He was born in Northampton (now Lehigh) County, Pennsylvania on August 17, 1747 probably in either Whitehall Township (near the home of his Ruch grandparents) or Mucungie Township where his father had obtained land that very year). Both of these locations are near the present City of Allentown in eastern Pennsylvania.

In 1772 Peter accompanied his father to the western wilderness of what was soon to become Westmoreland County. He appears on a listing of taxable inhabitants of an area detached from Bedford County on 26 Feb 1773 to form Westmoreland County.

About 1772 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania he married Maria Margaretta KEISTER. She was born on December 11, 1753.

Westmoreland County Land Survey Book 1, page 257 shows a Land Warrant for 191 acres in Hempfield Township issued in 1784 to "Peter Rugh". This land was thought to have been the western part of the original "Michael Ruch & sons" land settled in Westmoreland. It's official survey date was given as 18 Oct 1784. This was very soon after the Revolutionary war and is when many were attempting to establish legal land ownership by filing for warrants with the new government. This farmland was located in Hempfield Township just to the South of what later became Greensburg, Pennsylvania. This is verifyed by Peter's appearance in a tax listing for Hempfield Township taken in 1789.

He also appears in the first U.S. census (1790), being listed as the head of a household in Hempfield.

In 1791 he and wife Margaret were listed as "Communicants" in the records of the old Zion Lutheran Church of Greensburg.

Peter and brother Jacob sold a large tract of ground in Greensburg's eighth ward to the town of South Greensburg that would later become known as the "Rughton Plan". It was here (in the next century) that the Jamison Coal Co. opened it's No. 1 coal mine. There is today, a "Rugh Street" in South Greensburg near this location.

In 1825 he appeared on a property tax listing taken in Hempfield Township.

Within Westmoreland County Letters of Administration Book A, page 225: "Peter Rugh, deceased. Be it remembered, that on the 24th of December A.D. 1828, Letters of Administration on the estate of Peter Rugh deceased was granted unto Jacob Rugh and Abraham Bowman, they having given bond of $4000.00 for the faithful performance thereof. Peter Konkle and Simon Drum Sureties". Jacob & Abraham (son & son-in-law) were named as executors of Peter's estate.

Peter died on December 22, 1828 at age 81 in Hempfield Township. He was buried at the Old German Cemetery in Greensburg. His (Grey sandstone) tombstone inscription was as follows: "In memory of Peter Rugh who departed this life Dec 22 1828 aged 81 years 4 m. 5 da."

About 1940-1945 the old German Cemetery in Greensburg was dismantled. Many of the graves and tombstones were moved, some to Hillview Cemetery in South Greensburg. Some records were found showing the new location for some individuals. None were located for Peter although it would be logical to assume that he also was moved to Hillview.

Margaret died on April 12, 1831 at age 77 years in Greensburg. She was buried at the Old German Cemetery in Greensburg also. Next to the grey sandstone tombstone reading "In Memory of Peter Rugh" once stood another which read: "In memory of Maria Margaret wife of Peter Rugh who departed this life April 12 1831 aged 77 yrs 4 mo 14 da".

Records report that when the Old German Cemetery was dismantled about 1740-1745 her grave and tombstone were moved to Hillview Cemetery in South Greensburg.

To see additional information about this Peter Rugh Sr. family visit the web page of Connie Mayo... click <<here>>

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