Re: Archibald Rutherford and Elizabeth Akers Logan Co Ky
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In reply to:
Re: Archibald Rutherford and Elizabeth Akers Logan Co Ky
Claudette Moran 1/24/12
Claudette:I really do need to start checking GenForum more often.My apologies for the delay in getting back to you, and I hope some of the information below is of use to you.
You note that you are a descendant of George W. Rutherford, son of Stephen R. Rutherford.I am descended from one of George’s brothers – Thomas Van Buren Rutherford.At you convenience (feel free to wait a couple of years to get back to me!), could you please pass along your info on the descendants of George W – he is a dead end in my database.If you wish, you can contact me directly via email.
Before I get into the ancestors, let me answer a couple of your other questions.My records do not show Archibald owning any slaves.However, Stephen R. and his brother Samuel O. Rutherford were definitely slaveowners.
I have identified two Confederate Rutherfords who I believe were family members.
Alexander C. Rutherford of Logan County, Kentucky (complexion dark, hair brown, eyes gray, 6 feet tall) enlisted at Keysburg, Kentucky (southern Logan County on the Tennessee line), September 1, 1862, in Company H, 2nd Kentucky Cavalry (Morgan’s Raiders).This company subsequently became Company H, 7th Kentucky Cavalry (Gano’s).Alexander was captured at Salineville, Ohio, July 26, 1863.In June 1863, John Hunt Morgan with 2,460 troopers, left Tennessee with the intent of raiding Ohio in order to divert Union troops.He won one victory and then found himself pursued by substantially larger Union forces.On July 19, 1863, while attempting to cross the Ohio River back into Kentucky, the Union forces caught up with Morgan.Most of his command was captured, except for 300 men who got across the river and 400 men under Morgan who escaped back into Ohio.On July 26, 1863, some 3,000 Union troops caught up with Morgan at Salineville, and essentially captured the entire Confederate force, including Alexander C. Rutherford.According to Basil Duke, the last charge of Morgan’s Raiders before Morgan surrendered was made by the 2nd Kentucky.Alexander was transferred to Camp Douglas, Illinois, August 22, 1863, then to Pt. Lookout, Maryland, February 21, 1865.He took the oath of allegiance on May 26, 1865.One of Thomas Van Buren Rutherford’s sons was Alexander Campbell Rutherford.He would have been born in 1840, probably in Logan or Simpson Co., Kentucky.The age and place make him a good fit for this soldier.
Rutherford, Thaddeus (1st Cousin, 5 times removed) - A Thaddeus W. Rutherford enlisted in Company E, 1st Regiment Morgan’s Cavalry September 1, 1861, Hartsville, Tennessee.In October 1862, he was left sick in Kentucky.On April 25, 1863, he was captured at Russellville, Kentucky (note: I can find no records of any engagements in the Russellville area at that time; he was presumably captured as an individual).He was sent first to the military prison at Louisville, then to Camp Chase, Ohio, July 2, 1863, then to Camp Douglas, Illinois, August 24, 1863.He died of smallpox at Camp Douglas November 19, 1864.Samuel O. Rutherford – Stephen R. Rutherford’s brother – had a son named Thaddeus, born ca 1843, again probably in Logan County.He was listed in the 1860 Logan County, Kentucky census, and he does not appear in the 1870 census.Again, the information strongly suggests that this was our cousin.
As noted, our immediate common ancestors were Stephen R. Rutherford and Catherine Hadley.Regarding Catherine, everything I have seen names her the son of Capt. Samuel Hadley of PA.However, I have searched every PA record I could get my hands on (which admittedly are limited in Southern California) and have yet to find any Hadleys.Your suggestion of NC bears consideration.
As you are aware, Stephen R. Rutherford’s parents were Archibald and Elizabeth (Akers) Rutherford.Regarding Elizabeth, to date, her forebearers have eluded me.There are several possibilities.For instance, in March 1748, in southwestern Virginia, William and Thomas Akers, sons of Simon Akers, and Uriah Akers, younger brother of Simon, were added to the list of tithables on Smith Creek, opposite the mouth of Glade Creek, on the Roanoke River.In August 1750, all three Akers men were added to the list of tithables in Augusta County.A 1773 deed notes that William's wife was Elizabeth and Thomas' wife was Mary; William lived in Bedford County and Thomas in Botetourt County.I suspect that one of these men was Elizabeth's father, but that's all that has turned up to date.
