Chafe Family Tree and Family Lineage
HISTORY OF THE WINDSOR SURNAME
Thanks to Marven Ford for the Greening and Windsor history.
The oldest recorded Windsor name on the internet is found on the Internet Genealogy Service website:
Walter FitzOtho De Windsor: Birth: About 1037, Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, Wales. Death: After 1086
Geraldus FitzWalter De Windsor: Christening: About 1070, Carew Castle, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Delicia Windsor: Christening: About 1129, Windsor, Surrey, England
Christian Windsor: Christening: About 1132, West Horsley, Surrey, England
Robert Windsor: Christening: About 1137, Carew Castle, Wales
Gunnora Windsor: Christening: About 1158, Burnham, England
Agnes Mrs De Windsor: Christening: About 1193, Bradenlove, Bucks, EnglandThe Windsor family name originated in Berkshire, England.
Andrew Windsor, son of Thomas Wyndesore (who was made 1st Lord Windsor in 1529) was a descendant of Edward I (Longshanks), King of England.
The House of Windsor had several peers named Lord Windsor, or deWindsor, or variations thereof. However the line died out with the last descendant, the Earl of Plymouth. Robert Windsor/ Clive was one Earl of Plymouth. He inherited the title when it went in dispute between his grandmother and great aunt after the death of their brother. The Earldom of Plymouth became extinct with the death of Henry, 8th Earl of Plymouth. He died on 8 Dec 1843. This line went back Walter Fitz-Other.
Gerald deWindsor, the brother of one of the William deWindsors went to Ireland and became the progenitor of the Fitzgerald clan, the name Fitzgerald meaning son of Gerald.
Windsor is the name of the royal house of Great Britain. The name Wettin, family name of Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, consort of Queen Victoria, was changed to Windsor by George V in 1917. The new name was adopted by all members of the family. In 1952, Queen Elizabeth II, who married Philip Mountbatten, duke of Edinburgh, decreed that she and her descendants (other than females who marry) should retain the name Windsor. A declaration of 1960, however, restricted the name to those descendants bearing the title prince or princess (i.e., the sovereign’s children, the children of the sovereign’s sons, and the eldest son of the eldest son of the prince of Wales); all other descendants are to be known as Mountbatten-Windsor.
Shield: Red with a silver cross (X) between twelve gold crosses
Crest Badge: A deer's head
Motto: Je Me Fie En Dieu, I trust in God
Surnames: Windsor, Winsor, deWindsor, Wyndesore, Winzer, Winser, Wincer
HISTORY OF THE GREENING SURNAMEThe Greening name is believed to have started along the River Severn in the county of Gloucester during the years 1200-1400. There are at least three different spellings going back to 1600.
Shield: Silver with a red cross.
Crest: A horse's head.
Surnames: Greening, Greenyng and GreningThe Greening Family in Highnam, England can be followed at this hyperlink.
WINDSOR/GREENING FAMILY HISTORY
John Greening was born in Moreton Valence, Gloucestershire, around 1801. He married Amy (1805-1851). John's occupation was agricultural labourer (1851) then carter (1861). In 1861 John had a housekeeper, Hannah Fry, and a lodger (John Price) a gardener on the Highnam Court Estate. John was living in Highnam in the early 1830's and was living in a cottage on Highnam Green in the 1860's in one of the cottages nearest to Highnam Farm. Alfred was the only child living at home, and at the age of 11 was described as a Carter's Boy.
John and Amy's children were: Hannah (b.1829), James (b.1832), Catherine (b.1835). George (1838-1914), Elizabeth (b.1840), Ann (b.1847) and Alfred (b.1851). It is possible that Amy died while giving birth to Alfred. John may have been a father to up to 10 children.
George married Eliza Mary Lane - born in Newnham, Gloucestershire, England (1840-1910). Eliza's mother was Comfort Lane (her maiden name was Butler). They lived in Gloucester (where Amy Eliza was born and baptized) then in Newent where the other children were born except Kate who was born in Aston Warwickshire. George worked for Squire Onslow in Newent as a gardener for over 30 years and after the Squire's death George received an inheritance. He then moved his family to Aston Warwick where he invested the money into "The Talbot Inn" and lived upstairs. In about 1886 the Inn failed and he sold out saving enough money to move his family to Canada in 1887.
They left Liverpool on the SS Ontario on Sept 23, 1887 and arrived in Canada on October 3, 1887. They moved to Verdun (Point St. Charles area), Quebec. They brought over 5 children; Amy Eliza, Arthur, Albert, Kate and George. Amy Eliza Greening (1863-1937) married Sam Windsor in 1888. Ernie Greening was the best man at the wedding.
Sam was from Wednesbury, Staffordshire, England. At age 18 he lived at #3 Newport Road, King Norton, Worcester, England. Sam was a brass founder who worked for the Canadian National Railways for 40 years. Sam (Mar 24, 1863 - 1938) and Amy had 6 children; Walter (1893-1907), Alfie (1895-1895), Rubina Kate (May 22, 1896 - May 27, 1975), Pearl Nina (Jan 23, 1899 - Oct 21, 1979), Amy Eliza (1903-1907) and Eva Tessie (Sept 21, 1906 - Sep 19, 1984).
