Part I
Ruff History by Paul M. Ruff, Historian
15 July 1979
Harrold Zion Lutheran Church
Two Hundredth Anniversary Celebration of the Ruff Migration from Maryland to Pennsylvania
Some older members of the family hold the tradition that the Ruffs came to America in 1742, settling in Frederick County Maryland. This must be very close to the truth. Since Michael Ruff, who had come with his sons Michael Jr. and Anthony, was naturalized in Frederick County (now Washigton County) in September 1753 and seven years residence in the colonies was required, they would have had to arrive before September 1746. Since they are not included in the Philadelphia Ship Lists they probably had come through Anapolis or possibly Baltimore.
It is likely that Michael Ruff purchased or acquired by default the tract Greencastle, about eight miles west of Elisabethtown (now Hagerstown) in 1753. Ownership of land was the motivation for German aliens to be naturalized. Michael remarried and at least two sons were born in the late 1740's or early 1750's. They were Nicolaus and Mathias. Michael Jr. was possibly much older than his brother Anthony for he was also married prior to 1753. Anthony was likely married by 1764 to a widow with several children. We know only her first names Anna Maria. Reasonable birth dates for Michael Jr. and Anthony would range from 1725 to 1735.
We may surmise that Michael Sr. died or gave control of Greecastle to Michael Jr. and his brother Anthony about 1765. For in September 1765 Michael and Anthony were naturalized. And in March 1766 the tract Greencastle was resurveyed for Michael Ruff. In 1775 part of Greencastle was resurveyed for Anthony Ruff, and renamed "Roof's Neighbor".
The Ruff family were members of the St. Paul's Lutheran - Salem Reformed Union Church, founded in 1747. The Lutheran pastor was sponsor for Michael Jr. and Anthony when they were naturalized. During the 1770's baptisms are listed for children of Michael Jr., Nicolaus, and Mathias. Strangely, Anthony's children are not listed, but Anthony and Anna Maria were sponsors for other children. There seems to be no basis for the family tradition that Anthony's children were born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
In 1778 an Oath of Fidelity was required of men in Maryland. Officers visited the homes or set up district offices. The lists indicate that Michael Jr., Anthony, Thomas Jones, Jacob Aspey, the Rev. George Young, and Matthias Ruff were located together, probably on the territory of the original Greencastle. Nicolaus Ruff was located in the adjoining district, nearer Elisabethtown.
In May 1779 Anthony sold "Roof's Neighbor" on the banks of Conococheague Creek in two parts, the larger to George Shaffer and the smaller to Pastor George Young for a token payment. This would seem to indicate a possible relationship or an act of a devoted paishioner toward the benefit of his pastor. Michael Jr. did not complete sale of his land until December of the same year. It was also sold in two parts, also with two sets of buildings, indicating that there were at least five families of the Ruffs (Nicolaus had a separate establishment, but did not own it). Evidence is strong that the entire Ruff relationship left Maryland in the summer of 1779. we do not know the motive, but from the appearance of the land they left, it could have been a desire for more fertile soil. In addition, a migration movement to the west over the mountains was in full current.
Michael, Nicolaus, Mathias and their families settled in Colerain Township, in Bedford County. They were evidently close neighbors in the Friend's Cove section north of Rainsburg. Both Michael and Nicolaus appear on tax lsts as land owners, Matthias, owning no land, probably lived on the land of one of the others as before. Michael's son Peter also acquired land.
Michael sold part of his farm "to my son Peter Ruff". In a baptismal listing at Hagerstown the wife of Michael was Elisabeth, but in Bedford deeds the wife is Mary Agnes. This was possibly a second marriage. Peter married Margaret Replogle. Nicolaus left Bedford in 1792. Mathias also disappears from the Tax Lists in 1792. Michael is removed in 1795, probably because of death. His wife mary Agnes continues as a property owner until 1802. Peter leaves the scene in 1808. He settled in Ohio and later died at the home of his daughter Margaret in 1836 in South Bend, Indiana. All three brothers and Peter were members of the Bedford Rangers during the Revolution. Since 56 was the top age for acceptance into the Rangers, an age limit for Michael is set. He could hardly have been born before 1724.
In the summer of 1779 Anthony and Anna Maria set out for the West. With them were their children John, Anthony Jr., and Mary. There may have been other children. The story of the little girl captured by the Indians at Fort Louden is not documented but may be true. There was also Thomas Jones, husband (or future husband) of Mary. Anna Maria's daughter Catharina and her husband Jacob Aspy (Esbi), and possibly Jacob Gerber and his wife. Anthony purchased a farm of about 300 acres from Joseph McHenry in Mt. Pleasant township, Westmoreland County.
In 1785 Anthony doubled his land holding by taking a patent for tracts adjoining his original purchase. His son John married Elisabeth Truby, daughter of Christopher Truby, who founded the town of Greensburg. In 1788 John was a member of the Pennsylvania militia.
We know little of Mary. Her name was probably Maria Magdalena. She could have been older or younger than John. She married Thomas Jones, spelled by Pastor J.w. Weber as Schons and Schontz. Their oldest children, twins, were born 1784. We are not sure of the future of the Jones family. One version has them as the founders of Jones Mills, but this is questionable. An early U.S. Census places a Thomas Jones and family in Fayette County in the Fort Necessity region.