I have the following as the children of Archibald and Catherine:
Nancy (?? – 1880); married ? Adams.
Robert (1783-1843)
Stephen R. (5 June 1785, VA – 28 Sept 1823, Logan Co, KY); m. Catherine Hadley
Catherine (22 Nov 1787 – Feb 1877); m. Samuel Owens[Will of Catherine Owens: To brothers Archibald, Shelby, William, and Samuel O. Rutherford, $1,200 each.To sister, Nancy Adams,$1,200, featherbed, the 1/2 teaster bed, straw bed, 2 bolsters and bolster cases, 2 pillows, pair pillowcases, bed quilt, comfort, blanket, pair sheets, pair bed ruffles.To sister, Elizabeth Dalton, $1,200, curtail bedstead and curtains, featherbed, straw bed 2 bolsters and cases, 2 pillows and cases,bed ruffle, quilt, comfort, blanket, pair sheets.In trust for benefit of son Samuel O. Borders, $200.To nieces Catherine O. and Harriet, daughters of Shelby, $100 to be equally divided.To Catherine O. Hulse, wife of Daniel Hulse, $100.To Catherine O. Rutherford, daughter of Samuel Rutherford, $100.To Martha Ann McCullock, formerly Miller, $50.To her sister, Susan Catherine Miller, $50.To George W. Rutherford, son of brother Stephen, $100.To Betsey Grubbs, wife of Joel, $100.To Thomas and William S. Rutherford, Maria Girvin, Matilda Clanton, the four children of Stephen, $50 each.Relationships listed also are the following: Elizabeth, Hester E., and Minerva, the children of Nancy Adams, sister; Samuel O.Borders, Elizabeth Sowell, and Maria Jane Edwards, children of Betsey Dalton, sister; Mary Jane McCall, daughter of Archibald Rutherford, and Catherine O. Clemson, wife of Hamah Clemson, is a granddaughter; Clarissa Coffman and Harriet Cloud, daughter of Betsey Grubbs; Archibald Rutherford, son of William and Martha Rutherford; Henry W. Rutherford, son of George S. Rutherford; Spencer Rutherford is mentioned but no relationship is given.8 codicils are added, dated from 1860 through 1875.8th codicil gives $500 to the Christian Church trustees in Russellville to be held in trust with interest to be used for support of the church.Written 23 Aug 1860; probated 2 Mar 1877.]
Archibald S.(Oct. 1793 – 1883) – may have served in the KY militia in War of 1812.
William (1798, KY - ??); m. Martha Page
Elizabeth (1800 - ); m. ? Dalton
John Blackburn (7 Jan 1802 – 3 Mar 1856)
Shelby R. (9 May 1803 – 4 April 1879)
Samuel O.(1807, KY - ??); m. Jane Page
Regarding Archibald, I have him b. 1754, VA, d. 31 Jul 1838, Logan Co, KY; married 21 June 1782, Washington Co, VA, Elizabeth Akers.
He was the son of William Rutherford Sr., b. ca 1727, Essex, Co, VA.I have not yet identified William’s wife.The sons of William Rutherford Sr. were Randolph, Benjamin, Joseph, John, Thomas, William, Archibald, Julius, Absalom, and Finney.
The Revolutionary War record of this family is incredible.
