Larry Rutledge – Rutledge.cc

Researched and developed by Jean Ann Ables-Flatt

Larry Dennis Rutledge was born 12 July 1941 in Gaines County, Texas, the son of Lumon Estes Rutledge and Beulah Agnes Soward.[1] Larry married Phyllis S. Vaughn in Andrew Co. TX on 28 December 1979.[2] Larry, a computer engineer died at age 76 in Ada, Pontotoc County, Oklahoma on 23 October 2017 and is buried in the Maxwell Cemetery, in Oil Center, Pontotoc County, OK.[3] Connection to next Generation: TX Birth Index showing Mother and Father.

Generation Two

Lumon Estes Rutledge

Lumon Estes Rutledge was born 26 February 1912 in Temple, Cotton County, Oklahoma.[4] He died 14 August 1994 in Ada, Pontotoc Co. OK and is buried in the McGee Cemetery, Stratford, Garvin, Co OK.[5] On his WWII Draft Registration it shows Agnes Bulah Rutledge as his wife and that he was employed by Denver Producing and Refining Co. He registered in Maud, Seminole, OK on 16 October 1940. In the obit on her Find A Grave, she was Buelah Soward, born 15 April 1917 near Ada and married L. E. “Slim” Rutledge on 09 March 1934.[6] His connection to the next generation is the 1930, Maxwell Pontotoc, OK United States Census. Lumon E. Rutledge is age 18, born OK and his parents are Lorenzo D. Rutledge and Canzadie Rutledge.[7]

Generation Three

Lorenzo Dow Rutledge

Lorenzo Dow Rutledge appears on the 1900 census in Dallas, Texas.[8] He is single, age 28. He is a farm laborer. His parents are James W. Rutledge age 67, born North Carolina (and both his parents born North Carolina) and Mary M. (Moody) Rutledge age 61, born Tennessee. His siblings still at home are Lizzy I. Rutledge age 16, John T. Rutledge age 21, Nancy A. Rutledge age 18. Also, in the household is daughter, Fherabe (Catherine) Burns, age 33, her husband Daniel L. Burns whom she married in 1898 and their one-year old daughter, Mary J. Burns. On this census, Mary M. states that she is the mother of 12 children, 7 of whom are living. According to Find A Grave, Lorenzo was married to Canzadie “Zadie” (1930 census bears this out) Lockhart, who was born 1882 and died 1941. According to his tombstone, Lorenzo was born 12 February 1872 (Taylors Crossroads – Overton Co. TN) and died 12 Feb 1952 (age 80 at Pontotoc Co. OK.)[9] He is buried at Box X Cemetery, at Bebee, Pontotoc, OK.[10] His connection to the next generation: 1880 Overton Co. TN US census; 1900 Dallas Co, TX US census.

Generation Four

Mary Moody Taylor and James William Rutledge[11]

According to James W. Rutledge’s Death Certificate, he was born 27 May 1833 in North Carolina and died in Dallas County Texas on 08 November 1918 of Bronchial Pneumonia. The information was given by his son J. T. (John T.) Rutledge. He did not know the names of James William’s parents.[12] In 1944 when John T. died, his informant gave the information that his father was Bill Rutledge and his mother was Mary Taylor. [13] On the 1880 Overton Co. TN census James William states his name as just William (thus the “Bill”). He is a farmer, age 48 and he states he was born in North Carolina as well as both his parents. Wife’s name and children’s names bear out they are one and the same. F. C. (Ferabe Catherine), daughter, age 13, born TN, Josephine, daughter age 10, born TN, L. D. (Lorenzo Dow), son, age 8 and John T., son age 2.[14] James William and Mary Moody Taylor married in Overton Co. TN ca 1860. They appear on the 1860 census in Overton, TN with no children.[15] Mary states on the 1910 census that they have been married 50 years. As stated previously, James William and Mary were living in Dallas Co. in 1900 but by 1910 they are living with their daughter Josephine and her husband, Devon V. Lynch. In 1910, Mary M. now has only 5 children still living (out of 12).[16] James William having died in 1918, Mary M. is still living with her daughter, Josephine, but they had moved to Pontotoc Co. OK by 1920.[17] According to her tombstone she was born 21 April 1839 and died 15 November 1930 which would make her age 91 at her death.[18] She is buried in the Box X Cemetery in Bebee, Pontotoc Co. OK the same as her son, Lorenzo D. James William’s connection to the next generation: The 1850 census of Shores Reed, Stokes, NC shows James W. Rutledge, age 11, in the household of John Rutledge, age 45 and Dosia Rutledge, age 43. There are also Stokes Co. probate records that will be discussed in next generation that make a connection.

Tombstone of James W. “Bill” Rutledge – Old Letot Cemtery, Dallas, TX. His daughter Mary Lou Rutledge Hill (4 July 1861 – 18 December 1901) is also buried at Old Letot as well as John T.’s son, William Thomas Rutledge (1909 – 1913).

