The Modern Fairnington line aka Mossburnford
The Modern Fairnington line
This line should not be confused with the ancient Fairnington line. The Modern Fairnington line, like the Rutherfurds of Bowland, is an Edgerston branch with newly acquired real estate. Both cadets have connections to the USA, or more precisely, the American colonies that would become the USA.
The latter Rutherfurds of Fairnington, acquired by Baron Robert Rutherfurd and entailed in his 1787 charter, descended from John Rutherfurd 'the little Major' of Mossburnford near Edgerston (1746-1830), younger son of Dr Thomas Rutherfurd. He was born at Scarborough and on his father's death was brought up by his grandfather Sir John Rutherfurd who sent him at the age of fifteen to join his uncle Walter Rutherfurd in New Jersey. Two years later he was captured by Indians but helped by friendly tribesmen managed to escape; JC and IlkT 40 gave the romantic story. About 1764 he joined as ensign the 42nd Regiment where he served over twenty years and was Lieut. 1770 and Captain 1778 (JC); he was Paymaster in 1783 (Amer. MS III, 353,371,428).
Returning home he became Major in the Dumfries Militia and bought Mossburnford where Burns visited him in 1787. He let the place in 1798 to A. Pringle and sold it to his son in 1820. In 1810 he was one of the founders of the Jedforest Club. He died at Jedburgh July 12, 1830, aged 83, and was buried in the choir (IlkT 41). He married twice, firstly in 1769 Eleannr (d. Jedburgh January 23,1799; GM: Burke gave 1795) daughter of Thomas Chalke of Artane and Grange, co. Dublin, and Anne Gordon; secondly Agnes (d. 1850) daughter of J. Chatto of Mainhouse. KRD
please see:
"Family Records and Events - compiled Principally from The Original Manuscripts in the Rutherfurd Collection"
by Livingston Rutherfurd
Devinne Press, New York 1894
pages 281-290
In letters to his brother Walter Rutherfurd of New Jersey, Baron Robert Rutherfurd discusses the inheritance of Edgerston, its renovations by his nephew and his intentions for the estate at Fairnington.