John Rutherfurd Papers
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
The John Rutherfurd Papers is one of four discrete but closely related collections, known together as the Alexander - Stuyvesant - Rutherfurd Collections. The John Rutherfurd Papers consist principally of material relating to or created by John Rutherfurd (1760 - 1840), and his father, Walter Rutherfurd (1724 - 1804). Principal subseries for John and Walter Rutherfurd are Correspondence; Accounts, Bills, Receipts; Legal Papers; and Court Papers. Correspondence includes letters to John or Walter Rutherfurd, and drafts of their replies.
Biographical Note
Biographical Note for the Alexander - Stuyvesant - Rutherfurd Collections
Missing Title
For more information on some of the persons represented in these collections consult:
Biographical Dictionaries
Dictionary of American Biography- James and William Alexander, Lewis Morris Rutherfurd
American National Biography- James, Mary, and William Alexander, Lewis Morris Rutherfurd, Henry White
Dictionary of National Biography- John Reid
Books
Rutherfurd, Livingston Family Records and Events New York, De Vinne Press, 1894
Valentine, Alan Chester Lord Stirling New York, Oxford University Press, 1969
Arrangement
The John Rutherfurd Papers are organized into the following eight series:
Missing Title
- Series I: John Rutherfurd
- Series II: Walter Rutherfurd
- Series III: Other Persons
- Series IV: Corporation for the Relief of Widows and Children of CLergymen
- Series V: Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures
- Series VI: Abstracts of Legislation re New Jersey -- New York Boundary
- Series VII: [Map of Turnpike Route]
- Series VIII: Fragments
Scope and Content Notes
Scope and Content for the Alexander - Stuyvesant - Rutherfurd Collections
The John Rutherfurd Papers is one of four discrete but closely related collections. The largest and the smallest of the four collections, the Alexander Papers and the John Rutherfurd Papers, were originally a single donation, made in the late 19th Century. The remaining two collections, the Rutherfurd Family Papers and the Stuyvesant-Rutherfurd Papers, were donated separately in the 1970's.
Together, these collections chronicle seven generations of an extended family in New York an d New Jersey over the course of two centuries. The founders of the family were James and Mary Alexander, who married in 1721. James Alexander had merchant business, but was primarily active as an attorney and government official in New York and New Jersey. Most of the material in the Alexander Papers derives from James Alexander's legal practice in both colonies, and from his tenures as Surveyor General of New Jersey, and Attorney General of New York. Other material in the Alexander Papers documents Mary Alexander's merchant business in New York, and the business activities and pre-Revolutionary military service of their son, William Alexander (Lord Stirling).
While the daughters of James and Mary Alexander are underrepresented in these collections, their husbands are represented to a greater or lesser extent in each of the collections described below. The Alexanders' four daughters married men who were or would become leading figures in New York and New Jersey. Mary married Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Susanna married John Reid, and Elizabeth married John Stevens. Catherine Alexander married Walter Rutherfurd.
The marriage of Catherine and Walter Rutherfurd also produced a son, John Rutherfurd, who evidently inherited the bulk of his father's and grandfather's papers. In 1847, Stuyvesant Rutherfurd (a grandson John Rutherfurd and nephew of Peter Gerard Stuyvesant), changed his name to Rutherfurd Stuyvesant in accordance with a provision of Peter Gerard Stuyvesant's will. Rutherfurd Stuyvesant evidently inherited at least some of the papers of his uncle. The Rutherfurd collections contain material created by or pertaining to the Alexander family, and the Stuyvesant-Rutherfurd Papers contain material created by or pertaining to the Alexanders and the Stuyvesants.
The material the Rutherfurd collections relates primarily to the landholdings and business undertakings of a wealthy and socially prominent family. The Stuyvesant-Rutherfurd Papers documents the activities of later generations of that family. By the mid-nineteenth century, the family had become more occupied in strictly leisure activities.
Various descendants of John Rutherfurd donated the collections described in these finding aids to the New-York Historical Society, and the collections extensively document the business dealings, professional activities, and family relationships of the Alexanders during the 18th Century, and the Rutherfurds from the 18th until the early 20th centuries.
