This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: batchelorw Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.roper/1875.1.1.2.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I previously mentioned these two entries in the L David Roper data base: "Maury Co. Court Minutes: Will of William Loving, Sr. 3 Feb 1826. Wit: William X Roper Settlement with William Rutledge, adm. of John Edleman, decd, 22 Feb 1826 ... T. Roper" I discussed the first entry of the Court Minutes dealing with the Will of William Loving. The second entry which shows "Settlement with William Rutledge, adm. of John Edleman, decd, 22 Feb 1826...T.Roper" also has circumstantial links to John Roper of Halifax, VA. I have never been able to find the actual image of the Court Minutes and I have never been able to find another copy of this abstract. I previously speculated that the T. Roper might be Tennessee Roper of Maury County. The only Roper whose first name starts with a "T" in the 1820 and 1830 Maury County census records is Tennessee Roper. Both Tennessee Roper and David Y. Roper can be seen on page 2 of the 1820 Maury County, TN census, along with William Loving. On the previous page 3, one can find "John Eddleman", age 45 , with a wife age 45 . There are eleven other members in the household. William Rutledge is shown as the administrator of the estate of John Edleman, deceased 22 Feb 1826. William Rutledge can be found on page 10 of the 1820 Maury County, TN census, age 45 . The Rutledge family has a historical connection with the Caldwell family, and both families have had a close connection with John Roper, b. bef. 1756, of Halifax County, VA, Caswell County, NC, and Cumberland County, KY. John Rutledge, born September 29, 1711 in Bucks County, PA, married Eleanor Jane Caldwell of PA. Among the sons of John Rutledge and Eleanor Jane Caldwell were at least two who had connections to the Roper family: Isaac Rutledge, b. abt 1737, d. ca. 1770, Rowan County, NC, and Joseph Rutledge, b. abt. 1749, d. abt. 1833, Cumberland County, KY. Isaac Rutledge died ca. 1770 in Rowan County, NC without a will. He apparently had at least two minor male children, James Rutledge and William Rutledge, who will be discussed below. There is an abstract of a marriage bond in Rowan County, NC which shows a marriage between a Jane Rutledge and a John Turnbull on March 5, 1772. Jane Rutledge appears to be the widow of Isaac Rutledge. John Rutledge, b. 1711, Bucks County, PA, father of Isaac, died sometime before August of 1775 and did leave a Will, which I will quote in part, and guardianship bonds were issued in Rowan County for the two minor children, as seen from the following abstracts (I cannot find the original images of the Will or probate records): "Will abstract of John Rutledge Rowan County, North Carolina, Book A, pg 196 Date of Document: 12/Sept? 1774- date recorded: 1774 I bequeath to wife Elenor, one roan mare and 4 lbs money due from Robert Dodson...2). Bequeath to son John Rutledge, the land and improvement hereon i now live and provided he will the sum of money i am endebted to Isaac Rutledge's children now living with John Turnbull when the same is recoverable by law and if not the said land and improvements to be sold and the before mentioned orphans money to be paid out of the price of it and the overplus i desire that son John Keep for his trouble. 3). Give to son James, 20 shillings p..... Bequeath to son Joseph, my plough irons...6). To son John 1 white coat and Jacket and i pair of boots and also desire my son son John to let my wife have the priviledge of the house and find her bread til next spring. Executors/Administrators: son John Rutledge Witness: James Wilson, Morgan Bryan, Evan Ellis." "John Caldwell Guardianship Bonds of Rowan County, NC 2 Aug 1775 William RUTLEDGE James RUTLEDGE Father: Isaac Rutledge, deceased Guardian: David Caldwell Security: Samuel Luckey" There are a number of extant records documenting the migration of William Rutledge. I will cite one particular record which sums up his travels. William Rutledge was as a soldier in the Revolutionary War and applied for a Revolutionary War pension. The original image of the application can be found on Ancestry.com. Here is a portion of an abstract of that record: "PENSION OF WILLIAM RUTLEDGE Revolutionary War - North Carolina - #S4171 State of