Ruffin/Barrow Families, West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana File submitted by Vaughn Ballard ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** --------------------------------------------------------------------- I am researching the Mangham/Mangum line and have data back to John Mangum who married Frances Bennett, Daughter of Richard Bennett Jr. I traced the siblings of Frances a few generations. One of Frances' brothers was William Bennett. Among his children was Anne Bennett who married Robert Ruffin. Robert made his will in Northampton County on March 28, 1767 and it was probated in August 1767. His wife, Anne, and three children, William, Anne, and Olivia were mentioned in the will. Another child, Faith, probably died young. I was fascinated by the story of the daughter, Olivia. Olivia Ruffin died at Feliciana Parish, Louisiana April 2, 1803. She married William Barrow on July 8, 1760. He died in 1787, leaving her a widow with 8 children. In 1798, she left North Carolina with three sons and three daughters in a covered wagon train with slaves and household belongings and moved to Louisiana Territory where she and her children took up large grants of land and built several large plantation homes in the Feliciana Parish area. Olivia Ruffin Barrow's children were: Robert, William, Bartholomew, Ruffin and Bennett Barrow, and three daughters, Mary, Sarah and another daughter whose name was not mentioned in the will. 1786 Will of William BARROW of Halifax County, North Carolina taken from the original Will in N.C. Archives, Raleigh, N.C.: "In the Name of God amen - I, William BARROW of Halifax County, No. Carolina being sick of body but of perfect sence and memory, calling to mind that it is appointed for all men wonce to die - do make and ordain this to be my last will and testament, in mannor and, as follows -- Imprimis - I will and desire is that my exect's hereafter mentioned, sell at their discrition all my land in So. Carolina, also, my land on Roanoake I purchased of Nathan BROWN and the money arising from such sales go towards paying my just debts - 2nd - I lend my loving wife Olive BARROW the labors of six of my negroes as she may make choice of also all my stock of every kind except what I may give away hereafter also my household and kitchen furniture likewise my plantation utensils dureing her natural life likewise I lend my loving wife the land and plantation whereon I now live dure her natural life ----3rd - I give and bequeath unto my son William BARROW all that tract and parcel of land lying at the mouth of Beech Swamp I purchased of William COTTEN to him and his heirs and assigns for Ever - 4th - I give and bequeath unto my son Robert BARROW two hundred pounds to him and his heirs 5th - I give and bequeath unto my son Bartholomew BARROW four hundred pounds to him and his heirs - 6th - I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary BARROW my negro girl named Chaney, also my Eclops colt that came out of my Phenix mare, to her and her heirs - 7th - I give and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah BARROW my negro girl named Charity also my Chatham colt that came out of my tobey mair to her and her heirs ---- 8th - I will and desire is that after my loveing wife deceases, that the lands and plantation that I now live on and before lent to my wife, be equally divided between my two sons Ruffin BARROW and Bennett BARROW share and share alike between them and their heirs and assigns for ever - 9th - I will and desire that if the money arising from the sales of my land afore mentioned sould be in sufficient to pay my just debts and legacies given to my two sons Robert and Bartholomew BARROW that my Exors. hereafter mentioned sell so much of my estate as to them may seem just and right as will satisfy them - 10th - I will that all teh remainder of my estate that I have not heretofore mentioned (viz given lent or to be sold) be equally divided between my seven children (vis) Robert, William, Bartholomew, Mary, Sarah, Ruffin and Bennett BARROW, share and share alike between them and their heirs and assigns for ever ---- 11th - I will that after my loveing wife deceases, that the six negroes lent her with thei increase if any be equealy divided between my seven children (Vis) Robert, William, Bartholomew, Mary, Sarah, Ruffin and Bennett BARROW, also all the remainder of my estate lent my loveing wife share and share alike between them and theri heirs and assigns for ever - 12th - I will that my son William BARROW have the sole care of my two sons Ruffin and Bennett BARROW together with their estates until such times they shall come of age --- 13th - I hereby constitute and appoint my loveing wife Exortrix and my son William BARROW Exort. wholely and solely of this my last will and testament disanulling all former wills heretofore made by me - In testamony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 6th of November 1786- Singed (sic) Sealed Published and Declared to be the last Will and Testament of the Testator in presnece of J. WHITAKER, Ju't William NOBLIN Allen BIRD Halifax County - February Sessions 1787 - Then this will was exhibited in open court and duly proved by the oath John WHITAKER one of the subscribing witneses thereto and on motion ordered to be recorded - Whereupon Olive BARROW qualified thereunto, and William BARROW also Qualified as Exec'tr -