Rutherford, Absalom– According to his pension application file, he enlisted in Wythe County, Virginia, in 1780 for 18 months.He was in the company of Captain Bentley, Colonel Green's 2nd Virginia Regiment.This 2nd Virginia Regiment was one of two Virginia State Regiments raised in 1780 and made up of 18-month enlistees.He was initially sent down the James River to deal with Benedict Arnold, then sent to the Carolinas.He was in the Chevron Hills when the Battle of Cowpens was fought.He participated in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, then went to Camden, then to Ninety Six (where Capt. Bentley was captured and replaced by Capt. Cowherd), then to High Hills of Santee, then to the Battle of Eutaw Springs, then back to High Hills, then to Charleston where his enlistment expired (Dec 1781).He was discharged at Salsbury, North Carolina.This 2nd Virginia Regiment should not be confused with the 2nd Virginia Regiment that had been part of the Continental Army.That regiment was captured by the British at Charleston in May 1780 and not reconstituted until 1783.
At Guilford Courthouse, the 2nd Virginia was part of the Virginia Brigade (under General Huger) consisting of Green’s and Hawes’ regiments.Interestingly, one of my secondary sources says the Brigade was composed of the 4th(Green’s) and 5th Virginia Regiments, whereas Absalom says he was in the 2nd Virginia – as if the scarcity of good records wasn’t bad enough already.Green’s Regiment did not take part in the main fighting at Guilford Courthouse; they were used to cover the withdrawal of the rest of the Continental forces as the battle came to an end.
Ninety Six was a Loyalist village in South Carolina.On May 22, 1780, American forces, unsure whether they could take the position by force, chose to mount a siege.Around mid-June, in the face of reports that British reinforcements were on the way, the Americans launched assaults on two fortified strongpoints – Fort Holmes and the Star Fort.On June 18th, Maryland and Virginia Continentals (including Absalom’s regiment) attacked the Star Fort.The attack failed and, in anticipation of the arrival of British reinforcements, the American troops were withdrawn from Ninety Six.The British, realizing that the position was untenable in the long run, destroyed the fortifications and withdrew from Ninety Six.Another instance where Nathaniel Greene lost the battle, but effectively won the campaign.
The Battle of Eutaw Springs was the last battle in the southern theater of the war before Yorktown.It was a surprise attack on a large British force that had chosen to camp at the springs to rest and recoup.The initial attacks were made by North and South Carolina militia.While initially successful, the militia eventually faltered and the British counter-attacked.At this point, the Continentals (including the Virginia Brigade) were sent in. They stopped the British counter-attack and routed the British.But the British had established a fall-back point in a plantation house, which they successfully defended, ultimately leading to an American withdrawal.The commander of the Virginia Brigade was killed in the battle.The British casualties were much higher than the American, and the British soon withdrew from Eutaw Springs, leaving the battlefield in American hands.
According to Trish Carden's Battle of Kings Mountain Patriot Roster, Absolm and William Rutherford were at Kings Mountain (Aug 1780).I have been unable to confirm this in any other source, and Absalom did not mention King’s Mountain in his pension application.If he actually served in the Continental Army for 18 months prior to discharge in December 1781, he would have enlisted in June or July 1780, and thus could not have been at Kings Mountain.
Rutherford, Archibald (our joint ancestor) - At age 66, Archibald Rutherford made application for a pension in the circuit court of Logan Co, KY, 24 May 1821.A pension was granted to him based on service in the 7th Regiment of the Virginia Continental Line in Capt. Joseph Crockett's company of Col. McClananhan's Regiment.Based on the pension application and muster rolls, he enlisted in 1776 and was discharged in 1779.Per Cecere, (Captain Thomas Posey and the 7th Virginia Regiment), Crockett's company was a rifle company.In January 1776, the Virginia Convention named the officers for six new "regular" regiments, including the 7th Regiment.The ten companies that made up the 7th joined together in Gloucester in April 1776.Capt. Crockett's rifle company was recruited primarily in Fincastle Co, VA (this was the Virginia frontier in 1776 – the area where Kentucky and Virginia now come together).The regiment