For finding aids to the other three collections, click on the following links:
The Stuyvesant-Rutherfurd Papers
Scope and Content for the John Rutherfurd Papers
This collection consists principally of material relating to or created by John Rutherfurd (1760 - 1840), and his father, Walter Rutherfurd (1724 - 1804). The inclusive dates of the collection are 1775 - 1835. The collection also contains small amounts of business-related material concerning persons who were associated with or related to John and Walter Rutherfurd. These include John Duncan, Alexander Hamilton, Gen. John Reid, and Alexander McDonald. Two institutions with which John Rutherfurd was affiliated, the Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures, and the Corporation for the Relief of Widows and Children of Clergymen of the Episcopal Church, are also represented in the collection.
Principal subseries for John and Walter Rutherfurd are Correspondence; Accounts, Bills, Receipts; Legal Papers; and Court Papers. Correspondence includes letters to John or Walter Rutherfurd, and drafts of their replies. Deeds, agreements, contracts, leases, and other legally binding documents are in the Legal Papers subseries. However, such legally binding documents that are identified as having to do with specific court cases or suits are foldered with the appropriate suit in the Court Papers series. Accounts, Bills, Receipts is self-explanatory.
There is also a series in the collection entitled Other Persons. This series consists of small numbers of items created by or pertaining to persons other than John or Walter Rutherfurd. The subseries in this series include Correspondence; Accounts, Bills, Receipts; Legal Papers; and Court Papers. Certain material relating to some persons is extensive enough to merit those persons being given subseries within this series. Persons with specific subseries within this series are John Duncan (legal papers only), Gen. Alexander Hamilton, Alexander McDonald, and Gen. John Reid. With these exceptions, material for all other persons is interfiled according to format, in chronological order.
Material pertaining to John Rutherfurd consists primarily of business correspondence and legal papers such as deeds, conveyances, and leases. Some material reflects his interest in the development infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, in New Jersey. There is very little family material of any kind in the collection. None of the material concerns John Rutherfurd's political career or political affairs. Most of the material pertaining to Walter Rutherfurd is also business-related.
Subjects
Organizations
Genres
People
Topics
Access Restrictions
Materials in this collection may be stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.
Use Restrictions
Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff.
Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.
Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions
Preferred Citation
This collection should be cited as the John Rutherfurd Papers, MS 533, The New-York Historical Society.
Location of Materials
Provenance
Donation, Lewis Morris Rutherfurd, 1884
About this Guide
Edition of this Guide
Repository
Series I: John Rutherfurd
Subseries 1: John Rutherfurd - Correspondence N.D., 1776 - 1835
Scope and Contents note
This subseries consists of letters received by John Rutherfurd, and responses drafted by him or on his behalf. The subseries is arranged chronologically.
For the most part, the letters concern John Rutherfurd's landholdings in New York and New Jersey. Specific matters relating to John Rutherfurd's landholdings include tenants, sale and lease of lands, collection of rents, and legal matters relating to land titles. Other general subjects include the raising of sheep and the quality of wool, and proposals for the construction of roads and bridges in New Jersey, particularly the Paterson - Hamburg Turnpike.
There are very few items in the collection that would indicate that a given correspondent wrote frequently to John Rutherfurd. John and Richard Duncan occasionally wrote to John Rutherfurd regarding a debt owed by John Duncan to Rutherfurd and others, and other creditors of Duncan sometimes wrote to Rutherfurd. Several letters of Robert Boggs address the sale of sheep's wool, Elias van Arsdale wrote periodically on legal matters, and Margaret White wrote about legal and business matters that John Rutherfurd managed for her family. In several letters dated 1786, the Rev. John Frederick Ernst inquired about an advertisement for settlers in the Chenango Tract, offering his congregation as candidates. Another cluster of letters, from 1827, consists of several letters that Eliza M. Evans wrote to John Rutherfurd concerning a land dispute between Rutherfurd and her family.
Also in the series are drafts of letters sent to various persons, including Rev. Ernst, Mrs. Evans (presumably Eliza M. Evans), and Richard Duncan. Other subjects in the drafts include the estate of Gen. John Reid, and his shares in the Delaware & Raritan Canal.