Tennessee } September sessions of the County Wayne County } Court of said County for the year 1832 On this 5th day of Sept. 1832 personally appeared in open court before the justice of said county now sitting, William Rutledge, a resident of said County and State aged seventy six years since June last, in his being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath swear the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That is to say, He volunteered and entered the above-named service in Rowann County in the state of North Carolina early in the Revolutionary War, under the command of Capt. David Caldwell in General Griffin Rutherford's Brigade. He marched on this tour down on Cross Creek in North Carolina for the purpose of keeping down the Scotch Tories in that quarter. He was then discharged at the expiration of his term of service which was three months. He next volunteered and entered the service in said County of Rowann for the term of three months. He was marched through Burke County over the mountains and crossed near the head of the Catawba River, and from thence over to the head of (the) Tennessee River against the Cherokee Indians under the command of Captain Joseph Dickerson in General Rutherford's Brigade. On this expedition the troops with which applicant was associated drove the Indians from their settlements and towns, burnt their towns, huts, and wigwams and destroyed everything before them. He was then marched back to Rowann County where he was discharged at the end of his term of service. He next volunteered and entered the service, again for the term of three months under Capt. Joseph Dickerson, who was the highest officer in Command on this expedition. He marched down to Pinetree in South Carolina for the purpose of quelling and keeping down the Scotch Tories, and was again marched home and discharged at the end of his term of service, which was one of three months. Applicant then went to live up in Wilkes County, State of North Carolina where he went again into service as a volunteer under Major Micajah Lewis, and marched near to Haw River, thirteen or fourteen miles from Guilford Courthouse, where he and his associate troops defeated the Tories under the Command of Col. Piles. They killed in this engagement a number of the Tories, in full nearly all that were in the action and took no prisoners. Col. Perkins was their General on this occasion on the side of the United States troops. Col. Lee was also in this engagement. About this time the said Applicant was sent in Company with Capt. Robert Cleveland with an express from the Moravian towns to General Green at Guilford Courthouse. Which express was to inform Gen. Green that the British were at the shallow ford on the Yadkin River advancing towards his quarters. This was a short time before the battle fought at Guilford Courthouse. This was the last service that applicant performed except being afterwards engaged in several scouting parties. He has no documentary evidence and he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service except Col. John Witherspoon of said County of Wayne State of Tennessee. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name in not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. Sworn to and subscribed in open court the date first above written, Test. Wm. Bennett, Clerk. Wm. Rutledge (signed) Questions put by the War Department: Question 1: Where and in what year were you born? Answer: I was born in the State of Pennsylvania near the town of Carlisle in the year 1756. Question 2: Have you any record of your age and if so where is it? Answer: I think I have at home a record of my age on a small piece of paper in my father's own handwriting. Question 3: Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since, and where do you now live? Answer: When first called into service I lived in Rowann County, N.C. But afterwards in Wilks County during the Revolutionary War. I came from Wilks County N.C. to Tennessee something like forty years ago to Williamson County where I resided until I moved to Maury County where I lived until three years last since which time I have resided in Wayne County, Tennessee, where I now live. Question 4: How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom. Answer: I volunteered in all the expeditions set forth in my declaration. Question 