Generation Five

John Rutledge

John Rutledge married Dosey Gibson on 02 February 1828 in Stokes Co. NC.[19] They appear on the 1850 census[20] living in Shores Reed, Stokes County, NC. Children in their household are Burges M. Rutledge age 22 (died before 1871), Irvin A. Rutledge, Judith L. (Lindy) Rutledge who married James A. Zigler[21] age18, James W. (William) Rutledge, age 11, Charity (Margaret) Rutledge age 15 who married Albert Boles[22] and Mary E. (Emily) age 13. John Rutledge was deceased before 1871 as well as his son, Burgess M. A petition to partition land that was left to her heirs, William and Ervin Rutledge by Isabella Rutledge (widow of Elijah Rutledge)[23] filed in Superior Court of Stokes Co. bears this out.

“…… Lindy Zigler, Ervin A Rutledge, William Rutledge, Charity Boles & Emily Rutledge, children of a deceased brother, John Rutledge, are entitled to one share of the whole….. That William Rutledge son of John Rutledge lives at _ in the State of Tennessee….”[24]

This is a definitive primary proof that James William is the son of John Rutledge of Stokes Co. North Carolina. John left no will. John’s connection to the next generation is his mother, Isabella’s will.

Generation Six

Elijah Rutledge

Isabella Boles married Elijah Rutledge 04 December 1802 in Stokes Co. NC. Isabella Rutledge’s will names the following heirs: Children – John Rutledge, Burgess Rutledge, James Rutledge, Benjamin Rutledge, William Rutledge, Irvin Rutledge, Alexander B. Rutledge. She also names her grandsons, Martin Rutledge and Irvin A. Rutledge.

Connection to next generation: Elijah Rutledge is named in the will of William Rutledge as a son and was also named Executor of his father’s will.[25]

Generation Seven

William Rutledge, Sr. names his beloved wife, Matilda in his will written in 24 August 1803 in Stokes Co. and probated during the June Term 1804 in Stokes Co. most likely shortly after his death. Some researchers have William born in 1734 in Tennessee. Tennessee did not become a state until 1788. It was part of North Carolina. Peter King’s will was written in Orange Co. NC on 08 September 1763 and names his daughter, Matilda Rutledge. It was probated in Rowan County NC (date unknown) and appears in the Record of Wills. Surry County, NC was formed out of Rowan in 1770 and Stokes Co. NC was formed out of Surry in 1789. Since Matilda was already married by 1763, and her father was living in Orange Co. it is possible that she married William in Orange Co. There appears to be no record of the marriage. There are no early deed records for a William Rutledge or even Peter King in Orange Co. NC.[26]

William is most likely the William Rutledge that appears on the State Census of North Carolina 1784 – 1787 om Surry Co. NC. The number of children appear to work. He reports 4 males under 21 and 2 females. His will names sons, Johnson, William, Benjamin, Peter and Elijah and daughters Sarah and Mary. Johnson Rutledge was recorded living in his own household at the time of that census

Recorded in Stokes Co. NC is the land grant #1131 for William Rutledge given 18th May 1789.[27] In the description of the land it states thus: “…..Give and Grant unto the said William Rutledge a tract of Land containing two hundred and fifty acres lying and being in our late County of Surry (Now Stokes)…..” It appears he moved into the part of Surry Co. NC that became Stokes Co. in time to be recorded on the Stokes Co. NC 1790 census as well as his son, Johnson Rutledge. William is not listed in the Stokes Co. 1800 census. There are two Williams but both are in a much younger age group.

It is a conundrum as to who is the father of this particular William Rutledge. We have now documented that he lived in Stokes Co. N.C., Surry Co. N.C. and possibly Rowan (since Surry Co. came out of Rowan) and Orange Counties. Many researchers have given different answers, but none have come up with primary documentation or plausible explanation to prove their theory. Much more in depth research needs to be done on this William.

Jean Ann Ables-Flatt, Genealogical Research Specialist

^{Member: Association of Professional Genealogists March 9, 2020}

^{1 Texas Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics – TX Births 1941.}

^{2 Texas Marriage Index 1824 – 2014, Ancestry.com}

^{3 Find A Grave Index, Ancestry.com & Obit from the Daily Oklahoman 29 Oct 2017, Sun, pg. 19.}

^{4 Tombstone, McGee Cemetery, Stratford, Garvin Co, OK. Died Ada, Pontotoc Co. OK. Find A Grave Index, Ancestry.com}

^{5 Social Security Death Index 1935 – 2014, Ancestry.com}

^{6 Ancestry.com Find A Grave}

^{7 1930 Maxwell, Pontotoc Co. OK US Census, Ancestry.com}

^{8 1900 Dallas Co. TX US Census, Ancestry.com}

^{9 Find A Grave, Ancestry.com.}

^{10 Ibid.}