The Joseph Ruffner II Papers

The Joseph Ruffner II Papers

The papers of Joseph Ruffner II, his daughter Eliza, and his father Joseph Ruffner were passed down through the Ruffner, Haskins, Schultze, Shipler, and Myers families. Fortunately, they have been preserved and protected for over 200 years. Included herein are the bulk of over 80 original documents covering 1771-1850 plus some other information related to Joseph Sr. as well as Joseph II and his family. In addition to the original documents I have incorporated additional information provided by interested outside sources as well as related information I have discovered in my research. I have attempted to provide as good a quality scan as possible given limitations of the web-site size. The scans are .JPG files which should allow you to download fair copies of the original. If desired I can email higher quality (up to 300 dpi) scans at the original size in any format, if desired. These can be very large files (some exceeding 20 megs in TIFF or 1 meg in JPG which should be satisfactory for most uses). If interested, simply email me a request specifying any format and dpi (I'll adjust accordingly). Unhighlighted titles represent the next planned inclusions. If any viewer can provide supplemental information about Joseph or Joseph II and his family, please email me with the information so that I can include it on this site.

Luray, Virginia 1771-1796

• Harry Strickler map of Luray highlighting Ruffner homes and property
• Peter Ruffner
  • Peter Ruffner's property in Luray (including home of Peter Ruffner, Jr. - 1830's); photo's taken 10/2000
  • The "White House" Church
  • Peter and Mary Ruffner's gravesite
  • Peter Ruffner Monument
• Purchase of Shenandoah land from Henry Conway October 17, 1787
• Note made with Henry Conway; October 18, 1787
• Guarantee and authorization for sale of slave "Benjamin" from Samuel Dishman; February 20, 1792
• Receipt for purchase of slave "Ben" - March 2, 1792
• Receipt for services (legal?) for 1792-1793 from Adam and Walter Cunningham.
• August 1, 1793 Ruffner purchase of Cunningham land
• August 19, 1793 Jacob Heistand receipt
• Map of Virginia including the Shenandoah Valley in 1795
• Purchase of slave "Moses" from Richard Taliaferro in 1796
• Receipt from John Mundell dated 10/18/1796 for collection of monies from various individuals.
• Joseph Ruffner's log home in Luray
• Joseph Ruffner's property in Luray (photo's taken 10/2000)
• Joseph Ruffner's property in Luray (a closer view; 10/2000)
• The Ruffner Cave or Luray Caverns

Luray, Virginia 1771-1796 Trade Receipts

• Receipt from Fredicksburg merchants Heslop & Blair, Fredricksburg, VA; October 21, 1771
• June 25, 1786 Trade receipt for 20 barrels of flour and 66 pounds of bacon; George Haywood & Co.
• Receipt from Edwin Young covering July 1788 through September 1790.
• December 10, 1789 Blair statement
• Fredricksburg Trade Receipt for 1643 pounds of bacon; June 16, 1790
• Fredricksburg Trade Receipt for 92 barrels of flour - August 1790
• 1790-1792 4 page statement from Fredricksburg merchants David and James Blair; page 1
• 1790-1792 David and James Blair (Fredricksburg) statement; page 2
• 1790-1792 David and James Blair (Fredricksburg) statement; page 3
• 1790-1792 David and James Blair (Fredricksburg) statement; page 4
• March 10, 1791 cash receipt from Blair
• December 20, 1792 deposit of 8 barrels of flour with Blair
• Receipt for 34 bushels of wheat - December 24, 1793
• 1793-1795 3 page account statement from Fredricksburg merchants David and James Blair; page 1
• 1793-1795 David and James Blair statement; page 2
• 1793-1795 David and James Blair statement; page 3
• March 11, 1793 deposit of 11 barrels of flour with Blair
• May 9, 1793 deposit of 12 barrels of flour
• June 11, 1795 deposit of 5 barrels to account of Joseph Ruffner by David and James Blair
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 The Kanhawa Purchase 1795-1796

• Thomas Jefferson's Deed to the original title holder, Cuthbert Bullett (~1780)
• Map of Virginia in 1796
• Map of Kanhawa in 1796
• Kanhawa Land Rental on April 26, 1795
• 4/22/1796 Mundell receipt for 5-500 pound bonds of Joseph Ruffner; witnessed by David Ruffner
• 150 dollar receipt from Clendinen; May 23, 1796
• Kanhawa Purchase on June 23, 1796
• Receipt for payment to William Clendinen by Ruffner from George Clendinen; 6/23/1796
• November 8, 1796 Clendinen receipt paying off note of Joseph Ruffner Jr. witnessed by Tobias Ruffner; this note witnessed by David Ruffner
• Letter from George Clendinen regarding lost bond; November 19, 1796
• January 15, 1797 letter from unknown Matthews honoring earlier sale of land

Charleston, (W.) Virginia 1796-1810

• Joseph Ruffner's Charleston cabin
• Joseph Ruffner Sideboard
• February 7, 1797 Sammuel Ruffner Tax Receipt
• Will of Joseph Ruffner dated February 21, 1803
• Joseph Ruffner II's desk
• The burial site of Joseph and Anna Ruffner

Cincinnati, Ohio 1810-1843

• The Navigator; the journey from Charleston to Cincinnati in 1814
• The Navigator; Charleston, Point Pleasant, and the Salt Licks
• The Navigator; Cincinnati
• Letters to Eliza Ruffner from her cousins in Ohio
• William Joseph Ruffner bookplate
• Joseph II and Margaret burial plot at Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati 

The Joseph Ruffner Family History (covering Peter, Joseph, Joseph II, his children and descendents). 

• The Ruffners

GEDCOM of the Joseph Ruffner Family (1700-1900)

Miscellaneous

• Reading documents (printed and written) prior to 1800

Other Ruffner Websites

• Ruffner Family Homepage: http://www.ruffnerfamily.org
• Peter Ruffner Bed and Breakfast, Luray, VA: http://www.mountain-lodging.com/Ruffner.htm
• Cheryl Reed photos of the Ruffners in Luray
• Cheryl Reed photos of the Ruffners in Charleson, WVa

Ruffner Papers Index