5: State the name of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service. Answer: This question I have answered as well as I am able in the above declaration. Question 6: Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it? Answer: I received four discharges, one from Capt. Caldwell, two from Capt. Dickson, and another from Maj. Micajah Lewis, but I have lost or mislaid them all. Question 7: State the names of the persons to whom you are acquainted in your present neighbourhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the revolution. Answer: I am known to Squire Henry Rayburn, Gen. John Rayburn, Col. John Witherspoon, Robert Thompson, Col. Gallaher, Lewis Johnson, and Samuel Johnson, and others, all of whom can testify both as to my character for veracity and the reputation of my being a Revolutionary soldier in the neighbourhood where I now live. He further states that he was under General Rutherford at the battle fought at Ramsour Mill, where Capt. Gillespie was killed, where the United States troops and the Tories had a very considerable engagement. A number were slain on both sides, but the Tories were completely routed, some taken prisoners and the rest driven from the field. He also states that the said Maj. Lewis was mortally wounded in the engagement at Whiteside Mill on Rudee fork of Haw river and that he was carried off the field and died the next day. Sworn to and subscribed in open court the date first above written Test. William Bennett, Clerk." One final note on William Rutledge. His daughter, Martha C. Rutledge, married John Caldwell, b. 1790, Halifax, VA, on June 5, 1810, in Maury County, TN. This John Caldwell was the son of John Caldwell of Halifax, VA, and is mentioned as one of the orphans John Caldwell in the probate records: "23 Oct 1797 David Caldwell, Gdn of George, Salley & John Caldwell, orph. of John Caldwell, dec'd. Henry Cook, William Caldwell, Allen Caldwell, Jr. & John Terry, Sec. Bond $3,000. Wm. Owen, John Wilson Jr., Henry E. Coleman, & Theo Carter, Gent. Justices. A. Watlington Jr. Wit. 23 Oct. 1797 David Caldwell, Gdn. of Amos Caldwell, orph of John Caldwell, dec'd. Bond $1,000. [Security, Gent. Justices & Wit. same as above.]" David Caldwell, the guardian for both John Caldwell and Amos Caldwell, was residing in Halifax County, VA, in 1882, at the same time that John Roper was living between John Caldwell and Allen Caldwell. David Caldwell is also seen residing next to John Roper in Caswell, NC in 1805. Now let's move on to Joseph Rutledge. As mentioned by William Alexander Roper, Jr., a Joseph Rutledge can also be seen residing next the same John Roper when he moved to Cumberland County, KY and appeared in the 1820 census: "John ROPER, Senr., and John ROPER, Junr., of Cumberland, KY, are enumerated in the 1820 Census immediately adjacent to two RUTLEDGE households, those of Joseph RUTLEDGE and Henry RUTLEDGE. Joseph RUTLEDGE appears to be age 45 of more (b bef 1776) and Henry RUTLEDGE appears to be age 26 to 44 (b abt 1776-94)." Secondary sources show this Joseph Roper, b. ca 1749, to be the son of John Rutledge and Eleanor Jane Caldwell and the brother of Isaac Rutledge, all mentioned above. Joseph Rutledge married Jane Speer on August 11, 1772 in Rowan County, NC (see abstract on Ancestry.com). Oliver Wallis was the bondsmen and Ad Osborn was a witness. In that same year of 1772, John Turnbull married the widow of Isaac Rutledge in Rowan County. There are many records that shows the family connections between the Rutledge family, the Speer family, and the Edleman family in Surry, NC, a few of which are the following: "1783 15 Aug 1783 Daniel Mosby to Peter Edleman 50 pds 144 3/4 ac Elrodes branch, fork Turners Creek; being land whereupon Daniel Mosby now lives. Jacob Speer, Senr., John (x) Speer, jurat. s/Daniel Mosby. (Book C, page 41) [Absher, Mrs. W. O. 1981. Surry County, North Carolina Abstracts Deed Books A, B, and C (1770-1788). So. Hist. Press, Easley, S. Car.] 1788 - Surry Co. Court, Session of 16 Feb. 1788 - Peter Eddleman served on road jury (also on Jury-- Henry Speer, Ben Speer, John Groce) [Absher, Mrs. W. O., and Mrs. R. K. Hayes. undated. Surry County, North Carolina Court Minutes Vol. II (1786-1789). North Wilkesboro, N. Car.] 1789 - Will written, as follows (from copy of original) In the Name of God Amen. I Peter Edelman