Elizabeth Deatley was born about 1796 in Virginia. Her sister, Mary "Polly" Deatley’s obituary states Mary was born in Prince William County, Virginia. Elizabeth and Mary were the daughters of John Deatley and Jemima Porter.

Elizabeth married James Rucker 19 January 1810 in Greenup County, Kentucky. Her sister Mary had married Elzaphan Rucker 04 August 1808 also in Greenup County, Kentucky.

In September 1822 Elizabeth and her husband, Polly and her husband, sister Sarah and her husband John Cameron, James Deatley and John Deatley acknowledged a deed as legal heirs and representatives of John Deatloey deceased in the Greenup County Court Orders to Andrew J. Hughes and George N. Davis. By the time this transaction was filed in court James and Elizabeth had five children, the last Thomas Jefferson Rucker was born in 1822.

Elizabeth’s husband James died about 1826 when Elizabeth was approximately 30 years old. In April that year Elizabeth purchased 100 acres from Joseph R. Ward in Lawrence County, Kentucky under her own name and began paying tax in Lawrence County that same year. She appeared on the Grayham Survey of Little Fork, Lawrence County tax list and continued to pay tax in Lawrence County in the early 1830's. By 1840 Elizabeth and her family appear on the Carter County Census.

She was a strong woman, raising her children and managing her own property. The Grayham survey was not without problems. In October 1846 Elizabeth was involved in a Circuit Court Petition of the heirs of Grayhams lands described as partly in Carter County and mentioning a sale of another 150 acres sold Elizabeth in Greenup County concerning a lien. It was determined that $40.00 be paid to Elizabeth by the First of November 1849.

Her family was firmly situated on her property in Carter County, Kentucky and appears living next to her son Seriah in the census by 1850.

In November 1854 Elizabeth Rucker versed James Blevins, in Carter County, Kentucky stating that James Blevins by his promissory note dated 27 March 1854 agreed to pay 75.00 on or before the first of November and she stated that the defendant by promissory note dated 27 March 1854 acknowledged himself for 42.66 in two notes "due Elizabeth and heirs" on or before lst November 1854. ELizabeth stated that she held a deed from James Ward for land in Lawrence County as part of this reply and the deed of William R. Beatty recorded in Carter Co conveying title and she was "ready and willing to make title of said land." James R. Botts acted as attorney for Elizabeth Rucker in the case. The heirs were cited in a reply and petition dated April 19 the next year including Thomas J. Rucker, Basil Rucker, Seriah Rucker, Mary who had married John Alley, Mary E, Martha, Nancy J, Charles W. and Sarah A. Alley. Thomas J. Rucker stated that he was the son and agent of plaintiff Elizabeth Rucker who was "absent from the county of Carter."

James Blevins stated that he together with George Wilhoit purchased a certain tract of land in Carter County from Elizabeth Rucker on Little Fork of Little Sandy containing 150 acres which she herself made a deed involving Grayhams heirs. Blevins claimed that it was agreed that the heirs of James Rucker who were the children of the plaintiff were to sign the deed but they had failed to do so."

It is not known where Elizabeth was during this part of the hearing for she appears on the 1855 Carter County tax list and in February 1856 she was once again in suit against James Blevins concerning the $75.00 dollars owed the heirs. Elizabeth came into court and stated that she had sold the defendant half of a tract of land in Carter County on the Little Fork of Sandy which contained about 150 acres and that Squire Hunter was occupying the land as a tenant of Blevins. The defendant failed to answer and the court allowed the plaintiff, Elizabeth, to recover the claim. The land was to be sold on a credit of 6 months and advertised with the sale to be held at Mount Savage Furnace. The Sheriff of Bath County was given a summons for James Blevins with a copy of the deed attached.

In 1856 Elizabeth Rucker appeared in court to testify in behalf of her sister Mary "Polly" stating that she had been present and saw Elzaphan Rucker and Mary married by Charles N. Lewis a justice of the peace in Greenup County, Kentucky in 1808. No where in the records can researchers find the relationship of Elzaphan to her husband, James Rucker. Many have thought that they were brothers but it is possible that they were cousins. In June Elizabeth’s niece Mary the widow of Alfred Wade married George Dickerson at Elizabeth’s house. Mary was married by her brother, Absalom. Another brother Henry along with Elizabeth stood as witness to the ceremony.

The county was rapidly developing and all able hands were required to contribute by working on roads as they were developed or needed work. In May 1859 Elizabeth’s son Basil was required to work on the road crossing the lands of Elizabeth Rucker on Little Fork. In September Isaac Ison made a motion that he desired a new road commencing at the old road opposite Ison that lead up the hollow to intersect the old road between the house of Basil Rucker and the house of Elizabeth Rucker’s heirs. While this motion mentions her heirs Elizabeth was still living when the census was taken in 1860 showing her aged 65 in the home of her second son Elzaphon. Elizabeth is still listed on the 1861 Carter County tax but does not appear after that year.