The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
State of Service: NC
Qualifying Service: Brigadier General / Patriotic Service
Author: James Edward Mitchell
Brig Gen Griffith Rutherford was born during 1721 in Northern Ireland; source, National Society Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) Tennessee Society, Application For Membership of Robert Grizzard Cooney, Jr. Dec’d., born in Nashville, Tennessee on 1 Sep 1926, National Number 82712 approved by Registrar Gen. on 22 Jan 1958.
His parents were John Rutherford (1700-1721) and Elizabeth Griffith (1697-1721) father and mother unknown. John and Elizabeth died during the Atlantic Ocean crossing from Northern Ireland to Philadelphia leaving two sons, Thomas and Griffith orphaned. At age 32, the brothers removed in 1753 to Rowan County, in the Carolinas where they farmed and conducted land surveys near Salisbury.
Initially during 1755, Griffith Rutherford was a local British Colonial Militia captain commanded by Major Hugh Waddell. Griffith married Elizabeth Graham, Rowan County, North Carolina (NC) in 1759; source, National Society SAR, Alaska Society, Application For Membership of James Donald Crawford, Dec’d., born in Houston, Texas on 11 Apr 1904, National Number 89859 approved by Registrar Gen. on 10 Mar 1964.
Griffith and Elizabeth Graham Rutherford’s marriage produced 10 children including sons, John born 1756; James born in 1758, who died of wounds (8 Sep 1781 battle of Eutaw Springs, SC) during the Revolutionary War; Henry born 1762; Alfred born 1767; Newton born 1770 and daughters, Jane (1756-1824); Blanche (1760-1844); Margaret (1765-1827); and, Elizabeth (1772-1844).
Brig Gen Griffith Rutherford’s son (Major) James Rutherford, above, was attached to Col Francis Locke’s Rowan County, NC Rgt., during the battle of Ramsour’s Mill; source, author Randell Jones -Before They Were Heroes at King’s Mountain, Copyright 2011, published by Daniel Boone Footsteps at Winston – Salem; see, pg. 276. The backcountry of North Carolina [wrote Jones in Before They Were Heroes at King’s Mountain, pgs. 97 and 109-10 (Thomas Rutherford)] was bitterly divided over news on May 17, 1775 that British Regulars had battled colonial patriots on Apr 19th, 1775 killing scores of (American) Massachusetts militia.
Among backcountry NC families with divided loyalties were brothers Griffith and Thomas Rutherford. On Feb 12, 1776, Colonel Thomas Rutherford led a muster by British Loyalists and Tories at a meeting held at Cross Creek (Fayetteville, NC). His brother, Griffith led neighboring Salisbury Liberty Men i.e., NC Whig Militia Rgt., adding to stark political division over the cause for independence.
Griffith mustered the NC Whig Militia to campaign during the winter of 1776 in Tennessee against Lower and Middle Town Cherokee Indians–British allies’ threatening raids on NC’s western regions SC, GA and VA. As a Brig Gen, Griffith Rutherford campaigned at the Battle of Brier Creek on Mar 3, 1779; the Loyalist battle and surrender Jun 21, 1780 at Ramsour’s Mill at Lincolnton, NC; and, the Battle of Camden on Aug 16, 1780, where Rutherford was wounded and captured fighting British Regulars with bayonets. Brig Gen Rutherford was imprisoned at St. Augustine, Florida by the British army until his exchange Apr 1781 at Philadelphia.
On Oct 19, 1783, Rutherford was elected as President of the Government of the Territory South of the Ohio River (1790-96) admitted to the U.S. as the state of TN. The territory was created by the Southwest Ordinance from lands of the Washington District that had been ceded to the U.S. federal government by North Carolina. He was appointed President of the Legislative Council following the General Assembly of Tennessee’s 1st gathering at Knoxville during 1792.
At age 84, Brig Gen Griffith Rutherford died at his Middle TN home in Sumner County, during 1805 and was buried at Shiloh Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Shiloh Road, Rogana, Tennessee mapped at Latitude: 36.445341 and Longitude: -86.361358. His headstone was photographed and appears online at Find A Grave Memorial# 8061912.
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