Sam Windsor's father was George Windsor (1831-1914) from Petersfield, Hampshire England. George was a commercial traveler. His first wife was Mary (b.1827). He married his second wife, Elizabeth Stevenson (b.1850). Their children all from Wednesbury were; Louisa, a scholar (1864-?); Annie, a bridal stitcher who married Arthur Greening (July 5 1865-1947); and Gilles or Giles, a scholar (1867-?). The 1851 census states that the name was spelled "Winsor" and the wife of George is Mary, age 24. The 1881 census states that the name is spelled "Windsor" and George is married to Elizabeth, age 30. The BMD shows the maiden name of Elizabeth to be Stevenson. (Source Charlie Windsor)
Pearl Nina Windsor (Jan 23, 1899, Montreal, Quebec - Oct 21, 1979 Ottawa, Ontario). She was the daughter of Amy Eliza Greening from Newant, England. Pearl married Chester Stephen Rufh (May 25, 1896 Montreal, Quebec - Jan 28, 1980 Ottawa, Ontario). The Ruff family lineage goes back as follows:
- Seymour Stephen Ruff (1870 Youngstown, Ohio- Oct 28, 1923 Pennsylvania - Tarentum Pennsylvania Paupers Cemetery)
- Jacob Ruff (June, 1849 Austintown, Ohio - Nov 6, 1909 Youngstown, Ohio)
- Daniel Ruff (1825 Pennsylvania - ? Austintown, Ohio)
- Simon Ruff (Mar 23, 1795 Lehigh County, Pennsylvania - 1866 Austintown, Ohio)
- Christian Herman Ruff (Feb 14, 1764 Montgomery County, Pennsylvania - 1800 Lehigh County, Pennsylvania)
- Sebastian Ruff (Nov 7, 1726 Krautheim, Baden, Germany - Oct 1801 Upper Saucon, Pennsylvania)
- Melchior Ruff (Sep 16, 1705 Krautheim, Baden, Germany - Jun 8, 1744 Krautheim, Baden, Germany)
- Johann Melchior Ruff (Apr 4, 1677 Baden, Germany - Jul 7, 1753 Krautheim, Baden, Germany)
- Johann Jakob Rueff (1630 Baden, Germany - 1702 Krautheim, Baden, Germany)
WINDSOR/GREENING FAMILY PHOTO GALLERY
Comfort Lane
George Greening (48) 1886
(1838-1914)
Eliza Mary (Lane)
Greening (43) 1886
(1840-1910)
Eliza Mary (Lane)
Greening
(1840-1910)
Rubina Kate Windsor, Aug 1896
Eva Windsor (6),
George Greening (71),
Kate Windsor (16),
Amy Greening (69),
Pearl Windsor (13)
at George's
Beaconsfield cottage,
circa. 1909
Kate (16), Sam (49), Amy (49), Eva (6) and Pearl (13), 1912
Sam Windsor, Amy Eliza Greening,
Verdun, 1929
Sam Windsor, Amy Eliza Greening
Peter (5), Kate (68),
Glenn (8), Ross (2),
Greenfield Park, 1964
THE RUFH FAMILY - RUFH FAMILY BLOG
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, MY WIFE VIVIAN ASKED ME TO TRANSCRIBE HER FAMILY GENEALOGY. I AGREED AND STARTED THE TASK. VIVIAN BELONGS TO THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. HER FAMILY HISTORY DATES BACK TO THE 16th CENTURY.
MY SONS, ROBERT AND PHILIP, NOTED THAT THE RUFH FAMILY ONLY WENT BACK TO MY GRANDFATHER SEYMOUR. RATHER THAN ALLOW THEIR LINEAGE TO REMAIN SO ONE-SIDED, I EMBARKED ON THE TASK OF RECORDING THE RUFH FAMILY HISTORY. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A SIMPLE MATTER OF TRACING A VERY UNUSUAL AND UNIQUE SURNAME. HOW DIFFICULT COULD IT BE. AFTER ALL, EVERYONE WITH THIS SURNAME WAS RELATED, WEREN'T THEY!
I KNOW NOW THIS IS A NEVER-ENDING TASK. FOLLOWING A TRAIL OF ANCESTORS TAKES A LOT OF TIME. STILL, I AM GLAD I HAVE THIS PROJECT. IT DIVIDES MY RETIREMENT BETWEEN GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH AND GOLF.
OUR OHIO ANCESTORS USED TWO SURNAMES, SOMETIMES THREE. FIRST IN CHANGING FROM RUFF TO ROOF, AND THEN WHEN THEY CHANGED TO RUFH. I ASSIGNED THEM THEIR BIRTH SURNAME FIRST, THEN THE NAME THEY USED FOR THE MAJORITY OF THEIR LIVES.
MOST OF THE DATA FROM 1830 THROUGH 1920 HAS BEEN GLEANED FROM THE U. S. CENSUS RECORDS FOR THE STATES OF OHIO AND PENNSYLVANIA. MY RESEARCH CARRIED ME TO OUR PRIMARY ANCESTOR, SIMON RUFF. HE WAS BORN IN PENNSYLVANIA IN 1795. I CONTRACTED WITH A PROFESSIONAL RESEARCH FIRM TO DOCUMENT SIMON'S PARENTAGE. IN EARLY 1999, THEY IDENTIFIED SIMON'S FATHER AS CHRISTIAN HERMAN AND HIS GRANDFATHER AS SEBASTIAN RUFF. IT TOOK ANOTHER SIX MONTHS TO FIND THE SHIP MANIFEST, WHICH DOCUMENTED SEBASTIAN'S ARRIVAL IN AMERICA FROM BADEN. THE INTERNATIONAL GENEALOGICAL INDEX IDENTIFIED HIS FAMILY IN MOSBACH, BADEN, GERMANY. I LOCATED THE RECORDS OF THE ORIGINAL RUFF FAMILY IN ST. MARY'S CHURCH IN KRAUTHEIM, GERMANY.