John Rutherfurd -- Correspondence - - Letters Received, N.D.; 1776; 1783-1788
John Rutherfurd -- Correspondence - - Letters Received, 1789-1802
John Rutherfurd -- Correspondence - - Letters Received, 1803-1809
John Rutherfurd -- Correspondence - - Letters Received, 1810-1815
John Rutherfurd -- Correspondence - - Letters Received, 1816-1819
John Rutherfurd -- Correspondence - - Letters Received, 1820-1835
John Rutherfurd -- Correspondence - - Drafts of Letters Sent -- A - J, N.D., 1791 - 1835
John Rutherfurd -- Correspondence - - Drafts of Letters Sent -- K - Z, N.D., 1791 - 1835
John Rutherfurd -- Correspondence - - Drafts of Letters Sent -- Recipients Unknown, N.D.; 1784-1819
John Rutherfurd -- Correspondence - - Retained Copies of Letters Sent -- Multiple Recipients, 1822, 1829
John Rutherfurd -- Correspondence - - Letter to "Commercial Advertiser" re Turnpikes, [January] 1806
Subseries 2: John Rutherfurd - Accounts, Bills, Receipts N.D., 1763 - 1828
Scope and Contents note
Most items are receipts for rents, milling of wheat, interest on bonds or debts, and taxes.
John Rutherfurd -- Accounts, Bills, Receipts, N.D.; 1763; 1764; 1784-1800
John Rutherfurd -- Accounts, Bills, Receipts, 1801-1828
John Rutherfurd -- Calculations of Interest on Bonds, 1770 - 1804
John Rutherfurd -- Calculations of Interest on John Duncan's Bond, 1769 - 1804
Subseries 3: John Rutherfurd - Legal Papers 1785 - 1835
Scope and Contents note
Material includes bonds of the Heirs of Peter Augustus Jay, William and James Jauncey; deeds for lands in New Jersey, primarily Sussex County; and powers of attorney from persons living outside the United States.
John Rutherfurd -- Legal Papers -- Bonds, 1785 - 1800
John Rutherfurd -- Legal Papers -- Deeds, 1788-1798; 1804; 1835
John Rutherfurd -- Legal Papers -- Agreements, 1780; 1785-1797
John Rutherfurd -- Legal Papers -- Agreements, 1798-1835
Subseries 4: John Rutherfurd - Court Papers N.D., 1827
Scope and Contents note
The material consists of an abstract of title from the suit of John Rutherfurd vs. [ ] Shotwell et al., undated; and a bill of costs and a warrant John Rutherfurd vs. Mary Ellis et al., dated 1827.
John Rutherfurd -- Court Papers, N.D., 1827
Subseries 5: John Rutherfurd - Delaware River Bridge N.D., 1798, 1802, 1806
Scope and Contents note
The subseries consists of material having to do with John Rutherfurd's interest in the construction of a bridge linking New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Included are drawings of the proposed bridge, memoranda, calculations, and a report, published in the Trenton Federalist, to the stockholders of the Trenton Delaware Bridge [Company]. The author of the report was John Beatty, who was apparently the president of that company.
John Rutherfurd -- Delaware River Bridge -- Drawings, N.D.
John Rutherfurd -- Delaware River Bridge -- Calculations, N.D.
John Rutherfurd -- Delaware River Bridge/Trenton Ferry -- Memoranda, N.D., 1802
John Rutherfurd -- Delaware River Bridge -- Legislation, N.D., 1798
John Rutherfurd -- Delaware River Bridge -- Report Published in Trenton "Federalist", Feb. 13, 1806
Subseries 6: John Rutherfurd - New Jersey Turnpikes N.D., 1789, 1805, 1806
Scope and Contents note
This subseries consists of memoranda and copies of legislation regarding the construction of turnpikes in New Jersey.
John Rutherfurd -- New Jersey Turnpikes -- Memoranda, N.D., 1789, 1805, 1806
John Rutherfurd -- New Jersey Turnpikes -- Legislation, N.D.
Subseries 7: John Rutherfurd - Diary Nov. 13-16 1788
Scope and Contents note
Item is a small, pamphlet-bound volume, with four pages of entries sketching travel in Sussex County, New Jersey, and some calculations.
John Rutherfurd -- Diary, Nov. 13-16 1788
John Rutherfurd: Other Subseries
John Rutherfurd -- Specifications of Baltimore Locomotive Engine, N.D., 1811, 1822, 1829
John Rutherfurd -- Draft of Advertisement for Tenants, N.D.
John Rutherfurd -- Draft of Real Estate Advertisements, N.D.
John Rutherfurd -- Maps of Cool Spring Farm, N.D., 1824
John Rutherfurd -- Calculations, N.D.
