Ruffin, Edmund, 1794-1865

Variant names

Hide Profile

Agriculturalist and prominent Secessionist.

From the description of Papers of Edmund Ruffin [manuscript], 1861. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647855369

Edmund Ruffin was a noted agriculturalist and publisher of Prince George and Hanover counties, Va. He was a strong defender of slavery and a secessionist.

From the description of Edmund Ruffin papers, 1784-1893. WorldCat record id: 32040042

Edmund Ruffin was an agricultural experimenter and writer-farmer. He also wrote extensively on defense of slavery and states-rights. Julian C. Ruffin was his son. For genealogical data see Edmund L. Ruffin, Descendants of Edmund Ruffin, 1932.

From the description of Accounts, 1828-1865. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122496951

American agriculturist.

From the description of Signature cut from the register of Brown's hotel : Washington, [n.d.]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270619250

Robert "King" Carter (1663-1732) was a colonial official and great landholder (300,000 acres). His sons were Robert Carter (1704-1731) and Landon Carter (1710-1778) of "Sabine Hall." Grandsons of Robert Carter included Robert "Councillor" Carter (1728-1804) of "Nomini" and Robert Wormeley Carter (1734-1797).

From the guide to the Carter Family Papers, 1667-1862., (Special Collections, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary)

Plantation owner and publisher.

From the description of Edmund Ruffin diaries, 1856-1865. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 77886478

Agriculturist and publisher.

From the description of Letter, 1863. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 36635465

Biographical Note

  • 1794, Jan. 5: Born, Prince George Co., Va.
  • 1810 - 1812 : Student, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Va.
  • 1812: Served as private, War of 1812
  • 1823 - 1826 : Representative, Virginia senate
  • 1832: Published An Essay on Calcareous Manures. Petersburg, Va.: J. W. Campbell
  • 1833 - 1842 : Edited Farmers’ Register
  • 1841: Appointed member of the first Virginia State Board of Agriculture
  • 1842: Became agricultural surveyor of South Carolina
  • 1853: Published several pamphlets in defense of slavery
  • 1854: Commissioner, Virginia State Agricultural Society
  • 1855: Published Essays and Notes on Agriculture. Richmond, Va.
  • 1858: Assisted in the creation of the League of United Southerners
  • 1860: Published Anticipations of the Future, to Serve as Lessons for the Present Time. Richmond, Va.: J. W. Randolph
  • 1865, June 17: Died, “Redmoor” estate, Amelia County, Va.

From the guide to the Edmund Ruffin Diaries, 1856-1865, (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)

Charles Campbell (1807-1876) was born on 1 May 1807, in Petersburg, Virginia, the firstborn child of parents John Wilson Campbell (d.1842), and Mildred Walker Moore Campbell. John, a bookstore owner, was also a historian. In 1831 he published the History of Virginia to 1781 . Later, he held the position of Federal Collector of Customs in Petersburg, Virginia. Mildred taught at the Petersburg Classical Academy in the 1840's. In addition to Charles, the couple also had two younger children, Alexander (Aleck) S. Campbell, and Elizabeth (Betty) Campbell Maben (d.1871).

Charles' mother, Mildred Walker Moore Campbell, was the granddaughter of Virginia lieutenant governor Alexander Spotswood (1676-1740). Mildred Walker Moore Campbell and her siblings Mary Fairfax Moore Keller, Dr. Alexander Spotswood Moore, Ann Evelina Moore Henley, William Agustin Moore, Eliza Moore McDonald, and Lavinia Moore McPheeters wrote and received numerous pieces of personal correspondence that are available in this collection.

Charles Campbell attended the College of New Jersey (later Princeton University) from 1823-1825. Upon graduation he enrolled in Henry St. George Tucker's School of Law in Winchester, Virginia. However, he suffered from chronic headaches which caused him severe physical and mental exhaustion. By 1829, these health issues would force him to leave the law profession.

Following his departure from law, Campbell worked as an engineer of the Petersburg Railroad. Later he ran a private school for boys in Glencoe, Alabama. On 13 September 1836, he married Elvira N. Callaway (1819-1837) of Monroe County, Tennessee. In 1837, Elvira died shortly after the birth of a son, Callaway Campbell (b.1837). In his distress, Campbell left his son with Elivira's siblings, Thomas and Lucinda Callaway. Later, this would result in a court case to regain custody of his child.