stayed in Virginia through the end of 1776.Following news of Washington's victories at Trenton and Princeton, the regiment was ordered north to join Washington on January 9, 1777.They joined Washington's army in April 1777.In May 1777, the 7th, 3rd, 11th, and 15th Virginia regiments were joined together into a brigade under the command of General William Woodford.Of the two rifle companies in the 7th, the one under Capt. Posey was detached to serve in Daniel Morgan's rifle corps (sent north to Gen'l Gates - Saratoga).Crockett's company stayed with Washington.The 7th thus participated in the Battle of Brandywine in August 1777.Crockett's company MAY have been part of an advanced light infantry detachment under Gen'l William Maxwell.This unit was formed from all the brigades in late August to replace Morgan's rifle corps and so may have been composed of the various rifle companies.This unit was the first to engage the British at Brandywine.The British eventually won the battle, forcing the Americans to retreat.Woodford's brigade was the last to join the retreat.Despite the defeat, Washington managed to keep his army intact.In October, he attacked the British again at Germantown.Due to poor leadership and execution of a very complex plan of battle, the British again won the battle.In December, Washington moved his army into winter quarters at Valley Forge.Archy Rutherford appears on the payroll of Capt. Joseph Crockett's Co. 31 May to 30 June 1777.Archibald Rutherford appears in the Valley Forge muster rolls as a private, Capt. Joseph Crocket's Co, 7th Virginia, Woodford's Brigade, Lafayete's Division.Muster roll status places him “on wagons" Dec 1777 through May 1778.In June 1778, the 7th was part of the army that engaged the British at Monmouth.The battle was technically a draw, but the British left the field under cover of darkness.In July 1778, the by this time understrength 7th Regt was merged with the 3rd VA regt.Three months later the entire Virginia Continental line was reorganized.The original 7th Regt was reconstituted as the 5th VA regt.In June 1779, the 2nd, 5th, and 11th VA regiments were merged.Most of the Virginians saw little to no action in 1779.At the end of the year, the enlistments of 213 men expired and they returned to Virginia.Since Archibald only served through 1779, he was presumably part of this group.
Archie’s muster rolls repeatedly call him a “waggoner” or place him “on wagons.”Throughout the war, Washington had trouble with teamsters.A large number of wagons and teamsters were needed to haul supplies, baggage/equipment, wounded, etc.Washington tried to make do with civilian teamsters, but they proved unreliable.He also tried drafting teamsters into the army with only limited success.The one thing Washington did not like to do (it weakened his fighting strength), but which proved reasonably workable, was to find those among his enlisted soldiers who were qualified and use them as teamsters.For instance, at one point, the army had 272 civilian teamsters, 250 drafted teamsters, and 104 waggoners taken from line troops (Risch, E.Supplying Washington’s Army, Center of Military History, U.S. Army – Special Studies Series, 1981).Archie was evidently one of this latter group.As such, it is unlikely that he actually participated in any of the battles that the 7th Virginia took part in.
But his service to the American cause may not have ended in 1779.In May 1782, he (and several other county men) petitioned Montgomery County, Virginia, for a blanket and/orsupplies lost at Reedy Fork.The engagement at Reedy Fork (also known as Wetzel’s Mill) was one of countless skirmishes that are largely unknown today.Therefore, a little background is in order.In 1778 after the defeat of British General Burgoyne at Saratoga in 1777 and the failures to defeat Washington’s army in 1777 and 1778, the British turned their attention southward.In December 1778, they took Savannah, Georgia.In January 1780, they took Charleston, South Carolina, in what may have been the worst American defeat of the war.In May 1780, Cornwallis defeated the American army at the Battle of Waxhaws and then completed the almost total destruction of the southern department of the American army at the Battle of Camden in August 1780.For a time, only southern backwoods militia, led by Francis Marion, Pickens, Sumter, and the like, kept the British off balance and American hopes alive in the south.Then, in October 1780, came a stunning defeat of British Loyalist forces at King’s Mountain.In December 1780, Washington appointed a new general, Nathaniel Greene, to lead a new American army into the south against Cornwallis.Greene, short