Re: Fact-Fiction - DNA & "A Reality Check"
-
In reply to:
Re: Fact-Fiction - DNA & "A Reality Check"
chuck rutherford 3/11/06
Thanks for the quick response, Chuck.I have had the following information for some time, but believed the persuasive arguments of the researcher who connected William O. to Sir John.
I'm going to post here what my granduncle Austin Wheeler Smith had to say about this family in 1939 in the off chance that it might be useful to someone else:
AUSTIN WHEELER SMITH (former Dean of the Tennessee Polytechnic Institute):
Susannah Rutherford was the daughter of William Rutherford, of Goochland County, Virginia. He was a planter and merchant. Susannah (nee Rutherford) R. Lacy, daughter of William Rutherford, stated in her pension claim that she had lived the entire 88 years of her life in Goochland County. William Rutherford was a party to many transactions in Goochland which indicate that he was a man of considerable wealth. Some of his descendants still own his old homestead, "Solitude," and they are highly respected people.
Some dispute has arisen as to his parentage. His descendants of Goochland who have always lived there say that the family was originally from Louisa and support their claim by the will of Adam Rutherford recorded in Louisa. This will follows:
Louisa Deed Book I, page 53.
"In the name of God Amen I, Adam Rutherford of Louisa County, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following: I give to my son John one shilling sterling. I give to my son Adam one gun and forty shillings current money provided he return from the Expedition New upon. I give to my daughter Susanna Davis one shilling sterling, and all the rest of my Estate I lend unto my well beloved wife Margaret to be enjoyed by her during her widowhood and in case she should marry or after her decease to be equally divided between four children--Ellison, Thomas, George, and Christian to them and their heirs forever. In witness whereof I have unto set my hand and seal this twenty second day of February, one thousand seven hundred and forty nine. I appoint John Holt and my son William to be Executors to this my last Will and Testament. Sealed, acknowledged to be his last Will.
"Before Samuel Brewer and John Holt at a court held for Louisa County on the 20th day of July, 1761. Will was this day proved in open court by the oaths of Samuel Brewer and John Holt witnesses hereto and by the court admitted to record and recorded.
Test.
James Littlepage
Clerk of Court
There is a tradition in the Virginia family that William Rutherford came to Virginia in 1747. Doubtless he came with his father, Adam Rutherford, and other members of the family. Some of his descendants claim that he was the son of John Rutherford, and they run the line back to Robert Dominus de Rutherford 1140. See Rutherfurdes of That Ilk, and Magna Carta Barons and American Descendants, p. 142. Some of them have joined the Dames of the Magna Carta on this line, but I have been unable to prove the connection. However, the dates all fit, and there is certainly an uncanny similarity in names.
William Rutherford married 8-14-1766 Ursula Parrish, daughter of Humphrey Parrish, Sr., of Goochland County. The following children are mentioned in the settlement of his estate Sept. 18, 1802. See Goochland Order Book 23, page 645. Samuel Rutherford is not mentioned there, but there is other proof that he was the son of William Rutherford.
William Rutherford, Jr., married and went to Alabama
Thomas Rutherford
Ursula Rutherford, married John Richards
Elizabeth Rutherford, married (1) Thomas Eads, m. (2) 1-5-1775, Thomas Baily
David Rutherford
John Rutherford, married Ann Johnson
Mary Rutherford, married 1-23-1781, James Davenport of Spotsylvania County
Archibald Rutherford, married Massie Parrish
Susannah Rutherford, m. 4-8-1772, Matthew Lacy
Samuel Rutherford, m. Anna Parrish
William Rutherford, Sr., married Ursula Parrish, daughter of Humphrey Parrish, Sr., of Goochland and sister of Humphrey Parrish, Jr., Captain in the American Revolution. The will of Humphrey Parrish, Sr., registered in Goochland County, Virginia, September 20, 1773; Deed Book 10, page 390, mentions the following children: Humphrey, Joel, Aaron, Booker, and son-in-law William Rutherford. His wife was "Mary."
The Parrish family figure very prominently in the records of Goochland County, Virginia, but I was unable to identify his father. [A.W. SMITH, 1939]
More Replies:
-
Re: Fact-Fiction - DNA & "A Reality Check"
chuck rutherford 3/12/06
-
Re: Fact-Fiction - DNA & "A Reality Check"
Betty Beard 3/13/06
-
Re: Fact-Fiction - DNA & "A Reality Check"
chuck rutherford 3/14/06
-
Re: Fact-Fiction - DNA & "A Reality Check"
-
Re: Fact-Fiction - DNA & "A Reality Check"