28 Facts About Griffith Rutherford

Originally from Ireland, Rutherford immigrated with his parents to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Colony, at the age of 18.

Griffith Rutherford continued serving in the militia until the start of the American Revolution in 1775, when he enlisted in the North Carolina militia as a colonel.

An active member of his community, Griffith Rutherford served in multiple civil occupations.

Griffith Rutherford was a representative of both houses of the North Carolina House of Commons and as an unsuccessful candidate for governor.

Griffith Rutherford was an Anti-Federalist and was appointed President of the Legislative Council of the Southwest Territory in 1794.

Griffith Rutherford retired to Sumner County, Tennessee, where he died on August 10,1805, at the age of 84.

Griffith Rutherford's parents died during the voyage from Ireland, and for a while, he worked on a relative's farm, where he was taught how to survey land.

In 1754, Griffith Rutherford married his neighbor's sister, Elizabeth Graham, who eventually bore him ten children.

One of their sons, James Griffith Rutherford, later became a major during the Revolutionary War and died at the Battle of Eutaw Springs.

Griffith Rutherford became friends with Daniel Boone with whom he often went on hunting and surveying expeditions.

Griffith Rutherford was listed as a member of the North Carolina General Assembly in 1766, a sheriff and justice of the peace of Rowan County from 1767 to 1769, and a tax collector.

Griffith Rutherford began his extensive military career in 1760 during the French and Indian War.

Griffith Rutherford was a participant in several battles and skirmishes, most notably the Battle of Fort Duquesne ; the battle at Fort Dobbs ; and James Grant's campaign against the Cherokee in the southern Appalachians.

Griffith Rutherford entered the war in 1775 as a colonel in the North Carolina militia after his appointment to the Rowan County Committee of Safety.

Later that month, Griffith Rutherford authorized another punitive expedition of a recently raised cavalry force, led by Captain William Moore joined by Captain Joseph Hardin Sr.

Griffith Rutherford saw the danger by calling back his remaining troops stationed in South Carolina and ordering all soldiers from Salisbury to rally near Charlotte, North Carolina.

Griffith Rutherford sent word to Colonel Francis Locke of Rowan County, to rendezvous with him about 16 miles from Ramsour's Mill, near the forks of the Catawba.

Griffith Rutherford met Locke within 2 miles of Ramsour's Mill, where he was informed that the Loyalists were in full retreat.

Griffith Rutherford aimed to capturing the crossroads town of Camden, South Carolina, which would have been strategically important for control over the South Carolina back country.

Griffith Rutherford was positioned in the center of the Continental formation with other North Carolina militia.

Griffith Rutherford's tactics were criticized by Green, who warned Griffith Rutherford that those methods would only encourage the Loyalist cause.

Those reports were later found to be false, but Griffith Rutherford decided to redirect his forces towards the British encampment and surrounding militias at Wilmington, North Carolina, beginning with the Loyalist force at Raft Swamp.

Griffith Rutherford was elected to the North Carolina Senate during the war in 1779 and continued to serve in that position until 1789.

Griffith Rutherford opposed the restoration of Loyalist lands and supported and assisted in their confiscation while he served in the Council of State.

Griffith Rutherford was an ardent Anti-Federalist during the national debate on the recently created United States Constitution.

Each clause was challenged individually despite opposition from the Federalist Samuel Johnston and others, but Griffith Rutherford rarely contributed to discussion.

Griffith Rutherford acquired nearly 13,000 acres of Washington District land through trading off his 700 acres in Salisbury, government grants and purchasing Continental soldier's tracts.

Griffith Rutherford died in Sumner County, Tennessee, on August 10,1805.