The Notebook

So, it's All Souls' Day, and the ancestors have been crowding around, wanting to have their stories told. I went looking for one small piece of information in the 1920 Census, and got sidetracked and distracted (isn't that always what happens?) and turned up all kinds of cool things today...but the most interesting thing I found is, finally, a pair of our immigrant Scots-Irish ancestors. I was looking at something in someone else's tree, out of curiosity, and looked at a record, and there they were.

Here is a shout-out to my 6th great-grandfather, Thomas Rutherford, born in 1707 in Derryloran Parish, Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. His father and uncles had left Scotland while in the service of King William III for Ireland, and were present and engaged at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.  Two were officers, and the third was a Presbyterian minister. They decided to stay on the island, and there they raised their families: one in County Down, the minister in County Monaghan, and Thomas' father, in County Tyrone. In 1728, Thomas was in love with 16-year-old Jean Murdach, of nearby Gorty-Lowry Parish. His feelings were returned, BUT! When he asked her father if he could marry her, not only did her father say "no," but he moved his whole family to Pennsylvania.  I should note that nowhere does it say that he moved them to America to get his daughter away from Thomas, although that would add an extra dramatic spice to the story.

On October 26**, 1728---- either before or after the Murdachs left for America--- Thomas went into Cookstown and bought a memorandum book. On the flyleaf he wrote his name, and the date, and "written at the house of Aggness Murdoch,"---Jean's mother. On the cover, he wrote only "Enquire for Dennygall." Whether from Jean or another source, he was in possession of an important piece of information: Jean's family planned to settle in Donegal, or "Dennygall," on the banks of the Susquehanna River. Either that year or the next, Thomas left for America, the first of his family to do so.

In 1729, he finally got to Dennygall and showed up on the Murdach doorstep to claim his bride. He was again disappointed. Jean's father, John, sent him away, but told him that if he returned with a certain amount of money to prove that he could provide for her, he would allow them to marry. He departed for Philadelphia, and some time later reappeared-- on a horse this time, instead of on foot--- and with documents that satisfied his future father-in-law. No, Jean's father didn't send him away a second and a third time, although that would make this a more stereotypical fairytale adventure.  Thomas later wrote in his memorandum book, "Me and my wife was married the 7th day of September, A. D. 1730, by the Rev. James Anderson, in Donney Gall, America."

In the years to come, Thomas added the births and sometimes the deaths of their 12 children, the later marriages of the surviving children, and other details of their lives. The girls for the most part married at least once, some losing husbands who had left on explorations into unsettled territory, or who became casualties in the Revolutionary War; these families moved south and west, to the Appalachian foothills of South and North Carolina. The boys, for the most part, stayed close to home in Donegal and Paxtang, or Cumberland and Adams counties, in Pennsylvania. 

A kind person who is also a descendant of these people transcribed the records written in Thomas' memorandum book, which still exists. She then posted all of this, along with some bits from William Henry Egles' 'Pennsylvania Genealogies: Scots-Irish and German' on the Find-A-Grave website entry for Jean Murdah/Mordah/Murdach.

Thanks to Thomas and his stubborn determination to chase Jean (part of the way) across the globe, thousands of us now appear solid and clear in our own family portraits (Back to the Future-style), solidly written into our family trees, existing in flesh and blood, here-and-now form at our kitchen tables and walking on the sidewalks of our towns.

To steal the status post of a friend this evening:
"Suddenly all my ancestors are behind me. 'Be still,' they say. 'Watch and listen. You are the result of the love of thousands.'"

**- my birthday, no big deal...

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Here's the text of what I found posted on Find A Grave:

Birth:	Jun. 24, 1707 County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
Death:	Apr. 18, 1777 Paxtang Dauphin County Pennsylvania, USA
Thomas came to America in 1729, he was the 1st person in his family to leave Ireland. Married to Jean Murdah on September 7, 1730 by Rev. James Anderson. He was the father of: Agnes Rutherford I Eleanor Rutherford-Wilson-Davison Jane Rutherford-Mayes John Rutherford Thomas Rutherford I Agnes Rutherford II-Gray Thomas Rutherford II, Mary Rutherford-Mayes (twin of Eliz.) Elizabeth Rutherford (twin of Mary) James Rutherford Lt. Samuel Rutherford Eliz Rutherford II Galloway,Harbinson-Archibald JEAN MORDAH  ---