John Rutherfurd -- Memoranda, n.D., 1783 - 1833
John Rutherfurd -- Samples of Sheep's Wool, N.D.
Series II: Walter Rutherfurd
Subseries 1: Walter Rutherfurd - Correspondence
Scope and Contents note
This subseries includes letters received by Walter Rutherfurd, and drafts of replies to letters. Most of the material concerns Walter Rutherfurd's land holdings in New Jersey and New York. Specific subjects include surveys, the Business of the Proprietors of the Eastern Division of New Jersey, tenants, and lawsuits. Correspondents include George Reyerse, David Ogden, James Duane, Dirck ten Broeck, and Cornelius Haring.
Subseries 2: Walter Rutherfurd - Accounts, Bills, Receipts N.D., 1761 - 1803
Scope and Contents note
This subseries consists primarily of material having to do with Walter Rutherfurd's land holdings, including lands that he held in common with John Stevens. Some of the accounts detail goods seized from tenants, presumably for nonpayment of rent. Also in the subseries are accounts, apparently prepared annually, of land and interest-bearing bonds held by Walter Rutherfurd.
Walter Rutherfurd -- Accounts, Bills, Receipts, N.D.; 1761-1803
Walter Rutherfurd -- Accounts, Bills, Receipts --Annual Accounts of Bonds and Real Estate, 1765 - 1777
Subseries 3: Walter Rutherfurd - Legal Papers N.D.; 1761-1802
Scope and Contents note
Most of the material in the subseries consist of leases to tenants for farms in New Jersey Earlier material includes powers of attorney from British officers, appointing Walter Rutherfurd to manage their affairs in North America.
Subseries 4: Walter Rutherfurd - Court Papers N.D., 1802, 1803
Scope and Contents note
The subseries contains material from three cases. Material from the case of Walter Rutherfurd vs. Moses Martin Jr., et al. consists of what appears to be a [state of case]. Material from the case of Walter Rutherfurd vs. John Stiles consists of two documents that appear to be warrants. Material from the case of Aaron Ogden & Thomas Gibbons vs. Walter Rutherfurd comprises the bulk of the material in the subseries. Principally, material related to the case consists of the defendant's answers to the charges and counsel's observations on answers to charges.
Walter Rutherfurd -- Court Papers, N.D.; 1802, 1803
Subseries 5: Walter Rutherfurd - Memoranda N.D., 1766 - 1795
Scope and Contents note
This subseries consists primarily of some undated rough calculations of the value of shares, unfinished drafts of legal papers, and lists of crops produced.
Walter Rutherfurd -- Memoranda, N.D., 1766 - 1795
Series III: Other Persons
Scope and Contents note
This series consists of material that does not pertain to John Rutherfurd or Walter Rutherfurd, or pertains to then indirectly. Four specific persons have subseries in the series. These persons are John Duncan, Alexander Hamilton (Estate of -- ), Alexander McDonald, and John Reid. The subseries for John Duncan consists solely of legal papers. Business papers relating to Duncan can be found in the subseries Other Persons - Accounts, Bills, Receipts.
Subseries 1: Other Persons - John Duncan N.D., 1766 - 1795
Scope and Contents note
Subseries consists of legal papers, such as deeds, conveyances, releases, etc. of John Duncan.
Other Persons -- John Duncan -- Legal Papers, 1764 - 1785
Subseries 2: Other Persons - Estate of Gen. Alexander Hamilton N.D., 1805
Scope and Contents note
Subseries consists of legal papers, primarily conveyances, of Gen. Alexander Hamilton, and advertisements for the sale of lands in Scriba's Patent.
Other Persons -- Estate of Gen. Alexander Hamilton -- Legal Papers, 1805
Other Persons -- Estate of Gen. Alexander Hamilton -- Sale of Lands in Scriba's Patent, N.D.
Subseries 3: Other Persons - Alexander McDonald 1772 - 1786
Scope and Contents note
Subseries consists of business papers, legal papers and memoranda of Alexander McDonald. The legal papers include a power of attorney authorizing John Rutherfurd to act on McDonald's behalf. The memoranda include lists of deeds and bonds that belonged to McDonald, but were evidently held by John Rutherfurd.
