Thomas Carter Ruffin [1]

(1787-1870)

Story

Thomas Carter Ruffin [1], was the son of Sterling Ruffin and Alice Roane, both from prominent Virginia families. He began his legal career as a politician, then became an Orange County judge, and later a North Carolina Supreme Court justice. He retired from the bench in 1860, but continued to play an important role in local and state politics.

The Southern Historical Collection at Wilson Library UNC are a rich source of information about Thomas Ruffin and the Ruffin family [1] [2].

Biographical Data

Important Dates

Thomas Carter Ruffin [1] was born on November 16, 1787. He died on January 15, 1870, and was buried in St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Hillsborough, NC.

Places of Residence

• Hillsborough, NC, until 1829 [1].
• Hermitage Plantation, NC, from 1829 [1].
• Newington, King and Queen County, from 1787.

Schools Attended

• University of North Carolina.

Occupations

• Judge [1].
• Lawyer.
• Chief Justice, NC Supreme Court, between 1833 and 1852.
• Justice, from 1829.
• Banker, between 1828 and 1829.
• Chief Justice, NC Supreme Court, between 1858 and 1859.

Relatives

• Parents: Sterling Ruffin (1767-1822) and Alice Roane (1767-1829).
• Spouse: Annie McNabb Kirkland (1794-1875) [1].
  Children:
  
  • six sons, Peter Browne Ruffin (1821-1900) [1], William Kirkland Ruffin (1812-1880), Sterling Ruffin [2] (1817-1907), George McNeil Ruffin (1819-1820), John Kirkland Ruffin (1834-1903) and Thomas Ruffin [2], [Jr.] (1824-1889).
  • eight daughters, Susan Mary Ruffin (1827-1851)  [1], Alice Roane Ruffin (1815-1873) [1], Catherine Roane Ruffin (1810-1880), Anne Ruffin (1814-1897), Elizabeth Margaret Ruffin (1823-1838), Jane Minerva Ruffin (1829-1893), Martha Phoebe Ruffin (b. 1831) and Sarah Nash Ruffin (2006-1879).
• Others: John Wilson Brodnax (son-in-law, 1821-1911) [1], Mary Rebecca Jones  (daughter-in-law, 1823-1878) [1], Allen Jones Ruffin (grandson, b. 1857), Annie Kirkland Ruffin (granddaughter, 1860-1960), Cadwallader Jones Ruffin (grandson), Joseph Roulhac Ruffin (grandson), Mary Browne Ruffin (granddaughter, b. 1850), Rebecca Edwards Ruffin  (granddaughter, 1846-1899), Sarah Lillie Jones Ruffin (granddaughter, b. 1860), Sarah Jones Ruffin (granddaughter, 1856-1859), Susan Brodnax Ruffin (granddaughter, b. 1852), Sterling Ruffin [3] (grandson, 1857-1932), Thomas Ruffin [3] (grandson, 1852-1922), Annie Ruffin Cameron  (granddaughter, 1842-1915), Browne Ruffin Webb (great-grandson, 1881-1935) and Anne K. Ruffin (granddaughter, b. 1848).

References

1. Mary Claire Engstrom. The Book of Burwell Students: Lives of Educated Women in the Antebellum South. (Hillsborough: Hillsborough Historic Commission, 2007).
2. The Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, UNC-CH.