An excellent Resource for life and times of Robert Ruffin and family may be found in the book, Tidewater Virginia Families by Virginia Lee Davis Published 1989. (page 502-538)
Robert grew up on the plantation known as "Richneck". He died young (as his father before him) only about 39 years old and his oldest child, John, was probably only 16.
This Ruffin family remained in Virginia for several generations.
Wills & Administrations of Southampton County, Va 1749-1800 Book I. Abstracted & compled by Blanche Adams Chapman 1947.Call Number#975.5c366s vol.1.
Simmons, John: Of Isle of Wight, Gent. My water mill on Cussunkra
swamp, 100 acres bought of Henry Clark, 75 acres bought of John Newton
& 280 acres granted me by patent June 28, 1731 to be sold by my Exs.
to pay my debts; wife Mary the use of the property on which I now live
& all other things provided for by deed of trust with my son Charles
on April 28, 1740; son William my land in Surry County; son Benjamin 390
acres bought of the Nottoway Indians, adjoining his own land; son Charles
all my land in the low grounds not already sold to Charles Brown &
John Arrington & 180 acres on which I live, being part of William Cock's
patent; daughter AnnRuffin & her husband Edmund Ruffin; daughter
Lucy Ruffin & her husband Benjamin Ruffin; daughter Elizabeth
Jones & her husband Elberton Jones; son Henry Simmons. Chales
to divide my wearing apparel between Henry & Benjamin Simmons.
Exs. sons Benjamin & Charles Simmons
D. June 25, 1746 R. Dec. 14, 1749
Wit. Robert S. Woobank, Howell Edmunds, Peter Butts, William Little.
Note: Several genealogists have claimed that the the above will &
the one on page 2 proved there were two John Simmons, who died in 1749.
I feel after comparing the text of the two & taking into consideration
the following items from the Order Books of the County that were the wills
of the same man & the second one found @ a later date & also filed-----Col.
John Simmons of Southampton County died Sept. 21, 1749. Virginia
Gazette.
Mary Simmons was granted administration on the will of her husband
John Simmons. Resigned & administration requested by Benjamin
Simmons. Will proven by Mary Wainwright a witness. Security
for Adm., Joseph Gray & Peter Butts. Appraisers appointed, Benjamin,
Peter Butts, Thomas Westbrook & Charles Barham. Southampton Order
Book I, page 22. ----------A writing purporting to be the last will
& testament of John Simmons, Gent. was presented & proven by Howell
Edmunds & Peter Butts. 1749 Order Book I, page 31.
----- Thomas Lee, William Nelson & aals. versus Benjamin Simmons wisth
will annexed of John Simmons decd., with Charles Simmons & William
Simmons an infant under the age of 21. Frances Simmons of the County
of Surry appointed guardian to deft. William Simmons. 1750. Order
Book I, page 60. B. A. C.
Contributed by: Leigh Jared (lejared@swbell.net)
Simmons researcher: Charles E. Street III (Spazquatsk@aol.com)
From: EUZELIA@aol.com
This is part of an Indenture I was trying to type. It is a terrible copy and
gave me such a headache I don't know if I will ever finish it.
Just thought I would share it with my Skipper cousins.
Joy
SOUTHAMPTON CO., VIRGINIA PP. 57-60
AS A COURT FOR THE COUNTYOF SOUTHAMPTON THE TH DAY OF MARCH 1769.
THIS INDENTURE OF MEMORENDUM .... PROVED BY THE ..... OF BENJAMIN CLEMENTS,
BENJAMIN RUFFIN AND CHARLES SIMMONS WHEREFORE HERETO AND ORDERED BY THE
RECORDED.
TASS R/ KELL..., CCB
THIS INDENDURE IMPARTITE MADE THE FIRS DAY OF JANUARY, IN THE OF OUR LORD,
....
..... ... .. . . . .
BETWEEN SAM, FRANK, DOCTOR TIM, JOHN ...., GEO. SCIPER, (SIC)
JACK .... AND WATT BAILEY, CHIEFTEN OF THE NOTTOWAY INDIANS OF THE
FIRST PART JOHN SIMMONS OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, THOMAS, ... AND
BENJAMIN EDWARDS OF THE COUNTY, .... .. .. . . . ... . . . .. SECOND
PART AND BENJAMIN ....., OF THE COUNTY OF SOUTHAMPTON OF THE
THIRD PART. WHEREAS BY ONE ACT OF THE GENREAL ASSEMBLY ORDER
AT A ...... ....... HELD AT WILLIAMSBURG IN THE EIGHTH YEAR
OF THE REIGN OF OUR LORD GEORGE THE SECOND KING OF GREAT
BRITIAN INTITLED AN ACT TO ENABLE THE NOTTOWAY INDIANS TO
SELL CERTAIN LAND THERERIN MENTIONED FOR DISCHARGING (?)
