Thomas Rutherford (1707 - 1777)

Born 24 Jun 1707 in Derryloran, County Tyrone, Ireland

Ancestors

Husband of Jean (Mordah) Rutherford — married 7 Sep 1730 in Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died 18 Apr 1777 at age 69 in Paxtang, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

This profile is part of the Rutherford Name Study.

Thomas Rutherford is a member of Clan Rutherford.

Thomas Rutherford was born on 24 Jun 1707 in Derryloran, County Tyrone, Ireland to parents James Rutherford and Margaret McMahon. He immigrated to America in 1729 and settled in Pennsylvania. He married Agnes Jean Mordah on 7 Sep 1730 in Pennsylvania. Children: Agnes, Eleanor, Jane, John, Thomas, Agnes, Thomas, Mary (twin), Elizabeth (twin), James, Samuel, Elizabeth. He died on 18 Apr 1777 in Paxtang, Pennsylvania.

Dr. William H. Egle was the Pennsylvania State Librarian at Harrisburg, Pa., as well as Superintendent of the Pennsylvania Museum and Historical Commission. His writings comprise many volumes. He was a recognized authority on Scots-Irish settlers in early Pennsylvania and wrote the history of several counties in which they lived.

The Rutherfords of Paxtang: "In the year 1689, several brothers, of the Scots family of Rutherford, joined the army of William III. when he invaded Ireland--were present and fought at the battle of the Boyne. Two of them were company officers, and the third was a Presbyterian clergyman. They all remained on the island, one settling in the county Tyrone, another in the county Down, and the minister in the county Monaghan. Several of the sons of these men emigrated to America during the decade between 1720 and 1730; among them was Thomas Rutherford, the progenitor of the family in Paxtang.

As an instance of how family likeness is preserved through ages, it may be here stated that the portrait of David Rutherford, grandfather of Sir Walter Scott, which hangs in the dining hall facing the Tweed at Abbottsford, would answer equally well as a portrait of the late Dr. Rutherford, of Harrisburg, although the Doctor's ancestor left Scotland two centuries ago. No likeness of Thomas Rutherford is in existence, and the only description of him is a traditionary one, which represents him as a darkhaired, well-built man, about five feet ten inches in height, full of energy and of such business habits as led to financial success. There is a spice of romance connected with his early manhood which may not be uninteresting to the reader. His attachment to Jean Mordah, whom he afterwards married, was reciprocated. The Mordahs were about to sail for America, and Thomas, fearing he might lose his Jean, proposed and was accepted, but poor Jean was scarcely sixteen and her parents said "no," and took her with them across the sea.

On the cover of his memorandum book, preserved in the family, Thomas inscribed the legend, "Enquire for Dennygall." This was the location of the Mordahs in Pennsylvania, and, in the following year, 1729, he appeared in person at their door and claimed his Jean. Mr. Mordah, doubtless, still thought the pair too young, and, in order that more time might be gained, required his prospective son-in law to be the possessor of a certain sum of money, with which to begin the world, before he would entrust the young lady to his keeping. Thomas, like Jacob of old, was obliged to acquiesce, and took his departure for Philadelphia. When he returned, he was mounted on a good horse and had with him the documents which satisfied the old gentleman's requirements. They were married in 1730, and lived in Donegal until after the death of John Mordah, in 1744, when they removed to Derry, and, in 1755, to Paxtang, where they spent the remainder of their days. Their house, a two-story log, stood on the site of the present residence of Silas B. Rutherford, at Paxtang station, and was burned down in 1840. The old house standing directly opposite the station was built after Thomas Rutherford's death, about 1783, and the old stone house over the spring was, probably, built before Mr. Rutherford bought the property.] I. THOMAS RUTHERFORD,1 b. June 24, 1707, in parish Derry-lousan, county Tyrone, Ireland; d. April 18, 1777, in Paxtang; m., by Rev. James Anderson, September 7, 1730, JEAN MORDAH, daughter of John and Agnes Mordah, b. April 5, 1712, in the parish of Gorty-Lowery, county Tyrone, Ireland; d. August 10, 1789. They had issue, all born in Donegal, Lancaster county, Pa.:

From the old memorandum book referred to, we have the following record, wonderfully complete and satisfactory of its kind: Thomas Rutherford, born the 24th day of June, A. D. 1707; and baptized by the Rev. John McClave, in the Parish of Derry-lousan, county Tyrone, living in Cookstown. Jean Mordah, my wife, born the 5th day of April, A. D. 1712; and baptized by the Rev. John McClave in Gorty-Lowry. Me and my wife was married the 7th day of September, A. D. 1730, by the Rev. James Anderson, in Donney Gall, America.

Children:

1. Agnes, born 9 Jul 1731 died when four years old.
2. Eleanor, born 16 Jan 1733. Married (1) William Wilson and (2) John Davidson.
3. Jean (Jane), born 22 Jun 1734. Married Thomas Mayes.
4. John, born 16 Feb 1737 was married to Margaret Parke.
5. Thomas, born 14 Aug 1738 died when about one year old.
6. Agnes, born 14 Sep 1740. Married William Gray.
7. Thomas, born 12 Feb 1743 died as a young man in 1860.
8. Elizabeth (twin), born 17 Feb 1745 died at about 8 months old.
9. Mary (twin), born 17 Feb 1745, married Andrew Mayes, brother to Thomas who earlier married her sister.
10. James, born 28 Aug 1747, married Margaret Brisban.
11. Samuel, born 13 Dec 1749, married Susan Collier.
12. Elizabeth ``Betsey´´, born 27 Feb 1752. Married (1) Patrick Gallaway/Calloway, (2) Patrick Harbison and (3) Thomas Archibald.

Thomas died in 1777.

He was buried in Paxton Presbyterian Churchyard, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. ^[1]

Research Notes on Parents

• Downey-1809: Book source states that James Rutherford and Margaret (McMahan) Rutherford had 3 children and Thomas is NOT one of them. ^[2] There are no sources for parents in this profile so they should not have been marked Confident. I have changed them to Uncertain.

Sources

1. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11037726/thomas-rutherford: accessed 29 December 2022), memorial page for Thomas Rutherford (24 Jun 1707–18 Apr 1777), Find A Grave: Memorial #11037726, citing Paxton Presbyterian Churchyard, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, USA; Maintained by Soul Searcher (contributor 46785632).
2. ↑ Genealogy of the descendants of John Walker of Wigton, Scotland, with records of a few allied families : also war records and some fragmentary notes pertaining to the history of Virginia, 1600-1902 by White, Emma Siggins, 1857- , Pg 2

• FamilySearch Person: LRZT-DJ2

• Pennsylvania Genealogies Pg 628