William E. RUDDICK, born abt. 1723 in Chester County, Pennsylvania; died abt. 1805 in Carrol County, Virgina. He was the son of William RUDDICK and Alice (?). He married Ann(a) COX, August 23, 1746 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Ann(a) COX, born abt. 1722.
NOTES on Ann COX: She was the daughter of John COX and Mary GARRETSON.

Notes for William E. RUDDICK:
He was a Quaker, who moved to Virgina from Pennsylvania, by way of North Carolina. He is listed in the earliest Virginia tax records. In 1772 built a home in Fincastle County, then in Montgomery County, next Wythe County in 1790, and then Grayson County in 1792 and then on to Carroll County, on the banks of Chestnut Creek near what is now Pipers Gap. He was insturmental in founding the Mt. Pleasant MM near his home. ref: the RUDDICK-HANKS deed on file.
He had a land grant of 50 acres surveyed in Lancaster County on February 14, 1745. By 1758, William and Ann had watched many members of their family move to North Carolina, including their parents. The following year, they finally moved south and settled near Cane Creek MM. For some odd reason, they chose to live further east of the other Rudducks. It is probable that they settled near her father, likely near what is now Guilford and Alamance Counties.

In the spring of 1770, the family became members of the New garden MM. However, it is not known whether they moved nearer that place. We do know that in 1772, the William Rudduck family moved to Fincastle (later Montgomery) County, Virginia. This area was established as Wythe County in 1790, then Grayson County in 1792. Here, a cabin was built near the banks of Chestnut Creek near what is now Piper's Gap in Carroll County. While living here, they attended meetings at Tom's Creek across the border in Surry County, North Carolina. Since travel to these meetings proved to be of some inconvenience, a preparative meeting was necessary. The Rudduck family was prominent in the establishment of Mt. Pleasant MM near their home.

After the Battle of Alamance, Quakers and Baptists began to buy property in 1771-2 in the vicinity of Chestnut Creek in Carroll County, Virginia, just over the border from North Carolina. Many of the settlers were relatives of the disowned Quaker, Herman Husband, the best known leader of the Regulation (and who was himself a fugitive). They were part of a mass exodus of 1500 people or more who left the Piedmont after the Battle of Alamance. In 1779 they formed the Flower Swift militia company. Governor Tryon had offered a pardon to most of the participants in the Regulator movement but he made exceptions found in the Proclamation dated 11 June 1771 which reads as follows: (From the Colonial Records of North Carolina - Vol. 8)

Captain Flower Swift's Colonial Regulators — a militia group formed to prevent the collection of "illegal taxes and exhorbitant fees extorted by royal officials." The battle near the fork of the Alamance and Haw Rivers leaves nine Regulators and 27 royal militia dead on the field.

Lack of leadership and discipline lead to the defeat of the Regulator militia and subsequent hangings of captured leaders. The event is proclaimed as "the first blood shed in the Revolution." The "Battle of Alamance," has been considered by many to be the beginning of the American Revolution."

During the Revolutionary War, a strong question was raised among Quakers; should we stand for our freedom? Many of the Friends dealt with this perplexing problem in various ways. It seems that William would not take the oath of allegiance to the new government. It is not because of what the rebellion stood for, but simply the fact that he would not swear. This belief was based on the biblical injunctions to "swear not at all" and "above all things my brethren, swear not". To the Society of Friends, the swearing of an oath is to put a double standard on the meaning of truth. William Rudduck Sr. was found in Captain Flower Swift's Company of Quakers, but was noted as having been "not fit enough to serve". His health declined for many years before he died about 1796, at the age of about 73 uears.

Many of the "Flower Swifts Militia," were on mixed nationality; Scoth-Irish and American Indian. This was an additional reason for the "militia" revolt they did not want to attack the Cherokee, their relatives.

Children of William E. RUDDICK

Joseph RUDDICK, born abt. 1747 in Warrington, Pennsylvania; died abt. 1800 in Randolph County, North Carolina; married to Phebe Alice MECCA, December 21, 1774 in Center MM.

Benjamin RUDDICK, born abt. 1749 in Warrington, Pennsylvania.

Notes for Benjamin RUDDICK:
Was reported to the Quaker's for marrying out of unity. There are no records or trace of Benjamin after this.

