Isaac Rutledge and ? | William Rutledge and Chloe Johnson | James Rutledge Sr. & Frances Skaggs | George Rutledge and Rose Boyer | James Bernard Rutledge and Nancy Estes | James William Rutledge and Rubina Wright | Wilson Alvin, Sr. and Jessie Mae Wright (Wilson's WWII page)
Daughters of the Revolutionary War lineage:
Nancy Estes's parents (John D. Estes and Catherine Jane Kirkpatrick) (John's parents unknown)
Catherine Kirkpatrick's parents (Joseph Marion Kirkpatrick and Martha Patsy Ross)
Martha Patsy Ross's parents William Ross and Eliza Jane Allen | William Hugh Ross, Jr. and Mary Griffin
Other Ancestors:
Frances Skaggs parents: James Skaggs and Frances Beeler |
Joseph Kirkpatrick's parents (David Sevier Kirkpatrick and Catherine White) | John Hugh Kirkpatrick and Margaret "Jane" Wilkins (possible Revoluntary War; there are 2 John Hugh Kirkpatricks)
Catherine White's parents (Joseph White and Janet Mebane)
Colonial Rutledges:
Rutledges in 1790 Census | John James Rutledge and Jane Anne Stewart | Edward Thomas Rutledge and Elizabeth Graem (Son Andrew/Sarah Boone) | (Dr.) John Rutledge and Sarah Hext |
Y-DNA paths - Sons of John Rutledge and Sarah Hext: (Constitution|Atty) John Rutledge and Elizabeth Grimké | (Declaration) Edward Rutledge and Henrietta Middleton | Hugh Rutledge and Mary Golightly Huger
Y-DNA paths - Sons of (Constitution|Atty) John Rutledge and Elizabeth Grimke: John Rutledge, Jr. and Sarah Motte Smith | Frederick Rutledge and Harriott Pinckney Horry |
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Rutledge DNA Connection: Edward Gent Rutledge | James Enos Rutledge | William Richard Rutledge | Richard William Rutledge | Harry Milton Rutledge | Edgar Rutledge Taylor | (This line is connected by DNA, but we have not yet put together the puzzle pieces)
THIS IS MY WORKING GENEALOGY BIOGRAPHIES, PLEASE DO NOT COPY AS FACT. Some photos are personal and are not to be copied and republished; other images are okay. Documentation I collected as proof to support facts (i.e. dates, relationships, etc.) are available for your use. I share freely, but please do not abuse copyright or perpetuate any information without supporting facts that may or may not be in error. I try to mark in red my questions or documents I need to look for, so your assistance in making this a complete collection is always appreciated.
(Constitution|Atty) John Rutledge and Elizabeth Grimké
John Rutledge was a prominent South Carolina Founding Father. Among many other accomplishments, he was a delegate to the first Continental Congress, first Governor of South Carolina, and a Supreme Court Justice. He wrote the majority of the Constitution of the United States and signed the same.
John Rutledge was born 1739 in Charleston, South Carolina to John Rutledge and Sarah Hext Rutledge.
Elizabeth Grimké was born 1741 to Frederick Grimké (1705-1778) and Martha Emmes (1703-1764). Frederick had emigrated from Germany to Charleston, South Carolina.
"Mother Sarah" Boone Hext Rutledge died November 2, 1743, at the age of about 40, leaving her husband Andrew a widower. Andrew moved in with his brother Dr. John, "Daughter Sarah," and their children. "Atty | Constitution John" was only 4 years old, and therefore, grew up with his Uncle Andrew in the household. His Uncle greatly influenced his path in life as Uncle Andrew was in the legal field and "Atty | Constitution John" spent many hours at the courthouse watching his Uncle, and in his Uncle's library of books.
John's father, Dr. John Rutledge died December 25, 1750 at about the age of 37 years. "Atty | Constitution John" was only 11 years old when he became the "man of the house" as the firstborn son. John's mother Sarah Hext Rutledge was young at about the age of 26 years, and raised the children on her own. At the time, she was still the richest woman in South Carolina.
In 1751, brother Andrew Rutledge was elected Speaker of the Commons House of Assembly. His law office was on Broad Street. "Atty | Constitution John" studied law under his Uncle Andrew Rutledge, who was living in his home. Andrew was a father-figure for John as his own father had died. "Atty | Constitution John" became a student clerk to the State House and never missed watching a session of the Assembly.
The French and Indian War was fought between 1754 and 1763 in the northern colonies.
When John was 16, his Uncle Andrew Rutledge died without children in 1755. John continued to study law in the office of James Parsons, who later became Speaker of the Assembly.
When he was 18 years old in 1756, John sailed overseas to study at the Middle Temple in London. He returned to Charleston, South Carolina at the age of 21 years in 1760 after studying for only three years (when others would study 7 to 14 years) because that was all his mother could manage to afford. His mother, who I refer to as "Daughter Sarah," had a difficult time managing the family wealth she had inherited while John was gone to school. She still had three houses, one on Dock Street, one on Tradd Street where John grew up, and one on Coming Street. The St. Helena Island plantation had been sold, the Stono plantation, Phillips plantation, and Edisto Island property were a failure. There were other plantations as well, such as Boone Hall (owned by her grandparents and where she had some of her children) and the Patey plantation. John returned home to a family in financial ruins and as the head of the household, was responsible for picking the family back up. He was starting at the bottom after several generations of wealth and social status.
