DINWIDDIE COUNTY, VIRGINIA - PENSION APPLICATION - ANN RUFFIN File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Virginia Crilley WAR OF 1812 CLAIM OF WIDOW FOR PENSION ANN RUFFIN Claim of Widow for pension under the provision of Section 4736 to 4741 Inclusive Revised Statutes and the Act March 9, 1878. State of Virginia City of Petersburg On the 5th day of May in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy nine personally appeared before me John Clements clerk of the Husting Court City of Petersburg in the State of Virginia, the same being a court of record for the city and state aforesaid, Ann Ruffin aged seventy-five years a resident of the city of Petersburg in the state aforesaid, who being duty sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of John Ruffin deceased, who was the identical John Ruffin who served under the name of John Ruffin as a private in the company commanded by William B. Branch who was Lieut. in Capt. Claiborn's company in the 39th regiment of Virginia State Malitia. This regiment was commanded by different field officers during said war. Lieut., Col. Byrne and others in the War of 1812, and that her said husband John Ruffin enlisted at city then the town of Petersburg about the day of 14 October year 1813 for the term of _____ stationed at Petersburg and Fort Powhatan and continued in actual service in said war for term of about six months and when services terminated by reason of Honorable discharge on the day _____ in the year 1814. She further states that the following is a full description of her husband John Ruffin at the time of his enlistment at the age of 18 years. Born in the county of Dinwiddie in the state of Virginia on the 9th day of October in the year 1795, occupation a farmer, in statute (when of age) about six feet height, hair black, eyes blue, with fair skin, he had no noticeable marks on his person and his form perfect, his own description of himself and Service filed by himself (is on file at Washington in Pension Office.) When he applied for and obtained his land Warrant, to which papers I refer you. She further states that she was married to John Ruffin at the residence of Thomas Browder in the county of Dinwiddie state of Virginia on the 15th day of December in the year 1831 by one Rev. Robert Thomason, a minister of the gospel of the Methodist Episcopal Church in said county, and that her name before her said marriage was Ann Audas. She further states that the said John ruffin her husband formerly married Jamina Wheelhouse in said county on the 23rd day of October in the year 1819. That the said Jamina Wheelhouse Ruffin the first wife of John Ruffin deceased, died on the _____ day of April in the year of 1831. She was intered in the family burial ground of John D. Ruffin the father of John Ruffin my late husband, in the county of Dinwiddie, Virginia. And further says that she has ever since the death of her husband remained a widow and never was separated or divorced. She further says that her husband was a resident and farmer in the county of Prince George in the State of Virginia, at the time of his death, which occured on the 8th day of April in the year of 1867. The Physician who attended him in his last illness was Doctor George F. Rives of said county and state and he was present when my late husband John Ruffin died. And she declares that the following has been the place of residence of her husband since the date of his discharge from the army. In the county of Dinwiddie from his birth until 1836 in town and city Petersburg from 1836, until the year 1857 in the county of Prince George from 1857 until 1864, resided about three miles East of City of Petersburg and about four miles of County Courthouse in said County. Within that year was forced to abandon our Farm and most all of our property, house, stock, papers, records on account of the advance of the Union Army, as our, his residence lie between the lines of both armies, returned to city of Petersburg in 1864 and resided there until January 1867 when my husband purchased a farm near former homestead where he died April 8, 1867. She further states that her late husband, John Ruffin, did make application for land warrant and actually obtined it, and afterwards disposed of same and when he applied he filed all of the papers required at Washington to prove his service, if any of these papers were returned they were lost in 1864 as aforesaid, and especially those connected with the War of 1812. Therefore ask you to refer to his papers filed. If any additional evidence is required, at my age, my memory cannot be expected to supply it. She further says that Clerk of the County of Dinwiddie informed her that all marriage bonds and certificates were destroyed in 1865 by the armies prior to and inclusive of 1833, but have my husband's Family Register which shows Birth, Marriages, Deaths, etc., have sent extracts, will send original if required, also hereto annexed Keeper of Cemetary Certificate. She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining pension, to which she is entitled under the provisions of Section 4736 to 4740 Inclusive Revisied Statute and the Act March 9, 1878. And that her residence if No. 284 Halifax Street city of Petersburg in the State of Virginia and that her Post Office address is No. 284 Halifax Street, City of Petersburg, Virginia. ___________________________________ Ann Ruffin James E. Fittz John Clements Also personally appeared Nancy Stewart aged 71 years residence at No. 503 West Street in the city of Petersburg, Virginia and Matthew P. Butler aged 68 was resident No. 585 Halifax Street in the City of Petersburg. Persons whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit and who by me duly sworn say that they have known the said Ann Ruffin for 42 years respectively that they were present and saw her sign her name or make her mark to the foregoing declaration. That they have every reason to believe from the appearance of said claimant, and their acquaintance with her, that she is the identical person she represents herself to be; and they further say that they are able to identify her to be the person who was the wife of the identical (John Ruffin) who rendered the service alleged in the above application in the company of William B. Branch in the 39th Regiment of Virginia Male Malitia in the War of 1812 by the following named facts and circumstances etc. Nancy Stewart says that she has known John Ruffin from childhood, as well acquainted with his first wife Jamina Ruffin for many years prior to her death. She died in the early part of 1831. Attended her funeral witnessed interment. She further says John Ruffin, deceased, who served in the War of 1812 married Ann Audas at Thomas Browder's residence in Dinwiddie County Virginia in Dec. 1831. (The same year that his first wife died) and that one Rev. Robert Thomason, a minister of the Gospel united them in Holy bonds of wedlock. She further says that she was present at John Ruffin's father's residence when John Ruffin left to join the army in the War of 1812 aged about 18 years. Was present when he returned after service, an absence of several months, to his father's John D. Ruffin in the County of Dinwiddie, Virginia. And further recollects that the said John was immediately after his return, taken down with measles. Said to have been the result of exposure in camp. She further says that the identical John Ruffin aforesaid died in 1867 and she was present at Blandford Cemetary in this city. She further says that Ann Ruffin (now present) was his wife and now his widow. The said Nancy Stewart further says that she was born in the county of Dinwiddie, Virginia and resided there from infancy until 1848, the same year moved to the town of Petersburg and has resided there ever since (now known as the city of Petersburg., VA) The said Matthew P. Butler testifies that he knew John Ruffin, the soldier named herein before, for forty years before his death, worked on his farm in Dinwiddie, and worked for him after he came to Petersburg, that he knew John Ruffin's first wife that she died many year ago. That he personally knew that John Ruffin afterwards married Ann Audas, that John Ruffin died in 1867 and that he attended his funeral and saw him buried, that Ann Ruffin, the claimant is now alive and is the widow of said deceased, John Ruffin and that she never remarried since the death of her husband, that he knew said John Ruffin in his lifetime, says that he served in the war of 1812 and saw his land warrant. Nancy Stewart Matthew P. Butler Sworn to and subscribed before me this 5th day of May in the year 1879 and I hereby certify that the contents of the above declaration were fully made known and explained to the applicant and witnesses before swearing including the word; and that I have no interest direct or indirect in the prosecution of this claim John Clements Clerk of Hustings Court Petersburg, VA. Copied from photocopy of the Records of the Veteran's Administration, War of 1812 Pension File NO. WC 28 339, John Ruffin (alias John R. Overby) The National Archives; Washington, D.C. ================================ Virginia Crilley 4500 Kenny Lane Waco TX 76710 (254)772-5390 ************************************************************************ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. 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