Sarah Hawke Ruby

Spelled variously (perhaps "Hauck"), Sarah Hawke probably was born within a few years of 1740. Perhaps she was the sister of Albany contemporary Christopher Hawk. However, we seek defining information on her origins and path to Albany.

In July 1761, she married Conrad Ruby at St. Peter's Anglican church. The marriage produced several children. Although she witnessed a number of baptisms in the Albany Dutch church, like her husband, she was a member of the Lutheran church.

These Rubys made their home on Pearl Street near the northern border of the city of Albany. Assessment rolls noted their real and personal property on Pearl on several occasions. In 1802, the "widow of Ruby" was identified as the property owner.

Following a marriage of almost forty years, Conrad Ruby died about 1800. In that year, Sarah was named as head of their second ward household that included one boy, two girls, and two women. Ten years later, those occupants were joined on the census by seven free people of color. Perhaps she was running a rooming house. In 1814, the city Directory identified her home at 24 Van Schaick Street.

Sarah Hawke Ruby died sometime after 1814. In 1815, two Ruby-named households (probably her adult sons) were listed in the directory in the vicinity of Sarah's home. In 1820, the Albany Directory identified the home of "Christy Ruby" (probably her son Christopher) at 24 Van Schaick.

Sources: The life of Sarah Hawke Ruby is CAP biography number 8371. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.