ROBERT REGINALD RUFH, NOVEMBER 1, 1999
MESA, ARIZONA 85208ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
SEYMOUR RUFH, IN MONTREAL, NEVER SPOKE TO HIS FAMILY ABOUT HIS RELATIVES IN THE PLACE OF HIS BIRTH, YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO. HE FREQUENTLY TRAVELED TO BOTH OHIO AND PENNSYLVANIA AS A ROLLING MILL CONTRACTOR. HE WAS WORKING IN PENNSYLVANIA WHEN HE DIED IN 1924. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO CONTACT BETWEEN THE MONTREAL AND OHIO FAMILIES.
MY UNCLE CHESTER RUFH AND HIS SON, CARL, TRAVELED FROM MONTREAL TO YOUNGSTOWN IN THE EARLY 1950's. THEY MET SEVERAL YOUNGSTOWN FAMILY MEMBERS. THESE MEETINGS ESTABLISHED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE YOUNGSTOWN & MONTREAL FAMILIES. SEYMOUR'S FATHER, JACOB WAS IDENTIFIED AS JOHN ROOF'S OLDER BROTHER.(1) THE YOUNGSTOWN CHESTER RUFH, RETURNED THE VISIT WHEN HE ATTENDED THE 1956 WEDDING OF DONALD ERIC RUFH AND PATRICIA QUICK IN MONTREAL.
REGINALD RUFH, MY FATHER, TOOK HIS FAMILY TO YOUNGSTOWN DURING THIS MID 1950 PERIOD. I RECALL MEETING CHESTER RUFH AND HIS SON. OF COURSE, AT THAT AGE I HAD NO INTEREST IN THE FAMILY HISTORY. IT TOOK FORTY YEARS FOR ME TO CONTACT CHESTER EDWARD. WE BEGAN TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION IN 1993. CHESTER REMEMBERED HEARING STORIES OF THREE BROTHERS FROM PENNSYLVANIA WHO STARTED THREE FAMILIES.
WE KNEW OF THE CONFIRMED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MONTREAL AND YOUNGSTOWN FAMILIES. WE HAD NO IDEA WHERE TO LOOK FOR A THIRD FAMILY. THE INTERNET SOLVED PART OF THE MYSTERY WHEN I FOUND THE EMAIL ADDRESS OF MATTHEW JAMES. MATT PROVIDED MOST OF THE EARLY INFORMATION ABOUT THE RUFH FAMILY IN NILES, OHIO.
THE INFORMATION CONCERNING SIMON RUFF'S SON JOHN WAS THE MOST SURPRISING. I HAD MISSED HIM ALTOGETHER TILL A DESCENDENT OF HIS, LYNNETTE BURGE, TURNED UP WITH HIS FAMILY HISTORY. JOHN MADE THE NAME CHANGE TO ROOF, BUT HIS FAMILY DID NOT ADOPT THE RUFH SURNAME.
OUR THANKS TO LOUISE FOR COMMISSIONING THE FAMILY CREST. MY SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO MY SON ROBERT FOR FAITHFULLY REPRODUCING AND COLORIZING IT. THANK YOU TO MY COUSIN, CARL EDWARD, WHO TRAVELED TO OHIO AND OBTAINED DOCUMENTS OF OUR ANCESTORS.
THE YOUNGSTOWN FAMILY WOULD NOT BE AS WELL DOCUMENTED WERE IT NOT FOR CHESTER, BARBARA AND MARTY. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO CONTRIBUTED FAMILY HISTORY AND FACTUAL INFORMATION.
(1) The 1880 census indicates that Daniel and Leah had a second son, named Jacob, born in 1874. It is probable that this is actually Bille Roof who is mentioned in Leah's will.
THE RUFH FAMILY
OUR ORIGINAL ANCESTORS CAME DOWN FROM SWEDEN. THEY SETTLED IN WHAT BECAME THE PALATINE IN THE EARLY 1500S. THE ORIGINAL FAMILY NAME WAS "RUID WOLF", MEANING A "VALIANT WARRIOR." OVER TIME, THE NAME CHANGED TO "RUDOLPH" AND SO ON THROUGH THE MANY VARIATIONS FOUND TODAY.
THE CURRENT SPELLING OF OUR NAME IS VERY UNIQUE. (1) WE ARE, HOWEVER, DESCENDED FROM A 17TH CENTURY FAMILY WHOSE ANCESTRAL HOME WAS IN KRAUTHEIM, GERMANY. OUR EUROPEAN NAME WAS RUFF. IT IS RECORDED AS SUCH IN THE KRAUTHEIM CATHOLIC CHURCH. THE BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES OF THE FAMILY ARE DOCUMENTED FROM THE MID 1600S TO THE 1800s. THE FIRST RECORD IS OF JOHANN JAKOB AND GERTRUD RUEFF, INDICATING THEIR BIRTH IN THE EARLY 1600S.
WHEN JAKOB'S GREAT GRANDSON SEBASTIAN ARRIVED IN AMERICA IN 1754, HIS NAME WAS RECORDED AS ROOF. HIS WILL WAS UNDER THE NAME RUFE. THE BIRTHS OF HIS CHILDREN WERE RECORDED AsS RUF AND RUFF. HE WAS ON THE TAX ROLLS AS RUFF. SEBASTIAN COULD NOT READ OR WRITE. HE SIGNED HIS DOCUMENTS WITH, "HIS W MARK."
