Joseph Ruff first filed a petition in 1820. He owned land as early as 1799. He has not been found in any will as a slave. His father believed to be Benjamin Ruff bought land in Bedford County in 1766 and died in the Rev War in 1779. Benjamin's wife received a small pension for his services in 1779. Benjamin can not be linked to date to any Ruff lines in the USA. All of his children were bound out between 1780 & 1789. Can anyone prove that he was Native American? Can anyone identify Benjamin Ruff and where he came from?