Abraham Ruff born 25th December 1812, Zurich, Switzerland
Switzerland 1847
A family story is Abraham Ruff fled Switzerland after financially backing the wrong political party? Another story was discovered after searching the internet and finding a genealogy forum on Abraham Ruff
My newly discovered distant cousin, Marianne linked me to the Hawkey family tree and to another cousin Jenny who had written a book on our family history “To Distant Shores”. The story from the Hawkey link is that he fled Switzerland after killing a man and was wanted by the authorities. The same story exists for him leaving England for Australia.
http://j160662.tribalpages.com/tribe/browse?userid=j160662&view=0&pid=141&rand
This new information took me by surprise as I could now be the great great grandson of a murderer. A few weeks later after completing my own copy of the Ruff family tree I decided to do more research on this so I googled ‘murders Switzerland 1847’ and discovered the following
http://www.onwar.com/aced/data/sierra/swiss1847.htm
Protestant Swiss liberals, seeking a revised constitution, stronger central government, freedom of worship, and secular education (expulsion of the Jesuits), tried to impose their views upon the whole Swiss confederation, encountering stiff resistance from Catholic Swiss in the early 1840s. To protect Catholic interests and prevent more federalization, seven Catholic Swiss cantons (Lucern, Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden, Fribourg, Zujg, and Valais) formed a defensive alliance called the Sonderbund ("Separatist League") in 1845. When a reformist majority in the Swiss Diet voted through a measure ordering the dissolution of the Sonderbund (1847), the seven Catholic cantons refused, took up arms, and appealed for outside help (in vain). In a brief and almost bloodless civil war (November 2-24, 1847), federal troops under General Guillaume Henri Dufour (1787-1875) defeated the forces of the Sonderbund, which was far outnumbered on the battlefield, approx 100 dead.
The Sonderbund was dissolved, and its former members were compelled to pay the cost of the war. The victors adopted a new constitution (1848) that established a strong Swiss federal government, while preserving the local cantonal governments. The Red Cross was established shortly after this war.
Was Abraham part of the Sonderbund? I believe that this and the civil war is the reason why he fled Switzerland.
London
Abraham flees Zurich, Switzerland around late November 1847 for England. Just 5 months later he is arrested on the 9th March 1848 during the Trafalgar Square Riots and was later discharged. This information was recently discovered on the internet by my brother Paul on 24th March 2009.
The first serious disturbance of 1848 took place at Trafalgar Square – then still under construction, with newly laid roads and hoardings around Nelson's Column. A planned protest against the then relatively novel idea of income tax had been called by Charles Cochrane for Monday 6 March. Under pressure from the police, however, he reluctantly withdrew and made efforts to cancel the open air meeting. London 's workers were having none of it, and a crowd estimated at 10,000 strong gathered anyway, with the Chartist activist GWM Reynolds in the chair. Though observers later commented that barely a man in the crowd would have been liable to pay income tax, the meeting duly condemned it, congratulated the French people on their efforts to overthrow their government, and made clear their support for the People Charter. At first all went peacefully. But according to the admittedly partisan Northern Star, just as the crowd began to dissolve “some sleek well-fed man asserted that the people assembled were lazy and would not work”. In the uproar which followed, the police moved in with truncheons flying and a riot ensued. By 4pm that afternoon, the police were in control of the square. But as they withdrew two hours later, the crowd flocked back in, pulling down the wooden hoardings around Nelson's Column and arming themselves with granite blocks from the new roads. The fighting continued until late into the evening, with parts of the crowd heading off to smash the windows of the gentlemen's clubs in Pall Mall , breaking into bread shops to seize loaves and – shortly after midnight – moving into Grosvenor Square . It was 1am before peace was restored, and by 9am the following morning the crowd was back, erecting a barricade in Charing Cross next to the statue of Charles I. All that day and into Wednesday 8 March the fighting continued.David Goodway, in his book London Chartism 1838-1848, notes that the authorities built up their forces over these days. On the Monday, there had been just 1,189 police on duty or reserve in London; two days later, there were 2,460. Despite the continuing excitement, the police regained control during the course of the Wednesday and the rioting began to subside. This, however, did little to prevent 700 rioters heading for the City by way of Temple Bar and Fleet Street. After a Chartist meeting on Stepney Green that evening, the crowd once again broke windows in the City and along Regent St. This, however, was to be the end of the tumult for now. By Friday, The Times was able to report that “scarcely any traces” of the week's excitement now remained. In all, 127 rioters were arrested between Monday to Wednesday. As Goodway notes, the striking feature of those arrested is their youth – nearly half being under 21 years old. The names of those arrested, taken from police records are now in the National Archives. Goodway names the leaders of the riot as John White ("an eighteen-year old wearing epaulettes, smashing windows and shattering and extinguishing the gas lamps..."), and Charles Tothill ("a clerk, aged twenty"). Strictly speaking, these were not "Chartist" riots - the only Chartist connected with them being Reynolds, whose initial meeting being entirely peaceful, and the Charter being just one of a number of causes favoured by the crowd. But unlike the strikes of 1842, the Chartist leadership this time did not hesitate to place itself at the head of popular feeling, and as the "year of revolutions" went on, some Chartists at least would turn to more radical solutions.