Following the death of his wife, Campbell worked as a clerk in the office of the Collector of Custom in Petersburg, Virginia (a position he obtained from his father John Campbell). From 1840-1843, Campbell also owned, published, and edited a Petersburg newspaper, The American Statesman . He returned to teaching in 1842 by opening a classical school in Petersburg, becoming both teacher and administrator in the Anderson Seminary. He would hold these positions until the formation of free public schools in 1870.

Campbell remarried in 1850 to Miss Anna Birdsall of Rahway, New Jersey. They had four children, Mary Spotswood Campbell Robinson (b.1852), Nanny Campbell (b.1854), Charles Campbell (b.1856), and Fanny Campbell (1858-1860's).

Charles Campbell was committed to Western Lunatic Asylum at Staunton, Virginia, in 1873 where he remained until his death on July 11, 1876. He was buried at Blandford Church Cemetery, Petersburg.

Like his father, Campbell was a historian. He began contributing to journals in 1834. Some of the journals to which he frequently contributed included; The Southern Literary Messenger or The Southern and Western Literary Messenger and Review ; The Farmer's Register ; The New Yorker ; and the Petersburg Intelligencer . His most important work, however, was the History of the Colony and Ancient Dominion of Virginia . This work built upon his father's book and concerned Virginia history from the colony's founding to the Revolutionary War.

