Lorentz (Laurence) RUCH, son of George (Hans George) RUCH (ROUK) (The Sr.) and Susanna was born in Whitehall Township, Northampton County (Now Lehigh County), Pennsylvania in 1744.

In 1773 he took out a warrant for 92 acres of land in Northampton County which became known as "Westminster". He gradually added to his land until he eventually owned 212 acres. The little village of "Ruchsville", (north of Allentown, PA.) came to be located on this land.

Lorentz served during the Revolution as a Private in Captain Adam Serfoo's Company of Northampton County Pennsylvania Militia.

He appeared as Larance Roegh (or Rogh) as the head of his household in the nations first official census taken in 1790 in Whitehall Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.

In 1769 in Pennsylvania he married Charlotta Barbara KNOUSE. Charlotta Barbara KNOUSE was born in 1748.

Lorentz and Charlotta Barbara had the following children:

1. Elisabetha RUCH was born in Northampton (now Lehigh) County, Pennsylvania on June 27, 1772. On August 2, 1772 in South Whitehall Township, Northampton County she was baptized at the Jordan Lutheran Church. Baptismal sponsors were: "Adam Haberle (Aberle) and Maria Elisabetha Ochs (Uchsin)".

2. Catharina RUCH was born in Northampton (now Lehigh) County, Pennsylvania on October 30, 1774. Her birth was recorded at Egypt Reformed Church within Whitehall Township.

3. Maria Susanna RUCH was born in Northampton (now Lehigh) County, Pennsylvania on March 11, 1777. Her birth was recorded at the Egypt Reformed Church in Whitehall Township.

4. Peter RUCH was born in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania in 1779. He kept a hotel on land inherited from his father in Lehigh County Pennsylvania. The location of this hotel became known as the little village of "Ruchsville" and it (as well as it's hotel) still exists. It can be found just a few miles north of Allentown, Pennsylvania. During the war of 1812, Peter raised a company of cavalry from North and South Whitehall Townships of Lehigh County and thus became their Captain. He was a prominent leader in Pennsylvania militia organizations, eventually rising to the rank of brigadier general.
On March 13, 1801 Peter married Susanna SCHRIBER. Susanna SCHRIBER was born in 1777. Peter and Susanna had the following children: Elizabeth (b. Oct 1804 - d. Oct 1804), William (1806 - 1854), Charles (1807 - 1854), David (1807 - 1890), and Peter (1809 - 1881), Mary M. (b. abt 1811), and Thomas (b. abt 1812). Peter died on November 19, 1838.

5. Hanna RUCH was born in Whitehall Township, Northampton County (Now Lehigh County), Pennsylvania on October 12, 1783. On April 16, 1797 at age 14 she was confirmed at Lehigh Church in Lower Macungie Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.

6. Henrich (Johannes Henrich) RUCH was born in Whitehall Township, Northampton County (Now Lehigh County), Pennsylvania on October 1, 1791.