Earliest Known Rusk Ancestors

Rusk Roundup, Spring 1983, pp. 7 – 14.

RFO members’ earliest known Rusk ancestors. . .

In the Winter 1980 Rusk Roundup we first presented this feature article.  In the ensuing two years RFO has acquired over 100 more members and many more Branches.  We report with pride that we have been able to fit several of our 1980 Group II Branches into Group I Branches.  Doing so has involved much research and evaluation of evidence and those members involved are to be commended.

As in 1980, our list will consist only of the Earliest Known RUSK Ancestor and his/her spouse in the lineage of current (thorough April only) 1983 Members of the RUSK Family Organization.  The list is divided into two groups: those Earliest Known Ancestors born before 1800 and those born after 1800.  The second group may – or may not – fit into a Branch listed in Group I.

Placement in a particular Branch is based on information presently available in the RUSK FAMILY ARCHIVES and/or in personal research files of RFO’s Research Staff.  Every effort has been made to insure accuracy.  If you have a question, an addition, a correction, please contact the Editor or Historian.

We are regretful that at the time this list was compiled there was not sufficient information in the RUSK FAMILY ARCHIVES to make an accurate evaluation of the British Isles RUSKS Branches.  We hope to present this in an early issue of Rusk Roundup as a separate compilation.

The Earliest Known Rusk Ancestors are listed alphabetically within each group. . .

Group I – Those Born Before 1800

1. Anders Rusk and ? (ca 1450 in Sweden – ?)
   (Sweden to Finland to U.S.A. Branch)
   A history of this family is presently being translated into English.
2. Benjamin B. Rusk and ? (ca 1745-60 – after 1820)
   (West Virginia Branch)
   Nothing is known about Benjamin’s birthplace or his parentage.  He died sometime after 1820 in West Virginia.
3. David Rusk and Mary [Bailey] (early 1700s – after Rev. War)
   (Maryland Branch)
   A family historian, now deceased, believed that David was one of 4 brothers who sailed from Belfast, Ireland to America around the middle of the 1700s.  She gave other brothers’ names as John, Thomas and Jeremiah.  David settled in Maryland and saw Revolutionary War service.  [This is my line – DNA results show a 24 out of 25 marker match with James Henry Rusk of County Cavan, Ireland – see #6 in group 2.  Also, DNA results show a 37 out of 37 marker match with David Rusk of Montgomery Co., Indiana – see #5 in group 1. JL]
4. David W. Rusk (1761-1843) and Jane ? (1766-1854)
   (Belmont County, Ohio Branch)
   Family has no knowledge thus far of whereabouts of David and Jane before their appearance in Washington County, Pennsylvania in the 1790’s.  See story in Rusk Roudup November 1979 issue. . .
5. David Rusk, Sr. (1769-1836) and Margarett ? (1722-1832)
   (Montgomery County, Indiana Branch)
   This family does not know exact place of David’s birth but they are definite that he was of Scottish descent.  Earliest written record is a land purchase in Adams County, Ohio dated 18 November 1800.  It is believed that David had at least 3 brothers (Robert, James, and John) who also came to Montgomery County, Indiana.  See story in Rusk Roundup November 1979 issue. [This branch is represented in the Rusk DNA project and has matched 24/25 markers with James Henry Rusk, #6 in group 2, and 37/37 markers with David Rusk, #3 in group 1.  JL]
