Thomas Ruffin
Born: ca 1838
Died: 23 Sept 1864
Letter written Aug 12, 1864
He was a doctor studying with Thomas J. P. Smallwood. (TJP Smallwood's wife was Sally Ann Ruffin d/o John Ruffin of Bertie County)
In 1861,Thomas graduated from the University of New York Medical Department (later called New York Medical University, Bellevue Medical College and NYU Medical School, now the New York University School of Medicine).
Thomas Ruffin enlisted as a First Lieutenant on 9 August 1862 at Rich Square, (Halifax County) NC in Captain William Sharp's Company of NC Volunteers (Company A, 4th Cavalry, which subsequently became Company D, 4th Regiment NC Cavalry, 59th State Troops.)
He was captured at Jack's Mountain, PA 4 July 1863 and held as a Prisoner of War at Fort Delaware, Delaware and Fort McHenry, Maryland until he was forwarded on 18 July 1863 to Johnson's Island Military Prison, Ottawa County, Ohio. He died 23 September 1864 and was buried the same day in the island cemetery.
According to family oral history, Thomas was being considered as Assistant Surgeon General of the Confederacy at the time of his capture.
Joseph Blount Ruffin birth: 19 June 1832 Bertie Co, NC wife: Mary Elizabeth Powell married: 14 March 1854 death of Joseph: 08 March 1895 Bertie County NC probate filed 12 March 1895 (Mary Elizabeth Powell was the daughter of Richard Powell and Mary Barnes. She was born 27 June 1827 and died 14 Aug 1920) Joseph Blount Ruffin was one of the people who donated land for the Methodist Church in Powellsville to be built. Family tradition says that Joseph and Mary had 15 children, all but three of them dying young. Children: 1. Rachel Vantilla Ruffin Born: 3 Aug 1857 Spouse: 3 Sept 1876 Starkey Smith Cowan at Holley Grove (Marriage Bk I pg 11) Died: 14 June 1930 Bertie County Buried: Highland Memorial Gardens Starkey S. Cowan died 1 March 1916 Norfolk, VA 2. Charles Smallwood Ruffin Born: 28 Sept 1866 - 14 Apr 1939 (Buried with tombstone on Ruffin Farm) Spouse: 6 Oct 1895 Mary Ella Mizell (d/o Hansome Mizell and Maude White Mizell) Children: 3. Joseph Blount Jr. Born: 14 Mary 1878 Spouse: Feb 1902 to Elizabeth Marie Owen(d/o David and Carolyn Morris Owen) Died: 15 Oct 1944 Buried: Highland Memorial Gardens Graduate of University of the South in Sewanee TN in 1900. He was a doctor. Moved to Arkansas for 3-4 years and returned to Bertie to practice medicine.
Joseph Blount Ruffin enlisted at Weldon, NC on 10 May 1864 with the 68th Regiment, Company E. He was reported AWOL 30 June 1864. He may have received word by that time that his brother had been captured, even though Thomas was captured in 1863.
T.J.P. Smallwood sells land "known as Joshua Outlaw land" to Joseph Blount Ruffin Jan 1, 1857. Land borders Isaac Freeman, Silas Hobbs, William J. Pritchard. (This same land was sold by Whitmell B. Ruffin to West Mizell June 13, 1843)...approximately 300 acres.
Will and Dissent
North Carolina Bertie County To W.L. Lyon Clerk of Superior Court of Bertie County I hereby enter my dissent to the will of my husband the late Jos. B. Ruffin and demand that my dower and rights of third be allotted to me in all of the real estate owned by my late husband Jos. B. Ruffin. This dissent is filed in accordance with Section 2108 of the Code of North Carolina. This April 16, 1895. Mary E. Ruffin Witness Francis D. Winston North Carolina In the Superior Court Bertie County Before the Clerk The execution of the foregoing dissent was this day proven before me by the oath and examination of Francis D. Winston subscribing witness thereto. In execution of the said foregoing dissent was also this day acknowledged before me by Mary E., Ruffin. Let the same be recorded in the Book of Wills and filed with the Will of Jos. B. Ruffin, as a record of this Court. Witness my hand this 16th day of April 1895. W. L. Lyon Clerk Superior Court. Deed BK I pg 425 Will of Joseph B. Ruffin North Carolina Bertie County I Joseph B. Ruffin of the aforesaid County and State being of Sound mind but considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence, do make and declare this my last Will and Testament. First, It is my will that my land except that in and near Powellsville shall be divided, beginning as follows at a pine stump on the road known as the the Freeman Corner, and about three hundred and thirty five yards from Starky S. Cowards field, thence a strait line to J. H. Brown’s line that part lying South of said line shall be divided into two equal parts one part, his choice, I loan to my wife Mary E. Ruffin during her natural life then to be equally divided between my two sons Charles S ? Ruffin and Joseph B. Ruffin, the other part I give and bequeath to my Son Charles S. Ruffin, that part of my land lying North of said line. I give and bequeath to my Daughter Racheal ? Cowand during her natural life then to her lawful heirs. I give and bequeath to my Son Joseph B. Ruffin my lot in Powellsville, containing two and one forth acres, also one tract of land near Powellsville containing forty acres more or less and known as part of the Hunter land, for further description of said land and deed from George B. Askew to J. B. Ruffin. It is also my will and desire that my friend J. W. Mitchell be and is hereby constituted Guardian for my son Joseph B. Ruffin who is a minor, to have and to hold the custody of his estate herein given untill the said Joseph B. Ruffin shall arrive at the full age of twenty one years. In witness whereof I the said Joseph B. Ruffin do hereunto set my hand and sea, this the twenty first day of November, 1894. Joseph B. his mark Ruffin Winess J. H. Bowen JP Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Joseph B. Ruffin to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence do subscribe our names as witnesses thereto. JH Bowen JW Mitchell ……… Let the said Will, together with the probate, be recorded and filed. This 12 day of March 1895. WL Lyon Clerk Superior Court
Letter from Johnson's Island
Johnson's Island near Sanducky City, Ohio August 14th/64 My dear Cousins*, In my last I promised to write again in a few days. When I made that promise I was confident that I should have the gatification of conveying to you the intelligence of the complete restoration of my health. I am still an invlaid, but a very hopeful one. Yes, I feel very hopeful and am confident that I sahll soon be restored to my wanted vigor and health. Do not give yourself any concern about the condition of my health. I have been very ill it is true, but my recovery is now beyond any doubt. Words are powerless to convey to you how grateful I feel for the kind assurance of your love and friendship. Do not imagine for a moment, I beseech you, that I have or can ever be unmindful of the deep interest you have ever manifestd in my welfare. I shall ever feel grateful for your love. It will ever remain as a green spot in the midst? of memory. Yes, I prise [prize] it too highly and feel the need of it too often to be indifferent to its precious value. You know not how often the remembrance of your dearly remembered face has been my monitor. When tempted to do wrong or about to fall in easy victim to those vices which have been the destruction of so many, your praying and the consciousness that nothing base or evil would meet with your apporval have ever restrained me. A man in my opinion must be peculiarly constituted-- indeed there must be something wrong in his organization if he does not entertain a decided partiality for his female cousins. I have had no letter from Cousin Ann for several months. Why does she not write? Is Willie Hill at school? How much I would like to see her. (corner missing) Please write often. In my next we ----(corner missing) falling in love with every pretty (corner missing) Where is Buck and will not "caus (corner missing) relent. Poor fellow he certainly (corner missing)
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