Susan Mary Ruffin

(1827-1851)

No image available.
Would you like to contribute one?

At a Glance

Decended from two prominent North Carolina families--the Ruffins and Kirklands--Susan Mary Ruffin, a Burwell student, was the tenth of Chief Justice Thomas Ruffin and Annie M. Kirkland's fourteen children [1].

Story

Susan Mary Ruffin was born in Hillsborough, NC on January 6, 1827, according to her mother's Bible. However, she lived most of her life in Alamance County, NC, after her parents moved in 1829 to Hermitage Plantation, NC on Great Alamance Creek.

Her father, Thomas Ruffin, was the son of Sterling Ruffin and Alice Roane, both from prominent Virginia families. He began his legal career as a politician, then became an Orange County judge, and later a North Carolina Supreme Court justice. He retired from the bench in 1860, but continued to play an important role in local and state politics.

Susan married John W. Broadnax on October 17, 1848. Their marriage was announced in the The Hillsborough Recorder [2] on October 25, 1848:

"Married--John W. Broadnax of Rockingham County, NC, to Susan Mary Ruffin, dtr. of Thomas Ruffin, in this county Tuesday 17th inst. by Rev. Dr. Dame."

Three years later, Susan died. Her obituary was printed in the September 24, 1851 edition of the The Hillsborough Recorder [2]:

"Died--Mrs. Susan Mary Broadnax, wife of John W. Broadnax, dtr. of Chief Justice Thomas Ruffin, of Congestive fever the morning of the 18th inst. at the residence of Robert Broadnax in Rockingham County, NC, North Carolina. Not 3 years a wife. Left 2 infant children."

The two children were daughters. Susan's sister, Alice Ruffin, moved into the household after Susan's death and cared for the children [1].

Biographical Data

Important Dates

Susan Mary Ruffin was born on January 6, 1827. She died on September 18, 1851. Her obituary was printed in the September 24, 1851 edition of the The Hillsborough Recorder [2]:

"Died--Mrs. Susan Mary Broadnax, wife of John W. Broadnax, dtr. of Chief Justice Thomas Ruffin, of Congestive fever the morning of the 18th inst. at the residence of Robert Broadnax in Rockingham County, NC. Not 3 years a wife. Left 2 infant children.""

Places of Residence

• Hillsborough, NC, between January 6, 1827 and 1829 [1].
• Hermitage Plantation, NC, from 1829 [1].
• Rockingham County, NC, until September 18, 1851 [1].

Schools Attended

• Burwell School [1].

Relatives

• Parents: Thomas Ruffin [1] and Annie M. Kirkland [1].
• Spouse: John W. Broadnax, married from October 17, 1848 to September 18, 1851. Susan Mary Ruffin married John W. Broadnax on October 17, 1848. Their marriage was announced in theThe Hillsborough Recorder [2] on October 25, 1848:  "Married--John W. Broadnax of Rockingham County, NC, to Susan Mary Ruffin, dtr. of Thomas Ruffin, in this county Tuesday 17th inst. by Rev. Dr. Dame [1].
• Paternal grandparents: Sterling Ruffin [1] and Alice Roane [1].
• Siblings:
  • one brother, Peter Browne Ruffin (d. 1900) [1].
  • one sister, Alice Ruffin [1]. Susan died on September 18, 1851, leaving behind her husband, John W. Broadnax and two infant daughters. Susan's sister, Alice Ruffin, moved into the household after Susan's death and cared for the children [1].
• Others: Mary Rebecca Jones  (sister-in-law, 1823-1878) [1], Allen Jones Ruffin (nephew, b. 1857), Anna Kirkland Ruffin (niece), Cadwallader Jones Ruffin (nephew), Joseph Roulhac Ruffin (nephew), Mary Browne Ruffin (niece, b. 1850), Rebecca Edwards Ruffin (niece, b. 1846), Sarah Jones Ruffin (niece), Sarah Daisy Jones Ruffin (niece), Susan Brown Ruffin (niece, b. 1852), Sterling Ruffin, [Jr.] (nephew, b. 1857) and Thomas Ruffin, [Jr.] (nephew, b. 1852).

References

1. Mary Claire Engstrom. The Book of Burwell Students: Lives of Educated Women in the Antebellum South. (Hillsborough: Hillsborough Historic Commission, 2007).
2. The Hillsborough Recorder was published from 1820 to 1879 by Dennis Heartt. It was a weekly newspaper.