Short Biography of John W. Sutherland

John Sutherland, (1741-98), served as a minute man and scout, 1778-80. He enlisted in the militia for the defense of the frontier, 1781, under Capt. Israel Hurlburt and Col. Thomas Lee. He was born in Rutland, Vt., where he died.

Source: "Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage Books (152 Vols.)" ²⁸⁴

John William Sutherland was born 3 July 1735 at Greenwich, Connecticut, or Nine Partner, New York, son of William Sutherland, and died 10 Jun 1817 at Sullivan, Madison County, New York. He married Mary Germain/Germond January 1755 in New Rochester, New York. She was born 2 Oct 1733 and died 3 September 1789. He married (2) Jerusha Stanly 22 February 1790 at Lee, Massachusetts. She was born 23 July 1756 at Tolland, Connecticut, daughter of Samuel and Jerusha (Baker) Lee, and died 4 November 1835 in Madison County, New York.

John served in the 77th Regiment of Foot during the French and Indian Wars and as a result may have passed through the area enroute to Ticonderoga and Crown Point, New York. At any rate, he was residing in Rutland in April 1775 when he first bought land here. Early deeds reveal he was a carpenter by trade. His property was located at the falls, subsequently known as Sutherland Falls, in the section of Rutland which eventually became the town of Proctor. He built the first framed house in that area which was located a little north of the bridge and which was occupied by the Sutherland family until Peter moved to New York, circa 1820. He also erected a grist and sawmill at the falls which stood until the freshet of 1811. By 1793, John had moved to Wallingford where he engaged in the milling business with his son, John, Jr., and later with son, Arick. In 1805 he sold his Wallingford property and settled in New York.

John William is said to have sided with the Tories during the early part of the Revolutionary War but he and his sons served in the militia beginnuing in 1778/79. A member of the Humphrey family who was a neighbor of the Sutherlands states: "He was on ordinary terms with his neighbors and carried on his gristmill; but it cannot be denied that tradition has given him the name of being selfish and grasping; one story being that at the time of the battle of Hubbardton, when so many of the settlers left their homes and sought protection at Bennington, they were forced to leave their swine roaming at large. They branded than animals and turned them into the woods. On their return they found some of the hogs in Mr. Sutherland's pen." (History of Rutland County by Smith and Rann).

Source: "Early Families of Rutland, Vermont" ⁴⁸¹²

John Sutherland moved from Nine Partners about 1766 to Proctor on Otter Creek, Rutland, Vt., and built mills there; 199 acres were surveyed for him on east side of the creek 1 Apr., 1779, and 116 acres in 1786. Lieutenant and Member of State Committe 4 Jun, 1777. served in Col. Warner's Regiment 7 Nov., 1778 or 81.

Source: "Sutherland Records" ⁴⁷⁹⁹