Barbara Heck

BARBARA (Heck), 1734 in Ballingrane (Republic of Ireland), daughter of Bastian (Sebastian) Ruckle and Margaret Embury m. 1760 Paul Heck in Ireland and they had seven kids of which four lived to adulthood and died. 17 Aug. 1804 in Augusta Township Upper Canada.

A biography usually features a subject who played an active role in the organization of significant events, or who had a unique statement or ideas that were recorded. Barbara Heck however left no notes or letters, and any evidence of such as when she got married is merely secondary. The primary documents that were used by Heck to describe her motivations and actions were gone. Yet, she's considered a hero by the history of Methodism. The biographer must define the myth, explain the meaning and then describe the person who is enshrined within.

Abel Stevens was a Methodist scholar, who published his work in 1866. The growth of Methodism within the United States has now indisputably placed the humble name of Barbara Heck first on the listing of women who have been included in the ecclesiastical history of the New World. It is due to the fact that the story of Barbara Heck has to be primarily based on her contribution to the cause and her name will forever be linked. Barbara Heck, who was not in the least involved in the beginning of Methodism both in America and Canada she is one of the women who is famous because of the tendency for a successful organisation or movement to praise its roots to strengthen its belief in permanence and continuity.