An excellent Resource for life and times of Robert Ruffin and family may be found in the book, Tidewater Virginia Families by Virginia Lee Davis Published 1989. (page 502-538)
John grew up on the plantation known as "Richneck". John's father died when he was only 16, and John probably assumed responsibilities of managing "Richneck" plantation being the eldest son.
John served in the militia of Surry County (1738 and 1745). In 1754 while living in Sussex County he was elected a burgess. He later owned land in Mecklenburg County and the family probably lived there.
It is believed that the family worshipped in the church formerly called Lawnes Creek Parish, but known as Southwark parish in John's time. The church was built in 1751 and its ruins are still there.
The following materials contributed by: Kim Blake dabbler@telocity.com
William B. Ruffin
William RUFFIN - of "Rich Neck" Surry Co. VA d. 1774, will dated 1 MAY
1773, Pro. 26 APRIL, 1774
sp-1) Mary or Jane BLAND?, dau. of Col. Theodorick BLAND
sp-2) Lucy COCKE of "Shoal Bay"
GENERATION VI
Theodorick Bland RUFFIN (William/Mary or Jane, John, Robert, Robert, William)
sp-Susan MURRAY, dau of John MURRAY
Elizabeth RUFFIN (William/Lucy)
sp-Col. Wm. BROWN
William RUFFIN (William/Lucy)
sp-Nancy EDWARDS
GENERATION VII
Jane B. RUFFIN (Theodorick)
William Francis RUFFIN (Theodorick, William/Jane, John, Robert, Robert,
William)
sp-1) Elizabeth A. HARRISON (possibly first marriage surname) married 1818
sp-2) A. COCKE
sp-3) C. COCKE
(Researcher: Sally Lee
104064.3442@compuserve.com )
GENERATION VIII
John Edmunds RUFFIN (William/Elizabeth), b. 22 JAN 1821 (conflict of Surry
and Sussex Co. in documents), d. Faunsdale, Marengo Co., AL 15 JAN 1880, m.
Uniontown, Perry Co. AL, 17 JUL 1849 license #2087 at the Church of the
Holy Cross Episcopal by Rev. Edmund Murdaugh. Buried St. Michael's
Cemetery, Faunsdale, Marengo Co. AL
sp-Roberta Maria CLARKE, b. 29 JUN 1829 "Woodlawn" Chesterfield Co. VA,
d. 13 DEC 1907 Faunsdale, Marengo Co. AL, dau. of Capt. Robert CLARKE and
Henrietta Maria GRAY (Roberta's obituary can be found at the
Rootsweb.com site for Chesterfield Co. VA) Buried St. Michael's Cemetery, Faunsdale, Marengo Co. AL.
Note:The book is Tales and Sketches for the Fireside ("which
is most respectfully dedicated to every Southern home
circle") by Mrs. R. M. Ruffin, published by Dennis Dykouse
in Marion AL 1858. In Alabama, I have found two copies in
Birmingham. One is at the Linn-Henley Library and one is at
the Samford University Library.
Collier RUFFIN (William/Elizabeth)
Susanna RUFFIN (William/A. Cocke)
Theodorick RUFFIN (William/A. Cocke)
Jane [Jean]B.[Bland] RUFFIN (William/C. Cocke)
John Shaw FEILD was the husband, not brother, first to Susan/Susanna Ruffin (listed just above ) and second to Jean Bland Ruffin (listed as Jane B. Ruffin above) Based on the 1850 Marengo Co. AL census and DAR records, I believe her correct name is Jean.
Possible half-sisters:
Anna Harrison Adams b. 1 Jun 1815
Mary Harrison Minge b 26 Jul 1812
John, Anna, and Mary were all born in Sussex Co. VA, and lived and died in Marengo Co AL. They are buried in adjoining family sections in St. Michael's Cemetery, Faundsale, Marengo Co. AL
Researcher: Kim dabbler@mail.dataactive.com
Has photos of tombstone of John and Robert in Marengo Co, AL
John 4 was used for DAR application.