6. David Rusk (1773-1841) and Jane/Jennett Gourley (1776-1854)
   (South Carolina – Georgia Branch)
   Four of David and Jane’s children, still alive at the time of 1880 U.S. Census, said their parents were born in “Ireland”.  Family tradition says that David came “from Londonderry”.  Earliest written record is a warrant for a land survey issued 15 August 1803 in Old Pendleton District, South Carolina.  It is believed that David had at least two brothers (John and James) who also came to South Carolina about the same time.  See story in Rusk Roundup Spring 1980 issue.
7. James Rusk (1770s-1841) and Priscilla McDow (1774-1849)
   (South Carolina – Georgia – Illinois Branch)
   James and Priscilla were both born in Ireland.  In 1879 James’ son David said his father “came from County Antrim, Ireland to America in 1803”.  It is believed that James had at least two brothers (John and David) who also came to South Carolina.  See story in Spring 1980 Rusk Roundup.  This story to be updated in an early issue.
8. James Rusk (1754-1839) and Ann Robb (1760-1838)
   (Perry County, Ohio Branch)
   Family tradition says James was born near Londonderry, Northern Ireland and came to America shortly before the American Revolution, in which he served.  It seems possible that he is a brother to the David Rusk of Belmont County, Ohio and also to a John Rusk.  See story in Rusk Roundup November 1979 issue.
9. James Rusk (1777-1854) and Sarah French (1790-1871)
   (Warren County, Ohio Branch)
   James was born in “Ireland” but was in Warren County, Ohio by 1806 when he wed Sarah.  Family tradition says that he came to America in company with two brothers.  See story in Rusk Roundup Spring 1983.
10. John Rusk (1750s-1844) and Mary Starrett (1780s-1850s)
    (South Carolina – Texas Branch)
    John was a stonemason who emigrated from Londonderry, Ireland in 1791, according to early biographers of his son, General Thomas Jefferson Rusk of Texas fame.  It is believed that this John Rusk may be a brother to the David Rusk and the James Rusk who also came from Ireland to South Carolina.  See story in Rusk Roundup Spring 1980 issue.
11. Robert Rusk (1777-after 1850) and ?
    (Harrison County, Indiana – Clay county, Illinois)
    According to 1850 U.S. Census of Clay County, Illinois, Robert was born in Pennsylvania about 1777.  No knowledge of parents or siblings.  First written record is in a Harrison County, Indiana Stray Book for 1809.  Robert died in Clay County, Illinois sometime after 1850.
12. William Rusk (1768-1840) and ? Murphy (?-1834/35 Ire.)
    (County Antrim, Ireland – New York Branch)
    Family tradition is that William was the youngest of 11 brothers and 2 sisters and that he was born in County Antrim, Ireland.  William came to America in 1839 and died in New York in 1840.  Nothing is known at present of his parents or the other 12 children.
13. William Rusk (prob. 1790s – ?) and Elizabeth ? (?-?)
    (Howard County, Indiana Branch)
    Nothing really is known about where this couple were born or where they lived.  Their son, William, was born in 1824 in Whitley County, (state unknown) and died in Howard County, Indiana in 1877.

