 3 Apr 1810, which is the only record in which there is a clear reference to Benjamin as her son (abs. Hamilton Co. LR E-1:73). This property apparently was lost at a sheriff's sale (abs. Hamilton Co. LR K:247).

Christiana was a resident of Columbia township, Hamilton Co. between 1808 (perhaps 1806) and 1810, but was again of Warren Co. on 22 Jul 1814, when she sold Daniel F. Reeder her 4 acre lot in section 6, township 4 (Warren Co. LR __:421). On 25 Sep 1816, when she gave her son Thomas Rue a power of attorney, she was also described as a Warren Co. resident, although the deed was acknowledged in Mason Co., Kentucky (abs. Hamilton Co. LR R-2:320). By 1 Jan 1817, when she sold a lot in Lebanon, Warren Co. to Daniel F. Reeder, she was called "of Mason Co., Kentucky" (Warren Co. LR 6:428). The last two references to Christiana, on 20 Dec 1817 and 9 Apr 1819, describe her as a resident of Montgomery Co., Ohio, where her son Thomas appears to have removed.

Christiana's son Thomas appears to have promoted a town called Ziegler in Columbia township, which he had platted on 19 Apr 1817 as her agent (abs. Hamilton Co. LR R-1:43). Christiana's role as principal is puzzling as she had sold her one-third interest in the 50 acre Covalt's Station tract on 18 May 1810 to John Bell (abs. Hamilton Co. LR I:249). Benjamin Rue had sold his interest in the property to Thomas by deed of 1 Mar 1810 (abs. Hamilton Co. LR I:42). Several lots in Ziegler were sold off between 9 Aug 1817 and 9 Apr 1819 (abs. Hamilton Co. LR R-1:123, R-2:319, V-1:433, R-2:320).

Most of the information presented here, which was received from Mr. Utermohlen, as noted above, concerning Lewis and Christiana Rue in Ohio, originated with Mrs. Helen Tucker of Seattle, a descendant of Benjamin T. Rue. Mrs. Tucker commissioned some research in the Hamilton Co. records by Adele Blanton. Ms. Blanton reviewed the Hamilton Co. land records to 1836 and the probate records to 1884. It seems safe to assign Rebecca Rue to this family, since the children of Lewis's brother Benjamin by his first marriage are known and the children by his second marriage would have been too young to marry in 1806.

Children of Lewis and Christina:
i. Thomas, b. bef 19 Apr 1785 (of age 1806) m. bef 10 Mch 1810 to Hannah Larzelere, dau of Nicholas of Dayton, Montgomery Co., Ohio 8 Jul 1824;

ii. Benjamin b. bef 28 Jun 1785 (of age 1806) T. m. (1) 13 Dec 1806 Clermont Co, Ohio to Martha YATES m. (2) 17 Sep 1820 Fayette Co, Indiana to Betsy BLOOD

in Fayette Co, Indiana, 27 Feb & 13 Jul 1822

in Woodford Co, Ky 4 Dec 1822

in Louisville, Ky late 1820s or 1830s

in Lafayette Co, Wisconsin 1850

iii. Rebecca m. 24 Jul 1806 Warren Co, Ohio to Daniel F. Reeder [Reeder bought Lot #119 in Lebanon from Christiana Rue on 1 Jan 1817 (Warren Co. LR 6:428) and sold the south half of the lot on 7 Aug 1817 (7:286); Reeder loaned $300 to John Randall in 1814, for which he gave his release on 28 Nov 1817, the money having been paid (7:291); he sold several tracts of land in Warren Co. in the 1840s by power of attorney or through sheriff's sale (LR 18:141; 25:421, 433 & 644)]

1600-1700 1700-1800 1800-1900 1900-2000

Citations:
Lee, Francis Bazley (1910), Genealogical and Memorial History of New Jersey, Vol. 2, pp. 523-524, s.v. "Rue" (copy available at Bucks County Historical Society Library, Doylestown, Pennsylvania).

Perrine, H.D., Daniel Perrine the Hugenot (date, publisher unavailable).

Utermohlen, William (in press), The Bucks County Rue family, Address: 1916 Windsor Rd., Alexandria, Virginia. 22307 .

Utermohlen, William (1994), "The ancestry of Richard Rue and his Holman and VanSant connections: Ky., Md., Pa.," The American Genealogist, vol. 69, p. 235 (October).

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