============
Kim also provides this information:
George Henry BLAKE - b. 1 JUL 1837 Henrico Co. VA d. 31 DEC 1916 Marengo
Co. AL, m. Elizabeth Clarke RUFFIN and their children are:
Georgie - b. 16 AUG 1880, d 15 JUN 1963 never married
Mary "Mamie" - b. abt 1882, d. abt 1960 m. Robert James ROUSE
William Ballard - b. abt 1884, d. abt 1947, m. Frances POWERS
Madeline - b. 29 DEC 1886, d. 5 JUNE 1907 never married
George "Henry" - b. 5 DEC 1888, d. 6 JUN 1958 m. Sarah Jackson THOMAS
Thomas Benjamin - b. abt 1890, d. abt 1975, m. Margaret LEVY Thomas
Ballard BLAKE m. ?Agnes Craddock?
William Benjamin BLAKE - b. 6 JUL 1846 d. 7 MAY 1904 never married
Mary BLAKE m. _______ BULLINGTON
son R. McC. BULLINGTON
Frances "Fannie" BLAKE - never married
========================
SWEET HALL
Sweet Hall," in King William County, Virginia was the home of several
generations of Claibornes and Ruffins. My particular connection to this
lovely old house is through my ancestors, Thomas Claiborne, Jr., (1681-1732)
and his wife, Ann Fox, and also John Ruffin, of "Sweet Hall" (1704-1736) and
his wife, Martha Hamlin. The Claibornes and Ruffins married each other like
mad and several generations of Claibornes/Ruffins lived here. There is an
old cemetery there, but the only tombstone that can be read today is that of
Thomas Claiborne, Jr. (1703/04 - 1735), the son of Thomas Claiborne, Jr.
above. It is my understanding that his mother and father are buried there
as well.
The front of the house faces the Pamunkey River - it is a magnificent view!
On August 13, 1781, the Marquis de Lafayette encamped his army in the area
including the grounds of the plantation. (The family must have been
terrified, don't you think?) From this position and another near the
Mattaponi River, Lafayette spied on the British army downriver at Yorktown,
and prepared to block its escape routes. Early in September, Gen. George
Washington and his army arrive from the north accompanied by Rochambeau's
French forces to join Lafayette and begin the siege of Yorktown.
I'm not sure, but I think this might be one of the - if not the oldest -
Ruffin ancestral homes in America still standing.
I have photographs of the house from difference views and will be glad to
share them with anyone who is interested via .jpg files. I have attached
one. This is a view from the side of the house. You can see that the old
kitchen has been incorporated into the main house at the rear. The river is
to the left.
I have written to the owner and asked her some questions about the history
of the house. I plan to go to King William this Fall and see if I can dig
up more documentation as I haven't done much research on my Ruffin lines
although I have a good deal of well documented information on the
Claibornes.
Your Kinswoman,
Suellen Clopton Blanton,
bblanton@fast.net
Additional notes on Gooch Family and Ferry near Sweet Hall
Carl.Gooch@maritz.com>
Carl A. Gooch of Missouri
Name: Claiborne GOOCH
Given Name: Claiborne
Surname: Gooch
Sex: M
Birth: Abt 1707 in , New Kent Co., Vir.
Death: Abt 1760 in , , Vir.
Burial: , , , Vir.
Note:
Claiborne Gooch II was born around 1707, and was obviously the eldest son as Claiborne II received his father's land and ran the ferry. The law of Primageniture prevailed at that time which gave the land to the eldest son.
He died after 1792 as he was still running the ferry in 1792. In 1792, Hening tells us that the legislature passed an act requiring "all ferries to be kept open on the York and its tributaried."
The Pamunkey being one of the two greatest tributaries, the sign board again read: "From Sweet Hall to Claiborne Gooch's, man 8 cts; horse, 8 cts." "From Claiborne Gooch's to Sweet Hall, man 8 cts; horse, 8 cts." (Hening, Vol. 6., pg-17)
This tells us two important things. 1. The old home was still standing 1792, having weathered the American Revolution, and 2. that another
Claiborne Gooch was living at the old Gooch Place. And this one is probably a grandson of Claiborne Gooch I.
If a Gooch by any other name were there we certainly would find a change of name on the sign board. It doesn't take long to forget the name of an old resident, once a new one has come into a neighborhood, and with a signboard to help such a change would come quickly. It is significant that there is no change of name.
