The Loyalists of Massachusetts and the Other Side of the American RevolutionStark, James Henry
History
The Loyalists of Massachusetts and the Other Side of the American Revolution
Stark, James Henry
American loyalists -- Massachusetts; Massachusetts -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783
To James Welch. Nov. 6, 1784; Lib. 145, fol. 250; Land in Boston.
Wings Lane N., Nathan Frazier and heirs of Charles Apthorp deceased
E.; said heirs S.; E.; S. and W.
GENERAL TIMOTHY RUGGLES.
THOMAS RUGGLES of Nazing, Essex County, England, was born in Sudbury,
Suffolk County, England, in 1584. He came to Roxbury, Massachusetts, in
1637 and was freeman May 22, 1639. He married in Nazing, England, Mary
Curtis. He died in Roxbury, November 16, 1644, and his wife died in
1674, leaving four children.
His son Samuel was many years selectman, representative, and captain of
the Roxbury company. His son Samuel succeeded his father in the several
offices named and in company with seven other persons purchased, Dec.
27, 1686, for £20, from John Nagers and Lawrence Nassawano, two noted
Indians, a tract of land containing by estimation 12 miles long north
and south and eight miles wide east and west. This purchase is now known
as the town of Hardwick, Mass. His son, the Rev. Timothy Ruggles, was
born in Roxbury, Massachusetts November 3., 1685, and married Mary
White, the daughter of Benjamin and Susanna White. He graduated from
Harvard College in 1707, and was ordained pastor of the Rochester church
in 1710, which office he held until his death which occurred October 26,
1768. He was a great worker in the community and much beloved.
GENERAL TIMOTHY RUGGLES, born in Rochester, Mass., October 20, 1711,
eldest son of Rev. Timothy Ruggles, one of the fifth generation of
Ruggles in America, graduated at Harvard College in 1732 and commenced
practicing law in Rochester. He represented his native town in the
provincial assembly at the age of 25, and procured the passing of a bill
still in force prohibiting sheriffs from filing writs. He removed to
Harwich about 1753 on to the lands bought by his grandfather from the
Indians. In 1757 he was appointed judge and in 1762 Chief Justice of the
Court of Common Pleas, which he held till the Revolution. He was also
surveyor-general of the king's forest, an office of profit, attended
with but little labor. Besides professional employment he was engaged in
military and political occupation.
In 1756 almost immediately before Mr. Ruggles' appointment to the
bench, he accepted a Colonel's Commission in the forces raised by his
native province for service on the frontier of Canada. In the campaign
which followed, he served under the command of Sir William Johnson, and
did good service in the expedition against Crown Point. In September of
the same year he was second in command under that leader at the battle
of Lake George, in which the French under Baron Dieskau, met a signal
defeat, after very severe fighting, in which he distinguished himself
for coolness, courage and ability, and so highly were his services
esteemed on that occasion that he was promoted to the position of General
of Brigade and placed under the command of the Commander-in-Chief.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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