From the guide to the Charles Campbell Papers, 1743-1896., (Special Collections, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Curry, J. L. M. (Jabez Lamar Monroe), 1825-1903. Pamphlet collection, 1788-1902. Alabama Department of Archives and History
creatorOf Ruffin, Edmund, 1794-1865,. Letter and memoir of Elizabeth Gilmer Tyler Miles [manuscript] 1854 & 1890. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Ruffin, Edmund, 1794-1865. Edmund Ruffin papers, 1784-1893. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Brown family. Brown-Gee collection. Series II, [18--]-[19--]. Cleveland Public Library, Main Library
referencedIn Smith, James. James Smith reminiscences, 1840-1843. Louisiana State University, LSU Libraries
referencedIn Perry, Thornton Tayloe, 1892-1981,. John Brown raid miscellaneous papers, 1859-1957. Virginia Historical Society Library
referencedIn Robertson, Archer. Petition in favor of Great Britain, 1781 June. Library of Virginia
creatorOf Ruffin, Edmund, 1794-1865. Letter, 1863. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
creatorOf Cabell, Nathaniel Francis, 1807-1891. Collection of papers relating to Virginia's agricultural history, 1771-1879. Library of Virginia
referencedIn Ruffin, Edmund, b. 1814. Farm journal, 1841-1843. William & Mary Libraries
referencedIn Perry, Thornton Tayloe, 1892-1981,. John Brown raid miscellaneous papers, 1859-1957. Shepherd University Library, Scarborough Library
referencedIn Cocke, Harrison Henry, 1794-1873. Harrison Henry Cocke papers, 1762-1876. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Roane family. Papers, 1795-1841. Library of Virginia
creatorOf Gooch family. Papers, 1800-1891 University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn De Bow, J. D. B. (James Dunwoody Brownson), 1820-1867. Papers, 1779-1915. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Robertson, Archer. Petition in favor of Great Britain, 1781 June. Library of Virginia
creatorOf Ruffin, Edmund, 1794-1865. Fortifications around Charleston, H.B. ... / Edmund Ruffin. Library of Virginia
creatorOf Ruffin, Edmund, 1794-1865. Signature cut from the register of Brown's hotel : Washington, [n.d.]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Charles Campbell Papers, 1743-1896. Special Collections Research Center, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary
referencedIn Ruffin family. Ruffin family papers, 1811-1892 (bulk 1866-1892). Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn Levy, Rachel Hart, 1841-1918. Rachel H. Levy scrapbook, ca. 1860. South Carolina Historical Society
creatorOf Ruffin, Edmund, 1794-1865. Accounts, 1828-1865. Library of Virginia
creatorOf Carter Family Papers, 1667-1862. Special Collections Research Center, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary
creatorOf Ruffin, Edmund, 1794-1865. Papers of Edmund Ruffin [manuscript], 1861. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Douglas, William, 1708-1798. Papers of the Reverend William Douglas [manuscript], 1716-1862 (bulk 1751-1862). University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Ruffin, Edmund, 1794-1865. Papers : of Edmund Ruffin, 1818-1865. Virginia Historical Society Library
creatorOf Blow family. Papers, 1770-1875. William & Mary Libraries
referencedIn Graham family. Papers, 1773-1885; (bulk 1800-1880). Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Tompkins family. Papers, 1792-1869. Virginia Historical Society Library
creatorOf Benton, Thomas Hart, 1782-1858. Papers of the Gooch family [manuscript] 1800-91. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Baynham, William, 1749-1814,. Papers of the Hunter-Garnett Family [manuscript] 1703-1970 (bulk, 1770-1880). University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf McDuffie, George, 1790-1851,. Letters to David I. McCord [manuscript], 1834-1838. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Campbell, Charles, 1807-1876. Papers, 1743-1896. William & Mary Libraries
referencedIn Harriss, Thomas Whitmel, 1795-1870. Papers, 1795-1891; (bulk 1828-1873). Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Dorsey-Coupland Papers, 1840-1876, 1843-1865. Special Collections, College of William and Mary
referencedIn Graham family papers, Bulk, 1800-1880, 1773-1885 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
creatorOf Edmund Ruffin Diaries, 1856-1865 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Ruffin, Edmund, 1794-1865. Letter to Jane Ruffin [manuscript] 1854 March 21. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Carter family. Carter family papers, 1667-1862. William & Mary Libraries
creatorOf South Carolina. General Assembly. Report of the commencement and progress of the agricultural survey of the state of South Carolina, 1843. South Carolina. Department of Archives and History
creatorOf Ruffin, Edmund, 1794-1865. Edmund Ruffin diaries, 1856-1865. Library of Congress
referencedIn Steel and Alexander. Account books, 1793-1898, of Steel and Alexander and other Petersburg, Virginia, merchants and manufacturers [manuscript]. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Ruffin family. Papers, 1795-1845. Selections [microform]. Virginia Historical Society Library
referencedIn Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States Commandery of the State of Massachusetts Civil War collection, 1724-1933 (inclusive); 1861-1912 (bulk). Houghton Library