Other Persons -- Alexander McDonald - - Accounts, Bills, Receipts, 1772 - 1774, 1784, 1786
Other Persons -- Alexander McDonald - - Legal Papers, 1772, 1773, 1784
Other Persons -- Alexander McDonald - - Memoranda, N.D., 1784
Subseries 4: Other Persons - General John Reid N.D., 1775 - 1793
Scope and Contents note
This subseries consists of material related to General John Reid. Business papers include accounts and receipts, primarily for rents paid to Reid by his tenants. Legal papers include deeds, bonds, and agreements. Court papers consist of a [state of case] from a lawsuit by Reid against Capt. James Gray in 1771, and a [state of case] from an unidentified 1785 case, which may have involved property forfeiture. Memoranda are mostly in the handwriting of John Rutherfurd, and refer to Reid's business affairs, including landholdings, rents paid, and interest on bonds.
Other Persons -- Gen. John Reid -- Accounts, Bills, Receipts, N.D.; 1775-1793
Other Persons -- Gen. John Reid -- Legal Papers, 1763 - 1787
Other Persons -- Gen. John Reid -- Court Papers, 1771 - 1785
Other Persons -- Gen. John Reid -- Memoranda, 1764, 1773, 1784
Subseries 5: Other Persons - Correspondence 1738; 1769-1824; 1835
Scope and Contents note
This subseries includes correspondence to and from persons other than John and Walter Rutherfurd, or specific persons in the Other Persons series. Correspondents include Richard Duncan and John Duncan, who wrote to Peter Van Brugh Livingston about business matters. James Longstreet wrote, perhaps to a newspaper, regarding to the Delaware River Bridge. Dirck ten Broeck wrote to Philip Livingston about business matters that may have also involved the Rutherfurds. J. Alsop of the Corporation for the Relief of Widows & Children of Clergymen of the Episcopal Church corresponded with Jacob LeRoy and John Wilcocks concerning that organization's charitable activities.
Other Persons -- Correspondence, 1738; 1769-1824; 1835
Subseries 6: Other Persons - Accounts, Bills, Receipts N.D., 1747 - 1826
Scope and Contents note
Business and personal material of various persons, including John Duncan.
Other Persons -- Accounts, Bills Receipts, N.D., 1747 - 1826
Subseries 7: Other Persons - Court Papers N.D., 1726, 1748
Scope and Contents note
This subseries includes the following material: a list of papers relating to the case of William Smith vs. William Alexander (N.D.), a narrative in case for the suit of [James] Alexander vs. Daniel Miller (1726), a list of papers relating to the suit, and an indenture, probably entered as evidence in the suit of [ ] Livingston vs. [ ] Fresneau (1748). The subseries also includes material from cases that cannot be identified. These are: a 1785 deposition of Peter Van Brugh Livingston regarding John Duncan's debt, and, in 1806, depositions of two witnesses attesting to the identity of Robert Walter Rutherfurd.
Other Persons -- Court Papers, N.D., 1726, 1748
Other Persons -- Court Papers -- Unidentified Proceedings, 1785, 1806
Subseries 8: Other Persons - Surveys, Field Notes N.D., 1787, 1800
Scope and Contents note
Subseries includes field notes for surveys and surveys of tracts in various counties of New Jersey.
Other Persons -- Surveys, Field Notes, N.D., 1787, 1800
Series IV: Corporation for the Relief of Widows and Children of Clergymen 1785 - 1809
Scope and Contents note
This series includes minutes, reports, legal papers and memoranda of the corporation.
Corporation for the Relief of Widows and Children of Clergymen -- Minutes and Reports, 1785 - 1809
Corporation for the Relief of Widows and Children of Clergymen -- Legal Papers, 1801
Corporation for the Relief of Widows and Children of Clergymen -- Memoranda, 1793 - 1809
Series V: Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures 1816
Scope and Contents note
This series includes legislation and an indenture regarding a transfer stock in the society, and reports and accounts regarding the society's real estate.
Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures -- Legislation and Indenture re Stock Transfer, 1816
Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures -- Report on Real Estate; Real Estate Accounts, [1816]
Series VI: Abstracts of Legislation re New Jersey -- New York Boundary 17??
Abstracts of Legislation re New Jersey -- New York Boundary, 17?
Series VII: [Map of Turnpike Route] N.D.
Scope and Contents note
What appears to be a map of a proposed or actual turnpike route through New Jersey.