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Rutledge Ancestry

Family Record from Unknown Bible

Family Record from Unknown Bible
Information
These photocopies were given to me by Foster F. Rutledge as a part of his research collection. It appears that all of the entries were written at the same time, as the handwriting is very consistent.

The notes in the left margin of Page 1 and above the entry for John H. Rutledge on Page 2 would seem to indicate that the pages (if not the bible) were in the possession of a child of John Horning Rutledge, if the notes are accurate. The notes on Page 1 would indicate that Robert b1782 wrote all of the entries.

From this evidence, my current understanding is that Robert b1782 filled out the family record in this bible either for himself or as a gift to one of his children, probably John. Part of me leans toward the first option, as a bible designated for John's use would not likely have contained the birth records for all of his siblings. It more likely would have begun with his parents birth records and then with his own and then his children. I suppose, then, that Robert filled out this bible for his own use at some point in his life, however late. I suppose also that the bible came into the possession of John Horning Rutledge, and if the notes are to be trusted, to one of John's children.

For Robert to fill out the bible, the book and the writings must date from before his death on 9 December 1862, and after John's birthday on 2 February, 1829. Personally I would use the quality of the handwriting to date his actions to the 1840s or 1850s, when he was established in Illinois, and a good time before his death when I would estimate his handwriting would have degraded. This is wild supposition, admittedly, but it is all I have at this time.

The margin notes, supposedly by one of John's children, would indicate that they were made on the actual Family Record pages, and not on a photocopy. The last of John's children, Oscar, was born in 1869, and photocopiers were not readily available until the 1950s and 60s.

These are the only pages known to exist, and I do not know who possesses them or may possess related materials. The pages are assumed to be on their own, as fold marks appear along the horizontal and vertical axes.

Relatives and descendants of John Horning Rutledge are strongly encouraged to contact me as well as other relatives in an effort to locate these valuable artifacts, as they are very rare records of Robert's immediate family.
Date of Origin
bef. 9 Dec 1862
Associated People
Thomas Paterson Rutledge
Robert "The Brick" Rutledge
Mary Lurvey
John Horning Rutledge
Anna "Annie" Rutledge
William J. Rutledge
Mary S. Rutledge
Alis "Alice" Rutledge
Robert Rutledge
Margaret J. Rutledge
Francis Rutledge
Catherine R. Rutledge