Group II – Those Born After 1800

1. Albert Hardin Rusk (1852-1946) and Mary Hannah Eddy (?-1931)
   (Illinois – Nebraska Branch)
   Albert Hardin was born in Illinois, possibly Brown County, and died in Indianola, Warren County, Iowa.
2. James Rusk (ca 1809-ca 1879) and Mary Ann Magill (ca 1823 Gib.-ca 1905 MI)
   (No. Ireland – Gibraltar – Canada Branch)
   James was born in Northern Ireland, and was serving in Imperial Army at Gibraltar when he met and married Mary Ann.  They emigrated to Durham County, Ontario Province, Canada around 1843.
3. James Rusk (1802-after 1880) and Elizabeth ? (1814-after 1880)
   (Ireland to Orange County, New York Branch)
   James and Elizabeth and five children were born somewhere in Ireland.  They came to America (sometime in the 1850’s ?) and settled in Orange County, New York.
4. James Rusk (mid 1800’s – ?) and Adeline ? (?-?)
   (A PA line ? or Ontario, Canada ? Branch)
   Family does not know where James was born, parentage, etc. but his son, Richard James was born in 1888 in Bracebridge, Muskoka County, Ontario Province, Canada.
5. James E. Rusk (1870-?) and Floda C. Virts (1867-?)
   (Loudon County, Virginia Branch)
   James E. Rusk was born in Loudoun County in the Blue Ridge Mountains of northern Virginia and, apparently, he married and raised his family there.  His son, Harry Oswell, however, went to Canada and while there married an English girl; but they later returned to the United States and lived in Linn County, Iowa.
6. James Henry Rusk (1820-1892) and Annie McQuaid (?-1866)
   (County Cavan, Ireland – New York Branch No. 1)
   Family tradition says James Henry was born in Tullybrick, Bailleborough in County Cavan, Ireland, married while in Ireland, and came with wife and one-year-old son, George, to America in 1848.  Two brothers, John and Robert, and two sisters, Martha and Eliza, also came to America in the 1850’s.  Story of this family is sceduled to appear in Summer 1983 Rusk Roundup.  [This branch is represented in the Rusk DNA project and has matched 24/25 markers with David Rusk, #3 in group 1, and David Rusk, #5 in group 1.  JL]
7. James Robert Rusk and Mary Polly Ann Payton
   (Indiana – Oklahoma Branch)
   Better known as Robert – so see write-up under Robert Rusk, Sr.
8. John Rusk (early 1800’s – ?) and Johanna Jones (?-ca 1849/50)
   (Ayrshire, Scotland to Illinois and Missouri Branch)
   John emigrated to America in 1851, shortly after his wife’s death.  See story of this family in Rusk Roundup Spring & Summer 1982 issue.
9. John Rusk (1838-1906) and Marietta Terwilliger (Mrs. James Rusk)  (ca 1838-?)
   (County Cavan, Ireland – New York Branch No. 2)
   John came to America from County Cavan, Ireland at age 7 to join his brother James, and he married his brother’s young widow after his brother’s death in 1859.  They settled in New York State.  See story in Rusk Roundup Summer 1980 issue.
10. Matthew Rusk and ?
    United Kingdom (Wales? or England?) to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Branch)
    Family has no dates for Matthew but family tradition says he was born in Wales or England and probably around the first decade of the 1800’s.  He came to America and married and settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he had a brickyard.  He is known to have had a son Jacob Avery and a daughter Cass.  This is a very new branch in RFO and reesearch is just beginning. . . . Rusk family archives yields the following information: Accelerated Census Index for PA does not show a Matthew Rusk in any printed census Index.  Actual census for 1850 does show a Mathais Rusk (omitted in Index!!), age 40, with a 17 year-old son Jacob and living with DRUMMOND family “next door” is Catherine Rusk, age 6.  Listed occupation for Mathais and Jacob is Brickmaker.  They all live in Kensington section of Philadelphia.  (See Rusk Records from Here and There section of this issue of Rusk Roundup.)
11. Rebecca Rusk (1823-1886) and Cornelius Toy (ca 1810-1881)
    (Chester County, Pennsylvania – Delaware – Iowa Branch)
    Rebecca was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania (county “next door” to City of Wilmington, Delaware where she married in 1844) but nothing is known of her parents or siblings.  This is another very new Branch in RFO and, coincidentally, also leading us into further research in Pennsylvania.
12. Robert Rusk, Sr. (mid 1800’s – ?) and Mary Polly Ann Payton (1860-?)
    (Indiana – Oklahoma Branch)
    This Robert may be James Robert – there are two records in the Rusk Family Archives.  Robert and Mary Ann “Polly” were married in Indiana in 1874; one son, Robert, Jr. was born after his father’s disappearance on the old Chisum Trail in 1875.
13. William L. (or S.) Rusk (1805-?) and Mary N. Selcer (1811-1833)
    (Mississippi – Louisiana Branch)
    Family tradition says this William descended from one of two brothers who settled in Maryland.  First record in Rusk Archives is 1830 Census of Washington County, Mississippi.  [This branch is very likely descended from David Rusk, #3 group 1, through 0ne of three sons who left Maryland for Kentucky in the earl 1800s.  The three sons are William, Samuel, and Elam.  JL] 
14. William Thomas Rusk (1834-1876) and Jennie Dailey (1830-1917)
    (Kentucky – Iowa – Nebraska Branch)
    It is believed that William was born in Hardin County, Kentucky but no proof as yet, and no knowledge of parents or siblings.  He married Jennie in Ohio about 1863 and there is some evidence that this marriage may have been second or more for each.  William died in Union, Iowa in 1876.  Jennie and her 3 small children went to Sterling, Nebraska where she remarried.