MANY FAMILY MEMBERS PRONOUNCE THEIR NAME, "ROOF (2)
THERE IS A GOOD REASON FOR THIS PRONUNCIATION. SIMON AND HIS SONS CHANGED THEIR NAME TO ROOF ABOUT 1860. THE REASON FOR THE CHANGE IS UNKNOWN. THE FAMILY MEMBERS ARE LIVING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY. COURT DOCUMENTS ARE NOT NEEDED. THE NAME OF THE OHIO FAMILY SUDDENLY BECOMES, "ROOF".
THE SURNAME CHANGE TO "RUFH" TAKES PLACE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 20TH CENTURY. THE FIRST RECORD 1S THE 1900 OHIO CENSUS WHEN PROSSER ROOF RECORDS HIS NAME AS RUFH. IT IS THE YOUNGER GENERATION WHO USE THIS NEW AND UNIQUE SPELLING OF THEIR NAME. THEY TAKE THE TIME TO REVISE MANY HISTORICAL RECORDS BY CHANGING THEIR PARENTS' NAMES TO RUFH ON DEATH CERTIFICATES. THOSE WHO MAKE THE CHANGE OBTAIN NEW BIRTH CERTIFICATES. THAT THEY CHANGE TOGETHER AND IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME CANNOT BE A COINCIDENCE. IT MUST HAVE BEEN IMPORTANT. WERE THEY ATTEMPTING TO REVERT TO THE ORIGINAL NAME OF RUFF? WAS THE USE OF THE SILENT 'H' DELIBERATE? WHY MAKE THE CHANGE? WHY CONTINUE WITH THE OLD PRONUNCIATION? WHY DIDN'T JOHN AND ISAAC ADOPT THE NEW SURNAME?
(1) Robert Rayrnond Ruhf changed his surname to Rufh in the 1930s. Robert married Eleanor in 1946. They live in Port Hope, Pennsylvania, They have sons named James and Robert.
(2) Most of the Canadian family use the early pronunciation, "Ruff."THE KRAUTHEIM FAMILY
THE GERMAN STATE OF BADEN BORDERS SWITZERLAND TO ITS SOUTH AND FRANCE TO ITS WEST. IT IS MUCH LARGER TODAY THAN IT WAS IN THE 1600S. IN THE NORTHERN PART OF BADEN, ON THE NECKAR RIVER, AND PARTIALLY LOCATED IN WURTTEMBERG, IS A TOWN NAMED "KRAUTHEIM."
EUROPE WAS JUST BEGINNING TO RECORD THE VITAL STATISTICS OF ITS POPULATION IN THE EARLY 1600S. THE CHURCHES WERE THE REPOSITORIES OF THIS INFORMATION. IN KRAUTHEIM IT WAS THE CATHOLIC PARISH. IT IS IN THESE CHURCH DOCUMENTS THAT WE FIND THE RECORDS OF THE BIRTHS, CHRISTENINGS AND MARRIAGES OF THE CHILDREN OF JOHANN JAKOB AND GERTRUD RUEFF. JACOB WAS BORN AROUND 1630. HE MARRIED GERTRUD AROUND 1665..THEIR CHILDREN WERE RECORDED WITH THE SURNAME RUFF. THEIR NAMES WERE OFTEN RECORDED IN LATIN.
THE FAMILY GROWS THROUGH JAKOB AND GERTRUD'S SON, JOHANN MELCHIOR. HE AND HIS WIFE, ANNA MARGARETHA BAUMANN, ARE THE PARENTS OF THE SECOND SON NAMED, MELCHIOR. IN TURN, MELCHIOR AND HIS WIFE, MARIA MARGARETHA HERZOG, ARE THE PARENTS OF SEBASTIAN. SEBASTIAN IS THE ONLY FAMILY MEMBER KNOWN TO HAVE EMIGRATED.
SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE KRAUTHEIM FAMILY:
1. THEY FOLLOWED TRADITIONAL GERMAN NAMING CUSTOMS. THEY GAVE A CHILD TWO NAMES AT BAPTISM. THE FIRST NAME WAS SPIRITUAL OR HONORARY. THE SECOND WAS A SECULAR NAME BY WHICH THE CHILD WOULD BE KNOWN THROUGHOUT LIFE. (A SINGLE NAME AT BAPTISM COMBINED BOTH SPIRITUAL AND SECULAR.) THIS NAMING CUSTOM WAS PRACTICED IN OUR FAMILY TILL THE EARLY 1900S WHEN THE FIRST NAME BECAME DOMINANT.
2. A NAME WAS USED AGAIN WHEN A CHILD DIED. JOHANN LEONHARD HAD TWO SONS NAMED ANDREAS. JOHANN SIGISMUND HAD TWO DAUGHTERS WITH THE SECULAR NAME EVA.
3. THE FAMILY MORTALITY APPEARS TO BE QUITE HIGH. 1750 WAS A VERY HARD YEAR. JOHANN SIGISMUND, HIS WIFE URSULA AND SONS SEBASTIAN AND JOSEPH SEBASTIAN, ALL DIED WITHIN 60 DAYS.