being sick and weak of body but of sound and purfect sense and memory thanks be to Almighty God for the same do make and ordain this my last will and testament. First and formost I Kuommend? by soul into the hand of Almighty God who gave it me and my body to the Earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named _____?. What wordly goods its hath pleased Almighty God to ___? upon me I give and bequeath as follows my will and ___? is that all by debts and funeral expenses be first paid and dischearged. Item I lend to my beloved wife Marget Edelmon all my land and plantation wheare on I now live on Turner's Creek Adjoining Matthias Steelmon & John Jonas' land durin her Neatorl life and at her Decease to ___ unto my two sons Peter Edelman & Jacob Edelman to be Equely Divided betwen Two Peter & Jacob Edelman. Item I also lend to my wife Marget Edelman one waggon & [5] Horse Critters (to wit) one Black Mare one g! ray Horse one Bay Horse & Two Black Horses together with all the grass belonging to said waggon Durin her natural life and at her Deseas to be Disposed of at the Descresion o her & my Executors herafter menshed. Item I lend to my Beloved wife Marget Edelman all my Stock of Veal Cattel Hoggs & sheep and House Hole furniture During her Natoral life or widow hoode & Incase she Should Marry or Die to be Equaly Divided Between my Two Sons Peter Edelman Jacob Edelman & my Son John Edelmans Daughter Marget Edelman & my Three Daughters Barbary Grose Julian Roberts& Christen Randolph, and all the Rest & Residue of my wourldly good I levae to my Beloved wife Marget Edelman to pay my Debts & funorel charges and I do hereunto Constistute & Appoint my said wife Marget Edelman my Execuqx(?) & my Trusty Friends Jacob Speer & Henry Speer my Executors of this my last will and testament and I do hereby Revoke and Disallow and make void all former wills by Me heretofore made or Spoken In Witness Whereof I have herunto set my hand this 7th Day of Jany 1789. His Witnesses Present: Georg ______ Jurat mark Peter (X) Edelman John (I) Bohannon Patrick (P) Burns Joseph Rutledge" Notice that Joseph Rutledge is a witness to the will of Peter Edleman. Joseph Rutledge is listed in the 1790 Surrey County, NC census, and the 1800 and 1810 Clark County, KY census records. Joseph then appears in the1820 Cumberland County, KY census residing next to John Roper of Halifax Co., VA and Caswell, NC, and his son John C. Roper. Additional evidence that this is the same Joseph Rutledge of Surry County comes from his land grant claim in Kentucky. I found this information on the Internet, from research done by Pamela Ponder Hooser and Mrs. John M. Rutledge of Texas: "On 17 September 1830 Joseph Rutledge went to Burksville, Cumberland County, Kentucky, and appeared before George Craft, a Justice of the Peace of Cumberland County, and made a sworn affidavit concerning a claim for 300 acres as a land grant from the State of Kentucky. He stated that he is now 81 years old and that he is old and infirm and unable to work anymore, and due to his infirmities he is unable to go to the Courthouse of the County to present his claim. (Kentucky records indicate that originally there were only 3 counties in Kentucky. These were subsequently broken up into as many as 9 new counties for each one of the large counties.) Joseph Rutledge states that he served two 9 month "tours" or "stretches" as a Private in the Army of North Carolina (Surry County where he then resided), in 1779 and 1780, in the Revolutionary War against Great Britain. He served under Henry Spears and Captain William T. Hughlett, and Colonel Joseph Williams and Colonel John Armstrong. He was in the battle of the defeat of General Gates, and other small skirmishes. Benjamin Spear, now of Overton County, Kentucky, served with Joseph under the same officers and in the same battles. On 30 May 1821, Joseph's claim for land grant was rejected, probably because of the "Statute of Limitations". He had waited from 1800 until 1830 before making his claim. In 30 years probably all the "grant land" of Kentucky was exhausted, and besides they probably figured that a man of 81 years of age, without slaves, could not work a 300 acre farm. About 1832, Joseph Rutledge Senior died in Cumberland County, Kentucky, at age of 83 years." Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. <br>