Barbara Heck

BARBARA (Heck), Bastian Ruckle and Margaret Embury had a daughter, Barbara (Heck) born 1734. She married in 1760 Paul Heck and together they have seven children. Four of them survived until adulthood.

The majority of times, the subject has participated at important occasions and expressed unique thoughts or ideas that are recorded on paper. Barbara Heck however left no documents or correspondence, so any evidence of such since when she got married is secondary. There are no surviving primary sources from which one can reconstruct her motives and her conduct throughout the course of her life. Despite this, she was a cult figure at the dawn of Methodism. The biographer has to define the myth, describe the story and identify the individual that is revered in.

Abel Stevens, a Methodist historian wrote this in 1866. Barbara Heck's name has now been firmly placed first in the list of all women who have made a significant contribution to ecclesiastical life in New World history. This was due to the growth of Methodism within and around the United States. Her record is primarily due to the naming of her important name, derived from the story of the major reason for which her name will be forever linked more through the events of her life. Barbara Heck's involvement with the early days of Methodism was a fortunate coincidence. Her popularity is due to the fact that a very effective organization or movement can glorify their origins, in order to maintain ties with the past and to feel rooted in it.