creatorOf Ruffin, Edmund, 1794-1865. Letter. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Ruffin, Edmund, b. 1814. Dorsey-Coupland papers, 1840-1876, 1843-1865. William & Mary Libraries
referencedIn Beatty-Quisenberry family. Beaty-Quisenberry familty papers, 1798-1962. The Filson Historical Society
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Bancroft, George, 1800-1891 person
associatedWith Barnard, Henry, 1811-1900 person
associatedWith Beatty-Quisenberry family. family
associatedWith Blow family. family
associatedWith Brown family. family
associatedWith Cabell, Nathaniel Francis, 1807-1891. person
associatedWith Campbell, Anna Burdsall, Mrs. person
associatedWith Campbell, Calloway. person
associatedWith Campbell, Charles person
associatedWith Campbell, Charles, 1807-1876. person
associatedWith Campbell Family. family
associatedWith Campbell, Mildred Walker Moore, Mrs. person
associatedWith Carter family. family
associatedWith Carter Family, family
associatedWith Carter, Landon, 1710-1778 person
associatedWith Carter, Mary B. person
associatedWith Carter, Robert, 1663-1732 person
associatedWith Caruthers, William Alexander, 1800 (ca.)-1846. person
associatedWith Cocke, Harrison Henry, 1794-1873. person
associatedWith Confederate States of America. Army corporateBody
associatedWith Conrad, Robert Young, 1805-1875 person
associatedWith Cooke, John Esten, 1830-1886 person
associatedWith Coupland, Carter, fl. 1833-1866 person
associatedWith Coupland Family, family
associatedWith Coupland, John R., fl. 1843-1866 person
associatedWith Coupland, Susan Henley, fl. 1843-1866 person
associatedWith Curry, J. L. M. (Jabez Lamar Monroe), 1825-1903. person
associatedWith Deane, Charles, 1813-1889 person
associatedWith De Bow, J. D. B. (James Dunwoody Brownson), 1820-1867. person
associatedWith Dorsey Family, family
associatedWith Dorsey, Juliana Ruffin Coupland, b. 1806? person
associatedWith Douglas, William, 1708-1798. person
associatedWith Draper, Lyman Copeland, 1815-1891 person
associatedWith Dunglison, Robley, 1798-1869 person
associatedWith Dupuby Family, family
associatedWith Dupuy, Jane S. Ruffin, b. 1800 person
associatedWith Edmund Ruffin Family family
associatedWith Edmund Ruffin, Jr. person
associatedWith Gilpin, Henry Dilworth, 1801-1860 person
associatedWith Graham family family
associatedWith Graham family. family
associatedWith Grigsby, Hugh Blair, 1806-1881 person
associatedWith Hammond, James Henry, 1807-1864. person
associatedWith Harrison, William Henry, 1773-1841. person
associatedWith Harriss, Thomas Whitmel, 1795-1870. person
associatedWith Henry, William Wirt, 1831-1900 person
associatedWith Howe, Henry, 1816-1893 person
associatedWith Levy, Rachel Hart, 1841-1918. person
associatedWith Lomax, John Tayloe, 1781-1862 person
associatedWith Lossing, Benson John, 1813-1891 person
associatedWith Maxwell, William, 1784-1857 person
associatedWith Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. Commandery of the State of Massachusetts, collector. corporateBody
associatedWith Perry, Thornton Tayloe, 1892-1981, person
associatedWith Rhett, Robert Barnwell, 1800-1876. person
associatedWith Roane family. person
associatedWith Robertson, Archer. person
associatedWith Ruffin, Edmund, b. 1814. person
associatedWith Ruffin family. family
associatedWith Ruffin family. family
correspondedWith Ruffin family. family
associatedWith Ruffin, Jane, person
associatedWith Ruffin, Julian C. person
associatedWith Ruffin, Julian Calx, 1821-1864. person
associatedWith Smith, James. person
associatedWith South Carolina. Agricultural Surveyor. corporateBody
associatedWith South Carolina. General Assembly. corporateBody
associatedWith Steel and Alexander. corporateBody
associatedWith Taylor Family, family
associatedWith Tompkins family. family
associatedWith Tyler, John, 1790-1862. person
associatedWith Virginia Agricultural Society. corporateBody
associatedWith Virginia Historical Society. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Charleston Harbor (S.C.)
Marlbourne Plantation (Va.)
Cabin Point (Surry County, Va.)
Southern States
Virginia
Charleston (S.C.)
Hanover County (Va.)
Confederate States of America
Hanover County (Va.)
South Carolina
Beechwood Plantation (Va.)
South Carolina
Beechwood Plantation (Va.)
Richmond (Va.)
Virginia--Hanover County
Virginia
Virginia
Virginia--Richmond
Virginia
Prince George County (Va.)
Charleston (S.C.)
Beechwood (Prince George County, Va.)
South Carolina
Manassas (Va.)
United States
Marlbourne (Hanover County, Va.)
Richmond (Va.)
United States
Virginia--Prince George County
Coggin's Point (Prince George County, Va.)
Marlbourne Plantation (Va.)
Ruthven (Prince George County, Va.)
Shellbanks (Prince George County, Va.)
Amelia County (Va.)
Fort Sumter (Charleston, S.C.)
United States
Virginia--Surry County
Manassas (Va.)
Fort Sumter (Charleston, S.C.)
Virginia
Fort Sumter (Charleston, S.C.)
Amelia County (Va.)
Prince George County (Va.)
Charleston Region (S.C.)
South Carolina
Agriculture--Virginia
Confederate States of America
Subject
Slavery
Slavery
Slavery
Slavery
Theater
Religion
Education
African Americans
Agricultural ecology
Agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture
Autographs
Bonds
Calvinism
Families
Horse-racing
Petersburg (Va.). Library
Plantation life
Plantations
Plantations
Real property
Secession
Theaters
Tobacco
Unitarianism
Virginia
Virginia
Occupation
Plantation owners
Publisher
Activity

Person

Birth 1794-01-05

Death 1865-06-17

Americans

English

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6k64hs6

Ark ID: w6k64hs6

SNAC ID: 26309181