Claiborne Gooch II lived at the plantation on Pamunkey River in 1792 and still ran the ferry between his home and "Sweet Hall," the Claiborne home. Claiborne probably took full possession of the land when his mother died, if she had a life interest, probably in the 1760's or 1770's, but he certainly had it in 1792. Claiborne II's land was probably all or a portion of the original plantation of Lt. Col. Henry Gooch. Children: Unknown at this time.
Father: Claiborne GOOCH b: Abt 1685 in , King William Co., Vir.
Mother: UNKNOWN THOMPSON b: Abt 1686 in Of, Vir.
Marriage 1 Spouse Unknown
Married: Abt 1726
Note: _STAT
Children
William W. GOOCH b: Abt 1721 in, Hanover Co., Vir.
Claiborne GOOCH b: Abt 1736 in New Kent Co., Vir.
Thomas GOOCH b: 1743 in, Albemarle Co., Vir.
Francis Ruffin
Researcher: Gwa803@aol.comFrancis Ruffian, Sr., the youngest child of John and Martha Hamlin Ruffian. He was born 05/13/1750 probably in Surry Co., VA, but grew up in Mecklenburg Co., Va. His 1st. marriage was to Hannah Cocke[Surry Co Jan 14, 1775].
Their children were John, Thomas, Robert & Hannah.
His 2nd wife was Susanna Harriss of Surry Co., VA.[Nov 11, 1782 Bond] and their children were Martha, Wm., Elizabeth Anne, George, Eramus, FRANCIS (Jr.) & Susanna. I do not know when Francis, Sr., Susanna moved to Prince George Co., VA, but they are listed in the property tax list of 1786. It appears that they moved to Surrey Co., VA about 1792.
Francis Ruffian, Jr., my 3GrGF was born 10/07/1796. He married Mariah Wilson and they had 12 children: Wilson Harriss, Thomas, Martha, Joseph Prime, Susan, Virginia, Maria, Elizabeth, Thomas, Francis, Euretta ("Minnie") and WILSON. =================================================
Minnie Euretta Ruffin Francis Ruffin was the son of the patriot Francis Ruffin, son of John Ruffin. If the records are correct, John/Francis were originally from the Ruffin home at Sweethall and moved to Surry County some time during the latter part of the 18th century. Francis the 2nd purchased what was at the time the land known as "Spring Garden" located close to Cabin Point in Surry County. This was the property owned by the Short family. Francis changed the name of the property to Broomfield. It is still known by that name. My ggrandmother (Minnie) married at the "old" age of 32 in 1872 (See Surry marriage records) to Dr. Joseph Blackwood Strachan, son of Dr. Theopholis Field Strachan of Petersburg, Va. JBS had been married twice before to the Gee sisters, Evilina and Mary A. Gee. (See UV Records)The latter had been married to my ggrandmothers older brother Francis but he apparently died prior to the Civil War. Both sisters passed away. Dr. Strachan served under the Confederacy as a surgeon and was parolled at Appromatix. Prior to the war he attended VMI. (Se VMI alumini) Both he and my ggrandmother are buried at Blandford Cemetery in Petersburg. There are alot of Strachans buried at Blandford. Alexander Glass Strachan , also a doctor, appears to the first of this line to America. His home is still in Petersburg. The Strachans married into the Robert Bolling (of Petersburg) family (Dr. John Alexander Strachan (JBS uncle). They too are in Blandford. My mother s middle name is Bolling. The Blackwood name is Scottish. Alexander Glass Strachans ( I believe his grandmother) was the daughter of Sir Robert Blackwood of Pitreavie Estate (outside of Edinburgh). Researcher: Peter Ruffin Thomas prthomas00@comcast.net ========================================
Wilson Ruffian, my 2GrGF never married, but had 3
illegitimate sons, one of which was my GrGF, John
Mallory Wooden. My GF, Wilson H. Wooden was name
after his GF, Wilson Ruffian. At present, the son of
John Mallory Wooden still resides on the site of the
original Broomfield Farm that was originally owned by
Francis Ruffian, Sr.
An excellent Resource for life and times of Francis
Ruffin and family may be found in the book, Tidewater
Virginia Families by Virginia Lee Davis Published 1989.
(page 531-538)
Click here to send e-mail to
Virginia Crilley.
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