Individual Details

The article by Duane Wilson in The Ruddlesforter guoted material written by Allen W. Eckert in The Frontiersmen. Wilson prefaces his quotation by saying "Some details are actually in error, e.g. references to John Ruddell who had died in 1749, 31 years before these event." It is my belief that the John Ruddell named in Eckert's writing was not that older John, but was instead this John, son of Archibald. The date of death as circa 1781, coincides closely with the death of John Ruddell in the Indian & British raid on Ruddell's Station in Jun of 1780. Isaac Ruddell's wife and children were being attacked when John rushed to their age and was killed and scalped - she would have been his aunt. It is known that other children of Archibald's were present that day. Archibald's son James and daughter Sarah were present and both taken prisoner, along with Isaac's wife and two of his sons.

The death of John did not perhaps happen as related by Allen Eckert, however, he was definitely present at Ruddell's Station at the time of the event and was believed to have died.

Elizabeth, wife of Isaac, gave testimony, a copy of which is online at the Kentucky Land Office website - testimony apparently given to certify that John had died so title transfer could be made.
http://www.sos.ky.gov/land/journal/articles/affidavit.htm
Before me the subscriber, a justice of the peace for the County of Bourbon & Commonwealth of Kentucky, personally appeared Elizabeth Ruddle aged seventy six years & being duly sworn agreeably to law, says at the time of the birth of John Ruddell & James Ruddell, sons of Archibald Ruddell, in Virginia, she resided in the neighborhood, & both said John & James Ruddell were nephews or brothers children of her late husband, Isaac Ruddell, deceased. She further well knows that John Ruddell was the eldest son of said Archibald Ruddell and James Ruddell is the next oldest brother, both born after the marriage of said Archibald. That her husband with his family & the deponent removed as an early adventurer to Kentucky & settled what was called Ruddell's Station on the South Forks of Licking in the Spring l779, at which period the said John & James Ruddell came to the country, both young and unmarried & stayed with the deponent & family in Ruddell's Station from the Spring l779 & was as the deponent then understood engaged in taking up lands on the South Fork in the neighborhood of the Station, & in June l780 said Station was taken by the British & Indians. This deponent & family and the said John & James Ruddell were all with divers others made prisoners & carried to Detroit. That said John Ruddell, a few days after the taking of said Station, was killed as this deponent is informed and believes by the Indians, though she was not present when he was killed, but he never arrived at Detroit and has never been heard of since. And it was admitted by all as an indisputable fact that he was killed by the savages, and she never knew or heard of any other John or James Ruddell being in this county before the taking of said station. That said James Ruddell returned from his captivity to this country & upwards of twenty years ago settled on the South Fork of Licking on the lands formerly claimed by his brother, John, in the same neighborhood where this deponent has since resided and has lived there till this time. That she is well acquainted with the family of said John & James and is confident that James is the next oldest brother to John & that said John died, never having been married & never having any lawful issue and never made a will to the knowledge or hearing of this deponent.
Given under my hand & seal this 5th day of April l813. (signed) Elisabeth Ruddell
Bourbon County Viz: This is to certify that the foregoing deposition of Elisabeth Ruddell was taken, subscribed to, and acknowledged before me a Justice of the Peace for & in said county, as witness my hand this 5th day of April l813. (signed) Joseph L. Stephens, J.P.

And this testimony from a fellow captive:
Before me the subscriber, a justice of the peace for the county of Harrison & Commonwealth of Kentucky, personally appeared Thomas Mahan aged about fifty seven years & being sworn agreeably to law says that in the year l779 he became acquainted with John Ruddell & James Ruddell then at Ruddell's Station, and continued that acquaintance till said Station was taken by the British & Indians in l780 in the month of June when said John & James and this deponent were made prisoners. That a few days after their captivity said John was killed by the Indians, this deponent believes & is well satisfied, never arrived at Detroit & has never been heard of since. That at the time said John & James were young men and always reputed to be brothers, John the eldest & James the younger. That John died childless & unmarried and never made any will to the knowledge or hearing of this deponent. That said James returned from captivity & now resides in Bourbon County on the South Fork of Licking & this deponent never knew or heard of any other John & James Ruddell in this country previous to the taking of Ruddell's Station. This deponent was informed, while in the station, of the claims of John Ruddell to lands on the South Fork above the station during the existence of the station, but was never showed the place where the claims lay.
Given under my hand & seal this twenty third day of June, 1813. (Signed) James Kelley

Death

Ca 1781

Father	Archibald Ruddell (1727 - 1787)
Mother	Elizabeth Beggs (1735 - 1792)
Sibling	James Ruddell (1758 - 1840)
Sibling	Isaac Ruddell ( - 1833)
Sibling	Sarah Ruddell (1768 - 1865)