In addition, John as head of the household needed to provide for his younger siblings. Hugh was 15 and also wanted to be a lawyer and would need to go overseas to school. Andrew did not want a professional career and worked in the Manigault warehouse as a shipping clerk. His sister Sarah was almost 18 and was in need of a dowry to attract a husband. Thomas was 19 and wanted to be a planter or farmer (John would send him to be responsible for the Stono plantation). Mary was only 13 and "Declaration Edward" who also wanted to be a lawyer were only 12, but the years would pass quickly and they too would need assistance to establish their livelihood.
King George III became King of Great Britain and Ireland on October 25, 1760, at the age of 22, immediately following the death of his grandfather, King George II. He reigned for nearly 60 years, until his death in 1820. The King that John was loyal to were nearly the same age.
On March 14, 1761, John was elected to the Commons House of Assembly at the age of 21. Getting elected was the saving grace that began the upswing for the family finances as it was a custom of the colony to exempt members of the Assembly from being sent to jail.
John would team up with James Parsons (who he had studied law under) and Charles Pinckney (Colonel and father of the future Governor and Constitution signer Charles Pinckney; owned Snee farm) as an elite legal trio who were leading figures in Charleston South Carolina in 1760s and early 1770s. They were part of the wealthy Lowcountry planter and legal class that helped guide South Carolina into the American Revolution. There were three branches to the government, the Assembly of which the legal trio were members, and the Governor and the courts whose judges were appointed by the Crown, but their pay was managed by the Assembly. Therefore, the Assembly had influence over the Governor and judges.
John and Elizabeth were married May 1, 1763, when she was 19 years old and he was 24 years old. Elizabeth's brother James had studied at Middle Temple at the same time as John. John had bought the property at 116 Broad Street before his marriage and the couple moved into the house.
In May 1764, John was appointed Attorney General of His Majesty's Province of South Carolina.
John and Elizabeth have a daughter in about 1764, Martha Henrietta Rutledge (1764–1816). Married William Kinloch.
John and Elizabeth have a daughter in about 1765, Sarah Rutledge (1765–1765). She died in infancy.
John and Elizabeth have a son in about 1766, John Rutledge Jr, (1766–1819). Brigadier-General and U.S. Congressman.
John and Elizabeth have a son in August 20, 1767, Edward James Rutledge in Charleston, South Carolina. He died February 19, 1811, in Charleston South Carolina and is buried at St. Philip's Episcopal Church Cemetery, Charleston. He never married and had no children. Edward James is frequently confused in historical databases with his uncle, Edward Rutledge "The Signer" (1749–1800). Because they shared the same name and lived in Charleston at the same time, many mistakenly attribute the Signer's children (Henry Middleton and Sarah) to this Edward James.
John and Elizabeth have a son in about 1768, Frederick Rutledge (1768–1824). Of Hampton Plantation.
John and Elizabeth have a son in 1771, William Spencer Rutledge (1771–1821). Never married and had no children.
John and Elizabeth have a son in 1773, Charles Wilson Rutledge (1773–1821). A physician; never married; no children.
John and Elizabeth have a son in 1774, Thomas Littleberry Rutledge (1774–1862). Died in infancy.
John and Elizabeth have a daughter in about 1776, Eliza (Elizabeth) Rutledge (1776–1842). Married Henry Laurens.
John and Elizabeth have a son on September 3, 1783, States Rutledge (1783–1829). He died August 17, 1829, in Charleston, South Carolina. States lived the life of a planter.
- Married: Julia Harriet Haskell (1796–1840) on November 25, 1813. She was the daughter of Major Elnathan Haskell and Charlotte Thomson.
- Children:
- States Whitcomb Rutledge was born September 1812, and died in 1829, the same year as his father, at the age of 17.
- Littleberry Grimké Rutledge was born January 22, 1815, in Charleston, South Carolina, and died August 3, 1848 and the age of 33. He lived in the Charleston area; listed in some estate records as "L.G. Rutledge." Littleberry was named after his mother’s Haskell relatives and his grandmother’s (Elizabeth Grimké) family. He was a planter. He was likely unmarried and there are no documented children.
- Julia Rutledge was born in 1817 and her death is unknown, likely young and unmarried.
Elizabeth Grimké died in 1792.
John Rutledge served as the second Chief Justice of the United States. He became a leader in the Continental Congress, the first "President" (Governor) of South Carolina in 1776, and later a U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
John died on July 18, 1800, in Charleston, South Carolina and is buried at St. Michael's Episcopal Church, Charleston, South Carolina.
I visited the John Rutledge House Inn in 2025 and you can see that video tour and website page.