He was born in the Northern Alsace in 1716. He came to Pennsylvania with his parents arriving in Philadelphia on August 17, 1733. There is an item found in the 27 July 1749 issue of Benjamin Franklin's Pennsylvania Gazette as follows: "A Mill near Germantown where Christian Kinsing formerly lived to be sold by Jacob Ruch". So Jacob may have lived for a time in Germantown, which today is part of Philadelphia.

He was naturalized as a British subject at the courthouse in Philadelphia in 1745 and was listed in the record at that time as being a resident of Philadelphia County (Pennsylvania). This naturalization event most likely happened on February 2nd, which was the same day of recorded at the same place for the naturalization of his two brothers (George & Michael Ruch).