on supplies, did the unthinkable – he divided his forces in the face of a superior British force.Cornwallis, seeing a chance to defeat the Americans piecemeal, split his army and went after both parts.The British commander Banastre Tarleton caught up with one part of Greene’s army under Daniel Morgan at a place called the Cowpens.In one of the most tactically brilliant battles of the war, Morgan virtually destroyed the British force.Now began a chase across the Carolinas as Cornwallis tried to prevent Morgan from rejoining Greene (Cornwallis was not successful).But Greene, still outnumbered, called for militia reinforcements.At about the same time, Morgan took himself out of the army for health reasons, and he also called on his fellow Virginian frontiersmen to come to Greene’s aid as scouts and skirmishers.Several hundred Virginia riflemen from Montgomery, Washington, Botetourt, Pittsylvania, and Lunenburg Counties responded, with the Montgomery County contingent under a Col. Preston.By late February 1781, Preston’s men had joined forces with some North Carolina militia under Pickens and Lee’s Legion of Continental dragoons.On March 2, reinforced with some of the other Virginians, this group skirmished with Tarleton’s dragoons, inflicting some 30 casualties.Enough was enough and Cornwallis sent some of his best dragoons and light infantry (in reinforced brigade strength) after this force, catching up with them at Wetzel’s Mill on Reedy Fork on March 6.Exactly what happened next is confusing, but it appears that the Virginians bore the brunt of the attack, with at least some of the Virginians afterward claiming that they were sacrificed to screen the withdrawal of Lee’s regulars.The American forces, primarily the Virginia riflemen, were overwhelmed by the British.One Montgomery County veteran, in his pension application, stated that the Virginians were so dispersed that it was impossible to get them collected again in time for the Battle of Guildford Courthouse on March 14.Many of the Virginians went home after Reedy Fork and were not there to help Greene on March 14 (the Botetourt contingent, for instance, went home en masse and were court-martialed – and acquitted).In April, Col. Preston wrote Governor Jefferson of Virginia saying, “… we did hard duty under Gen’l Pickens, twelve or fourteen days, in the enemy’s lines, greatly straitened for provisions.Part of the men were in one action and the whole in a second, in both overpowered by numbers, and in the last broken and dispersed with the loss of their blankets.Afterwards no arguments … could incline the remaining few to remain …”Remember, in May 1782, Archie and his brother John petitioned Montgomery County for supplies/ blankets lost at Reedy Fork.All the available evidence suggests that Archie was one of Preston’s Montgomery County riflemen and that he was present at the skirmish with Tarleton and at Reedy Fork.I’m still researching to try and find out whether any of Preston’s riflemen fought in the Battle of Guildford Courthouse shortly thereafter.
Rutherford, John – John Rutherford filed a claim in Montgomery County for services rendered at Reedy Fork.See the discussion of Reedy Fork under Archibald Rutherford above.
Rutherford, Julius– According to his pension application file, Julius enlisted in the Continental army in Fincastle County, Virginia in 1776 for a term of 3 years.According to muster and pay rolls, Julius enlisted January 6th, 1777.He was initially in Captain Matteson's company under Col. James Wood of the 12th Virginia Regiment.Col. Wood's 12th Virginia Regiment contained the five state frontier companies that had enlisted as Continental units.Julius appears in the Valley Forge muster rolls as a private, Madison's Co., Scott's Brigade, 12th Virginia, Lafayete's Division.He appears on the June, August, November, December 1777 rolls of Madison's Co, 8th Virginia; Feb 1778, Madison's Co, 8th VA; June - Sept 1778, Croghan's Co, 4th Virginia (waggoner); Sept 1778, Wood's Co, 8th Virginia (with a note "taken from Capt.Croghan's Co."); Oct - Dec 1778, Gamble's Co, 8th Virginia (waggoner); Feb, April, June, July 1779 Gamble's Co, 8th Virginia (waggoner); Aug, Sept 1779, Wood's Co, 8th Virginia (waggoner).
From June 1778 through the end of his enlistment, Julius was characterized as a “wagoner.”He was not so noted prior to June 1778, so may have been an ordinary infantryman up to that point.He appears on the rolls of the 8th Virginia Regiment during the time the battles of Brandywine (Sept 1777) and Germantown (October 1777) were fought; he was evidently being used as a teamster by the time of the Battle of Monmouth (June 1778).