I am not sure what part if any that Abraham had to do with the original protest against Income Tax but he has put himself in the thick of things twice in a row now. Police records have his age listed as 30 although he would have really been 36 so it looks like he may have changed his identity upon fleeing Switzerland. It could also simply be that the age 30 was mistranscribed from the old documents and should read 36?
A year later Abraham marries 24 year old Ann Gorman on 13 Feb 1849 at St James, Piccadilly Parish. There seems to be a bit of confusion about her Maiden name as my family tree has her as Ann Gorman. Information received from distant cousins Marianne and Jenny, says her surname may have been Eveson or Erison as that is what Abraham had put down on their marriage certificate. Ann may have been previously married or a widow but there are no records. Ann gives birth to Louis Andrew Ruff on 28 May 1851 at 11 Pickard St, Finsbury. Traditionally, the first born son would carry the fathers name? By September 1852 they decide to leave England for Australia.
Lord Delaval
On the original family tree document scrawled in handwriting was ‘left England on the lord delavel.’
After another google for ‘Lord Delavel ship’ I discover an article with the ships manifest.
http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/Indexes/PassengerLists/LordDelaval.html
18 September 1852 Abraham left England aboard the newly built 700 ton sailing ship 'Lord Delaval' commanded by Charles Young, for Melbourne, Australia with wife and infant. Passage costs were 30 to 45 pounds for a cabin, 25 pounds intermediate and steerage was 18 pounds. On the ship manifest Abraham’s age is listed as 32 although he was really 40, occupation as Tallow Melter and nationality as German? His wife Ann was also listed as German although she was born in Cork, Ireland 1824. Abraham went to some lengths to change their identity, he changed his age twice now, was Abraham Ruff even his real name? Is this the reason for the confusion over his wife’s maiden name?
I can only imagine what life on the ship would have been like. Cabin passengers had their meals cooked and served to them while the other classes would have to provide for themselves. They arrived in Australia on 27 Feb 1853 after a passage of 13,000 miles which took 3 months and 17 days. Sophia Knight was also a passenger on the ship, she was 10 years old at the time and 8 years later they would be married. Sophia’s parents were listed as Dairy farmers on the passenger list. I am sure that Sophia and her family would have befriended Ann, Abraham and infant Louis and remained in contact during the oncoming years. As the ship arrived at Port Phillip they would disembark at a nearby inn ‘Liardets’ where they could refresh themselves while waiting for the horse drawn wagon to Melbourne city. The open aired wagon would take 12 passengers with all their luggage so I can imagine it would have been very uncomfortable. It is reported that it cost as much to get ones luggage from Port Phillip to Melbourne as it did from England to Port Philip. The wagon trip alone was a pound per person. The railways would come through over a year later.
Melbourne Soap & Candle
On arrival to Melbourne he quickly established and conducted business as a soap and candle manufacturer, 37, 39, 41 Queensbury St, Hotham (Now Nth Melbourne) was where he set up their residence as well as the Soap & Candle factory. Tuesday 23 June 1857 Abraham appeared before the City Court as he was charged with 'Trotting his horse down King st' he pleaded that he was in a hurry and was fined 10s. After a short illness Ann dies 30 June 1860 due to bronchitis, her death certificate lists her as having no children and her maiden name as Gorman. I am not sure if Louis Andrew survived the boat trip over as there are no records of his death. Just 11 weeks later Abraham marries 18 year old Sophia Knight on 19 September 1860 against the wishes of her parents, Thomas and Maria Knight.