4. THE MARRIAGE DATA OF FEMALES WAS RECORDED WITH THEIR HUSBAND WHEN THEY MARRIED. THEY WERE CONSIDERED TO HAVE JOINED THE HUSBAND'S FAMILY.EDMUND STROMMER, THE RESEARCHER WHO PROVIDED THE FAMILY HISTORY FROM THE RECORDS OF ST. MARY'S CHURCH, ADVISES, THAT IN HIS OPINION, OUR FAMILY LINEAGE DIED OUT WITH PETER LUDWIG'S FAMILY IN THE 1830S. HE TOOK THE TIME TO INQUIRE THROUGHOUT THE KRAUTHEIM COMMUNITY FOR ANY RECOLLECTION OF A RUFF LIVING IN THE AREA. ALL TO NO AVAIL. IT APPEARS THE RUFF FAMILY MEMBERS WHO REMAINED IN KRAUTHEIM SUCCUMBED TO THE HARSH EUROPEAN CONDITIONS AND PERISHED.
SEBASTIAN RUFF, B.1726 D. 1801
NEW YEARS, 1754, WAS PROBABLY VERY SPECIAL FOR SEBASTIAN. HE AGREED TO EMIGRATE TO AMERICA. IN THE SPRING, HE SAID GOOD-BYE TO HIS FAMILY AND HEADED FOR THE RHINE RIVER. IT WAS A SHORT PASSAGE TO ROTTERDAM IN THE NETHERLANDS. THAT WAS HIS PORT OF DEPARTURE.
THE BRITISH SHIP BARCLAY, UNDER CAPTAIN JOHN BROWN, LEFT ROTTERDAM AND ARRIVED IN PHILADELPHIA ON SEPTEMBER 14, 1754. LISTED ON THE PASSENGER MANIFEST IS BESTIAN ROOF. THE NEXT DAY, WHEN HE TAKES HIS OATH OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE KING AND THE COLONY OF PENNSYLVANIA, HE MAKES HIS (X) MARK AS BASTIAN ROOF. BASTIAN, AS HE PREFERRED TO BE CALLED, IS MARRIED WITHIN THREE YEARS. BY 1773, SEBASTIAN AND SUSANNAH ARE MEMBERS OF THE SPRINGFIELD LUTHERAN CHURCH IN WHAT IS TODAY, LEHIGH COUNTY, (THEIR SON GEORGE AND GRANDSON JACOB ALSO BECOME MEMBERS.)
SEBASTIAN IS OUR OLDEST CONFIRMED AMERICAN ANCESTOR. (1) HIS NAME IS BASTIAN RUFF WHEN THE BIRTHS OF HIS CHILDREN CHRISTINA, MARIA, VALENTINE AND HERMAN ARE RECORDED. (2) SEBASTIAN MOST LIKELY CANNOT READ OR WRITE. HIS WILL IS WRITTEN UNDER THE NAME SEBASTIAN RUFE.
SEBASTIAN IS A LABORER IN 1772. HE IS TAXED 6.8 + 2.8.0 "FOR LAND LIVED ON." IN 1785 HIS TAX IS 4.0 BUT HE NOW OWNS A HORSE. THIRTY-TWO YEARS AFTER HIS ARRIVAL IN AMERICA, IN 1786, BASTIAN OWNS 16 ACRES OF LAND, 1 EACH, HORSE AND CATTLE. HIS FEDERAL TAX IS 4.0 (3). WHEN SEBASTIAN DIES IN 1801 HE IS REFERRED TO AS A YEOMAN. HE OWNS A 19-ACRE PLANTATION. HIS ESTATE IS APPRAISED AT £225.0.0.
SEBASTIAN MADE HIS WILL SHORTLY BEFORE HIS DEATH IN MAY OF 1801. IT WAS 'PROVED' ON OCTOBER 10, 1801. HE STATES IN HIS WILL THAT HE HAS TWO SONS, GEORGE AND VALENTINE, AND IDENTIFIES HIS DAUGHTERS CHRISTINA AND MAGDALENA. HE DOES NOT MENTION HIS DAUGHTER MARLA OR HIS YOUNGEST SON HERMAN. IT IS VERY PROBABLE THAT MARIA AND HERMAN ARE DECEASED BY 1801.
SEBASTIAN'S WILL DETAILS ALL THE SPECIFIC COMMODITIES AND EXPENSES VALENTINE IS TO RENDER TO HIS MOTHER SUSANNAH. HOWEVER, VALENTINE DOES NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HIS INHERITED RIGHT TO OBTAIN THE PLANTATION. TOGETHER AS ESTATE EXECUTORS, GEORGE AND VALENTINE SELL EVERYTHING. A FINAL ACCOUNTING IS FILED WITH THE COURT ON NOVEMBER 4, 1803. THE ESTATE 15 DIVIDED INTO FOUR EQUAL SHARES FOR GEORGE, VALENTINE, CHRISTINA AND MAGDALENA.
(1) LINEAGES Inc. Salt Lake City, Utah Contract No. 1020515 - Rufb
(2) Montgomery County, 1682 - 1800, Record of Birth, page 392.
(3) 'Pennsylvania Colonial Records Volume XIXSIMON RUFF, B. MARCH 23, 1795 D. ABT 1866
SIMON AND CATHERINE RUFF ARE THE HUSBAND AND WIFE THROUGH WHOM THE PRESENT RUFHS ARE DESCENDED. SIMON WAS BORN IN PENNSYLVANIA IN 1795. HE IS THE SON OF HERMAN AND THE GRANDSON OF SEBASTIAN. SIMON MARRIES CATHERINE SHIVEY ABOUT 1825 AND THEY BEGIN THEIR FAMILY IN PENNSYLVANIA. THE OHIO TERRITORY WAS OPENING IN THE 1830S. MANY FAMILIES WERE MIGRATING WESTWARD TO SEEK BETTER OPPORTUNITIES. SIMON, CATHERINE AND THEIR FIVE CHILDREN STARTED THE TREK TO OHIO ABOUT 1834.