Birth:	Apr. 5, 1712, Northern Ireland
Death:	Aug. 10, 1789 Paxtang Dauphin County Pennsylvania, USA
Daughter of John and Agnes Mordah and widow of Thomas Rutherford. Thomas Rutherford of Paxtang Rutherford Family Record of the First Pioneer From an old memorandum book in the possession of one of his descendants, on the fly-leaf of which is the inscription "Thomas Rutherford, his book Bought in Cookstown upon 26 day of October, 1728 written at the house of Aggness Mordach," we take the following record "wonderfully complete and satisfactory of its kind." Little more is known of this first of the Rutherfords than what he details himself, from which it appears that he was born in the vicinity and had the honor to be baptized—as the old song his it—in Fair Cookstown. The tradition in the family is that two of his brothers settled in New England, and we believe that we shall eventually, with the assistance of some friends in that locality, be able to substantiate the averment. He is described by one of his grandchildren as a person of five feet ten inches in height, heavy set, and of considerable force of character. There is a spice of romance connected with his early manhood, which no doubt will prove as interesting to our readers as to his descendants. His attachment to Jean Mordah, whom he afterwards married, it is said was reciprocated, but her parents said no, and removed her with them to America, probably in the year 1728. On the cover of the memorandum book from which the record is taken is this note—"enquire for Dennygall." This was the location of the Mordahs, and Thomas Rutherford followed them either that or the following year. In 1730 they were married and it is probable they remained near the Mordah settlement until the death of John Mordah in December 1744. The will of the latter was proved January 9, 1745, and from it we glean the fact that he left a wife Agnes, son James, a daughter Eleanor, unmarried; with two daughters married respectively to Thomas Rutherford and Henry McKinney. The witnesses to this will were the Rev. Samuel Black, Presbyterian minister to the Conewago Church, and his brother Robert Mordah. Removing to Paxtang about 1750, Thomas Rutherford and his wife lived to advanced age, honored, beloved and respected by their neighbors, and revered by their numerous descendants. Thomas Rutherford died April 18, 1777, his wife Jean August 10, 1789. Both lie interred in old Paxtang churchyard. Of the daughters of Thomas and Jean Mordah Rutherford, Eleanor married twice; first to William Wilson; second to John Davidson. Jean married Thomas Mayes, and removed to South Carolina. Agnes Married William Gray, and removed to buffalo Valley. Mary married Andrew Mayes, brother of Thomas Mayes, and also removed to South Carolina. Elizabeth married first Patrick Gallaway of Calloway. He joined Captain Matthew Smith's company of Paxtang, and was in the expedition to Quebec in 1775, but never returned. His widow next married Patrick Harbison, and removed with him to the home of the Mayes in Spartanburg district, South Carolina. The Tories soon put an end to Harbison, and the times being too warm for him, Andrew Mayes removed his family together, with Mrs. Harbison to the settlement of the Mordahs in Iredell County, North Carolina. Here Mrs. Harbison married Thomas Archibald. Some of the descendants of these families reside in the south and west. As to Thomas Rutherford's sons, they remained beside the paternal acres, and although the descendants in the female lines are scattered over many states of the union, but few of the male members of the family have gone out from the original settlement in Paxtang. We shall endeavor ere long to obtain more information as to the descendfants of Thomas Rutherford, at least for the third, fourth, and fifth generations. They belong to one of the few families of the earlier settlers of this locality who are inccupance of the ancestral acres. ~ From Egles' Notes and Queries" page 122-3.