Their first child Sophia dies at 2 weeks of age and their second Frederick dies at 8 weeks. He purchases 12 acres of land in Moorabbin. Around this time my great grandfather Abraham was born. 1863 Moorabbin property was mortgaged. 2 of the Queensbury St properties sold in October 1863. Abraham reclaims Moorabbin property at a cost of 70 Pounds and he then took out a 7 year lease of the 2 Queensbury St properties from the new owners at a yearly rate of 65 Pounds. Friday 1st April 1864 Abraham once again is summoned to court and was fined 10s for 'allowing his horse to run away.'
The Argus, Friday 26 May 1865, City Court, Abraham Ruff, the proprietor of a candle factory, complained against by the inspector of nuisances for neglecting to keep his premises clean, was ordered to pay a fine of 20s and court costs. The Argus, Friday 30 Nov 1866, City Court, Abraham Ruff was complained against for neglecting to clean his yard. In dismissing the case, the chairman said that four of the magistrates were in favour of a dismissal and two were for a conviction, as the nuisance was of long standing. Mr Carroll hereupon expressed his opinion that the chairman had no right to make any remark upon the opinions of the magitrates, and should simply give the decision. It would have been better, he said, to leave the case to the two magistrates, who were strangers to the parties, and who would consequently decide impartially.
16th September 1865 Sophia was born.
November 1867 Abraham sold the 12 acres in Moorabbin for 100 Pounds to the prominent Mr Edward Keep who also financed J. Kitchen & Sons soap and candle manufacturing business.
http://member.melbpc.org.au/~tonkit/kitchen/docs/Riches-History.pdf
A shipment of Abraham’s candles that he was exporting sank in Port Phillip Bay, unfortunately the insurance didn’t take effect until the ship was outside the Heads. Hawkey website claims Abraham was known to be a prominent Mason & Oddfellow and he also became a Life Governor of the Melbourne Benevolent Asylum. Research done by Jenny shows that Abraham is not listed as a Life Governor.
Distillery
Argus, Monday 11 May, 1868. A charge was preferred at the City Court on Saturday, against Abraham Ruff, soap and candle maker, Queensberry st, Hotham, of having an unlicensed still on his premises. Defendant's place was visited on the previous day by Mr. Leslie A. Moody, inspector of distilleries, who found the still there in full working order, and a small quantity of spirits. The whole of the distilling apparatus was seized, and Ruff was arrested. When the case was called on at the Police Court, it was stated by Sergeant Pewtress that the defendant had been taken very ill while in the lockup, and had to be removed to tho hospital, where he then was, under those circumstances, a postponement was applied for, and the case was adjourned till Monday.
Argus, Wednesday May 13, 1868. George Heath the Revenue Inspector visited Abraham’s premises on 8 May 1868. Subsequently Abraham was fined £50 with £3.3.0 costs or six months in goal for having an unlicensed still. As his signature is on Henrys birth certificate 11 Sep 1868 we assume he paid the fine and avoided prison. An archivist at North Melbourne who had done a lot of research on the Hotham Council minute books said that Abraham was very well thought of in the community and that a benefit concert had been arranged to raise money for him and his family. That’s how the fine was paid.
Sale
Somewhere around this time it is believed he sold his soap making recipe for 100 pounds to J. Kitchen & Sons who were buying up all the smaller soap and candle manufacturers of Victoria, this later became the famous Velvet Soap. End of 1869 Abraham packed up his young family and moved to Sale via boat to Port Albert then by wagon. He continued manufacturing soap and candles during the early days of Sale, when it was just a small village, York and Foster being the main streets. Apparently he had several appearances before Sale court over the following years.
Court of Petty Sessions, Sale:
30 May 1870 - Abraham owed 8/- in rates. Had to pay 8/-, 5/- fees and 5/- costs
21 Aug 1871 - Abraham removed timber from the common - fees 5/- fine 5/-, costs 5/-
23 Feb 1878 - Goods sold and delivered. Owed £2.19.6 - Non Appearance
30 Apr 1880 - Breaking up wood with intent to steal it – Dismissed
Abraham and Sophia have a total of 10 children, first 2 dying in infancy - Sophia Emily Agnes and Frederick Edward, then Abraham, Sophia, Henry, Edward, Bertha, Rosa Bona, Frederick and Ida Violet.