THE 1840 CENSUS RECORDS SIMEON ROOF. HE IS LIVING IN THE TOWN OF JACKSON, TRUMBULL COUNTY, OHIO. SIMON AND HIS FAMILY MOVE TO AUSTINTOWN ABOUT 1844. THEY LIVE CLOSE TO ONE ANOTHER EVEN AS THE SONS MARRY. SIMON, DANIEL, SAMUEL AND JACOB, ARE RECORDED AS RUFFS IN THE 1850 CENSUS. THEY LIST THEIR OCCUPATION AS LABORERS.
THEIR ARRIVAL IN 0HIO IS PROBABLY THE BASIS FOR THE FAMILY STORIES OF THREE BROTHERS WHO START THREE FAMILIES. THERE WERE ACTUALLY FOUR BROTHERS, DANIEL, SAMUEL, JACOB AND JOHN
IN 1860 THE FAMILY CHANGES THEIR SURNAME. HENCEFORTH, EVERYONE WILL USE THE NAME ROOF. THE ROOFS ESTABLISH THEIR PRESENCE IN THE EASTERN OHIO AREA. THEY BECOME A PART OF THE AUSTINTOWN COMMUNITY.
SIMON'S OLDEST SON, DANIEL, IS A FARMER BY 1860. HE OBTAINED A FARM WHEN HE MARRIED LEAH HARROFF. THIS FARM BECAME THE CENTRAL FOUNDATION OF THE FAMILY. OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WORKED ON THE FARM.
LEAH ROOF DIED IN 1881. SHE WILLED THE FARM TO THE FAMILY, THE HOUSE TO DANIEL, AND A SMALL PLOT OF LAND FOR USE AS A FAMILY CEMETERY. (1)
SIMON AND CATHERINE HAD SIX SONS. THROUGH DANIEL, THE OLDEST, AND ISAAC, THE YOUNGEST, WILL COME THE PRESENT DAY RUFH FAMILIES. JOHN WILL MAKE THE SURNAME CHANGE TO ROOF BUT HIS DESCENDENTS DO NOT MAKE THE 1900 CHANGE TO RUFH. THEY ALONE WILL KEEP THE ROOF SURNAME.
- DANIEL'S OLDEST SON, JACOB, AND HIS FIRST WIFE, AGNES, HAVE A SON, SEYMOUR, WHO FOUNDED THE MONTREAL FAMILY
- DANIEL'S THIRD SON, JOHN, AND HIS WIFE, SARAH, HAVE TWO SONS, CLYDE AND CHESTER. THESE BROTHERS FOUNDED THE YOUNGSTOWN FAMILIES.
- SIMON'S YOUNGEST SON, ISAAC, WAS THE FOUNDER OF THE NILES FAMILYWE CAN TAKE SATISFACTION IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE RELATED THROUGH THE PROGENY OF AN EARLY PIONEERING AMERICAN FAMILY.
(1) The Cemetery is located 1.3 miles West on Mahoning Ave. behind House # 6527
THE CHILDREN SIMON & CATHERINE
THE EARLIEST DOCUMENTATION OF SIMON RUFF AND HIS FAMILY IS THE 1830 U.S. PENNSYLVANIA CENSUS. SIMON AND CATHERINE ARE LIVING IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. HE IS RECORDED UNDER THE NAME "RUFF." SIMON'S DAUGHTER, CATHERINE, IS THEIR LAST CHILD BORN IN PENNSYLVANIA IN 1834. THE NEXT CHILD, SARAH, IS BORN IN OHIO IN 1838. SIMON IS RECORDED IN THE 1840 OHIO CENSUS AS SIMEON ROOF IN JACKSON. HE HAS A WIFE, 4 MALE AND 6 FEMALE CHILDREN.
THE 1850 U.S. CENSUS ENUMERATES SIMON AND HIS SONS DANIEL, SAMUEL AND JACOB UNDER THE SURNAME "RUFF." THEY ARE LIVING VERY CLOSE TO EACH OTHER IN AUSTINTOWN, OHIO. JOHN WAS MISSED IN THIS CENSUS.
SIMON'S CHILDREN MARRY UNDER THE NAME "RUFF." AT LEAST THEY DO IN THE BEGINNING. DANIEL MARRIES LEAH HARROFF ABOUT 1844. SAMUEL MARRIES MARTHA ABOUT 1846. THE OHIO VITAL RECORDS FILM No: 317 439, RECORDS THE MARRIAGES OF JACOB RUFF & ELIZABETH PENNEL IN 1849, REBECCA RUFF IN 185S, SARAH RUFF IN 1857 AND ANDREW RUFF TO CATHERINE BOLEY IN 1861.
NOW COMES THE SURNAME CHANGE. THE DOCUMENTED MARRIAGES OF CATHERINE ROOF IN 1860, ISAAC ROOF IN 1865 AND ANDREW ROOF WHEN HE MARRIES POLLIE CARN IN 1864. THESE DOCUMENTS INDICATE ALL ARE USING THE NEW SPELLING, "ROOF." THIS IS CONFIRMED BY THE 1860 CENSUS.
THE LAST DOCUMENTED APPEARANCE OF SIMON IS AT THE WEDDING OF HIS YOUNGEST SON, ISAAC, IN 1865. HIS NAME, NOW SIMON ROOF, IS LISTED TOGETHER WITH THE MINISTER WHO PERFORMED THE MARRIAGE. HE IS OVER 70 YEARS OF AGE. SIMON LIVES TO SEE ALL HIS CHILDREN MARRIED. THERE IS NO CENSUS ENUMERATION OF SIMON IN 1870. 1 BELIEVE SIMON DIED SOON AFTER ISAAC WAS MARRIED.
