I sent you a previous private response stating that I couldn't find any documentation of Benjamin's service in the American Revolution. I checked standard published sources on Virginians who served during the Revolution and couldn't find Benjamin Ruff mentioned anywhere. This simply means that to date, I have not located a source that has included Benjamin Ruff as a participant in the Revolution. The sources I checked are the published ones mentioned on the Library of Virginia's web page link below.

I truly cannot determine for you whether or not Thomas Ruff and Benjamin Ruff were one and the same person. Their having close dates of death generally does not mean that it is the same person. Consider the possibility that Thomas may have been related to Benjamin, or not at all. Furthermore, if there were a relationship between Thomas and Benjamin, you would still need to find additional records to reflect whatever relationship there may have been. And if you still want to assert that Thomas and Benjamin were the same person, you would need documentation to match for example, a spouse, children, property owned, or something that shows an overlapping connection. This is merely a suggestion for you to consider when analyzing the records you have accumulated on your Ruff family.

You mentioned that a Ruff widow received a pension in 1779, and you mentioned that it is possible that a Ruff served during the French and Indian War. This war of course predates the American Revolution, and pensions dealing with those who served during that war, were in some cases, processed during the same time, as were some Revolutionary War pensions. You might want to research the French and Indian War further, to determine if your Benjamin Ruff ancestor was compensated for service during that war.

My suggestions to you would be to try and document Thomas further, or, to search through your records to see what transactions Benjamin recorded during his lifetime. For example, Benjamin may have paid a supply tax, or contributed material goods to the local militia. If he had a skill or trade, he may have for example, been a carpenter, wagonner, blacksmith or cooper, and supplied the Continental forces with goods or services that aided their cause. In such instances, with proper documentation, a person could be established for his/her patriotic service. Most people make the assumption that the only recognizable service during the Revolution is military service.

I have included a link to the Library of Virginia's web page on Revolutionary War service, which you undoubtedly have already viewed. I am including this as an extension to my response to you, for others who might be interested in the subject. The published sources mentioned on this page are often the same ones we use to check Revolutionary War service.

There remains, perhaps, a body of records as yet discovered, that documents additional service and/or participation in the Revolution. As I wrote to you previously, I am always looking for new sources on patriots of color to research further.

I cannot conclude in either direction whether Benjamin Ruff served or not, only that if he served or participated in the Revolution, that in whatever manner he may have done so, has not been published to date.

Please also realize that there are many authorities on the American Revolution. Our Society is but one amongst many authorities. We are unique in that we seek to establish both participation in the Revolution and lineal descent from those participants.