Marty and Karla Grant

[Home] [What’s New?] [Books for Sale] [Christian] [Genealogy] [Search] [Support] [About] [Contact]

Ruffin Stewart (c1813-c1855/60) and Elizabeth Bibby and Mary Jane Evans of North Carolina (Orange, Person, Macon) - African American / Black Family

[Stewart Home] - [Table of Contents] - Ruffin Stewart (c1813)

Jump to Children’s section | Jump to Family Group Sheet

I am not related to Ruffin Stewart as far as I can tell. It seems doubtful that I would be, considering he came from Orange and Person counties where I have no known Stewart connections. However, he did move into Macon Co., NC where my Stewarts had lived, namely my ancestor named John Stewart (1730/40-1830). John and wife both died prior to Ruffin’s arrival, but some of John’s family was still there and their paths might have crossed.

I don’t know which spelling this family preferred because they are listed as both Stuart and Stewart in the public records. I’ve found no tombstones for anyone in the early generation so there’s nothing “carved in stone” to go on.

Ruffin and family were listed as free colored, black and mulatto on the various census records meaning they were likely of African ancestry. He might have been born a slave. However, he was free before 1840, which was a rare and notable thing in that era.

Ruffin Stewart was born ca 1812/13 per his age on the 1850 census (37). The same census listed his birth place as Orange Co., NC, which is very helpful.

I don’t know who his parents were. I should note that in 1813 Orange county was much larger than it is now, then containing all of present day Alamance and much of Durham counties within its borders. I don’t know which section he may have lived in.

There are four Stewart households listed in Orange Co., NC in 1810. None had slaves or free colored persons with them. Of course, Ruffin wasn’t born yet in 1810. In neighboring Person Co., NC (where Ruffin later lived), there was this household:

1810 Census, Person Co., NC

p. 632 Thomas Stuart         00000-00000-11-0

That is certainly notable. Eleven free colored persons in the household of Thomas Stuart.

In “Free African Americans,” the author Paul Heinegg briefly discusses Stewarts in Person County, NC, but does not mention Ruffin. However, the article may be of interest. Click on the link above to read what he wrote about Free Colored Stewarts in Person County.

Ruffin would have been about seven years old for the 1820 census. If listed in the slave or free colored columns, he should have been in the under 14 age group (born ca 1806/1820). I checked in both Orange and Person County and found two potentials. Notably, the Thomas Stewart from 1810 Person was not listed in 1820. However, a Charles Stewart in Orange had 4 male slaves under 14, while Nathan Stewart of Person had 2 free colored males under 14.

Based only on this record, we can’t conclude that Nathan was Ruffin’s father, but he certainly could have been. Paul Heinegg mentioned Nathaniel in his book, but did not list his children.

1820 Census, Orange Co., NC

p. 406 Chs Stewart              011201-40010-Slaves=4000-1010-FPC=0000-0000

1820 Census, Person Co., NC

p. 498 Nathan Stewart       000000-00000-Slaves=0000-0000-FPC=2010-1201

It would be worthwhile to check the deeds, wills or court records for Orange and Person to see if there is a record of Nathan being freed, and by whom. One might guess that Nathan is a son of Thomas Stewart listed in Person in 1810, but that might not be the case.

Ruffin would have been about 17 for the 1830 census, so he should be enumerated in the 10-24 age category (born ca 1805/1820). There were two potential matches in Orange County and one in Person.

1830 Census, Orange Co., NC

p. 319 Charles Steward      Slaves=110000-210100

p. 324 Neverson? Stewart FPC=020100-320100          (No whites or slaves)

p. 324 Francis Stewart        FPC=020100-221000          (No whites or slaves)

1830 Census, Person Co., NC

p. ??? James Stuart             Slaves=521000-441100

There is a marriage bond in Orange Co., NC dated 30 Aug 1838 for Ruffin Stewart to marry Elizabeth Bibby with Robert Mitchell as the bondsman. I don’t know if this is the same Ruffin Stewart or not. There was no notation of him being “Colored” as was usually the case on records during that era. There were no Bibby listings on the 1830 or 1840 census anywhere near Orange County. Elizabeth was born ca 1803/1815 per her age on the 1840 census (24-35).

Ruffin was listed as head of household on the 1840 census in Person County. He was on the same page with Caldwell Stewart (also Free Colored), possibly a brother or close relation.

1840 Census, Person Co., NC

Page

Name (Males first row, females on second)

0-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70-79

80-89

90-99

100+

299

Ruffin Steward

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

FPC=001000-001000

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

~

Elizabeth Bibby Stewart died sometime in the 1840s, for by 1850 his wife was Mary Jane Evans. I don’t know when they married precisely nor where, though presumably in Person Co., NC (no record found). Mary was born ca 1823/24 per her age on the 1850 census (26), which also listed her as born in Halifax Co., NC. Her maiden name is proven by the death certificate of her daughter Sophronia. That same document lists Mary’s birth place as Person County.

They lived in Person County a few years, but between ca 1845 and ca 1847, they moved west to Macon Co., NC, which is in the extreme south west portion of North Carolina. They settled somewhere very close to the town of Franklin on the west side of Tennessee River (based on some of their neighbors, for the Stewarts didn't own land).

They were listed on the 1850 census in Macon County. There were other Stewarts in Macon County, but none nearby, and there is no known relationship, for those all originated in Western NC. I noticed there were several Stewarts still in Person in 1850, including a younger Ruffin perhaps named for this one.

1850 Census, Macon Co., NC, Tennessee Valley

Page 321, House 89, Family 91

Apparently both Ruffin and Mary died between 1855 and 1860.

Their children were spread out through various households on the 1860 census, though perhaps tellingly, two sets were both with Howard families. I don’t know if there is a relationship there or not, but they remained with the Howards until grown.

1860 Census, Macon Co. NC

The children were still in Howard households in the 1870 census, now in Smith’s Bridge Township, which was newly created from what had been considered Franklin, meaning they didn’t move between 1860 and 1870.

1870 Census, Macon Co., NC

I only found a few still in Macon for the 1880 census.

1880 Census, Macon Co., NC

This is all I have on this family at present.

---

Children

Ruffin Stewart had at least nine children per the 1850 and 1860 censuses. I’ve recorded them all as by his second wife, Mary Jane Evans, though I don’t know when his first wife died. She could be the mother of some of those born in the early 1840s.

---

For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for Ruffin Stewart and Elizabeth Bibby and Mary Jane Evans.

Revised: June 13, 2024

Copyright © 1996-2024 Marvin A. Grant, Jr. All Rights Reserved.

[Home] [What’s New?] [Books for Sale] [Christian] [Genealogy] [Search] [Support] [About] [Contact]