 1711 - 1795 (83 years)
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| Name |
Ruggles, Timothy [1] |
| Prefix |
Brig. Gen. |
| Born |
11 Oct 1711 |
Rochester, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA  [1] |
| Gender |
Male |
| Died |
1795 |
Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, Canada [1] |
| Person ID |
I3273 |
Sackett |
| Last Modified |
3 Sep 2021 |
| Family |
Bourne, Bathsheba, d. Unknown |
| Married |
18 Sep 1736 |
Sandwich, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, USA |
| Children |
| | 1. Ruggles, John, b. 30 Sep 1742, Rochester, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA , d. 1821, Wilmot Township, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, Canada (Age 78 years) |
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| Last Modified |
18 Jan 2009 |
| Family ID |
F1396 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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| Event Map |
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 | Born - 11 Oct 1711 - Rochester, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA |
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 | Married - 18 Sep 1736 - Sandwich, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, USA |
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| Child - Ruggles, John - 30 Sep 1742 - Rochester, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA |
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 | Died - 1795 - Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, Canada |
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| Pin Legend |
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| Notes |
- Loyalists of the American Revolution, Volume II, American Loyalists (Laforey-Zubly), Page 251
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. Commissioned 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.
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He married (2) Jenny Prescott February 13, 178520.
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Children of Brig. Ruggles and Bathsheba Bourne are:
2 i. Martha10 Ruggles, born August 10, 1736; died July 26, 1813. She married John Tufts November 11, 1765.
+ 3 ii. Timothy Ruggles, born January 07, 1737/38 in Sandwich, Ma; died 1838.
+ 4 iii. Mary Ruggles, born February 10, 1739/40; died 1814.
+ 5 iv. John Ruggles, born September 30, 1742 in Sandwich, Ma; died 1821.
+ 6 v. Richard Ruggles, born March 04, 1743/44 in Sandwich, MA; died October 21, 1832 in Annapolis, Nova Scotia.
+ 7 vi. Bathsheba Ruggles, born February 13, 1744/45 in Sandwich, Ma; died July 02, 1778 in Worchester, MA.
+ 8 vii. Elizabeth Ruggles, born May 15, 1748.
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| Sources |
- [S1282] North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000, (Ancestry.com) (Reliability: 2), 3 Sep 2021.
A genealogy and history of the Hute [i e Chute] family in America : with some account of the family
5. v. Brigadier-General Timothy Ruggles (Rev. Timothy, Capt. Samuel, Capt. Samuel, Thomas), b. at Rochester, Plymouth county, Mass., Oct. 11, 1711; H. C., 1732; m. a Miss Humphrey, 1735; was an able lawyer, 1736. His wife d. 1750, and soon after he m. Bathsheba, only daughter of Meletiah Bourne, and widow of William Newcomb )Peter, Andrew, Andrew), who. d. April 8, 1736, aged 34, leaving seven children. Mr. Ruggles moved to Sandwich about this time, opened a tavern and attended bar and stable, and continued the practice of law and the courts. About 1753-4, he moved to Hardwick, Worcester county, and entered the British Army, and led a body of troops to join Sir William Johnson in 1755, as Colonel, and was in the expedition to Crown Point and the Battle of Lake George. He remained in the army til 1760, the last three years as brigadier-general, under Lord Amherst. He represented Hardwick several years in the Legislature, and was speaker in the House, 1762-3. In 1765 he was made president of the Congress of the nine colonies at New York, at which Otis and Partridge were delegates from Massachusetts. In 1774 he was made a "Mandamus Councillor," at Salem, Mass. He was a good scholar, shrewd, brave, and witty. He was a Loyalist or Tory and had to leave his extensive estates in Hardwick, which were confiscated. He accompanied the British army to Halifax, N. S., in 1783. In 1784, he received a grant of land in Wilmot, Annapolis county, N. S., and commenced a settlement near the top of the North Mountain, called Ruggles Mountain; but being bought by Lot Phinney about 1800, it has since been called Phinney Mountain, and there he d. Aug. 4, 1795, aged 84.
Children.
i. Martha, b. Aug. 10, 1736; m. John Thafts (Tufts?).
6 ii. Timothy, b. Jan. 7, 1738.
iii. Mary, b. Feb 10, 1740; m. Dr. John Green.
7 iv. John, b. Sept. 30, 1742.
8 v. Richard, b. March 5, 1744.
vi. Bathsheba, b. Feb. 18, 1746; m. Joshua Spooner, and d. 1778.
vii. Elizabeth, b. May 15, 1748; m. Gardner Chhandler.
Transcribed by Ted Smith
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