Hand copied by my great-aunt, Viola Young Borger. RECORD Thomas Rutherford, born the 24th day of June, AD 1707, and baptized by the Rev. John McClave, in the parish of Derry-Lonsau, (Derrylouran?) County of Tyrone, living in Cookstown. Jean Mordah, my wife, the 9th day of April, AD 1712, and baptized by the Rev. John McClave in Gorty-Lowry. Me and my wife was married the 7th day of September, AD 1730, by the Rev. James Anderson, in Donney Gall, America. PENNSYLVANIA GENEALOGIES; SCOTCH-IRISH and GERMAN. BY WILLIAM HENRY EGLE, M. D., M. A. RUTHERFORD OF PAXTANG. In the year 1689, several brothers, of the Scotch 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, Ireland, and the minister in the county Monaghan, Ireland. 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. In 1729, he appeared in person at the MORDAH residence and claimed his Jean Mordah. 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. 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 there is 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, (same address as later T.B. Adair of "Greencastle", Cookstown, and Harbison Family). 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. i. Our eldest daughter, Agnes, the 9th day of July, 1731; and baptized by the Rev. James Anderson. Died when four years old. ii. Our second daughter, Ellenor, was born the 16th day of January, 1733, in Donegal, Lancaster county, Pa; and baptized by Rev. James Anderson. Ellenor d. Dec, 1799, in Paxtang, and there buried; was twice married; m., first, WILLIAM WILSON, and had issue; she m., secondly, JOHN DAVISON, d. 1772. iii. Our third daughter, Jean, was born the 22d day of June, A. D. 1734; baptized by the Rev. Mr. Anderson; m. Thomas Mayes iv. Captain JOHN RUTHERFORD, b. February 16, 1737, in Donegal, Lancaster county, Pa.; baptized by Rev. Mr. Anderson. He accompanied his father to Paxtang in 1755. In the year 1760, in connection with the latter, he purchased the plantation, containing nearly four hundred acres, on which Rutherford station. This property, although divided into three tracts, is still owned by his descendants; and his mansion house, built before the Revolution, is used as a dwelling by his great-grandchildren. When the troubles with England arose, which led to the struggle for independence, he was active in his opposition to British tyranny. He was a member and officer, throughout the war, of the "Liberty Association of Pennsylvania," and served as captain of a company in the campaigns of 1776 and 1777 in the Jerseys and in Eastern Pennsylvania. He afterwards commanded a detachment from several companies against the Indians. Throughout his life, we find Mr. Rutherford's name connected with many enterprises, both civil and ecclesiastical, which show him to have been a representative man and trusted citizen. He d. at his home in Paxtang, Oct 1, 1804. Captain Rutherford m., Feb 4, 1762, MARGARET PARKE, b. 1737; d. Jan18, 1810. v. Our son Thomas was born the 14th day of August, 1738. Died 1739 when about one year old; buried in Donegal church-yard. vi. Our fourth daughter, Agnes, was born the 14th day of September, 1740; baptized by the Rev. Mr. Richard Sankey. Agnes m. William Gray. vii. Our son Thomas was born the 12th day of February, 1743; baptized by the Rev. Samuel Black. Thomas d. January 8, 1760; buried in Paxtang grave-yard. Our two daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, born the 18th day of February, 1745. viii. Elizabeth died when about eight months old, baptized by Rev. Samuel Black. Mary, b. February 18, 1745; m. Andrew Mayes. ix. Elizabeth, (twin,) b. February 18, 1745; d. s. p. x. James, b. Aug 28, 1747; bap by the Rev. John Elder. d. March 6, 1809; m. Margaret Brisban, b. 1753; d. March, 1825; both interred in Paxtang church burial-ground. xi. SAMUEL RUTHERFORD, b. December 13, 1749; baptized by the Rev. Richard Sankey. Samuel d. May 2, 1785. He held a commission as second lieutenant in Captain Joseph Sherer's company; served in the Jerseys and the neighborhood of New York in 1776; was taken prisoner at the battle of Long Island, and confined for a time in one of the celebrated prison-ships, to the great injury of his health. He m., March 14, 1776, SUSANNA COLLIER, b. September 17, 1750; d. May 8, 1813. xii. Elizabeth, b. February 27, 1752; baptized by the Rev. Richard Sankey. Elizabeth RUTHERFORD was thrice married; m.1stly, PATRICK GALLAWAY, who joined Captain Matthew Smith's company, of Paxtang, and was in the expedition to Quebec in 1775, but never returned. She m.2ndly, PATRICK HARBISON, and removed with him to the home of the Mayes, in Spartansburg district, South Carolina. Mr. HARBISON was, soon after, killed by the Tories, and Andrew Mayes removed with his family, together with Mrs. HARBISON, to the settlement of the Mordahs, in Iredell county, North Carolina. Here Mrs. Harbison m.3rdly THOMAS ARCHIBALD. Thank you. http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/ADAIR/2002-09/1031547931

THOMAS RUTHERFORD ---