SECOND GENERATION

3. James Rutledge was born in 1785 in Wilkes County, North Carolina. He appeared on the census in 1820 in Maury County, Tennessee.⁽¹³⁾ He appeared on the census in 1830 in Maury County, Tennessee. ⁽¹⁴⁾ He sold slaves for $1,000: Betsy, 28, Lecky, 13, Emily, 11, three boys, 9, 7, 5, Maria 13 mo. on 23 Apr 1833 in Maury County, Tennessee. ⁽¹⁵⁾ He sold Cows, Calfs and household goods to satisfy a debt of $74 on 17 Jun 1837 in Maury County, Tennessee. ⁽¹⁶⁾ He appeared on the census in 1840 in Maury County, Tennessee. ⁽¹⁷⁾ He died after 1850. He appeared on the census on 2 Sep 1850 in District #14, Maury County, Tennessee. ⁽¹⁸⁾

James Rutledge is first listed on the 1811 tax list for Maury County, Tennessee. He is listed on the 1820 Census in Maury County, as well as the 1830 and 1840 Census.

His name appears on a series of deeds from Maury County, Tennessee, during the 1830's.

The children of James Rutledge are listed in a Chancery Court Record filed in Maury, County, Tennessee, Plaintiff Thomas L. Rutledge vs. Defendent Richard B. Passmore, initiated February 12, 1844, and last recorded March 28, 1845. The case concerned the disposition of slaves inherited from William Armstrong, father of James' wife Nancy. This case also mentions that Nancy Armstrong Rutledge, James' wife, died on January 21, 1832.

James Rutledge is last seen on the census in 1850 in Maury County, Tennessee, with a new wife, Sarah, and her brother James Mitchell. The death date and place of James Rutledge is not known.

Text of the Chancery Court complaint is partially reproduced below:

Maury County, Tennessee, Chancery Court

Thomas L. Rutledge et al. vs. Richard B. Passmore

Initiation Date: 12 February 1844
Last Record Date: 28 March 1845

No date on decree/dismissed


To the Honourable L. M. Bramlett Chancellor & C. presiding at Columbia

Humbly complaining show unto your Honour your orators Thomas L. Rutledge & Samuel J. Rutledge, your orator Stephen Dark, & your oratrix Mary J. Dark formerly Mary J. Rutledge & now the wife of said Stephen, your orator William P. Rutledge, & your orator Edward A. Rutledge, your oratrix Eliza A. Rutledge, & your oratrix Nancy M. Rutledge the last three of whom are minors under the age of twenty one years & file this bill by their next friend, the said Thomas L. Rutledge, & all of said complainants being citizens of the County of Maury & State of Tennessee except the said William P. Rutledge who is a citizen of the Republic of Texas, that on the 19th day of January 1799, their grandfather William Armstrong made & executed, in the County of Robertson & State aforesaid, a deed of gift or conveyance in the words of ____ following to wit:

"Know all men by these presents that I William Armstrong of Robertson County in the State of Tennessee for & in consideration of the love, good will & affection which I have & do bear towards my ___ daughters viz: Jane, Sally & Nancy, by these presents, give, make over and convey to said Jane, Sally & Nancy a negro woman by the name of Hannah age about eighteen years, she & her future increase to be equally divided between the said Jane, Sally & Nancy at my wife's decease hereby warranting and defending the said negro woman & her increase from all persons claiming from under me.

In testimony thereof I have hereunto set my hand &seal, this the 19th day of January A. D. 1799"

which deed of gift or conveyance ______ day of March 1799 in the Recorder's office of said County of Robertson, a copy of which or the original will be produced as the Court may direct.

Compalinants state that at the time said deed was executed the said William Armstrong was the absolute owner of said slave Hannah. They further state that at the time, Mary Armstrong was the wife of said William Armstrong, the mother of said Jane, Sally and Nancy & was the grandmother of said complainants except the said Stephen Dark.

They further show that on the ___ day of ____ , 18__, the said Sally intermarried with Richard B. Passmore, on the ___ day of ____, the said Jane intermarried with George Clark & on the ____ day of 18__, the said Nancy who is the mother of complainants except the said Stephen who is her son in law intermarried with James Rutledge who is the father of complainants except the said Stephen Dark.

They further show that on the ____ day of _____, 18__, the said George Clark died leaving the said Jane living & who is still living & that on the 20th day of Jany. 1832 their mother the said Nancy departed this life & that the said James Rutledge is still living.

They show your Honour that the following _____ the increase of said Hannah after the making of said deed of gift, to wit:

Betsy a child of Hannah now a grown woman & worth five hundred dollars,
Lethia a child of the said Betsy now a grown woman worth five hundred dollars,
Emily a child of said Betsy now a grown woman & worth five hundred dollars,
Anderson a child of said Betsy now grown & worth six hundred dollars,
Charley a child of said Betsy now grown & worth nine hundred dollars,
Stephen a child of said Betsy now nearly grown & worth six hundred dollars &
Sarah Elizabeth a child of the said Betsy & worth three ….

{note -the rest of the document was not copied}

Transcribed by Ernest E. Hunt IV
July 7, 2000

He was married to Nancy Armstrong (daughter of William Armstrong and Mary Nicholls) on 6 Jan 1811 in Maury County, Tennessee. Nancy Armstrong was born in 1792 in North Carolina. She died on 20 Jan 1832 in Maury County, Tennessee. James Rutledge and Nancy Armstrong had the following children:

19 i. Son Rutledge was born in 1812 in Maury County, Tennessee. He died before 1843.
+20 ii. William Pinckney Rutledge.
+21 iii. Samuel J. Rutledge.
+22 iv. Thomas Lafayette Rutledge.
+23 v. Edward Armstrong Rutledge.
+24 vi. Mary J. Rutledge.
+25 vii. Nancy Melissa Rutledge.
+26 viii. Eliza A. Rutledge.