Solomon RUDDICK, born abt. 1753 in Warrington, Pennsylvania; died abt. 1825 in Jackson County, Indiana; married (1) Ann (Anna) BEDSAUL, September 26, 1778 in Montgomery County, Virginia; Married (2) Amy RUDDICK, abt. 1797 in Grayson County, Virginia.

Notes for Solomon RUDDICK:
He received a divorce from the Virgina State Assembly, 18 years after Ann BEDSAUL ran away with another man, leaving him with five children. He eventually joined the migration to Indiana.

John H. RUDDICK, born abt. 1755 in Warrington, Pennsylvania; died December 30, 1851 in Musinggum County, Ohio; married (1) Catherine COX, abt. 1780 in Grayson County, Virginia.

William E. RUDDICK, Jr, born 1755 in Warrington MM, Pennsylvania; died October 8, 1798 in Grayson County, Virginia; married Lydia RUDDICK.

Notes for William E. RUDDICK, Jr:

John Hanneman's records show three additional children for William (William, John, and Mary) lised as "died young.",br>

Hardy RUDDICK, born abt. 1758; died abt. 1798; married Mourning TURNER.

Robert RUDDICK, born abt. 1760.

Jane RUDDICK, born abt. 1761; married Levi COLEMAN, November 16, 1782.

Ancestors of John H. RUDDICK

John H. RUDDICK, born abt. 1755 in Warrington, Pennsylvania; Died December 30, 1851 in Musinggum County, Ohio. He was the son of William E. RUDDICK and Ann(a) COX. He married Catherine COX, abt. 1780 in Grayson County, Virginia. Catherine COX, was the daughter of William COX and Juliatha (?).

Children of John RUDDICK and Catherine COX are:

Lydia Laditha RUDDICK, born June 4, 1787 in east Tennessee; died March 15, 1858 in Savanah, Missouri; married to John PARKER, January 29, 1807 in Knox County, Kentucky.

Notes on John PARKER: He built the first Jackson County jail in 1816 and was paid $76.00. He served on the first Jackson County jury in 1817. He moved to Bartholomew County in 1819, and the first Bartholomew County elections were held in his (PARKER)home.

William RUDDICK, born 1785 in east Tennessee; died August 27, 1852 in Benton County, Arkansas; married to Elizabeth "Betsy" WILSON, February 25, 1808 in Knox County, Kentucky.

"RUDDICK's of Benton Cty., Arkansas"

Ancestors of Capt. William RUDDICK

William set about to set up a town in 1830 that was known as "Sugar Creek" [it became know as "Little Sugar Creek Township"]. He became a valued citizen of this new community involved in every aspect of community development. The local Baptist Church met at the ElkHorn [as his house became known by - for the elk horns on the roof] every Sunday for many years. William was Postmaster among other civic responsibilities of the township.

The RUDDICK family along with the FORD, LEE, GENTRY, COX, SCOTT, and WILSON families are among the earliest pioneers in the North western corner of Arkansas. For many generations these families have inner-married with each other, as well as having followed each other throughout their migrations from state to state. Capt. William RUDDICK came from Indiana. The FORD Cemetary which is located inside the Pea Ridge Battlefield National Park, just off Ford Road. Has a large number of FORD, COX, and SCOTT burials. Throughout Benton County, there are numerous RUDDICK, LEE, FORD, and GENTRY cemeteries.

It appears from joint research that the RUDDICK/RUDDOCK/REDDICK line may have appeared in Ireland as far back as the late 1600's. Thanks to a fellow geneaologist and cousin "Bev," we have additional information of this fascinating surname.

William RUDDICK, born abt. 1785 in east Tennessee; died August 27, 1852 in Benton County, Arkansas. He was the son of John H. RUDDICK and Catherine COX. He married Elizabeth "Betsy" WILSON, February 25, 1808 in Knox County, Kentucky. She was the daughter of Joseph WILSON.

Additional information: William RUDDICK held the rank of Captain in the Indiana Territorial Militia. In 1812 he appeared on the tax list and paid for one horse. Capt. RUDDICK and his son-in-law Samual BURKS built Elkhorn Tavern abt. 1833.