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From the Ruffner Family Association:
Peter Ruffner – the first Ruffner of our family to come to America was born about 1713 in Switzerland. It is presumed that he came to this country in 1732. He settled in Pennsylvania, eventually in Lancaster County, and there he met his future wife, Mary Steinman.
After he was settled in life and living in Shenandoah County in Virginia, according to records of the court, he was several times appointed by the court to oversee the apprenticeship of young boys in order to instruct them in the weaver’s trade. From this, even though we cannot know whether he had learned the trade prior to coming to America or while living in Pennsylvania, we can safely determine that Peter himself had learned this trade. It is something he had in common with his friend and brother-in-law, Abraham Strickler, the husband of his sister Mary.
We can only voice conjecture as to why Peter decided to come to America, but like many young men, he probably felt he could advance himself in a new country. The advancement from weaver to that of a prosperous farmer and landholder came through his marriage to Mary Steinman, the daughter of Joseph and Frances Steinman/Stoneman. A yeoman himself, as well as a prosperous land purchaser, Joseph Stoneman was very generous to his daughter Mary and her new husband Peter Ruffner when he deeded to them land along Hawksbill Creek in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia following their marriage in 1739.
According to grandson David, Peter was not a large man and had a quiet nature. Peter Ruffner died in 1778; his will filed for probate in January of that year.
Peter Ruffner Sr's will probated 22 May 1778. [1] Note: this record ties Peter to wife Mary, sons (Peter, Manuel, Joseph, Benjamin and Reuben) and son-in-law (Jacob Stover)
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Peter is 24 degrees from Herbert Adair, 23 degrees from Richard Adams, 18 degrees from Mel Blanc, 22 degrees from Dick Bruna, 17 degrees from Bunny DeBarge, 32 degrees from Peter Dinklage, 17 degrees from Sam Edwards, 15 degrees from Ginnifer Goodwin, 20 degrees from Marty Krofft, 13 degrees from Junius Matthews, 14 degrees from Rachel Mellon and 12 degrees from Harold Warstler on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
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Categories: Palatine Migrants