OUR NORTH AMERICAN LINEAGE IS FROM SEBASTIAN TO HIS YOUNGEST SON HERMAN AND THEN TO SIMON, OUR PRIMARY COMMON ANCESTOR. SIMON'S LIFE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN VERY FULL. SIMON AND CATHERINE HAD AT LEAST NINE SURVIVING CHILDREN. HE KEPT HIS FAMILY TOGETHER. HE MUST HAVE INITIATED THE CHANGE OF THE SURNAME TO "ROOF."
SIMON IS THE LINK TO OUR ANCESTRY. HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BREAK WITH THE PENNSYLVANIA RUFFS IT IS THROUGH SIMON'S SONS DANIEL AND ISAAC THAT THE FAMILIES ARE LINKED IN OHIO.
LEAH HARROFF ROOF B. 1827 D. 1881
LEAH HARROFF 1S IN HER TEENS WHEN SHE MARRIES DANIEL RUFF. BY 1850 THEY HAVE THREE CHILDREN, SUSAN, SARAH AND JACOB. DANIEL IS A LABORER. THEY LIVE CLOSE TO DANIEL'S FATHER, SIMON, AND HIS BROTHERS, SAMUEL AND JACOB, IN AUSTINTOWN, OHIO.
LEAH AND DANIEL HAVE THREE ADDITIONAL CHILDREN DURING THE NEXT TEN YEARS, HERMAN, ISABELL AND JOHN. THEY HAVE CHANGED THEIR NAME TO ROOF. LEAH ALSO OWNS A FARM, SHE MAY HAVE INHERITED THE FARM OR THE MONEY TO PURCHASE IT. HOWEVER IT COMES ABOUT, LEAH OWNS WHAT BECOMES THE "FAMILY FARM." THE FARM BECOMES THE CENTER OF THE ROOF FAMILY FOR MANY YEARS. LEAH'S HUSBAND, DANIEL, IS LISTED AS A "FARM LABORER," NOT A FARMER, IN THE 1880 CENSUS. ONE CAN ONLY SPECULATE THAT LEAH WAS THE RESPONDENT TO THE CENSUS QUESTIONS.
LEAH'S PROBATED WILL LEAVES QUESTIONS FOR US TO PONDER.
WHY WAS SUSAN, LEAH's FIRST CHILD, SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDED FROM HER WILL? WHAT ABOUT ISABELL? ISABELL IS NOT MENTIONED IN THE WILL, AND NEITHER ISABELL NOR SUSAN IS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBATE HEARINGS. LEAH'S DAUGHTER, ELLA, RECEIVED ONE ACRE OF LAND, AND WAS EXCLUDED FROM ANY ADDITIONAL PARTICIPATION IN THE FARM. WAS THIS AN EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION? DANIEL, HER HUSBAND, WAS GIVEN A PLACE TO LIVE, BUT NOT A SHARE OF THE FARM.
FINALLY, THE FARM IS DIVIDED BETWEEN SIX CHILDREN. THE SIX CHILDREN NOTIFIED BY THE PROBATE COURT ARE: SARAH, JACOB, HERMAN, JOHN, MARY AND BILLE. IS BILLE THE JACOB WHO IS LISTED AS A SON IN THE 1880 CENSUS, BORN WHEN LEAH WAS 46?
LEAH STIPULATED THAT EACH OF HER CHILDREN WAS TO HAVE A HOME ON THE FARM. IS THIS THE SAME HOME HER HUSBAND, DANIEL, WAS GIVEN? DID THIS MEAN THEY WOULD ALWAYS HAVE THE RIGHT TO LIVE IN THE FARM HOME? THE FAMILIES OWNERSHIP OF THE FARM IS LONG GONE. DID THEY QUICKLY CONVERT THE FARM INTO CASH AND DIVIDE IT AMONGST THEMSELVES? DID THEY KEEP THE FARMHOUSE? WHAT ABOUT ELLA'S ACRE? WHO IS LOTTIE BARRETT, WHO IS NOTIFIED BY THE COURT OF THE PROBATE HEARING?
THE SMALL PLOT OF LAND LEAH DEDICATED AS A CEMETERY, IS LISTED AS THE ROOF FAMILY CEMETERY IN HISTORICAL BOOKS COVERING PRIVATE CEMETERIES IN OHIO. LEAH'S WILL SAID. "...THERE IS SOME GRAVES NOW THEREIN.." THE GRAVES MIGHT BE THOSE OF SIMON AND CATHERINE. HOWEVER, THERE ARE NO IDENTIFYING MARKERS OR GRAVES THERE TODAY. OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WERE NOT BURIED THERE.'
The cemetery is behind the home of Mr. Anthony Phillips, 6527 W. MahoniNg Ave., Austintown
SARAH ANN MADIGAN RUFH B. MARCH 21, 1852 D. NOVEMBER 13, 1923
SARAH IS THE DAUGHTER OF IRISH-BORN MICHAEL MADIGAN AND ANN SHAW. SARAH WAS BORN IN AKRON, OHIO ON MARCH 21, 1852.
HER FIRST MARRIAGE IS TO MARTIN MAHONEY ABOUT 1875. TOGETHER THEY HAVE A SON, MARTIN JR., BORN IN 1876. WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO MARTIN SR., BUT SARAH IS A WIDOW IN 1879.
