Quite a feisty Scots-Irish wife!

John Carruth was the third son of his parents, born in 1752 in the soon to be Rowan County, NC. He died June 8, 1828 near Blacksburg, SC. Blacksburg is approximately 30 miles west of Charlotte, NC.

He was a surveyor and bought and sold much land, retaining as much as three thousand acres for himself. Both he and his children owned great tracts along Buffalo Creek and into South Carolina.

Elizabeth Cathey was his wife, born May 15, 1752, daughter of George and Frances Henry Cathey, settlers on Paw Creek and long time friends of the Carruth's. They were of Scotch-Irish stock and Elizabeth was as strong in her convictions concerning the Revolution as were her husband, and resourceful as well.

Many were the tales told to her grandchildren by her faithful house servant, Tom, of her attempts to protect her home when the British approached;

of how he helped her bury her cherished pewter tea service under a tree in the garden,

of how the British raided her smokehouse where the home cured meat was kept and, in spite of her spirited protests, took all of it "except", said Tom, "one ham old Mis' hid under her apron."

When her husband finally made arrangements for Elizabeth to go to the home of her parents for her own safety she hastily made ready but she had to do one final thing before leaving. Again with Tom's help, she recovered her tea service, cleaning it and sent it to her husband to be melted down and made into bullets.

A small creamer, overlooked and brought up later by rains, made an interesting souvenir for a member of the family.

Both John and Elizabeth Carruth are buried in the Buffalo Baptist churchyard near the grave of their son, Adam, who died a few years prior to his parents. The stones are dimly legible. On Elizabeth's one may read, "To the memory of Elizabeth Carruth who departed this life on October 17, 1819 in the 67th year of her age.”

Revolutionary War service:

Colonel John Carruth served as a captain and a major during the Revolutionary War and as a colonel in the State militia after the Revolution. He was with the Lincoln County Regiment Militia (NC), under Colonel William Cambell (VA) in 1780 at the Battle of King’s Mountain—one of the pivotal turning points of the war.

This monument at Kings Mountain National Military Park is at the top of the ridge where the fiercest fighting took place.

From the DAR papers of Jacqueline Elaine Parker Davis:

Major John Carruth served as Major in the brigade that marched from Cowans Ford to Guilford Court House. John Carruth of Lincoln Co. served on this regular tour of duty. He was elected representative, to Convention of 1789, from Lincoln County, NC. He voted YEA, on adoption of constitution and its ratification of government. Date of death given as 28 June 1826 in Lincoln Co. NC.

The flag flown during the Guilford Court House Battle:

More detail on his commands and engagements: Military Service

John Carruth's last will and testament lists at least 4 slaves that he bequeathed to his grandson, Rufus.