THE INDIAN INTREPRETER IT IS AMONG OTHER THINGS .....
THAT THE CHIEFMEN OF THE NOTTOWAY NATIONS ARE IMPOWERED
TO MAKE SALE OF ALL OR ANY PART OF A CERTAIN ..........
OF LAND TO SIX MILES DIAMETER LYING AND BEING ON THE NORTH
SIDE OF NOTTOWAY RIVER IN THE COUNTY OF ...... BY AND
WITH THE CONSENT OF SAID JOHN SIMMONS THAT ........
BENJAMAIN EDWARDS WHO ARE BY THE SAID ACT APPOINTED .....
ERS TO SEE THE SAID ACT DULY EXCUTED AND AFTER.... AGREEMENT
MADE FOR THE .... OF ANY PART OF THE SAID LAND ... ... ....
DO NOT EXCEED FOUR HUNDRED (?) ACRES TO ANY ONE PERSON ... .. . .. .
MAY BE LAWFULL FOR THE SIAD CHIEF MEN TOGETHER WITH THE .....
TRUSTEES AFORESAID OR THE SUVIVOR OR SUVIVORS OF THEM TO .....
AND DELIVER A ....MENT TO THE PURCHASOR WHO IMMEDIATELY AFTER
TEH EXECUTION WEHERE OF SHALL PAY UPON TO THE CHIEF MEN ....
..... .... ...... TO THE ... .. . . .......... ...,
....... ..... .......
THOMAS ......, LS FRANK ........., LS
BENJ. EDWARDS, LS SAM'L ........., LS
HIS X MARK
WILLIAM ANDREWS JOHN .........., LS
B... RUFFIN HIS X MARK
. . .... GEORGE SKIPPER, LS
HIS X MARK
JACK ........., LS
HIS X MARK
........ ....., LS
HIS X MARK
AS A COURT HELD FOR THE COUNTY OF SOUTHAMPTON THE ....
OF THE DAY OF MARCH 1749.
THIS INDENTURE IS MEMORANDUM ... PROVED BY THE
OATHS OF BENJ. RUFFIN, WILLIAM ANDREWS, ......
..... ........, THERETO AND ORDERED TO BE RECORDED.
FAST(SIC) R. KELLS, CLK
TYPED BY JOY SKIPPER CORNWELL
APRIL 7, 2001
THE COPY OF THIS DOCUMENT WAS OBTAINED FROM THE SC HISTORICAL SOCIETY
CHALMERS STREET, CHARLESTON, SC 29401
"Jerry L. Clark" jerry876@comcast.net Family Group Sheet 1 JOHN WATKINS i b: Tidewater VA Famlies, Davis, Genel Publ, 1989, p 571 d: Bef. April 22, 1655 .. +ELIZABETH b: Aft. 1654 1650 thomas made trip up Appomattox to the Falls m: Aft. March 5, 1677/78 d: 1675 John Corker, witness; Rev. Mr. Lake;John Watkins adm . 2 [1] John WATKINS II b: ABT 1648 future colony of VA (Surry CO); left many plantations d: Bef. March 5, 1707/08 1694 had 966 A in Surry CO ..... +Elizabeth WHITE b: 2nd wife . *2nd Wife of [1] John WATKINS II: ..... +ELIZABETH SPENCER b: Aft. 1657 ex with son Robert of John's will; 4 ch under age @ husb m: Aft. March 5, 1677/78 d: Aft. March 5, 1707/08 and's death Father: Robert Spencer Mother: Anne Taberer .... 3 Robert WATKINS b: Aft. 1678 eldest son, rec. home plantation & one @ Indian Field & d: Aft. June 20, 1722 one "where John Parr lived" & land E side Colt's Branch .... 3 John WATKINS III b: Bef. 1708 rec plantation where John Cooke lived, one where d: Aft. May 12, 1722 James Davis lived ........ +Ann GASSAWAY b: appered to have no children d: Bef. December 19, 1722 Surry CO, VA .... 3 Henry WATKINS b: Bef. 1708 rec.plantat. on Blackwater Swamp; left brother John's d: Bef. April 18, 1744 homeplace & land on Swamp after ann's death;3rd child .... 3 William WATKINS b: Bef. 1708 rec. lnad on Cypress Swamp; youngest son .... 3 Mary WATKINS b: Bef. 1708 rec. Negro in father's will; youngest child .... 3 Elizabeth WATKINS b: Bef. 1708 rec labor of Negro, cow, ewue, 500 lbs tobacco ........ +Robert RUFFIN II b: Gengirl19@aol.com d: ABT February 15, 1720/21 Father: Robert RUFFIN Mother: Elizabeth Prime WATKINS .... 3 unk WATKINS ........ +Jean FLOOD Father: Thomas (Capt.) Flood Mother: Ann Rose
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