JACOB ROOF IS A WIDOWER WITH AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD SON, SEYMOUR, WHEN HE AND THE WIDOW SARAH MAHONEY MARRY IN 1879. SARAH TAKES THREE YEARS OFF HER AGE, TELLING JACOB SHE IS 24 YEARS OLD. SHE MAINTAINS HER "YOUNGER" AGE TILL HER DEATH IN 1923.
JACOB BECOMES A FATHER TO YOUNG MARTIN MAHONEY. JACOB AND SARAH HAVE FIVE: ADDITIONAL CHILDREN DURING THE NEXT 12 YEARS. THEY USE THE FAMILY NAME, ROOF, THROUGH 1900. JACOB VISITED HIS SON SEYMOUR IN MONTREAL ONLY ONCE. THAT WAS IN 1902 TO PERSUADE HIM TO ADOPT THE "RUFH" NAME.
JACOB DIES IN 1909 UNDER THE SURNAME RUFH. THEIR RESIDENCE WAS 1712 TAYLOR ST. IN YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO. SARAH GIVES HER NAME AS RUFH DURING THE 1910 AND 1920 OHIO CENSUS. SHE IS ALONE IN HER FINAL YEARS. SARAH ANN DIES ON NOVEMBER 13,1923.
JACOB AND SARAH'S SON HARRY LIVES NEAR SARAH AT 1409 POLAND AVENUE. HARRY AND HIS WIFE, CATHERINE SHEA, HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS AND A SON. THEIR SON EDWARD DIES AT THE AGE OF 13.
SARAH, THROUGH HER FIVE CHILDREN, MADE UP THE SECOND FAMILY OF JACOB ROOF. WHEN THEIR ONLY GRANDSON, EDWARD, DIED IN 1922, THEIR RUFH FAMILY LINEAGE ENDED.
Fortunately for the family, Jacob and his first wife Agnes Matilda had a son Seymour. He founds the Montreal family through his marriage to Lillian Caron.
SEYMOUR & LILLIAN
SEYMOUR IS THE SON OF JACOB ROOF AND AGNES MATILDA NEAL. AGNES DIES DURING SEYMOUR'S CHILDBIRTH. JACOB MARRIES ANOTHER GIRL OF IRISH HERITAGE, SARAH MAHONEY, IN 1879. SEYMOUR, HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME LIVING AT HOME UNDER THE NEW MRS. ROOF, IS GONE FROM THE YOUNGSTOWN HOME ABOUT 1800. HE LEAVES A HALF BROTHER AND FOUR HALF SISTERS. SEYMOUR NEVER MENTIONS THEM.
SEYMOUR AND LILLIAN CARON MARRY IN 1895. THEY LIVE IN MONTREAL. SEYMOUR WAS 25. LILLIAN WAS 20. THEY USED THE NAME ROOF FOR THE FIRST SEVERAL YEARS OF THEIR MARRIAGE. THEY ABRUPTLY CHANGED THEIR NAME TO RUFH IN 1902. AUNT PAT SAYS THIS TOOK PLACE AFTER A VISIT FROM SEYMOUR'S FATHER, JACOB.
LILLIAN IS ONE OF 14 CARON CHILDREN. HER MOTHER, CATHERINE, LIVES PAST 100 YEARS. THE CARON FAMILY IS VERY LARGE AND QUITE WELL KNOWN IN QUEBEC AND THE NORTHEAST UNITED STATES. LILLIAN'S GRANDMOTHER IS LADY ELIZABETH MACMILLAN. ELIZABETH RAN OFF TO SEA AND MARRIED CAPTAIN NEIL MORRISON AT AGE 15.
SEYMOUR WAS A ROLLING MILL CONTRACTOR. HIS WORK TOOK HIM TO MILLS THROUGHOUT QUEBEC, ONTARIO, OHIO AND PENNSYLVANIA. LILLIAN AND THE CHILDREN MOVED WITH SEYMOUR. SHE USUALLY TRIED TO RETURN TO MONTREAL FOR THE BIRTH OF HER CHILDREN. EVENTUALLY, LILLIAN DECIDED TO STAY IN MONTREAL. THUS BEGAN A PERIOD OF FREQUENT AND EVER INCREASING SEPARATIONS.
LILLIAN ASKED FOR A DIVORCE IN 1912. THEY RECONCILED. SEYMOUR STAYED IN MONTREAL. THEIR "LOVE CHILD," PATRICIA WAS BORN IN 19 13.
BY 1920, SEYMOUR WAS AGAIN ABSENT. THIS TIME HE FAILED TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT. CONDITIONS AT HOME WITH EIGHT CHILDREN BECAME DESPERATE. IN 1922, LILLIAN SENT HER SON, REGINALD, TO FIND SEYMOUR. HE LOCATED HIM IN PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA. HE WAS ILL AND PENNILESS. HE DIED IN 1924 AND WAS BURIED IN A PAUPER'S GRAVE. REGINALD TURNED WEST AND TRAVELED TO CHICAGO.
LILLIAN MARRIED ERNEST STONEBRIDGE AND STAYED WITH HIM TILL HIS DEATH IN THE 1940'S. THERE IS VERY LITTLE FAMILY DATA ABOUT THIS MARRIAGE. AFTER ERNEST, LILLIAN SUCCESSFULLY BROUGHT A LAWSUIT AGAINST HER CHILDREN FOR PARENTAL SUPPORT. THE CHILDREN SUPPORTED HER FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE. LILLIAN DIED IN HER DAUGHTER DELLA'S HOME IN ST. LAMBERT, QUEBEC, IN OCTOBER 1951.
December 28, 2005
