Barbara Heck

Ruckle, Barbara (Heck) b. 1734 in Ballingrane (Republic of Ireland) she was a daughter of Bastian (Sebastian) Ruckle and Margaret Embury m. 1760 Paul Heck in Ireland and they had seven children, of which four survived into childhood and died. 17 Aug. 1804 in Augusta Township Upper Canada.

The person whom you are profiling was either an active part of a major event or made a unique statement or proposal that has been documented. Barbara Heck left neither letters or declarations. In fact, the primary evidence that we have regarding matters like the date of Barbara Heck's marriage stems from second-hand sources. There are no primary sources, from which one can trace her motivations and her conduct throughout the course of her existence. However, she has become an iconic figure in the early years of North American Methodism history. In this case, the biographical task of the biographer is to establish and explain the legend and if possible to describe the actual person depicted in it.

It was the Methodist historian Abel Stevens wrote in 1866. Barbara Heck is now unquestionably the first woman to be included in the time of New World ecclesiastical women, due to the advances in the field of Methodism. Her accomplishments are based more on the importance of the cause she has been linked to rather than her own personal life. Barbara Heck's role in the starting of Methodism was an unlucky coincidence. Her fame is due to the fact that it's been a common practice for incredibly successful movements or organizations to praise their historic roots to remain connected with the past.