(1823-1878)
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Mary Rebecca Jones of Hillsborough was the sixth child of Col. Cadwallader Jones, [Jr.] and Rebecca Edward Long. Col. Cadwallader Jones, [Jr.] was a sucessful planter on the Roanoke River before removing to Hillsborough in 1824 and building a new home, West Hill, just outside the town's western boundary. Rebecca Jones was born on November 10, 1823, at Weldon Place on the Roanoke, but her childhood and girlhood were spent at West Hill.
Rebecca's parents were known as the epitome of hospitality and elegant social graces. Rebecca Edward Long was described as "regal" and "queenly" and in person extremly beautiful. Little Rebecca grew up in a home noted for its emphasis on culture and manners.
Rebecca is not listed in the Burwell School Catalogue of 1848-51 [1], which lists relatively few early students. It is likely that she attended the school briefly in 1839 or 1840 when she was sixteen or seventeen years old. Rebecca's Award of Merit, presented to her by, Sarah Jane Kollock for saying her multiplication table correctly was presented to the Historic Hillsborough Commission by Mr. persons(641):James Webb. It is probable that Rebecca studied music and drawing.
On November 14, 1843, when she was twenty, Rebecca married businessman [Peter Browne Ruffin, son of Judge [persons(405):Thomas Ruffin]. The young Ruffins lived in a pleasant white frame house on W. King Street, where Maj. Allen Jones Davie had lived and Col. Cadwallader Jones, [Jr.] had Capt. John Berry renovate and enlarge for them. It was made into an 8-acre estate with a circular entrance drive, a three-story brick kitchen, garden, stone piers on King Street, and servant's quarters on the other side of the street.
The young Ruffins had eleven children including three sets of twins: Rebecca Edwards Ruffin , Mary Browne Ruffin, Thomas Ruffin [3], Susan Brodnax Ruffin, Cadwallader Jones Ruffin, Sarah Lillie Jones Ruffin, Sterling Ruffin [3], Allen Jones Ruffin, Sarah Jones Ruffin, Annie Kirkland Ruffin, Joseph Roulhac Ruffin.
Mary Rebecca Jones died on December 20, 1878, aged fifty-six years old. Her husband, Peter Browne Ruffin, lived twenty-two years longer, dying on August 5, 1900. The couple is buried at St. Matthew's Churchyard [2].
Mary Rebecca Jones always went by her middle name, Rebecca.
Mary Rebecca Jones was born on November 10, 1823. She died on December 20, 1878, and was buried in St. Matthew's Churchyard in Hillsborough, NC.
[2], Mary Browne Ruffin (b. 1850) [2], Susan Brodnax Ruffin (b. 1852) [2], Sarah Lillie Jones Ruffin (b. 1860) [2], Sarah Jones Ruffin (1856-1859) [2] and Annie Kirkland Ruffin (1860-1960) [2]. [2]. (sister-in-law, 1827-1851) [2], John Wilson Brodnax (brother-in-law, 1821-1911) [2], Annie McNabb Kirkland (mother-in-law, 1794-1875) [2], Thomas Carter Ruffin [1] (father-in-law, 1787-1870) [2], Annie Isabella Iredell (sister-in-law, 1816-1897) [2], Cadwallader [III] Jones (half-brother, 1813-1899) [2], Frances Iredell Jones (niece, b. 1837) [2], Eliza Adam Jones (niece, 1839-1911) [2], Mary Cameron Jones (niece, 1843-1924) [2], Mary E. Cameron (sister-in-law, d. 1845) [2], Martha Ann Cain (sister-in-law) [2], Althea Collins (niece), Cadwallader Jones Collins (nephew), Lizzie Jones Collins (niece, 1871-1900), Mary Riggs Collins (niece, 1861-1912), Rebecca Allen Collins (niece), Josiah Collins, V (nephew), Browne Ruffin Webb (grandson, 1881-1935), James Webb Jr. (son-in-law, b. 840s), John Cox Webb (grandson, 1883-1965), Mary Jones Webb (granddaughter) and Charles Lockhart Pettigrew (son-in-law).