Person Information

  • Show Citations

    John Rutherfurd

    Birth: 9-20-1760

    Death: 2-23-1840

    Alternate Surname: Rutherford

Biography

John Rutherfurd, the son of Walter and Catherine Rutherfurd, was born in New York City on September 20, 1760.  He attended the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), graduated in 1776, studied law with Richard Stockton (1730-1781, a signer of the Declaration of Independence) and William Paterson, and was admitted to the bar in 1782.

In 1791, Rutherfurd was elected as a U.S. Senator from New Jersey.  He resigned from that position in 1798 and moved to Trenton; in 1808, he moved to Bergen County, New Jersey, near present-day Rutherford.  He became president of the East Jersey Proprietors in 1804, and remained in that position until 1840.  He was a member of the New York and New Jersey Boundary Commission in 1826, of the New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania Boundary Commission in 1829-1833, and of the committee to research and plan the canals to connect the Delaware, Raritan, and Hudson rivers.

On October 30, 1782, John Rutherfurd married Helena Morris (1762-1840), daughter of Mary Walton and Lewis Morris, III.  John and Helena had eight children together: Mary (1784-1863), Catherine (1786-1803), Robert Walter (1788-1852), Helena (1790-1873), Louisa Morris (1792-1857), Anna (1794-1876), John (died young), and Susanna (died young).

John Rutherfurd died on February 23, 1840 in Rutherford, New Jersey.

Letter References

Citations

Biography and Citation Information:
Biography: 
John Rutherfurd, the son of Walter and Catherine Rutherfurd, was born in New York City on September 20, 1760. He attended the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), graduated in 1776, studied law with Richard Stockton (1730-1781, a signer of the Declaration of Independence) and William Paterson, and was admitted to the bar in 1782. In 1791, Rutherfurd was elected as a U.S. Senator from New Jersey. He resigned from that position in 1798 and moved to Trenton; in 1808, he moved to Bergen County, New Jersey, near present-day Rutherford. He became president of the East Jersey Proprietors in 1804, and remained in that position until 1840. He was a member of the New York and New Jersey Boundary Commission in 1826, of the New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania Boundary Commission in 1829-1833, and of the committee to research and plan the canals to connect the Delaware, Raritan, and Hudson rivers. On October 30, 1782, John Rutherfurd married Helena Morris (1762-1840), daughter of Mary Walton and Lewis Morris, III. John and Helena had eight children together: Mary (1784-1863), Catherine (1786-1803), Robert Walter (1788-1852), Helena (1790-1873), Louisa Morris (1792-1857), Anna (1794-1876), John (died young), and Susanna (died young). John Rutherfurd died on February 23, 1840 in Rutherford, New Jersey.
Citation for Birth Info:
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
http://www.jerseyhistory.org/findingaid.php?aid=0398
Title of Webpage: 
jerseyhistory.org
Website Viewing Date: 
Monday, July 28, 2014 - 15:30
Website Last Modified Date: 
Monday, July 28, 2014 - 15:30
Citation for Death Info:
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
http://www.jerseyhistory.org/findingaid.php?aid=0398
Title of Webpage: 
jerseyhistory.org
Website Viewing Date: 
Monday, July 28, 2014 - 15:30
Website Last Modified Date: 
Monday, July 28, 2014 - 15:30