Cambridge 12 Oct 1687 as “John Ruggles, Sr. & Ruth Swan, both of Roxbury.” Since it says both of Roxbury it can’t be any of the John Ruggles of Boston or Braintee. So we can eliminate them. Which John Ruggles of Roxbury married Ruth Swan? Of the various John Ruggles of Roxbury only two could have been single at the time of this marriage. The date of the marriage would fit nicely with the death Sarah, w. John, sr., [died] May 2, 1687 [Roxbury VR RUGGLES]. But is this our John2 Ruggles in both cases? John2 Ruggles son of John1 Ruggles has a wife Sarah Dyer and this could be the proper fit. But also John4 Ruggles (John3, John2, Thomas1 Ruggles) had a wife Sarah Fielder and she also could be the Sarah (Fielder) who died and in that case did he marry Ruth Swan? Either would fit what we have for this death and marriage. Probate records below show that John4 Ruggles’ wife Sarah Fielder was very much alive when he died so he could not have married Ruth Swan. So it has to have been John2 Ruggles who married Ruth Swan by process of elimination. The death of Ruth Ruggles is recorded in 1700 in Roxbury.
In Suffolk Probate records for John Ruggles. Suffolk Probate case # 3606 John Searle, weaver, Isaac Morris and John Ruggles, yeoman all of Roxbury in the County of Suffolk on the 17 Aug 1714 petition for the administration of the estate of John Ruggles. “John Searle admitted adm to the Estate of his father-in-law John Ruggles late of Roxbury aforesaid yeoman deceased.”
This John Ruggles must have died shortly before 17 Aug 1714. John Searle married Mary Ruggles daughter of this John Ruggles and Mary Gibson and therefore this is his probate case. His son Sgt. John Ruggles, cordwainer died 25 Feb 1711/2 not this John as sources have incorrectly conflated their deaths. His son Sgt. John Ruggles, cordwainer m/1 Hannah Devotion m/2 Elizabeth Toy (or Tay) of Boston (widow of Samuel Verry). In Suffolk Probate XVII:408,468 Inventory of the estate of Mr. John Ruggles, Jr., Cordwainer of Roxbury taken 10 Mar. 1711/2 and presented by Elizabeth Ruggles admx 5 Jun 1712. Suffolk Probate XVIII:71, 159 payments and widow gets her third and heirs are named. See Suffolk Case # 3389.
Suffolk Probate XVIII:191-2 Jonathan Ruggles aged about 19 (Roxbury VR 302: b. 19 May 1694 p 301), John Ruggles aged about 16 (Roxbury VR 301 b 8 Mar 1696/97) made Capt. John Ruggles guardian. Elizabeth aged 13 (Roxbury VR 301 b 21 Oct 1700) made Capt Samuel Ruggles guardian. All children of John Ruggles of Roxbury Cordwainer, dec’d.
In Suffolk Probate Case # 3519 on 22 Oct 1716, John Ruggles, yeoman and John Searle, weaver both of Roxbury in the County of Suffolk and Samuel Smith of Cambridge in the County of Middlesex petition that John Ruggles be nominated and allowed to be Guardian unto John Ruggles a minor aged about twenty years one of the children of John Ruggle late of Roxbury. If this John Ruggles was 20 in 1716 it would imply that he was born about 1696. The birth is recorded of a John Ruggles on 8 Mar 1696/97 in Roxbury in Roxbury VR 1:301. None of these records indicate a widow Ruth or Sarah Ruggles unfortunately.
In Suffolk Probate Case # 3994 on 24 Mar 1717/18 John Searle, weaver, George Griggs and Sarah Ruggles widow “on the Estate of her Husband John Ruggles late of Roxbury Husbandman deceased…” Sarah Ruggles admitted admin of all and Singular the Goods, Chattles, Rights and Credits of her Husband John Ruggles late of Roxbury aforesaid Husbandman. The inventory of John Ruggles late of Roxbury was taken presented 26 May 1718 by Sarah and a payment was made to among others Hezekiah Turner. Sarah married second to Hezekiah Turner. On 30 Mar 1719 distribution papers include a letter signed by John Ruggles, Joseph Ruggles and James Pierce allotting the children of John Ruggles single shares of “their Said father’s Real Estate.” One 9 Apr 1717 John Ruggles, husbandman, Joseph Ruggles, malter and James Pierce, cordwainer all of Roxbury state that John Ruggle’s estate paid to his sisters Sarah, Martha, Mary and discussed additional payments to be made after the death of their mother Sarah Turner. Sarah Turner left an account dated 11 Apr 1726. Based on the names of the children: John, Sarah, Mary and Martha who are the children of John4 Ruggles this Sarah must be Sarah Fielder and not Sarah Dyer. The only odd thing is the estate case says 24 Mar 1717/18 and vital records say he died 4 Mar 1718. I have to conclude that the vital records are in error. But in any event it means that John4 Ruggles could not have married Ruth Swan as his wife Sarah was very much alive when he died. So Ruth Swan was the one who married John2 Ruggles.
