Abraham Ruff

Abraham Ruff in the Newspapers

Abraham Ruff In The Newspapers

The colonial newspapers kept a running record of Abraham Ruff's life in Victoria. This page tells his story in date order from those reports. Every entry links to the original article on Trove, the National Library of Australia's free newspaper archive, so you can read the report yourself.

Before Melbourne

Arrested In The Trafalgar Square Riots, March 1848. On 6 March 1848 a protest against the income tax drew about 10,000 people to Trafalgar Square. The meeting, chaired by the Chartist G.W.M. Reynolds, turned into a riot. The Metropolitan Police arrest records held at The National Archives (MEPO 2/64) list 127 people arrested between 6 and 8 March 1848. One entry reads: "Abraham Ruff, 30, Discharged." The list is reproduced by libcom.org and Past Tense. The age recorded, 30, is lower than his real age of about 35, most likely because of the language barrier, or because Abraham was hiding his identity after fleeing Switzerland. The 1853 passenger list shows a similar gap, recording him as 32. The outcome, "Discharged", matches the family story that Abraham was released.

The Voyage Of The Lord Delaval, 1853. The Public Record Office Victoria's Inward Overseas Passenger Lists (VPRS 947, January–March 1853, British and Foreign Ports) record the family's arrival in February 1853 on the Lord Delaval, captain Charles Young: RUFF, ABRAHAM, 32; RUFF, ANN, 32; and a Ruff infant. (PROV passenger list, image 288)

The Hotham Years

A Daughter Is Born, 1861. On 6 May 1861 the Herald reported the birth on 29 April, at Queensbury Street, Hotham, of a daughter to Mrs Abraham Ruff. (Herald, 6 May 1861)

The Soap And Candle Business, 1863. In October 1863 A. Ruff of Queensberry Street advertised in The Argus for a partner in his soap and candle business. (The Argus, 17 October 1863, page 1.)

Summoned By The Inspector Of Nuisances, 1866. In April 1866 Abraham was summoned by the Inspector of Nuisances. (Herald, 27 April 1866)

Arrested Over An Illicit Still, May 1868

In May 1868 the police found an unlicensed still on Abraham's premises. The arrest was reported across Melbourne and as far away as Gippsland.

  • The Raid. According to the Gippsland Times, Inspector Moody seized an illicit still "in full working order" at the premises of Mr A. Ruff, soap and candle maker, Queensberry Street, Hotham. A man got away through a window. The police seized a horse and cart, vats and spirit, and took Ruff into custody. (Gippsland Times, 12 May 1868)
  • The First Court Appearance. Ruff was charged and remanded. (The Age, 11 May 1868; Herald, 11 May 1868; The Argus, 11 May 1868)
  • Remanded Again. (Herald, 12 May 1868)
  • The Evidence. In its report headed "An Unlicensed Still", the Herald said Inspector George Heath had found the distilling plant, about 500 gallons of worts and about 7 gallons of spirits. Ruff came back to the premises with a 200-gallon cask of spent wash. (Herald, 13 May 1868)
  • The Penalty. The two reports give different penalties. The Herald says Ruff was fined £100 plus £3 3s costs (Herald, 13 May 1868). The Advocate says he was fined £50 or six months (Advocate, 16 May 1868). We have not yet found a source that settles which is right.

Insolvency And A New Start, 1868

Insolvent. In June 1868 Abraham was listed among the new insolvents (The Argus, 17 June 1868), and a meeting was held in his insolvent estate (Herald, 25 June 1868). In September he was granted his certificate as "Abraham Ruff of Hotham, candle-maker". (Herald, 12 September 1868)

The Exchange Hotel, St Kilda. In November 1868 Abraham Ruff obtained a licence for the Exchange Hotel, High Street, St Kilda. (Telegraph, St Kilda, 28 November 1868)

The Gippsland Years

The family settled in Sale, where Abraham turned up in the local court now and then, usually over small matters.

Sophia's Wedding, 1881. The Gippsland Mercury announced the marriage of Richard Kereday, son of the late Rev. John Kereday of Tasmania, to Sophia, eldest daughter of Abraham Ruff, formerly soap and candle manufacturer of Queensberry Street, Hotham. (Gippsland Mercury, 2 June 1881)

Abraham Junior

The Drowning, 1893. In January 1893 two young men, Abraham Ruff and William Jones, were caught in a drowning accident on the Glenarry River near Sale. Abraham, the son born in 1863, survived. William Jones did not. (Herald, 20 January 1893)

Insolvency, 1893. A few weeks later "Abraham Ruff the younger, of Sale, baker" was listed as insolvent. (The Argus, 9 February 1893)

Maffra, 1895. The Maffra Spectator reported that a Maffra business had secured the services of Mr Abraham Ruff of Sale. (Maffra Spectator, 26 September 1895)

A Stolen Bay Mare, 1893. In January 1893 Abraham Ruff reported that a bay mare had been stolen. (Gippsland Mercury, 28 January 1893)

Death And Burial, 1898

Death Notice. The Gippsland Times family notices read: "RUFF.—On the 19th December, at Pearson-street, Sale, Abraham Ruff, aged 86 years." (Gippsland Times, 22 December 1898)

Sale Cemetery. The Sale Cemetery register records Abraham Ruff, aged 86, in Section 3, Row V, Lot 10, and names him as the son of Abraham Ruff and Ann Banker.

His Widow's Death, 1911

In October 1911 the Gippsland Times reported the death of Abraham's widow, aged 69, "relict of the late Abraham Ruff". The notice names her as the mother of Abraham, Sophia, Henry Edward, Bertha and others. (Gippsland Times, 16 October 1911)

Victor Henry Ruff, 1916

Victor Henry Ruff was born in Sale, the son of Henry and Sarah Ruff of Topping Street, Sale. He was probably Abraham's grandson through his son Henry Edward. He was a single 21-year-old railway shunter, Church of England, when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 22 September 1915 as Private 3225. His next of kin was given as his father, H. Ruff of Sale. He embarked at Melbourne with the 7th Reinforcement of the 23rd Battalion aboard HMAT A73 Commonwealth on 26 November 1915, and later served with the 59th Battalion. (The AIF Project, UNSW)

He died of wounds in the United Kingdom on 28 July 1916, aged 25. (Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour) He is buried at Cambridge City Cemetery, Cambridge, England, grave C. 3400. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission record describes him as "Son of Henry and Sarah Ruff, of Topping St., Sale, Victoria, Australia." (CWGC casualty record) His name is on panel 168 of the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

The 59th Battalion fought its first major battle at Fromelles, France, on 19 July 1916, nine days before Victor died (AWM unit history). The records found so far don't say where or when he was wounded. His full service file is held by the National Archives of Australia (series B2455, RUFF V H) and can be searched and viewed free at RecordSearch.

Other Family Mentions

  • Henry Ruff was charged with furious riding. (6 December 1890)
  • An Abraham Ruff, labourer, of Sale, reported a stolen watch. (Gippsland Daily News, 30 January 1893)
  • Abraham Ruff wrote to the Sale Borough Council in 1908. This would be Abraham junior, as his father died in 1898. (1908)

If you find another article about the Ruff family, please contribute it.