If Abraham did change his name when he fled Switzerland I think he left us a clue to his real identity. His first born son to Ann was named Louis Andrew. He would not have wanted to attract attention of the authorities so he would not have used his real name for his son, although it was common practice to name your eldest son after yourself. A decade later and on the other side of the world Abraham would have felt more comfortable in naming his eldest son after himself. Frederick Edward dies in infancy and he names the next son Abraham. Later he names 2 of his sons Frederick and the other Edward. So is Frederick Edward part of Abraham’s real identity? Searches on the internet reveal nothing, we may never really know for sure!
Nuns Gardener
Abraham later worked as a gardener at the Notre Dame de Sion Convent which was also an orphanage and boarding school, he was the only man allowed into the Convent because he could speak to the nuns in their own language French. So now we know he can speak French, German and English. French, German and Italian are the most common languages used in Switzerland depending on which area you come from. During the 1890s they adopted 2 children from the orphanage, Arthur Abernethy died while fighting in Gallipoli in 1915 at age 25, there are no records of the other child, Solomon Perdon, although the internet reveals a Solomon Peardon was a member of the Hotham council. Later, accounts by children who lived at the orphanage shows life was harsh and treatment by the Nuns was not always the best.
http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/inst_care/submissions/sub429.pdf
The Hounds
Whilst out walking one night it is said that he was attacked by a pack of Greyhounds which were chasing something when he stepped into their path. Not long afterwards he died aged 86 on 19 December 1898 due to old age, weakness and diarrhea.
Abraham may have been a money lender in Sale and at the time of his death, many people still owed him money, this had been deduced from some old account books of Abraham`s. (Cannot confirm)
13 October 1911 Sophia dies. Hawkey website claims she died after a Redback spider bites her while she is out collecting firewood from the wood stack, aged 69. Cause of death on her certificate states Purpura haemorrhagica, miliaris, senilis. (Hemorrhages in skin, mucous membranes, internal organs, and other tissues. First shows red then darkening into purple, then brownish-yellow and finally disappearing in two to three weeks, cardiac failure within days.)
Tales of Abraham
There have been many stories about Abraham Ruff. No matter where his descendants are – Sale, Sydney, or Melbourne, and beyond, there is a remarkable similarity in the tales.
Tale 1 - was of Abraham and Sophia meeting on board the ship she came to Australia on, falling in love and being married by the ship’s captain.
Fact . Ship’s captains can be gaoled for marrying people on board their ships as they have not been ordained to do so. Abraham emigrated with his wife and child. Sophia, aged 10 emigrated with her father, stepmother and siblings. They were married 8 years later at St Andrews Brighton Victoria.
The story was concocted to cover the very early arrival of the first child – Sophia must have been consoling Abraham whilst Ann lay dying!
Fact. Sophia’s first child was born 7 ½ months after their wedding and died 2 weeks later, baby may have been premature. If you add 11 weeks from the death of his first wife to the marriage of his second this proves the inaccuracy of the story.
Tale 2 - two adopted sons were brewing illegal grog in Abrahams factory and Abraham got caught.
Fact. As for the two boys – Arthur Abernathy existed and died in the war. There was a Solomon Peardon who was a businessman in Hotham.
Tale 3 - the insurance on the candles Abraham was exporting, did not take effect until the ship was outside the Heads, but the ship carrying these candles sank in Port Phillip Bay. The Government Gazettes carried notices of the names of those exporting goods –with the nature the exports and the ship. Theses notices ceased just before the date we needed them. Story can’t be proven but subsequent event tend to strengthen the likelihood of the truth of the tale.
Tale 4 - Abraham was thought to have been friendly with Thomas Bent, who supposedly duped him out of land he owned at Brighton.
Tale 5 - Kitchen Brothers bought the rights to Abraham’s invention, the electrine candle, and Abraham lost the deal due to language problems. Lever and Kitchen’s archivist had no record of Abraham, but that is not conclusive.
Tale 6 - later in Sale Abraham invented a spark arrestor for trains.
Tale 7 - he owned the Tin Shed in Elizabeth Street. (Like half of Melbourne – this story abounds in many families)
Tale 8 - he had to leave Switzerland as he had killed a man. There is the same story about his leaving London
Fact - He did leave Switzerland about the time of the civil war.
Tale 9 - Abraham had been a money lender in Sale and when he died there were many who owed him. This had been deduced from some old account books of Abrahams – no longer available to be proven.
Information compiled by Richard Peter Ruff, son of Brian Ruff, son of Theodore Ruff, son of Abraham Ruff, son of Abraham Ruff of Zurich, Switzerland?
With much help from Edith, Jenny, Marianne, Hawkey family tree and Paul Ruff.