At Brandywine and Germantown, the 8th Virginia was part of Scott’s 4th Virginia Brigade (Stephen’s Division, Sullivan’s wing).Stephen’s Division did not perform well in either battle, although this may be as much the fault of its leadership as the quality of its soldiers.
Rutherford, Thomas– According to muster and pay rolls, Thomas Rutherford was at Valley Forge - private, Capt Valentine Payton’s company, 1st Virginia Brigade, 3rd Virginia Regiment, 5th Division.Fit for duty Dec 1777 through June 1778.Thomas Rutherford appears on the payroll of Capt. Payton's Co., 3rd Virginia, in Oct & Dec 1777; January, Feb, Apr and August 1778; Apr, June & August & October 1779.One of the rolls gave his enlistment date as Dec 12, 1777.The 3rd Virginia was also at the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth.The regiment was one of the American units surrendered at Charleston in early 1780.I don’t know whether Thomas was still with the regiment at that time.
Rutherford, William Jr. (5th great granduncle) - There is a pension application for a William Rutherford.Born 10 June 1748, Cripple Creek, Wythe County, VA.All of his service was in Virginia militias.He was drafted for 6 months in July 1776 for service against the Shawnee Indians, but engaged in no battles.He was drafted again in the middle of 1777 for 6 months against the Shawnee, Col. Christian's militia regiment, again no battles.In May 1778, he served as a substitute (for Benjamin Rutherford – another Rutherford brother) for 6 months against the Shawnee – again no battles.He volunteered in Aug 1779 for Col Shelby's Regiment for service against the Cherokee Indians and participated in the destruction of a number of Cherokee towns.Finally, he volunteered from June to Sept 1781 for service against Tories and British, but engaged in no battles.
(Realistically, only Archibald is a “proven” family member in the conventional sense.There were other Rutherfords with the same names.However, given the list of brothers, their ages, the types of service, etc., I’m pretty comfortable with the notion that all of the above are cousins.)
[At this point, I need to insert a note about Archibald.I have run across several websites that say Archibald married 1st Elizabeth Akers and 2nd Margaret Parrish.I think this even shows up in the DAR record for Archibald.Based on my research, this is incorrect.There was another Archibald Rutherford – b. 21 Feb 1768, m. Margaret Parrish 6 Dec 1794.I have seen one source that names his father as John Rutherford of Fincastle Co, VA.This Archibald was way too young to have served in the Revolution.I will also note that an Archibald and Elliott Rutherford appeared as tithables in Frederick Co, VA in 1768 and 1769 and in Shenandoah Co, VA in 1779.This is also likely a different Archibald, as our Archie was only 14 in 1768 and one was typically not "tithable" until age 16 at the earliest.Plus, the counties are wrong and our Archie did not have a brother named Elliott.]
Back to the ancestors.The ancestry I have for Archibald’s father, William Sr., was pretty much lifted from standard Rutherford family genealogies – I haven’t spent a whole lot of time attempting to confirm it.In any event, I have as William’s parents John and Violetta (Reynolds) Rutherford.John was b. ca 1689, Essex Co, VA, d. 1789, Logan Co, KY.Violetta was b. ca 1700, Essex Co, VA (daughter of James Reynolds and Susan Lightfoot).
John was the son of Robert Rutherford, Jr. (b. ca 1663, Old Rappahannock Co, VA – d. bef 15 Mar 1725, Essex Co, VA) and Margaret ??.Most Rutherford sources identify Margaret as Margaret Vawter.Every Vawter source I have looked at deny it.
Robert was the son of Robert Rutherford Sr. (b. ca 1634, Scotland; d. after 21 August 1728, VA) and Margaret ??.
Whew!Have I dumped enough on you for the moment?I have more, such as the descendants of Thomas Van Buren Rutherford (my line) and more info on Archibald’s uncles and cousins, as well as Rutherfords farther back in Scotland (all the way to Robert the Bruce, first king of Scotland).If you would like to see any of the rest of this mess, just yell and I’ll pass it along.
Again, I hope some of this is of use to you.And I again apologize for the delay in getting back to you.